Love Triumphs

From 1 Corinthians 13:13:  “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

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Living hollow life without love

Nothing but emptiness, thereof

 

Disconnected faith fills our veins

Minus love, tall mountains remain

 

Mankind’s meaningless possessions

Forgotten in life’s recessions

 

Worldly knowledge, means so little

Love gently binds, never brittle

 

Love arrives with Holy kindness

Patience without any blindness

 

Never arrogant or hateful

Without envy, always grateful

 

Jesus teaches, love each other

Sincere love, sisters and brothers

 

Caring God so loved this dark world

Christ’s own unselfish love unfurled

 

From a blood-stained Cross comes His Grace

Love speaks out, sin falls on its face

 

Our Lord offers His Holy gift

Faith, hope, love . . . no longer adrift

 

God’s Word delivers life’s new lease

Love triumphs, building lasting peace

 

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From the words of Christian theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr:  “The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as a historic truth.  Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.”

Monday Memories: Gratitude

This poem is a guest post from my then 11-year old granddaughter.  She wrote this poem for her Language Arts class, and she has given permission to post her untouched words just as she wrote them.  Enjoy the gratitude that she shares.

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com

This warm bed

that is really comfy and soft

that is only payed off

by my parents and their jobs

that is filled with

blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals

that is around me as I

dream off to sleep

 

I lay there at night

to recharge my body

I lay there to rest

my body

I lay there if I am sick

to help heal my body

I lay there to wake up

to get ready for the day

 

As we get ready to

dream off again

I lay there ready to fall

asleep

Soon I am fast asleep  ZZZZZZ

 

Father’s Identity

man in black leather jacket wearing black framed eyeglasses

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Beautiful melodies

Cellos and violins

Stirring memories

New lives, set to begin

 

Father with daughters

Growing up with each one

Precious treasures to bless

Through Father, Holy Son

 

Music playing, forevermore

Images of each step

Laughter filling their rooms

Love knocks at our doorstep

 

Afternoon tea parties

Playing games, singing songs

Favorite storybooks

Life perfect, never wrong

 

Seeing their eager eyes

Savoring school’s first day

Playing in autumn’s leaves

Days never seem too gray

 

Watching each girl mature

Life’s incredible ride

Graduation moments

Wedding days at their side

 

Playing in the background

Peaceful serenity

Past, special moments

Father’s identity

My life has been blessed with a splendid and loving trio of daughters who have made fatherhood a true blessing.  I was listening to a rendition of Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major” as I wrote this poem.  I especially enjoy strings or piano (all three of my daughters are accomplished piano players).  Here is a sample of the music.  Enjoy!

 

Passing the Torch

man wearing gray and brown hat with eyeglasses

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Watching Saturday’s unhurried sunrise

Feeling gratefulness, spirit shall arise

 

Being retired, life moves at much slower pace

Realizing, there’s no need to win life’s race

 

Remembering grandfathers, crisp and clear

Teaching life lessons, steady and sincere

 

Growing up, learning from their example

Tasting life with every new sample

 

Loving family, with kindness and care

Treating marriage, with love beyond compare

 

Passing on wisdom, making good choices

Sitting here now, hearing cherished voices

 

Accepting their torch, these years move along

Being a grandfather, where love belongs

 

Filling up life, grandchildren sharing love

Joining other grandfathers, fits like a glove

green lit torch

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quote

achievement confident free freedom

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It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

From Colossians 3:15-17:  “And let peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

A. W. Tozer Quote

achievement confident free freedom

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Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.

From Psalm 50:23:  “Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor Me; to those who go the right way I will show the Salvation of God.”

Fallen, Never Forgotten

army burial cemetery cross

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

American flag

hangs mournfully

at half mast

 

Honoring a

courageous, fallen soldier

on a distant battlefield

 

Many come

to honor this

patriotic, young man

 

Supporting his loved ones

Family, wife, and children

 

Who will miss

his gentle soul

 

Let us

never forget

this day!

 

The ultimate sacrifice

paid by

one mighty soldier

 

So many others

may be free

 

U.S. Army Specialist Joseph P. Collette died on March 22, 2019 from enemy fire in Afghanistan while on a combat mission.  This poem is written to honor him along with all who have fallen.

 

Gratitude

This poem is a guest post from my 11-year old granddaughter.  She wrote this poem for her Language Arts class, and she has given permission to post her untouched words just as she wrote them.  Enjoy the gratitude that she shares!

This warm bed

that is really comfy and soft

that is only payed off

by my parents and their jobs

that is filled with

blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals

that is around me as I

dream off to sleep

sock monkey plush toy on bed

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com

I lay there at night

to recharge my body

I lay there to rest

my body

I lay there if I am sick

to help heal my body

I lay there to wake up

to get ready for the day

 

As we get ready to

dream off again

I lay there ready to fall

asleep

Soon I am fast asleep  ZZZZZZ