Monday: With a Buddy

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Psalms 25:4-6

What a joy to be part of the educational process with my grandkids! It’s a great time to instill biblical values and even to remind myself what God’s Word has to say. There’s something special about bringing a Bible verse down to a child’s level. It edifies teacher and student alike.

Over three decades ago I started to home school my boys. I had early child care training and started there. Teaching was so addictive, I just kept going. It was a blessing to see each new hurdle my kids were able to jump. Reading was one of the greatest climaxes. It’s refreshing when a child falls in love with words on the paper, or ebook.

There’s nothing cozier than a book, a child reader, a soft couch and a pup at one’s side. Many stories are filled with spiritual edifying words. I hope you can enjoy some excellent reading ‘one-on-one’ time with that special little buddy or a good book yourself.

“Lord, thank you for my grandchildren and the abilities you have given to them. May they always treasure You in their hearts. I am blessed.”

Crooked Paths

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6

When life’s no longer straight,
as wintry piles of pain emit 
and dreary days are one’s fate;
when promises no longer fit
one looks to the opened gate.

Each tentative step seems to slip
and tranquility melts like snow
down icy paths on toilsome trip;
it’s hard to find a direction to go
for one’s only hope has lost its grip.

No shadow it too great to hide
or seek an awkward place to run;
if only one would truly abide
in the dear arms of Jesus, the Son!
Crooked paths can only divide.

Monday: Rosalia

My Grandma & me in 1954

He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalms 121:3

With the holidays in full swing it’s easy to think of family. Generations are drawn together to celebrate and renew their relationships. My grandmother came to mind; I remember very little of her. When an ancestry notification came the other day, it had me thinking.

Rosalia was a character, from the stories I’ve heard. Tossing items out an open window from a second story in order to purge a room or sawing a doweling of a chair to save a grandchild’s trapped head, were two amusing tales told. But as I viewed the time-line of her life, I knew there must have been more to this courageous lady.

At the age of 22, on a warm June day WWI began in 1914 while Rosalia considered married life, and prayed God would grant her direction. Four years later, after giving birth to two children, the Influenza pandemic occurred in 1918 taking the lives of many. Life continued as Rosalia gave birth to three more children. One child was blind and deaf needing daily care at home. At times, she wondered if God heard her prayers. Then in 1929 the Great Depression came and brought even more sorrow. Yet, she prayed asking God to strengthen her little family. At the age of 48, the second WW began in 1939 and Rosalia would say farewell to her only son, for several years, as he was sent to Europe. In just twenty-six years, Rosalia lived a lifetime of challenges with God at her side.

Whatever you are dealing with today, know God waits for you to come to Him.

When Light Dawned

Matthew 4:15-16; Isaiah 9:1-2

“Land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,”

Across weathered sands error erodes,
the circle of nations walked in darkness.
A long journey west of the Sea of Galilee;
where one would walk on crystal seas
to test the armor of weakened faith.

“By the way of the sea, Galilee of Gentiles:”

Stretched Tiberius, beyond the Jordan,
where ancients long awaited for His glory
to shine from city streets of great Galilee;
more than man would travel dusty roads
as people whispered tales testing truth.

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.”

Once in ignorance, blindness and error;
following depths of detestable darkness.
Error clutched deep as veins travels body,
the veil lifted and truth and light arose.
The people stand in great awe in silence.

“And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

Dangerous death drowned like a worn ship
whose sail torn by torrent winds against
bleak skies. Then with great luster Light
made it’s way to the open heart’s of man’s
shouts, “The victory is His, His is the victory!”

JESUS THE TRUE LIGHT

Black Friday Free Ebook

The third book in the “I Am the Light”series, (Christian Fiction) now available in ebook format, free during Black Friday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday: Being Thankful

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Some Mondays it’s difficult to be thankful. The weather in Wisconsin looks and feels more like January this past week. The cold has been penetrating, as snow layers the ground. Yet, the sunsets are deeply rich in color against bleak skies.

Things can entangled our lives like thick, twisted bare branches. Family problems, community commitments, workloads or health issues tend to raise stress levels which affects our well-being. Monday rolls around and it’s a reminder we will need to do it all over again. 

Behind those thick limbs of daunting challenges, there’s hope. No matter what the struggle, God is that bright light which brings richness to our dull and too busy lives. The point is, to keep our eyes on Him.

May you seek the hope God gives through His joy and peace. Then thank Him with the fullness of your heart.

November Snow

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelations 21:4

How dreary thorns in flesh?
Russet hues in wintry light;
against dismal resting earth.

It’s here first snow appears;
scatters crystals among trees,
interrupts rioting leaves of fall.

Where comes storehouses of snow?
God binds them in unreachable homes;
unleashing flakes at His sovereign will.

A child sees first snow differently,
when mossy earth is laden white;
over, over, and over again anew.

Yet time will come, snow shall melt,
life’s bleakness fade; in last of days
and earth made new again, as snow.

Monday: Morning Moon

Behold , He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen

Revelations 1:7

There was great excitement regarding the Harvest Blood Moon last week. If you were like me, I missed it as clouds veiled the event of the lunar eclipse. However the night before, as I walked my dog, I had the pleasure of staring at a full moon surrounded by an orange aura.

Just a few days later, I awoke to a morning moon enveloped by pink cotton candy clouds. The Blood Moon lunar eclipse was visible to potentially millions of stargazers around the world. Yet, I wonder who noticed the breathless pastel pinks surrounding my Morning Moon. 

Many knew about the up-coming Blood Moon Eclipse. It was a worldwide event. Stargazers from far and near documented the event with photos from South, Korea, China, Italy, Australia and North America.

Did anyone bothered viewing the Morning Moon a few days later? It was the same moon.

There’s something else which will one day happen. Many know about this event too. It is the day Jesus will return. Sin will be destroyed for eternity. The choosen saints will worship in Heaven the King of Kings and Savior.

Jesus will return in the clouds. It’s been well documented in Scriptures. One day He will come and every knee shall bow.

Study the signs and wait breathlessly.

Night Sounds

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.

Psalm 145:5

beating, beating across weedy waters
drumming echoes deep in steady
calling, calling endless croaks calling

across the twilight rippling waters
beneath emerald lily pads chanting
hearts a beating, humming, drumming

upon the ragged battered beach
on the shoreline grass is singing
hearts are beating, humming, drumming

Beating, beating on weighty water
panting breath of inky, bleak night
searching for the cherished one

down flowing channel vibrating
under starry autumn night
hearts of beating, humming, drumming

around scrubby, sulky, sandy island
in the deepest of darkest evening
hearts a beating, humming, drumming

beating, beating across weedy water
croaking strong, secure, steady
now, resonates deep upon my heart

summer’s bullfrogs now sleeping, sleeping