God allows us to go through trials so our faith will grow; then we can help others while glorifying Him.
From 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Waiting
Endless wilderness
Lessons in patience
Mercy rewards faith’s journey
Perseverance
Feeding
Resurrection breathes
Faith carries righteousness
Mercy reigns over Cross
Redemption
Witnessing
Father’s love
Person to person
Sharing Spirit’s blessed light
Reflections
Every precious day
With another step taken—
Rhythm’s magic leads
Three strikes and you’re out
New inning, second chances—
Back in batter’s box
Feeling reclusive
Feeds introvert’s humbleness—
Autographing prose
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Bone-chilling winds turn life upside down today
Delivering frigid, Arctic storms to every town
Thickening ice, spreading across the lake’s bay
People running straight into gusts, heads down
Wind chimes endlessly sing a winter-filled blast
Watching the thermometer effortlessly dive
Wondering, how long will this deep freeze last?
Somehow, everyone remains warm and thrives
The townsfolk cope, accepting winter’s greed
Facing long, harsh winters, most every year
Helping others to survive, when one’s in need
Winter’s severity never brings about fear
Finally one day, the wind changes its sound
Pitching warmer air, by way of a chinook
Lightening the load for everyone around
Smiles arrive, from every cranny and nook
Spring will soon send out her welcoming band
Replacing life’s burdens, with warmer wishes
Surviving winter’s struggles across the land
Winter to spring, life crosses familiar bridges
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Originally published February, 2020.
Often it isn’t the mountains ahead that wear you out, it’s the little pebble in your shoe.
What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was an American professional boxer and humanitarian. He was regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring.
Don’t let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.
It takes courage to push yourself to places you have never been before . . . to test your limits . . . to break through barriers.
Anais Nin (1903-1977) was a French-born American writer of novels and short stories. Much of her published works came from her diaries.
Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
From Matthew 8:24-26: “A windstorm suddenly arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm.”
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was an American educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist. A daughter of former slaves, she made a significant impact in the lives of many.
Living on hidden island
Searching through another day
Overwhelming heartache
Waiting, filled with emptiness
Whispering thoughts, every night
Hearing silence once again
Tears drowning in sorrow
Waiting for new direction
Making one more decision
Holding torch, ready to light
Prepared to burn last bridge
Waiting to strike final match
Listening again, a voice
Growing stronger each minute
Conscience stirs from abyss
Waiting, no longer needed
Turning life’s page, new chapter
Leaving island at long last
Light leads to happiness
Revealing brilliant sunrise
It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad.
Breathe in, breathe out, move on.
Jimmy Buffet (born 1946) is an American singer and songwriter. He has also written three number-one bestsellers.
From Hebrews 10:19-20: “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh).”
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Sharing these words of eternal hope
Living with hope-filling optimism
Gathering with positive people
Persevering through God’s bold prism
Living as faithful children of God
Hearing our Father’s message of hope
Realizing now, hope springs from our Lord
Praising His Word, helping us to cope
Joining into a New Covenant
Filling with assurance from His Creed
Approaching with hearts, clean from evil
Washing with His pure water, indeed
Recalling our earlier struggles
Showing compassion through hopeful hearts
Maintaining endurance, life’s ahead
Remaining faithful, as life restarts
Holding fast to God’s blessings of hope
Encouraging daily, each other
Blessing with our love and gracious deeds
Standing with our sisters and brothers
Photo by Shayla on Pexels.com
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Jim Cymbala: “We urgently need people who encourage and inspire us to move toward God.”
Originally published May, 2020.
Big Sky Buckeye 