The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. But the great teacher inspires.
Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.
William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) was an American motivational writer.
From the words of American naturalist, writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau: “Nature is but another name for health, and the seasons are but different states of health.”
Nature’s own therapy
Spring’s refreshing garden
Filled with colors of peace
Bearing life’s fresh pardon
Daily snapshot of hope
Each replenishing choice
Picked from nature’s goodness
Sharing next calming voice
Prime time’s blessed season
Signs of spirit reborn
Focused on healing light
Escaping from life’s thorns
Source of brighter outlook
Images praise with joy
Sweetened inspiration
Renewing vows deploy
Love accents morning air
Slightest breeze coming forth
Destined for harmony
Creating life’s true north
There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.
Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer whose novels are generally considered some of the greatest published during the Victorian era.
More shadows of silence
Light hidden at high tide
Overlapped with mystery
Waiting, tomorrow’s blindside
Each unique human trait
Some filled with brilliant light
Others covered in darkness
One choice strengthens in flight
Embers from steadfast light
Arriving at low tide
Covered with hope’s lasting peace
No longer with saddened eyes
Today’s filtering voice
Gentleness coming forth
Praises all filled with goodness
Compass treasures light’s true north
Tomorrow’s joy arrives
Without any delay
Time’s faithful persistence
Welcomed light of grace now stays
We cannot afford to be naive about evil–it must be faced. But we cannot be intimidated by it either. It will be used by God to bring good.
From Romans 8:31: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian author.
From Psalm 66:1-2: “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise.”
Our Father’s handiwork
Bringing glory to His name
Designs of every shape
Lighting eternity’s flame
Awesome are Father’s deeds
Turning darkness into light
Wonders of creation
Shining from nightly moonlight
Goodness from Father’s hands
Detailing His divine ways
Deliverance descends
Beholding sky without gray
Bigness of Father’s heart
Promising grace from His love
Filled with benevolence
Working always from above
From Psalm 66:3-4: “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your deeds! Because of Your great power, Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth worships You; they sing praises to You, sing praises to Your name.'”
Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds; fill it up with sunshine, kind words, and kind deeds.
From 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22: “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was an American poet and educator. Born in Portland, Maine, he has long been remembered for being one of New England’s fireside poets.
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.”
Our Father’s goodness
Glory, God and King
Bless and praise His name
Mighty greatness sings
Through generations
Honor His great deeds
Infinite wisdom
God’s faithful Word leads
Glorious splendor
Kingdom never ends
Eternal, Holy
Wondrous works, God sends
From Psalm 145:8-9: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made.”
His greatness declares
Lord everlasting
Praising righteousness
Mercies broadcasting
Cries, our Father hears
From darkness, redeemed
He stands, always near
God’s goodness, esteemed
Truth, call upon God
Grace, freely given
Love, witness a Cross
Sins, now forgiven
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “There are four words I wish we would never forget, and they are ‘God keeps His word.'”
Music is a bridge builder, connecting our stories.
In any given day, there are acts of courage and kindness that remind us of the goodness in the world.
Ellie Holcomb (born 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee.
Thought will not work except in silence.
The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a Scottish-born essayist, historian, and philosopher. He was a leading writer of the Victorian era.
Big Sky Buckeye 