Monday Memories: River of Life

From Psalm 92:12-15:  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

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River of life, unceasing in its travels

Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel

 

From heavenly source, cascades living water

Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter

 

When ultimate challenges travel too high

Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally

 

Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home

Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs

 

Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen

Traveling waters, transparent with routine

 

Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace

Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase

 

Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline

Looking back, years richer than any gold mine

 

Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled

River of life, journey which only God builds

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Testament’s Truth (Elfchen Series #275)

Comforted

Tested

By circumstances

Faith’s resolute light

Loneliness retreats to shadows

Trusting

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Empowered

Faced

With darkness

Faith’s boldest moves

Enemy expelled by light

Overwhelming

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Protected

Surrounded

By storms

Faith gathers strength

Rising from Calvary’s light

Reassuring

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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.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes

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Stay busy,  Be useful.

Strength does not come with winning.  Your struggles develop your strengths.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (born 1947) is an Austrian-born bodybuilder who has lived the American dream as an actor and California governor.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes

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Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.  Let us move forward with strong and active faith.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945). 

Oswald Chambers Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome.

From Matthew 7:13-14:  “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher.  Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons.  Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.  I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Monday Memories: Living Truths

From Proverbs 23:23:  “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

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Philosophy breathes steady, faith’s living truths

Waiting with wisdom, long missing from our youth

 

Life’s daily chase may not be worth small treasure

Reading God’s Word, bringing life’s honest measure

 

Plan on giving more to others than ourselves

Blessing us with far more than dusty bookshelves

 

Jesus teaches us to treat others with love

Harnessing our Lord’s grace and peace from above

 

Trust lives as hope’s virtue, never to be lost

Securing it tightly, at ultimate cost

 

Our daily comfort zone brings false sense of peace

Rising up with Christ, offering life’s new lease

 

Failure teaches toughest lessons of living

Earning later success, praise with thanksgiving

 

Mankind’s world spins daily, filled with too much change

Praying to God, calms life with daily exchange

 

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From James 1:17-18:  “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.  In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures.”

Originally published December, 2020.

Each Day (Haiku Series #331)

Illuminating

Obstacles ahead

Shading vision from darkness—

Coming into light

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Overcoming

Bumpy road jumps up

Watch out . . . another crater—

Changing tire again

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Harmonizing

“Things” lose their luster

Instead, heart swells with people—

Living simple life

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Fighter’s Will

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Bloodied, yet unbowed

Facing another trial

With relentless pursuit

Victory’s quiet exile

 

Stubborn in spirit

Challenging expected norms

Overwhelmed emotions

Victory’s breath waits to form

 

Positive outlook

Rising from valley below

Fighter’s will surfaces

Victory’s cherished chateau

 

Darkness encroaches

Scaling mountain’s lofty peak

Game’s outcome in dire straits

Victory’s voice waits to speak

 

Lightning’s final strike

Framing improbable run

Overtime’s goal completes

Victory’s cheers, say we won

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

This poem was inspired from watching a recent high school lacrosse post-season match.  Overcoming the odds, the victorious team fought back to win in overtime.  My granddaughter played an inspiring match, and her steal and goal sealed a sudden victory.

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

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Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th President of the United States.

Margaret Mitchell Quotes

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Hardships make or break people.

Burdens are for shoulders strong enough to carry them.

(Both quotes come from Mitchell’s novel, Gone with the Wind)

Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) was an American novelist and journalist.  Her only published novel earned the National Book Award for Fiction in 1936 and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937.