Heaven’s Gate

From Psalm 118:19:  “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.”

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Glorious morning light

Blessings from Father’s heart

Angelic voices praise

Calling out faith’s fresh start

 

Tomb forever empty

Raising Messiah’s love

Hallelujah’s sing out

Praising heavens above

 

Risen Savior conquers

Draining river of sin

New covenant flowing

Uplifting quest begins

 

Divine plans now fulfilled

Spreading faith’s greatest news

Darkness vanquished at last

Breathing from mercy’s view

 

Bridge built to Heaven’s gate

Fulfilling gift of grace

Good Shepherd holds its key

Seeing at last, His face

 

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From John 10:9:  “[Jesus speaking] I am the gate.  Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

Steady Hand (Elfchen Series #198)

Bestowing

Sunset

Tomorrow’s worries

Spirit’s grace resets

Waking to morning’s peace

Sunrise

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Bearing

Burdens

Multiply baggage

Calvary breathes mercy

Jesus carries every piece

Lifted

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Leading

Unmatched

Tidal wave

Facing major decisions

Father guides each step

Wisdom

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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.

Amongst Brightest Stars

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Another school day, found in learning’s shrine

Thoughts seeking adventure’s breath of escape

Youth deserves to fill tomorrow’s headlines

Endless visions gathered, flight plan takes shape

 

Looking up into heavens’ blackened sky

Seeking to travel amongst brightest stars

Dreaming of final frontier, flying high

Searching incessant mysteries afar

 

Piloting starship of latest design

Fascinating discoveries in view

Transforming as universe redefines

Unlocking galaxy’s intimate clues

 

Departing from mankind’s earthly cocoon

Reading Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon”

 

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This poem has been crafted as a sonnet:  Note the four stanzas filled out  with 14 lines, each line contains a total of 10 syllables, and the consistent rhyming pattern connects every other line in each stanza.  It is doubtful that William Shakespeare ever considered designing a sonnet around this theme.  Renowned French writer Jules Verne published one of literature’s earliest science-fiction novels, From the Earth to the Moon, in 1865.  

Promised by God

From Psalm 107:1-2:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those He redeemed from trouble.”

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Overcoming one more trial

Patience seeking unsteady heart

Navigating life’s endless miles

God’s light insuring faith’s fresh start

 

Bringing lost sheep to green meadows

Darkness replaced with mercy’s hope

Meeting truth, forever aglow

Savior extends light’s righteous rope

 

Giving thanks to Christ’s steadfast love

Redemption proven, empty tomb

Releasing grace from high above

Spirit’s light, transforms every room

 

Fulfilling Word, promised by God

Thirst now quenched, hunger at last fed

Witnessing His love, never flawed

Light at cross, enemy has fled

 

Transforming life, away from sin

Faithfulness renewed, finding grace

Blessing Resurrection’s linchpin

Savior’s light takes its righteous place

 

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From Ephesians 2:4-5:  “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Dignity Intact (Haiku Series #274)

Resolute

Solid character

Bracing against every storm—

Always standing tall

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Sincere

Genuine remarks

Appreciating others—

Integrity speaks

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Resilient

Fame’s fleeting limelight

Humility covers heart—

Enduring respect

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Monday Memories: Ridgetop Treasure

From above the ground, a trellis provides a fertile place for grapes to grow.

From a ridgetop garden

Nature’s treasure hides out

Offering its harvest

Flora lives all about

 

Flowers blooming early

Winter now disappears

Colorful bouquets reign

Sweetest fragrances cheer

 

Warming springtime sunshine

Changes the ground cover

New, tender shoots of grass

Young deer will discover 

A young deer finds the tender grass to her liking.

Trellis roof shelters grapes

Ripen in summer’s sun

Fill with juicy flavor

Birds enjoy tasty fun

 

Apple and black walnut trees

Shading nature’s grand shrine

Fruit dropping to the ground

Squirrels and deer will dine

 

Former home site lives on

Garden paradise waits

Coming alive each spring

Winking back at its mates

Apples ripen in the warm summer sun.

All of the photographs were taken during a couple of recent morning walk at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is just minutes away from Canal Winchester, Ohio.  The hilltop garden remains long after the house (built in the 1930s) was abandoned.  I was blessed to spend several minutes photographing a very cooperative deer while I was quietly standing near a tree.  

Originally published July, 2020.

Faith’s Rebirth

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Heavenly message

Writing with new hope

Lifting spirits high

Praising faith’s bright scope

 

Heavenly boldness

Persevering grace

Penetrating love

Praising faith’s new base

 

Heavenly mercy

Blessing with each breeze

Filling lungs with peace

Praising what faith sees

 

Heavenly goodness

Sharing righteous voice

Adorning with joy

Praising faith’s best choice

 

Heavenly greatness

Descending to earth

Filling one manger

Praising faith’s rebirth

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Blossoming Faith (Elfchen Series #197)

Beginning at Sunrise

Faith’s

Daily priority

Always seeking first

Righteous hand of God

Relationship

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Setting Worries Aside

Troubles

Weighing heavy

Tomorrow’s must wait

Grace through faith blessing

Today

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Compass Settings Calibrated

Seeking

Faithful light

Navigating life changes

Alignment always with God

Perspective

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River’s Glory

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From high mountain meadow

River begins fateful trip

One mile follows another

Flowing at steady clip

 

Creator’s light precedes

Clear path to river’s glory

Journey shaping each landscape

Scripting nature’s story

 

Time shall never stand still

River’s persistence will win

Always forward to its goal

Streaming patience within

 

Day will come, very soon

River sets up final score

Faithful waters running free

Asking for nothing more

 

Ocean’s waters ahead

Finish line in river’s sight

Peace traveling through its pulse

Pulling eternal might

 

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Wisdom Interceding

From 1 Kings 3:5:  “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.'”

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Life’s adaptive landscape

Father’s faithful seeding

Walking new avenues

His wisdom interceding

 

Dreams flow with endless peace

Father’s mercy speaks

Offering new insights

His wisdom strengthens what’s weak

 

Sunrise brightens each mind

Father’s steady view

Filling one’s righteousness

His wisdom comes shining through

 

Day brimming with praises

Father’s grace feeding

Finding mountain meadows

His wisdom superseding

 

Light shall topple darkness

Father’s goodness flows

Choosing each time and place

His wisdom sends love to grow

 

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From 1 Kings 3:9:  “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”