Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
A man can’t soar too high, when he flies with his own wings.
William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet and painter. One of his most famous poems is entitled “The Tyger.” Here are the opening verses:
Photo by Eduardo Braga on Pexels.com
Standing and lifting eyes upward
Asking for help
But, from where will it come?
Reading from a cherished Bible
Finding the words
Of a patient and gracious Lord
Humbling images of God’s plan
Creating the heavens
As well as the earth
Feeling the grace of God
Providing shade
At one’s right hand
Sleeping is never His wish
Watching over
His people at every moment
Praying to a compassionate Lord
Listening now
His words bring comfort
Protecting us at all times
Witnessing Him
Forevermore
The background for this poem comes from the Bible; see Psalm 121.
If you want to reach your potential, you need to add a strong work ethic to your talent.
From John 3:16: “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.”
John Maxwell (born 1947) is an American pastor, author, and speaker. He has written numerous books about leadership, with a Christian point of view.
From Daniel 1:17: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.”
Life’s empty vision
Forsaking this heart
Empty days and nights
Waiting for restart
Wisdom comes forward
Warming this cold heart
Heaven’s power stirs
Blessing life’s jumpstart
Father’s divine Word
Lifting up this heart
Treasures of mercy
Bringing life’s kick start
Victory arrives
Restoring this heart
Wisdom’s vision breathes
Gracing life’s bold start
This poem is inspired from the blessed Irish hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.”
What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties.
From Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) was a British preacher, evangelist, and author. He was one of the most reverent and competent Christian voices during his lifetime.
Ohio has used one of the most unique flags found in America’s 50 states. Few state flags have experienced such a journey in its making.
Admitted to the Union in 1803, Ohio would not have an official state flag until 1902. Its inventor, John Eisenmann, was given the task of creating a flag for Ohio’s exhibit building at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.
Trained as an architect, Eisenmann realized that a flag was necessary to recognize Ohio at this exposition. He wanted something unique in its design to fly over the building which he was designing.
The shape was called a swallow tail burgee. Burgees were associated with boating and yachting. It has remained the only state flag in the United States to not be a rectangle.
Colors and shapes symbolized a variety of meanings about the Buckeye State.
The colors of red, white, and blue resembled those of the American flag as well as the U.K. Union Jack. Ohio was an extension of the original thirteen English colonies with roots in the territories of Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Thirteen stars, which were grouped in a circle, represented the original thirteen American states. Four lone stars signified that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the Union.
A large, white circle with a red center signified an “O” for Ohio. The blue triangle symbolized Ohio’s hills and valleys while the five white and red stripes refer to its roads and waterways. “Five” was a significant number because it referred to the original states from the Northwest Territory: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Buckeye Snapshots take a look at Ohio’s places, events, and people. Previously published posts are linked below. In case you may have missed one, enjoy a visit.
This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing. You are invited to participate with the opening question.
Anne has 3 blouses, 4 skirts, and 2 pairs of shoes. How many different outfits can she wear if an outfit consists of any blouse worn with any skirt and either pair of shoes?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) served as the third President of the United States for two 4-year terms (1801-1809). He was an accomplished farmer, lawyer, and architect.
Some interesting notes about Jefferson included:
Following his election in 1800, Jefferson was given a major opportunity in greatly expand the land size of the young United States. France was in need to extra money because of Napoleon Bonaparte’s ongoing European wars. They offered to sell their stake in North America, which became known as the Louisiana Purchase, for $15 million in 1803.
24 (3 x 4 x 2 = 24)
A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks.
The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.
Richard Bach (born 1936) is an American writer, who is well-known for his literary masterpieces from the 1970s. One of his biggest sellers has been JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL (1977).
Baptismal
Mountainside spring
Filled with healing
Thirsty heart now restored
Waters
Receiving
Christ’s love
Following faithful steps
Paying forward to others
Compassion
Brokenness
Jesus builds
Redemption’s eternal bridge
Between sin and God
Living
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.
What good does it do me if Christ was born in Bethlehem once if He is not born again in my heart through faith.
From 1 Peter 1: 22-24: “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls.”
Origen of Alexandria (c. 185 – c. 253) was also known as Origen Adamantius. He was a Christian scholar and theologian who spent the first half of his life in Alexandria (Egypt).
Big Sky Buckeye 