When I think of God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes leap and dance as they leave my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.
From Proverbs 15:15: All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer. Some of his most instrumental achievements dealt with the development of chamber music (both string quartet and piano trio).
Keep your face always toward the sunshine–and shadows will fall behind you.
Do anything, but let it produce joy.
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of America’s most influential poets. His writing prowess was not only evident in his poems, but also in his work as a journalist and essayist.
Inviting
Abundant life
Quenching spiritual thirst
Clutching Father’s steadfast promises
Relationship
Seeking
Lasting nourishment
Spiritual hunger fulfilled
Following our Father’s way
Peace
Hearing
Angelic voices
Bursting with praise
Mountaintops full of love
Joy
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.
Notebook always close
Springing forth from anywhere—
Writer’s endless thoughts
Writing with patience
Searching for smallest ember—
Words waken each flame
Quiet solitude
Stillness primes another page—
Words come, flowing free
Usually on most days
Life’s journey moves along
Solving another maze
Each answer never wrong
Hourly reality check
Simple truths always guide
Avoiding any wrecks
Every step filled with pride
Tomorrow will bring change
Certain as each sunrise
Stirring thoughts to exchange
Nothing waits in disguise
Goodness set to deploy
Positive always leads
Going forward brings joy
Lasting happiness freed
From Matthew 4:10: “Then Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'”
Choosing to worship
Searching wrong places
Feeding soul more lies
Filling dark spaces
Choosing to worship
Searching earth’s treasures
Finding temptation
Offering pleasures
Choosing to worship
Searching for false gods
Yielding more sorrow
Seeing only frauds
Choosing to worship
Searching for new plan
Reading Scripture’s truth
Hearing Son of Man
Choosing to worship
Searching new measures
Praying to Father
Seeing His treasures
Choosing to worship
Searching for true joy
Discovering peace
Riding God’s convoy
From Psalm 100:1-2: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Stirred up, walk with Jesus
Taking mercy’s high ground
Sharing our Savior
Hope never wavers
Overjoyed with Jesus
Stepping forward to serve
Loving our Savior
Grace never wavers
Pumped up for Jesus
Witnessing to others
Trusting our Savior
Peace never wavers
Thrilled to follow Jesus
Accepting Him always
Blessing our Savior
Joy never wavers
Moved to be with Jesus
Praying for each other
Meeting our Savior
Trust never wavers
Excited for Jesus
Living in His Kingdom
Praising our Savior
Faith never wavers
From Philippians 1:6: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
No darkness lasts forever. And even there, there are stars.
If you evade suffering, you also evade the chance of joy.
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was an American author who achieved success in the realm of science fiction as well as fantasy.
Where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account.
From John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) was an American lay speaker and Christian author. She was an active voice during the women’s suffrage movement as well as the temperance movement in the United States.
From the words of American-born philosopher, Pema Chadron: “Be kinder to yourself, then let your kindness flood the world.”
Waiting in life’s shadows, another year
Thinking conscious thoughts, ready to embrace
Setting aside more time for daydreaming
Leading to tomorrow’s energized space
Allowing positivity to shine
Sowing today’s seeds, filled with future hope
Reaping lasting harvest of inner peace
Looking ahead through New Year’s vivid scope
Finding humor’s lessons in life’s darkness
Focusing on single tasks, without more
Filling each day with heartfelt gifts of joy
Witnessing blessed year, coming ashore
Creating reservoirs of lasting light
Passing each on to others taking flight
Big Sky Buckeye 