Monday Memories: Across the Street

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My retirement years usually produce a smile

But some days sink my spirits deep, by miles

 

My childhood sweetheart and lovely bride

Now rests with God, absent from my side

 

I stay occupied with my yard each morn

Discovering pleasure from nature’s form

 

 

There is a fine lady across the street

She emerges looking nice and sweet

 

She stays active around her place

Her yard definitely fits her tastes

 

The grass is mowed and trimmed

I wonder how she stays so thin

 

 

There seems, between us

A subliminal connection

Inviting her for coffee

Is my dreamy confession

 

 

Her petunias appear superior to mine

       Perhaps I’ll ask for her secret, in time       

 

She smiles when my puppy is outside to play

I wonder what her plans will be for this day

 

I imagine what she might think about me

Watching me hang a bird feeder in a tree

 

 

There seems, between us

A subliminal connection

Inviting her for coffee

Is my dreamy confession

 

 

We both come from the same generation

Her beauty creates a wonderful sensation

 

I’m thinking of walking across the street

Meeting this fine lady would be a treat

 

She steps back inside from the dry, summer heat

Perhaps tomorrow morning, we can finally meet

 

My Grandfather lost his childhood sweetheart and bride, but believe it or not, he found love again . . . across the street!

Reinhold Niebuhr Quote

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The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as a historic truth.  Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.

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

Healing Our Divisions

This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer.  God’s peace!

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Lives pretending to follow a Holy God

Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit

Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ

Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it

 

Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times

Behaving outside of our Father’s design

Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right

Only walking with Jesus, should lives align

 

Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest

Thirsty for true living water and care

This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace

Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers

 

Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation

Unifying voices throughout this nation

 

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From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23:  “So let no one boast about human leaders.  For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”

From Her Window

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Peering out from her window

Times changing much, much too fast

Being alone many years

Husband and friends having passed

 

Small home meets her meager needs

But, the neighborhood has changed

Folks come and go, few she knows

Life blurs by, as if arranged

 

Sheltered from the outside world

Homebound most days by herself

Family in distant states

Ignored like books on a shelf

 

Watching some television

Staying away from the news

Remembering old classics

Dreaming of Julie Andrews

 

Reading occupies her time

Local newspaper connects

Crossword puzzle smiling back

Novels thrill with their suspects

 

Peering out from her window

Another sunset draws near

Unfamiliar car drives up

Grandchildren bring happy tears

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Quintet of Brothers

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College basketball star and high school majorette

Growing up under Montana’s brilliant Big Sky

Destined to raise this band of brothers as their sons

Rearing five boys, better than any Fourth of July

 

Household of boys born over a span of twelve years

Perhaps their father dreams of a basketball team

While their mother nurtures with love and care

Quintet of brothers’ thoughts filling with biggest dreams

 

Brothers grow up, facing life’s many challenges

Inspired by a father with amazing courage

Battling back from near-fatal car crash in his youth

His steadfast work ethic always encourages

 

These driven brothers discover their niche at school

Excelling with their academics in the classroom

Competition fuels a welcome outlet through sports

Lives mature too quickly, future destinies zoom

 

This family story would never be complete

The boys’ mother remembers God’s lovely bouquet

These five brothers always cherish their one sister

Believe it or not, she’s born on Valentine’s Day

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This poem gives you a quick glimpse into my childhood family.  Growing up under Montana’s Big Sky was a blessing for my brothers and sister.  The memories will last a lifetime.

Always with Us (Haiku Series #80)

Finding

Running to Jesus

Feeling the Holy Spirit—

Finding still waters

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Hearing

Kneeling at the Cross

Praying for America—

Hearing the Gospel

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Loving

Jesus’ teaches us

Always loving our neighbors—

Step forward as one

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Walking with Jesus

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Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem.  America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation.  The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.

From Jeremiah 6:14:  “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

Praying for peace in our city

Loving Jesus takes center stage

Welcoming peace into all hearts

Hearing love of God over rage

 

Listening to cries of anguish

Walking with Jesus protects all

Showing empathy for neighbors

Sharing His peace at every call

 

Stepping forward with trusting words

Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care

Saying “peace, peace” with conviction

Lifting hands high, love fills the air

 

Standing and feeding His lost flock

Replacing discord, Jesus comes

Proclaiming a new dawn today

Following Grace-filled, beating drum

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From Isaiah 57:19:  “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”

William Penn Quote

hands people friends communication

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Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.

From Mark 12:29-31:  “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel:  the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.'”

Visions of Love (Tanka Series #1)

A Tanka is a Japanese form of poetry, which is related to its cousin Haiku.  The poem uses 31 syllables covering five lines (with syllable counts following a 7, 5, 5, 7 and 7 sequence).  An effective Tanka uses personification, metaphors, and similes in its construction, and it performs well in expressing a mood, a thought, or a feeling.   

Love fills the cosmos

Dancing among twinkling stars

Destined to shout out

Galaxies singing with joy

Witnessing marital bliss

mountain under starry sky during nighttime

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Love breathing with joy

Smiling with each encounter

Spanning countless miles

Igniting one connection

Nurturing with every kiss

man kissing his woman

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Love struggles at times

Drowning in desert valleys

Clawing for ways out

Traversing each mountaintop

Shouting with joy, a new start

man and woman sitting on rock

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Following His Voice

From 1 Peter 2:25:  “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

woman standing near sheep

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Like sheep, we wander astray

Turning away from our Lord

Feeling harassed and helpless

Sheep lost, by our own accord

 

God lays a new cornerstone

Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son

Calling us, hearing His voice

His work will never be done

 

Leading us, on this right path

Following His voice, love flows

With Him, we shall never want

Restoring souls, we all grow

 

Good Shepherd, loving His sheep

Bringing comfort, rod and staff

Green pastures, nourishing us

Still waters, on our behalf

 

Jesus, loving Good Shepherd

Unblemished, Lamb of God casts

Body and blood on that Cross

Risen Savior, His hope lasts

sky sunset person silhouette

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From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller:  “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”