Tucked Away

My step-dad and I had a quirky little game we played that lasted into adulthood.  We’d hide a golf ball in some peculiar place for each other to find – his pillow, my purse, his lunch, my shoe.  Even though my dad has long since passed away, I can’t help but giggle and think of him each time I see a golf ball.

Jesus, thank You for all the ways You tuck Yourself into our days to keep our thoughts and hearts returning to You.

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us to turn to Him today.

Returned

Joseph deeply desired
brother Benjamin to stay
so he devised a plan
and cleverly made a way
by setting Benjamin up
with a stolen silver cup
forcing Benjamin
- and all his brothers -
to return again that day.

“Now his heart yearned for his brother . . .”  Genesis 43:30

A Time To Trust

When we found out our oldest daughter had received a scholarship to the University of Southern California, we were excited.  But leaving her alone in that run-down apartment a few blocks off campus and flying back to Illinois was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Lord, we thank You for those times when we have to face our own limited strength and abilities . . .and fall solely upon limitless You.

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us as we fall upon His mercy.

Falling Upon Mercy

Forced to send the brothers
back to Egypt with his son,
Israel prayed to God for mercy
not knowing if he’d be undone.

“And their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be so, then do this . . .And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man . . .If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.’”  Genesis 43:11,14

God Is Good

After my mom had a couple of falls, she decided it was a good idea to get Life Alert.  But, when she told my brother about it, he was totally against it.  He knew someone who had been ripped off by a similar company and could only see the bad in this idea.  My mom canceled right away.  The good thing about that is she hasn’t fallen since and needed Life Alert!

Jesus, we sing praise to You today, for You are good all the time, no matter what we find ourselves in!

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us to see our good God!

The Good and The Bad

Joseph’s dreams were seen
as arrogant bad boasting
but then there were his ten
brothers, bowing down before him
because only he could give
what they needed . . .
and it was a good thing.

When he sent them back
to Canaan with their money
intact, they once again thought,
this is something bad.

“Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’”  Genesis 42:28

On The Job, With Spirit

There’s a lot of construction going on where we go to clean.  The entire kitchen is gutted and the outside deck is being overhauled.  I expected maybe a crew of workers or at least several older experienced guys.  Instead, there was a young godly man from church, working alone and doing great!

Thank You, Jesus, for filling us with Your Holy Spirit so we can be the people You need us to be this day.

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us to be Spirit-filled servants.

Such A One

And still there is
a desperate need
for men in whom
do dwell
the Spirit of
the Holy God,
with discernment
to rule us well.

“And Pharaoh said to His servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God.’”  Genesis 41:38

What Lies Ahead

Part of my past, before I knew Jesus, included suicide attempts.  Not once, but twice.

Thank You, Jesus, for knowing what lay ahead of me – YOU! – and bringing it to pass.  I love You, Lord!

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us about what God has established  and is going to do!

Dreams Do Come True

Two dreams, one of
fat cows and lean ones
one of full heads and
ravaged ones, with
the latter devouring
the former. Twice given,
twice received, established
confirmed . . .got it? Good.
Now watch . . .

“And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”  Genesis 41:32

Come to Jesus

“Come to Me . . .”  Matthew 11:28

Unto Him

May we all be drawn to Jesus
there is no where else to go,
apart from Him is darkness
and suffering of the soul,
in His presence glory
such as we’ve never known,
“Come unto Me”, He calls us
so unto Him let’s go.

2008  Debbie Feller
(published in Silver Wings, 2009)

Gifted

I tried encouraging my husband by saying he had special God-given gifts and talents.  He has not yet come to Jesus and couldn’t see it that way.  To him, only someone like a highly skilled surgeon had a gift from God.

Jesus, thank You for being God’s gift to us and for giving us each different abilities to be gifts to others in Your name.

Here’s our simple encouraging poem today, reminding us where our gifts come from!

Wide Awake

The dreamer is sold away
for dreaming dreams
no one wants
to come true, placed
in a position to reveal
the meaning of dreams,
never drifts off
from the fact God
is not asleep on the job.

“But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”  “So Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.’” Genesis 41:15-16

Success

I doubt anyone would consider my home-schooling Aubrey   from the middle of 3rd grade on, to be a success.  Except Aubrey.  She wakes most days singing a song.  She works hard at what she does. She loves Jesus, her family, trains, police cars, animals and bugs.  Perhaps success is more a state of mind and heart than a social-economic  standing?

Jesus, we thank You today for measuring success by way of a cross and forgiveness.

Here’s a simple poem to encourage each of us in our own success stories of His making!

On The Bottom Rung

Picture successful
and what comes to mind -
a business person, investor,
nice home, bank account,
family, cars, clothes.
Now picture successful
followed by
servant, prisoner -
for Joseph was both,
the twist being in Who
was with him more than
where he was at
on that ol’ ladder.

“The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian . . .and served him.”  Genesis 39:2,4

Promises

Those of us who have children learn quickly the importance of keeping our promises – our word – to them.

Jesus, thank You for being the Father’s promise, His Living Word, to us this day!

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us to keep our word.

Done Waiting

What lengths Tamar
would go to
to remind Judah
of his word -
of a promised son,
of a third husband.

“And she said, ‘Please determine whose these are -  the signet, and cord, and staff.’  So Judah acknowledged them and said ‘She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.’”  Genesis 38:25-26

Some Dreams Die Hard

I read an article about Thomas Edison trying 10,000 times to get a storage battery dream worked out right.  Aren’t we all glad his dreams didn’t just die?

Jesus, how grateful we are that satan’s plans to kill off Your dreams to save us failed miserably.  You are very much alive and so are we, in You.

Here’s a simple poem to encourage us to trust Him with our dreams.

The Dreamer Is Coming

The theory formed
as Joseph came,
destroy the dreamer
and his visions will end.
But through the voice
of reason, Joseph,
- and his dreams -
stay alive.

“Come now therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit . . .We shall see what shall become of his dreams.”  Genesis 37:20