Monday Memories: No Longer Alone

From Psalm 31:1-2: “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

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Life struggles with loneliness

Days without human contact

Isolation grows, lights go dim

Time without purpose, sidetracked

 

Scorned, rejected, forgotten

Christ also feels all alone

Where have His disciples gone?

Taunted, tortured, overthrown

 

Holy God always at work

Cries of loneliness, He heeds

Our needs, never glossed over

Spirit moves others to lead

 

Alone, never life’s last word

Visits from others arrive

Blessed comfort sealed with love

Sustaining light will survive

 

Darkest loneliness leaving

Empty hearts fill with courage

Father’s love touching each soul

His blessings shall encourage

 

God’s love remaining steadfast

At death’s cross, Christ not alone

Darkened, empty tomb proclaims

God’s triumph, faith’s cornerstone

 

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From Psalm 31:14-16: “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox Quotes

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Love lights more fire than hate extinguishes.

The two kinds of people on earth are the people who lift and the people who lean.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) was an American writer and poet. Her most famous poem was “Solitude” which begins with the following line: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”

Monday Memories: His Presence Leading

From Psalm 88:1-2:  “O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.”

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Cold stillness greets early morning air

Dressed in armor’s extra warm layers

Pre-dawn speaks with inviting brightness

Heavenly Father answers prayers

 

Heart’s emptiness filled with sorrow’s grief

Walking life’s open road with brisk pace

Precious moments with Father’s goodness

He stands ready at this time and place

 

Frigid frost slaps rosy cheeks and nose

Step after step, life moving along

Chill penetrates through extra clothing

Heart needs comfort, love from Heaven’s song

 

Absent clouds replaced with brightest sun

God’s advent warms both body and soul

Speaking with loving mercy and grace

Father softens pain from rocky shoal

 

Walk’s intensity traded for peace

Warmness and hope, alive and feeding

Life’s burdens lightened with God’s blessings

Sharing much more, His presence leading

 

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From Psalm 25:16-17:  “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Sharing Precious Love

From Psalm 118:26:  “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

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Rejoice with this new day

God sharing precious love

Blessed Word guides our way

Behold gifts from above

 

Extend love to others

Family and friends shine

Each sister and brother

Feeling God’s love, divine

 

Christ sheds blood, out of love

Building faith’s cornerstone

Treasured, caring, proud of

Never feeling alone

 

Remembering God’s saints

Memories still alive

Cherished thoughts now repaint

Holding tight each archive

 

Lord is God, brings His light

Giving thanks for His grace

Blessed angels take flight

Precious love shall embrace

 

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From Psalm 118:1:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”

Originally published March, 2021.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quote

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Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

From Matthew 22:36-39:  “‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'”

Monday Memories: What’s Your Rush?

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Driving fast down time’s hectic road

Passing new sign’s life-changing mode

 

Hey busy people, “What’s your rush?”

Best to paint life with brand new brush

 

Slow self down, before passing by

More to life than hello and bye

 

Coffee’s better with second cup

Take time to really size life up

 

Spend precious moments, call your friend

Each minute pays big dividends

 

Look around, lend others your hand

Playing music on life’s bandstand

 

Time spent with young children at play

Ageless, feeling younger each day

 

Neighborhood walk with man’s best friend

Rounding out life’s perfect weekend

 

Share love with your special someone

Lighting rainbows with rising sun

 

Cruisin’ along life’s peaceful street

No rush now, enjoying each treat

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Originally published March, 2021.

Mother Teresa Quote

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Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.

From Ephesians 5:19-21:  “As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.“

Joy’s Grateful Presence (Haiku Series #381)

Faith

School bells ring again

Goodness gathers in classrooms—

Forging lasting ties

Peace

Excitement growing

Connecting school year’s journey—

Every tender reed

Love

Hallowed hallways smile

Teacher’s lantern full of hope—

Welcome back children

Monday Memories: Eternal and Lasting

From Psalm 100:4-5:  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

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Master of creation’s universe

Father’s love, boundless and enduring

Defying mankind’s understanding

Endless waterfall, reassuring

 

God’s lasting presence covers this earth

Filled with unending mercy and care

Sharing His love, bringing us gladness

Hearing concerns, answering prayers

 

Our world rotates between night and day

Yet, God never ceases His labors

Cherishing us, sheep in His pasture

Caring and loving us—as neighbors

 

God’s eternal and lasting love flows

Filling every second with love

His steadfast love shall always prevail

Sharing His love from heaven above

 

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From the words of Christian writer, Corrie ten Boom:  “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Nothing More Precious

From John 12:44-46:  “Then Jesus cried aloud:  ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in Him who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees Him who sent me.  I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.'” 

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Across this world’s vastness

There’s nothing more precious

Than our God-given life

Primed to breath by His grace

 

Every precious day

Praise God for its richness

Honor life’s simple ways

Praying with thankful hearts

 

Just as God molds this earth

Spirit works tirelessly

Shaping and stretching lives

Blessing each precious breath

 

God’s precious hands guiding

Framing, leading, teaching

Crafting lives, filled with love

Accept His blessed gift

 

Charged with following God

Life’s precious, rocky path

Falling with stumbling steps

But, Father picks us up

 

Savoring each day’s breath

There’s nothing more precious

Honoring Lord of all

Straight to life’s final end

 

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From Psalm 23:5-6:  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

Following prayer and reading my Bible, my thoughts went into writing this special poem.  Indeed, there is nothing more precious than life.  On March 17, 2021, my stepfather, Ed, went to the Lord.  The love he shared with my mother (his loving Martha) was boundless, and I was blessed to share my Christian faith with him.  The unconditional love given by my mother to her blessed Ed will be a lasting gift because it has been witnessed by so many others.  

Originally published March, 2021.