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
In a cage, a life confined, A canine soul, forever confined, Tears in his eyes, a spirit forlorn, Rescue came, a glimmer of hope born. Dumped on the road, abandoned and frail, A tale of cruelty that makes hearts wail, Those who harm innocent beings like thee, A place of darkness is where they should be. Oh, if only they knew the love you bring, The joy that blossoms from your being, A lesson learned, a plea to impart, Only get a pet if you open your heart. He walks beside you, learning to be free, Discovering the world, as it should be, Beside you on your daily quest, A loyal companion, trust manifest. With cautious steps, he's finding his way, From trembling paws, to playful play, A runner holds him, just for a while, To protect him from an early trial. He longs to frolic with feline grace, But eagerness makes their encounters a chase, Patience, dear friend, it won't be long, Till harmony reigns, and peace becomes strong. Sweet and obedient, his heart beats true, Grateful for love and care, bestowed by you, Through gentle guidance, he learns to abide, A transformation witnessed, side by side. Oh, how he yearns to roam without bounds, To explore the fields, the sights and sounds, As his spirit finds solace, fear takes flight, Soon, the runner will yield, setting him alight. In your embrace, he discovers trust, A bond unbreakable, forged with just, A flicker of kindness, a nurturing hand, Rescued from darkness, he now understands. So let us remember, with empathy and grace, The forgotten souls, longing for a place, To all the rescuers, heroes unsung, Thank you for bringing hope to each one. May 10, 2023 Compiled by MarkWaldrop
The devoted men of Berkely Baptist Church Always for their Loving God they do search No one above the other all working together just like brothers No matter where they go or the time of day always willing to serve others in every way God looks down and blesses them with the love of His Son Jesus His love in our souls calms and pleases us As we go about our way let us strive to do just a little more each day Spreading the Good News of God's Love as we toil from day to day Bowing our heads and Thanking Him for His Love Being sent through the Holy Spirit from Heaven Above. April 30, 2023 MarkWaldrop
Amidst the turmoil and the strife, A prince arises to protect our life. Jesus, the great, with strength untold, Guides us through the darkness and the cold. For a time of distress is upon us now, A trial that none can fully allow. It is a time like none before, A test that shakes us to our core. But fear not, for those whose names are written, In the book of life, shall not be smitten, With deliverance and with grace, As Jesus' light shines on their face. And those who sleep in the dust of the earth, Shall awaken to a new rebirth, Some to everlasting life, they'll soar, While others face eternal shame and more. So let us hold onto hope and love, And trust in the power from above, For Jesus' strength will carry us through, And lead us to a life that's ever new. April 28, 2023 Complied by Mark Waldrop