Mystery Challenge

 

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This piece won this award from NWCU!

 

 

If I Had One Wish

I’d hope for world unity
Commencing in this country
With politicians letting go
Of their overactive egos
Their game of control in Washington
Stilled by a peaceful transition
As humble role models who often agree
A buffer within the community
Patriotic red, white and blue
Joined together with me and you

©laurie kolp

Prompt inspirations:

3WW- buffer, transition, unity
Poetic Asides- Patriotic

Come On

Wheat Field with Rising Sun, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

America:
A colorful land
Let freedom ring
For peace to bring
Together dispel
Bickering, unrest
Opposition to test
One country
United
Let's be
America

@laurie kolp


Prompt inspiration: Magpie Tales

Day 20

Prompts:
3WW- cleanse, knead, melt
NaPoWriMo- The Ghazal poetic form
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From War to Peace

Why do terse thoughts beseech me when I pray?
Inverse replies intensify; I pray.

Your hands upon my back knead stress away;
The tension lifts black weights from which I pray.

A hot tub shooting eddies, safe from prey.
The nation battles war, for peace I pray.

Communion with each other makes my day;
Pain melts away, you cleanse my soul, I pray.

Dried blood, iced glaze conceals lies, so I pray.
Eyes swindled from the haze; false gods. I pray.

Fresh scent of lilac captures love’s archway.
Blind faith leads, hunger sated; yes, I pray.

Gazelles grace fields, my mind in which I pray,
Peace grazes Laurie’s thoughts lift clouds; I pray.

@Laurie Kolp

Another miracle...

A blessed ACTS sister from my church had this to say, and I simply could not pass up the opportunity to share it:

"When I first saw pictures of Haiti after the earthquake and (that) the people who were still alive would soon be dying if somehow food, water and medical supplies were not brought in quickly, I thought of the miracle that Jesus performed with the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. If only we had Jesus here. If only someone could start passing around the little food the Haitians found, and it would be multiplied enough to feed everyone.

Didn't Jesus tell us that we, the followers of Him, would also do these things, in fact, even do greater things! (John 14:12)

Jesus was one person, yet He fed thousands. We, as the Body of Christ, can also feed thousands, and I am encouraged and made stronger in faith, as I see the outpouring of humanitarian relief to the Haitians. I just heard on the news that the USA citizens have donated 210 million dollars, even though our economy is suffering and people are out of work. This is more that double what our government offered, which will also be paid by 'the people'. So, in effect, we are doing what Jesus said we could do!
God bless America and God bless Haiti."

God is all around us. I hope we can all take a minute from our busy lives to witness His grace everywhere. I know I am much happier, peaceful, and content when I do! I hope you can feel His love, too. God bless.

A Simple Life

Remember, no matter where you go…there you are. (~Mary Engelbreit)

I used to try and run from myself. How, might you ask, could I do such a thing? Well, for me it was easy. I wrapped myself up in other people's problems, forever trying to be the hero and save them. In doing that, I didn't need to look at myself and what was bothering me. Instead, I focused on THEM- my children, my husband, my mother and my friends. Part of wanting to help others is just my nature, and it is a good thing to do; but I have found that I must first seek MY peace and happiness before I can truly help someone else. That is what I am doing today. And guess what? I am happy with myself- truly and honestly happy. My life is simple now, and I plan to keep it that way. No more over-committing myself or saying "yes" before thinking things through. I now can say "no" and give no reason. I don't worry about people-pleasing or wonder what they will think of me. I answer only to God now and I know He won't let me down. So even though someone took my name off a project I worked hard on, I am okay with it because God knows the truth. (Plus, I am still praying for this person, and it works).

So my question to you is- how do you simplify your life?

A Brand New Day

...whatever is true...whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...think about such things...put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
~Philippians 4:8-9

I have peace today. My peace doesn't come from material things, like a big mansion or fancy car. It does not come from a show I might put on to impress people. Rather, my peace comes from within. Knowing that God is in control of my life, living for the moment instead of ruing over the past or fretting about the future- these are all tools I use to find inner peace. I am so grateful for my serenity. People might try to break my peace, but I remind myself that humans are all fallible. Only God is perfect. So if I feel vexed at some point in the day, I simply pause and ask for God's will to be done and say the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Try this simple prayer in your daily struggles. It really does work. May you have peace and joy within today. It's a brand new day- let's make it a great one!