Tag Archives: Poetry

Through it All

8 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

 

It is easy to be pleasant
when life flows by like a song.
But the person worthwhile is one who will smile
when everything goes wrong.

 

For the test of the heart is trouble,
and it always comes with the years.
The smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that shines through the tears.

 

If you want to be happy, begin where you are.
Don’t wait for some rapture that’s future and far.
Begin to be joyous, determine to be glad.
And soon you’ll forget that you ever were sad.

 

Through it all, keep looking up.
That’s where our future lies.
Jesus bids us to come unto Him.
His peace is our ultimate prize.

 

“When they were discouraged, I smiled and that
encouraged them and lightened their spirits.”
(Job 29:24)

 

Rainbow over grass

 

Lord, We Need to Fly

17 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

The tragedy brought to light this week

has saddened hearts everywhere.

Solace for the wounded and grieving

is at the heart of our fervent prayer.

We mourn the loss of our fellow man.

We digest the news as best we can.

The mass shooting, like 9-11,

has raised our voice to God in Heaven.

Tragic things happen,

We try to reason why.

Something good must come from this-

Lord. we need to fly.

We must rise above the chaos.

the negativity and fear.

Lord. we can be overcomers

as long as You are near.

 

small bird over water with clouds

Expiration Date

10 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

Our life is in God’s hands.
All of our days are fashioned by Him.
In His book they all are written,
not by accident or whim.

 

Every jug of milk or can of tuna
has an expiration date.
Well, so have we.
God’s timing is best,
but it is not for us to see.

 

Psalm 139, Verse 16

Thine eyes did see my substance
yet being unformed, and
in Thy book all my members
were written, which in continuance
were fashioned, when as yet
there was none of them.

 

When asked, “What is the greatest surprise
you have found about life?”
Your response will be, “The brevity of it”.
Yes, life is but a minute,
but eternity is in it.
Keep looking up, dear friend.
Jesus is waiting at the Cross for you.
His dearest desire is to communicate with you.
Life on earth is not the end.

 

clouds meet sea

The Power of Words

3 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

Choose your words carefully
for they are powerful, you’ll agree.
They can encourage one’s heart
and turn sadness into glee.

 

How does one express love?
How do you define it?
It stems from the heart-
There is hope and promise in it.

 

“Colors fade, temples crumble,
empires fall, but wise words endure.”
Edward Thorndike

 

Words of love
“Therefore comfort one another with these words”
1 Thesalonians 4:18

 

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say “Thank you”?

 

Words copy

 

 

The Cat Walk

18 Mar

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

Cats are territorial
They love to mark their space-
But the way they’ve taken over
is truly a disgrace!Quick and nimble,
Sly as a fox-
They’ve claimed my whole yard
As their “litter box”

A concrete walkway
was formed for Me-
to allow a path that was dirt free.

Designed to have “eye appeal”,
as well as being practical-
Whoever dreamed the cats would think
that my plan was so radical!

The morning after cement was poured,
I went out to check the walk.
Tiny pawprints were everywhere-
Believe me, CATS CAN TALK!

Now my Window Wonder is,
as I look out at my view-
“Dear Lord, Did you send these cats
so I would “keep in touch” with YOU???

IMG_9259.jpg from Flickr via Wylio

© 2011 Michael, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio

Source: Reflections of the Heart: The Cat Walk

GLENNA – A TRIBUTE

8 Mar

MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

I’ve mentioned before that I was Church Secretary for nearly nine years at the church where we are members. I’ve also mentioned that the pastor at that time was my “boss” nearly that entire time. However, I introduced him one time to my best friend, who was visiting. His response? “No Judy, we are co-workers….not boss and employee.” He was absolutely great to work with.

His mother, Glenna, was a jewel. Always upbeat…loved the Lord and spoke about Him to everyone whenever and wherever she was. Such a happy, happy person. And she never knew a stranger.   This picture of her is from the newspaper, and isn’t a terribly good one of her, but it does show her enthusiam.

1

Ms. Glenna was also a poet. Every year that we knew her, we would receive from her a Christmas poem. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and poetry usually just slides right over my head. But Glenna’s poems always touched my heart.

Ms. Glenna died last week, and we attended the memorial service for her. All three of her children were there and spoke about her. All spoke of her love…for life, for her family, but most especially of her love of her loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The funeral home always puts together a “memory” leaflet of the deceased, and they did for Glenna, as well. In that leaflet, they included a poem that Glenna had written, probably many years ago, and kept for just this time. I want to share it with you all. It shows so much about the type of person Glenna McKinney was. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (there are 11 of them!).

Ms. Glenna – we miss you – your laugh, your love, your quirky personality. As your son said, you are more alive today than you ever were on this earth.

May God have all the glory in this:

 

SOMEDAY

By Glenna Morris McKinney

 

One day I shall see Him,

In the twinkling of an eye–

I shall trade my dwelling place on earth

For a mansion in the sky.

 

‘Tho my life may seem to be over

To those I leave behind,

My life will be unfolding

As new planes of life I find.

 

Oh yes, I’ll trade this house of clay

For a new celestial home.

I’ll be greeting old friends & loved ones

As on the streets of gold I roam.

 

Many questions will be answered,

New dimensions will I see

As my Savior takes me by the hand

And walks along with me.

 

10

 

 

I have to be Me

4 Mar

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

I am fighting the battle of resistance-
I have to be Me, in spite of insistence.
The world is doing its best night and day-
to alter my thinking- to follow its way.
Commercials tell me what I should buy-
Etiquette dictates the “how” and the “why”.
Experience has proven to be my friend-
My values I no longer have to defend.
Don’t try to make me an image of you-
It is so refreshing to have one’s own view.
No longer young, my spirit tells me-
In spite of man’s thinking, I have to be Me!
Woman w: dogs on mountian

Source: Reflections of the Heart: I have to be Me

Solitude

26 Feb

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

I have heard it said that solitude is the soul’s best friend.
It allows a quiet time within one’s self to dream, to comprehend.

That’s when we dream our dreams,
and pen our thoughts,
to bring them to fruition-
before they are ever verbalized
or expressed in composition.

It is only in the stillness of solitude, I find
the truth and purpose that brings peace of mind.

Secluded cabin

Source: Reflections of the Heart: March 2007

Counting One’s Interest

19 Feb

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

“One should never count the years–one should count one’s interests.

I have kept young trying never to lose my childhood sense of wonderment.

I am glad I still have a vivid curiosity about the world I live in.

“Helen Keller, 1880-1968Blind and Deaf American Writer and Scholar The writer of that beautiful philosophy expressed my sentiments so eloquently-

 

But I humbly acknowledge my advantage-

I can hear! And I can see!

But did she hear more clearly than I?

And did she see through the Master’s eye?

Oh, how blessed to have the Master’s touch-

to live to serve- to give so much.

 

May I never take for granted

the blessings of each day-

A kind word, a noble deed,

encouragement along the way.

 

Ocean with cliffs

Source: Reflections of the Heart: February 2007

Reflections of the Heart: LISTENING

12 Feb

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

People need people to validate their dreams-

No one is independent,

We all need someone, it seems.

 

A speaker needs a listener

to the language of his heart.

We all need recognition-

true listening is an art.

 

Do you truly sense the hunger

when a person speaks to you?

Or do you struggle with impatience

to express your point of view?

 

We may not all be Hemingways,

or famous for our prose,

But I sense a warm comraderie

in this group that grows…and grows.

 

man and woman on dock

Source: Reflections of the Heart: LISTENING