Ablaze

ABLAZE

The hills are alive with a blaze of colors.

Among the green: red, orange, and golden yellow,

as if the painter’s palette had spilled

splashing the trees upon the hills.

The deep burgundy of the red maples,

the bright orange splashed upon sugar maples,

a magenta red drawing attention to the sumac,

autumn's golden yellow foliage never seems to lack.

When the sun shines, the hills are ablaze

under the autumn sun’s golden rays

calling attention to us today to gaze,

to take a moment to capture this blaze.

It will take your breath away

to see their beauty today.

Enjoy before this color leaves

when the rain falls on these leaves.

For when the rains come,

these leaves are soon gone.

Floating down they gather in a pile on the ground

where several afternoons of work will then be found.

Mottled leaves lie there,

crispy ones join in pairs.

The pile turns to brown

as these leaves pile on the ground.

Another year has come and gone,

another season is done.

At time of renewal awaits the trees.

A time of reflection for you and me.

A time to count our blessings

with a song of thanksgiving

from a glad, thankful heart.

Let's everyone now start.

* * * * *

Counting our blessings everyday

is a habit that will well pay.

One payment will be a happy heart

from the moment each new day starts.

You’ll discover more blessings to add,

even if the day turns from glad to sad.

Those with a heart full of thanksgiving

are thankful for their many blessings.

Counting our many blessings

causes us to look for blessings.

There’s always one more

around every corner.

Counting our many blessings

is much better than stressing.

You’ll find you’ll have more energy today

despite the ups and downs of the day.

Do you have a blessings jar?

If you don’t, it’s not hard.

An empty jar, slips of paper,

daily blessings written and dated.

One day you may take time to look back

and give thanks to God who never lacks

in giving many blessings individually

which, in turn, blesses others collectively.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth.

Proverbs 10:22

You will eat the fruit of your labor;

blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

I will bless them...

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Proverbs 15:13

You are my God, and I will give you thanks.

Psalm 118:28

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Late September Flower Garden

Autumn Crocus

 Dahlia

 Maximilliun Sunflower

 Butterfly Bush

 Marigold

 Stella Dora Day Lily

 Rose of Sharon

 Zinnia

 Morning Glory

Nastursum 

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Autumn's Blanket

Autumn's Blanket

Rain came during the night.

Leaves now tumble in flight

weaving a blanket on the ground

where autumn's rainbow is now found.

Gently leaves float down, quiet

settling as a soft blanket

warming the ground

in rusts and browns.

Other leaves are bright burgundy,

or orange from sugar maple trees,

nestling together as they settle on the grass

where they'll slowly turn brown as autumn comes to pass.

The leaves will rustle when the breeze blows

making more work for someone to tow

but in the meantime they will cuddle

into a blanket in a huddle.

Covering the earth in a hug

waiting for someone to come lug

this blanket which gently settled

over the ground in a puddle.

Autumn's blanket in gold, orange, brown or rust

with burgundy swirling around when a gust

of wind rustles the leaves.

A-choo! Someone just sneezed.

For autumn brings with it allergy season

until Jack Frost comes and it's freezing.

In the meantime someone snuggles,

under a blanket they huddle.

* * * * *

Snuggling under a blanket

at night when it's quiet

when the day is done

just before sleep comes

what do you think about?

Are you filled with doubts?

There's much uncertainty in the world.

Everyday more unrest unfolds.

There might be calamity

filling one with misery.

Many are in pain and distress

causing relentless ongoing stress.

Everyone everywhere has troubles

but bear in mind God is able

for with God nothing is impossible.

God has an answer to your troubles.

He has a plan and purpose already in mind

to relieve you of the burdens on your mind.

The answer is found in patiently waiting

while everyday in faith believing resting.

Faith believing should be a place of calm assurance

that God is with you and will give you endurance

to battle whatever it is you're going through

and will bestow you with loving kindness too.

Yes, you are loved by God anew

as each morning breaks anew.

Remind yourself, “I am loved by God today”.

It will help you cope with what comes your way.

And whatever comes your way might be God's way

to show Himself faithful to you everyday.

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:21-26

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Colors

Colors

I've noticed the burning bush and dogwood are turning red

in celebration of the changing season just ahead

as if putting on their party dress.

They certainly do get noticed.

The hostas and peonies are turning yellow.

Tomorrow more will turn yellow in my hollow

as if the sun is shining

although it's been raining.

The maple tree is turning gold

then will shine in the sunlight bold

for a few days before its golden leaves

quietly float down – causing some to sneeze.

What once was green now is orange.

As summer came and gone, it turned

into a plump round pumpkin which now waits

to turn into a jack-o-lantern for someone to make.

Round green concord grapes turning purple

will later make a tongue purple

when someone makes purple grape juice -

but there's none if the goose is loose.

Cloudy gray skies

gives way to blue skies

as the celebration draws near

when autumn comes year after year.

Other leaves turn colors

like a bouquet of flowers

of red, orange, yellow, gold -

autumn's here, we're told.

Everyone gets dressed

in their festive best

to celebrate autumn.

Isn't it just awesome!

* * * * *

There's something to celebrate everyday.

Sometimes it's when your child receives an A.

Or maybe when the last of the hay

is baled then put in the haymow today.

Celebrate when the doctor's report comes back okay.

Always when friends come to visit from far away.

Of course when there's a raise in your pay.

Especially when good news is conveyed.

Celebrate when someone chooses the right way.

Definitely after forgiveness is displayed.

Celebrate when less you weigh,

perhaps by shopping today.

Celebrate with a bouquet.

You'll make someone's day!

Celebrate – go out and play

maybe with a sled or sleigh.

Much celebrating is done at a cafe

or even around an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Yearly celebrate special days:

birthdays, anniversaries – always.

Celebrate when a long-awaited answer comes after you've prayed

or when troublesome anxieties are finally allayed.

Celebrate the blessings from the Lord each day

when you praise and thank Him each and every day.

Celebrate God's goodness without delay

under the sun's rays or clouds of gray.

Celebrate with someone special today.

There's much to celebrate each day. Yeah!

This is a day you are to commemorate;

for the generations to come

you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord -

a lasting ordinance.

Exodus 12:14

Then all the people went away to eat and drink...

and to celebrate with great joy...

Nehemiah 8:12

We had to celebrate and be glad,

because this brother of yours

was dead is alive again;

he was lost and is found.

Luke 15:32

I will exalt you, my God and King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:1-7

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Crayon Colors

Noticed the orange maple up the street has turned already.

Reminded me of this story.
The colors listed in this story are actual colors in the crayon box.
Many derived from nature.

Crayon Colors

Red, orange, yellow, brown seen

dotting the hills of green.

A crayon box of colors spills

over the mountains and hills.

Mottled, multicolored leaves

seen decorating the trees.

Pigments shining in the sun

dyed by Jack Frost having fun.

Other colors concealed in the shade.

Their intensity a muted shade

but all the shades, tints, tones, hues, and stains

welcome autumn with a cheerful refrain.

Burgundies, cranberries, magentas, reds,

yellow, goldenrod, dandelion wed

with orange, bittersweet, copper, sienna,

rust, brass, tumbleweed, and brown sepia.

Notice over the course of the next few weeks

chartreuse, forest, shamrock will no longer peek.

They'll give way to reds, oranges, yellows, golds

shining in the bright sunlight so bold...

before they turn brown

and tumble to the ground

where they complete the circle of life

after shining in the sunlight bright.

* * * * *

The circle of life ends for leaves

when they fall down from the trees.

Someday your life will end.

Are you ready, my friend?

There is life after death, which is swell.

It's either in heaven or hell.

You have a choice to make

today, before it's too late.

Hell is promised for everyone who does not believe

that God sent his Son Jesus for us to receive

eternal life through Jesus' sacrifice.

Believe and you'll have everlasting life.

It's that easy for it's not what you have done

it's what Jesus Christ God's Son has already done

when he died and rose again

and promised a home in heaven

for all who believe

when in prayer receive.

For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten Son

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

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Once Upon a Time

Being the first day of school here where I live, thought this story would be appropriate:

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time in your neighborhood there was a nut.

Not an ordinary nut; a nut that wore a top hat.

You see, other nuts

do not wear hats.

The outside of this nut was quite hard.

You could hear it drop outside in the yard.

Though the outside was different than others

it was what was on the inside that mattered.

You see, inside this nut there was a special seed.

It was not an ordinary seed, no indeed.

This seed was going to grow

into something great, you know.

This seed somehow knew

someday it would grow

into something very special -

just like you are someone special.

After a few days of rain

followed by the warm sun,

this seed began to sprout.

It wanted to get out.

The hard nut shell cracked

as the seed grew fast.

Roots grew down

into the ground.

Branches and limbs

shot up from within.

Soon it was taller than

even the tallest man.

Roots are needed for stability

so it would not tip over, you see.

The branches and limbs provided shade.

That's one reason why this nut was made.

From the branches and limbs grew pretty green leaves.

Now you know this nut grew into a tree.

Not an ordinary tree.

It became a mighty oak tree.

Now an oak tree does not begin life as an oak seed

though maple trees do start life as a maple seed.

The mighty oak tree grows from a little acorn.

An acorn is the nut with the little hat worn.

Next time you go for a hike

or go for a ride on your bike,

be sure to look for acorns

then tell someone what you have learned.

You might even plant an acorn

and watch an oak tree be born

but beware, the squirrels and chipmunks

might eat your acorn for their lunch!

For acorns have two purposes, yes.

One is food for your garden guests,

the other to reproduce itself

and maybe become a bookshelf...

as trees are wood

that one day could

be made into a house, a door, a table, a chair,

or even a tree house hidden in the leaves up there.

Yes, that little nut became something special

as you are growing into someone special

as inside you there's being born

someone special as you grow and learn.

* * * * *

Just like inside the acorn is a seed,

inside each one of us is a seed

waiting to be let out -

wanting to grow and sprout.

Yes, once upon a time before you were even born

God planted in you something special to be formed.

We don't know what it is we are to do or be

but life will show us what it is eventually.

Some people were born to care for others.

These people are nurses and doctors.

Policemen and firemen also care for others

for they like to help people who are in trouble.

Some people were born to be teachers.

Some people like to work with numbers.

Other people like computers

while others become builders.

Some people become farmers

and others are truck drivers.

Each and everyone makes our life better

as we all live life together.

For people encourage others

quite often by being a helper.

Everything that everyone does

is to help one another, it does.

Believe it, you can do

whatever you want to do -

rather an astronaut

or even the president!

Though sometimes life isn't always kind

as weed seeds blow into our minds.

These bad weed seeds

choke out the good seeds.

The weed seeds say, “you can't do that”

or maybe someone will laugh

when you share your dream

to play on a ball team.

Don't listen to those weed seeds

for weed seeds are bad seeds.

Listen to the seeds that say, "yes, you can"

then practice until you're the best you can.

In order to be the very best

you have to practice, practice, practice.

So practice your instrument every day

or whatever sport it is you love to play.

God has made you to do and be someone special

and someday what you do will be influential.

Just like the little acorn grew into a mighty oak tree,

you'll going to grow up to be great, just you want and see!

I can do everything through him

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

We are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Our God may count you worthy of his calling,

and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours

and every act prompted by your faith.

II Thessalonians 1:11

Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

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