Author Archives: brontebrown2

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.

Fmf January 2025

FMF: Jan 17 Effort
A paradox is like a mustard seed and so is faith. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Your faith gives you access to the eternal. Your faith carries you through mountains of doubt, loss and pain. Your faith calms the heart and strengthens the soul. Being rooted in his word is a reflection of how the soil loves the tree. Colossians 1:9 

The power of faith is that it can break mountains of doubt, loss, and pain. Mustard seed is the tiniest seed of all seeds. Jesus used its impossible size to illustrate how big our God is.  Angels laugh (cheer) to hear of your song of faith. The sound of faith is a small quake that rumbles beneath mountains and quietens the soul. 


Actions: I will make a plan and use a daily time plan to maximize my time, be flexible and kind to myself and others- no judgment, just do. 
Jan 10 Satisfied
1. Take our eyes off the impossible circumstances or the mountain of trouble.
2. Refocus on our possible God who has made all things possible in Christ Jesus, which means I'm capable of walking in the Spirit. 
3. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains even through doubt and pain.

Strategy 1: Pray by faith, not by feelings- just pray. 
Strategy 2: Pray, looking forward not back. God's plan is active and healing.
Strategy 3: Pray by saying how you feel and asking for understanding, peace, and a spirit reconciled to God. 
Strategy 4: Create a deliberate prayer time. Declutter first by removing time-wasting activities such as YouTube, TV, etc.
Strategy 5: Make a prayer list and pray specifically. 
Strategy 6: Know that the consequences of sin are real and sometimes lasting. It is possible to walk through my circumstances and not be overwhelmed.
“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.”

It all boils down to contentment, doesn’t it?

Lord, make me content in You alone. Verse posted by Kate Motaung

2 responses to “Fmf January 2025”

  1. Cindy Avatar
    Cindy

    I love that you’ve created a “satisfaction plan”! Strategy 2 and Strategy 4 are definitely ones that challenge me. Thank you for the reminders! God bless, your Five Minute Friday neighbor, Cindy

    Like

    Reply
  2. aschmeisser Avatar
    aschmeisser

    Just gotta keep on going,

    I know this all too well,

    for there’s a point in showing

    up every day in hell.

    It hurts more than I ever thought

    than it really could,

    but every pain I know I ought

    to turn to the Lord’s good,

    and that means staying positive

    when I’d rather scream,

    but this is not my narrative;

    it’s God’s, and I won’t dream

    of getting in His holy way,

    ’cause if I do, there’s hell to pay.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

January Poems 2025

The night sky frolics
  under silvery moonbeams
   in stillness, dreams come.

Dreams dance in joyous leaps,
 skating on imaginative trails,
  night treasures. 

Night recedes behind 
 the stars, no thought to pending     
  troubles- tomorrow sleeps.


celestial alignment
rare one/25/25
an eventide view
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, be on the lookout tonight or now, depending on where you are.
President Donald J Trump
was fond of the campaign stump.
Mover, shaker, and policymaker,
Unlike President Nixon, the Quaker.

Clerihew- rhyming couplets, Jan. 20, 2025
pastoral cacophony 
robins, warblers, blackbirds
antiphonal tweets

morning’s song returns 
chee-pippety-chee
spring arias

dawn’s light hums
dreams dance on ember’s shadow
young hearts sing
tanka WIP

the night sky frolics
tomorrow sleeps, dreams skate 
on imaginative trails,
dancing on silvery threads,
knitting our hearts together.


the gentle psithurism  
of a wooed heart, 
she catches her breath or (catching her breath)
slowly, evanescing, 
yet time spins memories of you


reminiscent of
a weathered beauty
the gentle psithurism
of a wooed heart, evanescing-
yet time spins memories of you. 

laden white
resplendent splendor 
pulchritudinous beauty 
#HaikuSaturday #Haiku 
Scenes from Arkansas

dancing in the sky
rhythmic beauty
synchronous flow

swallow dance

shimmering night cadence
skipping across a frozen plateau
Mangata reverie

laden white 
resplendent splendor  
pulchritudinous beauty  
#HaikuSaturday

evening surround sound- 
life nestles, tweets and twitters cease
swissssh goes the porch swing
seasonal changes,
sturdy branches, grounding roots
true friends, the rings inside. 

seasonal, sturdy
grounding roots, true friends
the rings inside


Sturdy branches
fallen, silent, still-
helping hands

branches
fallen
helping hands
Vermillion cardinal
resplendent and showy
pulchritudinous
Laden gray skies 
Snowy white background 
Morning sings

Vibrant winter blooms 
cast against a snowy canvas,
beneath brooding skies
A crimson trim comb /cut
Proud strut, perched high. 
Teachers giggle
morning’s blush
slips through
the mizzling mist
if rain no longer fell, 
would your smile return 
if blue dropped from the sky,
and longing understood, 
 would you be mine

December Poems 2025

Winter’s Lace 

First snow, falling softly.                          
Amaryllis’ view from the window, 
warm thoughts.

A little ray of sunshine,
that banishes winter blues— 
Winter jasmine.

Cold persistence
Periwinkle’s winter wink
Pansies thrive.

Deep into winter
Primrose’s color delight, 
stark against the snow

Varied highs and lows
February vacillates.
Snowdrops appear.

Narcissus’ beauty
shines for all to see,
defying winter’s hold 

Colorful and sweet 
Pansies’ cousin, Viola, 
a winter survivor.

Glory-of-the-Snow,
whimsical, star-shaped clusters 
greet winter’s end. 

Pale Season of Titivated Lace 
(rewrite of Winter’s Lace)

Vibrant blooms ignite 
against a blank canvas 
beneath brooding, iron-gray skies. 

Amaryllis gazes out from the window; 
a periwinkle winks back, whisper-warm.

Across a stark alabaster landscape, 
autumn falls silent;  
pansies persist.

Bleak and bitter, yet in defiance, 
Narcissus lifts its radiant face.

A small ray of sunshine, 
burnishing a crepuscular gloam, 
Wendy’s Gold rises.

Lucille’s Squill emits its whimsical scent 
As the season turns. 



Write an imaginative landscape poem without using snow, snowy or wintry terms- atmospheric implication, art of resistance.
a brief magic moment
nighttide meets at winter's gate
light concatenates

#haiku #HaikuSaturday #haikuseed 

A magical moment, 
the sun stands still-
winter begins -

with a brisk, 
                cold 
                          chill. 
#haikusaturday #poems
Christmas Eve Night
Prelude to a noiseless world
Daybreak the fun begins
Wintry winds whistling 
Autumn's last dance-
a graceful genuflection
#haiku #HaikuSaturday
In sparkled light, night recedes behind the stars
tomorrow sleeps, harboring dreams once ours.
or
On silvery threads, dreams dance with joyous leaps.
Dreams dancing on silvery threads are for keeps.  

Imaginative 
Sheer trails appear laced with ice feathers,
Puck's in the wind searching for sky treasures. 

Tiered January sky, nothing leaves a mark. 
Eagles hitch a ride, ready to embark.
More verses: WIP 

Imaginative 
Imaginative trails appear laced with ice feathers,
Puck's in the wind searching for sky treasures. 

Sheer January sky, nothing leaves a mark. 
Eagles hitch a ride, ready to embark.

In sparkled light, night recedes, tomorrow sleeps

Dreams dance 
on silvery moonbeams 
while tomorrow sleeps. 
Molecules and particles 
testing each other, establishing 
sanditon boundaries. 

Sandillion is an old way to quantify something as numerous as grains of sand. 

Sarah and Hagar
Twelve sons from each
A Lion and a wild donkey,
battle for supremacy
in the Middle East

Sandillion boundaries
seismic shifting, waiting to erupt, in the Middle East,
Russia and Ukraine.

The bad and the ugly of
Territorial boundaries,
where is the good?  
Molecules and particles 
testing each other, establishing 
sanditon boundaries. 

Sandillion is an old way to quantify something as numerous as grains of sand; Sanditon establishing boundaries, particles and molecules.
In sparkled light, night recedes behind the stars 
tomorrow sleeps, harboring dreams once ours. 

In sparkled light, 
night recedes-
tomorrow sleeps 

Dreams dancing on 
silvery threads are 
for keeps.
Short form:

Night recedes in 
dancing dreams, tomorrow sleeps
in sparkled light. 

(WIP) #HaikuSaturday
Show more
original
the night sky frolics
  under silvery moonbeams
   in stillness, dreams come.

dreams dance in joyous leaps,
 skating on imaginative trails,
  night treasures. 

night recedes behind 
 the stars- no thought to pending     
  troubles, tomorrow sleeps.
----
the night sky frolics
  under silvery moonbeams
   in stillness, 

dreams dance 
on silvery moonbeams,
tomorrow sleeps- 
seasonal leaves
grounding roots, true friends-
the rings inside
As autumn falls silent under evening's snow, 
sheltered seeds don winter's coat below. 
Sleeping silently beneath winter's breath, 
trees fold into a counterfeit death.

A magical moment when the sun stands still, 
winter begins with a brisk, cold chill.

Wintry winds whistle ceaseless threnodies,
glistens frosty precip amenities. 
Amidst frigid fields, icicles drip.
Cardinals swoop midstream for a sip.

Mice tucked warmly under subnivean snow, 
moonbeams prance across a snowlit plateau.
Betwixt two of astral stars, the moon hangs bright, 
eerie wolf howls echo through the night. 

Playful trickery, a spring bud pops its head.
Winter snaps and tucks it back to bed. 
Emmanuel is born to the Father's
delight - Israel's long awaited
hope. The Word sang a poignant
story, a pure melody.

It was a melodious tune for those
with a heart to hear.
The whispered melody arrived as
soft as the tiny beats of
hummingbird wings.

The dawning light of a new
beginning altered our precepts,
arousing a sanguine hope in a
song-less world.

The morning light hummed as
angels sang the Troubadour's
song of man's redemptive story.

Picture & Poem by rbrontebrown
WIP
Emmanuel was born 
to the Father's delight. 
Israel’s long-awaited hope. 
The Word reveal its melody.

It was a soft, melodious tune 
for those with hearts to hear. 
Its whispered melody arrived as soft as 
the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wing. 

(Wip)
It was a soft, melodious tune 
for those with hearts to hear. 
Its psithuric melody whispered softly 
as whispered  wings. 

The dawn of a new beginning 
altered our precepts, arousing a 
sanguine hope in a songless world. 

The morning light hummed. 
Angel marveled.  the Troubadour arrived.
of man's redemptive story.

Haiku version

Anticipation,
 to the Father's delight, 
 Emmanuel is born

The dawning light
 of a new beginning 
 slates our thirst.

Arousing
 a sanguine hope
 for the coming year.

A salubrious optimism
 laced with intent,
 tempered. 









Suffering:
Fear and darkness abide side-by-side, hiding the old crone of despair.

Cohorts of hatred entrench themselves against the light.

Incoherent thoughts rattle the brain, searing the heart. 

Stirred perturbation (agitation) summons dementia.

Death grins from the abyss, as the human soul withers.

Yet, darkness recoils at the light. 

The old crone flees, abandoning despair. 

Defeated, Death returns to the abyss.

Light enters, dispelling darkness.

Love’s glow lights the way, sparking hope. 

Life, light, and love embrace the soul.






What specific events or experiences led to the presence of fear and darkness? 

How can love specifically counteract despair and the influence of death? 

What does the journey from darkness to light look like for those who struggle with despair?





Drugs and confusion act 
as cohorts.
summoning dementia to rattle 
the brain,
Stirring perturbation 
pərdərˈbāSH(ə)n/, 
darkness settles in.
Darkness cannot extinguish light. 
shrinks away [recoils/ flees]from light. The old crone gags (gags) in despair





A dawning light hums,
the eternal once wrapped in clay,
has set Terra free. (resurrection)

The Troubadour sings,   
illuminating darkness
with salvation's song,

His message rings true. 
A gift of grace freely given
honoring choice.

The song of the church
is the gospel story of
God's eternal plan. 

The harvest complete, 
the church caught up, 
Israel will once again 
have a hand in redeeming
Man. 





Santa's toys
And Christmas morn can
Never replace
Thankful hearts
And God's grace 
#AcrosticAdvent #AcrosticAdventChallenge #poetry #acrosticpoem #Santa #WinterIce









Anticipation.
To the Father's delight, 
Emmanuel was born

The Eastern Star shone 
through the night
illuminating the way.

The Word sang a melody
for my heart to hear,
poignant and pure.
 
For those with ears
to hear, it was soft 
and gentle. 

Akin to the beats
of hummingbird wings, arrived
a whispered message.

A songless world 
yearned for echos of the
Troubadour’s aria.

Prophecies of old fulfilled,
arousing a sanguine hope,
for redeeming mankind.

An Angel announced
the King's arrival.
He dwelt with us.

The dawning light
 of a new beginning 
 slates our thirst.





synonyms for light:
beam blink burn dazzle flash flicker glare gleam glisten glitter glow illuminate radiate shimmer sparkle twinkle. 





Winter Stores
Charlotte Brontë

We take from life one little share,
   And say that this shall be
A space, redeemed from toil and care,
   From tears and sadness free.

And, haply, Death unstrings his bow,
   And Sorrow stands apart,
And, for a little while, we know
   The sunshine of the heart.

Existence seems a summer eve,
   Warm, soft, and full of peace;
Our free, unfettered feelings give
   The soul its full release.

A moment, then, it takes the power
   To call up thoughts that throw
Around that charmed and hallowed hour,
   This life’s divinest glow.

But Time, though viewlessly it flies,
   And slowly, will not stay;
Alike, through clear and clouded skies,
   It cleaves its silent way.

Alike the bitter cup of grief,
   Alike the draught of bliss,
Its progress leaves but moment brief
   For baffled lips to kiss.

The sparkling draught is dried away,
   The hour of rest is gone,
And urgent voices, round us, say,
   “Ho, lingerer, hasten on!”

And has the soul, then, only gained,
   From this brief time of ease,
A moment’s rest, when overstrained,
   One hurried glimpse of peace?

No; while the sun shone kindly o’er us,
   And flowers bloomed round our feet, —
While many a bud of joy before us
   Unclosed its petals sweet, —

An unseen work within was plying;
   Like honey-seeking bee,
From flower to flower, unwearied, flying,
   Laboured one faculty, —

Thoughtful for Winter’s future sorrow,
   Its gloom and scarcity;
Prescient to-day of want to-morrow,
   Toiled quiet Memory.

’Tis she that from each transient pleasure
    Extracts a lasting good;
’Tis she that finds, in summer, treasure
    To serve for winter’s food.

And when Youth’s summer day is vanished,
   And Age brings winter’s stress,
Her stores, with hoarded sweets replenished,
   Life’s evening hours will bless.





	


	





	

		
Christmas Story: stuff legends are made of
	


	
	

		




Emmanuel is born to the Father's delight -Israel’s long-awaited hope. The Word sang a poignant story. A pure melody for each heart.

It was a soft, melodious tune for those with ears to hear. The whispered melody arrived like the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wing. 

The dawning light of a new beginning altered our precepts and notions, arousing a sanguine hope in a songless world. 

The morning light hummed as the Light sang Troubadour’s song of man's redemptive story.





Black Bough Poetry Submission 
2.	The Troubadour’s Song

Emmanuel is born 
to the Father's delight. 
Israel’s long-awaited hope. 
The Word sang a pure melody.

It was a soft, melodious tune 
for those with hearts to hear. 
Its whispered melody arrived as soft as 
the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wing. 

The dawn of a new beginning 
altered our precepts, arousing a 
sanguine hope in a songless world. 

The morning light hummed 
as angels sang the Troubadour’s song 
of man's redemptive story.

Haiku version

Anticipation,
 to the Father's delight, 
 Emmanuel is born

The dawning light
 of a new beginning 
 slates our thirst.

Arousing
 a sanguine hope
 for the coming year.

A salubrious optimism
 laced with intent,
 tempered.





12/13/2024- Long Distance Christmas





I miss family gatherings at Mamaw’s house. I miss Christmas morning with my kids waking up too early to spy on the Christmas tree. I miss family time at the Christmas Eve candlelight service. But that is okay when they are carrying on and building their own traditions with their family—as they are a long distance away, so I decorate with fond memories as I hang ornaments on the tree, waiting for sweet visitors to come.

	


	





	

		
Wintry Threnodies
	


	
	

		

As autumn falls silent under evening's snow, 
sheltered seeds don winter's coat below. 
Sleeping silently beneath winter's breath, 
trees fold into a counterfeit death. 

A magical moment when the sun stands still,
winter begins with a brisk, cold chill. 

Wintry winds whistle ceaseless threnodies, 
glistens frosty precip amenities. 
Amidst frigid fields, icicles drip. 
Cardinals swoop midstream for a sip.

Mice tucked warmly under subnivean snow,
moonbeams prance across a snowlit plateau. 
Betwixt two of astral stars,the moon hangs bright, 
eerie wolf howls echo through the night. 

Playful trickery as spring buds pop their head.
Winter snaps, not yet, and tucks them back in bed. 

[rhythmic and end rhyme]













Rhythmic and end rhyme 
Wintry Threnodies
As autumn falls silent under evening's snow, 
sheltered seeds don winter's coat below.
Trees fold into a counterfeit death
sleeping silently amidst winter's breath.

A magical moment, the sun stands still-
winter begins with a brisk, cold chill.     

Wintry winds whistle ceaseless threnodies, 
glistening frosty precip amenities. 
Amid a frozen field, icicles drip.
Cardinals swoop mid-stream for a sip.

Between two stars, the moon hangs bright,
wolf howls echo through the night.
Mice tucked warmly under a subnivean snow,
moonbeams prance across a snowlit plateau.

February trickery, spring buds pop their head, 
Winter snaps- not yet, and puts them back to bed. 











wintry winds whistling 
a graceful genuflection,
Autumn's last dance-

climactic moment
nightide meets at Winter's gate
light concatenates










	


	





	

		
Sloppy Journalism
	


	
	

		

The fact that this journalist is comparing the event in the Bible to pornographic content placed in elementary and middle school books is egregious. A journalist is to know the source and content correctly in context. The Bible does not teach how to perform pornographic acts. Sloppy journalism ticks me off and proves what people already know–that the mainstream media and its journalists are liars. Parents spoke out against this content being available to their children in the school library without parental consent. The school boards that approved this material refused these books to be read out loud in a public meeting. 





The movie industry rates it as X, adult only, so why is the media acting as if this is censorship? When children are not ready to handle adult problems, they turn to drugs, alcohol, or suicide. Adults cannot handle pornography, so why put it in the hands of children?













Romans 8:1-3





Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon. She fled to her brother Absalom's house in torn robes. David was angry but did nothing because Amnon was his heir apparent. This story is in the Bible not to condone acts of violence but to show man's depravity and the consequences of sin, of listening to evil friends that say you have the right to do whatever you want. Amnon was murder two years later for his actions and did not become king of Israel. 













Look at God holistically. Rightly divided, the word of truth is as sharp as a two-edged sword.

	


	





	

		
November Poems
	


	
	

		

burnt, buff, earthy, 
ushering in sienna hues,
autumn's display 
#HaikuSaturday #haikuchallenge #haiku
@Bleu_Owl








leaf-whistles,
needles oscillate as
psithurism plays

wooing fall wind
passes through her,
catching her breathe

burnt, buff, earthy, 
ushering in sienna hues,
changing seasons. 

susurration whispering, murmuring, or rustling.
"the susurration of the river"
susurrous adj susurrous breeze





Whistling winds
through a mixed forest,
psithurism whispers 

gentle winds
trees sway 
psithurism's whisper

Needles oscillate, 
romantic leaf-whistle sways,
quiet and rhythmic 

Romantic whispers of
mixed forest, 
psithurism
#HaikuSaturday #haiku  @Bleu_Owl 





he felt the gentle psithurism of her heart. "a psithurism seemed to pass through her, as when a full-foliage tree is caught by the wooing south wind."

the gentle psithurism passed through her, stirring her heart.
Broad-leaf-whistles, and needles oscillate in a psithurism wind
Her heart stirred by romantic whispers, she catches her breathe.

seasonal leaves
grounding roots, true friends- (love)
the rings inside

of a wooed heart,
she catches her breathe

Wooing fall wind
passes through her,
she catches her breathe

a gentle psithurism 
passes through,
catching her breathe 

tree whispers
back porch sharing
girl's retreat

leaf-whistles,
needles oscillate in
a psithurism wind

changing seasons
falling sienna hues
counting blessing





Snuggled in a blanket, 
thick socks warm my toes. 
A hot latte melts my insides. 
A cold breeze tickles my nose.





warm colors
delightful flowers
reminiscing





Sitting in my deer stand, on a cold November morning when twenty turkeys stroll by —it's deer season. No one will believe me so I pulled out my phone to take pictures. I look up, and a turkey looks straight at me. Click! 
He did not see a single deer, but this is part of nature's mystery.

Sitting in my morning blind,
twenty turkeys stroll by—
it's deer season. 

No one will believe a
turkey looks straight at me
Click. 

(Turkey to hunter-my son)
Not a deer did he see
Oh, what fun he had
taking pictures of me. 

My son's story about his first day of deer season this year. #HaikuSaturday #haiku 
@Bleu_Owl





Trees whisper in the wind as the gentle river flows downstream before the coming storm—a girls' retreat and back porch sharing. We listen. Leaves whistle one last time in a psithurism wind before letting go. As sienna hues blanket the ground, we count our blessings with each falling leaf.

Even with the coming seasonal changes, we are to enjoy the present. Yet, knowing storms will come as the seasons shift. Here is where we trust the Lord to bring in the beauty of each moment as we walk through life's changes.

leaf-whistles,
needles oscillate in
a psithurism wind





Time is always moving forward to its finality. As a fixed entity, time has an unchangeable purpose and is set for a season of salvation to measure man's free will.
a fixed entity
rushing to finality
time





When dreams and opportunity collide, a star is born 
#HaikuSaturday #haiku 
@Bleu_Owl
 
dreams collide
with opportunity
a star is born





Ideas fall like rain
thoughts soak the ground
savor slowly





Molecules and particles meet
testing each other
establishing boundaries 
sandillion

Sarah and Hagar
Twelve sons from each
A Lion and a wild donkey,
battle for supremacy
in the Middle East  





Warm Pie
Weeping Meringue
Well, let's eat! 





misty, moisty morning
hovering fog clouds
kissing the dew





not a thing or object,
but momentary memories
that echoes the past or echoing the past.





the gentle psithurism  
of a wooed heart, 
she catches her breathe 





Psithurism- the sound of wind in the trees.
Whistling winds
through a mixed forest,
psithurism whispers 

Trees sway, needles 
oscillate to a
psithurism's whisper

Needles oscillate 
romantic leaf-whistle sways,
a quiet rhythmic psithurism.

rhythmic sway of a leaf-whistle

Romantic whispers of
mixed forest, 
psithurism 





the night sky frolics
    under silvery moonbeams
    in stillness, dreams come

    night recedes behind the stars-
    no thought to pending troubles
    tomorrow sleeps





Whistling winds
through a mixed forest,
psithurism whispers 

gentle winds
trees sway 
psithurism's whisper

Needles oscillate, 
romantic leaf-whistle sways,
a quiet rhythmic psithurism.

Romantic whispers of
mixed forest, 
psithurism
#HaikuSaturday #haiku  @Bleu_Owl 





Pursue truth by
protecting the vote, then
Justice is procured-
Vote legally

	


	





	

		
Unexpected- The Mystery of Chosenness
	


	
	

		




November 29: Trade
Can we trade our despair, anxiety, and disappointment for rest and peace? Impossible, you may say, but not so. God made the impossible into I'm possible through Christ Jesus. Paul had to learn the art of contentment. I call it art because every art project begins messy and is a work in progress. Rest and patience come from knowing the God who has it figured out and knows how He will accomplish what he promised he would do. Paul's contentment came from knowing God and recognizing his limitations. His strength, understanding, compassion, and grace are infinite. In our measure world, He is immeasurable.





November 22 Fighting through loss, seeing with clarity is part of the mystery of chosen-ness. 
Proverbs 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. It is difficult to let God heal our wounds, to let God sharpen us for the battles of this world, to cry, and to let him catch every tear.
Proverbs 56:8-You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Knowing God bottles your every tear means your hurt is not lost.

Love hurts but with hope, love heals. Hope lies beyond our regrets and loss. Hope restores the heart and clears the way for renewed dreams. Hope rests on the foundational truth of Jesus Christ. When we've lost our way, hope shines a light. It dispels the darkness of despair. The heart responds. Hope carries the vital healing power of frankincense and myrrh. Its soothing components restore our faith and love.
Hope heals!





November 15: Void-a feeling of want or hollowness. 

Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty? 

It is not the things or objects but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.

Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys all time simultaneously. This time-ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him.
We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see. 

Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time. 

The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God. Ecclesiastes 3:11





Long version: 
Time is always moving forward to its finality. As a fixed entity (having a beginning and an end), time has a purpose which is unchangeable and set for a season of salvation to measure man's free will. Hebrews 6:11. Omnipresent.  Page 94- There is no place, no time where God is not. He is immeasurable by our standards and our limited knowledge. But that does not mean he is unknowable. 
 
We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time for the purpose of knowing Him. God has ordained my days perfectly. Herein lies the paradox of my human limits and God’s sovereignty to bring about eternal results in my life and the life of others. Page 15- We cannot measure God’s thoughts or His ways. 
Knowing the Lord brings about an awe-inspiring fear and amazement that it draws us closer to God.  When we experience this type of awe, we become less individualist, less self-focused, and less materialistic. Sovereignty Page 145. We only have a glimpse of Him. He is knowable. 

"Because we are created in God’s image, we possess both the right to life and the responsibility to protect it. No other human has the right to take life from us, because God is the origin and the giver of life.” [None like Him by Jen Wilkins, p. 47.]  We are guardians of life giving to us by God. 
Page 43-45- God is self-existent and creative down to the last straw.  I see His creativity in his wondrous works all around me (Job 37:16). We have it in us to reflect His creativity. 
Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even what we cannot see or understand. 
His plan is incomprehensible, yet I am included in it. Psalm 145:3 Page 31 


God has chosen us for this time. Only God is Self-Sufficient so we can rely on Him. He is immeasurable, immutable and is therefore a rock that I can stand on. He is not bound by my limited understanding; I can trust His immanence. 
The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He is eternal. Page 72.

Application: Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty? 

It is not the things or objects, but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.

Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys time simultaneously. This time ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him.
We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see. The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God. Eccles 3:11
Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time. 

Paraphrases or references are marked by page numbers from None Like Him by Jen Wilkins. 





Cain refused to worship God but offered his effort as an offering. God cursed the ground when Adam sinned, but Cain knew the ground was cursed, yet he offered his self-effort instead of accepting grace. Only God saves and offers forgiveness. Our efforts always fall short. 





November 8: Look towards
Trees whisper in the wind as the gentle river flows downstream before the coming storm—a girls' retreat and back porch sharing. We listen. Leaves whistle one last time in a psithurism wind before letting go. As sienna hues blanket the ground, we count our blessings with each falling leaf. 

Even with the coming seasonal changes, we are to enjoy the present. Yet, knowing as the seasons shift, storms will come. Here is where we trust the Lord to bring in the beauty of each moment as we walk through life's changes. 

leaf-whistles, 
needles oscillate in
a psithurism wind






Proverbs 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted 
2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV
And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”





November 1: Unexpected. Being chosen by God through the Holy Spirit is elusive and mysterious. What does it mean to be selected by the Chooser?





 Chosenness is a mystery worth pursuing, with a surprising destination. Our pilgrim’s progress is fraught with perils. We hold on to our pain, hurts, and losses, which keep us looking inward and not upward. Yet, we are chosen for a holy, special, and particular purpose. We discover this purpose by building a relationship with the Chooser. 





This concept may seem antithetical to a humble heart, but elitists view themselves above everyone else. If they could, they would dictate every aspect of your life. But not so with God the Father. He gave you free will to discover who He is. First, all creation is an expression of Him. His spirit reveals more of Who He Is. And the Father chose to set us free from spiritual bondage to live in the freedom of His promises. 





11 responses to “Unexpected- The Mystery of Chosenness”



  1. 


    

    carolapv Avatar
    




    carolapv
    



    


    



    Amen. We are blessed to live in relationship with God.
    

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  2. 


    

    aschmeisser Avatar
    




    aschmeisser
    



    


    



    The Israelites were chosen 
    

    to be God’s favoured few,
    

    to have their hearts unfrozen 
    

    so that in joy they’d do
    

    His will down through the ages,
    

    and in His heart remain,
    

    but turn history’s pages,
    

    and you will find their pain
    

    leading to the classic joke
    

    when Aaron went to Moses,
    

    and thusly to his brother spoke,
    

    “I know, dude, that God chose us,
    

    but we can’t tighten no more belts…
    

    maybe next time He’ll choose someone else?”
    

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  3. 


    

    aschmeisser Avatar
    




    aschmeisser
    



    


    



    There is really something
    
’bout a psithurism wind,
    
and the blessing it can bring
    
when you know you’ve sinned.
    
The restless rustling, trees in leaf,
    
speak of soft eternity,
    
and you can hold to the belief
    
of sternness and of mercy,
    
for these must always be combined
    
that forgiveness finds its meaning;
    
stern alone is brutal-blind,
    
and lone mercy is dreaming,
    
but put together like they is,
    
and the result is a catharsis.
    

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    1. 


      

      brontebrown2 Avatar
      




      brontebrown2
      



      


      



      restless rustling, speak of soft eternity, sternness and mercy…lovely description with contrast and alliterations. The Spirit of God does whisper to our souls.
      

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  4. 


    

    aschmeisser Avatar
    




    aschmeisser
    



    


    



    There’s a God-shaped hole inside of me,
    

    and I think this may sound odd,
    

    but could perhaps might there just be 
    

    a me-shaped hole in God?
    

    A space that only I can fill,
    

    a missing puzzle-part,
    

    that requires my free will 
    

    to give Him my whole heart,
    

    and if I choose to hold it back,
    

    to stand aloof and proud,
    

    there’s something He will always lack,
    

    even with a holy crowd,
    

    for I am not just anyone;
    

    I’m His well-loved adopted son.
    

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    1. 


      

      brontebrown2 Avatar
      




      brontebrown2
      



      


      



      A space that only I can fill like a missing puzzle piece. illustrates well beloved son.
      

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  5. 


    

    ELIZABETH AINSWORTH Avatar
    




    ELIZABETH AINSWORTH
    



    


    



    Beautiful and well written.  Let grace fill our void, what wisdom. 
    

    FMF neighbour 14
    

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    1. 


      

      brontebrown2 Avatar
      




      brontebrown2
      



      


      



      Thank you
      

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  6. 


    

    Sandra K. Stein Avatar
    




    Sandra K. Stein
    



    


    



    Loved both the short and long version of your post–and Andrew’s sonnet posing the question “There’s a God-shaped hole inside of me, and I think this may sound odd, but could perhaps might there just be a me-shaped hole in God?”
    

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    1. 


      

      brontebrown2 Avatar
      




      brontebrown2
      



      


      



      This small me-shaped hole concepts reminds me that I am valued by God.
      

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  7. 


    

    aschmeisser Avatar
    




    aschmeisser
    



    


    



    If I could trade the pain and dread
    

    of cancer for a lighter load,
    

    would I then come out ahead,
    

    or would this be a slower road 
    

    to where I’m meant by God to be,
    

    the place where all His answers live?
    

    If I exchanged I might not see
    

    the vistas that my trials can give,
    

    and thus I might become quite blind
    

    to the meanings of my life,
    

    not finding what I was to find,
    

    boxed in heartache, wrapped in strife,
    

    and so I guess it’s best to stay
    

    in the game God bid me play.
    

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Fleeing Empty Philosophies: A Christian Perspective
	


	
	

		

Oct 4- two Oct13-flee








October 25/ Weight
Momentary light affliction produces a weight in glory.
God's plan for my life is the posture of my heart: Micah 6:8, "Be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly." Truth: My prayers have not been answered with my daughter but with my ex-son-in-law. I'm still prayer for her. Restoration of relationships has not happened, but centering my identity on God will make me a different person who reflects Jesus. Our troubles in this life are real with consequences that are long lasting. My heart still hurts, and so does God's heart when a child strays. I trust God with her. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 
2 Corinthians 4: 17-18






October 18: Undecided 

Undecided on your value or salvation or your purpose in life. It is about the journey and learning to walk and trust Jesus. 
Growing in Christ is an ongoing process of defeats, failures, and successes. My past achievements helped me see that I can move forward, even when I don't want to or know how to advance. As we grow into our identity and mature, we gradually become more Christ-like as we learn to walk in the Spirit's power.  

In writing my testimony, I've learned that God's plan for my life is about the posture of my heart. Philippines 4:6, rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks. Micah 6:8 - do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.  I hold on to the truth that being more Christ-like is a process and that current sin would not invalidate my profession of faith or my walk with the Lord.  As a teenager, I would rededicate my life if I felt burdened or unworthy. Confession is necessary, not rededication for God's favor. God's favor is not earned.  The Lord is pleased with me on account of His great name. 

Whether God answers my prayers, I must find my identity in Him. (Queen Esther). 

Excerpt from my ministry letter to my support team while serving overseas (1981): 
Consider for a moment a person who has died and committed a grave sin, a hideous crime. My reaction would be to say this person ought to be punished. But how do you punish a dead man? 

Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. Where is justice to be found? Sin carries with it the penalty of death. God gives us an answer. In Romans 6:11 it says to consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God. This has helped me to understand the depth of my forgiveness. No punishment can be rendered to a dead man in Christ. God has chosen to direct his wrath on His Son, Jesus. There is none left for me. Christ's death on the cross is enough to pay the full price for my sin. Romans 8:1, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 
God longs to be gracious to me and waits on high to have compassion on me (Isaiah 30:18-21.)

The Lord is pleased with me on account of His great name. I first came to trust that I was valued by God which led to my salvation experience. I am totally approved of, accepted and love by Him on account of His great name. 





October 13 -Flee 
Things to flee from: empty philosophies that ensnare the mind or ideas that trap or boastfulness that leaves you blind to reality, or seeking to serve self. 
The world tells you it is okay to be or do things that Jesus never said.
Jesus never said to follow your own heart. The heart is wicked and deceptive. 
Jesus never said to be true to yourself. He said to be His disciple, ''deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.'

Jesus never told people to believe in themselves. He said, "Believe in me, for I am the way, the truth, and the light." 

Jesus never said to live with your Truth. He said, 'I am the Truth, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.' Live His Truth. 

The world says as long as you are happy, that is all that matters. Jesus said, "What profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul." 

How to flee:
How do we (I) hold every thought captive to reflect God's glory and walk confidently in our (my) new identity as a new creature in Christ? 
2 Corinthians 10:5: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."





Oct 4 - two/ The Wise and Foolish Builders
 Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

The wise man built his house up the rock, and when tough times came, he stood fast. The man who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the waters that extends its roots by a stream. It will not fear when the heat comes, but its leaves will be green. 

The foolish man, in contrast, built his house upon the empty philosophies  of this world. He sought power and praise, indulged in cheap entertainment, selfies, and clicks, doing whatever he wanted. But when trials and troubles came, disappointments and loss, his world crashed, a stark contrast to the wise man's secure foundation. 

All the religious and political systems cannot fill the heart. Man is designed to know God, and that is a journey of utmost importance that every person must take. The choice to know God or to reject Him is a significant one that shapes our lives. 





Women teach women. Men and women have different roles in the church. God expects men to take the leadership role in the church, which means pastors are men. 

But does that mean women are excluded from teaching, or a ministry. May it never be! Mary sat at Jesus' feet to learn. Women are not excluded from ministry, as missionaries (Lottie Moon), Sunday School teachers, authors and more.  The Bible in both the Old and New Testaments shows the importance of women in the scriptures and their role in sharing the gospels (Deborah stepped in a time of war, when the general would not). Understanding what God expects of men and what both will be held accountable for goes beyond this one concept of who is the preacher. 

Scripture verifies scripture and teaches a more profound principle that tells us something about God Himself. God never explained to Job why he allowed Satan to test him. He revealed Himself to Job. Job could only shut his mouth and marvel. God doesn't explain why men are the head of the church and the family but-

God ordained it upon Adam, not Eve. 

I have learned, Know God and Know Truth. Take it to Psalms 23 and rest in the Him. 











	

		
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Sept and Oct: Fall Poems, Stories and Haikus
	


	
	

		








Turn your face eastward.
Fall moon on the horizon
blazing golden hues. 

short version
Face eastward
Harvest moon rises
radiating aureate hues





seasonal leaves
grounding roots, true friends-
the rings inside





Wind rustles the leaves 
Trees shimmer, yawning deeply 
Anticipation

Autumn equinox,
the balance of light and dark,
time juncture converts. 

Turn your face eastward.
Fall moon on the horizon,
blazing golden hues. 









side dish
cinnamon apples
sweet fall treat 





Scarecrows come to town
New straw hat and overalls
Storefront greeters. 
#HaikuSaturday #haiku 
harvest in
new updo
festival time





warm days, cool breeze 
candy apples, hayrides 
fall fun 





cool breeze comes
summer seeds fall
waiting to be reborn

Summer's heat softens 
with autumn golden hues,
coming stillness.
#HaikuSaturday #haiku











Autumn Breeze by RLBrown











Autumn’s hues
cast a spell of 
tranquility 









tickled pink
sun's in-sync
rising star













Inner autumn calls,  
embracing a
seasonal change.  

The wind howls 
for rest,
as light narrows.

Counterfeit death nears
God’s grace is 
revealed.

With the last harvest 
winter comes, 
the weary soul find rest.

@Blue_Owl #HaikuSaturday Grace







Winter grants Fall's wish 
for an encore flower dance, 
frost procrastinates.

Summer's warmth lingers.
Harvest-in, farmer's delight-
Sweet whispers of thanks. 

Winter winds whistling
Indian Summer's last stance
Bowing gracefully
Posted Haiku Foundation for Early Harvest Aug 2022





Indian Summer
Harvest-in, farmer's delight-
Sweet whispers of thanks. 









The Last Harvest
By RL Brown

Wind rustles the leaves 
Trees shimmer yawning deeply 
Anticipation

Autumn equinox,
the balance of light and dark,
time juncture converts. 

Turn your face eastward.
Fall moon on the horizon
blazing aureate hues. 

(short version)
Face eastward
Harvest moon rises
radiating aureate hues


Extravagant colors!
A migratory birds last song.
Light wanes for evening.

Nature's splendor yields 
a harvest of abundance, 
Thankfulness expressed. 

Inner autumn calls,
time to embrace season’s change.
The wind howls for rest.

Light narrows yet shines.
Truth displayed for all to see, 
God’s bountiful grace. 

Counterfeit death nears. 
The last harvest, winter comes.
Weary souls find rest. 





frozen heart
a kind touch
melting point









When your soul has lost the fear of God’s design, you travel the road of fools.
When your soul’s meaningful purpose is lost, you search for your significance.
When you separate your soul from your heart, you fall into depths of despair.
When your soul is empty, you fill it with things.
When your soul yearns for love, you sacrifice your character.
But...
When your soul listens for God's whisper, you discern the words of the fool.
When your soul is filled with meaning, you find your purpose.
When your soul is linked to Jesus, you are filled with understanding.
When your soul is full, you pour out God’s wondrous love.
When your soul is loved, you stand your ground.
Truth-
Jesus is the solid rock, immovable and perfect.
God’s design is for you to know HIM.









Freedom -the ability to think freely/by RL Brown


















	

		
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