In the garden of scriptures, we wander, eyes alight,
Gravitating to blooms that please our sight,
Roses of comfort, lilies of peace, in radiant array,
Yet passing the thorns and nettles along the way.

We choose the path of least resistance, it’s true,
Drawn to what sparkles under the morning dew,
Ignoring the growth that comes from rain,
And the wisdom found in embracing pain.

But let your heart, your soul, lead the way,
Through both the night and the brightness of day,
For in every line of sacred text, there’s a lesson to find,
A balance of heart and challenge, intertwined.

Embrace the scriptures in their wholeness, let them guide,
Let them be the lamp by which your steps abide,
For in the challenge, there’s a beauty unseen,
A strength to be gained, a depth serene.

So, as you walk through life’s ever-changing tide,
Let your heart and soul, in faith, confide,
For every scripture, every line,
Holds a truth, both human and divine.

March 31, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

In the heart of the land, under wide, open skies,
Lies a world far removed from the city’s cries.
Where the clip-clop of buggies, in the morning’s embrace,
Speaks of a life held at a different pace.

It’s not just the bonnets, nor the horse-drawn cart,
But a tapestry of values, woven heart to heart.
Simplicity’s virtue, in each task and chore,
Finds beauty in less, not in wanting more.

Community’s bond, like the quilts they create,
Stitched together with love, eschewing hate.
Each thread a promise, a support, a friend,
In a fabric of faith that does not end.

Their faith, not just words spoken in a church,
But lived in deeds, a constant search.
For a life of meaning, away from the world’s noise,
Finding peace in prayer, and communal joys.

It’s a rich mosaic, of tradition and belief,
Of autumn harvests, and the relief
Of summer’s end, when work is shared,
In barn raisings, where no burden is spared.

In the silence of dawn, or the glow of a lamp,
Lives a testament to a life, serene and damp.
With the soil, the seed, the handmade and homegrown,
A culture deep and diverse, proudly, quietly sown.

So look beyond the bonnets and buggies, see the essence,
Of a life embraced with deliberate presence.
For in the Amish way, there’s wisdom to find,
In living a life, simple and kind.

March 31, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Book of the World with  many pages to turn
There are many chapters from which much to learn

Chapters of joy, chapters of sadness 
a theme throughout of human kindness

God planning His Book whence Creation had begun
Continually being written by the old and young

My few lines will reveal the soul for everyone to see
Will I be content or anxious what others read of me

When the final chapter is scribed 
God will seal it with access denied

No entries added, no lines deleted
Time itself will be eternally completed 

March 30, 2024
MarkWaldrop

In a garden grown with care and pride, Lies a sundial, elegance personified. But shrouded beneath the shadow’s glide, Its purpose lost, its essence denied.

“Hide not your talents,” a wise voice said, “For they were made to shine, to lead, to spread. Just like a sundial under the sun’s gaze, Revealing the hours, the minutes, the days.”

In the light, it dances, a story untold, Marking time’s passage, bold and bold. But in the shade, its purpose folds, A silent witness as life unfolds.

So let your talents, your gifts, your light Shine forth, break free, take flight. For what’s a sundial in the shade?But potential unmet, a parade unstaged.

Embrace your strengths; let them be seen In the sunlight, where they’re meant to gleam. For every talent, every dream, every theme Is a piece of the world’s grand scheme.

And remember, as you journey through, What’s hidden in shadows is still a part of you. So let it out, let it grow, let it brew, For the world’s much brighter with the talents of you.

March 30, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

"Hide not your talents; they for use were made; what's a sundial in the shade?"
Ben Franklin

I'm here to give my life as a sacrifice if you need me
To satisfy  God’s Laws if it is meant to be 

I have heard He has sent His Son Jesus as a sacrifice
For His Great Mercy and Love to Magnify 

His Ultimate Sacrifice for all Mankind
Will forever stand till the end of time

For God sent His Only Son for whoever believes in Him 
God’s will be done as in Heaven to defeat sin

March 29, 2024
MarkWaldrop

In the quiet spaces where thoughts softly tread,
Seek the silence, the calm, where peace is bred.
Calm your mind, let it gently unfurl,
Find the stillness that lies beneath the whirl.

Calm your soul, let it be your guiding light,
In its tranquility, find the might to fight.
This harmony, a sanctuary for the soul,
Brings together the parts to make you whole.

With every breath, let worries slide,
In this calmness, let your spirit abide.
For in this serenity, so pure, so bold,
Lies the secret to becoming whole.

So breathe in peace, let calmness flow,
Let it heal you, in its quiet glow.
For by calming mind and soul, you’ll find,
A strength, a wholeness, intertwined.

In the quiet spaces where thoughts softly tread,
Seek the silence, the calm, where peace is bred.
Calm your mind, let it gently unfurl,
Find the stillness that lies beneath the whirl.

Calm your soul, let it be your guiding light,
In its tranquility, find the might to fight.
This harmony, a sanctuary for the soul,
Brings together the parts to make you whole.

With every breath, let worries slide,
In this calmness, let your spirit abide.
For in this serenity, so pure, so bold,
Lies the secret to becoming whole.

So breathe in peace, let calmness flow,
Let it heal you, in its quiet glow.
For by calming mind and soul, you’ll find,
A strength, a wholeness, intertwined.

March 29, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Kids need Love and Discipline today
Building character: there is no other way

Character builds endurance. Endurance builds Faith and Hope
With these attributes in all of life's trials, one can cope

A spoiled child has nowhere to turn
Their inner soul-seeking for what they yearn 

They desire to be great as God has planned
Squelching that urge will leave an empty hand

Love, Build Up, and Encourage every child you can. 
This act will make a strong person, family, and land

March 29, 2023
Created by
MarkWaldrop

In whispered tones, beneath the sky so vast and still,I send a prayer, for it’s in God’s own perfect will,Healing and a life both long and true for you,A journey marked with joy, in skies forever blue.

God understands, in every tear and silent plea,Within His hands, your heart’s unrest He’ll gently free.He’ll grant you peace, a solace deep within your soul,A guiding light to lead you towards your destined goal.

Through storms that rage and winds that howl with might,In His embrace, you’ll find the strength to fight.With every dawn, His mercies new, a sacred gift,Upon His love, your weary spirits He will lift.

So may you walk in fields of grace, where angels tread,With faith as your shield, and His blessings on your head.For in God’s will, a promise of renewal, ever bright,A path to healing, bathed in His eternal light.

March 29, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

In mercy’s embrace, we stand firm, unfazed,With ministries graced, our spirits unrazed.For though we are fragile, in clay jars we hold,A treasure divine, in His power bold.

Pressed on all sides, yet unbroken, we stand,Perplexed, yet our hope in despair does not strand.Persecuted, not forsaken, in trials we’re found,Struck down, yet in us, His life does abound.

Carrying within, the death of our Lord,So in our mortal frames, His life is outpoured.Though outwardly fading, inwardly we glow,Renewed day by day, His grace we come to know.

Light and momentary, our troubles seem to weigh,Yet they earn for us a glory, that forever will stay.Not on the transient do our eyes set their gaze,But on the eternal, unseen, through the haze.

“Keeping Heart in Jesus’ Power,” we proclaim,For in His strength, we overcome every flame.In weakness, His power is made perfect, complete,In jars of clay, His treasure, our victory’s seat.

March 29, 3024
Created by
MarkWaldrop