Snowbound

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Bright afternoon blues began to darken

Winter’s cold blanket prepares to descend

Snowflakes twirling and dancing, at first glance

Ol’ Man Winter, with a message to send

 

Grandfather clock proclaims each passing hour

Intricate flakes, magnified in their size

Winter’s harsh intensity growls and howls

Like a hungry wolf, seeking his one prize

 

Outside, barren landscape feels overwhelmed

Pristine white now nature’s color tonight

Modest cabin remains toasty and warm

Ancient kitchen stove consumes wood all night

 

Staying indoors, cozy and safe

Snowy frenzy roars, no ending in sight

Minutes turn to hours, forwarding to days

Snowbound but home, never a hopeless plight

snowy brown house near tree

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Grounded Through God

From Psalm 119:105:  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

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Life’s trials spinning around us

Challenging our unsteady beliefs

Grounded through God, we must trust

Bringing His Grace, granting us relief

 

Spiritually grounded, seeking refuge

Walking along God’s chosen path

Life chooses from God’s menu

Always correct, computes God’s math

 

Prayer time, our Father’s time

Encouraging one another

God delivers a new paradigm

His plan replaces all others

 

Sincerely humbling our hearts

Hearing God’s truthful Word

Our Lord proclaims a new start

Actions can no longer be deferred

 

Grounded through God

Anchoring to His cornerstone

He banishes the Enemy’s fraud

With our Lord, never alone

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From Ecclesiates 4:12:  “And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one.  A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

 

Monday Memories: Falling . . .

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Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Hiding from a hail of enemy fire on a blood-filled ridge

Losing a fallen comrade during a Korean winter long ago

 

Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Abandoning a radiant, young bride on a stormy night

Realizing now this decision was such a selfish error

 

Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Failing to slow down at a dangerous, sharp highway curve

Seeing a limp, lifeless body slumped in the passenger seat

 

Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Watching as unforgiving cancer strikes down a loved one

Wishing to stand in her corner and take away all of the pain

 

Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Hitting the streets looking for a chance to work again

Struggling to comprehend life without a worthy job

 

Falling . . .

Yet Again!

 

Drinking another “Jack Daniels” very late at night

Feeling despondent week after week with no life

 

Waking up . . .

Dropping to my knees!

 

Thumbing through a Bible

Finding Psalm 18

 

I love you, O Lord, my strength

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 

No longer falling!

 

The Scripture in bold type comes from Psalm 18.

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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

action adult affection eldery

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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

two persons standing on road surrounded by trees

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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

reach for the and blue moon neon signages

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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.”

person standing on hand rails with arms wide open facing the mountains and clouds

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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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