Category Archives: Learning in Rhyme

Own ~ Five Minute Friday

10 Replies

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

A Good Friday Poem:
The Cross is Ours to Own

The day is gray and gloomy, yet
Somehow it feels just right
To sit in contemplation
Of the day they killed The Light

A day darker than all the rest
But still we call it Good
Because Jesus died for us
As only a Savior would

We often want to forget that part
It is so hard to realize
Not Him but we should have hung there
For all to mock and despise

Truth is nailed there before us
The sin is ours alone
We may often try to deny it
But the cross is ours to own

Each crack of the whip
Torn flesh from the crown
Every strike of the hammer
His blood dripping down

The pain He endured
Swords thrust in His side
The anguish and despair
As His world did divide

We should be the ones
Who died on that tree
But “It is finished,” He said
Now from sin we are set free

A plan from the very beginning
His love on a cross of wood
A day where transgression passed away
And today we DO see it is Good

To read how other writers made “Own” their own, click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Favorite~Day 27~ Write 28 Day Challenge

2 Replies

Day 27: Favorite
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days Challenge
http://www.anitaojeda.com

MY Favorite Things

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”
~Julie Andrews~

Birds at the feeders and sunsets on rivers
Layers of blankets and a store that delivers
Little boys’ laughter while playing on swings
These are a few of MY favorite things

Butterscotch brownies and leaves dancing on air
Friends at my table and stories to share
Colorful patterns of butterfly wings
These are a few of MY favorite things

Kids all together and bells in the steeple
Cards in the mailbox to my special people
Sparkles on lakes that the sun always brings
These are a few of MY favorite things

When the wind blows
When the word stings
When leaving makes me sad
I simply remember MY favorite things
And then I don’t feel as bad.

“Finally brothers and sisters, 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 on such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Peace ~ Day 3 of 31-Day Writing Challenge

1 Reply

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3 (NIV)

The Walk

A long day at war with worry and fear,
Little boy squabbles, and
Needs far and near.

Head is pounding. Thoughts running wild.
Tears threaten to spill, Lord
Do you see me, Your child?

Shoes on feet. Helmet on head.
“The evening is calling us
Let’s take a walk before bed.”

Step after step, labored and slow.
Boys on bikes buzz by
Leaving a trail of laughter as they go.

Longing for an answer, I lift up my eyes
Turn the corner. Stopped in my tracks.
An unexpected surprise!

There in every hue of His love
God’s peace painted for me
Across the sky above.

Finish our stroll bathed in pink light.
A beautiful reminder
We’re never out of His sight.

“MiMi, the sky!” I hear them say.
Smiling, I thank God He is with me,
And that tomorrow’s a new day.

“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 57:9-10 (NIV)

How? ~ Five Minute Friday

20 Replies

“Jesus said, ‘You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.’ ” John 9:3-5 (MSG)

How?

How’s it possible to love
When there’s so much hate?
How can one voice be heard
Above all the angry debate?

How can healing begin
After so much pain?
How will understanding ever come
When it’s all so hard to explain?

How might common sense
Replace all the fake news?
How can believing the best
Not the worst, be what we choose?

How can one person
Make a difference today?
How, is the question,
The only answer is to pray!

How can this world
Find a way that is new?
How? By seeking God first, then
Letting His light come shining through.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.” Matthew 5:14 (MSG)

Adding my poem to the other selections at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where we’ve written to the prompt “How”. I don’t know about you but there seem to be so many unanswered questions in the world today. God used this prompt to remind me that “I” don’t have to have the answers because HE IS the Answer! My prayer is that we cling to Him and together shine His Light everywhere we go! Thank you so much for stopping in.  I pray you find a little encouragement when you do.  You are truly a blessing to me! 

 

I’m Not Normal~Five Minute Friday

8 Replies

“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:15-16

I’m Not Normal

Left-handed I am,
In a right-handed world.
Straight hair is “it”.
Mine is permanently curled.

Night owl, no doubt
I’m no early bird.
Rule follower, too
Which some find quite absurd.

Those “Goody-Two-Shoes”,
They are just my size.
And for playing it safe?
I’d surely win the prize!

I’ve never felt normal
Somehow always out of place.
“Maybe”, they’ve said,
“You’re from outer space.”

It took many years to
Learn “they’re” not wrong.
I Do have a home in the Heavens
Where I truly belong!

When saved by His grace
We’re not meant to fit in.
Being different from the rest
Shines a light upon Him.

No, I’m not normal
But see things in a new way.
The world may not accept me
And that’s really okay.

So, if you too are feeling
Set apart like me
Rejoice in knowing
It’s how God’s planned it to be!

“Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.” Romans 12:2 (CEV)

Better late than never! I’ve been struggling with the prompt “Normal” this week and this is finally the result. I’m joining the other writers (just a few days late) at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
I hope you and yours are safe and well. I greatly appreciate you taking your time to stop in. God Bless You! 

 

 

A Mother’s Refrain

7 Replies

“Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD.” Psalm 127:3 (CEV)

A Mother’s Refrain

There is no song so beautiful
No tune as pure and sweet.
A rhythm written lovingly
Echos her heart beat for beat.

It’s sung when they are tiny
Rewritten as they grow.
The lines are full of hopes and dreams
And love that overflows.

The verse not often spoken
But plays softly in her soul.
Composed of failure and success
A chorus of life made whole.

She lifts her voice in thanksgiving
When she sees all they have done.
And sings of them as always
Though they’re thirty-five and thirty-one.

This melody so enduring
Tells her stories of joy and pain.
Truly the greatest hymn ever written
None other than a Mother’s Refrain.

Offering this poem today as part of http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where the prompt is “Refrain”. There are many meanings for the word and I’m sure just as many different writings for you to read if you click on over. Once again, I thank you for being here with me.  I pray you are well and safe. God Bless!

Another ~ Five Minute Friday

18 Replies

 

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:18

Another

I open my eyes
What day is this?
One seems to blend with another.

The scenery’s the same
The company, too
I miss my grands and my mother.

I close my eyes
So many needs
I lift them one after another.

The fear’s the same
The worries, too
I pray that we’ll soon recover.

I open my eyes
And look for the good.
I list them one, then another.

The helpers, the healers,
The sacrifice, the love
Opportunities to serve our brother.

I close my eyes
But before I sleep
I count blessings, another and another.

The world has changed.
I hope we have, too.
New priorities for us to discover.

Yes, I open my eyes
What is this day?
A gift! Let us be grateful for another!

“This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
 Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

It’s April, Poetry Month, and I haven’t written one poem so figured today was a good day to do it!  Joining with my friends at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to write to the prompt “Another”. I’m pretty sure there will be lots of inspiration and encouragement there! Click over and see for yourself! I hope you are safe and well! Thank you for stopping in! It means a lot to me!

Rush ~ Five Minute Friday

10 Replies

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV)

Where Are You Rushing To?

Tis’ the season or so we say
And yet we rush through every day.
Errands, parties, calendars full.
Obligations in every direction pull.

The Salvation Army bell that rings.
The choir on the corner who sings.
Their tunes fall upon our deaf ear
We’re too distracted to even hear.

Wrap a gift for a child in need?
Too busy for that, yes indeed!
Cookies for church? We wish we could.
No time for the lonely in our neighborhood.

The more we hurry the less we do
Of what we know God’s calling us to.
Keeping up fills our mind
Instead of joy we just feel behind.

But what if we rushed in a whole new way?
Straight to the manger filled with hay.
Like the Shepherds did of old.
Do we desire to be so bold?

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2:8-16 (NIV)

Christmas isn’t about what we get done.
It’s a celebration of God’s own Son.
So let’s rush to the Christ Child; make no delay
Bow down, worship, and rest in His peace today!

Joining in with the other talented writers at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to ponder on the prompt “Rush”. I know you’ll want to hurry over and read what they are offering too!

Offer ~ Five Minute Friday

10 Replies

What Do I Have to Offer?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)/ Pixabay

What do I have to offer?
What could I possibly bring?
Fitting for the Savior,
Who offered ME everything!

I wish there was obedience
I could lay down at his feet.
If only my fears and failures
I could once and for all defeat.

Strength in every situation
Is what I’d like to give,
But weakness is the lowly place
Where I most often live.

What do I have to offer?
I’ve no riches nor sweet perfume.
No gift that could repay my debt
To He, who walked from the tomb.

Oh, to sing like the Angels,
Songs of praise He deserves to hear.
Or eloquent words of thanks spoken
With a voice so confident and clear.

Instead here I stand empty-handed,
With nothing to impart.
When a still small voice reminds me,
Grace is a gift from God’s own heart.

This gift to us was given
When Jesus hung upon that tree.
Because our God so loved the world,
We who believe are eternally debt free!

Now that the burden’s been lifted
What we have to offer comes from above.
Faith, hope, and mercy,
But the greatest offering is love!

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 (NIV)

I’m privileged to be joining the other gifted writers at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com To see what they are “offering” up today just click on over.  I know you won’t be sorry!

Swan ~ Day 6 of #Write28Days Challenge

8 Replies

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:” Psalm 23: 1-3a (KJV)

A Pond and A Swan

I sit in the window and
Look out at the world.
My breaths become slower
My muscles, unfurled.

Leaning into the glass,
The pane cool to my face,
Worry lines once there
Disappear with no trace.

Hopeful, my gaze
Sweeps over the pond;
Searching the surface,
The banks, and beyond.

Not a ripple is present.
No hint that he’s there.
So I wait, I watch,
And say a quick prayer.

Hues of orange and purple
Reflect on the sill.
As the sun takes its place
On the crest of the hill.

As the day makes way
To welcome the night,
From the verge he appears
Much to my delight!

Regal, he glides
With his head held high.
A silhouette of grace
Against the darkening sky.

Each time that I return
I’m amazed to find
That renewal abounds
For my heart, soul, and mind.

For me, there is something
About the view so serene,
With a pond and a swan and
The pastures so green.

It’s hard for me to explain
How this place can be so dear,
But sitting in this window seat
Brings peace each time I’m here.

For I’m reminded of the Shepherd
Who meets all our needs
And guides us to still waters
If we’ll follow where He leads.

Now, the view from the window
May be different for you and for me,
But when we’re looking from where HE leads us,
A restored soul we’ll surely see!

This picture and poem are of one of my favorite places: a small, Ohio country inn and while the swan isn’t visible in my photo, he’s been there every time I’ve visited! The kindness of the people, the serenity of the inn, the beauty of the surroundings, and the swan who is there to greet me give me many reasons to be thankful that God has lead me beside those still waters! Where is your place?  I’d love to know if you’re willing to share with me in the comments. And, If you’d like to read what others have written to the prompt “Swan”, head on over to http://www.anitaojeda.com