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.
There’s nothing like a country bear dancing at the county fair. Joining in, a city sow twirling to a graceful bow. Hand-in-hand promenade stance, two partners, ready to dance. With’a two-step wiggle-bop, jumping to a wobble-hop. Polly pocket shuffle scoot, showing off in leather boots.
Here was second option: Hallo's Eve comes once a year when certain creatures reappear. Pumpkin faces scare the dead, filling ghouls full of dread. Jack-O-Lantern fools the gnome, we're disguised, free roam. Around the corner, house insight, dare we run with all our might. Safe inside, we dance with glee. Jack-O-Lantern smiles at me.
Respite: No tempatation has over come you except what is common to man. I Cor 10:13 A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Ps 62:1-2 They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.Is 40:31 Jesus walked this earth as a man. He knows what it means when we say weary bones, tired to the bone or when we are overwhelm. The cares and burdens of this world can be too much to handle. Even Jesus ask for this cup to be passed, yet he obeyed. memories lay curled tumbled, dark rumble inner balance skewed Sometimes we are overwhelm, our faith shaken, sometimes we are just tired and need rest, sometimes we have lost our way, darkness overwhelms. Despite our circumstances, God calls us to him. PS 23 Take an intermission and rest. A respite brings clarity.
memories lay curled tumbled, dark rumble inner balance skewed
truth is a plumbline that does not vary or does it compromise.
God's Word does not compromise Truth. It is our plumbline, our standard, our foundation to live by. God cannot lie. Therefore, our foundation is solid as a rock. (Amos and Hebrews)
Spoil: 2/16/24 If one is spoilt to the point of self-validation where no moral code or truth instructs one's character, then deception will reign in that person's heart. It began in the 50s when having fun and earning money became more important in one's life than Jesus. The '60s sexual revolution attacked God's plan for the family. The divorce rate rose. Government welfare further broke families apart. As a result, abortion was reintroduced back into our society as a legal means to kill an unwanted child. The Gospel ended child-sacrifice to Molek. Next, the me-generation of self-promotion and social media took hold. Today, the number of clicks is the primary source of self-validation. Knowing how God designed you and finding self-worth in the eternal God is lost. Deception crept in, and we ignored it. Our spoiled generations prefer to believe a lie rather than the truth. A person must seek God's gift of discernment. One's gain must be Christ. Phillippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Prayer and the gospel saves.
Consumed by hurt! So, how does one live beyond the hurt and maintain hope? Hurtful words dash across the heart. Dreams unrealize by the busy cares of the day lie in waste. When children refuse to talk to their parents, hope for restoration dims when the years roll into another. When the future seems clouded by nefarious purposes, we pray for a turn of events. Sadness and regret fill a life once lived. Hope lost in darkness cries of despair. We cry. Yet, we still hope. Why? Hope lies beyond our regrets and missed opportunities. Hope restores the heart and clears the way for renewed dreams. Hope rests on the foundational truth of Christ Jesus. When love seems lost, and 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!
Waste: Every religion created by man is self-serving: serve me, sacrifice your wealth and what you love most for me. Mohammad, Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, and Prosperity preacher Norman Vincent Peale all proclaimed to know the way to God or how to live one's life, offering their guidance without knowing the one true God. Religion and empty philosophies created by man waste time, energy, and resources.
God has given us free will. We can choose the false prophets, various religions, or respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. Our spirit is drawn to the Holy Spirit; we can accept or reject God. In doing so, we recognize the creator and his creation; he existed before time began, and the cross was laid as a foundation for a relationship with the eternal God. Colossians 2:8-10 v. 8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;
"Jesus, the apostles Paul, Peter, and John all repeatedly warned such men would rise up among us, and lead many astray, even within the visible church. They warned that not only would there be many False Teachers, there would be many followers of them as well ...people "to suit their own desires ...will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Tim 4:3). Sadly, very few people do their homework when considering their own pastors, so the wolves have taken advantage of this fact to keep multitudes in their blinded condition." https://www.monergism.com/modern-day-false-teachers
Far: This is the last post for January. The post from 'proverbs27thlock' emphasizes living short and living long. Twenty-six days have passed, and what have I done for the Lord and others? What is my daily focus? With 339 days left this year, what is living long? (I recommend reading his post). I usually write my posts/ideas before reading others. I see how far away I am from accomplishing some of my goals. My writing is about revisions and getting to the final stages for submissions. But I have revised two stories that I think are submission ready. Community is about reaching out to international students, learning Korean, and inviting people to church- two opportunities this past week. Re-memorizing scriptures and a daily bible study laced with prayer. I was having trouble quoting a scripture I know from memory- yep, gotta use it or lose it. What affects my living short and long? Procrastination and distractions sometimes are the order for the day. I am like grasshoppers who forgets to look up for guidance.(Yes, there is a bible verse, can't remember where.) So begin the day by looking up and inviting God to order my steps.
Say what are God's patterns in each season of life. God designed each season of your life to bring the fruition of His will. Thereby, God reveals Himself uniquely to your spirit so that I can know the Father, the creator of this world. What would I say to the Father? I think of the Father as ominous and exacting, yet even in the Old Testament, I see kindness and willingness to listen and even change His mind. Kate used the word shutter to think this morning in her video. Grief does make one shutter. I did not have a kind earthly father, and after the divorce, I never saw him until I was an adult. So, I will admit to having a skewed perception of the Heavenly Father. The words Kate used to describe grief were enigmatic and illusive. I remembered the melancholy impression from childhood as I watched my grandson wishing his father was present. This image is not what God intended when He first designed the family unit. The father was to represent the heavenly Father by providing a safe place, protection, and security - a home filled with love and care. The heavenly Father is teaching me about Himself. He wants me to understand Him as the Father, someone I can come to and sit, talk, and listen to.
What is God’s pattern of love in my life? What do I know, what have I seen, why are prayers unanswered, when do prodigals return, and how will things be restored. God did not save me to lose me in doubt and fear.
The Bible doesn't explain God, the Father; it declares Him. God is a spirit to be worshiped in spirit and truth. How can a spirit be known? Fact: Nothing preexisted God. The three in one spirit existed and, by His word, spoke the world into existence. Jesus is our visible manifestation of the Father; now we have His spirit within. Our Father wants us to have a relationship with Him. The story of the prodigal son is about the Father and Israel's rejection of salvation for the Gentiles. The older brother is Israel. The younger brother is the Gentiles. The Father would have smothered them in unconditional love, but the older brother was unwilling. God, the Father, established Israel as a beacon to the world. Micah 6:8 says He has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you. The Father desires us to know Him and trust Him as Job did. The rich young ruler was willing to follow certain rules but he wasn't willing to love Jesus above his worldly possessions or his worldly POV So, I need to look at my patterns of doubt, questioning God about unanswered prayers. In my depths of despair, do I still trust, like Job? Do I find rest in Him (Ps 23)? When do I rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance? My patterns are mine and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have discernment to discover more about the Father.
January Kindness Month Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 Kindness towards someone else, helps them feel seen, appreciated, and valued.
Kindness is like a ripple. Each little thing we do goes out into the world touching more and more people. Each thing we do can be kind, mean, or just a missed opportunity. The one certainty is that kindness can rip through meanness. Kindness interjected at any moment diminishes the ripple of negativity.
Every act of KINDNESS creates a ripple. Each little thing we do goes out into the world touching more and more people. What will you do to start a ripple of kindness today?
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
Others books: Mixed by Arree Chung I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott I intend to develop lesson plans for these two, but I can't keep the books long enough to do so--good books never get returned. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (lessons on TpT) Eyes that Kiss in the Corner by Joanna Ho One by Kathryn Otoshi
All poems are by RL Brown and cannot be published without permission.
Wintry winds whistling ceaseless threnodies
Vermillion cardinal resplendent and showy pulchritudinous
It was not an easy door to open
my creativity-
a vain impression of my imagination,
real or not, I see. #FromOneLine
Piquancy of passion wrapped in zeal radiates earnestly Owl Nest zeal, zone, zest
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is always near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. My pastor preached on Philippines 4. Rejoice always, and in everything by prayer, and supplication with thanksgiving, let your heart (request) be made known to God. God knows your heart but do we? Paul was able to face persecution because Paul knew his own heart and the heart of God
God established Time Knowing God- Time is a fixed entity that is set for a season and is always moving forward. God cannot undo time. God's purposes are unchangeable and set for a season of salvation as a test to man's free will. (Hebrews 6:17-18) There is no variation or shifting of shadows for God's unchangeable plan. All things being possible for God ( Phil 4:13, Matt 19:26) is predicated on a few impossibilities concerning His nature. God cannot lie and therefore He is the plumb-line for the truth to be measured. God exists outside of time. He is the Alpha and Omega. Imagine God holding the ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand to the end in the other. He surveys all of time, simultaneously.
(NOTE: Moses convinced God not to destroy Israel for their unbelief and events were change when David prayed and ask God what would happen if he remained in the city. So David left and Saul did not attack.)
The Power of God's Word
We have entered an age where everyone is right in their own eyes. Each version is at odds with the other. God's Word is the plumb line by which all truth is measured. A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a structure is centered. God cannot lie; it is impossible for him to do so; therein lies the power of His Word.
Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
God loves your soul like the soil loves the tree.
God's Word is the soil where we firmly root our faith.
The soil gives the tree all the space it needs to grow.
God's will is His Word.
It is not a roadmap but a relationship.
God is more interested in what you become than what you do.
Colossians 1:9.
Having received Christ Jesus as Lord, you are:
firmly rooted,
grounded,
built up in Him, and
overflowing with gratitude-
one faith, one hope, one Lord.
Comfort comes by knowing that you are firmly rooted.
Love your God-given soul like the soil loves the tree.
Jabbering gibberish, over the tongue, slipping, tripping, skipping. Seamless syllables of streaming sound, the words whisper- don’t give up. or Short version: streaming sounds whisper, don't give up.
Poetry Pea Video Prompt for Submission
first snow falling softly warm thoughts
Still, cold, frozen white icicle glistening. Droplets drip amid a frozen field, nature's water fountain
Piquancy of passion wrapped in zeal radiates earnestly zeal, zest, zone
not forget, less it be repeated
hide your love in my heart hide in love my heart hide in your love my heart
whiptail journal challenge
Costal charmers adorned in titivated lace Memories of a lissome dance Gene transfer evolution, clueless aftermath a buccolic field jaded by time Iridescent threads woven in the heart. If rain no longer fell, would tears cease to flow? If longing is understood, would yearing fade?
wonder, whisper, whim.
wondering aimlessly a nefarious wind sent with ill-content.
whispers of inspiration, a notion under wonderment- writing again.
Practical application from Arree in a haiku format. Or the last line might say: write it down
#HaikuSaturday #Haiku #amwriting A whisper of inspiration, a notion under wonderment- I'm writing again. @Bleu_Owl wonder, whisper, whim.
whispers of inspiration a notion under wonderment writing again.
inspiration whispers a notion under wonderment, writing again
inspiration wonderment writing
On gradient winds, matching a clarion call Eagles hitch a ride.
words packaged neat and tidy a haiku
Packaged neat and tidy, a haiku
Pacing a playful beat by tapping your feet
or Tappin' your feet to a playful beat
(drums, cymbals, chimes, tambourines)
Razzmatazz of New Orlins jazz (horns, Naw Orlins.)
Soulful swing played on horsehair string.(fiddler)
a scurrying squirrel pivot hiding or (privet hiding) seen response to: William Vlach
@vbvlach a hawk listens for scurrying feet, winter park
whispers of inspiration,
a notion under wonderment-
writing again
Real life see others as they are familiar and strange
clean water smells rest in the moonless dark tomorrow is today
I want a big one the size of my shoes,labeled Harry Suitcase Simpson
Route 66 Lightening fast McQueen's Porsche
one takes a journey the other stays home renunited, stories to tell
My thoughts trail behind as I pass through the doorway, forgotten.
January NaHaiWriMo
Tenacious trekkers journey through a rarely-seen ribbon of time.
Patterned pathways of speckled sunlight guiding avid adventurers.
Dangling treasure for avid adventurers, hidden in nature.
Wedding Blessing: A verse in Colossians speaks of being rooted in faith, growing in knowledge and overflowing with gratitude- one faith, hope, and Lord. The cord of faith in Jesus binds you, and dreams for your future begin with God’s guiding hand of love. Your faith in Jesus, the fullness of hope, and love for each other tie you together. You become one as you blend your lives to complement each other. Love each other like the soil loves the tree and gives it all the space it needs.
Lesser long nose bat flies through the night.
Hunting Agave plants by smell and sight.
Agave is sweeter than honey.
Its nectar is thin and runny.
For this night flier, it’s a great delight. Limerick Sunday
National Geographic Picture https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/lesser-long-nosed-bat
Emmanuel is born to the Father's delight, -Israel’s long waited hope. The Word sang its poignant story. A pure melody for each heart to hear. For those with ears to hear, it was a soft melodious tune. Like the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wing, a whispered melody arrived. The dawning light of a new beginning steadies our thirst. Arousing a sanguine hope in a song-less world for the coming hope. The morning light hummed as the Light sang the Troubadour’s song of our redemptive story.
anticipation Emmanuel is born the Father's delight
Israel's anticipation Emmanuel is born to the Father's delight.
last year's version: A song-less world yearns to hear the troubadour’s song, echos of joy.
Tiny beats, the word sings a melody that only the heart hears.
A single voice announces, the king's arrival, he dwells with us.
Through doubt and despair hope rings a new redemptive song.
The Troubadour song illuminates the darkness, dispelling fear.
The morning light hums, hope shines- the frame repeats.
Joy to the world.
oblivion aquarium at the mall trapped within
The Troubadour
The Eastern Star shined 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.
Like the tiny beats of an hummingbird's wings, a whispered message arrived.
A single voice announced the King's arrival. He dwelt with us.
A song-less world yearned for echos of the troubadour’s aria.
Despair dispelled. The Troubadour sang the redemptive story.
The morning light hummed, arousing a sanguine hope, the frame repeats-
Joy to the World.
Friends in all shapes and sizes red, brown, black, and white-- each one precious
Wintry winds whistling a ceaseless threnody
Haiku Music Challenge December 2022
Shear Cirrus trails in a clear, wintry blue sky.
motionless sun the darkest moment light breaks through
brief magical moment the sun stands still winter begins
nightide meets at winter's gate light concatenates
#haiku #HaikuSaturday #haikuseed
winter solstice Dec 21, 2022
6 facts about the winter solstice
The magic moment. While many focus on the winter solstice as a day in the calendar, what we are actually talking about is a very specific moment which is over almost as soon as it has begun. ...
The Sun stands still. ... Winter begins. ... Nine hours darker. ... The earliest sunset. ...
brief magical moment the sun stands still winter begins
8 fascinating facts about the summer solstice It arrives like clockwork. ... Time stands still. ... It's not the earliest sunrise of the year. ... been observed throughout human history. ... Flooding the Nile. ... Greek feasts. ... Ancient Roman celebration of home and hearth. ... It's still celebrated around the world today.
March/ September Spring Equinox March Equinox
Terrestrial tides collide high, but twice a year. rising sun and moon poised.
A morrowless day arriving on the equinox perfectly balanced.
January sky Its sheer so clear, so blue. Nothing leaves a mark.
Wintry sky, shear blue bright and clear cirrus trails. Shear Cirrus trails in a clear, wintry blue sky.
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. 12/30- Slake
12/31- Sanguine
1/01- Salubrious Owls Nest Challenge
The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. Your true being brims over into your words and actions. It comes out of the heart. If good and abundance of good; if evil and abundance of evil. Does your heart have a good treasure or evilness? A person’s words express the overflow of the heart; what you say flows from what is in your heart. Words matter. We are called to speak against evil and bring forth righteous words to build our nation. We are to be watchmen for our country. The church is the watchman for our nation. We will be responsible if we keep silent. Our sins are heavy upon us, and we can’t survive this way. We must turn from our wicked ways. We do not let liars destroy our nation, our culture, and our children. We know who are liars because we can hear their words. Be heroes of faith, to make a stand to return to God’s ways. Pray that we dream and find the Lord’s destiny for us. Pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to the prodigal to come home.
The Troubadour's Song
The Troubadour's Song
The Eastern Star shined through the night illuminating the way.
The Word sang a melody for my heart to hear, soft and gentle.
For those with ears to hear, it was pure and poignant
Like tiny beats of an hummingbird's wings, a whispered message arrived.
A single voice announced the King's arrival. He dwelt with us.
A songless world yearned for echos of a promised aria.
Despair dispelled. The Troubadour sang the redemptive story.
The morning light hummed, arousing a sanguine hope, the frame repeats-
Joy to the World.
In the beginning was the Word The Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning... In Him was life and He was the light of men.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John Chapter 1 From the beginning to the end, Jesus lets us know what is in store for us.
Turn
The rich young ruler turned away from Jesus and grieved. In v. 18, he called Jesus a good teacher, not Lord. In verse 19, Jesus asks him, "Why do you call me good, only God is Good? The rich young ruler didn't recognize Jesus as the Son of God. V.19: Jeuse refers to the 10 Commandments, which are rules to live by (guidance).
But rules without love are empty. Jesus gave him a challenge to show his true heart. The rich young ruler was unwilling to turn.
It wasn't about riches; it was about what he valued most. It was not about Jesus. He wanted Jesus to accept his standard of worship. He was willing to give in part but not all. His heart was still wicked.
Today, many believe they are saved but will be left behind because they are no different than the rich young ruler.
Jesus left with nothing undone.
Jesus left nothing undone while hanging on the cross. Psalms Chapters 22-24 are a picture of the cross. His first request: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34
He honored his mother: Woman, behold your son! Then to John, Behold, your mother. John 19:26-27.
His example of grace: One thief ridiculed Jesus and demanded to be saved without recognizing his need for grace. The other thief confesses who Jesus is, a man without sin, and receives grace.
At noon till three, darkness fell over the land: Jesus cried: My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Mark 15:33-34. The Father isolated the Son for us. Jesus became sin for us. Darkness fell in Egypt at the first Passover when the death angel came.
Around 2:00, Jesus cried: I thirst. He was given sour wine, but he refused it. In the garden, he asks the Father to let this cup pass but accepts the Father's will. Jesus refused man's cup. With that, Jesus says it is finished: The Father's will is done.
With Jesus' last cry of triumph, He willingly gave up his spirit. His choice, not by man.
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
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.
@Bleu_Owl
Winter winds whistling
Autumn's last stance-
a graceful genuflection.
#haikuchallenge #HaikuSaturday
Genuflect
seasonal shift
climate change
apposite
Nature reclaims what it intends
sending life's events
to where memories flow.
Slowly evanescing
time spins
memories of you
Past lives on in
family stories, recipes, my nose-
as treasured memories.
one voice sings a death aria
Opposite of
wokeness would be
Apposite
spring in my steps
alacrity of purpose
wind at my back
toddler's alacrity
something new
everyday
petunias thrive
with cold persistence
periwinkle's winter wink
elemental fragrance Saguaro Cactus alluring
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 souls find rest.
@Blue_Owl #HaikuSaturday Grace
brontebrown2 