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.

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.Eccles 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.

Paraphases or referances 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.

    Like

  2. aschmeisser Avatar

    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?”

    Like

  3. aschmeisser Avatar

    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.

    Like

    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

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

      Like

  4. aschmeisser Avatar

    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.

    Like

    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

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

      Like

  5. ELIZABETH AINSWORTH Avatar

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

    FMF neighbour 14

    Like

  6. Sandra K. Stein Avatar

    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?”

    Like

    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

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

      Like

  7. aschmeisser Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a comment

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’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.

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September FMF Preserve, Build and Renew

Friendships are the threads woven into the tapestry of one's life. 
September20-Matter

Iridescent threads
Shimmering in sunlight
Woven in my heart.
I imagine God showing me a tapestry of my life in heaven. Family and friends who have shaped my life will be like shimmering sunbeams woven throughout. The iridescent lines of friendship will burst forth in a prismatic array of colors, revealing the depths of God's love.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17


Book by Jennie Allen, Find Your People: Building a Deep Community in a Lonely World.

Page… God has set a time and a place to love people, and others love you in ways that draw you toward Him.
Your inner circle is gone due to friends (or you) moving away, busyness, or not maintaining relationships. The ache of loneliness is real. This is a reminder of the importance of maintaining relationships.
What steps can be taken to keep these connections?
The time to reach out and build is now, beginning with the people in front of you. Find friends you are willing to be transparent with and accountable to, with a shared purpose of serving each other. One person cannot be everything. Find your sage friend, the encourager, the challenger, and the fun one.
Be each other's core group by building a community through the network of friendship.

Page 49. "It will take deliberate intention to return to the kinds of relationships that God had in mind for us to enjoy: Proximity, Transparency, Accountability, and Consistency."
It will take trust and practice. It will take learning to ask the right questions, learn to listen and learn to listen with the Holy Spirit's ears.

Page 129. "Pride is our insistence that our opinion is Bible truth...our good works...our virtue."

Page 135. "Truth in love is the safest place to be."


Page 218.
Remember, this is a learning process, and we will make mistakes. "A friend says she tries to react to patterns, not one-offs. Everyone messes up unless it is habitually."

Page 165. "Bearing one another's burdens means to get close enough to get up under that burden alongside you."
In the movie The Forge, Isaiah is handed a sword to hold, but after a few minutes, it becomes too heavy to carry alone. His arm begins to shake. Then, his brothers step forward and offer their support with two fingers. He can hold it up without shaking.

Page 217. How to build, strengthen and preserve old and new friendships:
Ask real questions
Listen to everything, the whole message
Tell each one what you are grateful for in them
Talk about Jesus
Do fun stuff together.

September 6- Youth

3 responses to “September FMF Preserve, Build and Renew”

  1. ELIZABETH AINSWORTH Avatar

    Yes, so important to preserve friendships in the busyness of life. I am enjoying the different ways people have used this word prompt!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. mendellrachel7 Avatar
    mendellrachel7

    Iron sharpens iron … I just met with my friend who sharpens me. We encourage each other. We are very different, but our desire to trust God more is the same. We don’t get to meet very often, but I write down the things I loved or I was challenged by our meeting and I can go back and review. Yes, I need to focus more on my friends who sharpen me and stay in touch! Thank you! FMF#3

    Liked by 1 person

  3. brontebrown2 Avatar

    I’ve started a new Bible Study group called Radical Mentoring. We are reading Find Your People by Jennie Allen as a way to understand a biblical prespective of discipleship. We watch the movie, The Forge, together last week.

    Like

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August Poems

Morning stillness
Rhythmic movement
Zephyr and leaf

#HaikuSatuday #haikuchallenge
My brother passed away on July 28. His funeral was at the Biloxi National Cemetery on August 16. At the end of his funeral, a gentle southern breeze blew during the final prayer.
Signs of the time, 
policies align
a shift in the fault line.
Is America given another chance to redeem herself? November's vote will tell.
Wind rustles the leaves 
Trees shimmer, yawning deeply
Anticipation

Rustling leaves
Yawning trees
Anticipating fall
seasonal leaves
grounding roots, true friends-
the rings inside
cool breeze comes
summer seeds fall
waiting to be reborn

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

FMF Post August

The stories of the old are sometimes pictures or prologues of future events, giving us discernment.

Usually,
We lose when we argue with the Truth. Hebrews 4:12

We lose defending ourselves to those who love to gossip. Proverbs 20:19

We lose to those who love to have their ears tickled with empty philosophies. Colossians 2:8

You lose arguing with a narcissist. Proverbs 21:4: “Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].”

You lose when we say an empty prayer inviting Jesus into your heart but have not confessed and repented of your sins and turned from your old self. You must become a new creature in Christ. Repentance is an about-face, not two-face. Revelation 3: 20, Upon confession and repentance, Jesus enters in. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Salvation is on the inside, and baptism is on the outside.
Signs of the time, 
policies align
a shift in the fault line.
Is America given another chance? !! Chronicles 7:14
Defeat vs Victory, What does that look like?

Morning stillness
Rhythmic movement
Zephyr and leaf

My brother passed away on July 28. His funeral was at the Biloxi National Cemetery on August 16. At the end of his funeral, a gentle southern breeze blew during the final prayer.
1 Corinthians 15:55, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The verse continues, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Scene 3 Marriage of Ruth and Boaz
Ruth represents all Gentiles and is a picture of the future church. She left her country to follow Naomi and converted to Judaism. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all mankind, Jews and Gentiles. Jesus' Jewish disciples were to preach His message of salvation to everyone. The church age began. We are saved by grace and adopted in. At the rapture, the church age ends, and God deals with both Israel and rebellious men.
Scene 2 The Lord is with Abraham.
The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?"
"The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly great. I will go down and see if they have done according to their outcry; I will know."
The two angels turned and went toward Sodom.
God is omniscient and knows the heart of every person there. God was there for the victims of Sodom and Gomorrah. He heard their outcry. The angels turned toward Sodom and Gomorrah to give the people one last chance to repent. And yet-
God would save the five cities for the sake of ten righteous. But there were not even ten righteous in Lot's family. Abraham bargained for Lot's family, which is why he stopped at ten.
Revelation 6:10
The martyrs cry out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
As Revelation reveals, Sodom and Gomorrah are testaments to God's future judgment of man's sins. When the rapture occurs and the Holy Spirit is removed, men will face God's judgment. Some will be like those in Sodom, some will die in disbelief, and others will still give their lives to stand for Jesus Christ, beginning with the 144,000 thousand from every house of Israel.
God hears the victim's outcry and will restore all that is lost. If not here, then in heaven, where he will wipe away their tears.
The stories of the old are sometimes pictures or prologues of future events, giving us discernment.

The Scene 1: I Kings 18:20-40 Eliha vs the the prophets of Baal
How long will you falter between two opinions? The God of Eternity vs the god of humanity.

One man, Elijah, stood against 450 prophets of Baal. Until the oblation hour, the prophets of Baal called on the god of their imaginations to act. Elijah taunted them. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Elijah called upon the Lord. Through Elijah's prayer, the fire of the Lord fell.
Next scene:
Jesus is hanging on the cross; it is three o'clock, the oblation hour. Jesus cried, 'It is finished,' and the wrath of God for mankind fell upon Him. Elijah was the prologue of what God was going to do on the cross. Revelation reveals God's judgement.

Revelation 3:15-18, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

How long will we vacillate between the God of Eternity or the god of our own making? We have God's Word and now are in the church age, with Revelation as the epilogue.
Note: My pastor's sermon was much better at drawing the comparison.
Tolerate and tolerance do not equate in today's world. God's command to preach the Truth of the Gospel is clear: do not add to or take away God's Word. If you fail to preach about hell and eternal separation from God, then there is no true love, respect, or need for the free gift of salvation. If you preach God is love, and there is no hell, then there is no fear of judgment—who needs God? 

God warns us as Christians from our Jewish beginnings through our Christian heritage not to add or take away anything to HIS Word. Scriptures contain the path to salvation-true salvation, the path to understanding God, gave us free will to worship Him-the one who created it all. You can't remove Romans 1 from understanding God's love or Galatians 5:19. It is our path to God- to understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. God says to spread the message with tolerance, love, and understanding of the lost.

The Spirit draws and brings conviction to the lost, but we are commissioned to go and tell-not leave them in darkness or on the wrong path.
Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19:
How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel? I will know when I stand before Jesus.  
"The Bible consistently emphasizes love as the foundational Christian virtue. Love is not merely tolerating someone; it is actively seeking their well-being. It is desiring the best for another, regardless of their beliefs or actions. Love is not blind to sin or wrongdoing but seeks redemption and restoration. Furthermore, the Bible presents truth as absolute and unchanging. It is not merely one perspective among many. While we are called to engage with those who hold different beliefs with gentleness and respect, we cannot compromise on biblical truth. To tolerate error is to dishonor God." This is from Grace Filled Moments/FMF post. 
https://www.gracefilledmoments.me/2024/08/01/fmf-tolerate-the-illusion-of-tolerance/

6 responses to “FMF Post August”

  1. Sandra K Stein Avatar
    Sandra K Stein

    “How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel?” — very convicting.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. mendellrachel7 Avatar
    mendellrachel7

    Amen. Strong words for strong facts. We cannot accept the Gift of Jesus without knowing how badly we need it. Conviction, then salvation. So many skip the conviction part … Thank you for the reminder! FMF#6

    Liked by 1 person

  3. aschmeisser Avatar

    Some would have us tolerate 

    what we should not abide,

    approve, applaud their blind hate

    for another’s tribe.

    They want to make us something less

    than what we have set out to be,

    to publicly and richly bless

    the things we should not see,

    but I do not hold with that

    narrowing of my own mind

    ’till there’s no room to swing a cat

    without hitting someone’s paradigm

    a really good hard meowing rap,

    that was placed there as a trap.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

      I hope you are working on a book. May I repost?

      Like

  4. mendellrachel7 Avatar
    mendellrachel7

    Amen. Exactly. Nothing to add, except that it is difficult but necessary to tell others that you can’t get the good stuff without giving up the bad stuff, pride, arrogance, entitlement, etc. If you aren’t humble and know you NEED Jesus, then it’s all foolishness to you. I’ve had a few people say to me, “I don’t need saving.” Pretty arrogant … I’m still praying for them. ~ blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. dawnfanshawe Avatar

    Thank you for this.

    Liked by 1 person

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2024 July Poems and more

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temperature rising
the sun's playful banter
evening's delight
Evening's warm hues 
cast a spell
of tranquility.
brewing storms
turbulent waters
troubled horizon
“Enchanted Pool” by T Watchman John-18th century

The Lie said to the Truth, "Let's take a bath together, the water is very nice.
The Truth, still suspicious, tested the water and found out it really was nice. So they got naked and bathed.
But suddenly, the Lie leapt out of the water and fled, wearing the clothes of the Truth.
The Truth, furious, raced out of the pond to get her clothes back.
But the World, upon seeing the naked Truth, looked away, with anger and contempt.
Poor Truth returned to the pond and disappeared forever, hiding her shame.
Since then, the Lie runs around the world, dressed as the Truth, and society is very happy-because the world has no desire to know the naked Truth.
Painting: “Enchanted Pool” by T Watchman John-18th century
Copied and pasted
author anonymous
Poison ivy, poison oak,
who cares? Itching everywhere.
Gloves on, reading a book.

Butterfly wings
shimmering in the sunlight,
a refractile kaleidoscope
or
Refractile kaleidoscope
shimmering sunlight-
butterfly wings

evening shadow on
crisscrossing paths,
uninterrupted
a rhythmic beat
slow slow quick quick slow
sandy footprints

slow, slow, quick-quick slow
light dances on the water
footprints in the sand

a rhythmic beat
slow slow quick quick slow
lover's cadence




Yes, Flowers Have Favorites, too!

Fuzzy bees that run the world,
busy beats, their wings uncurled.
Orchard bees seek apple trees,
guided by a fragrant breeze.
Bees create a honey treat-
of lavender so pure and sweet.

Fragrant flowers spread their scent,
whiffs, and swirls in spring’s advent.
Flowers mixed with pollen threads,
blooming hues of blues and reds.
Golden pearls spread all about,
gathered by a little scout.

Tiny dancers run the world,
silent beats, their wings impearled.
Butterflies from all around
follow scents that hug the ground.
Dancing feet atop a bloom,
search for nectar to consume.

Clustered flowers, vivid hues
Yellows, reds but no blues,
Flower seeds secure their worth,
stretch their roots in fertile earth.
Coneflowers and scattered seeds-
paired best with butterfly weeds.

Nature’s treeswifts guide the world,
Hums and beats, their wings unfurled.
Hummingbirds need constant fuel.
Trumpet flowers attract this jewel.
Forward, backward, upside down.
These dashing fliers zip around.

Golden flowers, brilliant blooms
Entice birds with shiny plumes.
Blazing Star to Geranium,
Coral Bells to Delphinium.
Flower meadows, patchwork plots,
Scattered seeds in local lots.

Summer FMF Post-June & July -Through the Looking Glass

Tolerate and tolerance do not equate in today's world. God's command to preach the Truth of the Gospel is clear: do not add to or take away God's Word. If you fail to preach about hell and eternal separation from God, then there is no true love, respect, or need for the free gift of salvation. If you preach God is love, and there is no hell, then there is no fear of judgment—who needs God? 

God warns us as Christians from our Jewish beginnings through our Christian heritage not to add or take away anything to HIS Word. Scriptures contain the path to salvation-true salvation, the path to understanding God, gave us free will to worship Him-the one who created it all. You can't remove Romans 1 from understanding God's love or Galatians 5:19. It is our path to God- to understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. God says to spread the message with tolerance, love, and understanding of the lost.

The Spirit draws and brings conviction to the lost, but we are commissioned to go and tell-not leave them in darkness or on the wrong path.
Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19:
July 19, 2024
What do you MAKE of this?
There is nothing that can separate us from God's love Romans 8:38-39.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:27-28.
There is a Spirit that knows our weakness, who intercedes to pray, when we don't know how to pray with groaning too deep for words. Romans 8:26-27.
There is hope that God causes all things to work together for our good, whether from evil-doers, haters, or demons, Romans 8:27-28.
There is a God that we can call "Abba, Father!, Romans 8:15.
There is true freedom and peace that does not come from the world or the American Constitution, but from the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed you from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2.
There is coming a day that even creation will be set free, Romans 8: 21.
There is Jesus, who was raised from the dead, who gave his life and indwells you (of your own free will) (Romans 8:11).
There is only Jesus.
Can we see God's hand working through hard times? 
That lump of coal may be a hidden jewel among the trials- remember that dark colors absorb light, and outer pressure creates a precious jewel inside. Maybe these are the jewels in our crown that we lay at Jesus' feet.
JULY 12 CAPACITY to see
The CAPACITY to see beyond oneself and trust God's plan for your life is a challenge. It is full of unexpected events, trials to trust, and benefits of blessings.
"The American dream is nothing compared to following God's plan for your life. The church of the next generation is the outcome of our life, individually and corporately, as we take a stand for Christ(Gideon Speaker)."

Today, we need TRUTH with SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT as we take off our (western) spiritual blinders. As a christian with a westerner perspective, there things in scripture that I don't understand unless I look from with middle eastern perspective- (culturally, not from a Muslim, Hindu, etc. I've listened to preacher on YouTube like Voddie Bachman and Allen Nolan. Study for yourself to know the whole gospel story. God, the Father is not a Santa Clause. We are here to worship Him.)
Serving the Lord has challenges to give up what the naked eye sees and looking through your heart-eyes (Holy Spirit guidance) to know God's will.


June 21,
Choice and our free will
God acts through our prayers.
Compassion for the lost
Concern about the possibility of hell for your neighbor
Confidence to speak the truth
Cooperation means to listen to the Holy Spirit
Caring manner is shown through kindness
Creative ways to spread the gospel will happen when you are prepared.
July 5, Specificly seeing another person's point of view
I attended a local Gideon Faith Fund Rally today with a speaker from Slovakia, just below Ukraine. He told a story about the war many years ago and how two men ended up in jail. One man was a Muslim who read the Koran every day. One day, he asked the man beside him why he did not read something. The other man, an atheist, said I have nothing to read.
The Muslim man said as he handed him a Gideon Bible, "Here, read this. Someone gave me this, and I don't believe in this stuff."
The man began reading the Bible every day and was saved. His zeal for the Bible and Jesus led him to witness to the Muslim man who gave him the Bible and was saved. The former atheist, saved because a Muslim gave him a Bible, now heads up a Gideon ministry in Russia.
Days are darkening in Russia. Christians are being watched and questioned. Please pray for him.
We can no longer study scripture through a Western lens. Looking at today's war in Israel helps us to understand why God commanded the Israelite to wipe out certain groups of people. Hamas has no intentions of letting Israel live in peace. Grasping a bit of the Middle Eastern mindset puts a new lens on understanding the Old Testament and why specific actions were necessary to preserve the Jewish race. If not, they would not have existed.
It is the same for us in the US. The live and let live philosophy has eroded our moral fabric to the point of putting porn books in school libraries, gender-altering surgeries, and abortion of the unborn to 28 days after birth.
The blessings come by adhering to God's Word- which is a sword dividing good from evil.
June 28, Same
Swimming with cousins and playing with friends,
hoping summer will never end.
Hopscotch with sea shells, swinging high through the air,
outside till dark and roaming without a care.
Farmer's market down the street loaded with snacks ready to eat.
Family picnics with seed-spitting contests and fresh corn on the cob are simple ways to show how blessed we are.



Reflecting over the years is like seeing through a rose-colored looking glass. I say rose-colored because as you (I) reflect, God's hand is sometimes evident and mysteriously absent.
Remembering times spent with family and friends brings both laughter and tears. By weaving those same experiences for my children, I hope they can build cherished memories with their families someday. God is the same as He was yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God first established the family unit before communities, churches, cities, or countries. Looking back, I remember how much fun I had raising my kids.
June 21, Choice
Compassion for the lost
Concern about the possibility of hell for your neighbor
Confidence to speak the truth
Cooperation means to listen to the Holy Spirit
Caring manner is shown through kindness
Creative ways to spread the gospel will happen when you are prepared.
June 14, Cover/ Noahic Convenant 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NAzuNcs9Vs&t=8s
God will no longer intervene with man except through our prayers, and the end times.
My son taught me a lesson that I did not understand. There are three ways we experience evil:
1. By God's permission as with Job. Job showed all of heaven that man can and will honor God by faith.
2. There are demons that tempt man.
3. There are just evil people in this world who are full of greed, hate, self-serving, etc.

So now when I look back and I don't see God's hand of restoration, it may be due to evil people in this world. My faith must hold true.
June 7, FMF-Reverse
Seeing through the looking glass in reverse.

Find clarity in
a world of words with
perspicacious zeal.

In God's Word,
seek perspicacious
clarity.

His mysteries
revealed by
the Holy Spirit.

I remember reading Hannah Hurnard's book, 'Hinds Feet on High Places and Mountain of Spices.' Both are an allegory of the Christian walk. Much-Afraid meets the Shepherd and journeys up the mountain to the high places under His guidance. She collects precious jewels along the way. But there comes a point when her load is too heavy, so she looks at each one and reflects on the lesson, the deeper the relationship with the shepherd, and her understanding of God's purpose for her. With a renewed spirit, she keeps them all and moves forward.

Psalms 18:33 King James Version (KJV) - "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, And setteth me upon my high places."
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my strength; and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.

Our direct link to God is through prayer. Looking back, can we see God's hand working through our trials and troubles? Do we cherish each lesson learned? When amid these trails and that jewel looks like a lump of coal, I remember that dark colors absorb light, and outer pressure creates a precious jewel on the inside. Maybe these are the jewels in our crown that we lay at Jesus' feet.

(Noahic covenant)

June, May 31 through
Sometimes, hearing or reading something from another point of view brings clarity or the ability to see through a scheme. I am guilty of wanting to prove my worth and that I am valuable, too, so I fall prey to empty schemes. God's love is total approval, acceptance, and love. The insecurity, inadequacy, and inferior feelings come from the world's perspective, others, or my own.


"The devil appeared to three monks and said to them: "If I gave you the power to change something in the past, what would you change?"
The first of them, with great apostolic fervor, replied: "I would like to prevent you from leading Adam and Eve to sin, so that humanity does not separate from God."
The second, a man full of mercy, said to him: "I will prevent you from straying from God and condemning you forever."
The third of them was the simplest and instead of answering the tempter, he knelt down, made the sign of the cross, and prayed: "Lord, deliver me from the temptation of what might have been and what was not."
The demon, screaming and trembling with pain, fled.
The other two were surprised and said to him: "Brother, why did you react like this?"
And he answered them:

“First, we should never talk to the enemy.”
“Secondly, no one in the world has the power to change the past.”
“Third: Satan’s interest was not to prove our virtue, but to trap us in the past, so that we neglect the present, the only time God gives us His grace and we can cooperate with Him to fulfill His will.”


Of all the demons, the one that most holds men back and prevents them from being happy is “what could have been and was not.” The past is left to the mercy of God and the future to His providence. Only the present is in our hands. Live today loving God with all your heart.
(Modified from original text)
Ctto: Michael Acebedo Lopez"

spring in my steps
alacrity of purpose
wind at my back
Finding clarity
in a world of words,
perspicacity.

In God's Word
seek perspicacious
clarity.

He has given us the Holy Spirit
When I first read last week's word, I thought of 'through the looking glass.' In Genesis, the names of each person gives us message of redemption. In the book of Daniel and the major and minor prophets, God's mystery are locked up in Revelation until now. The Bible is layered with meaning in its depths. God doesn't tell but knows we must discover it for ourselves. Then our heart is changed and truly belongs to Him. 

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6 responses to “Summer FMF Post-June & July -Through the Looking Glass”

  1. Rachel Mendell Avatar
    Rachel Mendell

    Thank you for the reminder! Regrets have done lots of damage in my life. Saving this for next month when the enemy comes back to taunt me. Be well! Blessings on your day.

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  2. Rachel Mendell Avatar
    Rachel Mendell

    Yes, gaining the capacity to see in a new way, switching, bending our perspective … I grew up with the White Jesus, but as I learned and studied I began to understand Jesus’ teachings in a completely different light. It is difficult to see things from a new perspective since I didn’t grow up in it. God give me eyes to see and a heart to understand! (FMF#3)

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  3. aschmeisser Avatar

    And when will true grace come to be

    a thing that lives within the heart,

    a day when we can clearly see

    that we’re not meant to be apart

    from the God that gave us breath

    and strength to outlast the strife,

    the God who will take on our death

    so that we may have His life?

    When will we lay down the pride

    that sends us to the great abyss

    in which demons don’t try to hide,

    but greet us with a Judas-kiss,

    assuming that their evil’s won,

    only to meet Conquering Son?

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    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

      The first line, goes directly to why we need salvation. Our soul needs saving from the self-will, deception in our hearts. Demons do not hide their pride but deceptly greet us with a kiss and half-truths that tickle our ears-, and yet, Jesus came anywary.

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    2. brontebrown2 Avatar

      Your writing helps me to see in a differently way. It like taking off rose-colored glasses or blinders, and see God for who He is.

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  4. aschmeisser Avatar

    Forty acres and a mule,

    a mansion and electric car.

    They’re easy, now, to ridicule,

    but they are real and here we are,

    locked up tight into a dream

    that was defined so long ago

    for the purpose (it would seem)

    of making someone else some dough.

    ‘Round and ’round the carousel,

    snake oil and the pretty girls,

    ratcheting on down to hell

    as we, entranced, stringing our pearls

    put aside the weeping Christ,

    disdaining all He sacrificed.

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