Rhonda Bronte Brown is a National Board-Certified Teacher and retired teacher/counselor whose work has appeared in Better Than Starbucks, The Trouvaille Review, Meat for Tea, The Orchards Poetry Journal and The Best Haiku 2025 international anthology and several online journals. She holds both a BS and a Master’s degree and writes children’s literature and poetry exploring nature, SEL, and STEM.
The Jews waited for their Messiah to come. Some believed, and some did not. Some could see the beauty of his arrival and used scriptures to attest and authenticate. We are waiting today for his return. Some believe He is coming, and some do not.
We see the convergence of scriptures- Israel exists today. Words from the prophets of old come to life with current events. Mysteries once hidden are revealed. Scriptures are used to authenticate and test God’s promises. Sadly, only for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
The rapture ends the church age and ushers in the next set of events-foretold. Some will believe, and some will not. But they have the scriptures to test and authenticate Truth.
Just like the first sliver of light on the horizon brings the bird’s morning song, so Jesus sings for the world to hear. His song shatters the mournful tones of despair and dispels the cloak of darkness.
Echoes of joy ring
The songless world yearns to hear.
The troubadour’s song.
The morning light sings.
Hope shines through hate and despair.
The reframe repeats.
His coming was announced
His return for the church anticipated
The Second coming foretold. Some will accept Him and some will not.
Many people have used scriptures to push their will on others. God is and will be their judge.
Husband love your wives, wives respect, trust and rely on him to care for you and your children. Marriage is a relationship between two imperfect people. God created you as a person first to have a relationship with him. Then you are defined as male or female, with many roles, gifts, and talents. It is easy to blame God, the church, and ourselves for not truly understanding His Word or the correct application. My husband can wash a dish just as well as I can. That is not what makes me put my trust in him, rely on him, get mad at him too.
I have learned life consequences can take you beyond your emotional ability to handle, especially if it involves family and their decisions that cost so much. Grief and sadness are natural and break the heart in two. Tears well up, and loss overwhelms and hopes dashed. These emotions are overwhelming and indisputable, know that. But also know that God’s heart for you is real.
The truth is she (Anna Duggar) has experienced real trauma from betrayal, and disappointment from the one person who was supposed to be there for her. She doesn’t need our judgment…let us shut our mouth and not be so quick to judge. We do not possess the clarity of vision in their lives.
She needs our heartfelt prayer. She needs to know that she can heal from the trauma. She is worthy of having a true partner, she is worthy of true love, she is worthy of having her heart held safely by her partner, she is worthy to be cherished, she is worthy. Not because of all the mistakes made, not that it is earned or bargained for; it is that God created each of us to love and be loved, cared for, valued. The family is where this is learned first, not the church. The family was established long before the church. Let us not be quick to judge her or the church but let us look to each other and be determined and wise in how we raise our kids. Today, we must be as innocent as doves, (run from evil) and wise as serpents, (know what evil looks like even when disguised).
Photo by RL Brown
In Job, God rebukes Job’s counselors by saying, “Who is this that darkens counsel by word without knowledge (of ME)? (Job 38:2) Have you ever in your life commanded the morning and caused the dawn to know its place? (v.12)
I stop here thinking the science behind that statement is immense. God set boundaries for the sea and made a cloud its garment. He binds the chains of Pleiades and loose the cords of Orion (v. 31). Is it by my understanding that a hawk soars or nature fulfills its course? Of course not.
Then God asks Job (paraphrase) Do you condemn me to prove yourself right?
Job’s reply: (paraphrase): Whoa, I shut my mouth!
The book of Job is a lesson in perspective from heaven to earth, earth to heaven. God’s Presence is everywhere.
How many people do we shut down, disown just to prove ourselves right?
Behold the Baby in the Manager. Behold the lamb and shepherds. Behold, Simenon’s prayer fulfilled. Behold the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Behold the gifts from the wise men of the East presented to the King of Kings. Behold the amazement of the Temple priest of a twelve-year-old. Behold the Dove descending on a baptism. Behold the Father’s voice. Behold the twelve disciples. Behold miracles of water into wine, the lame walk, blind healed. Behold, men’s hearts restored, promises fulfilled.
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Behold the accusation, the persecution, condemnation. Behold the death of a King, a sacrificial lamb. Behold broken hearts, loss, misunderstanding. Behold death, darkness, and dementia.
Behold His Resurrection.
Behold promises fulfilled and promises yet to be fulfilled. Behold the ministry of the church. Behold the restoration of the nation of Israel. Behold Christ’s return for the church. Behold Revelations to come Behold the Second Coming, and every knee bowed. Behold LIFE, LIGHT, and LOVE. BEHOLD HIM, JESUS, the King of Kings.
High hopes, youthful dreams, and expectations come true with planning and hard work. Dreams without feet are balloons that float away or pop. Youthful dreams need honing, just as our thinking does.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another. God calls us to train each generation.
WE NEED strong leaders in our church. We need men to be the spiritual leaders at home, at the church, in the community, and in our government. I think of our Founding Fathers who formed our Constitution on biblical principles. These men weren’t alone. Women took a stand, too. They argued, worked, and honed this document as a construct for all people to live. America was the country that ended slavery and the country that was the catalyst for ending it worldwide.
Perfection may be a goal that is usually unattainable, but one worth working towards.
I heard a true story once about the African Elephant. Men hunted for the big bull elephant, which had a devastating effect on the herd. The young bulls went wild, attacking the herd and villages, and had to be put down. The big bulls were gone to train them. Today, I see young bulls (young men and women) running around without purpose or direction. Some find causes to fight for, others fight self-serving avenues, but most get into trouble. God designed the family with a man and a woman to train their children. Remember, the family was established as the basic societal unit from which the community grows.
The Jews waited for their Messiah to come. Some believed, and some did not. Some could see the beauty of his arrival, scriptures to attest and authenticate. We wait today for his return. Some believe, and some do not. Our hope is in Jesus.
I remember this song from my childhood. The ant doesn’t work alone. Hard work and determination lead to success. Train up children, and they will find their way through life’s problems. I believe God’s Word is true.
Just what makes that little old ant Think he'll move that rubber tree plant Anyone knows an ant, can't Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time your getting low 'Stead of letting go Just remember that ant Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call, and your back's to the wall There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
All problems just a toy balloon They'll be busted soon They're just bound to go pop Oops there goes another problem kerplop
As gratefulness flows from your heart and touches the lives around you, it becomes a blessing.
Flip a switch, and there is light. Turn a knob for warm water, cold water, drinkable sweet water. Simple blessings, luxuries that millions do not have.
Not one day is like the other. Each day is a gift to appreciate. With our eyes, we see the world. With our hearts, we feel life’s vibrations. A life filled with gratitude is a sweet awareness of the day’s blessing.
Don’t let hate, disappointment, or a grandiose sense of self-importance steal your joy. Do not covet what others have; be thankful for who you are.
Piglet noted that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a great deal of gratitude. A. A. Milne.
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith,... and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:7
Country Living/V Sharp
I am greatly blessed I am highly favored I am deeply loved And so grateful. Picture: https://www.everydaygyaan.com/release-expectation-and-experience-appreciation/
My first thought was of how I’m hidden in God’s hand. In heaven and on earth, God is present and near. I’m enclosed both behind and before. Things I cannot see or understand are clear to Him. Darkness and light are the same to Him. His sight is like an eagle by day and an owl by night.
Psalms 139 apply to my earthly body and my soul. God knows me like parents know their children. When children are playing in the backyard, one child cries, and the mother gets up. Parents can interpret a baby’s cry by saying he’s fussy, hungry, or lonely.
As we grow in the Lord, he gives us hind feet and makes us walk in high places. (Habakkuk 3:19) He encloses us both before and behind and goes before us. Jesus said to come and rest when your burdens are heavy. Let me teach you, for I am gentle at heart and will give you rest. (Matt 11: 28-30)
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land
He hideth my life in the depths of his love
And covers me there with his hand
And covers me there with his hand
When our work on this earth is done, we will be with the true rock of ages, the cornerstone of our salvation. I’ve hidden my soul in the cleft of his hand.
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord is my strength, and He has made my feet like a hind’s feet.
Psalms 139: 5 Thou hast enclosed me behind and before. And laid Thy hand upon me.
How we remember is how we heal. Look, see the tangible.
Say I'm here I see you I will listen
To wander is to move about aimlessly or to stray or get lost. We ought to look and see how our veterans wander and are at a loss for words by pulling out of Afghanistan. The 13 soldiers who died, Americans left behind, were supplying the enemy with the ammunition used to kill our citizens who were left behind.
It takes time to look and see the tangible sacrifices that veteran families endure daily. The effects of war on military families are vast, varying, and lasting. We enjoy the liberties today at a cost we are unaware of, paid by others who serve to protect our freedoms.
Wondering where to start? Look a little deeper to find a veteran you can support and encourage. Pray daily for honor and peace over our nation’s military and our brothers and sisters who are on the front lines, keeping the peace.
This is how we remember and how we heal. To really stop and say I see you and will listen to your stories.
For my brother, Marcus Bronte (Army), and James Willis Bronte (my Dad, Korean War/ Marine), Charles Riley (Army), Thomas Ballard (Air Force), and Donald Beel.
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