Xanthic

“Though you have lien among the pots, yet shall you be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” Psalm 68:13

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X is for Xanthic, an adjective of or pertaining to a yellow or yellowish color. (Dictionary.com Unabridged)

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Xanthic Thoughts

Xanthic is sunshine,
cheering warmth
in winter.

Xanthic is hope,
tattered ribbons
on trees.

Xanthic is caution,
looming danger
ahead.

Xanthic is company,
a complimentary mix
on a palette.

Xanthic is exciting,
daffodils budding
in spring.

Xanthic is fresh,
lemons squeezed
and sweetened.

Xanthic is pretending,
a counterfeit
of gold.

Xanthic is sharp,
a distressing pulse
of light.

Xanthic is deep,
a penetrating peace
in a painting.

Xanthic is blithe,
blest encouragements
for the blues.

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And, to be really creative, X is for Xylophone.

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Oh xylophone, oh xylophone,
I loved you very well.
Those shiny silver bars did ring
the happiest tings, but now do tell,
oh xylophone, oh xylophone,
how you didst fill this head
with music of such happy lore
as I had only known before
these childish joys have fled!

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Petra O. Hefner

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Thank you for your visit!

Photo by Leo Reynolds Flickr

Haiku

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

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H is for Haiku: Emotions expressed through concrete images—writing what one sees or experiences, rather than feels or analyzes. From what I’ve gathered, haiku poems often follow a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, use season/nature words, a two-part structure, and sensory imagery.  So, for the sake of an ‘H’ post, here are my attempts at a few haiku poems.

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Sweet cherry blossom
flowers for the enemy;
her silent prayer.

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Moonbeams on whitecaps,
dark silhouettes of a sail.
Hot coals, fish, and bread.

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Flashes of thunder!
Light suspended in a tree.
Red petals float down.

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Spring melds ice and sun
into translucent colors.
A rainbow awakes!

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Sun rays grace her hair
and sparkle on dancing lips.
Children watch and wait.

Petra O. Hefner

Thank you for reading!

 

Photo by nsub1 Flickr

Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn’t rhyme. A Haiku must “paint” a mental image in the reader’s mind. This is the challenge of Haiku – to put the poem’s meaning and imagery in the reader’s mind in ONLY 17 syllables over just three (3) lines of poetry! Check out some Haiku at Haiku Salon (see Lesson 2 for the link).

Her Pen

“There is a time for everything…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

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This little poem is in response to Nahno McLein’s first blogfest 60×60 challenge. His original challenge was to write 60 words in 60 seconds, which I tried but only managed to type 49 words. I’m really glad that he changed the contest to 60 words containing art in any form.

Here’s my little minute and a half poem.

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Her pen

drips ink form the art
of her heart as it spills
its questions into a book
she’s reading hoping

to gain a closer look
at the One who gives all
because He was and is
and is to come always

from the vast canvas
of His wisdom revealing
the passion of His cross–
true justice bleeding grace.
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That was fun. Thanks for reading!

Photo by brianconnolly, Flickr

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Find

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

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Open the book of life
and find the cord
that binds you
to a promise.

See the start of life
and find one good
and perfect love
in a garden.

Seek the food of wisdom
and find her truth
fill the mouths
of the simple.

Feel the law of justice
and find the weight
of constant failure
and sin within.

Heed the psalms of old
and find the hope
that sings about
a perfect Savior.

Note the voice of heaven
and find the dove
alight on One
who has come.

Hear the shouts of man
and find our madness–
our prideful wish
to crucify God!

Behold the power of love
and find us weeping
one perfect lamb
beat and slain.

Taste the bread of heaven
and find pure wine–
His blood spilled
once for all.

Devour the words of life
and find the Savior’s
grace and mercy,
all sin forgiven.

Live the book of holiness
and praise the Son
God and Spirit,
three in one.

Petra O. Hefner

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Thank you for reading!

Photo by 19melissa68 – Flickr

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• The Cross Of Christ: Do We Really Understand It? (pennedpebbles.wordpress.com)

Homophones

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

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From the lure of a lie
to the ear within
is the hole of a sigh
and the whole of sin.

From the red of a fire
to the blue of blame
is the tail of a liar
and a tale of shame.

From the rise of a smile
to the deepest sea
is the wait of a while
and the weight of me.

From the pit of a cry
to a soaring dove
is a piece of clear sky
and the peace of His love.

Petra O. Hefner

 

Thank you for reading!

Photo by XiXiDu – Alexander Kruel – Flickr

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Unutterable Grace

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8

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Unutterable grace,
eternity has not time
enough to tell of it—listen,
its words are robed in deeds.

For fairest talk has no heart
and fawning words fall listless
as they have not hands or feet
nor do they know love’s labor.

Lo! The Word Infinite, for whom
and by whom all things were made,
would shake the symphonies of heaven
to be a maiden’s Maker and her babe.

The Author of all love and life
would trade His diadem of glory,
His dignity and royal gown
for a crown of thorns.

O Master! Almighty!
tempted and suffering, yet holy
and unangered—God weeping
a perfect sacrifice for us?

The fruit of life was nailed
upon a tree, its love poured out
like crimson water and like wax its heart
did melt when it beheld the cost of sin.

And nothing moves us except
escalators to some imagined high
as we sly with driest eye His love,
His wisdom and His warnings.

For lack of knowledge and faith
we toil for everything and perish
with coveting eyes and mouthfuls
of sheepish smiles and poisoned lies.

Yet His love begins with us who spat
upon His brow, His mouth which spoke
all life into its being—it was not ever
our merit but our sin that moved Him.

God hung not His head for saints—
not for the ninety-nine who knew so well
their virtue—No! He bled for sinners
black as night and fit for hell.

Unasked for and unsought He died
for the sick and the loathsome covered in
their rotten stench of sin and pride, in love
He wept and bled for His unfaithful bride.

Can she not see this grace unspeakable,
love’s life spilling all of itself—the righteous
for the unrighteous? No love was ever penned
in surer ink as this, blood that forgives all sin!

And will she not run to His pasture
and away from her death and her grave;
will she not enter His garden of life
to taste of His goodness, and live?

Or will she wait ’til all of His heaven
and earth roll away, when lightning tears
the blue from His sky, when all stars drop
and her thirst bursts rivers into flames?

And what shall His just and final answer be
when His heart thunders to her endlessly
self-serving plea to be spared not of love
for Him but for her lust and love of self?

“Depart from me!”

Petra O. Hefner

 

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

Scripture:
Matthew 25
Joel 2

Thank you for reading!

Until Then, My Heart Shall Go On Singing

“Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  ” (Colossians 3:1)

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Piercing are the arrows of heart troubles,
But keep on praying, keep on hoping—don’t despair!
Though they keep adding adding daily on the double,
Keep knocking, keep asking—your Father does hear!
O set your heart on things above—
Sing songs of faith and of your Savior’s love!
He counts each cry, each sigh
And every fiery trial
Trust in His Word Always
Always Remember
There will all
Soon be
A
Smile!

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev. 21:4

Petra

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“Until Then”

My heart can sing
When I pause to remember
A heart-ache here
Is but a stepping stone
Along the trail
That’s winding always upward
This troubled world is not my final home.

The things of earth
Will dim and lose their value
If we recall,
They’re borrowed for a while
And all the things
Of earth that cause heart trouble
Remember there will all (soon) be a smile.

But until then, my heart shall go on singing
But until then, with joys I’ll carry on
Until my eyes behold the city
Until that day God calls me home.

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972)

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God bless!

 

 

The Sap Will Rise

I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away;
and my salvation will not be delayed.
Isaiah 46:13

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The Sap Will Rise

Come to the quiet field-
come, lower your ears
to the frozen ground
and listen.

In eager expectation
creation waits and hopes
beneath the wintry weight
of yet more snow.

Come dry your face-
your dank and trepid brow
and lift your tired eyes
unto the hill.

All’s not lost
though all seems waste
and hollow and still
and most forlorn.

The sap will rise again
at His command and wake
the lifeless heart
to newness.

His righteousness is near
salvation’s not delayed-
His faithfulness does reign
from heaven.

Atop a lofty tree He broke
the tend’rest sprig, and yet
He set it high upon His hill to be
His noblest cedar.

Birds of every kind will flock
and nest and rest and dwell
among its luscious branches
and shelt’ring shade.

The LORD has spoken
His righteousness fulfills-
the Son is risen to highest honor
and endless praise.

Come to the waking field-
come, raise your voice with everything
that breathes and every glad tree
of the field!

~ Petra O. Hefner

“Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O
earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.” Isaiah 44:23

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Scripture:

Romans 8:19; Isaiah 51:5, Isaiah 61:11, Isaiah 62:1; Joel 2:32, Ezekiel 17:24, Psalm 96:12

Isaiah 11

Thank you for reading!

Silence

“A time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7b

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Silence

Silence is the hush
The cease of a strain;
It is the still of a thought
Before it needs speaking.

Silence is the thaw
Of cold opinionated air;
It is the peace of believing
That Truth prevails.

Silence is the wait
An old want learning;
It is a hungry thirst content
While it still yearns.

Silence is the calm
The reading of His Word;
It is the ready of awaiting
Until the Lord returns.

~ Petra O. Hefner

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This blog will be silent for a few weeks. I do appreciate your visits, they mean very much and I look forward to more of your edifying feedback in the near future. However, I feel a great need to step away from the techno buzz, the whirring blog world, and the lure to be heard.

There are a couple of great reads I wanted to share before I pull the plug. I hope you will enjoy them.

Usurping The Place Of God

Everyone Feels Important

Let Ninety-Five Percent Roll Off Your Back

 

Magazine Download

Gospel 101 by Paul Washer

 

E-book Download

The Cross of Christ by Paul Washer

 

Thank you for visiting. God bless!

Stick Thy Loveliness Upon My Heart

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are Yours,
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life
or death or the present or the future—all are Yours;
and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
1 Corinthians 3:21

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Things Present
by Edward Taylor (1642-1729)

Oh! that I ever felt what I profess.
‘Twould make me then the happi’st man alive.
Ten thousand Worlds of Saints can’t make this less
By living on’t, but it would make them thrive.
These Loaves and Fishes are not lessened
Nor Pasture over stock, by being fed.

Lord am I thine? art thou, Lord, mine? So rich!
How doth thy Wealthy bliss branch out thy sweets
Through all things Present? These the Vent-holes which
Let out those Ravishing Joys our Souls to greet?
Impower my Powers sweet Lord till up they raise
My ‘Fections that thy glory on them blaze.

How many things are there now, who display thee?
How many Acts each thing doth here dispense?
How many Influences each thing hath?
How many Contraries each Influence?
How many Contraries from Things do flow?
From Acts? from Influences? Who can show?

How Glorious then is he that doth all raise
Rule and Dispose and make them all Conspire
In all their Jars, and Junctures, Good-bad wayes
To meliorate the self same Object higher?
Earth, Water, Fire, Winds, Herbs, Trees, Beasts and Men,
Angells, and Divells, Bliss, Blasts, advance one stem?

Hell, Earth, and Heaven with their Whole Troops come
Contrary Windes, Grace, and Disgrace, Soure, Sweet,
Wealth, Want, Health, Sickness, to Conclude in Sum
All Providences Works in this good meet?
Who, who can do’t, but thou, my Lord? and thou
Dost do this thing. Yea thou performst it now.

Oh, that the Sweets of all these Windings, spouse
Might, and these Influences streight, and Cross,
Upon my Soule, to make thy Shine break out
That Grace might in get and get out my dross!
My Soule up locks then in this Clod of Dust
Would lock up in’t all Heavenly Joyes most just.

But oh! thy Wisdom, Lord! thy Grace! thy Praise!
Open mine Eyes to see the same aright.
Take off their film, my Sins, and let the Rayes
Of thy bright Glory on my peepholes light.
I fain would love and better love thee should,
If ‘fore me thou thy Loveliness unfold.

Lord, Cleare my Sight, thy Glory then out dart.
And let thy Rayes beam Glory in mine eye
And stick thy Loveliness upon my heart,
Make me the Couch on which thy Love doth ly.
Lord make my heart thy bed, thy heart make mine.
Thy Love bed in my heart, bed mine in thine.

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Source: puritansermons.com

Thank you for your visit!

Petra