Some stuff can be fixed, some stuff can’t be. Deciding which is which is part of maturing.
My biggest accomplishment has been making a transition from athlete to author.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes
5
Daily Praise
From Psalm 145:21: “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.”
Receiving God’s eternal glory
Filling us with His mercy and love
Declaring salvation through His Grace
Singing with praise, like a morning dove
Blessing His name, our most awesome Lord
Stepping forward, showing gratitude
Honoring His Holy righteousness
Extolling His patient fortitude
Sending forth His Word, filled with goodness
Guiding lives from high Heaven above
Creating breathtaking tranquility
Abounding with lasting, steadfast love
Proclaiming His infinite greatness
Praying to the Father, praise His name
Lauding His glorious, wondrous works
Declaring our Lord’s mighty acclaim
Peace is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank. (author unknown)
Dorothea Brande Quote
There are seeds of self-destruction in all of us that will bear only unhappiness if allowed to grow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Incessant
This poem takes a different route from much of my usual poetry. It begins with the word “incessant” and carries this meaning throughout the poem with various synonyms. Using free verse, the number of syllables remains consistent with seven in the odd-numbered lines and ten in the even-numbered ones. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Early in the morning’s peace
Welcoming the incessant quietness
Predawn light creates shadows
Enjoying their unending playfulness
Cool, crisp air signals autumn
Witnessing the season’s ceaseless nature
Solitary doe walks nearby
Looking for tender grass, endless craving
Neighbor walking her collie
Moving with an uninterrupted pace
Front porch provides morning roost
Dreaming now of countless, unbroken thoughts
Past memories parade on by
Watching an ongoing video show
Former students fill the room
Flourishing with unflagging attention
Grandchildren always gather
Hearing constant laughter, bringing a smile
North wind gusts with icy chill
Feeling winter biting with nonstop bliss
Frigid cold invades the porch
Warming now, by persistent fireplace flames
Life has been kind, a blessing
Spending everlasting time with our Lord
Dwight D. Eisenhower Quotes
Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving subordinates credit for everything that goes well.
We the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.
Dwight D. Eisenhower served America as its 34th President. During World War II, he was chosen to lead as the Supreme Allied Commander.
For the People (Elfchen Series #28)
Hear Their Words
Listening
Founding Fathers
Sharing our cause
Now speaking to us
America
Unity in Voice
Sunrise
Another day
Freedom for all
A nation stands as
One
A Dream for All
People
Seeking equality
Hand in hand
All races and creeds
Togetherness
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) joins in a theme of “For the People.” This phrase was used by American President Abraham Lincoln near the end of his famous Gettysburg Address (follow the link to read the entire speech).
Charles Stanley Quote
To be called children of God means that we earnestly seek His redemption–not just for ourselves but for the whole world.
From Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
24/7 Refuge
From Psalm 31:24: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”
Facing life’s trials and critics
Soul and body wasting away
Discouraged, hurting, and distressed
Broken down, strength failing . . . decay
Needing encouragement with love
Safe from others, place for healing
Looking for refuge, where to turn
Life under siege, tired and reeling
Seeking lasting grace and mercy
Delivering us from dark gloom
Rescue arrives, stand and rejoice
His steadfast love, fully in bloom
Staffed by a special redeemer
Our strength, comrade, fortress, and rock
Holding us up with steadfast love
Follow Him, our living bedrock
Called by another name . . . Jesus
From Psalm 31:1-2: “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”
John Calvin Quote
Hope is nothing else than the expectation of those things which faith has believed to have been truly promised by God.
From Romans 8:24-25: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Endless Race
Running on this daily treadmill, filling life’s gloomy story
Falling behind in life’s endless race, without much glory
Working Nine to Five, five long days each week
Stumbling through every month, looking bleak
Forgetting when life last paused for any vacation
Punching in, punching out . . . time clock fixation
Heating up life’s pressure cooker, deadlines loom ahead
Hoping the lid doesn’t blow off, propelled into tiny shreds
Watching everyone trying to row in the same boat
Rowing in separate directions, now barely afloat
Refueling the tank, this coffee break no longer helps
Scurrying on empty, might just as well holler a yelp
Taking the elevator to another miserable meeting
Ending up on the wrong floor, no warm greeting
Driving home each night, worn down to a blown-out frazzle
Stopping at the same red traffic light, it no longer dazzles
Racing every day, life delivers another coup de grace
Looking left, then right . . . who’s winning this rat race?
