Monday Memories: Time on the Road

two men inside moving vehicle

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com

Aging a bit and hoping to keep my driving days alive

I cannot help it, but laugh at how my troubles thrive

 

Driving on a dark, blackened road with high beams on

No dimming headlights, because I was singing a song

 

Driving on an icy road, too slippery for my car to fly

The windshield wipers shout and say, “Dumb Guy!”

 

Driving a bit too fast through a school zone

Sorry officer, at least I wasn’t on my phone

 

Creeping on a crowded freeway, feeling more like mice

Listening to car horns blaring out loud, never very nice

 

Navigating through a minefield of treacherous potholes

Pulling over to find a tire flattened from a massive hole

 

Driving home at the end of a long day, without even a grin

Stuck in slow, crawling commuter traffic, please not again

 

Parking at last, stress-filled driving finished for today

Hoping travels go a whole lot better, on the next day

cars stuck on traffic

Photo by Alexander Cruzado Abanto on Pexels.com

Vigorous Joy

From Christian campus ministry founder, Bill Bright:  “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God–no matter the circumstances.”

beach woman sunrise silhouette

Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Celebrating Jesus each and every day

Receiving our lasting, priceless gift of joy

Smiling faces, always with kind words spoken

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Child of God, leaping with joy

Messiah’s birth, sends great joy

 

Rejoicing, today rises up as God’s day

Praising our faithful, Almighty Lord with joy

Sending out His strength and hope, God’s justice reigns

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Fruit of the Spirit, brings joy

God’s love, proclaiming His joy

 

Fleeing life’s messy scene, sorrow and worry

Lasting an eternity, singing with joy

Restoring in us, His joy of Salvation

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Life’s trials, nothing but joy

Holy Spirit, shouts with joy

 

Waking all of the city on Easter morn

Singing praises of “Alleluia” with joy

Restoring hope, defeating death on the Cross

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Jesus, lasting source of joy

He’s Risen! Salvation’s joy

joy painting brush

Photo by Bekka Mongeau on Pexels.com

From John 15:11:  “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Love Sings Hallelujah

From Genesis 2:24:  “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

persons hands doing high five

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Creating a rainbow, love inspires

Connecting two lives, becoming one

Merging together, feelings inside

Celebrating, we’ve only begun

 

Meeting at life’s crossroads, love brings truth

Confessing before our Lord, now one

Living as a twosome, sharing love

Spending time together, never done

 

Cherishing our love, always special

Sharing our dreams, dwelling between us

Leading us on a life adventure

Capturing a moment, on life’s bus

 

Depending on each other, love bonds

Growing tired of each other, never

Celebrating God’s gifts, shared with us

Changing our minds about us, never

 

Weathering life’s storms, love conquers all

Singing Hallelujah, love declares

Leaning on each other, love endures

Treasuring us, God’s love truly cares

 

man in black long sleeved shirt and woman in black dress

Photo by Jasmine Wallace Carter on Pexels.com

From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:  “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; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Haiku Series #71 (With God)

Stepping Up

Accepting Jesus

Laying my sins at the Cross—

Seeking forgiveness

backlit cemetery christianity clouds

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Be My Feet

Missionaries go

Following God’s call to serve—

Sharing the Good News

close up of globe

Photo by NastyaSensei on Pexels.com

 

Come to Me

Abide in Jesus

Obeying His loving trust—

Harvesting best fruits

several bunch of grapes

Photo by Luiz M. Santos on Pexels.com

 

 

Innocence

cute little girl holding purple color pen

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

Watching a curious child

Witnessing sparkles of joy

Blessing us with innocence

Seeing how life will deploy

 

Finding daily adventure

Lighting up another room

Reaching out with innocence

Moving with a speedy vroom

 

Revealing wonders of life

Surviving each bump and bruise

Shining through with innocence

Napping now, let’s take a snooze

 

Playing through daily lessons

Sharing love with extra zest

Teaching us with innocence

Enjoying life with each quest

wood bridge cute sitting

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Haiku Series #70 (Nature)

Sweetness

Stacked along a field

Hives waiting for a new season—

Eager honeybees

beekeeper checking on bees

Photo by FRANK MERIÑO on Pexels.com

 

Marvels

Innovative birds

Building new residences—

Engineering feats

selective focus photography of two hatchling birds in nest

Photo by 42 North on Pexels.com

 

Waiting

National parks rest

Nature alive, feeling peace—

Visitors locked out

conifers fir trees foggy forest

Photo by André Cook on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Frozen Morning

ice on window

Photo by Harrison Haines on Pexels.com

An elderly woman sits at her kitchen table

Wanting to stay warm today, if she is able

 

An Arctic blast from up North has arrived

Challenging her to survive and stay alive

 

Inside of the window, frosted over with ice

Wishing for a heated room, would be nice

 

Her few needs are quite simple at this time

Praying the thermostat will begin its climb

 

Ancient, unreliable space heater offers very little heat

Realizing now, she needs a blanket to cover her feet

 

She lives all alone without any other family close by

Losing hope, her faith seems ready to quit and cry

 

Suddenly, there is a knock at her frozen door

Opening it to discover the Lord brings more

 

A stranger with a fuel truck has finally arrived

Smiling, the woman begins to feel more alive

 

He fills her empty fuel tank until it’s almost full

Checking her boiler, it is working without a lull

 

A sense of inadequacy overwhelms the woman to tears

Feeling desperate, her pocketbook is empty she fears

 

The helpful man simply ignores her worries and leaves

Telling her that a shepherd will take care of her needs

 

The woman sits stunned and can’t understand what to see

Looking down an isolated road that is as empty as can be

 

Who paid to fill her empty fuel tank?  She has no idea at all

Feeling a tender hug from above, her loving Lord pays a call

landscape photography of dried trees on snow covered ground

Photo by Simon Matzinger on Pexels.com

No Ordinary Cross

From Romans 3:23-25:  “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith.”

cross-sunset-sunrise-hill-70847.jpeg

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

His Resurrection awakens a new pathway

Christ’s blood, painting it blazing white

Our Father remolds life, from a new clay

 

Pharisees claiming to be servants of God

Viewing our Lord as not worthy, a sinner

Walking with sinners makes Him a fraud

 

Son of Man, unblemished Lamb of God

No one but Jesus, can walk to the Cross

Humbled Christians kneel, totally flawed

 

Jesus’ blood ransomed for sinners, you and me

This executioner’s tool, a cruel criminal’s Cross

Darkest sins, all nailed to this old, rugged tree

 

Watching from a short distance, the Cross stands

God pours out His love through His faithful Son

Exchanging darkness for light, from His hands

 

Walking faithfully with Christ, never alone

Keeping the Cross, always front and center

Our Savior’s suffering, faith’s cornerstone

 

On an Easter morn, Christ defeats death

Leaving a darkened tomb empty, Alleluia!

Salvation and peace, with every breath

 

Moving closer to the Cross, forgiveness rings

Accepting Christ as Lord, filled with His mercy

Making a new covenant with Jesus, hearts sing

blue and red dress religious man illustration

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

From John 15:10-11:  “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Passing the Torch

man wearing gray and brown hat with eyeglasses

Photo by Marllon Cristhian Barbosa on Pexels.com

Watching Saturday’s unhurried sunrise

Feeling gratefulness, spirit shall arise

 

Being retired, life moves at much slower pace

Realizing, there’s no need to win life’s race

 

Remembering grandfathers, crisp and clear

Teaching life lessons, steady and sincere

 

Growing up, learning from their example

Tasting life with every new sample

 

Loving family, with kindness and care

Treating marriage, with love beyond compare

 

Passing on wisdom, making good choices

Sitting here now, hearing cherished voices

 

Accepting their torch, these years move along

Being a grandfather, where love belongs

 

Filling up life, grandchildren sharing love

Joining other grandfathers, fits like a glove

green lit torch

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

 

Haiku Series #69 (With God)

Truth

Staying on message

Behold the vine’s Holy fruit—

Grace of Jesus Christ

pathway under clouds and blue sky

Photo by David on Pexels.com

 

His Way

Jesus calls us out

Guiding us to change our ways—

Building up our faith

photo of man walking on wooden bridge

Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com

 

First Disciples

Jesus calls Peter

Become a fisher of men—

You will be the rock

low angle photography of cross on top of mountain

Photo by Thomas uit Apeldoorn on Pexels.com