
Life is God’s gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to God. Make it a fantastic one.
Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998) was an American author and motivational speaker.

Life is God’s gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to God. Make it a fantastic one.
Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998) was an American author and motivational speaker.

Waking up early
Tasting morning’s sunrise
Brewing extra coffee
Blessed exercise
Turning off headlines
Producing one’s own news
Looking outside for joy
Always better view
Extending kindness
Helping neighbor with chores
Finishing up early
Never keeping score
Praising each minute
Gathering, coffee’s up
Meeting with cherished friends
Rewards with each cup
Witnessing sunset
Putting past hours away
Giving thanks for life’s pulse
Every gifted day

Spending time at home
Relaxing bounty of peace—
Worldly noise can wait

Seeding with patience
Harvest’s bounty shall come forth—
First blossom appears

Praising second chance
Bountiful reconnection—
Restoring friendship

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.”

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

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?”
Watch out:
The word of the world; yes it has much to say . . .
. . . You have planning, and shopping, and shopping some more.
Then comes cooking, and wrapping and baking galore.
It’s a hustle and bustle that grows every day.
The snowball grows larger and rolls where it may.
You just can’t stop it, so watch out . . .
GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Watch out:
The word of the Lord, yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Rest your body and spirit, and then rest in me.
There’s a reason and meaning, a meaning to see.
It’s not parties or Santa behind that one day.
Go slowly and stop now, the star leads the way.
Some may have missed it, so watch out . . .
HE SLEPT ON THE HAY!

Such a small gift; so humble and so dear.
Could you possibly give it?
Could you be that bold?
Such a rich gift; so special and so near.
Could you possibly share it?
Could the truth be told?

Watch out:
The word of your life, yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Wrap the gift of the baby who brought us God’s grace.
Give His love to the world and to all you embrace.
Tell the world that this baby grew to be the way.
Go slowly and stop now, to hear Jesus say.
Don’t let them miss it, so watch out . . .
MY CROSS WAS THE WAY!

Watch out:
The word of the world; yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Still the word of your life can be of much more worth.
If you share with the world to celebrate His birth
Tell the world it’s not Santa, but Jesus who says.
Go slowly and stop now at my cross today.
Salvation is there, accept it . . .
I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!

Such a small gift; so humble and so dear.
Could you possibly give it?
Could you be that bold?
Such a rich gift; so special and so near.
Could you possibly share it?
Could the truth be told?
(All photos courtesy of Pinterest.)
This guest poem is written by the real Mrs. Buckeye. My wife, Colleen, is the author, and this poem will be included in her upcoming book, Bits ‘n’ Pieces of My Heart. The book is written for young families, and it will include devotions, poetry, short stories, and activities. She expects to publish it sometime in 2024.
Morning’s
Faithful sunrise
Gifted from Father
Love opens another window
Hope

Prayer’s
Comforting conversation
Father’s faithful presence
Nourishes another hungry heart
Hope

Evening’s
Glorious sunset
Created by Father
Faithful tomorrow always waiting
Hope

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.
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Each morning sunrise
Father’s gift to thee
Heaven’s brilliant skies
Mercy offers free
Coffee friends meeting
Father gathers all
Grace pours out greetings
Kindness fills each y’all
Kitchen’s window view
Father sharing peace
Each tender fescue
Life’s renewing lease
From each faithful seed
Father’s blessed prize
Harvest’s bounty feeds
Thoughts forever wise
Day’s fading sunset
Father always here
Night’s trusted cornet
Rhythm always clear

From Psalm 42:8: “By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”

Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights.
From Isaiah 43:18-19: “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Dale Evans (1912-2001) was an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She also just happened to be married to one of the most famous of Hollywood cowboys, Roy Rogers.
Morning thunderstorm
Followed with rain’s gentleness—
Summer’s welcome pause

Ripened, golden fields
Filling nation’s breadbasket—
Ready for harvest

Autumn’s dry stream beds
Snow falling on mountaintops—
Spring’s blessed run-off


The greatest gift you can ever give another person is your own happiness.
It is impossible to control conditions that others have created.
Esther Hicks (born 1948) is an American inspirational speaker and author.