Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by another encounter with another human being.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a French-born theologian, writer, humanitarian, and philosopher. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life.”
From Hebrews 10:19-20: “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh).”
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Sharing these words of eternal hope
Living with hope-filling optimism
Gathering with positive people
Persevering through God’s bold prism
Living as faithful children of God
Hearing our Father’s message of hope
Realizing now, hope springs from our Lord
Praising His Word, helping us to cope
Joining into a New Covenant
Filling with assurance from His Creed
Approaching with hearts, clean from evil
Washing with His pure water, indeed
Recalling our earlier struggles
Showing compassion through hopeful hearts
Maintaining endurance, life’s ahead
Remaining faithful, as life restarts
Holding fast to God’s blessings of hope
Encouraging daily, each other
Blessing with our love and gracious deeds
Standing with our sisters and brothers
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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Jim Cymbala: “We urgently need people who encourage and inspire us to move toward God.”
Originally published May, 2020.
Looking through honest lens
Working from novel ways
Encouraging chorus
Filling every hour with praise
Setting aside worries
Embracing revisions
Writing life’s next chapter
Seeing tomorrow’s vision
Stepping forward with hope
Gazing at clouds afar
Embracing each treasure
Reaching for another star
Tasting sweeter moments
Moving from perfection
Pursuing unique path
Mirroring heart’s reflections
The thing that looks the most ordinary might end up being the thing that leads you to victory.
If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you.
Matt Haig (born 1975) is an English writer and journalist. Much of his writing focuses on novels with fictional themes for adults as well as children stories.
Listening
Without ceasing
Holy heavenly Father
Sharing His lasting Word
Prayer
Growing
Spirit within
Enduring with patience
Overcoming power of darkness
Hope
Praising
Savior Jesus
Living godly life
Bearing His divine fruit
Strength
There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It’s up to you to decide what to do with them.
Enjoy your life, the precious moments you have.
Jim Valvano (1946-1993) was an American college basketball coach. Born in Queens, New York, he brought his indefatigable spirit wherever he went.
Sharing affirmation
Bringing life tender smiles
Instilling confidence
Overcoming trials
Echoing words of praise
Focusing on kindness
Speaking positive words
Removing fear’s blindness
Spreading more peace and joy
Helping each other out
Expressing happiness
Casting away life’s doubts
Watching out for darkness
Lighting up someone’s day
Affirming yet again
Sweetening life’s sorbet
In writing this poem, my creative juices challenged my poetic pen to quickly craft meaningful prose filled with positivity. Today, may your thoughts and actions toward others share plenty of positive affirmation.
From 2 Timothy 1:3-4: “I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.”
Witnessing God’s desires each day
Growing in faith, kneeling to pray
Coming to our Savior in faith
Sharing blessings of the Good News
Telling others about Jesus
Understanding the Gospel’s views
Calling on the name of the Lord
Believing in His divine Grace
Saving us through body and blood
Walking with Christ, our special place
Studying Biblical teachings
Guiding others, led by God’s love
Drawing ever closer to Christ
Coveting His peace, from above
Abiding in Christ, the true vine
Encouraging our daily walk
Building stamina and our faith
Lighting our path, around the clock
Living under God’s righteousness
Trusting our Father day and night
Submitting to sacred commands
Transforming lives through faith’s daylight
Breathing with Savior’s peace and joy
Running to Jesus, faith’s convoy
From Philippians 4:19: “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
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.”
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Big Sky Buckeye 