Next Steps

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Morning’s gentle voice

Invitation welcomes all

New day rising

Creator’s spirit comes to call

 

Next steps contemplate

Opportunity at hand

Always present

Creator’s breath covers this land

 

Mind absent of thoughts

Tranquility extends grace

Empty page waits

Creator’s own words embrace

 

Time seems to stand still

Sky’s expanse frozen in blue

Quiet breeze stirs

Creator’s peace channels breakthrough

 

Darkness encroaches

Patient light chases away

Innocence dreams

Creator’s perpetual way

 

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God’s Assurance

From Hebrews 6:19-20:  “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

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God’s assurance

Backed up with love

Unchangeable

Reigns from above

 

God’s steadfastness

Shared through His Word

Unwavering

Light now unblurred

 

God’s character

Offered His peace

Unshakeable

Salvation’s lease

 

God’s persistence

Filled with His grace

Unrelenting

Truth to embrace

 

God’s perfection

Trusted faith’s scope

Unparalleled

Christ’s risen hope

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “Ask God.  Trust God.  We are completely dependent on Him for eternal life, for forgiveness, for character, for security.”

Positivity’s Nerve (Haiku Series #334)

Activation

Enlightened vision

Moving beyond next summit—

Goals looking forward

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Buoyancy

Disappointment comes

Marooned in valley’s darkness—

Sunrise lifts spirit

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Initiative 

Turning life’s next page

Heart opens another door–

Deepened excitement

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Monday Memories: Father’s Firm Hand

From Psalm 94:1-2:  “Lord, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth!  Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!”

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Holy, perfect Father

Bringing justice for all

Earth’s one, ultimate Judge

Love covers, like rainfall

 

Truest God of vengeance

Providing blessed Grace

Living high in Heaven

Father’s firm hand, in place

 

Lives thirst for discipline

Teaching knowledge, His Word

Knowing our hollow thoughts

Empty breath, minds stand blurred

 

Over the roaring seas

On highest mountaintops

Across fertile valleys

Earth’s Judge shall never stop

 

Gracious to believers

God’s goodness and kindness

Through our faith, accept Grace

Love overcomes blindness

 

Judging with righteousness

God’s law rules over all

Vanquishing the wicked

Justice builds righteous walls

 

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From Psalm 98:8-9:  “Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Father’s Certainty

From Psalm 23:6:  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

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Searching for life’s certainty

Facing darkness without end

Seeking mercy’s treasured light

Father’s truth will never bend

 

Praying for darkness to leave

Believing in light above

Accepting His timely grace

Father’s gentle touch of love

 

Walking into valley’s light

Stepping toward Heaven’s gate

Watching darkness crawl away

Father’s certainty creates

 

Rising from Calvary’s death

Trusting Savior’s final words

Defeating darkness at last

Father’s light no longer blurred

 

Feeling certainty redeemed

Tearing apart chains of sin

Seeing Eternity’s light

Father’s benevolence wins

 

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From 2 Timothy 2:8-10:  “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

Holiest Presence (Elfchen Series #257)

Breath

Messiah’s

Infant face

Witnessing Father’s love

Kingdom shall never end

Majesty

Afterglow

Mother’s

Ultimate favor

Bearing Father’s Son

Love filled with Spirit

Destiny

Remembrance

Savior’s

Humble Beginnings                        

Stable’s common feedbox

Angels praise Father’s joy

Light

All photographs courtesy of Pinterest.

Lighter Side of News

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Grandest mansion for sale

Anchors nearby lake’s yacht club

Billiards room’s crafted stained glass

Neighborhood’s vital hub

 

Viewing old photographs

Peek at Victorian times

Men with sculpted mustaches

Personal grooming rhymes

 

Master Gardener’s tasks

Skillful expertise it takes

Inspiration for others

Backyard coming awake

 

Preserving each antique

Timeless lessons filled with joy

Newest, precious collection

For others to enjoy

 

Red-shouldered hawks return

Hidden in tree’s highest nest

Maturing chicks taking flight

Passing nature’s big test

 

All of the above photos courtesy of Pinterest.

Hope’s Clear Light

From Colossians 1:4-5:  “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.  You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you.”

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Faith in Jesus Christ

Rising with hope’s clear light

Love descends from Heaven

Fulfilling mercy’s flight

 

Faith speaks through God’s Word

Nourishing truth each day

Whisper of light to trust

Breathing hope, never gray

 

Faith targets saint’s heart

Sowing each faithful seed

Spirit nurtures each one

Blessing how hope shall feed

 

Faith’s patient journey

Praying to Lord above

Strengthened steps persevere

Uniting with hope’s love

 

Faith’s kingdom shall come

Redeeming with love’s grace

Father, Son, and Spirit

Offering hope’s embrace

 

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From Colossians 1:12-13:  “Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Passage of Time (Haiku Series #333)

Forthcoming

Fateful ember glows

Another shared memory—

Seeing tomorrow

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Unfolding

Kindness extended

Grace added with every breath—

Character defined

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Encouraging

Diploma in hand

Open road’s invitation—

Adventures ahead

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Monday Memories: Keep It Simple

From Proverbs 15:15:  “All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

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Life draining, more exhausted each day

Skies and mind, filling with darkest gray

 

Feet feeling locked, stuck in deepest mud

Fear turns on its spigot, now a flood

 

Advice shouts from all comers, all sides

Inner soul overwhelmed, faith divides

 

Daily walk, no longer stunning bright

Chaos reigns, becoming lasting night

 

Seasoned man, parked at Main Street’s corner

Life hits pause, who is this foreigner?

 

His thoughts and words, simple in their task

Holy Spirit reaches, to unmask

 

Keep it simple, fill your life with love

God’s peace, bringing comfort from above

 

In an instant, the wise sage departs

Night transforms to day, love fills this heart

 

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From 1 John 5:3-4:  “ For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

Originally published November, 2020.