Surrounded by Blue

From Philippians 4:4-7:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Normally for many

This world looks full and bright

Cups overflow with blessings

But then, dark dims faith’s light

 

From this window, world turns blue

Hope was filled with each seed

Life’s harvest seems in doubt

Farmers’ fields fill with weeds

 

Harsh rhetoric and gloom

Positivity hides

Lost in negative times

With whom shall we abide?

 

There has to be a way

Let’s not fight over masks

Turning blueness to light

Remind us of our tasks

 

Jesus, faith’s Bread of Life

Fills our empty hunger

Leading us to His peace

Hearts feeling much younger

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There are days during this Covid pandemic in which I feel at a loss.  The roller coaster ride of life suddenly takes a dark turn, and I feel left at the gate.  This poem was written following one of these “blue” moments in my life.  Together, we can continue to share prayers and encouragement with others.  God’s peace!

Twenty-Five Cents

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Running a quick errand for mother

Feeling twenty-five cents in my hand

Heading to the nearby little store

Milk, bread—let’s see what candy looks grand

 

Years ago, two bits meant feeling rich

A few coins equal twenty-five cents

Today, this sweet tooth will be in luck

Let this candy shopping now commence

 

Below the front counter, treasures wait

Friendly woman cashier stands and smiles

A few pennies for Sweet Tarts and more

Licorice, Smarties add to the pile

 

Looking to spend one final nickel

Picking through endless, tempting choices

Spying at last, a sweet Hershey bar

Overcome by sugar-filled voices

 

Arriving back home without delay

Pockets filled with sweetest treasure

Mother asks about the milk and bread

Two bucks unspent, plus her displeasure

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Growing up in my childhood neighborhood, there was a little store just a few blocks away.  My brothers and I made many a journey to the store for milk, bread, and other quick-to-find essentials for our mother.  I cannot recall forgetting the milk and bread, but having a few coins in my pocket was treasure waiting to be spent on the candy found there.  

The poem lists a few of the types of candy found back in the 1960s.  Do you have a favorite candy from your childhood?

Healthy Wishes (Elfchen Series #22)

Commitment

Healthy

Changing lifestyle

Plenty of exercise

Eating smart, watching carbs

Life

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Staying With It

Active

Morning walks

Avoiding junk food

Setting more dynamic goals

Life

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Success 

Morning

Mirror check

Losing stubborn pounds

Looking healthy and fit

Smiles

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The German-inspired poetry style of Elfchen (or Elevenie) contains five lines of poetic verse, usually without the use of rhyming verses.  A total of 11 words are used with a sequence of one, two, three, and four words before ending with a single word in the final verse.

On Our Knees

From Psalm 32:7:  “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”

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With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

 

Coming to the Cross, with repentance

Humbly laying our transgressions there

On our knees, breaking bread together

In remembrance, Jesus truly cares

 

Coming to the Cross, seeking its hope

With reverence, looking to our Lord

On our knees, drinking wine together

Singing with praise to His perfect chord

 

Coming to the Cross, stained with red blood

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior

On our knees, praising God together

Walking with transforming behavior

 

With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

You are invited to click on the photo to listen to the hymn which inspired this poem, “Let Us Break Bread Together.” [Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com]

God’s Presence (Haiku Series #86)

Stepping Forward

Patient, yet restless

Every life needs a purpose—

Listen for God’s call

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Witnessing Peace

Do not be troubled

Holy Spirit walks with us—

God’s peace be with you

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His Daily Dose

Days, weeks, months go by

Feeling God’s Gospel Spirit—

Never growing old

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Monday Memories: Trusting Our Lord

From Psalm 62:1-2:  “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.”

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Anticipating in faithful silence for the One

From Christ, comes our Salvation He won

 

God brings deliverance from life’s trials

His steadfast love proclaims and smiles

 

Witnessing transformation by Christ’s renewing love

Pouring out our daily needs to the Holy Lord above

 

Witnessing the Apostles in their committed walk

Learning about Jesus as His words openly talk

 

God delivering His promise, acceptable and good

Trusting in our Heavenly Father, as we all should

 

As a single body with Christ, persevere in daily prayer

Meditating upon what lies deep inside, our daily cares

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

 

Allowing the Holy Spirit, a welcome space to invade

Loving one another, because Jesus ultimately gave

 

Replacing negative thoughts with a positive way

Slowing down, counting blessings—let us pray

 

Spending less time, filled with our trivial worries

Praising God for His message of faithful courage

 

God’s kingdom depends upon His mighty hand

Feeling His promises, His will covers the land

 

Answering the great question for all to behold

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, so bold

 

Reveling in God’s glorious adventure, with trusting love

Allowing Him to assist, in sending answers from above

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

 

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From Romans 12:11:  “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

God’s Word Reaches Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me.”

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Being careful with life’s missteps

Sinful disobedience waits

God’s Word touches our inner soul

Hell pleasing, never be our fate

 

Our truest, most faithful support

Shall always arrive from His love

God’s Word will endure forever

His Spirit reigns from high above

 

When life’s dark trials boil over

Creating quagmires of distress

God’s Word quells each predicament

His next move leads like playing chess

 

Our life’s journey travels by faith

Transformed by Christ’s merciful heart

God’s Word reaches out, filled with hope

Bringing a new day, let’s restart

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From 2 Corinthians 5:7:  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Potpourri of Life (Elfchen Series #21)

Easy Life

Office

Flexible schedule

Working from home

Feeling fulfilled and happy

Retirement

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Can You Hear Me?

Busy

Digital devices

Talking each day

So, why can’t we?

Pause

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Writer’s World

Writing

Rough draft

Building a novel

Hours of editing await

Masterpiece

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The German-inspired poetry style of Elfchen (or Elevenie) contains five lines of poetic verse, usually without the use of rhyming verses.  A total of 11 words are used with a sequence of one, two, three, and four words before ending with a single word in the final verse.

Quintet of Brothers

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College basketball star and high school majorette

Growing up under Montana’s brilliant Big Sky

Destined to raise this band of brothers as their sons

Rearing five boys, better than any Fourth of July

 

Household of boys born over a span of twelve years

Perhaps their father dreams of a basketball team

While their mother nurtures with love and care

Quintet of brothers’ thoughts filling with biggest dreams

 

Brothers grow up, facing life’s many challenges

Inspired by a father with amazing courage

Battling back from near-fatal car crash in his youth

His steadfast work ethic always encourages

 

These driven brothers discover their niche at school

Excelling with their academics in the classroom

Competition fuels a welcome outlet through sports

Lives mature too quickly, future destinies zoom

 

This family story would never be complete

The boys’ mother remembers God’s lovely bouquet

These five brothers always cherish their one sister

Believe it or not, she’s born on Valentine’s Day

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This poem gives you a quick glimpse into my childhood family.  Growing up under Montana’s Big Sky was a blessing for my brothers and sister.  The memories will last a lifetime.

Called to Sow

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Sower scattering any seed

Wildly without any foresight

God scatters His Word as planned

His aim, truthful in its flight

 

Called to sow His righteous seeds

Following a living light

Sharing of God’s Holy Word

Walking in Jesus’ delight

 

These efforts shall bear His fruit

Quenching the rich, fertile ground

God adds the living water

Patient, His trust to be found

 

Not every seed shall bloom now

Some will lie quiet and wait

Just as a pine cone pauses

Holds seeds for their proper fate

 

Spreading God’s Word to others

Using our freedom for good

Allowing Spirit to work

Sowing for Him as we should

 

Sharing love and forgiveness

Lord’s eternal Word aligned

Taking blessed, scattered seeds

Harvesting fruit of all kinds

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From Isaiah 55:10-11:  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”