the inheritance of
the joy of the Lord
is of the forever kind
a true joy and gift
not earned by effort
or indeed birthright
freely given
though dearly bought
by the King
above all kings
the One who causes
my countenance to glow
and my heart to sing
This coming Monday in the United States we celebrate Memorial Day. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was started as a way to remember all those combatants who died in battle during the Civil War. Since then it has come to include all those who have died in U.S. military service.
That photograph you’re looking at,
the young man with the grin.
There’s a sparkle in his eye that hints at
the joy and light within.
He didn’t live to become an old man,
but I remember him.
Then there’s the portrait of the nurse following
graduation with her class. She served in the
Pacific during WW II. You could tell her she helped
so many, but to her it would always be too few.
I remember her.
For those who died in the heat,
for the ones who passed in the cold,
holding tightly letters in weary hands
that spoke of work, family, home.
Some brought courage with them.
Some found courage there.
Some found courage with hands firmly clasped
and lips uttering prayer.
Whether young or old,
timid or bold,
we honor them all
as their stories are told
and we gather near the flame
lit in their memory.
We tell their stories,
and we remember.
from the moment I awaken
and begin to chart my day
before I query God:
what’s shakin’?
fore I get me underway
I got to hear your voice
not mine
not mine
be my leader
it’s my choice
your voice
God
not mine
The proper application
of your word
is impossible
the idea
absurd
unless
I listen
I can
always
choose
to go another way
it’s so easy
that way
the path is broad
and wide
and it’s all
downhill
(if you get my drift)
you can shut God out
you can fill your mind
with white noise
and your solutions
you can spend your energy
on toys
and never mind
restitution
but don’t settle
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
you don’t have the right idea but He does
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
He will take up as much room as you give Him
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:34
Recently we put some bird feeders and a goldfinch thistle sock in the dogwood tree, along with a bird bath underneath it. They take some daily upkeep, but the return in entertainment has been huge. A bird splashing enthusiastically away is hilarious. I extended the perch on one of the feeders and so started getting many of the larger birds that don’t usually get invited to these things. As a result, there are several different birds that show up daily. There are the various songbirds, at least three pairs of doves, and a crowd of six or more of some very large birds that I have yet to identify. They show up like a biker gang with bad intent, gobble up as much as they can, and leave. On the bird feeder with the extended perch, there is one on either end, with a 3rd on the roof. Comical. This morning I was watching a blackbird pecking away at the ground, when a smallish juvenile walked up, squatted in front of the other bird, and opened its mouth wide. The bird equivalent of a teenager showing up and demanding to be fed. I don’t have the appropriate photo to go with this story. I’ll try to add one tomorrow.
dare me to follow you
I’ll be there and
for the time bear it too and
I’ll be there and
trust for a little time more
I’ll be there and
find what’s there in store
wait till Spring time
wait till Spring time
sun warming earth
morning giving birth
sun warming earth
sun warming earth
You can call out to the universe,
light a random spiritual flame,
converse with some spirits
you may or may not name.
You can link with a dead disembodied
owner of a shady past.
Those identities you’ll never know,
and fake relationships won’t last.
The One who stood
and stands
beside you,
and your sorrow sees,
left no question of His sacrifice,
or authority.
You may seek,
but when you’re finished seeking,
weary at the end of the day,
look up from the feet of Jesus,
the one who is “the way.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6
The often unrecognized truth of strength
is that we’ve never owned it.
The God of all that is and will be
designed us to be one with Him.
If we seek strength apart from our Lord
we dwell on a weak foundation. A durable
heart and home have Him as King within.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
I have a friend who complains about date advertisements on Facebook.
I get quite a few for figs.
I suppose my dad gets them for prunes.
Humans are an interesting lot. In the animal world the various species have a built in communications system that regulates behavior, such as movement within territories and the proper status of members. Often, the proper interpretation of signals such as these will mean the difference between life and death, in essence, providing pretty good reinforcement of standards. While people are able to live peaceably together most of the time, the sheer volume of differing standards and communication styles can lead to issues the rest of the animal world just doesn’t have to deal with. Take a typical conversation, for instance. One of the keys to a pleasant conversation, i.e. one that does not conclude with any sort of violence, and in which both parties are able to exchange information, is “relatability.” This is a fairly modern word, perhaps made necessary by the world of politics, in which a fast exchange of information which portrays the contender in a positive light is vital. If I relate well to you in a conversation, I’m able to listen to what you say, while also paying attention to non-verbal cues, and then return information given the context you’ve provided. A good conversation is a lot like playing tennis with a friend you’ve known for a long time. There’s no pressure to hit the ball back with force, or put it somewhere hard to reach. The opposite is actually the goal. You just enjoy hitting the ball back and forth. The conversation faux pas (French for “false step”) I want to touch on is commonly referred to as “one-upmanship.” While it is helpful to take in what the other person says and try to relate their experience to one of yours, it is most often frustrating if you actually try to come up with a similar experience that “tops” that of the other person. I hope you haven’t been that person, but more than likely we’ve all done this, whether or not we intended to. Have in the back of your mind when you’re talking to someone that not every conversation has to have a winner and a loser. If you employ this style, you may find those very conversations becoming fewer and fewer.
help me mind my mind oh Lord
where it’s going
where it’s been
when it’s settled on
higher things
or heavy burdened
with sin
when it’s lifted up with worship
to amazing grace
in league with a heavenly choir
setting the sanctuary ablaze
let me not on a rare day
meet Your Spirit there
but rather often seek to commune with You Lord
in the midst of Your angels fair
The rules for dictionary roulette (as I see them) are that you must use each word in a stanza of your poem.
Here goes.
John was quite the charmer,
as many ladies met their fate.
He was so smooth they would melt,
and so become liquidates.
I keep a clock on the counter;
I’m one of those timely guys.
It’s the smart thing to do;
I must be counterclockwise.
My teas are expensive,
imported from overseas.
I keep them safely locked up,
they’re securities.
Write here, Joel. 