EIGHT WORDS PER LINE, SEPTEMBER 1-30, 2024
"To the
ungrateful, none less than the best would suffice,
Everything must
be great, excellent, for them always perfect.
But to the
discerning, life's ups and downs are spice,
To the ultimate
eventful, meaningful life that we expect.
To the
short-sighted, only the big ones matter,
For they think
everything they do must make a splash.
But the humble
and wise gathers and not scatter,
For every
little thing is a blessing, in grace and goodness awash.
May we learn
meekness, thankfulness, faith and fortitude.
Always thanking
God for every chance to bear in patience.
Cleanse our
minds of envy, align our attitude,
To that which
is good and right, just and with sense."
"We only
have one physical life, that's why
People do all
they can to enjoy to the fullest,
But our kind of
enjoyment should also try
To make this
life better not just for us but also for the rest.
So is it with
the heart--one pump bringing life,
Then,
signalling the end of all things we care about.
So that it's
useless to spend our days in pride and strife,
Instead,
confidence in our God's goodness rather than doubt.
May we take
care of our hearts well,
Eating and
taking in healthy, flushing out toxins but not through the mouth,
Adapting what's
good, just and right, in peace dwell,
Being tactful,
respectful, a mature child of God, neither rude nor uncouth."
"To the
envious heart, other people's posts are bragging,
Flaunting
wealth, luxury, experiences, taunting those who don't have such.
But to one who
realizes that everyone is just busy with living,
One can
understand that respite from struggles refreshes the spirit much.
If we believe
our souls have been saved for eternity,
How can we not
understand our Saviour's intent to give us the good life?
A life that
bears promises of peace and serenity,
Even though
filled now with challenges, difficulty and strife.
May we put our
faith into real action,
And not be
limited by what we're told to do.
For a bigger
world awaits our influence and inspiration,
Paying forward
the grace we've been given, as is due."
"To live
deliberately is the key to deep peace,
Not hurrying to
get what we want but to wait
For the right
time and age, no personal deadline to appease,
Nor other
people to please, but patiently hoping in faith.
And this serves
wide and abundant wisdom too,
Making us
understand and get to know people better.
Helping us grow
mature and improve in what we do,
Giving us
discernment, fortitude, empathy in whatever matter.
May we be
circumspect in our words and actions,
Though we may
have very strong ideas about life and other people.
Speak
tactfully, treat others with respect in all situations,
Do our best to
influence for good as much as we are able."
"Friendships
and being friendly are certainly big factors,
On how our days
turn out to be.
To the person
we become, they are supporting actors,
And helpful
guides, always there to understand and see.
One can have
too many, and be famous,
One can have
few, but with deep connections.
But the best
ones develop us to be respectful and courteous
Of boundaries,
sensitive to others' needs, the mood in every situation.
May we always
prove ourselves to be good friends,
People who are
there for each other, for each other's backs.
That even
though this short, challenging life ends,
We grow
stronger, remain hopeful and faithful through its attacks."
"In these
times where content is king, substance is less,
Where quantity
is lording it over quality, for attention,
Wisdom is a
challenge, a tall order to be selfless;
Patience,
understanding, maturity, responsibility, honesty, calling in any situation.
So is the
wisdom of the years, and good manners,
Respect and
courtesy, threatening to die out due to prideful ignorance.
But for those
who claim to be His people, who raise banners
In His Name,
these shouldn't be, but hopeful endurance.
May we show our
maturity in His Word and practice,
Match our deeds
with pure and godly motivation.
That through
our days, we live in love, light and peace,
In every way, a
testament of His grace, a holy nation."
"To engage
others without imposing on their space,
To express care
and concern while respecting boundaries,
Takes a whole
measure, a heaping of grace,
A challenge not
to condescend but preserve peace.
Because all of
us must live in harmony with one another,
Each of us
having gifts and personalities to contribute
To the common
good, to the next generation a mentor, a mother,
As our
Creator's light and love we must promote.
May we prove
responsible in our stewardship of life and creation,
Always in
humility, treating others and ourselves with respect,
Drawing out the
good in every situation,
While our
eternal reward we patiently wait for and expect."
"When we
cease from being, we start dying,
Not just
physically but spiritually too.
Organizations
learn that when their purpose they start forgetting,
Soon follow low
profits, less productivity, a bleak tomorrow is due.
And we're not
immune, bi-pedalled creatures that we are,
Not wanting to
walk or hike for convenience or privilege,
Soon brings
diseases, aches, inability to breathe deep and far,
Because
laziness kills, but healing comes from humility and right knowledge.
May we not
forget our purpose, our reason for being,
That we're here
to bring hope and life, replenish and restore,
Not
inconvenience nor vandalize, not pedestalled nor treated like a king,
But bringing
goodness and light, strength and inspiration for a better future."
"All
knowledge should lead to more understanding,
Is a good
ideal, a humbling, yet worthy cause.
But sadly, when
prejudice is the foundation, chaos is king,
And intentions
cease being good, greed fueling all purpose.
Thankfully, we
can look forward to a greater day,
When there will
no longer be hearts with dark imaginings,
Where ignorance
is enlightened, tears and fears driven away,
Where every day
is a hopeful chance of new beginnings.
As we go
through all of life's challenging seasons,
Let it not
blind us to our awesome eternal future,
Where rewards
await our struggles for all the right reasons,
Where peace and
plenty would dwell on those who endure."
"One of
life's greatest challenges is being consistent,
Especially when
pressures, stresses, harassments and bullyings attack.
For one might
be geniuses in career and talent,
But would
succumb when corruption becomes a fact.
And so we
realize we must be anchored
To godly
values, wisdom, truth, justice and right.
To keep our
sanity when heavily pressured,
And have
courage to say no, stand up and fight.
May we learn
fortitude, humility, perseverance, and resilience,
Properly
recognizing our worth and our purpose.
For our
ultimate reward comes only from patience,
Which faith,
hope and love can only produce."
"It's easy
to condemn evil--the corrupt, abusive, oppressing party,
Because
pointing fingers is easier than upholding truth.
We forget that
evil prospers from apathy,
From people
saving just themselves, hypocrisy hiding true worth.
But we realize
that good news must come to all,
Peace must
reign, with our Creator's love and light.
And so we must
strive to help each other not fall,
Even in our
struggles, for goodness only wins as we fight.
May we fulfill
our reason for being,
Striving daily
to bring good news of peace.
Inclusive,
because wisdom and truth only prosper with their sharing,
While we
patiently await our eternal reward for all of these."
"One of
life's rarest gifts is most desirable,
To find joy and
good in every situation,
No matter how
burdensome, confusing, even terrible;
Bringing
clarity and wisdom amidst confusion.
No wonder
psychologists say humor shows intellect,
For it takes
introspection and discernment to speak with wit;
To take life's
attacks lightly, not many would expect,
But this truly
makes resilient the one who's hit.
May we
appreciate life and all our Creator has given,
Remembering
always our purpose, realizing we control nothing.
But in
confidence and faith, awaiting our reward from heaven,
Our days
anchored above, each moment making impact that's everlasting."
"We're
undoubtedly nearing the end times of old ways,
Where we see
former delusions come to light,
False prophets
exposed of their falsehoods, numbering their remaining abusive days,
Liars and
frauds disdained in favor of justice and right.
Maybe the time
is finally starting to come,
To truly live
out our Saviour's ways and word,
Not to be
exclusive, special, privileged, but bidding all a welcome,
Not a mindless
slavery to ideals we can never afford.
May we truly
live out the rest of our days with wisdom.
With humility,
dignity, honor, patience and perseverance.
Knowing our
Savior and King will restore all, as we await Him to come,
And truly make
our struggles worthwhile, bringing end to pain, reward to endurance."
"We're
supposed to be more knowledgeable and enlightened now,
But sadly, many
are still biased and prejudiced.
Believing
themselves to be better than the rest somehow,
Unaccepting of
otherness, different views, by unknowns not pleased.
But like to a
spiritual family, so is our place on earth
Quite
unexpected; our exploitation of creation unnecessary and useless.
Except that we
believe the Word, through faith has given us worth,
To be good
stewards, replenishing and healing generously, being selfless.
May we fulfill
our mandate by knowing our place,
Not raising
ourselves up on pedestals of pride and false honor.
But in honest
service, our lives bearing forth goodness and praise,
That our
Creator's glory may be proclaimed, as by His presence we abide
forevermore."
"A life
well-lived is a far better declaration
Than wealth and
status, degrees and proclamation.
For there we
see one doing their best,
Respecting,
understanding, being humble, with wisdom, considering the rest.
And daily
practice is a much better preaching
Of beliefs and
philosophies, habits, thoughts and feeling.
Especially in
peace, upholding truth and right,
Making sure
godly courage powers our eternal fight.
May we always
have discernment, fortitude, hope and faith in the journey,
Properly
apportioning and sharing the grace we receive daily.
That we may not
fear what lies ahead,
Knowing a much
greater reward awaits us instead.
"We
sometimes miss our dear departed loved ones,
And wonder how
long until it's our time to go
Join their
ranks, by going through the passage once,
Leave this
physical life, for an infinite tomorrow.
That's why it's
sad for one to believe there's nothing at the other side;
Because then
our struggles now would seem senseless.
For it's our
nature and purpose that by our Heavenly Father of Light we abide,
Believing our
efforts to live and share His love not fruitless.
May we continue
on in hope and faith,
And daily
remember His mercy and goodness.
Our grand,
eternal and universal reunion we eagerly await,
Where sorrow
will be gone, and in its place, everlasting happiness."
"Remembering
fully, practicing consistently inside and out,
Regardless of
the person, place, time and circumstance,
Is what our God
and Savior would have wanted to come about,
As we live His
Name, not for mere show or performance.
Like a famous
chocolate brand whose history of slavery
Was transferred
from their immediate production to the earliest source
Of their supply
chain, to a people living below poverty;
We come to
realize greed and whitewashing's great, malignant force.
May we strive
to live fully, our Saviour's Word,
To match our
claims of identity in His Name.
For maligning
His gospel through hypocrisy is a sin we cannot afford,
That we might
keep our souls, until the day our eternal rewards we can claim."
"Let our
Sabbaths be days of real rest,
For the mind,
the body, and the soul,
Let it not just
be a holier-than-thou contest,
But a time to
restore and make our spirits whole.
For the true
essence of the day goes deep down
To our
innermost beings, where our humanity meets the divine,
Waiting not for
this earth's recognition, but for our ultimate heavenly crown,
As we strive
each day to let our Father's light shine.
May we truly be
refreshed each time, each moment
We commune with
and worship our God and Creator,
Not through our
agenda but His, a wholesome predicament,
Not overwhelmed
by the present, but hopeful for the future."
"An
inclusive God is difficult for some people to consider,
Because our
nature wants us to belong and be treated special.
But looking at
creation we begin to ponder,
Nature has
quirks, a great variety, a space for all.
And so is it
with hope symbolized, the rainbow,
Without
invoking the cultural appropriation of the choices in gender.
For like the
sun and rain, everyone sees and experiences them so,
People rude and
nice, greedy and generous, uncouth and tender.
May we likewise
realize that as long as the earth endures, hope is alive,
Available for
all who choose to believe.
Our Heavenly
Father's favor a source of strength and peace to those who strive,
His grace and
mercy abundant, if we open our hearts and minds to receive."
"In a
country plagued by nepotism such as ours,
Being
somebody's kid anywhere is always seen as privilege.
Those who get
the best without putting in the hours,
Often get
ahead, recognized, because of their lineage.
Thankfully,
though itself dichotomous, our God is fairer,
Where He gives
chances to all, familiar and obscure.
A choice to be
called His child or friend, no matter
Who they may
be, His promises are always sure.
May we find our
identity in our Heavenly Father's loving embrace,
Living up to
His Name in our daily living.
Gaining
strength and wisdom from His mercy and grace,
Hope for
tomorrow, joy and peace that's everlasting."
"Out of
sight, out of mind, seems to be the default
Treatment of
those who have gone out of our circle.
It might be by
choice, or through no one's fault,
That life
happens, moves forward for all people.
But the
greatest thing is faith that binds
Us to the Giver
of life, the Source of our hope;
That never
fails to encourage and daily reminds,
As we wake, we
breathe, we work, we can cope.
Regardless of
the circumstance, may we continue
In our journey
to being His salt and light.
In a drab and
dreary world, we each need me and you,
To build each
other up, set all things to right."
"It's
challenging to shares one's faith these days,
When people
have become disillusioned by those who say they believe.
For words and
actions sadly don't match in many ways,
And the gospel
is used by the unscrupulous, favors and wealth to receive.
But faith is
all the more powerful,
When we
understand life is more than the material.
Because its
true power lies in becoming, bearing fruit, being mindful
Rising higher
above desires, urges, emotions that are natural.
May we step out
in faith each day,
The Word as our
guide, not an honor-badge;
A source of
hope, confidence, peace and joy as we pray,
Lighting the
way, spreading our Father's love as we advance."
"A lying
tongue is just no fair deal,
Only bringing
hurt and pain, despite the intent,
It might buy
but couldn't fill a meal,
It might
beautify but can't substantiate the content.
Nothing beats
honesty and transparency as fruits of peace,
For they might
be miniscule but sufficient enough
In bringing
clarity, brokenness restored in one piece,
Hope, trust and
joy even when times are rough.
May we hold on
strongly to truth everyday,
Our decisions
and actions with honest and pure motive.
For that is our
lifeline to a better day,
With our
Heavenly Father's light guiding how we live."
"When we
feel superior, it's easy to rant and rage,
But humility is
virtue, more difficult to pursue.
For with
impatience, we show we haven't earned our age,
While waiting
gives us the best that's our due.
And so we
ponder and should ignore micro aggressions,
For that only
leads to unnecessary hurt and stress,
While choosing
the wisdom way in all our situations,
Bring overall
freedom from resentment, trauma and distress.
No matter how
difficult, may we prove ourselves the better person,
And move on
from toxicity, its influence and hold,
That we may
fulfill our noble purpose, our ultimate reason
Of being; that
our Father's love through us, others might behold."
"We learn
from the youth, as my nieces showed me,
How fast they
can move on in thought upon stepping out from a door.
Forgetting
immediate past hurts, however difficult it may be,
Ready for what
lies ahead, beyond, and before.
And so it is
with our life's journey,
Everyday brings
manifold challenges, simple, severe, sometimes profound.
But patience is
a worthy virtue, persistence is the key
To a life
that's meaningful and dynamic, where love and peace abound.
May we hold on
to hope and faith every time
We're buffeted
and burdened, tested and tried.
For holding to
the past is not worth a dime,
But heartily
welcoming constant change infinitely better than the cut-and-dried."
"Because
we know our God is good, we can trust,
That He answers
when we call, grants what we ask,
Seeing He has
done so magnanimously in the past,
Believing His
provision today is up to the task.
And so we gain
confidence to call forth in prayer,
On times when
we worry, are anxious or in fear,
Holding on to
the hope that He is always there,
To give wisdom,
peace, turning to joy our tear.
With this
faith, may we always find strength for everyday,
In our journey
so fleeting across time's greater expanse.
For we may soon
be gone, all our efforts called for a day,
But the source
of our hope lasts, a non-negotiable, once-in-a-lifetime chance."
"Mendicancy
is an ancient issue, and one glaring in our cities,
Be they real or
run by the unscrupulous,
For there will
always be people who prefer to beg than work what's due,
While others
sorely need the help that others produce.
It's wisdom's
work, and one needing discretion,
To help the
truly needy while not encouraging dependence,
For each of us
must earn our keep in any situation,
With humility
to ask for help, magnanimous without insistence.
May we learn to
be generous as our Heavenly Father,
Without
expecting favors nor patronage in return.
For that is the
true essence of His kingdom, the one we're after,
A reward and
everlasting legacy for each good turn."
"Tension
is a taut string, ready to break,
One that makes
us stand on our toes and shake.
It's no
respecter of persons, high and mighty,
Bringing out
our mettle, to run for cover, or fight rightly.
But it also
makes us remember that life is never monotonous,
That not
everyday are our struggles burdensome and rigorous.
For there are
days when we get a respite,
To pause, get
away shortly, or rest and recuperate on site.
And that's what
gives beauty to our days,
To know that
suffering and toil will not be for always.
Because our
faithful God promised us what's sure and true,
If we
persevere, everlasting joy and peace await me and you."
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