Tag Archives: prayer

By and By

the sun casts the faintest
of shadows across the lawn
in the afternoon lull
between rainstorms

my mind does not rest in
these peaceful moments
but continues to ask
questions in the hope of

answers to prayers so long
repeated so long lamented
so long hoped for all in
God’s time

For God’s time is greater
than my own but how sweet
it would be

Satan’s emissary can be as
small as a fly spreading
the littlest lie a fiery
dart aimed at the heart

but just then as I held
on to what I know I heard
the church bells strike
three to remind me that

I belong to thee even if
I die before the fly and
the answers will come
in the sweet by and by

Not Far Behind

It got dark at midday when
the first thunderstorm hit
and bright sun followed.

But not for long as the
fourth thunderstorm of the
day just passed over.

It is the start of hurricane
season so it is easy to
think of doom and gloom.

Will our new fence hold
this time?

Talking faith on a sunny
day is one thing but on a
day like today you hold

your breath and pray the
Lord will bring us, our
house, and fence through,

not to mention the swaying
trees and swinging power
lines. God is our provider

and refuge as the weather
becomes a true test of faith
with hope not far behind.

One Thing

Darkness descended midmorning
with a major storm hanging in
the air.

Distant thunder is no longer
distant squeezing us from
all sides.

Well call me Noah!

It is a torrential downpour
with no end in sight. I must
turn on a light in here.

I got a severe thunderstorm
watch then a flash flood warning
and a special weather statement.

My phone is ringing off the hook!
Well, dinging like crazy. I know.
Phones don’t do that anymore.

I always wanted to say that;
because my phone didn’t ring
then and rarely rings now.

You try not to worry but these
are the things you worry about
with loved ones on the road.

My wife drove her sister for a
scheduled surgery before this
storm hit.

Her drive back will be a tough
one. It goes without saying but
it is out of my hands.

Storms like this are subtle red
flags to remind us that we are
not in control. God is.

It just happens that way and
there is nothing one can
do about it.

Well there is one thing. Prayer.
Pray to God for their safety.
And pray some more.

Spiritual Sense

You are in a sailboat
out on the water far
from the familiar.

The wind ceases. It is
so quiet you can hear
yourself thinking.

The only other sound
is the water slapping
the sides of the boat.

You pray.

Common sense would
dictate that you row
the boat home.

You can if you want.
Faith grows choice by
choice.

Spiritual sense would
dictate that you wait.
You choose to wait

and pray.

There came a whisper.
“Sail on, sail on.” Then
came the wind.

Between Fall and Winter

a calm day that called me to prayer
one of those between fall and winter
the air is cool and the sun is warm

it turned into the perfect day for my
imperfect prayers made perfect for
God’s ears by His Spirit so know that

God always hears all our prayers

I added my most personal prayers to
the Blessed Mother because there are
times when our faith like the day was

floating in the air up and down
somewhere between fall and winter

With Summer

from the get-go today
there were no clouds

a slight wind and the
sun was strong all day

if it weren’t for the
heater kicking on you

would think it was
still summer well it

looks like it but I had
to wear a coat to go

out to check the mail
I told myself I was

warm enough but they
say tonight will be the

first freeze of winter

I pray all the pestilence
on our planet will perish

with summer

Odds and Ends 3.20

Until now it was a lazy day.
The wind has doubled or more
and the sun is in full retreat.

I better hurry if I want to make
my window for a late afternoon
cup of coffee.

I made a 10 oz cup instead of a
12 oz cup to have enough room
for cream as I decided to try

a cup with cream only. Funny, I
like a double espresso with
sugar. But regular old coffee

black kills my taste for coffee.
I took a sip and put it down.
When I picked it up again, there

was a tiny bug floating in the
cup who didn’t like the coffee
either.

So much for my Plan A. No time
for a Plan B if I had one today.
I guess it is time for me to start

cooking dinner. I am baking
chicken legs. Why chicken legs?
It is the only fresh meat in the

fridge that was dropped from
our scaled down Thanksgiving
menu. We already cut back

on the variety of food and
will cook less of everything.
Instead of for twenty, it will

be for ten, but in reality five.
We just went to back to Phase 2
this afternoon. So the few who

might have come will now get
curbside delivery service. All
wearing masks of course.

At any rate, there will still be
more leftovers than usual.
Turkey and ham will abound

for a good week or so. You have
heard it before, “Be safe, not
sorry.” It is hard to plan with

COVID. Things change quickly.
But we can plan to pray.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Give thanks and pray.