To Have and Let Go

If autumn falls silent under the evening snow 
If sheltered seeds don winter's coat 
If March winds howl for spring's warmth
If budding flowers emit the earth's scent
If spring pollinators awaken and take flight
If golden rays titillate terra's loam
If nature bears burgeoning yields 
If the impetus for life circles again
If thankfulness flows from within
If we understand the Creator above
then what do we know of love?

Love is to have, to hold, to enjoy, and to freely let go.
Happy Earth Day

FMF: Have and Earth Day

3 responses to “To Have and Let Go”

  1. lisamarcelina Avatar
    lisamarcelina

    Lovely poem, thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. aschmeisser Avatar

    Yeah, OK, I get the deal,
    releasing hold is good, know,
    but if we’re going to keep it real,
    ain’t no way I’m letting go.
    Cancer’s got the upper hand,
    and it’s been a crappy week,
    but I don’t need the Promised Land
    right now, not even one small peek.
    I intend to stay and fight,
    and to myself be ever true.
    It may be dumb but it’s my right,
    and exactly what I’m gonna do,
    and even though all hope is gone,
    I’m right here, so bring it on.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. dawnfanshawe Avatar

    Amen. Though I do struggle to let go and to hold lightly to the treasures He has given to us.

    Like

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Follow Me

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.

Choose

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

March Poems, Rhymes, Haikus

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
Re-share of Facebook post/ Haiku by RL Brown
Haiku and picture by RL Brown
Moons of March

Sky 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

Let Us Not Assume

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. 

Things We Ignore

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.

One thing you cannot fake

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.

Doubt

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.

by RL Brown

virginiaandtruckee.com

RECEIVE

We are each designed with strengths, talents, and weaknesses. Some things are only possible to achieve with a lot of effort. We can develop our abilities for God's glory or self-edification. 

The story of the three servants illustrates how our capabilities can be multiplied to honor God and grow in that talent tenfold. But if our fear of God is void of love, honor, and respect, we can misuse our talents and spend them on ourselves. (Many Christian artists whose talents developed in the church have turned their efforts to focus on the world.) 

I'm still discovering hidden talents that I allowed self-doubt to steal. I am working on developing and honing talents that may not be my strongest area. But the takeaway is that God will bless my efforts by acknowledging Him, especially if I'm willing to give him the glory. 

It not just receiving but also a matter of discovering who God has created me to be. I pray that God will guide us in developing our skills and talents and we continue to discover how God has wonderfully designed each of us. 


Psalms  139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Luke 19:11-27
International Children’s Bible
A Story About Three Servants
11 Jesus traveled closer to Jerusalem. Some of the people thought that God’s kingdom would appear soon. 12 Jesus knew that the people thought this, so he told them this story: “A very important man was preparing to go to a country far away to be made a king. Then he planned to return home and rule his people. 13 So the man called ten of his servants together. He gave a bag of money[a] to each servant. He said, ‘Do business with this money till I get back.’ 14 But the people in the kingdom hated the man. So they sent a group to follow him and say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king!’

15 “But the man became king. When he came home, he said, ‘Call those servants who have my money. I want to know how much they earned with it.’

16 “The first servant came and said, ‘Sir, I earned ten bags of money with the one bag you gave me!’ 17 The king said to the servant, ‘Fine! You are a good servant. I see that I can trust you with small things. So now I will let you rule over ten of my cities.’

18 “The second servant said, ‘Sir, with your one bag of money I earned five bags!’ 19 The king said to this servant, ‘You can rule over five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came in. The servant said to the king, ‘Sir, here is your bag of money. I wrapped it in a piece of cloth and hid it. 21 I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn’t earn and gather food that you didn’t plant.’ 22 Then the king said to the servant, ‘You evil servant! I will use your own words to condemn you. You said that I am a hard man. You said that I even take money that I didn’t earn and gather food that I didn’t plant. 23 If that is true, then you should have put my money in the bank. Then, when I came back, my money would have earned some interest.’

9 responses to “RECEIVE”

  1. strengthwithdignity Avatar
    strengthwithdignity

    Beautiful redbird painting, Rhonda! I think some hidden talents were “stolen” through self-doubt, while others were hidden in the soil until the right season, then they come forth for “this season” and we enjoy walking with Him in this “new season.” May the Lord bless you in this new season of creative endeavors!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. brontebrown2 Avatar

      your comment is touching with a hint of poignancy

      Like

  2. Leisa Williams Avatar

    Such an encouraging Psalm and I have no doubt that you will receive more of Him as you fix your eyes on Christ and allow Him to unfold the next steps.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. anetintime Avatar

    walk carefully into these new talent areas. Rely on him FMF20

    Liked by 1 person

  4. aschmeisser Avatar

    Talentless, my joy’s still full
    (do you know just what I mean?),
    and like the handsome cardinal
    I need do naught but sit and preen
    and show that though within my brain,
    I’ve really got nuthin’ cooking,
    I surely am, and will remain
    the definition of good-looking.
    Eat your hearts out, jay and finch,
    as you flit through busy days.
    I’ll take my mile, you take your inch
    and we’ll see who gets the praise
    of portrait to raise world’s morale
    painted by a lovely gal.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. brontebrown2 Avatar

    I love the poem, cardinals celebrate.

    Like

  6. brontebrown2 Avatar

    What we receive by Faith
    Your 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, 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. by RLBrown

    Like

  7. Mitzy Bricker Avatar

    Your red bird painting is wonderful! FMF #33

    Like

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2023 Kids’ Choice KidLit Writing Contest Prize

Nonfiction Narrative of a true navigator-Eleanor Creesy was the first navigator to sail a new supply route around Cape Horn and set a speed record that none could beat/ Excerpt from Navigating Stormy Seas/ (Sing to the Wellerman’s Tune)

In 1851, the clipper ship Flying Cloud raced from New York to San Francisco in just 89 days, 21 hours.

During the California Gold Rush, fortunes were made or lost in sleek clipper ships. The route often took more than a hundred days. But in 1851, the Flying Cloud carried $50,000 worth of cargo from New York to San Francisco around the tip of South America in record-breaking time under the command of Josiah Perkins Creesy Jr. and his wife and navigator Eleanor Creesy. Two years later, they broke their own record by 13 hours, a record that still stands.
The Daring Navigator of the Flying Cloud: The Eleanor Creesy Story by RL Brown

The Flying Cloud’s a clipper ship,
with billowing sails of canvas white,
Filled to the brim, we catch the wind
weather foul or fair- huh

Heave ho and aweigh we go,
bring the sugar and hopes of gold.
Heave ho and away we go,
We’re bound for Californ-i-O.

Five hundred tons, she's weighted down,
yet the race is on to blaze a trail
The captain’s eye is bent t’ward speed
We sail with’a sailor's prayer. Huh

Heave ho and aweigh we go,
Coffee, sugar and tools for goal
Heave ho and aweigh we go
We’re bound for Californ-i-O.

Two saboteurs tried to sink the ship
By drilling holes in the beams below
But the first mate heard a handy tip
And took those villains down.

Heave ho and aweigh we go,
We fight against both wind and men.
Heave ho and aweigh we go,
we’re bound for Californ-i-O.

The bow dips low as we ‘round Cape Horn’
Her reckonings broke the old sea’s chain.
A course so true that none could beat.
for hundred years, a matchless feat. Huh!


Heave ho and aweigh we go,
sugar, coffee, and tools for gold.
Heave ho and aweigh we go,
we’re bound for Californ-i-O.



The Clipper Ship Flying Cloud
Josiah Perkins Creesy, Jr. commanded the ship, and, uncommon for the time, his wife Eleanor navigated. As a child in Massachusetts, she had learned navigation skills from her seafaring father.
Credit: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley

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