Monday Memories: Living Truths

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

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

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

 

Photo by Garon Piceli on Pexels.com

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.

Righteousness Leads

From Psalm 138:7:  “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; You stretch out Your hand, and Your right hand delivers me.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Facing great troubles

Darkness surrounds thee

Grasping faith’s mighty Rock

Through Christ’s grace, one sees

 

Delivering light

Victory at hand

Watching enemy flee

Forever Christ stands

 

Fulfilling purpose

Gentle voice shares love

Lasting promise of peace

Christ views from above

 

Rising with new life

Fed with living bread

Preserving lasting hope

From Christ’s blood, He shed

 

Praising His Father

Mighty are His deeds

Sharing joy from His heart

Christ’s righteousness leads

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

From Psalm 138:8:  “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of Your hands.”

Monday Memories: Ultimate Grace

From Romans 5:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Our sinful nature

Takes Christ to the Cross

God responds with love

Grace reaches across

 

Jesus defeats death

Living cornerstone

Sacred salvation

Grace comes to atone

 

Father’s gift of life

Receive daily bread

Through our faith alone

Grace walking ahead

 

Christ teaches of love

Shares His peace of mind

Hearts and minds now cleansed

Grace saving mankind

 

Never fear again

Look forward to peace

Fate sealed with God’s love

Grace, life’s Holy lease

 

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When facing painful trials, we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us.  Remember that God orchestrated the greatest demonstration of love possible–His Son’s death on the cross.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Monday Memories: Keep It Simple

From Proverbs 15:15:  “All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

Photo by Alexander Zvir on Pexels.com

Life draining, more exhausted each day

Skies and mind, filling with darkest gray

 

Feet feeling locked, stuck in deepest mud

Fear turns on its spigot, now a flood

 

Advice shouts from all comers, all sides

Inner soul overwhelmed, faith divides

 

Daily walk, no longer stunning bright

Chaos reigns, becoming lasting night

 

Seasoned man, parked at Main Street’s corner

Life hits pause, who is this foreigner?

 

His thoughts and words, simple in their task

Holy Spirit reaches, to unmask

 

Keep it simple, fill your life with love

God’s peace, bringing comfort from above

 

In an instant, the wise sage departs

Night transforms to day, love fills this heart

 

Photo by Lukas Rodriguez on Pexels.com

From 1 John 5:3-4:  “ For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Wilderness Backpack

Central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park (June, 2020).

Hidden in forest’s depths

Creator’s kingdom reigns

Moving with quiet breath

Feeding nature’s unbroken chain

 

Spontaneous landscape

Creator’s rhythm sings

Breathing beauty’s freshness

Witnessing all that summer brings

 

Trees towering above

Creator fills each scene

Overflowing with peace

Reaching to heavens, grass so green

 

Tranquil waters roam free

Creator’s grace gives back

Nourishing youngest plants

Equipping wilderness backpack

 

Busy traffic drives by

Immune to forest’s sigh

Missing treasures within

Creator frames sunset’s goodbye

 

Photo by Ahmet Yu00fcksek u272a on Pexels.com

Heart’s Whispers (Haiku Series #330)

Caring

Encourage others

Offering heartfelt kindness—

Relationships blessed

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Loving

Sharing morning’s sun

Harnessing gratitude’s peace—

Light fills one more heart

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

Persisting

Try another way

Every step marked with patience—

Staying flexible

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Rejoice and Be Glad

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

Photo by Adam Kontor on Pexels.com

Rejoice and be glad in our God

His steadfast love endures forever

 

Giving thanks and praise to the Lord

His goodness shall reign forever

 

In our distress, God hears each cry

Without fear, we follow His way

 

His Peace driving away our fears

His Mercy filling up our hearts

 

His voice calls us to His refuge

Our confidence rests with the Lord

 

His Word comforting our sorrows

His Love healing our many wounds

 

From Psalm 118:24:  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

His Holy Son, our cornerstone

Salvation arrives at the Cross

 

His Grace delivering His love

His righteousness covering sins

 

God, the Father, blessing Spirit

Through His beloved Son, Jesus

 

His Wisdom showing us the way

His Manna feeding hungry souls

 

God’s infinite strength, our fixed Rock

All foes challenging us . . . vanquished!

 

Rejoice and be glad in our Lord

His steadfast love endures forever

 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

From Psalm 118:29:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Enlightened Testaments (Haiku Series #329)

Delivered Grace

Parched landscape cries out

Relay of scattered showers—

Raining tears of joy

Photo by Allie Keane on Pexels.com

Spirit Rests

Darkness arriving

Gentle sunset’s fading light—

Landscape’s nightly peace

Photo by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Pexels.com

Watchful Eyes

Precious resources

Stewardship of earthly gifts—

Tomorrow brightens

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

Albert Camus Quotes

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

Peace is the only battle worth waging.

Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French philosopher, author, and journalist.  In 1957, at the age of 44, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Renewal (Haiku Series #328)

Comforting

Morning’s gentle rain

Rinsing away dark outlook—

Sun rises with peace

Photo by Guohua Song on Pexels.com

Refreshing

Giant redwoods breathe

Quenching rains arrive onshore—

Coastline feeling peace

Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels.com

Fulfilling

Mountain waters run

Chasing ocean far away—

Rivers’ flowing peace

Photo by Baskin Creative Co. on Pexels.com