Tag: poetry

Tiny Tome #1

Posted in Books, Inspiration1 Comment

cover 6x9I write daily devotionals; it is part of my faith practice. The resulting brief essays are part meditation and part writing exercise. I have quite an accumulation and decided to select 31 for my first tiny tome digital book, Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement. Some are in prose form, some are written as poems.

The books will only be available on this site and in e-format. I hope you are inspired by Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement. Below is a sample.

 

Day 25
Temptation
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

Temptation is a beast. Not always a ravening beast, one that is evident and huge, jerking you around with relish; sometimes it is far more subtle, a gentle nudge here and there to compromise your values and your morals. C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters pointed out the gradual slide into sin. “You are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness,” Screwtape says to Wormwood. “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing… Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one.”

God’s promise is the trump card. When we know the beast is at our doors, we know God is there ahead of it, ready to stand with us to overcome.

~§~

I will appreciate you downloading Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement, and tell me what you think of it. The next tiny tome will be a collection of short stories.

The revision of Future Imperfect, a story of the apocalyptic consequences of manipulating nature, will begin posting soon.

 

Weavings in the sky

Posted in Books

Birds in flight

Birds flying south for the winter
weaving tapestries across the sky.
I wish you could have seen it,
majestic, more than awesome
more than extraordinary.
Spirit woven into nature,
creating patterns and moving on
leaving no trace but for the joy
imprinted on my heart and mind.

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PHOTO: clipart.com

Peace like a river

Posted in essay, Inspiration

A new day

God made the earth by his might, it is said,
he shaped the world by his wisdom,
crafted the skies by his knowledge.

God made all there is, was, or ever will be.
Be sure of his love and presence, guidance and mercy.
He knew, and knows us.
A confusing concept to our way of thinking,
God knowing the outcome of our lives before they’ve begun.
Am I – are you – predestined to be good or bad?
Does it matter?
We are given this day.
What will we do with it?
How will we treat others?
Those are the questions we answer
by the choices we make every day.

Lord, help me make good and right choices.

Whatever you do, whether in speech or action,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus;
give thanks to God the Father through him.

Will this thing I’m doing please God?
Will my life choices make God smile?
Anger, fear, frustration, greed–
none of these emotions serve God or human kind.
Are we held captive by the actions
of ego-driven manipulators?
God is in charge, our great hope, believe it;
out of madness God brings courage.
Posing and posturing will not bring resolution;
banding together for peace will turn the tide.

Pray for our world and its leaders.

And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings.

To be forgiven, you must first forgive.
God is a loving God. He is ready to forgive.
Am I?
Can I drop the bag of rocks that is resentment, discontent, and anger
by forgiving my enemy?
Can I untether myself from yesterday?
I can.
I must.
Forgiveness is the gift of grace.

Thank God for His amazing grace and forgiveness.

NOTE: Reflections on Jeremiah 10:12, Colossians 3:17, and Mark 11:25 from (The Daily Life Bible

 

Always

Posted in Inspiration

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.  Isaiah 58:9

Bouquet

No matter how down you may be,
there will be blossoms along life’s way,
waiting to make you smile.

No matter how disappointed you are,
blues skies remind you,
tomorrow holds unknown promise.

God’s love is light in the darkness,
shelter in the storm, courage against all odds,
an unbroken promise.

Look for bouquets of hope,
the Lord has put them there to remind you
He is always with you.

Please Follow, Like, Comment and Share this post. Your feedback is important. Thanks for reading One Roof Publishing. Contact Sharon by e-mail at sharon@oneroofpublish.com

SPRING

Posted in Books

Tulip

Sweet is the touch of spring,
Pleasant, arriving cool and green,
Redolent with aromas of turned dirt,
Invading senses, bringing smiles.
New growth, blue skies, longer days,
Gentle breezes softly sigh.

Stirring memory of times gone by,
Purest recall of other moments
Running free, laughing loud,
Infecting life with the virus of joy,
Never aware this interlude,
Good as it is, will soon be gone.

Silence now is precious.
Peace, quiet, broken by bird song
Ringing bell-like across the glade.
I am content in this time of life
Needing only to know I am loved,
Granting me wings and wisdom.

Please Follow, Like, Comment and Share this post. Your feedback is important. Thanks for reading One Roof Publishing. Contact Sharon by e-mail at sharon@oneroofpublish.com.

Mr. Ortega’s Horse

Posted in Inspiration2 Comments

Horse running in the fog

 

Magnificent in carriage,
royalty on four flashing hooves.
One with earth and sky,
restless, going from grazing
to galloping, just like that!
Eager for attention, yet shy.
Gliding across the field,
allied with the natural world.
Sailing with ease over golden grasses,
haughty and humble at the same time.
Optimal energy in every stride,
running into the wind
sturdy and proud,
elegance in the form of a horse.

__________
Photos: Vander Meer

The Signing Experience

Posted in Books2 Comments

Book SigningI’ve done several readings at Tome on the Range in Las Vegas, NM, featuring my books. Every time I do one, I’m a wreck and second-guess whether I said the right things and whether people received my reading well. On Saturday at my most recent reading and signing, my friend Jim Terr recorded portions of the readings and the following is one clip of three he will be posting. I thank those who could make it on Saturday, and to those who couldn’t, I hope you enjoy this clip. And by the way, buy the books! You can find Finding Family at Tito’s Gallery or Tome on the Range. The poetry books you may buy directly from me. Contact me  at fsvandermeer@gmail.com, or order through the click buttons in the right column.

_____________________
Video: Jim Terr

Happy Halloween

Posted in Books

Joy Riding

Hootie tunes and shrieking screams
scary thingies in your dreams.
On this haunted, hunted night
what next on tap will give you fright?
Creeping, leaping, jumping, sneaking
is that a ghost at whom you’re peeking?
Tiptoe back, slither down the hall
when spooky phantoms on you call.
Get into a warm and comfy bed,
pull the covers o’er your head.
Sweet visions conjure into being,
ignore the specter on the ceiling.
Come out and play, he moans,
Halloween lasts but a day, he groans.
Laugh, laugh away your silly fear,
the pumpkin grin will bring you cheer.
Gliding ghouls are hosts to you
waiting, waiting, and then – BOO!

_____________

Except for the photo, this is a retread from last year. The picture was taken at a hotel in Albuquerque where the employees were having a contest for the best carved pumpkin. They were all good, but this was a stand out. It’s the one we voted for :). Have a safe Halloween.