Losing…
but it wasn’t really personal
Not like some ones I love
some ones I respect
In all of history
one loser was the most
Mankind did their best
to put him lower than low
Spit? Beat? Humiliate?
Hang naked on a cross on a hill
for all to see him die?
In all of history
he broke the chains
to conquer death
and make a way to heaven
for you
for me
How’s that?
A sister did her best
put herself on the dotted line
and worked and worked to win a post
only to lose
A hard, hard thing.
A short time passing,
she has thanked the Lord
for changing how she’s lived
The winner waded in
and found a swamp so smelly
he’s challenged every day
to keep above the smell
While she invests in little people
grandchildren growing quickly
to spend her retirement grace fully
Now comes a friend
who did his best
if he were a bear he’d be a grizzly!
For over a year
he walked the county
meeting people
making friends
then putting up signs
giving his all
His family pitching in
and walking in parades
speaking warmly of who he is
a man of many talents
Another fellow, got the vote
somehow was considered better
A puzzling thing
to understand
The why of this defeat
Life can be
about the changes
that are hardest to understand
Sometimes it’s because
this is earth
not heaven, we need to know
imperfection is the rule
What may be best
doesn’t happen
It makes a contrast easy
We get a glimpse
of what might have been
what makes far greater sense
But it’s our task
to move on through
to do our best today
This day
It is the day
the Lord has given
and we will rejoice
and be glad in it!
Surrounded by
so many blessings
we scarce can begin to count them
Health, family, those who love us
care for us
lift us up, when the world pushes down
I do believe
we’re more than conquerors
through the love of Jesus Christ
Who knew
really knew
that we are sinners
yet gave his life for us
We respond
by lifting high his banner
by lifting up our heads
to carry on,
and on,
and on
as long as we have life
Lin, post-election, 08
Constance June Perry Warfel
And counting
Kayper has stood the tests:
High prices; low prices
Too hot; too cold
No electricity; no water
Too much rain; not enough
She has been a rib
Close to my heart
All of the way
Morning, noon, and night
Day after day
Year after year
From coed to gammy
Her counsel’s always firm
In her yes
And in her no
Honesty, integrity, have been her mark
Hard to think
Nigh impossible
To ponder life without her
While shaping my life
She has fostered others
Giving them life
Birthing, feeding, caring
For a listening ear and heart
Trusting in her judgment
Steady
Like a rock
Yet surprising
Both shielding us
And leading us
Through her living example
Best of friends
And so much more
Farm wife
Mother
(now `Gammy’)
Reflecting her mother
Grandmothers too!
She is a prize
And precious!
We raise our thanks
That she is ours
And we are hers!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
For don’t you know
God made her so
05/07
Fallen Runner
Race done
Race won
So many touches
So many people
Along the way….
Business?
Hundreds
Success!
Young agents trained
Peer fellowship shared
Looming large
And larger still
Thru it all
Thru it all
He learned to trust in Jesus
Learned to trust in God
Walking his faith
Ah, Ben and Judy
Devoted
One now fallen
Race done
Race won
Selah, Lin 02/08
A Lady Passing
don’t even want to try
Our eyes fill with tears
and, when we’re in the right places,
we simply cry.
Emotions need to get out
we’re really not made to keep them
in the right places
at the right times
we need to share them
A tightness in the throat
something is gripping us
and tears welling up
then falling like rain
is how we’re made
how we need to be
“In His own image he made them,
male and female He made them’…
So a part of God
is in each one of us
Mysteries do abound
and mothers were there
from the beginning
carry them in secret
birth them into a crying world
nurture them until they stand
until they walk away some day
Then rejoice in their parenting
while caring for parents
In a mother’s arms
in a mother’s heart
we live as long as she,
right there, intimately
breathes, touches
Someday, we know,
she’ll slip away from earth
but remain
in the arms of our memories
in the heart of our hearts
Rest in peace
mom
In Remembrance of June Lincicome, mom
March 28, 2008
Permission
happened along my way
I caught another glimpse of God
This is how it happened:
I sat in church
my beloved close beside me
I watched a family
two rows in front
sitting close together
father, mother, young son at ease
the father put his arm
around his beloved’s shoulders
(again, a common sort of thing in church)
and then the son
aged six or so
reached high for him
and put his little arm around his mom too
Permission shone
to all who saw
to all who drank it in
Permission is a God blessed gift
precious beyond measure
God the father
Awesome God
stretches us so greatly
can be intimidating
(and maybe should be)
but in a gentle way
extends his nail scarred hands to us
It’s up to us to take them
-sense permission here?-
to join Him or walk our way
If we do
a journey’s born
another pathway taken
doors begin to open
to places not before seen
We can come into His house
call upon His name
and worship Him
Our eyes begin to see
more clearly
Our ears begin to listen
more deeply
Understanding grows
Permission flows
communion is shared
Permission to come to God
happens…
Selah,
Lin 07/06
To Matt, Annie, Israel and Noah
In Remembrance*
I tore a piece from the loaf
an emblem of a will
greater than sorrow
greater than sin
In remembrance of Him
I lifted a cup to my lips
an emblem of life
poured out for us…, for me
Not my will, but thine, He said
then submitted himself to die
In remembrance of Sharon
words of love were spoken
recognition of a life invested
caring for Christ
caring for others
In peace, she slipped from this life
to a place prepared for her
promised, by a waiting Savior
and she is in His presence, forever
Grace like Rain, by Todd Agnew
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
was blind, but now I see clearly
Hallelujah, grace like rain, falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains, are washed away, washed away
Twas grace that taught, my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed
Hallelujah, grace like rain, falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains, are washed away, washed away
*In remembrance of Sharon Garrett