Things that send them plummeting from the skies.

This week

They hit,

The downdrafts.

They were all minor.

That makes it worse.

How can I succumb

To such minor challenges?

A slow computer

When I could simply use my husband’s.

A mild virus

When so many suffer from

Debilitating diseases and chronic conditions.

Lack of motivation

When family and clients alike are not pressuring me.

A cold house

When so many have no shelter from the elements.

Expressions of concern

When vast numbers have no-one who cares for them.

Responsibilities

When I have the wherewithal to accomplish

What needs to be done.

Times of…

Stress.

Anger.

Depression.

Reminders that anything good in me

Is not because of some innate value

But divine grace.

I must cling to that truth

And once again

Take to the skies.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come…(2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV),

For those who help

When I am feeling bad

Could not do it without my friends

Thank you!

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us (Romans 12:4-6 NIV).

Wedding punch drenches the sky

Marry the morning.

My thanks to Julie Jordan Scott for granting me permission to re-post the above haiku. I love it!

Not on problems

But on important things

Opportunities for my growth

Vict’ry.

…suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts…(Romans 5:4-5 NIV)

No excuses

Looking ahead with joy

Quite excited to discover

God’s will.

…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…(Proverbs 1:5 NIV)

Come along every day

Make the most of them.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5, NIV).

Gently falling

Bringing warmth to my heart

So white and fresh and new and clean

Thankful.

With a friend soon

Having lunch together

It’s time to catch up once again

Love it!

The garland’s strung

The lights are up

The baubles hung.

My hubby’s village

In the hall

Though snow has not

Begun to fall.

The tree is waiting

In the box

The mantle’s waiting

For some socks.

Carols playing

Candles lit

I’ll wrap the presents

In a bit.

The signs of Christmas

All around

The happy sights

And happy sounds.

As you can see, Dr. Seuss is still having an influence. Thank you, Horton Hears a Who – I think.

Surprise! Surprise!

You made my day.

I have to shout

Hip, hip, horray!

The news I read

Gave me a boost.

Great joy, I say,

Has come to roost.

My heart is sailing

In the sky.

Ever higher

I can fly.

Good news came

Through cyberspace.

It put a smile

Upon my face.

Rich blessings flow

From God above

More examples

Of His love.

Every good and perfect gift is from above…(James 1:17 NIV).

Precious lady

He was waiting for you

You flew home to meet your Saviour

Farewell.

I can’t distinguish between my hands

And blocks of ice.

There are dirty cups all over the house

Because we’re drinking

More coffee

More tea

More hot chocolate

More apple cider.

When I realize I really must

Sew the button on my winter coat.

(Have I mentioned…I DON’T SEW!)

My hubby wears a long-sleeved shirt to work

AND a coat.

(He’s always warm.)

The smell of muffins cooking

Or soup

Or stew

Is especially nice.

I light scented candles.

(I only do so when Christmas is just around the corner.)

And lastly…

I know it’s getting colder

When I sit around with a blanket over my knees.

(Yeah, yeah, I know. Let the granny jokes begin.)

He [God] changes times and seasons (Daniel 2:21 NIV).

The Year of Encouragement

Soon to be hist’ry.

Two thousand and twelve

The Year of No Excuses

Just ’round the corner.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12 NIV).

Give thanks

Many rejoice

To have fam’ly and friends

Join the celebrations they have

What fun!

Give thanks

Only a dream

No home, food, family

Only sorrow and many tears

Help them.

…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me [Jesus] (Matthew 25:40 NIV).

Hearts migration

To the warmer climates

Where sorrow and hurts can be healed

Vic’try.

Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV).

My frozen hands

They’ll not thaw ’til springtime

The saying goes, “Cold hands, warm heart”

My hope.

A leg up

A boost

An updraft

The response…

A questioning look

Reservations

Contemplation

The explanation…

Humbling

Enlightening

Appealing

The response…

Growing appreciation

Wonder

Peace

Thank you, my friend.

A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17 NIV).

My friends

My fellow writers

The lovely ladies I’ll miss

Over the winter months.

My writing is better

Because of them.

My skills are sharper

Because of them.

My life is richer

Because of them.

WWC

Is one of my most favourite

Evenings of the month.

As we wind down

And burrow in

For a winter of solitary writing

I’m thankful

For the Internet.

We’ll keep in touch.

We’ll tweet.

We’ll message.

We’ll email.

But it’s not the same.

Until spring

Remember

I’m glad there’s you!

A friend loves at all times…(Proverbs 17:17 NIV)

The dark grey skies

Temperatures changing

Clouds opening releasing rain

That’s fall.

He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down (Psalm 104:19 NIV).

Does not come cheap

It costs many their lives

For which I want to say thank you

Humbled.

Are blown around

Begging to be played in

Fill the air with wond’rous fragrance

Autumn.

He [God] changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning (Daniel 2:21 NIV).

Metal-loving, deep in thought,

Reading books he loves a lot.

Big words wielding, stupid shows,

Leaving laughter where he goes.

Adventure-seeking, travel-crazed,

This is how he spends his days.

Friends and family gain his love,

He’s a gift from God above.

For our mini holiday

Meeting friends and such.

For countless new adventures

For life, I’m thankful.

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV).

With many destinations

Lies before me now.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity…(Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV)