Sometimes I see a sight
that makes me smile.
Then I like to share it,
laughing all the while.
Thank you Father for
for humor in my life.
As I enjoy your gift,
it helps me deal with strife.
This poor guy looks like he needs a doctor!

Easter is soon here! What a blessed day. Through it, we gain life as we repent and give ourselves to him! Praise to his name!
A GREAT DEEP CHASM
In me is a great deep chasm,
darkness showing only death.
In it lives no God of glory,
only that which is of earth.
But the God of all creation
looked on earth, then he chose me.
out of love he touched my heart,
saved me and he set me free.
Someday soon that blessed Savior
comes again to take me home,
taking out the sin and evil
causing me from him to roam.
Filling up the great deep cavern
with his life and righteousness,
I will ever in his presence,
praise him for his holiness.
Darlene Estlow
From my book: Voices of Life
We listen to our voice, Satan’s voice, and God’s voice. Why should we listen to God’s voice? He is ruler over all!
YOU RULE
You rule, O God
O'er all the earth
No higher one
Over life and death.
For you are king
There is no other
To rule and reign
Yet you're my Father.
Your rule is just
In righteousness
To serve you Lord
Is life that's blessed.
Winter is upon us in all its white beauty scenes at times and other times just frosty roofs and lawns. Sometimes, in the spring and fall, frost makes its appearance but its life is short. Here is a poem in honor of frost.
FROSTY SCENE
The frost on the lawn stares up at me
to gloat its fine appearance,
as if its life will never end.
Then comes the warm sun's dance.
It chases back the shadows' shield
protecting icy friend.
With it flees the chilling frost
bringing to an end
the tyranny of ice and cold
over summer's green.
Just for today the battle's won
till night repeats the scene.
“Time marches on” as the old saying goes. Things never stay the same. As I think of the passing years with its joys and sorrows, I look forward not just to a new year, but the never-ending year God has for those who love Jesus Christ. And there, I will have no sorrows, only joy. I hope many others join me there.
ALL THINGS NEW
What was can never be again.
The landscape of the present day
is now the shadow on the wall
no matter how I bid it stay.
There's now no mother kiss to heal
my wounds, no father's arms to hold
me when I weep, no bouncing child
to keep my heart from growing cold.
My auburn strands of hair have turned
to gray. My skin, in years gone by,
so soft and smooth, now shows the lines
of years that passed just like a sigh.
If I could hold the reins of time
and from its endless journey free
the joy of moments past, then they
could always be a part of me.
Though not just joys, but sorrows too,
would never leave and never heal.
Perhaps what seems a glorious thought
would simply be a gross ordeal.
And yet inside of me, a part of me
yearns to never say goodbye
to mother, father, child, or friend,
as years are days that ceaseless fly.
The changing days are part of life
for blessings, sorrows, much or few,
until God stills the earthly clock,
and with one word makes all things new.
As I enter January, I think about my grandson Judah who ended his life on January 23, 2022. He was far too young; he would turn 19 that year. Even when someone seems whole and involved with God, there are times the darkness gets too heavy. I pray that no one feels there is no hope as they think this course would be better. I miss that young man, but I know his mama and daddy and his siblings miss him more. And I know that God brings comfort to our hearts as he catches our tears and mingles them with his own.
WHEN DID YOU DRY JUDAH’S TEARS
When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he first looked in Your face?
When he felt Your warm, calm arms
When he felt Your mercy, grace?
When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he knew there were no chains,
earth’s enticements now were gone?
Was that when you healed his pain?
When did You dry Judah’s tears?
Before the joy You had for him?
When he knew earth’s arms were loosed?
Gone was bondage to all sin?
Come and dry our tears of grief
from these pain that wounds our hearts
to Your joy because we know
Judah now lives in Your heart.
Darlene Estlow©2023
Christmas is a glorious time to step aside every so often and meditate on Jesus’s coming so many years ago and now how he has a center in my life. So I bring my needs to him, but also my praises for what he has and will do.
AS I PRAY
As I pray, I see your work
in others' lives and in my own.
So patiently I lift the needs
of those I love and of my own.
May you be praised in all our deeds
as we go forth in praising you,
living for your glory, Lord,
walking in your power, truth.
Christmas is so close. How blessed we are to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior!
A LIGHT SHINES
In the darkness
a light shines
that cannot be quenched.
In the shadows
a light shines
and hope grows bright.
In the night
a light shines
and joy is birthed.
THE WORD WAS GOD
It was God who came that day
to live a life on earth.
No beginning, always God,
becoming man at birth.
It was God who left his throne
on high to wear our form,
coming down to give His peace
to quell sin's awful storm.
It was God who came to die
to spread on earth His light,
that we could walk with Him each day,
delivered from our plight.
May God give us the realization of what Christmas truly is.
To me, Christmas is more than just birth of Christ. It is his whole sacrifice of coming from glory to human form and then, not just to die, but to rise and go back to glory having made payment for our sins.
THE SHADOW OF A CROSS
The shadow of a cross
across a manger lay
where God became a man
to bear that cross someday.
The shadow of the cross
speaks life to sinful men.
The innocent would pay
the price for all our sin.
The shadow of that cross
became reality
when God himself had died
so man would now be free.
| by JP Arceno
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