Dear Lord
Make me a man
Of fervent prayer
God’s Holy Word
Commands me to pray
Without ceasing
Encourage me
To bring everything
To you my Lord
When discouraged
Let me pray
You are my refuge
When joyful
Let me offer
Prayers of thanksgiving
In all things
Great and small
At all times
Whether happy or sad
Let me seek
Your wisdom and grace
Amen
Today, may God bring you the courage to ask him for guidance. Ask Him to lead you to a “right” place.
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Failure will arrive
From the ashes of despair—
Comes greatest success
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Life’s sticky messes
How do we clean it all up?
Seek God’s helping hand
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Focus on God’s Word
Walking on a truer path—
He will see us through
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Sports teams abound
Loyal fans cheer on
Unique names astound
What is a Laker?
Honoring “Land of 10,000 Lakes”
Minnesota becomes Los Angeles Lakers
What is a Dodger?
In Brooklyn, dodging the trolley tracks
Becoming baseball’s “Dem Bums”—the Dodgers
What is a Canuck?
Referring to a French Canadian
Now hockey’s Vancouver Canucks
What is a Celtic?
Honoring Irish, Welsh, and others
Now a trademark of the Boston Celtics
Who are the Knickerbockers?
Remembering Dutch settlers’ trousers
NBA Knicks shortened from Knickerbockers
Why the Wizards?
Depicting violence as the NBA’s Bullets
Transformed into the energized Wizards
What is the meaning of the Mets?
Official team name of baseball’s Metropolitans
Becoming New York’s “Amazin’ Mets”
What’s with the Jazz?
Utah certainly doesn’t fit today
Formerly in New Orleans as the Jazz
Why the Cleveland Browns?
Sounding like such a simple name
Founded by their coach Paul Brown
Pausing now to catch an exciting game
Let’s hope their name brings them fame
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Life feels upside down
Angry with fists clenched
Barking back at God
You have forsaken me
Please, please my Lord
Don’t push me away
Heart fills with courage
Waiting for my God
Look around to witness
Patience comes to many
Those immersed in faith
Righteous saints never forsaken
God asks for perseverance
More to one’s life
Than just plain enduring
Bring me staying power
God is my stronghold
In times of distress
For those seeking him
God will never forsake
God always walks ahead
He was with Moses
He’ll be with you
Never to forsake you
Ask for God’s protection
Through faithful, fervent prayer
God’s justice will return
Never, ever be forsaken
Open hands, open arms
Looking up toward God
Submitting to my Lord
Never to be forsaken
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Only one of you
On a planet of many—
Yes, you are special!
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God remains thoughtful
His creation of family—
Amazing grandchildren
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Allow life to come
Sharper and better focused—
Slow down, now to see
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Teammates
Summer baseball
Loyal and together
Winning fifteen straight games
Champions!
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Wishing
Lady Sadie
My new puppy
Rides in a Mercedes
Spoiled
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Waking up early on a cold December day
Love fills a man’s heart with much to say
Driving for hours down a solitary highway
Love travels along in an encouraging way
Discovering ways, over the months, of staying close
Love opens up ways to correspond, making the most
Sending beautiful notes, cards, emails, and more
Love delivers its delightful words—ready to soar
Receiving a call at pre-arranged times
Love melts the distance, always fine
Pulling into the Bismarck airport, ticket in hand
Love boards an airplane, heading to a new land
Flying east through endless, friendly skies
Love reminisces with a smile, as time flies
Transferring to one more flight, halfway there
Love paints with color, adding magic and flair
Landing in Columbus, awakens anxious emotion
Love lights up, presenting its passionate devotion
Waiting for luggage, eyes intently searching wide
Love waits for a woman to appear from the side
Meeting at long last, up close and personal today
Love radiates between two souls, with lots to say
Loving each other, despite the great distance
Love creates a spark, more than an instance
Witnessing love through God’s guiding hands
Love finds a way to a pair of wedding bands
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This story is true. The love expressed between two people conquered the miles between Ohio and Montana. Now you know the rest of the story. My bride and I recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.
Country music fans assemble at the “Shoe”
Sitting in Ohio Stadium offers quite a view
Buckeye Country Superfest fills the place
Hungering for “Country”—ready to taste
Football won’t be on the agenda this Saturday
Filling the Horseshoe with music and fun today
Pleasurable, comfortable June weather arrives
Assuring five performers will sing, full and alive
Raelynn, Midland, and Chris Janson arrive here
Adding their unique music for everyone to hear
Blake Shelton and George Strait close out the night
Singing memorable hits under the stars, what a sight
Aspiring, fresh talent Raelynn launches the show
Sharing her lovely voice, with music ready to go
Midland’s Texas honky-tonk excites the crowd
Harmonizing and powerful performers—Wow!
Their astounding ability to entertain and sing
Recognizing this trio possess talent to bring
Rising star Chris Janson comes out on the stage
Energizing, bold music thrills people of any age
He humbling witnesses about his rich Christian faith
Gathering his incredible voice, what music he makes
The evening definitely isn’t ready to stop, not at all
Waiting in the wings, the biggest talents stand tall
Blake Shelton performs an array of hit after hit
Pumping up the crowd to a frenzy, few ever sit
He turns the stadium into a church with “God’s Country”
Blessing an audience in the middle of Buckeye Country
Blake prepares the gathering for the “real” King
Walking out now, George Strait steps up to sing
The King of Country Music sings to everyone
Witnessing his classic tunes is so much fun
His band “Ace in the Hole” adds to the grand night
George sings “Amarillo by Morning” . . . Goodnight!
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God’s eyes see every precious delight
His creation fills us up with vivid light
God’s steadfast love remains precious to one and all
Seeking refuge with Him, when we stumble and fall
Each day is precious, my mother reminds
Sort of makes one desire to hit “rewind”
Others bring us much, much happiness
Every day is precious, without sadness
Our own blood is precious in God’s sight
Living together in unity, pleasingly right
Life is more precious than any jewels we wear
Our Lord’s actions and words convey His care
Witnessing births of three daughters bring charm
Asking God to protect each from any and all harm
Finishing a fulfilling teaching career, on that final day
Never imagining becoming a writer with much to say
We appear amazingly precious in God’s eyes
Placing value in us, as much as the blue sky
Coming to Him with a genuineness of faith
More precious than gold, He guides our fate
Waiting for the arrival of day, with its humble form
Experiencing these moments, becomes the norm
Producing the most from God’s hallowed favors
Even sour lemons make great lemonade to savor
With grandchildren, lunch and bookstore visit
Feeling the love . . . just enjoy, wait, and sit
Summertime in Montana, with Big Sky style
Spending precious time together for awhile
Nature offers a view of God’s creative mind
Discovering precious days, forever to find
Jesus brings us Salvation, we honestly never deserve
This sturdy cornerstone of our faith, humbly we serve
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You may notice a few of my personal reflections in this poem. There are many more to add, but these few will last for a lifetime.
Waking up on a cold, frigid, winter morn
Looking like one more day with a storm
Pulling the warm covers over my bare head
Let’s fast forward to a new season instead
Always dreaming big at night
Never alone, perfect delight
Fast forward to a hot summer day
Sensational, unblemished blue sky
Feeling an urge to jump up, shout and say
Have you ever seen a more beautiful sky?
Seeing a Big Montana Sky
Morning sun climbs high
Traveling to Montana brings pure pleasures
Experiencing a saddlebag full of treasures
Shining high above, a cloudless view
Bringing a smile to God, always true
Always dreaming big at night
Never alone, perfect delight
Western hospitality, the Big Sky way
Filled with warmest smiles, no haste
Be certain to come back as we always say
Montana’s Big Sky, the Last Best Place!
Seeing a Big Montana Sky
Morning sun climbs high
Both photographs come from my private collection of images from southwestern Montana. Some of my readers have probably missed earlier posts about Montana, the Big Sky Country. Here are links to previously published posts about my native state. Enjoy!
From a poem, experience a ride on the train in southern Montana:
Become better acquainted with Montana’s largest city:
In poetic form, learn more about some of Montana’s history:
Here is a final poem about Native American history:
