Tears flow deep,
watered by roots of despair.
Let them grow no more.
Breathe the sunlit air.
Uproot weeds watered by tears.
Heart stirs, plant anew.
(Senryu)
We plant roots deep in His Word,
our faith in Jesus, and
hearts atuned to the Holy Spirit
then let God carry our burdens.
Tears flow deep within
nourished by roots of despair.
Breathe the sunlit air
uproots weeds watered by tears
As your soul stirs, plant anew.
(Tanka)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not [a]fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Time for my morning stretch and run, now walk, oh, it’s too cold today.
Time for my morning quiet time, how about some music today, I forgot too…
Time, oh I have lots of time as an empty-nester- time to clean out those closets, the garage, procrastination…
How do I stretch my time, I used to get more done…My heart is just not in it anymore.
Yard work, now my shoulder is hurting again, should’ve kept up those PT exercises.
When we let things go for other things, sometimes we lose our flexibility, our stretchability. It is not lost, just needs our attention. Faith is the song that calms the restlessness inside of me. (From a song but I changed the words a bit.) Sometimes we get restless, the loss of time with our church family, not as much time with friends and family, the constant bombardment of news, both fake and real.
God is there and ready to stretch me (us) in new ways. It is time to stretch and yet, not forget or let go of God’s foundational Truth.
As I work to maintain my strength and daily walk, God continues to stretch me in new ways. I’ve been writing stories and poems, and every day I see His blessing, his walking beside me as I struggle. I am not a natural writer. I have to work at it. I read the word for today, and as usual, start with a blank slate.
There are things God wants to be said through me, so I stretch my reach into the world of words, meditate, contemplate, scratch out, rewrite, double-check for grammar, (always, hate putting a comma before and. It’s like saying and-and). Then I post.
For me, I need to keep my old faith muscles stretched and active. At the same time, stretch new ones.
Commitment comes in all shapes and sizes. Some promises are short-term, some last for a season, and some are life-long. Long before God established the church, He formed the family as the basic unit of society-big or small. Our society grows, values develop, and traditions are passed on from the family.
Author unknown
Commitment does mean everything is perfect. The work to keeping a relationship begins on your wedding day. It is the day you said, I do, to a life-long commitment. Marriage is filled with life and all the happiness and sadness in this world. It is working to keep it alive and going and protect and shield it from the negative impacts of this world.
I can remember switching letters and numbers all my life. I even wrote a poem, Why do Letters Move? I am working on a short story about a child, Rex, who hates to read out loud.
Trials come, no matter what trail you take. Each road has its own set of troubles. Some trials pierce the heart, leaving you desolate and some trials are faced with the determination of the fiercest warrior.
Hiking in AR
Trials produce endurance which brings about the perfection of your faith. James 1:2-3 and Romans 5: 1-11. Romans 5 is the full progress of being justified by faith-peace with God-our introduction-hope-perseverance-reliance on God through the Holy Spirit-saved from wrath- we are reconciled.
[Excerpt: In today’s world one’s voice can get caught up in many types of whirlwinds, instead of the stillness of God’s spirit. I am guilty of being politically stirred, seething over general and personal attacks over my Christian beliefs, and taking offense at the vitriol of people who have a great disdain for the gospel. Jesus did say they hated him first. ] This type of trial is of my own making.
But some trials I face along my path are not of my own making and are beyond me. Facing trials is not the same as temptation, and do we do face consequences because of our choices. Some hurts go deep and your faith is greatly shaken. Faith hope and love work together to heal the heart. I don’t have answers just a bit of hope.
Many people have used scriptures to push their will on others. God is and will be their judge.
Husband love your wives, wives respect, trust and rely on him to care for you and your children. Marriage is a relationship between two imperfect people. God created you as a person first to have a relationship with him. Then you are defined as male or female, with many roles, gifts, and talents. It is easy to blame God, the church, and ourselves for not truly understanding His Word or the correct application. My husband can wash a dish just as well as I can. That is not what makes me put my trust in him, rely on him, get mad at him too.
I have learned life consequences can take you beyond your emotional ability to handle, especially if it involves family and their decisions that cost so much. Grief and sadness are natural and break the heart in two. Tears well up, and loss overwhelms and hopes dashed. These emotions are overwhelming and indisputable, know that. But also know that God’s heart for you is real.
The truth is she (Anna Duggar) has experienced real trauma from betrayal, and disappointment from the one person who was supposed to be there for her. She doesn’t need our judgment…let us shut our mouth and not be so quick to judge. We do not possess the clarity of vision in their lives.
She needs our heartfelt prayer. She needs to know that she can heal from the trauma. She is worthy of having a true partner, she is worthy of true love, she is worthy of having her heart held safely by her partner, she is worthy to be cherished, she is worthy. Not because of all the mistakes made, not that it is earned or bargained for; it is that God created each of us to love and be loved, cared for, valued. The family is where this is learned first, not the church. The family was established long before the church. Let us not be quick to judge her or the church but let us look to each other and be determined and wise in how we raise our kids. Today, we must be as innocent as doves, (run from evil) and wise as serpents, (know what evil looks like even when disguised).
Photo by RL Brown
In Job, God rebukes Job’s counselors by saying, “Who is this that darkens counsel by word without knowledge (of ME)? (Job 38:2) Have you ever in your life commanded the morning and caused the dawn to know its place? (v.12)
I stop here thinking the science behind that statement is immense. God set boundaries for the sea and made a cloud its garment. He binds the chains of Pleiades and loose the cords of Orion (v. 31). Is it by my understanding that a hawk soars or nature fulfills its course? Of course not.
Then God asks Job (paraphrase) Do you condemn me to prove yourself right?
Job’s reply: (paraphrase): Whoa, I shut my mouth!
The book of Job is a lesson in perspective from heaven to earth, earth to heaven. God’s Presence is everywhere.
How many people do we shut down, disown just to prove ourselves right?
How we remember is how we heal. Look, see the tangible.
Say I'm here I see you I will listen
To wander is to move about aimlessly or to stray or get lost. We ought to look and see how our veterans wander and are at a loss for words by pulling out of Afghanistan. The 13 soldiers who died, Americans left behind, were supplying the enemy with the ammunition used to kill our citizens who were left behind.
It takes time to look and see the tangible sacrifices that veteran families endure daily. The effects of war on military families are vast, varying, and lasting. We enjoy the liberties today at a cost we are unaware of, paid by others who serve to protect our freedoms.
Wondering where to start? Look a little deeper to find a veteran you can support and encourage. Pray daily for honor and peace over our nation’s military and our brothers and sisters who are on the front lines, keeping the peace.
This is how we remember and how we heal. To really stop and say I see you and will listen to your stories.
For my brother, Marcus Bronte (Army), and James Willis Bronte (my Dad, Korean War/ Marine), Charles Riley (Army), Thomas Ballard (Air Force), and Donald Beel.
Fairytale Fishin'
Let’s go to the pond.
Fairytale fishing is best-
when Gramps comes along.
No buckets, no boats,
And no carrying large totes.
Just Grandpa and me.
A pole in each hand
Crickets wait by the pond bank
Gramps catches our bait.
A nibble, a tug-
A fisherman feels the line-
Waits to jerk the hook.
A flip-flopping, splash
Reeling in a big fat bass.
Little ones go free.
My Gran
is an alien, not the kind from outer space but another place.
Tock-Tick, tock-tick, tock Gran's house mingles with the past Time ripples backward
What, no game controls! Gran's and electronic foe Her phone sits holstered.
But, I'm never bored. I made the mistake of saying so- once.
Gran swishes me off to hunt for hidden treasures with only one clue.
Treasures lie within. Only the bravest of braves dare enter-'the Boardroom'
She's a game wizard I'm the assigned scorekeeper We battle with cards.
Gran's the marble champ Her marbles have names-Galaxy Star Dust, Jupiter.
The universe rules. She's the brightest star around I believe it's true.
We follow all rules though we rearrange a few Mom is cool with that.
I pick the veggies. Cheesy cheese and pizza sauce topping my deep crust.
Peel, double whop-POP! Biscuits laid out, cut in half. Fried, light, and golden.
Crispy and warm, Yum! Sprinkle on sugar dust for a delicious treat.
Sometimes, I forget Hold your tongue, hang your towel after the shower.
Growing up is hard. Every day learning is new. But I'm not alone.
Gran's shoulder is there. Reminding me of blessings in following rules.
Mom's dismayed to see fingerprint flowers displayed on the windowpanes.
Leave them there, my dear. They remind me Hope was here. Then Grand winks at me.
We made those flowers with air breaths and fingerprints intentionally.
We watch old movies reels, tapes or DVDs. How can that be me?
But it was Mamma giggling with Granny Sue swinging from my tree.
Tock tick, tick tock tick The clock chimes it's time to go Love you, see you soon.
Mom, I hear you say that Gran is an alien Is that really true?
Just bits of silliness, dear. Gran said the same thing about Granny Sue. We were best buddies. She loved me like Gran loves you. Granny was special.
Yesteryear refers to another time and place. Now, I understand.
Grandbabies creates rite of passage for all parents to become
What type of movies do you watch? I don’t watch horror movies, R-rated movies, movies filled with foul language or nudity. Besides, who wants to pay 20 bucks to be cursed at and insulted. How often have you said something and someone’s snickers because of an inappropriate reference that you are unaware of?
How do you live above the fray?
God said I can no longer strive with man to Noah and commanded him to build an Ark. God said to Moses, ‘I will destroy these people and make a nation with you.’ Moses prayed for God to change his mind. Those people didn’t enter the promised land. They wander in the wilderness for forty years. God would have saved a whole city for ten righteous but found none, so He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. How did Lot live above the fray in such a city?
I pray for the end of drug and sex trafficking because of what little I see. My husband commented on the underbelly of illicit activities. When he said that, I envisioned a black mass with tentacles stretching out, sucking the life out of people, hidden in the darkness. But today, people are flaunting their actions as if it is their right. A vast and black underbelly of sin flipped over for all to see.
God the Father turned as God the Son took the weight and depth of sin upon Himself.
I think of the line in the movie Blind Side when asked how did he make it through. He replied, “I close my eyes.” The meaning in that line is to refuse to take part. It does not mean to close your mouth and refuse to call out what is wrong. God’s Word is the sword of Truth and makes clear what is true and what is a lie. Identifying your sex beyond a male or female is a lie. Marriage is between a man and a woman. These are not statements of hate, just the truth.
How do you love people, love the sinner, hate the sin, and live above the fray? We are to close our eyes to sinful acts because of how it affects the soul (meaning run from things that can suck you into a life of depravity, don’t participate. The statement: it’s okay to try, that is a lie). Joseph had his robe torn off him running away. Proverbs 1:15 Do not walk in the with the sinner, Keep your feet from their path. v. 30.
Proverbs 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, discover the knowledge of God, and wisdom will enter your heart.
Jesus is the name above every name and through Him, peace will come. God calls us to live above the fray, walk in the truth of His Word, provide a loving hand of comfort to those in need.
A mind free to think
Imagines, reasons, then decides
to act with forethought.
Haiku by RL Brown
C S Lewis/PIC: stories.gordon.edu
CS Lewis said that imagination is key to reason. But your mind must be clear, lucid, looking beyond instant gratification to see a reasonable danger. Reason trains the mind, and imagination helps you see beyond what you know. Reason will test, decipher, and separate subtleties that snare. You are ready to think -to act beyond just yourself.
The drug trap. A mind clouded by dreadful need. The loss of love for others and cherished memories turns to disdain. Careless attitude in life that drags you down into the depths of despair. Despair is so great that it takes you over an unimaginable cliff. Drugs trap you in a body and steal your life and freedom.
To imagine means to explore possibilities and reason is to weigh actions with consequences with a depth of understanding and proceed with full knowledge, ready to bear consequences. Marx was an elitist fool who lived off others and yet abandoned his children to starvation. Marx was the type of man who celebrated the death of his uncle, so he could live off his Uncle’s wealth without producing any of his own. China and Russia only pulled out of poverty because they allowed for free enterprise. Our country is not perfect, but it allows for everyone’s life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… and all that goes with that, great success or great failure.
A mind free to think will imagine, reason, and then decide to act. R L Brown
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Added 6/13/23
Virtual is a hoax
Reality is hands-on
Dewey’s Thoughts
Imagination-
is key to wading through
dense weeds.
A mind free to think
imagines, reasons, then decides
to act with deep thought.
@Bleu_Owl deep, Dewey, dense. (CSLewis) (John Dewey)
#HaikuSaturday #haikuchallenge
The rest of the story is uploaded. I decided to post the whole story.
Thanks for sharing! Joining you from FMF #23 this week.
Thank you, I am working on a poetry book or chapterbook. Seasonal and shor!
brontebrown2 
The rest of the story is uploaded. I decided to post the whole story.