Time & Place

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Fields stretched for miles
Sentries of poles and wires:
passing, passing, passing

Water pooled in farm fields
Roots, stalks, hulks and corn:
Soaking, soaking, soaking

Rusty farm equipment 
Scattered, as ancient debris: 
Waiting, waiting, waiting

Old crow in flight above; 
In bulging grey skies:
Calling, calling, calling

I in my comfortable car
Staring out rain stained window:
Wondering, wondering, wondering

What would life be like
Living in one of these places:
Halting, halting, halting

At some unknown way stop!

P. Wolf linking with Poets& Story Tellers United; https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/07/weekly-scribblings-79-on-my-way.html

Christian Flash Fiction: Inviting Writers

free image art

Your Prompt for week 1

“He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water…”

Psalm 1: 3a

“Christian Flash Fiction” has been created to encourage the Christian writer in their craft. Recently, I’ve discovered the power fiction can have when using the Word of God to encourage the reader. For decades I wrote devotions, curriculum and other teaching items. I thought it was the only way to spread God’s news to others. I was wrong. Even Jesus used stories, parables, to teach. Let us use our gift with fiction to help the world know God!

A Few Rules

  • Be creative with your 144 words or less not including your title
  • Include the prompt in quotes
  • Take time to read other posts
  • Make sure to use the whole quote
  • Play nice, try to encourage not tear down
  • This is a weekly prompt which has a weekly limit
  • In the comment box add your name and enter the direct URL to your answer to the prompt
  • On your blog, please provide a link back to Christian Flash Fiction. So others can be blessed

That Day

Karl stood staring out the window. It was three years since his life changed. Others said it would get better, but the patina on his heart was growing thick.

The clouds hung low as he studied the tree out his window. It had been their tree. The tree where they had fallen in love, the tree where he had proposed to her and the tree where she had wasted away. Then he turned away, as if to flee from the pain.

On the table sat his Bible. It had been weeks since he picked it up. Guilt touched his heart. Turning back towards the tree he murmured, “ ‘He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of living water’ and I want to be that tree.” 

As his sister walked in she could hear pages being turned. She smiled. Her prayers had been answered.

Rejoice in Time of Need

“No, I do not weep at the world – I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife,” stirring my pot of fish chowder and setting the table in a welcoming way. It is times like these we need each other to endure the trials of life and ensure no one is alone. Katie is coming, she recently lost her husband to suicide and has three children to parent . Mary will be late, her six year old son is at Children’s Hospital waiting for a new kidney. Carla just drove up. She found out that she has cancer and treatment will start early next week. I have no time to weep over the things we are unable to control. The Bible says to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.Today we will rejoice the fact that we have each other!

P. Wolf, author linking with dverse’s prompt: http://dversepoets.com/2021/07/19/dverse-prosery-finding-ms-zora-neale-hurston/

Write a piece of flash fiction or other prose of up to or exactly 144 words, including the given line.

adverse

No, I do not weep at the world – I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.

Zora Neale Hurston

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15
First book in the series, “I Am the Light.” Available on Amazon
Second book in the “I Am the Light” series, should be released on Amazon this fall.

REALLY, Independent

An earth worm grapples in crumbly dirt. The rains gently moistens tall blades of grass, as a Robin tirelessly pecks until it finds the juicy worm. It dutifully returns to the intricately woven nest, ready to feed two frantic chicks.

On the muddy earth below, lies what is leftover of the last unhatched egg. It has been gobbled up by a greedy Blue Jay. Atop a stately tree, Hawk waits patiently peering past spring poppies swaging in evening breeze. Hawk

swiftly soars towards supper. An unexpected meal of the Blue Jay, who is still digesting the unborn robin. Before twilight ushers in darkness, a hungry Red Fox lurks through a densely wooded area. Her pups are quickly

growing, and in need of nourishment. She spots the Hawk finishing his meal. Pouncing with great stealth, she takes the prize home. As the pups enjoy their meal, a Bob Cat lurks in the forest near their den. The cycle continues…

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another

Romans 12:4-5
P. Wolf linking to: https://earthweal.com/2021/07/05/earthweal-weekly-challenge-interdependence-day/

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Nature Therapy

This bog of mine comes from a trickling brook surrounded by ‘the ancients’, tall and majestic trees of old; beyond is a local river filled with memories untold-good and some evil doings- along miles of open prairie filled with bustling, busy butterflies sipping nectar from a field of wild flowers drenched in morning dew; further and above are foot hills below the towering mountain peeks, still snow capped, they see all things; even the rough, ragging waters of the seas (many have drowned in trials and sorrows from the evil world around them); yet, knowingly, they are resilient as the waves of the sea calm, the mountains stand FIRM, the Prairie sings a lullaby, the RIVER moves on, the trees WILL continue to grow! As for my mellow, marshy bog… I will sit, still knowing there is Someone so much greater than I and linger in the wind.

“ I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3

P. Wolf linking to: https://earthweal.com/2021/06/28/a-prayer-for-hard-times/

Summer’s Night Song

Sultry summer sun has set,
ablaze is the sky stretched 
across a parched horizon.

Searing, becomes midsummer’s
dreaded dreams drenched in
restless, dizzy sweat and tears.

Slowly, breathe in and out for 
the rain dances upon your roof
and steam rises, as relief arrives.

Sweltering is the summer night.
Yet, friendly fireflies light the way
toward darken paths not traveled.

Sluggish visions become clearer,
focused once again, as rain washes
unwanted confusion to bring clarity.

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28
P. Wolf linking with https://earthweal.com/2021/06/20/earthweal-weekly-challenge-a-midsummer-nights-dreamtime/

RAIN

My little patch of earth was touched
by rain from the heavens last night.
The trees signed, the ponds gurgled, dust fell from my windows; as one could see clearly Who is in control of our lives.

Rain down, you heavens, from above,

And let the skies pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,

And let righteousness spring up together.

Isaiah 45:8

The Art of Seasons

Woven one-by-one,
Spring nest ready for new birth;
rests on cracks of life.

Come, mid-summer flight,
a journey of full, frail life;
wings like stained glass.

Drama in the skies,
clouds layered, heaped, piled;
in Autumn twilight.

Bittersweet winter,
laced flakes of icy snow;
no two are alike.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1
P. Wolf linking to: https://earthweal.com/2021/05/31/earthweal-weekly-challenge-earthcraft-a-way-of-working/

The Sanctuary

The towers in my cathedral stand tall,
steady, stately as they sway; unaware of any turmoil which clenches, clutches and chokes.

Tall, trim trees adorn with ornaments grand.
Rubies of cardinals, aquamarine jays, amber breasted robins are only a few precious gems.

Gaze upward, for solitude reaches higher than thirty or forty foot pines gathered in open heavens. As one climbs higher, changes take

my solitude to higher valued traits of : love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control waiting for all.

Wind blows about hatred, sadness, war, anxiety, cruelty, evil, harshness, and anxiousness as a treacherous tossed salad unwilling served.

Where does one truly find a sanctuary?
In the world of Creation, and within the heart of a man who is willing to glorified God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22-25
P. Wolf joining: https://earthweal.com/2021/05/24/sanctuary/