Joseph Campbell Quotes

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

You can’t have creativity unless you leave behind the bounded, the fixed, all the rules.

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.

American professor of literature, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987), was also a prolific writer about many aspects of the human experience.  His best known book was The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949).

Courage Stands (Haiku Series #121)

Hands

As people of God

Graced to be Christ’s hands of change—

World’s transformation

Photo by Amina Filkins on Pexels.com

Echoes

Followers of God

Called as voices for justice—

Filled with Grace of Christ

Photo by Trace Hudson on Pexels.com

Feet

Our Creator calls

Walking in Jesus’ footsteps—

Lives for renewal

Photo by Ingo Joseph on Pexels.com

Affirming Love

From Song of Solomon 2:8:  “The voice of my beloved!  Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.”

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

Sitting here, another morning’s darkness

Thinking of today’s most beautiful view

Your kindness and love arrives with a smile

Transforming this heart to radiant new

 

Traveling life’s lonely, meaningless road

Dreaming of unlocking a better life

Your cherished spirit bestows precious light

Joining together as husband and wife

 

Making beloved home for two love birds

Nurturing passion with each priceless day

Your tender, caring thoughts lead us forward

Navigating with God’s love, shows His way

 

Affirming love through joyful affection

Walking in Jesus’ perfect reflection

 

Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels.com

From Song of Solomon 4:1:  “How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful!  Your eyes are doves behind your veil.  Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.”

Faith’s Encouragement

From 2 Timothy 1:3-4:  “I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.”

Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com

Witnessing God’s desires each day

Growing in faith, kneeling to pray

 

Coming to our Savior in faith

Sharing blessings of the Good News

Telling others about Jesus

Understanding the Gospel’s views

 

Calling on the name of the Lord

Believing in His divine Grace

Saving us through body and blood

Walking with Christ, our special place

 

Studying Biblical teachings

Guiding others, led by God’s love

Drawing ever closer to Christ

Coveting His peace, from above

 

Abiding in Christ, the true vine

Encouraging our daily walk

Building stamina and our faith

Lighting our path, around the clock

 

Living under God’s righteousness

Trusting our Father day and night

Submitting to sacred commands

Transforming lives through faith’s daylight

 

Breathing with Savior’s peace and joy

Running to Jesus, faith’s convoy

 

Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU on Pexels.com

From Philippians 4:19:  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Timeless Transformation

From Ecclesiastes 3:1:  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Photo by Kristin Vogt on Pexels.com

Winter’s first flurry arrives

Transforming autumn’s landscape

Covering like comfy quilts

Dreams look for snowy escape

 

Storm’s artwork witnesses joy

Taking hearts to a past place

Gazing back to youthful times

Snowflakes remove autumn’s trace

 

Quiet, tranquil peace whispers

Hearing the timeless calling

Feeling light breezes breathing

Nature moves, never stalling

 

Time bends with changing seasons

Opening fresh, new page

Witnessing transformation

Life’s Director stands offstage

 

Photo by Adriaan Greyling on Pexels.com

Central Ohio received its first snowfall of the winter on the night of November 30.  The transforming seasons always remind me of how our Lord transforms our lives, faith, and hope.  May His grace and peace lead you on your journey.

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.”

Grace from Above

From Micah 6:8:  “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Photo by Paulo Mu00e1rcio Dos Santos on Pexels.com

Filled with mercy and love

God’s Word becoming flesh

Grace and truth, Christ proclaims

Spirit comes to refresh

 

God’s message resonates

Resist dark temptations

Gives grace to the humble

Receive His salvation

 

Believing in Jesus

Saved by “Amazing Grace”

Love transcends from above

Light shines upon each face

 

Doesn’t look for our faults

Our Lord never keeps score

His grace given freely

Loving us, evermore

 

Transformation through faith

Raising life from the dead

Unfathomable love

By grace, and blood Christ shed

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “Grace operates apart from the response or the ability of the individual.  Grace is one-sided.  Grace is God giving Himself in full acceptance to someone who does not deserve it and can never earn it and will never be able to repay.”

Follow His Road Map

From Proverbs 30:5:  “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Photo by Ricardo Esquivel on Pexels.com

Feeling weary and lost

How can any prevail?

Desolate road ahead

Actions will surely fail

 

Lost in darkness of life

Our Father lights the way

Filled with His righteousness

God’s road map saves our day

 

Our Lord’s Word speaking truth

Daily meditation

Bible’s meanings ring clear

Leading to salvation

 

Study God’s Holy Word

Share its hope and Good News

Trusting each promise

His commands, we must choose

 

Inhale, breathe it all in

Fed by the “Bread of Life”

Quenched by “Living Water”

Transforming daily life 

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

From the words of American-born missionary and Christian theologian, E. Stanley Jones:  “The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.”

God’s Word Reaches Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me.”

Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren on Pexels.com

Being careful with life’s missteps

Sinful disobedience waits

God’s Word touches our inner soul

Hell pleasing, never be our fate

 

Our truest, most faithful support

Shall always arrive from His love

God’s Word will endure forever

His Spirit reigns from high above

 

When life’s dark trials boil over

Creating quagmires of distress

God’s Word quells each predicament

His next move leads like playing chess

 

Our life’s journey travels by faith

Transformed by Christ’s merciful heart

God’s Word reaches out, filled with hope

Bringing a new day, let’s restart

Photo by Eric Sanman on Pexels.com

From 2 Corinthians 5:7:  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walking with Us

This poem is inspired from a post from Jan Beek, based upon a recent Sunday message from her church.  The message enlightened me with some wonderful applications to “The Walk to Emmaus.”  Visit her post for this wonderful message, complemented with some great hymns.

empty highway overlooking mountain under dark skies

Photo by Sebastian Palomino on Pexels.com

Empty, very little hope

Weary, walking this grim road

Lonely, life hides in darkness

Misery, each step feels slowed

 

Believing, He would be king

Remembering, life seemed alive

Listening, His words brought hope

Blessing, barren lives would thrive

 

Ignored, a bloody Cross stands

Vanquished, His tomb sitting hushed

Restored, hope rises again

Conquered, sin and death now crushed

 

Raised, Savior walking with us

Transformed, our hope now restored

Energized, with daily steps

Saved, by our Lord’s new accord

green leafed plant on sand

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

From Luke 24:13-16:  “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”