Is the way I dress does not meet your test? Is the way I pronounce my words a little absorb? Is the way I dance leave something to chance? Is it my hair that make people stare? Does my singing voice leave you no choice? Or does my swagger cause you to stagger?
Yet that’s my style unique to me You have the right to disagree However! Do not judge my character For Inner character is more important Then outward appearance **************************************** “Do not judge by appearance But judge fairly and righteously” Jn 7:24
David slew the giant with a slingshot and stone saving the Israelites from the Philistines
Who or what is your Goliath today? Who or what Goliath in your life do you need to put to rest?
Is it the toxic relationship you find yourself in causing you to sin? Or those you have chosen to influence your life Leaving you nothing but strife? Or the substance you chose to blow up your nose? Or the smoke you take as soon as you awake? Or the drink you need to help you succeed? Or the web site you hide from sight? Whatever Goliath you face in your life You have to erase
David took a stance against a stronger enemy than you will ever face And was victorious It may not be easy nothing is Until you place your trust and faith In the right place ******************************************** “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.” Psalm ( 37:5)
The best game in town When no one’s around My comfort zone Needs no sound
Win or lose I continue to play No other game Makes me feel this way
After many an affair Never lonesome Never lonely I swear As long as I am playing Solitaire
Take it from me my friend You’re always a winner in the end Do you remember when You had all this additional money To spend? *************************************** “We cannot change the cards we are dealt just how we play the hand” Randy Pausch
Don’t talk to me When you have nothing to say When you don’t want to play
Don’t talk to me When you make no sense Or keep me in suspense
Don’t talk to me With an alternate motive With words imploded
Don’t talk to me With your lies And expect me to verify
Don’t talk to me In a condescending voice And give me no choice
Don’t talk to me In jest Just like the rest
Don’t talk to me In a foreign tongue Save it for the young
Don’t talk to me With a bleeping word There’s nothing I haven’t heard
Don’t talk to me Like a child In single file
Don’t talk to me Like Mr. cupid I’m not that stupid
The talk I wish to hear I’ve made quite clear Only thoughts ready to connect Out of love and respect ************************************* “In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that refrained his lips doeth wisely” Proverbs 10:19
There are many moments I could share with you but these are few I care to do:
Fallin In love early in life Falling in love late in life My wedding day Holding my daughter for the first time My son becoming a police officer Watching my grandchildren grow up healthy strong and wise Providing for my family Told I had cancer The day I became principal Losing mom dad grandfather Losing my brother My love for my dogs Finally Attending Johnie Mathis concerts
Add to the list What you wish One requirement You must be going to heaven ********************************** Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3
Let’s go back to’55 R&R is coming alive Carteret on Grove Across from the candy store We walked Nobody drove Mike the cop watched as we crossed We all knew he was the boss!
Entered the playground Boys on one side of the school girls on the other Buck buck we played till the bell rang Single file; some to the first floor some to the second Like little soldiers I reckon
Wooden desk and chair Ink well Fontane pen Cloakroom Hide in here Teacher stare Times we dared Did I mention Not paying attention
Recess and snacks(cheezits) made our day Baseball and hopscotch all the way Home for lunch to an empty house to an empty nest Returning back to our friends was the best
Pray in school was the rule We’d read the Psalms every day Ps. (1,25,100) I still can recite them to this day That memory never goes away
Down to the basement Air raid alarm Sat next to wall Waiting for bombs to fall
Joined the glee club For the Christmas performance Our parents in the audience Carols from the hymn book All we sang Some in Latin I wish I could have patented (Thanks, Mom, for helping with the makeup!)
It was here that I learned to dance It was here that I witnessed my first romance Her name was Gloria Where she is today I can’t say She was my partner At our 6th grade graduation dance
Memories abound: Stickball against the wall Football on the lawn Running through the school basement Friday nite boys club Being with my mom at the card parties I know there are many more But this is all I can endure
This was so long ago Little did I know How it affected me so ******************************** “I wish my (elementary) school days could have dragged on a little longer or that I could go back and do it later in life” Cara Delevingne
Do you have a safe space? Where do you go when in trouble? Where do you hide? How do you decide?
Where do you find peace? Do you turn to religion? Do you trust your horoscope? Join a cult? Maintain Hope? How do you cope?
Where do you go to be alone? Do you go to your room For the silence? Do you dwell in darkness? Silently pray To forget the day
Where is your safe place? Is it a place where you hide your secrets? No one allowed to enter Worries and fears locked out Dreams become real Moments surreal
Everyone needs a safe place to call their own To settle the issues that life has thrown Your car The library The park bench Movie theater Going home Your dreams Your work Read a book Etc,Etc.Etc.
My safe place I will never tell Reading this poem You know it very well ************************************ “We can’t be brave in the big world without one small safe place to work through our fears and falls” Brene Brown
Oh, when I was young The sweetness on my tongue The songs that were sung Are no longer found among
Left bitter-sweet That taste I would treat Moments of cheer Was found everywhere
Oh, when I was young When my songs were sung Brought music to my ears Happiness and tears
Dreams were in reach The future was near Put in drive Nothing to fear
Oh, when I was young Wedding bells were rung Words that we say Never went our way
No one could stop Rising to the top Looking down I saw no one around
Oh, when I was young Those I counted among Friends I held so dear Seem to disappear
Now that I’m old and gray The days just slip away One cannot depend Waiting for the end
Oh, when I was young Life was short That death would follow Too much to swallow
Now that it’s near It becomes very clear Youth only”procrasted” While youth lasted **************************************” “Rejoice young man during your childhood and let your heart be pleasant during the days of your manhood. Follow the impulses of your heart and desires of your eyes. Knowing that God will bring judgement for all these things Remove grief and anger from your heart put away pain from your body because childhood and the prime of your life Are fleeting “ Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
I will: Walk like a man Speak up like a man Show empathy like a man Provide like a man Protect like a man Father like a man Love like a man Honest and faithful like a man Believe like a man And with God’s mercy and grace I will die like a man ************************************* Man doesn’t know whether God will show favor to him. Everyone will die someday. Death comes to godly and sinful people alike. It comes to good and bad people alike Ecclesiastes (9-2) in- context
Good times or bad Happy or sad Mistake or regret I never forget I never stopped I kept on going
Time was free I saw everything I wanted to see Held on to memories I wanted to keep Nothing left to reap!
I witnessed: Hate Anger War Hypocrisy Lies abuse Rage Etc.etc.etc. Humans whose hearts were Kept in a cage
I witnessed: Love Peace Sorrow Sadness Happiness Joy empathy Etc.etc.etc. Everything a human heart can carry
As I neared the end of my time I saw vanity Touch humanity Was it all vanity? I asked As I passed on through NO! NO! I also found wisdom Throughout the land For wisdom gives humans Strength knowledge and protection
At the end 0f my life I will return to dust And my spirit will return to God Who sent me on this Life’s journey ************************************** “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (knowledge) fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs (1-7)