Monday Memories: Coast to Coast

worms eye view photography of statue of liberty

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Sightseeing from Atlantic to Pacific coasts

Experiencing America, with much to boast

 

Lady Liberty’s gleaming torch welcomes all

Blazing autumn colors define Vermont’s fall

 

Appalachians conceal valleys, nestled with small towns

Nashville plays music for biggest “Country” hoedown

 

Florida’s Everglades house gators galore

Across America’s skies, bald eagles soar

 

Commanding Mississippi River slices through the land

Florida and California beaches offer up surf and sand

 

Interstate highways transport autos everywhere

Great Lakes provide a waterway, here to there

 

New Orleans offering its French Quarter to entertain

To the South, Rio Grande River creates a watery lane

 

America’s breadbasket reaps harvests from the Great Plains

Loaded grain, freight, and more journey on mile-long trains

 

Towering Rockies sing of marvelous beauty up high

Visiting out West, appreciating a Big Montana Sky

 

Seattle’s Pike’s Market, a distinctive place to treasure

California’s redwoods, their height is one to measure

 

Arid Southwest rains bloom flowers throughout the land

Grand Canyon’s brilliant scenery plays a winning hand

 

Finally reaching the Pacific coast at long last

The Golden Gate Bridge arrives much too fast

golden gate bridge san francisco california

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Originally published September, 2019.

Righteousness Through Faith

From Romans 3:20:  “For no human will be justified before Him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

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Falling far short

With Father’s law

Darkness of sin

Man’s many flaws

 

False righteousness

Enemy seeks

Transgressions breathe

Judgment shall speak

 

Condemnation

Actions deserved

Love intervenes

Mercy preserved

 

Empty works fade

Grace filled with love

Sin meets Savior

Called from above

 

Calvary bleeds

Empty tomb’s light

Redemption saves

Heaven’s hope bright

 

Righteousness found

In Christ, our Lord

Through faith, not works

By His accord

 

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From Romans 3:27-28:  “Then what becomes of boasting?  It is excluded.  Through what kind of law?  That of works?  No, rather through the law of faith.  For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”

Beloved Shepherd (Elfchen Series #185)

Stability

Eyes

Always scanning

Shepherd leading home

Faith’s blessed green pastures

Hope

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Tranquility

Ears

Listening closely

Shepherd gathers each

Faith’s blessed still waters

Peace

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Eternity

Shepherd

Resurrection’s light

Rescued from darkness

Follow to be saved

Jesus

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Pushing or Pulling

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Life’s many contrasts

Endless connections

Myriad of opposites

Seeking further inspection

 

Day overcomes night

Life’s next stepping stone

Stubborn mindset accepts change

Learning from world’s great unknown

 

Every new journey

Wisdom’s gathering

Life learning to navigate

Recalling facts, staggering

 

Confidence growing

Life’s balancing act

Success opens one more door

Rising to sign new contract

 

Life teaches lessons

Trials not all rough

Either pushing or pulling

Guiding wagon, easy stuff

 

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Total Understanding

From Matthew 4:17:  “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'”

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God in human form

Born among earthly means

Humble beginnings

Filled with divine genes

 

Heavenly Father

Grace bears truth from above

Now sharing His Son

Everlasting love

 

Son of Man matures

Earthly feelings endured

Weary and pain-filled

Faith’s message assured

 

Ministry waiting

Guided by Father’s Word

Mercy feeds hunger

Christ’s path, undeterred

 

Stormy seas vanquished

Even Savior needs rest

Waters flow with peace

He passes each test

 

Emotions in check

Total understanding

Son of God prevails

His love commanding

 

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From Matthew 11:28:  “Come to Me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Energized for Another Day (Haiku Series #261)

Reaching for Comfort

Daily medicine

Ultimate stress reliever—

Laughter heals one’s soul

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Opening and Accepting

Turning from worry

Allow optimism in—

Joy mending one’s heart

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Waking to Peace

Perky morning song

Hope’s verses rejuvenate—

Shower of sunshine

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Monday Memories: God Walks Ahead

green trees near rock formation

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From the words of Moses

Don’t fear, be unafraid

Our Lord will fight for us

Standing firm, comes His aid

 

Protecting evermore

God stands everlasting

Delivers from bondage

His love, full and lasting

 

Sending His Son to earth

Jesus’ footprints cry out

Step in line, follow me

His peace reigns, without doubt

 

Crying out to our Lord

Consumed by life’s furnace

Covered by eagles’ wings

Follow Him with sureness

 

Darkened tomb found empty

Jesus overcoming death

Knowing God’s in control

Stay faithful, with each breath

 

Father always with us

Never forsaking us

His hope, comforting us

Walking ahead of us

scenic photo of pathway during daytime

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From Exodus 14:13-14:  “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.'”

Originally published April, 2020.

Guiding Star

From Matthew 2:10-12:  “When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they knelt down and paid Him homage.  Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Guiding star rises above

Magi journey on in peace

Leading toward Bethlehem

Seeking King, faith’s centerpiece

 

Destined to shepherd with love

Worshipping Almighty God

Heralded to spread righteousness

Unmasking evil’s façade

 

Bearing gifts, rejoicing praise

All fitting of promised King

Bending knees at sight of child

Adoring this wondrous thing

 

Overwhelmed with lasting joy

Seeing both mother and child

Offered gold, frankincense, myrrh

Exchanging peace, reconciled

 

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With lyrics crafted by noted English hymnwriter, William Chatterton Dix, “As with Gladness Men of Old” offers a marvelous image of the Epiphany message.  Dix is best-remembered for writing the lyrics to “What Child is This?”

Hope Fulfilled (Elfchen Series #184)

Reflection

Hope’s

Quiet trust

Faith lifted up

Light fortifies tender heart

Song

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Reaction

Hope’s

Faithful spirit

Following mercy’s light

Kneeling at Calvary’s cross

Prayer

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Restoration

Hope’s

Steadfast love

Watching for light

Faith waits with patience

Redemption

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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.

Nightly Mysteries

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Hidden by daytime’s blindfold

Nightly mysteries unfold

 

Unseen by small, sleeping town

Abyss of darkness won’t drown

 

Mythical legends stirring

Wind’s voices always purring

 

Heavy clouds cover moonlight

Twinkling stardust taking flight

 

Quiet tremors rolling out

Silent breathing’s faithful route

 

Landscape frozen at midnight

Escape rides with winter’s knight

 

Forest sentinels stand tall

Every tree shall never fall

 

Battle raging, nature makes choice

Night after night, peace shares voice

 

Running out of life’s fructose

Harshest memories now close

 

Writing danger’s forewarning

All forgotten by morning

 

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