Fighter’s Will

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Bloodied, yet unbowed

Facing another trial

With relentless pursuit

Victory’s quiet exile

 

Stubborn in spirit

Challenging expected norms

Overwhelmed emotions

Victory’s breath waits to form

 

Positive outlook

Rising from valley below

Fighter’s will surfaces

Victory’s cherished chateau

 

Darkness encroaches

Scaling mountain’s lofty peak

Game’s outcome in dire straits

Victory’s voice waits to speak

 

Lightning’s final strike

Framing improbable run

Overtime’s goal completes

Victory’s cheers, say we won

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

This poem was inspired from watching a recent high school lacrosse post-season match.  Overcoming the odds, the victorious team fought back to win in overtime.  My granddaughter played an inspiring match, and her steal and goal sealed a sudden victory.

Rooted in Light

From Psalm 92:1-2:  “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”

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Father in Heaven

Praising His blessed name

Eternity’s hope

Love lights redemption’s flame

 

Father, O Most High

Sharing His steadfast love

Each morning and night

Rooted in light above

 

Father, Lord of Hosts

Blessing with mercy’s hand

Depth of love’s light

Just as He always planned

 

Father’s grace offered

Calling Son’s love to serve

Eyes opened to light

Salvation shall preserve

 

Father’s promised path

Shredding darkness with light

Christ rises from death

Righteous love taking flight

 

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From John 8:12:  “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'”

Enlightened Testaments (Haiku Series #329)

Delivered Grace

Parched landscape cries out

Relay of scattered showers—

Raining tears of joy

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Spirit Rests

Darkness arriving

Gentle sunset’s fading light—

Landscape’s nightly peace

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Watchful Eyes

Precious resources

Stewardship of earthly gifts—

Tomorrow brightens

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Monday Memories: Generation to Generation

The inspiration for this poem comes from an essay written by William E. Farr, “Troubled Bundles, Troubled Blackfeet:  The Travail of Cultural and Religious Renewal.”  This essay is part of a larger collection of writings that link Montana’s past with its future in the book, MONTANA LEGACY.

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Facing an uncertain world

Life asking questions of “when”

Intertribal wars threaten

Hostile danger setting in

 

Preserving Blackfeet culture

Each passing generation

Saving sacred heritage

Hold for next generation

 

Ritual artifacts cache

Spiritual lives won’t rest

Supernatural visions

Medicine dreams will attest

 

Honoring warrior life

Holy treasures speaking out

Collected and safeguarded

Sacred bundles carry clout

 

Filling with key elements

Common and natural sought

Feathers, hides, shells, horns added

Teeth, wood, bones . . . each with a thought

 

Passing on these rituals

Mother Earth, Creative Sun

Guarding life’s sacred relics

Legacy, father to son

 

Sample of a bundle’s contents (courtesy of Pinterest).

Originally published November, 2020.

Praises of Joy

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Witnessing God’s mercy

Praises of joy heard above

Rejoicing in His presence

Angels’ voices share love

 

Flowing with love-filled peace

God’s divine plan offers hope

Turning back enemy’s breath

Grace flows down Zion’s slope

 

Gathering Shepherd’s flock

Each sinner trusts light ahead

Exulting in God’s glory

Fed from love’s daily bread

 

Coming to Calvary

Christ bearing salvation’s key

Raising love beyond heavens

Debts nailed to brutal tree

 

Embracing righteousness

Darkness no longer pursues

Proclaiming risen Good News

Savior’s love, always true

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Bountiful Insight (Elfchen Series #252)

Acceptance

Embracing

Journey ahead

Trusting Father’s input

Spirit’s faithful, guiding light

Wisdom

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Cultivation

Gathering

Precious seeds

Father’s wisdom sown

Harvesting His timely grace

Truth

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Reassurance

Savoring

Positive outlook

Taking righteous steps

Empowered with Father’s wisdom

Contentment

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Pathway Toward Success

American baseball legend, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, had a simple philosophy as a hitter:  “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”  In his major league career, he endured many, many strikeouts, but he also hit record numbers of home runs.

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Journey’s imperfections

Discovering each day

Simple philosophy

Always swinging away

 

Freedom to meet failure

Swinging again with might

Confidence maturing

Baseball rises in flight

 

Pathway toward success

Achieving one more dream

Every strikeout teaches

Lessons ride each sunbeam

 

Vision’s bright tomorrow

Learning from yesterday

New challenges arrive

Inning’s next double play

 

Courage stepping out front

Embracing today’s game

Fearless in attitude

Humbleness blends with fame

 

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Transformative

From Isaiah 32:17:  “The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”

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Transformative in vision

Merciful justice reigns

Filled with Father’s righteousness

Harvesting ripened grain

 

Transformative in purpose

Judgment from Father’s hand

Thirst quenched by living waters

Saving this weary land

 

Transformative in mission

Refuge upon hope’s rock

Eyes opened to Father’s truth

Encouraging faith’s flock

 

Transformative in passion

Forgiveness of debts owed

Resurrection’s eternal light

Walking Christ’s risen road

 

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From Luke 24:13-16:  “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”

Renewal (Haiku Series #328)

Comforting

Morning’s gentle rain

Rinsing away dark outlook—

Sun rises with peace

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Refreshing

Giant redwoods breathe

Quenching rains arrive onshore—

Coastline feeling peace

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Fulfilling

Mountain waters run

Chasing ocean far away—

Rivers’ flowing peace

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Monday Memories: Anthem of Grace

From Hebrews 11:1:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

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Weary times, filled with quiet tears

Witnessing mankind’s cruelest hurts

Hate, division, violence, fears

God’s grace, peace, love . . . never deserts

 

When witnessing injustice, stand

Lift up voices, sing with passion

Offer a loving, helping hand

Filled with oneness and compassion

 

No longer sit with thoughts muzzled

Liberty-filled harmonies ring

God’s grace flows, days never puzzled

Loud as roaring seas, let us sing

 

God’s Word lighting eternal fires

Inside our faith, unwavering

Hope fills each heart, never expires

Teachings of Jesus, favoring

 

Jesus always front and center

Faithfully walking as His feet

Loving as His hands, our mentor

Marching on, His grace ever sweet

 

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From 1 John 5:3-5:  “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.  Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Originally published October, 2020.