Honesty’s
Blessed illumination
Trusting in God
Light synchronized through Him
Choices
Actions
Requiring God
Life’s daily calculations
Putting Him always first
Focused
Viewing
Earthly landscape
From God’s perspective
Nourished with heavenly grace
Patience
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
Socrates (death in 399 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher from Athens. He has often been credited with the founding of Western philosophy.
Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.
In this universe we are given two gifts: the ability to love and the ability to question. Which are, at the same time, the fires that warm us and the fires that scorch us.
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a best-selling American poet, who received many honors for her work. Her love of nature can be found in much of her writing, and it resulted in honors from the National Book Award in 1992 and Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Encouragement in Christ
Sharing love-filled grace
Witnessing humility
Heart’s very special place
Of one mind with Jesus
Sharing selfless love
Caring first, for others’ needs
Led by Spirit above
Every breath mirrors Christ
Sharing mercy’s joy
Walking with unselfish thoughts
Honest actions deploy
Each step follows Jesus
Sharing Spirit’s light
Taking obedient path
Humbleness guides faith’s sight
Always focused on Christ
Sharing fresh outlook
Living within dignity
Tomorrow’s quiet brook
From Philippians 2:14-15: “Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.”
When you focus on problems, you get more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you have more opportunities.
You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.
Zig Ziglar (1926-2012) was an American author and motivational speaker. He inspired many with his wit, optimism, and Christian faith.
Special Note: Sometimes my early morning time brings God’s Word into greater focus. This poem walks through a day filled with His vision.
Waking up early on a darkened, rainy day
Unable to walk, disrupting my morn with gray
Turning off the news, craving a necessary break
Immersing in other blogs, with their unique take
Sharing thoughtful comments, here and there
Always reminded, so many people truly care
This stubborn mind stores much, obsolete clutter
Causing my mature engine to cough and sputter
Life’s music sometimes offers a stimulating tune
Witnessing other perspectives, into an afternoon
Discovering positive discussions, comforting my mind
Challenging me to see, steps lead to future grace to find
Life’s lens sometimes fails, entirely clouded over
Like searching for a four-leaf, in a field of clover
As a culture, broadcasting anew from many landscapes
Exchanging ideas, opening our lens to exciting escapes
Our Lord, fashioning in us a curious intellect to wear
Stepping out, witnessing life as others wish to share
Reading God’s Word, helping to clear the murky view
Seeing life through His lens, aligning honest and true
Originally published March, 2020.
Focus on being productive instead of busy.
What we fear doing most is usually what are most we most need to do.
Timothy Ferriss (born 1946) is an American entrepreneur and author.
From Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Temptations swirl all around
Feeling peace turning sour
Life spinning out of control
Facing another hour
Distractions overwhelm hopes
Setting each one aside
Wisdom’s courage reaches out
Becoming journey’s guide
Darkness fading before Light
Seeing evil no more
Character nurtured with grace
Aiming for heaven’s shore
Blessings from Father above
Warming each heart with praise
Courage flowing from wisdom
Lasting spirit ablaze
From the words of British writer and lay theologian, C. S. Lewis: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you get neither.”
When we stay focused on Jesus, we can take comfort in knowing He’ll lead us through the hard places.
From Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.”
Whatever we focus on determines what we become.
From Proverbs 4:25: “Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you.”
Eli Stanley Jones (1884-1973) was an American Christian missionary, theologian, and author. Most of his missionary work took place in India where he became a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. His biography about Gandhi’s life proved to be quite influential with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Big Sky Buckeye 