Living mystery
Breathing with hidden omens—
Tomorrow arrives
Another challenge
Hesitating once again—
Courage rises up
Seeking safe harbor
Overwhelmed with life’s darkness—
Friendship’s wisdom docks
Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time.
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
Pericles was a Greek politician and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He has sometimes been referred to as “the first citizen of Athens.”
Harmony drops in
Lifting spirits high
Waking from slumber
Morning’s bluest sky
Valley’s faithful river
Unending with peace
Flowing with wisdom
Comforts never cease
Sun brightens flashbacks
Counting former days
Energizing with joy
Ready now to play
Time injects stillness
Billowing with clouds
Yielding blessed shade
Whispers never loud
Heaven’s love singing
Blessing life below
Extending day’s light
Nature now aglow
From Psalm 25:4-5: “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”
Day to night . . . night to day
Praying for His guidance
Looking to God above
Trusting His every breath
Darkness absorbs His love
Lighting path of wisdom
Teaching His righteous way
Finding strength in God’s Word
Thankful, kneeling to pray
Forgiving transgressions
Walking toward His grace
Keeping God’s covenant
Humbleness fills heart’s place
Unshackling sinner’s chains
Living under God’s peace
Replacing mind’s worry
His love shall never cease
Believing in God’s Son
Accepting Him as Lord
Tasting redemption’s joy
Deliverance restored
Night to day . . . day to night
From Psalm 25:20-21: “O guard my life and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”
From 1 Thessalonians 4:1: “Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.”
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com
God blesses us with opportunities to learn
Viewing our sinful ways, brings Him concern
Our Lord assembles His flock to learn His law
Witnessing our errant behavior with many flaws
We are encouraged to learn about God’s Word
Humbling ourselves, embracing faith now stirred
God creates each of us with simple, blessed minds
Acquiring wisdom from His Word, we gladly find
Wayward hearts and lost souls run to seek God
Taking time to learn His righteousness, all nod
Pursuing life’s errant ways, lost will be one’s fate
Our heavenly Father gathers many on this date
Our Lord delivers honest and equal justice for all
Learning to contribute good for others, is our call
God possesses sovereignty over all things
Conveying His message, truth will ring
We learn about Christ, His righteous ways
Staying with us to the end of our long day
Christ brings forward promises to be kind
Praying each day for mercy from His mind
Christ teaches at the temple, seeing God’s way
Bringing forward His Father’s Words, to say
Christ learns obedience, His Father knows
Taking our sins to a bloody Cross, He goes
Step forward and accept our Lord and Savior
Learning a new way, praise God’s selfless favor
God’s Word encourages us to listen and learn
Calling out to sinners, all of us stop and turn
Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com
Originally published August, 2019.
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Originally published October, 2020.
From the words of Latin priest and theologian Jerome of Stridon: “Love Holy Scripture, and wisdom will love you. Love her, and she will keep you. Honor her, and she will keep you.”
Pursuing wisdom over a lifetime
Gathering, enriching a single life
Applying to everyday challenges
Loving Scripture, supplanting darkest strife
Seeking wisdom with a hunger for more
Searching in the truthful and proper place
Persevering with consistency now
Tasting God’s Holy Word and loving grace
Sustaining the tree of life, holding fast
Following a righteous path, leads to peace
Finding God’s wisdom, life’s only true wealth
Blessing His wisdom, sustains life’s new lease
Trusting these blessed fruits of God’s wisdom
Turning evil away, aligned with Him
Refreshing mind and body, healing flesh
Respecting God’s Word, singing a new hymn
Treating our neighbors better than ourselves
Trusting, loving, supporting each other
Walking together with God, hand in hand
Partnering with each sister and brother
From Proverbs 3:13: “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding,”
Originally published June, 2020.
From Deuteronomy 10:12: “So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Facing yet another day
Father’s mercy offers hand
Overcoming each challenge
Solid ground covers sinking sand
Trusting path of wisdom’s light
Father’s Word guides each step
Escaping evil’s darkness
Destined for Calvary’s doorstep
Looking back at long journey
Father’s love fills wayward heart
Trading pride with humbleness
Hope renewing from faith’s restart
Embracing His proven ways
Father’s grace shining ahead
Resisting darkest shadows
Filled with Son’s everlasting bread
Blessing Savior’s righteous road
Father’s sovereignty leads
Offering bridge to follow
Blood of Christ saves each tender reed
From John 14:5-6: “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”
From Psalm 143:1: “Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications in Your faithfulness; answer me in Your righteousness.”
Enemy pursues
More darkness unfolds
Crushing every breath
Yet, Spirit remains bold
God’s light perseveres
Faith’s answers unfold
Sharing steadfast love
Deliverance foretold
Mercy shares His truth
Righteousness unfolds
Seeking out God’s will
His comforting hands mold
Heart’s new attitude
Brighter times unfold
Clutching God’s wisdom
Promises to behold
Safe in His refuge
Faithfulness unfolds
Hearing each prayer
Spirit’s blessings uphold
Dark times abating
Life’s new day unfolds
Waiting no longer
God’s connection takes hold
From Psalm 143:9-10: Save me, O Lord, from my enemies; I have fled to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me on a level path.”
Holy Commandments
Father’s blueprint guides
Filling every life
Steps called to abide
Heavenly lessons
Righteous hand sustains
Filling hungry mind
Father’s Word remains
Insight grows daily
Father’s grace-filled love
Filling wayward heart
Honor Him above
Crooked path made straight
Father’s faithful seeds
Filling with wisdom
Every tender reed
Shattered hope rebuilt
Father’s vision soars
Filling with His peace
Faith desiring more
Big Sky Buckeye 