Pure in Heart

From Lamentations 3:25-26:  “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the Salvation of the Lord.”

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We are an impatient lot

We know what we want

We want it right now

 

God’s Word brings us wisdom

Try following a different path

 

Remain patient at all times

Allow God to be in charge

His faithful plans will unfold

 

Offer our prayers to God

Give thanks for our blessings

 

Remain ever hopeful each day

Wait faithfully with quiet reverence

For the Lord delivers Salvation

 

God allows us free will

How will we use it?

From Philippians 4:8:  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Infuse quality into our lives

In our attitudes and thoughts

Guard our actions and words

 

Influence our daily course

Adjust our tone of thoughts

 

Jesus taught us to believe

“Blessed are the pure in heart

For they will see God”

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From the words of evangelical pastor Henry Blackaby:  “God is concerned about your life in Eternity.  Allow Him to take all the time He needs to shape you for His purposes.”

 

Haiku Series #56 (Life)

Yummy!

Single doughnut left

Grandson loves every bite—

Frosting outlined mouth

donut with white cream on top

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Find a Way

Car window frosted

Scrapper missing in action—

Credit card works great

frozen rearview mirror of the car

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Take a Guess

Twin babies arrive

The guessing game now begins—

Who is really who?

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Winter’s Arctic Grip

man in brown parka jacket walking beside woman in maroon coat

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Bone-chilling winds turn life upside down today

Delivering frigid, Arctic storms to every town

Thickening ice, spreading across the lake’s bay

People running straight into gusts, heads down

 

Wind chimes endlessly sing a winter-filled blast

Watching the thermometer effortlessly dive

Wondering, how long will this deep freeze last?

Somehow, everyone remains warm and thrives

 

The townsfolk cope, accepting winter’s greed

Facing long, harsh winters, most every year

Helping others to survive, when one’s in need

Winter’s severity never brings about fear

 

Finally one day, the wind changes its sound

Pitching warmer air, by way of a chinook

Lightening the load for everyone around

Smiles arrive, from every cranny and nook

 

Spring will soon send out her welcoming band

Replacing life’s burdens, with warmer wishes

Surviving winter’s struggles across the land

Winter to spring, life crosses familiar bridges

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Love Fills a Heart

From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13:  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

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Struggling with life, feeling lost

Dark wilderness all around

Thirsting for someone to come

Waiting, hoping to be found

 

Love arrives from a white knight

Riding through the timberland

Accepting me as I am

Reaching out, touching my hand

 

Hearing my cries, God provides

This honorable knight stands

Sealing my heart with his love

Hour glass fills with precious sand

 

Life can feel like a desert

Leaving only loneliness

Faithful light comes to delight

Shining from God’s holiness

 

Two lives shall become just one

Uniting through a Holy Lord

Happiness now fills a home

Love singing a blissful chord

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Haiku Series #55 (With God)

Life’s Thirst

Running without truth

God quenches thirst with His truth—

Walking with the truth

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Light of Truth

Finding few answers

With so many lights to choose—

Choose God’s light and truth

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Unselfish Gift

Bringing forgiveness

Jesus dies on Calvary—

Humbled, take a knee

football player on bended knees

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Monday Memories: Little Things Become Big Things

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Have you ever seriously thought?

How little things in our lives become big things

 

A single snowflake falls at sundown

Becomes a skier’s paradise at sunrise

 

A single encouraging thought

Becomes the key to unlock a young mind

 

A single thoughtful gesture

Becomes a way for others to “pay it forward”

 

A single painting by an artist

Becomes a masterpiece for all generations

 

A single drop of rain

Becomes a nourishing drink for flowers so bright

 

A single warm smile

Becomes the connection between a father and daughter

 

A single laboratory discovery

Becomes the means to cure a disease

 

A single lightning strike in the forest

Becomes a way for nature to manage itself

 

A single book read at a young age

Becomes an inspiration for life-long reading

 

A single win for a struggling team

Becomes the spark for a championship run

 

A single handwritten short story

Becomes the inspiration for an award-winning novel

 

A single diamond engagement ring

Becomes a long and lasting marriage

 

A single simple prayer

Becomes the bridge between one and God

 

A single moment of intimate love

Becomes the birth of a blessed child

 

A single job interview

Becomes an incredible and fulfilling career

 

A single bright-shining star

Becomes the beacon to proclaim Christ’s birth

 

True, not all little things lead to good things

But, with patience and God’s guidance, some will become great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling His Joy

From Hebrews 12:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings to closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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God’s footprints, visible for eternity

Filling our hearts with His joy, perfectly

 

Our Lord’s joy remains forever man’s strength

Overcoming the wicked, godless and fleeting

When distressed, our Lord brings answers

Sadness and worry turn to joy, never retreating

 

Through God, He restores the joy of Salvation

The Lord’s highway steers us on His Holy Way

Justice arrives, bringing joy to the righteous

For God’s Word, keeping all from going astray

 

Joy is a choice, feeling our Lord’s countenance

When tackling life’s endless, inevitable trials

Consider every one of them, nothing but joy

Walking with God, feeling joy with every mile

 

Faith produces endurance for God’s community

Endurance leads to maturity from God’s hand

Maturity through God, brings lasting, final joy

Trusting God’s Holy Word all across this land

 

God’s Kingdom delivers righteousness and peace

Through the Holy Spirit, souls experience joy

Clapping hands, singing praise to our Holy Lord

Redeemed man walks, filled with gladness and joy

 

Prophets foretell of the coming of a new King

Our Messiah’s birth brings magnificent joy

Joy later shattered on a bitter, bloody Cross

Only to defeat death, with Resurrection’s joy

 

Living as part of God’s redeemed, feeling His joy

Fruits of the Spirit sharing love, peace, and joy

 

christ the redeemer

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Elfchen Series #9 (Life)

Too Early

Morning

Darkness waits

Am I awake?

Stumbling into the kitchen

Coffee

photo of a hand holding out a steaming cup

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Transition

Winter

Slipping away

Icy fingers depart

Songbirds arrive with joy

Spring

animal avian beak bird

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America

Democracy

Challenging issues

Who will lead?

Election Day draws near

Lincoln

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Waiting for a Call

woman wearing gray topcoat during snow season

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Waiting for its urgent call

Winter’s snow waiting to strike

Where is winter hosting fun?

Playing games in the Klondike

 

School children watch outside

Dreaming of a snow day soon

School’s steady beat marches on

Soon, everyone sings a new tune

 

Weather forecast predicts snow

Snowplows prepare for battle

But, this storm slides to the north

Hmm, snow dumps on Seattle!

 

Outside, waiting for a call

Snow shovel dreams of snowfall

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Take Time Today

From Genesis 1:30-31:  “[God said] ‘And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’  And it was so.  God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

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Take time today

Witnessing God’s Creation

Throughout every nation

 

Take time today

Studying God’s Word

Souls carefully stirred

 

Take time today

Smelling life’s flowers

Their sweetness showers

 

Take time today

Returning back home

No longer alone

 

Take time today

Worshipping with song

Jesus sings along

 

Take time today

Meditating in prayer

Hear our cares

 

Take time today

Paying life forward

With honest words

 

Take time today

Sharing a smile

With every mile

 

Take time today

Sharing our love

With God above

 

Take time today

Shouting with thanksgiving

Hearts always forgiving

 

Take time today

Feeling the rebirth

Fields’ fertile earth

 

Take time today

Loving a child

Blessed and mild

 

Take time today

Making a difference

God seeks deliverance

 

Take time today

Blessing the Lord

All on board

 

Take time today

Loving one’s spouse

Romance filling house

 

Take time today

Putting aside stuff

When life’s rough

 

Take time today

Surrendering to God

Sinful nature thawed

 

Take time today

Kneeling before Christ

Never think twice

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