Monday Memories: Marked by God

From Romans 12:1-2:  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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True Christians, marked by God

Born again, in Jesus Christ

 

Love always be genuine

Grasping all of life’s goodwill

Forsaking evil’s shadows

God’s presence never stands still

 

Cherishing one another

Actions bring honor to all

Serving Heavenly Father

Holy Spirit’s blessings call

Rejoicing, tomorrow’s hope

Enduring patience, breathing

Persevering in prayer

Christ builds durable sheathing

 

Assisting with others’ needs

Sharing kindness with many

Walk as brothers and sisters

Heaven’s home offers plenty

 

Stay noble, take life’s high road

Hungry rivals, feed with love

Live as one, in harmony

Good News comes from God above

 

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From Romans 12:19-21:  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’  No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Originally published February, 2021.

Encouraging Tomorrow

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Another uplifting story

Kindness writing every word

Sharing humble hearts at peace

Celebrating all that’s heard

 

Local heroes stepping forward

Kindness speaking from each heart

Making each small difference

Shaping city’s fresh restart

 

Joy mixed throughout every voice

Kindness enhances life’s strengths

Offering each breath of grace

Bringing hope within arm’s length

 

Love deepens each interaction

Kindness blesses day’s outreach

Encouraging tomorrow

Softening with words that teach

 

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Itzhak Perlman Quotes

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The most important thing to do is really listen.

Never miss an opportunity to teach; when you teach others, you teach yourself.

Itzhak Perlman (born 1945) is an Israeli-American violinist.

Breath of Kindness

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Community’s landscape

Overflowing with needs

Steps of kindness gather

Warming with grace that feeds

 

Invisible to most

Sowing with heavens’ love

Seeds of kindness planted

Sharing peace from above

 

Hope arrives every day

Connecting with traction

Breath of kindness travels

Harvesting each action

 

Slowly outlook changes

Nourishing so many

Light of kindness nurtured

Forwarding with plenty

 

One week, one day, one hour

Volunteering mends hearts

Proof of kindness growing

Doing its faithful part

 

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Anne Rice Quotes

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Be kind.  Always if you have a choice, be kind.

I think love can save the world. When we love, we completely recognize the value of the other.

Anne Rice (1941-2021) was an American author whose themes of fantasy and graphic horror filled many of her novels.

Martin Buxbaum Quotes

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If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr.

Home is where we tie one end of the thread of life.

Martin Buxbaum (1912-1991) was an American writer.  Blind at birth, he underwent a cataract operation which restored his sight.

Love One Another

From the words of American Christian author, James Dobson:  “It is important to know that you have to work to keep love alive, you have to protect it and maintain it, just like you would a delicate flower.”

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Encouraged to trust Father’s Word

Hope sown with Christ’s patient love

Precious seeds of kindness

Heaven harvests from above

 

Cultivated with Father’s grace

Eternal light never ends

Rejoice with Spirit’s peace

Fragile love strengthens to mend

 

Answered with Father’s faithfulness

Calvary pays debits of man

Love rises with new life

According to divine plan

 

Called by Father, who always cares

Love each delicate flower

Maintain, always protect

Backed up with mercy’s power

 

Commanded by Father above

Always love one another

Just as faith’s Savior loved

Every sister and brother

 

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

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Quote

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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.

Monday Memories: Power of Words

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Words used every day

Little or much to say

 

Used in positive ways

Conveying life’s essays

 

Mindful, powerful voices

Daily, humble choices

 

Impacting other lives

Celebrate with high fives

 

Disciplined purpose speaks

Positivity seeks

 

Sharing tender kindness

Truthful, without blindness

 

Careful to help and heal

Offering a square deal

 

Words paying it forward

True and straightforward

 

Thoughtful expressions said

Weaving with tender thread

 

Replace evil with good

Words plain and understood

 

Honest lyrics in song

Carried through all day long

 

Life unfolds from our text

Watchful where words go next

 

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This poem was written several days before January 6, 2021.  Its intention was to praise and encourage the positive power of words.  The events taking place in Washington, DC on January 6 showed the negative power of words.  How will our future words speak?

Originally published January, 2021.

Ellie Holcomb Quotes

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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.