May every day be Sunny as you travel your life through May every day be pleasant in whatever you do A sunny attitude lifts you above the dark of a cloudy day Giving you a different perspective in almost every way Having a sunny attitude in whatever you do Will let the light of Jesus come shining through you May 21, 2023 MarkWaldrop
In the vineyard of life, a sacred bond we find, Where the Divine is the vine, and we are branches entwined. In the words of old, a truth divine unfolds, For in unity we flourish, as destiny enfolds. "I am the vine," He whispers, with tender grace, And we, the branches, seek solace in His embrace. In this mystical union, we discover our worth, For rooted in His love, we bear fruits of rebirth. If we remain in Him, in steadfast devotion, His life flows through us, a celestial potion. With every breath, we draw from His endless supply, Nurtured by His essence, we'll never run dry. Bound by His presence, we blossom and grow, Through seasons of joy or moments of woe. For apart from Him, we're but withered and frail, In His abiding love, our spirits prevail. Through trials and challenges, we find our strength, Sustained by the vine, we go to any length. In unity, we discover purpose and might, Transformed by His spirit, we shine in His light. Let not the world seduce, with its transient charms, For true fulfillment lies in His welcoming arms. In communion with Him, we find our true identity, Nourished by His truth, we thrive with vitality. So let us abide, in this divine connection, Immersed in His love, with unwavering affection. For as the branches, we're called to bear fruit, Manifesting His love, our purpose absolute. In the vineyard of life, intertwined and true, We surrender to Him, as He calls us to do. For in the embrace of the vine, we're forever free, Bearing much fruit, bound for eternity. Joh 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. May 20, 2023 Compiled by MarkWaldrop
If I listen, don't talk; that seems the most appropriate way I can learn so much more every day Listening to a person encourages and builds them up Talking too much will disinterest them and empty my cup Whatever I do if I show Love in my talk It will bring me closer to God through my walk Thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit that came in with Jesus that day Guiding me through my journey through life all along the way May 19, 2023 MarkWaldrop
Spanning the bridge of time God's Love and Grace are forever mine From the time I was born till the time I draw my last breath God has been with me and will walk with me through death My body will die and go back to this green earth My soul will continue to live through His Great Worth. May 18, 2023 MarkWaldrop
In the realm where words paint pictures, Where verses dance on pages anew Let me weave a tapestry of wisdom, With Scriptures guiding me through. As the dawn of day illuminates the sky, A call resounds within, echoing divine, "For as long as light graces our path, Let us fulfill the works, sublime." From John's sacred ink, these words unfold, Jesus' mission, sent from realms above, In the hours of day, our purpose unfolds, To spread love's message, embrace His love. The night draws near, casting shadows deep, A reminder of life's fleeting state, But fear not, for a harvest awaits, When seeds sown in goodness shall resonate. In Galatians, a gentle plea we find, To not grow weary in doing what's right, For perseverance yields a fruitful gain, When faith remains steadfast, day and night. Let not weariness extinguish the flame, That burns within, igniting our core, For every act of kindness, great or small, Shall bear fruit, abundant forevermore. So let us embrace the morning's light, With hearts aflame, ready to serve, And in the twilight hours, still persevere, Knowing our efforts, God shall preserve. For the works we do, in His holy name, Carry the essence of eternal worth, So let us stand strong, unwaveringly, In the moments we sow goodness on this Earth. With John 9:4 and Galatians 6:9 as our guide, We'll navigate the days, with purpose and grace, And when night falls upon our earthly toil, Our legacy of love shall illuminate every space May 18, 2023 Compiled by MarkWaldrop
Consuming food is required to sustain life The concept of healthy food brings less strife Love the food you eat Don't lust after it Love an extraordinary blessing from God Lust will deliver the old chasting rod Eat slowly and taste the blessing Swallowing like a dog, you will never know the taste your missing Taming the mind will calm the soul Followed by making the body whole Closely walking with Jesus in your life, He will lessen your cravings and strife Never give up on accomplishing what's best for you Just bow your head, thanking God for sending Jesus to see you through May 15, 2023 MarkWaldrop
Doug Ricafrente
A man so kind
In memory of a man so kind,
Whose heart for God did truly shine,
Our church holds a tournament each year,
To honor Douglas, always held dear.
Fishing is the game we play,
Teams of two, to cast away,
From boat or shore, it matters not,
For all are welcome, every spot.
On May the 21st, after church,
We'll gather 'round, our bellies to fill and search,
For tasty fish, freshly fried,
And trophies, to celebrate with pride.
Douglas Ricafrente, gentleman true,
With love for God, his heart imbued,
May this tournament forever stand,
In memory of a gracious man.
May 15, 2023
Compiled by
All my sins were cast away one day When God’s Son Jesus came in to stay It’s way beyond my understanding How the Glory of God's Love keeps expanding It’s not for me to know when or why The reason for God’s touch before I die God is Love, the Good Book says That’s what Jesus' sacrifice is Giving His All for you and me It is so unbelievable I can’t see I bow my head and can only say Thank You, God, for sending your Son to me today May 14, 2023 MarkWaldrop
In memory of Doug Ricafrente, A champion weightlifter, now heaven-sent, Berkeley Baptist's faithful servant, he became, In Christ's love, he found a new flame. And now, each year, we gather to fish, In the Ironman Classic, we make our wish To honor his legacy and the joy he gave, As we cast our lines upon the waves. The thrill of the catch, the tug on the line, It reminds us of Doug's strength and spine, Of his determination to reach the top, And his love for Christ never did stop. As we fish, we remember his story, Of how he found hope, grace, and glory, And we celebrate his life, his faith, his heart, That continues to inspire us from the start. So, let's cast our lines and remember, Doug's legacy will always render, A champion of Christ, a man of love, In the Ironman Classic, he soars above. Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. MarkWaldrop Doug's hands were kind hands doing good to all, witnessing about His Savior that they may never fall. Doug's hands were kind hands doing good for all.
The days stretch on, a never-ending stream Of hopes and fears and shattered dreams The daily sacrifice, once pure and bright Now lies in ashes, a pitiful sight The abomination, a desolate thing Brings destruction on its scorching wings A curse upon the land, a blight on the soul A wound that refuses to be made whole But in the midst of darkness, there is hope For those who wait, who learn to cope With trials and tribulations, they endure Their faith in God, unshaken and sure Blessed are they who hold on tight Through the long and endless night For when the end finally comes They will rise to their allotted sums Rest will come, sweet and serene No more tears, no more pain, no more mean And in that place, they will receive Their inheritance, and they will believe That all along, God was by their side Guiding them, protecting them, as they ride The waves of life, and now they rest In His arms, eternally blessed. May 10, 2023 MarkWaldrop