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.
Breathe in the sunlit air,
watch a zephyr stir the trees, giggle in a swaying hamcock,
tickle your toes in the cool grass and watch the clouds dance-Take a break and see the Creator in the world around you.
evening wanes
twitters and tweets
surround me,
life nestles,
I rock
I listen
I let go
God's World is full of
dangling treasures
hidden in nature
for seekers to find.
Job 12:
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Paul Hurst from Facebook
Secular humanism is a big failure. Hopes based upon assumptions of an inherent goodness in mankind. They should have read the Scriptures and remember that mankind is fallen into sin.
Paul to the Corinthians in dealing with false teachers and empty philosophies.
I Corinthians 11:1
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Human betterment, which relies on incentivizing people to make good decisions to create a better society, will fail when the incentive structures fail. (Ben Shapiro paraphrase.) Incentivizing people to do what is right is evident when they think they are entitled to the wealth others have earned. It is clear when workers demand pay beyond their skill level. It is evident in the looting of stores and trying to steal your way to wealth through Ponzi schemes.
Our Founding Fathers understood that governmental systems do not make a good society. People do. People whose hearts are moved by kindness and benevolence are the heart of any culture.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
But in Christ we are a new creature: @ Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Our greatness was never in wealth but in the people who believed in Jesus and stood on righteous principles.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned, received, heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. Phil 4:8
There is not one self-help book that can replace the simple truth found in the bible. Choose to act by first unplugging from this world. Breathe in and out, and let go of festering feelings inside, then meditate on God’s Word.
Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:4-5.
nature's mystery
sprightly beads nestle betwixt
succulent leaves
pearly light of glistening eyes
echoes a dance of
the coming spring.
Poem and Photo By RL Brown
Complementary
high impact combination
nature's color scheme
complementary combination inner beauty
March 2 book
Flip a page
Mark a page
Read again, a book in hand.
March 3 soup
Slow down, take the time
make a pot of savory stew
share with a friend or two
Savory and warm
tomato soup with grilled cheese
diagonal cut
Moons of MarchSky looks down on earth
with the dark eye of a new moon,
spring winks at the stars.
Seeds shed winter's shield
roots stretch in fertile dirt-
March howls for spring's warmth.
Loam stirs, breaking free-
muddling nightcrawlers rise
under the worm moon.
Foretoken of spring
Marsh marigolds in damp fields
Hoverflies delight
Terrestrial tides collide
rising high, but twice a year.
sun and moon poised.
A morrowless day
arriving on the equinox
perfectly balanced.
Sugar Moon shines down-
sweet maples release sap
as March winds breathe change.
March festivals
Frolic with the daffodils
Wye Mtn, Moss Mtn, AR
Zephyr carries spring seeds
Nightcrawlers dig underground moats
Loam provides their needs
#Haiku_Challenge March 16/Zephyr
Morning Glory
Photo by Tiu1ec3u Bu1ea3o Tru01b0u01a1ng on Pexels.com
foretoken of spring,
howling winds, blue sky, green grass
March winds breathe change
three hundred year oak
stretches toward sun's warmth
new season to bloom
#HaikuSaturday #Haiku_Challenge/zeith
Photos by RL Brown/Moss Mtn, AR
March 17, 2023
As iron sharpens irons, so does one man sharpens another. Discernment is a great gift.
Picture: Anonymous Facebook Post
Eleventh hour
America's demise
wokeness disinformation
downfall from within
Discernment's gift
facts vs narratives
Assumptions vs. Truth
I bought a book in 1991 by Catherine Millard titled, The Rewriting of America's History. I didn't understand the significance of this book then. Still, in today's environment, I can see the devasting results of not knowing your history and listening to others define history with present-day blinders. (Thomas Sowell is one of the greatest minds to explain current times and the adverse effects of specific gov't policies.)
The word today is 'assume.' Why assume to judge the past with blinders?
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Discernment is a gift that divides truth from fiction. Boys are genetically different from girls is a biological fact. No two boys are alike, or two girls just alike, not even twins. But this is NOT where discernment takes place. Facts are just that facts which differ from theories. Discernment is where God grants grace to remove your blinders (ex. western raising vs. eastern cultures and many more) and to hear and catch subtleties that differ from His Word. Homosexuality is based on a delusion that all forms of love are okay. But God said no, that isn't true.
How do I tell God's Truth through the wokeness, lost history, and hostile rhetoric about my ancestors who came to America? Don't assume! I don't judge their opinions or their beliefs, nor do I back down. I don't argue with those who refused to hear. I leave one nugget of Truth, God loves, and God forgives-
He loves me, forgives my lack of foresight and deluded beliefs, and constantly works in my life to open my eyes. Discernment is a great gift.
Forward written by Dr. D. James Kennedy
For Americans, 'to reclaim our beloved nation from the destructive forces of humanism, secularism, athesim and false religions, we must first retirieve the true history... by relearning the gacts that a righteous new government came from righteous people seeking to advance the kingdom of Christ..."
Rewriting a nation's history is frequently one of the first strategies taken by a conquering nation. If you do not know where you come from also do not know where they are going.
The Ukraine war with nearly 200,000 dead on both sides, plus the 33.000 who died in the earthquakes, so many lost and dying, and yet, we have: Students at Asbury University, a Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, have been praying and worshipping in their chapel around the clock for over a week.
Hope springs eternal, which means that it comes from the Father above.
The harvest is ripe. We need harvesters, messengers, and prayer warriors- many people need to heed God's calling. God sent us to do His work and His will. We can each do our part and be a part of a great revival before the Lord returns. Can we answer the call that God lays before us? It is different for each of us. Remember, the one thing you do may be the catalyst for the next.
When we ignore God's design for us, we travel the road of fools. When we ignore the Holy Spirt's call to pray, we search for significance. When we ignore hope and water weeds with bitter tears, we fall into depths of despair. When we ignore the yearning for spiritual things, we sacrifice character. When we ignore God's design to fill us with His love, we walk alone.
When we hear God whisper, we see with clarity.When we love our soul like the soil loves the tree, we are secure. When we hope through unanswered prayers, trust is restored. When we listen with the self God designed, we walk in faith.
Above is a rewrite of a post from last year.
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.
spring buds pop their heads, February trickery, winter snaps, not yet! Published
Feb 11 winter's shield hoarfrost, snow blanket survive or succumb #HaikuSaturday #haiku
rewrite for NaHaWriMo little ones frolic under silvery moonbeams till stillness comes
a sparkled light cast night recedes behind the stars tomorrow sleeps
Feb 18 varied highs and lows February vacillates spring's on its way
Photos by RL Brown
Nature's mystery sprightly beads nestle betwixt succulent leaves
Pearly light of glistening eyes echoes a dance of the coming spring.
@NaHaiWriMo
Feb 1 daybreak morning’s blush slips through the mizzling mist published
Feb 2 dawn/birdsong Antiphonal tweets robins, warblers, and blackbirds sing dayspring's symphony rewrite: pastoral harmony robins, warblers, blackbirds antiphonal tweets
Feb 3 crowing rooster A crimson trim comb Proud strut, perched high. Good morning world
Feb 4 sunrise morning’s song returns chee-pippety-chee spring arias
Feb 5 Breakfast peel double whop, pop biscuits fried light and golden sprinkle sugar dust
Feb 6 morning the morning light hums dreams dance in dawn's shadow young hearts sing
Feb 7 Missed breakfast Can't wait for lunch time to graze, brunch
Feb 8 ELEVENSES An elvish break peanut butter and banana RIP Elvis.
Feb 9 Noon high noon shadows hide under feet
Feb 10 Lunch teacher on the run, recess, copier, meeting lunch in hand.
Feb 11 Midday a contagious yawn a midday stretch What comes after ELEVENSES?
Feb 12 nap time little ones play till stillness draws the sleepy eyes shut all rest.
Feb 13 teatime front porch cool breeze scones, clotted cream, preserves Iced cold bourbon tea
Feb 14 afternoon out-of-town son calls visit with elderly neighbor afternoon delight
Feb 15 Happy Hour family conversations around the dinner table happy hours
Feb 16 Dinner break a few rules cold pizza for breakfast, hot pancakes for dinner Yum!
Photo by R. Bronte Brown/ South Korea
Feb 17 Magic Hour/Golden Hour silvery moonbeams night recedes behind the stars tomorrow sleeps in dreams
Feb 18 Sunset evening wanes sunlight etches closer to twilight's shade (reference to age -etch-wrinkles)
Feb 19 blue hour sky colors ripple a unique aerial view coming down down down
Feb 20 Twilight cicadas sing silence merges with darkness tree shadows creep
Feb 21 Dusk fireflies hover low in eventide tealights flicker
Feb 22 Evening evening sounds surround life nestles, tweets and twitters cease swissssh goes the porch swing
Feb 23 Vespers Violet skies of royalty evensong of repentance, Ash Wednesday
Feb 24 Bedtime Bedside, on my knees whispers ascend to heaven I lay down to sleep
Whispering to heaven before I lay down to sleep. My dreams and hopes
whispers of wishes ascending to heaven as I lay down to sleep.
evanescing pass out of sight, memory, or existence. "water moves among reeds, evanescence, shines" To dissipate or disappear like vapor.
Feb 25 the eleventh hour America's demise wokeness disinformation downfall from within
Discernment's gift facts vs narratives dividing truth from opinion
Discernment's gift is dividing truth from lies- fact vs opinions
Feb 26 Midnight Snack An internal clock wakes hubby at 12:01 sleep walks to the fridge
Feb 27 Wee hours Wee morning hours Perseid meteor show July and August
Feb 28 death haiku 1. autumn falls silent under the evening snow 2. Winter winds whistling, Indian summer's last stance, bowing gracefully Feb 28 Last Hour /death haiku Thanatos’ grim triumph- fallen, betrayed from within The Afghan Thirteen,
Above all by Michael W Smith.
Above all powers above all kings above all nature and all created things. Above all kingdoms above all thrones above all wonders, the world has ever known.
The worst thing to fake in life is being a Christian. It is not because of name-calling, being dishonest with others and yourself, or for personal gain. It is just because we will all stand before the judgment seat one day. Jesus is the only one who can redeem us/you.
Ultimately, the one thing you cannot fake is your salvation. It is freely given, and the Holy Spirit calls us to accept or reject God’s gift. The heavenly Father is the judge, and when His Son says I died for you, your sins are wiped away, never to be remembered. Salvation is genuine or not. God’s truth reveals our sins, and Jesus’ blood wipes our sins clean.
Plague by doubt, belief wavers. A clearer vision may be needed.
Once as a child, I saw a star travel across the sky. I rushed in to tell my parents, but it was gone when I came back outside. They didn’t believe me. It was a traveling star, a sign. I was only six, but I believe in that star. I saw it. As an adult, I saw the movie October Sky. It was then I realized what I actually saw was a satellite.
Once in college, I believe God called me to a year’s service with Campus Crusade for Christ. That summer, I raised financial support all summer and still fell short. I missed the early training, but I still believe I was called. I kept on. I called on the last day to say I did not meet my goal. I was sorely disappointed. I still believed I was called, but I doubted. She told me I had till twelve o’clock, even though I felt it was over. I continued to call. Yes, as you can imagine, I reached my goal by twelve and spent the year overseas serving the Lord with Campus Crusade for Christ.
Have you ever felt that you were not on God’s to-do list? I have. Have you believed wholeheartedly in the wrong thing for years? I have.
Have an answer for you about doubt? I do not. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. How that is true is for each of us to discover.
Faith can be likened to a train with an engine and a caboose. Putting your energy/belief in God and His Word is like putting your energy/ fuel (the coal) into the train engine, and it moves forward. If you place your energy (the coal) into the caboose, your feelings, and not God’s Word, the train doesn’t move. Feelings wobble, constantly change, hurl you forward or hold you back. Emotions should not take the lead; they can spiral you out of control if you weigh yourself with them. We have free will by which we balance head and heart and life.
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