Jesus Comes Near

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Life’s wilderness breathes–this dark, lonely place

Falling away with sin, feeling disgraced

Searching for hope’s light, weary of darkness

Shame and guilt unmask tracks, never erased

 

Coming to this place, filled with prickly thorns

Plowing straight through, left bloody and battered

Searching for new hope, never forgotten

This harsh life’s future, forever shattered

 

Ominous clouds loom over horizon

Lightning strikes, temple curtain torn in two

Searching for a fresh start, to be reborn

Plodding into darkness, absent of clues

 

Deserving life’s worst, approaching the Pit

End of time arrives, stop and surrender

Searching for God’s Grace, feeling forsaken

Heavens brighten up, with newfound splendor

 

Stumbling steps make haste, Eternity waits

From bloody Cross, hope springs from empty tomb

Searching and accepting, come near this Cross

Salvation through Christ, our Father’s heirloom

 

Jesus beckons, come forward, taking knee

Bring sin’s burdens to the Cross, forever free

From Titus 2:11-13:  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives hat are self-controlled, upright,and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

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Elfchen Series #11 (Life)

Hello Sunshine

Winter

Gray skies

Ten days straight

Another day looms ahead

Sunshine

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Stumbling

Arrogance

Blind confidence

Swiftly racing ahead

Foolish, without good sense

Crashing

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The Best

Winter

Morning Walk

Peace with nature

Crunchy snow-covered trails

Tranquility

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Midnight Smorgasbord

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I woke up in the middle of the night last week.  A muffled series of sounds were coming from the kitchen, and no doubt my beautiful wife was up to something.

She had been fasting all day after we both enjoyed a pleasant mid-morning brunch., and now her hunger harshly interrupted her need for sleep.

I rose out of bed and began to creep silently toward the kitchen.

In the meantime, my wife was in the process of raiding the fridge for a midnight smorgasbord.  She had laid out a scrumptious feast on the kitchen counter with all kinds of tasty treasures.

She selected only three items, and was more than ready to sample a scrumptious, fried chicken leg and a cold piece of her favorite pepperoni pizza.

As I approached the kitchen, the only light was coming from the still-open refrigerator.  As I slipped unannounced into the kitchen, my wife’s midnight buffet was consuming into its final course . . .  dessert of course!

She was enjoying her final choice . . . a slice of decadent triple chocolate cake.

She turned and was shocked to see me up at this midnight hour (since I am usually a very sound sleeper).  She confidently told me, “I’m not night eating.  It’s time for ‘nunch.’”

With her mouth full, she asked, “Please pass me another slice of this yummy cake?”

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Morning Venture

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Winter’s journey, preparing to expire

Arctic cold and wet snow, moving aside

Back in the neighborhood, spirit on fire

More than ready, empty sidewalk can’t hide

 

Dressed in layers, protected from the brisk air

Total darkness masks the pre-dawn heavens

Not even the moon can offer a flare

This walk takes off, two hours before seven

 

The pace awakens long-dormant muscles

Stay alert, skewed sidewalk lurking ahead

Heading for home, the final pace hustles

This quiet journey, beats sleeping in bed

 

Coming days welcome a season of spring

Allowing more walks, a waiting heart sings

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Monday Memories: Morning Rain

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Raining heavily, this quiet Monday begins abnormally slow

Foregoing my usual morning walk, creating a tranquil flow

 

Drinking the day’s first cup of coffee, feeling absolutely fine

Enjoying the calmness and gray skies, for yet another time

 

Reading from the Bible, reflecting on God-inspired devotions

Feeling relaxed and silently focused, without much emotion

 

Listening to favorite old songs, tuning up a heartfelt smile

Realizing that my bike waits again, for some indoor miles

 

Praying to the Lord that my family enjoys a great day

Knowing that He will bring them peace along the way

 

Editing some poetry lines, now looking nearly ready to post

Searching for another thought, crafting words which boast

 

Appreciating another morning, more than ever before

Absorbing it into my soul, feeling delightfully restored

 

Looking forward to tomorrow morning, whatever it brings

Facing a day flowing with rain, lifting up this heart to sing

 

Destined for Triumph

This poem is a sister poem which has been written as a follow-up to a previous poem “Destined for Nowhere.”  If you haven’t read this poem yet, you may want to read it before viewing this poem.

From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

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Standing in the middle of “Nowhere”

Why should we even bother to care?

 

God answers, showing His Holy plan

Coming to earth, as the Son of Man

 

Bringing hope to a broken, darkened world

God’s love brings light, forever unfurled

 

Angels praise this Holy promise, yet to come

Christ promises life, no longer feeling numb

 

There is a new King in town, follow Him

His will defeats the Enemy, and our sin

 

Dust yourself off, bending a knee, and pray

God, the Father, loves us with plenty to say

 

From a cruel Cross, Jesus sheds blood for all

Forgiving our eternity of debts, is His call

 

Our Almighty Creator delivers His commands

Now come to taste His love, forever it stands

 

Christ offers the only path to Salvation

Remold our lives, flooded with stagnation

 

Believe Jesus, accept the Christ, follow Him

Step forward, forever freed from our sins

 

Through the Messiah, comes a risen taste

Destined for triumph, no longer disgraced

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Destined for Nowhere

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Life seems to intercept my best plans

Always leaving me with empty hands

 

Been knocked down more times than most

Perhaps, I should migrate toward the coast

 

Yet, I still survive most days, somehow

Rising again from the bloody canvas—Pow!

 

Standing alone, a battered warrior of one

Others followed promises to a faded sun

 

Every day delivers a fresh, new battle

Each minute of every hour, embattled

 

Trying to stand taller for a view

No time to rest, until I’m through

 

Life serves up more lessons to inhale

Ocean’s tides never wait for a gale

 

In my youth, destined for great fame

My dreams shattered, life now so lame

 

Standing in the middle of “Nowhere”

Why should I even bother to care?

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Haiku Series #58 (Life)

Riding Free

Riding my Harley

Opening the throttle wide—

Where’s Easy Rider?

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No More War

Peace around the world

Church bells proclaiming His joy—

Wars gone forever

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Togetherness

We need each other

Standing in community—

Never sail alone

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