Enthusiasm’s Joy

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.”

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Another blessed day

Celebrate Father’s goodness

Unlimited gifts of grace

From Heaven’s sacred place

 

With each day, come to serve

Opportunity’s freedom

Spelled out through Christ’s faithful love

Gathered from high above

 

Sunset follows sunrise

Encouraged by Spirit’s breath

Honor Father with actions

More than just transactions

 

Share kindness with others

Holds enthusiasm’s joy

Love Jesus with one’s whole heart

Hope journeys to fresh start

 

Excitement’s daily peace

Truth in Father’s righteousness

Faith’s trustworthy bridge designed

Follow with steps aligned

 

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From Matthew 5:6:  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

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A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

[Both quotes come from separate speeches during 1903 where President Roosevelt was proposing his “Square Deal” as part of the federal government’s progressive reforms.]

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the 26th President of the United States.

Annie Lennox Quotes

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I live in a world of possibility and opportunity.  You look for the light.

I think that you can only be true to yourself.  Nobody can live up to other people’s expectations.

Annie Lennox (born 1954) is a Scottish singer and songwriter..  

Opportunity Talks

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Questions arriving

Between shadows of light

Escaping darkness

Answers soon begin flight

 

Reflective life pause

Mind’s daily traffic slows

Seeking fresh outlook

Instincts shall always know

 

Sunrise opens mind

Passion finds virgin route

Learning through new ways

Destiny set to sprout

 

Moment of failure

Part of life’s faithful quest

Dusting off oneself

Set to taste tomorrow’s best

 

Life’s transforming guide

Opportunity talks

Jumping right onboard

Confidence leaves dry dock

 

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Toni Morrison Quotes

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Something that is loved is never lost.

The function of freedom is to free someone else.

Ohio-born Toni Morrison (1931-2019) experienced the ultimate tributes given any novelist when she received the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her ground-breaking novel BELOVED and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.  Her many awards and published works were a testament to her gifts as a writer.

Hope’s Road (Elfchen Series #227)

Witnessed

Cherish

Father’s love

Another heart transformed

Journey into new life

Opportunity

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Traversed

Trust

Father’s love

Transformed in spirit

Scaling every high mountain

Courage

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Changed

Embrace

Father’s love

Grace opens eyes

Darkness transformed into light

Faith

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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.

A. B. Simpson Quote

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God is preparing His heroes; and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they come from.

From James 1:17:  “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

A. B. (Albert Benjamin) Simpson (1843-1919) was a Canadian-born pastor, theologian, and Christian author.  He founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Discipleship’s Door

From John 1:38-39:  “When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’  They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are you staying?’  He said to them, ‘Come and see.’  They came and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day.  It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.”

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Meeting stranger

On life’s remote road

One calls Him, “Lamb of God”

Holy seeds, already sowed

 

Messiah found

Another saint born

Faithful see Father’s light

Trust growing, from grace airborne

 

Blessed greeting

Shared from Son of Man

Faith’s opportunity

Son of God’s trusted game plan

 

Always present

Christ be everything

Believers find their home

Hope transformed by stalwart King

 

Self-pride now sleeps

Spirit set to soar

Mercy’s reign opens wide

Discipleship’s righteous door

 

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From John 8:  31-32:  “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”

Trusted Opportunity (Elfchen Series #222)

Journey

Seeking

Father’s door

Hiding in darkness

Overcome with shameful sin

Finding

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Repentance

Finding

Father’s door

Replacing selfish motives

Approach with sincere humbleness

Knocking

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Restoration

Knocking

Father’s door

Releasing earthy idols

Transformed heart, knocking again

Opening

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Zig Ziglar Quotes

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If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you.  If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.

Some of us learn from other people’s mistakes, and the rest of us have to be other people.

Zig Ziglar (1926-2012) was an American author and motivational speaker.  He inspired many with his wit, optimism, and Christian faith.