Best Fellowship Poems
I missed the meals mama used to cook
Her recipes were not in the cookery book
Mama was just more of a kitchen queen
She's the best cook we have ever seen
Mama's Fufu with Chicken soup was my best
The manner she cooked it was better than the rest
Her meals always nourished the spirit
As they filled the stomach every minute
After school she served us with spaghetti
Mama's garnish as elegant as bugatti
She'll serve with eggs and some salad dressing
It was a special kind of love, very impressing
Oh my gosh! Her meals saved me countless times
I cannot really explain that in poetic lines
Family dinner was a time of joy and conversation
A time of fellowship, laughter and celebrations
She sprinkled all her meals with goodness
And carefully spooned cinnamon for sweetness
Making dessert, bread and cakes for birthdays
Chicken sauce and pineapple drinks on holidays
Never was there a meal like her morning prayers
She'll spend early hours of her days in prayers
Her heart was full of love, peace and joy
She was our lamp, like a light in the city of Troy
It is a wonderful feeling when we come together in love and fellowship.
psalm 133:1 says Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in
unity!
It is also better to give than to receive, that's why this is such a special day.
we give to you our fellowship and love, always remembering that to God be the glory in all
that we do.
Fellwowship and love lift's the spirit and makes the heart glad.
In our giving we want to show how special you are, and the love we have for you.
giving is a gift and let us not forget the greatest gift of all.
John 3;16 for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever
beleiveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
we give our fellowship and love to you!
My heart delights to abide in God’s fellowship* bliss
Wondrously praising the Lord midst glorious worship bliss.
By the Saviour’s gracious favour midst His love and care
My spirit finds rest in His offered partnership bliss.
As I yearn for Christ’s approval through His mercy’s zeal
He propels my soul toward faithful stewardship bliss.
Reigning over me now against anxiety’s gloom
His divine peace exudes His vibrant leadership bliss.
How I thank the Almighty for reaching out to me
Bringing heaven’s gift of assured relationship bliss.
With His compassion granting my soul eternal life
I triumph in His presence marked by sweet friendship bliss.
Thus, I, His child, am verily indeed blest
Serving Him while perfected by His workmanship bliss.
*1John 1:3 … Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
September 6, 2020
3rd place, "Ghazal Form" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet; judged on 2/5/2024
2nd place, "Ghazal" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 10/3/2020.
A man of middle height, bearded to his waist;
eyes almost hidden under heavy brows white;
stout and laborious of gait,
he came slowly by mid night…
bloody, could this man be “The Joker”. No fist!
Whenever we get together as confreres in the religious order,
there’s so much to deal with burning issues and other concerns,
paucity of personnel links to inability of acquiring new missions;
indeed, a great need that our priority speaks for more vocations.
Like an investment in business where we cooperate with lay people,
our ministry articulates relationships with diverse cultures,
a key-word in evangelization walking with the poor people;
again, it’s what the role of the church echoes in today’s generation.
Across the length of time I’ve spent in the growing mission,
one particular item that always reminds me more than anything else;
live the lifestyle of poor people - aware of their limitations,
closeness and aspirations that someday they’ll get an answer.
God’s blessings are revealed in many dimensions and situations,
with strong faith in Him, along with patience and optimism;
one can move on and cope with hardly any complaint at all,
for he believes that God knows what’s best to every human situation.
It’s an endless stream of struggle, a continuing effort to better off the plan,
with individual’s cooperation geared towards the commonality of our vision;
that is to build God’s kingdom in our working relationship with people
where peace, love and justice would reign in every heart and soul.
Oh, after that engaging discussion, let’s share now the food that’s served on the table,
with all those good wines such as chateau haut gravet, montes alpha sauvignon,
pinot grigio, les ombelles, les glaneuses, les fondettes, les genets, vallee de loire,
made from good quality, with refreshing, toasty aroma, and weighty on the palate
their spirit keep us warm, aligned to glorious meaning that missionary life entails.
When I was 24, I would preach the gospel in Chicago projects, fearless and determined.
And I had a 2 year old, Autumn, that was mine by blood, and 3 boys that I mentored, Perrion,
Pierre, and Paris.
Every Saturday, we watched Cinderella featuring Brandi, the Sound of Music, and went to
NAVY Pier to walk and watch lake Michigan. I felt alive and strong and courageous.
Then in 1999 strange things began to happen in my head. Pretty soon I felt like I had fallen
off of the side of a mountain and broke of my emotional legs.
And I lost beautiful memories and things went black, and suddenly I was at the mercy of
healers who seemed to have neither the inclination nor the skills to get the job done.
And I was lost.
But there was one who was with me, who spoke to my soul, like Ezekiel did the dry bones of
this culture’s compassion, and brought water to my spirit.
But still I am afraid of fireflies and spiders, and I am afraid to walk in the very same nature
that I once embraced as a child in the Jersey Suburbs.
Yet this morning, I sang my youngest, a song from the Sound of Music, and though I could
not remember all of the words, I remembered that I am back on the mountain, and my legs
are almost well.
And though many accuse me and mine of self pity,
And though many would dream that all people were ,”strong and virile horses” who embraced
the “American Spirit of Competition” like racers out of the gates.
I tend to search for a more gentle solution.
For you know, I am not fully back on my best game, searching like so many for a past when I
was fully whole, hoping in a future where I am even more than I was before the beast had his
way with my personhood.
And in the meantime, I thank God for the journey.
For though there may be times when I see it as easier to walk into a selfish darkness where
the pain is gone,
When I see people on the street, I know at least some of their suffering, and I know that God
loves both them and me alike. For he has chosen us worthy of his loving touch and has given
us the opportunity to fellowship in his sufferings.
Amen.
To birds and beasts, God gave the breath of life
but into man, He inserted a soul.
From the dust, God made man in His image
and it is this soul that makes mankind whole.
Our eternal being rests in our souls.
Consciousness therein lies with each person
Some folks don’t realize they have a soul;
for it's their body they are immersed in.
When Adam and Eve defied their Creator,
over their soul, His spirit quit hovering
They had been unresponsive to His will
and their body thus lost its covering.
The connection with God, man’s spirit, had died
yet their body and soul remained alive.
The soul had a new-found mind of its own
apart from the plan that God had devised.
The redemption of souls is essential
to understanding that life is eternal.
Body and spirit are destined for death;
the soul is our seed, undying kernel.
The question remains – the soul’s salvation?
Christ’s death on the cross pardoned our sin;
restoring the connection with God’s spirit
which indwells all those who want His life therein.
When the body dies without a spirit
the soul goes straight to dwell in the abyss,
resting there 'til the Creator chooses
to inquire whence the spirit went amiss.
When the body that dies has Christ’s spirit
that soul goes straight into God’s keeping
to that heavenly place of rest called home
where we’ll serve Him with all of our being.
In Christ’s resurrection, believers have hope.
His Spirit guides the soul back into line
with what God always wanted - fellowship
with His creation, with all things benign.
That’s why I praise Him, the Lord of my soul.
Christ is risen, Hallelujah, I sing.
That is why I tell you, you can be whole
by believing in Christ, by making Him King.
written May 10, 2016
1st Cor 15:33
" Be not deceived: evil communication corrupts good manners."
Warring with worldly whims
Wooed by painful pleasures
Surrounded by foes and fiends
Posing as mentors and friends.....
I have stumbled and rumbled in vices
Destructive to my wellness
In this the comforter was silenced
For in vices not in virtues it suffers.....
I mingled and dined with Ahithophel and Jonadab
Their counsel placed me in darkness, as it intensified in my heart..
In humility and obedience,
My clothing were turned to wool.
In fellowship I met Jonathan and Ruth
And they fed me with Galatian fruits
In this my being became nourished....
In their counsel I became a victor.
1st Cor. 15:33
Love yourself like an adorable diamond sky and
Outweigh the sparkling rhapsody of pains it brings,
through various ecstatic hardship, thoroughly
unfurnished friendship, and uneven relationships.
Over and over,
love overcomes depression, hate and difficulty
For without love, there won't be growth of glory
and there will be less supply of laughter and
definitely; blessing and inspiration will never
graduate from one graceful level to another.
Verily in love,
we fear nothing,
we tear nothing,
we scare nothing,
for we are a heap of divine overflowing success,
and anything we touch, turns into a sea of eternal
triumph and an extraordinary first-class divinity .
This has graced us with victorious virtues and has
also
effectively brought prosperity to love, making all
things manifest with pure affection in abundances,
Truly, we should smoothly reign and stand in love.
Friendship, treasure so valued
prized best with love’s gain
reigning midst isolation
saying “you’re not lost.”
God’s partnership blest
offers pardon-bliss and peace
securing fellowship* seal.
*1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
June 27, 2021
1st place, "A BRIAN STRAND JULY 16" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 7/16/2021.
Sweet fellowship*with God --- vibrant
causes faithful stewardship --- triumphant
midst relationship with brethren --- radiant
along ministerial partnership ---- jubilant
*1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
August 12, 2019
Broken Fellowship-
The Masters Voice is ignored
Sin comes knocking at your door.
Oh, my dear GOD:
Thou art my Creator, and I’m Thy creation
my soul thanks Thee for Thy eternal redemption
offering Thy fellowship* of sweet heaven’s jubilation…
Keep me abiding in Thy will set for my glorious transformation.
Thou art my Potter, and I’m Thy clay
my person praises Thee for designing me by Thy wondrous way
shaping me according to Thy image to reflect Thy light everyday…
Keep me as a clean vessel that honours Thee while in Thy plan I stay.
Thou art my Master, and I’m Thy servant
my heart trusts Thee and Thy immutable covenant
bringing me into Thy work-partnership along Thy reward-grant…
Keep me accomplishing with my best against worldliness and vanity-want.
Thou art my Head, and I’m part of Thy body
my human nature seeks Thy purging from sinfulness’ malady
perfecting me in Thy wisdom by Thy Scriptures against parody…
Keep me reaching-out to others as I wait for Thy coming, ever ready.
Thou art my Leader, and I’m Thy follower
my commitment yields to Thy command and order
enabling me toward functional maturity, courageously bolder…
Keep me praying steadfastly with the conviction of a truth defender.
Thou art my vine and I’m among Thy branches
my faith clings to Thy upholding amidst glitches
nurturing me with Thy compassion that enriches…
Keep me bearing fruits by Thy love, grace and mercy’s touches.
Thou art my Shepherd and I’m Thy sheep
my spirit exalts Thee for saving me from death-valley’s deep
carrying me to Thy haven away from pride and selfishness’ heap…
Keep me needing Thee constantly, from the time I awake till eyes sleep.
Yes, my dear God!
*Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
July 8, 2021
Dramatic Monologue in Rhyme
2nd place, "Tat Tvam Asi" Poetry Writing Premier Contest
Sponsored by Unseeking Seeker; judged on 8/1/2021.
I
Humans boldly march to their fall:
My utter dependence on Jesus
Surprises, shocks, my foe, friend, family
II
O so often a male friend harbors envy
Invited to visit home & family
They spin webs, but God humbles them
Hallelujah; even "pastor friends" have shown pride, double standards, & I am less open to a wide open door (policy!); my duty is to protect my family & their integrity as Jesus-followers
** of Our GOODBYES **
All the poems and stories telling of
Goodbyes
In whatever genre or style, make me cry.
From hearts broken, to dreams fallen,
and to the hardest of all these:
Always
In a life’s time — are the endings that
carry the heart’s deepest feelings
Reeling through thunder
Blasting
Emphatically
Those last and final
Goodbyes
— for the dearest of all our beloved —
Goodbyes…
— holding hope for some remaining possibilities,
to state, “Au revoir!” or, “Adios!”
— embracing a measure of faith, to shout, “Ciao!” or,
— perceiving colorful auras all around,
to declare, “Syonara!”
— seeking fellowship,to wish aloud, “Moaka wakati ujao!”
— and, while losing sufficient breath, to ask my soul
To voice this, “With my love, ‘til we meet again!”
While hearing children sing, “Bye-bye” to butterflies
In flight to forever —
Strengthened and Divinely designed, holding
all visions and all expressed cries as
Surrendered,
Sheltered by the scales of their four wings during a
Rapid rise to come upon heaven’s homeland touch again.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
(c) sally young eslinger 6/27/2023
Thanks be to God-
** languages quoted in order: French, Spanish, Italian,
Japanese, Swahili, English