Enthusiasm’s Joy

From Mark 12:29-31:  “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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Another blessed day

Celebrate Father’s goodness

Unlimited gifts of grace

From Heaven’s sacred place

 

With each day, come to serve

Opportunity’s freedom

Spelled out through Christ’s faithful love

Gathered from high above

 

Sunset follows sunrise

Encouraged by Spirit’s breath

Honor Father with actions

More than just transactions

 

Share kindness with others

Holds enthusiasm’s joy

Love Jesus with one’s whole heart

Hope journeys to fresh start

 

Excitement’s daily peace

Truth in Father’s righteousness

Faith’s trustworthy bridge designed

Follow with steps aligned

 

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From Matthew 5:6:  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Reinvigorating (Haiku Series #312)

Stepping Back

Shelving pride’s spirit

Infusing fresh, new outlook—

Filled with humbleness

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Brightening Forecast

Dreaming overnight

Reaching for another star—

Tomorrow refreshed

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Awakening Makeover

Character’s frayed rope

Integrity’s transformed strength—

Potential nourished

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Monday Memories: Abandon Your Ways

From John 3:5:  “Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

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Living a dark life of sin

Failing to follow God’s Word

Walking as slaves in the flesh

“Abandon your ways” . . . unheard

 

Falling, ignoring our Lord

Leaving Him for empty thoughts

Taking our path, darkness prowls

Sinful hunger calls the shots

 

Consumed by life in the flesh

There awaits a better way

God never abandons us

Offering His Grace each day

 

God gives Himself entirely

Spirit marches to our hearts

Delivers His greatest gift

God’s Son offers a fresh start

 

Christ becomes our foundation

Jesus walking where we walk

Exchanging His life for us

Shepherd gathering His flock

 

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From John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Originally published September, 2020.

Father’s Truth

From Psalm 68:4:  “Sing to God; sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the clouds—His name is the Lord—be exultant before Him.”

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Singing with praises to Father above

Filling high heavens with jubilation

Forgiving every stumble through His love

Writing righteousness on heart of each nation

 

Leading His people toward mercy’s light

Forsaking darkness, hidden far below

Washing away sin, with snow very white

Living where river of peace always flows

 

Leaving wilderness for greener ridgetop

Quenching faith’s thirst with living water

Sowing His grace among each fertile crop

Blessing family, each son and daughter

 

Hearing Father’s truth, spoken through His Word

Raising up eternal hope, undeterred

 

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From Psalm 68:35:  “Awesome is God in His sanctuary, the God of Israel; He gives power and strength to His people.”

Faith’s Foundation (Elfchen Series #235)

Transcended

Witnessing

Empty tomb

Victory, Jesus lives

Hope’s darkness forever vanquished

Light

Promised

Impossible

Calvary’s cross

Crucifixion, death, burial

Meeting along Emmaus Road

Possible

Fulfilled

Believing

Messiah’s Resurrection

Chains forever broken

Enemy’s false assurances shattered

Redemption

All images courtesy of pinterest.

This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Inviting Voices

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Wind’s inviting voices

Welcoming from shadow’s past

Harmonizing spirits

Bright skies trying to hold fast

 

Darkness taking shortcut

Wakening to rising sun

Searching for tomorrow

Ahead of each setting sun

 

Wind chimes at every hour

Reminding of yesterday

Wishing for better times

Memories’ daily ballet

 

Today never backtracks

Writing journey’s blessed song

Soaring ahead, true joy

Nature’s essence comes along

 

Wind gathers final breath

Inviting darkness back in

Following every star

Round of dreams, ready to spin

 

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Promises Fulfilled

From Psalm 28:7:  “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”

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Every generation

Hope rests in Father above

His help in decades past

Built upon eternal love

 

From salvation’s refuge

Father’s strength grasps every hand

His presence shall defend

With faith’s shield, just as He planned

 

Hopeful hearts always trust

Father’s promises fulfilled

Morning’s light ever shines

Earthly ground now freshly tilled

 

Past, present, and future

Father’s guidance, count on it

Fed with living water

Darkness fades, ready to quit

 

Rejoice with today’s gift

Grace comes from Father above

Step forward, now accept

Songs of praise, filled with our love

 

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With lyrics written in 1708 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” provides an enriching complement to Psalm 28.  Watts fashioned this hymn from the verses of Psalm 90.  You are encouraged to listen to American singer, Bing Crosby, as he presents this stirring hymn.

Sweetest Comfort (Haiku Series #311)

Softness

First impressions count

Each smile creates another—

One more happy heart

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Playfulness

Lifting up others

Laughter’s contagious spirit—

Feeling heartfelt joy

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Tenderness

Sharing contentment

Cheerful heart opens one more—

Spirit’s gentleness

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Monday Memories: Empty Pages

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Life begins much like an empty book

Pages waiting as a tranquil brook

 

How will daily life compose each page?

Breathtaking words at every age

 

Words starting with childlike, joyful prose

Sentences fill with love, head to toes

 

Paragraphs arrive, smiling each day

First page finishes, much like crochet

 

Chapters now gather, picking up speed

Transmission accepts each tender reed

 

Pages adding up, never afraid

Days, weeks, months, years gather . . . no charade

 

Life reaches the twilight of its time

Not pausing, not even for halftime

 

Who will ever read this manuscript?

There’s time to add a final postscript

 

With empty pages, life’s book began

Words maturing, always in God’s plan

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Originally published September, 2020.

Journey’s Destiny

From Psalm 84:1-2:  “How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

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Future expectations

Journey’s path filled with light

Another page to open

Tomorrow looking bright

 

Peace dwells in Father’s heart

Journey’s joy hears His Word

Hope’s breath gathers strength from Him

Faith prospers from what’s spurred

 

Family, friends, career

Journey’s love means much more

Kneeling at cross in prayer

Savior cancels sin’s score

 

Challenges shall arise

Journey’s road appears blocked

Trust in Jesus sends faith’s key

Salvation now unlocked

 

Darkness breathing no more

Journey’s destiny bright

Christ delivers victory

Future filled with His light

 

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From Psalm 84:11:  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor.  No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.”