Best Steadfastness Poems
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He is called Red Leaf…. birth child of autumn, and son of the trees
His euphonious legend is heard in the breeze
He is young, he is strong, he has proven his courage
Standing proud against the darkness, and the sins of the reaper
His spirit was not broken, by the weight of the storm
His steadfastness will not melt like the springtime snow
He has honor, respect, and a gallantry within
His songs are his journey, he plays to soothe the wind
There is prowess, and valor in each haunting lullaby
He was taught by his elders, sad songs that touch the sky
His flute holds the stories, like the sound of lonely larks
Of loss, and death, of drifting smoke, and silent ashes
Of when the mountains cried in anguish, and the sky looked on in pain
But yesterday creates today, and holds a promise for tomorrow
New songs are played, today telling of laughter of the birds
And whispers of a bluer sky, how gentle rain will cleanse the smoke
How buffalo will graze again, where the tall grasses will wave again
Red Leaf warms the tender embers, his memories linger on
He plays the songs that drift away,
Trees above where branches sway
The rock, the leaf, the ruddy dust that coats the valley floor
Someday must return, and be restored, just as it was before
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When worried about my security's steadfastness
since I see not the future,
I trust the guiding Light… my God – the omniscient Supreme One
Who knows my tomorrow; and can brighten my eternity!
When frustrated by spiritual crises
and groping for hope’s radiance,
I follow the guiding Light… my God – the sovereign Ruler
Who revives my soul; and can make me triumphant!
When wallowing in discontentment
while lingering in envy’s dimness,
I seek for the guiding Light… my God – the satisfaction Source
Who fills my heart with His goodness; and can nourish my well-being!
When blinded with unbelief
being tormented with doubts,
I cry to the guiding Light… my God – the perfect Teacher
Who restores my faith’s sight; and can empower me with His truth!
When pulled toward worldliness’ obscurity
against pressures of choosing what’s right,
I abide in the guiding Light*… my God – the wise Counselor
Who upholds my life; and can direct my steps to blessed service!
*Psalm 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light.
October 4, 2018
October 6, 2018 Poem Of The Day
1st Place, Premier Contest, "Soap Opera Titles" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Janis Thompson; judged on 11/8/2018.
Toward God and His way to assured salvation
…affirming eternal power of regeneration
…asserting priceless redemption
…awakening through miraculous new creation…
His believers are we, trusting Him for our transformation!
Toward God by His Word that resounds His tender mercy
…refreshing souls with divine loving kindness and clemency
…rejuvenating spirits yearning for contentment sufficiency
…rekindling faith’s fervent fervency…
His followers are we, practicing His statutes’ policy!
Toward God Who grants pardon’s blissfulness
…directing us to confess our sinfulness
…demanding the need for worshipful earnestness
…disciplining disobedience through His righteousness...
His converts are we, casting to Him our haughtiness!
Toward God anchoring steadfastness upon His standard
…increasing effectiveness of each faithful steward
…insuring the diligent certainty of labour’s reward
…invigorating hope to keep on marching forward...
His servants are we, ushering the lost to His safeguard!
Toward God while walking along paths of wisdom
…bringing us to wondrousness of heavenly kingdom
…bracing our genuine altruism against selfish martyrdom
…beautifying character with patience midst spiritual boredom…
His seekers are we, triumphing in His truth-propped freedom!
Toward God as He leads us to His heart
…laying His perfect will upon our footsteps against temptation dart
…lightening vision to behold majestic eternity’s rampart
…lifting pursuits, surpassing worldly vanity start…
His learners are we, persevering to fulfill our devotion’s best part!
Toward God, admitting human flaws beseeching strength for rectitude
…satisfying our nourished well-being to exercise attitude of gratitude
…sanctifying conscience by wise admonitions surmounting vain platitude
…saturating us with His peace around prayer solitude…
His children are we, growing by grace for good testimony altitude!
*2Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
April 12, 2021
4th place, "Where are we Headed" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Unseeking Seeker; judged on 4/23/2021.
April 15 Scripture Meditations Based on Nehemiah 9-11
Key Verse – Nehemiah 9:7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham.
MY GOD, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME
Thank You for choosing me toward sin-separation
Allowing me to admit my iniquities before You with sincere consecration
Letting Your forgiveness work through my repentant confession
So I can forsake abomination-corruption’s transgression.
Thank You for choosing me toward law-book reading
Allowing me to seek Your will with Your leading
Letting Your Spirit enlighten my understanding
So I can vanquish allurements that cause my backsliding.
Thank You for choosing me toward praise-worship
Allowing me to delight in Your warm fellowship
Letting Your presence revive my prayer-relationship
So I can progress in Your entrusted stewardship.
Thank You for choosing me toward covenant-faithfulness
Allowing me to exercise diligence within Your pledged goodness
Letting Your promises uphold my vow-fulfillment’s steadfastness
So I can continue in doing Your assigned tasks with my joyful willingness.
Thank You for choosing me toward service-performance
Allowing me to sacrifice by Your gracious guidance
Letting Your power move my labour of patient endurance
So I can bear fruits by Your productiveness-assurance.
Thank You for choosing me toward kingdom-advancement
Allowing me to show Your ready pardon and merciful ways’ involvement
Letting Your kindness inspire my testimony’s commitment
So I can minister well while obeying Your commandment.
April 15, 2022
November 13 Praises to God Bible Meditations Based on Acts 4-6
Key Verse – Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR
THE FILLING OF THE HOLY GHOST
Praise be to God for the filling
of the Holy Ghost that makes us:
Glow according to His grace
Give through His generosity
Grow by His governing
Go along His guidance
Grab His goodness
Gear for His glory
Grip His girding
Acts 5:29 Praise be to the Lord for enabling us
to obey Him:
Conscientiously, charged by His commandment
Cheerfully, chosen because of His compassion
Continuously, cleansed midst His clemency
Ceaselessly, converted along His challenge
Closely, consecrated toward His cleaving
Circumspectly, changed through His care
Committedly, called for His clinging
Constantly, created for His crown
Acts 6:4 Praise be to the Saviour for teaching us
to give ourselves continually to prayer as we:
Serve Him with His stamp of success
Study His Scriptures by His sovereignty
Stand with His strength of steadfastness
Search along His standard of seeking sincerely
Stay in His settled stewardship-satisfaction with serenity. Amen!
November 13, 2024
May 12 Scripture Meditations Based on Psalms 60-62
Key Verse – Psalm 62:12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
MY GOD, THANK YOU FOR RENDERING TO ME ACCORDING TO MY WORK
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s diligence
Ever regarding my earnest obedience
While forgiving my impudence and impatience
Every time I come to You for Your revival prevalence.
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s fervency
Ever upholding my faith’s persistency
While correcting my laxity and leniency
Every time I come to You for Your mercy.
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s feature
Ever rewarding my service-gesture
While recompensing my sacrifice of submission-posture
Every time I labour through Your strengthening nurture.
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s earnestness
Ever blessing my steadfastness
While attending to my performance along faithfulness
Every time I depend on You for Your helpfulness.
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s commitment
Ever equipping my involvement
While enabling my dedication’s achievement
Every time I trust You for Your encouragement.
Thank You for rendering to me according to my work’s fruit-bearing
Ever satisfying my productiveness’ rearing
While increasing my soulwinning harvest with love’s caring
Every time I beseech You for Your gearing.
May 12, 2022
within me dwells my essence, my soul, my breath it is my inner self untainted and uncorrupt, my identify breathed into me at birth and I am responsible for its safe journey in this life so I will learn fearlessness, steadfastness, truthfulness, unselfishness, gentleness, and cleanliness of body and mind
this is my oath and promise to the Lord above and I will carry purity in my heart, only tranquility will be spoken from my lips and only serenity will dwell within me always, and I will have no wrath, or find fault in others . . .
I will possess no greed, no hate, no conceit but be humble and silent
people will say I am calm, forgiving, modest, and show great restraint, I will find the beauty in everything ... I will study the scriptures of my religion and follow their knowledge and I will have compassion of all of the Lord's
creatures, humans, animals, birds, fish, waters, plants, forests and will
protect them from destruction with every fiber of my being, I will be kind
and giving, generous, and helpful, I will live in harmony . . .
But, most important to me, is that at the end of this journey, it will be
said, this person possessed radiance in character . . .
March 30 Relationship to God Bible Meditations Based on 1Kings 8-10
Key Verse –1Kings 8:17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
LORD GOD, YOU ARE MY LIFE’S CHIEF BUILDER
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your covenant’s steadfastness
Thank You for upholding me upon Your truth-firmness
So I can learn from Your lovingkindness
And enjoy Your bliss of peacefulness.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your Word’s instruction
Thank You for answering me along my prayer and supplication
So I can have Your forgiveness of pardon’s completion
And walk through Your direction.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your statutes’ command
Thank You for helping me to offer sacrifices of biblical demand
So I can serve You with dedication, divinely planned
And stay in Your goodness of heaven-brand.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your pleasantness’ desire
Thank You for transforming me according to what You require
So I can get near Your throne where I should retire
And worship You along Your mercies that never expire.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your rewards’ furnishing
Thank You for raising me up in Your revival-refreshing
So I can involve in Your ministry of character-polishing
And labour in Your work’s perfection-finishing.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your name’s fame
Thank You for communing with me through Your wisdom-frame
So I can learn and be freed from foolish judgment’s shame
And delight in Your Gospel of salvation-claim.
Lord God, You are my life’s Chief Builder by Your kingship’s authority
Thank You for enriching me with Your Scriptures’ certainty
So I can abide inside Your bestowed security
And abound in Your compassion-braced liberty.
March 30, 2023
July 23 Scripture Meditations Based on Isaiah 49-52
Key Verse – Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.
MY GOD, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME
Thank You for helping me in facing difficulties
By Your strengthening opportunities…
Please keep my faith’s steadfastness over human frailties
Here am I trusting You with all my functional faculties.
Thank You for helping me in overcoming hardships
By Your upholding fellowships…
Please inspire my heart’s devotion over worldly friendships
Here am I seeking You with all my ministerial relationships.
Thank You for helping me in facing discouragements
By Your exhorting testaments…
Please meet my need’s urgency over temporal allurements
Here am I abiding in You with all my heavenly investments.
Thank You for helping me in facing crises
By Your fortifying purposes…
Please guard my soul’s tenacity over sinful forces
Here am I depending on You with all my distresses.
Thank You for helping me in subduing struggles
By Your empowering might to soar as do the eagles…
Please pull my devotion’s commitment over lustful tangles
Here am I clinging to You with all my life-angles.
Thank You for helping me in dealing with my deficiencies
By Your satisfying mercies…
Please supply my limitation’s lack over attacking insufficiencies
Here am I learning from You with all my inconsistencies.
Thank You for helping me in fleeing from temptations
By Your guiding instructions…
Please lead my wisdom’s decisions over foolish suggestions
Here am I surrendering to You with all my imperfections.
July 23, 2022
November 8 Praises to God Bible Meditations Based on John 11-12
Key Verse – John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR HE IS
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Praise be to God for He is the resurrection and the life:
Saving our souls with His security-seal
Sanctifying our spirits along His statute-standard
Satisfying our service by His sufficient supply-support
Sustaining our stewardship upon His Scripture-statutes
Strengthening our supplication through His steadfastness
John 12:7-8 Praise be to the Lord for
teaching us to have Him always:
Trusting Him amidst crises
Thanking Him for His compassion
Toiling for Him despite challenges
Triumphing in His calling and caring
Treading upon His championship charge
John 12:46 Praise be to the Saviour
for being our light against:
Zeal where greatness pretends
Zenith where godlessness prevails
Zones where gloominess pervades
Zooms where goodness is perverted
Zest where greediness against grace pesters. Amen!
November 8, 2024
October 17 Relationship to God Bible Meditations Based on Acts 8-9
Key Verse – Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
LORD GOD, YOU ARE MY GREAT AND POWERFUL CHRIST
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always working beyond my incapacity
Thank You for healing me of my sin-caused infirmity
Truly extricating me from bewitching worldliness-vanity
Indeed beholding me with Your loving security.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always responding beyond my prayerfulness
Thank You for prodding me to do well with Your gracious steadfastness
Truly convicting me to repent of my unrighteousness
Indeed pardoning me with Your forgiving zealousness.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always granting beyond my desire
Thank You for declaring to me through the Scripture what You require
Truly moving me to believe You along Your revival fire
Indeed making me rejoice in Your bliss that does not retire.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always rescuing beyond my threatened situation
Thank You for accompanying me in my spiritual journey along Your direction
Truly leading me through Your divine vision
Indeed showing me Your goodness with Your compassion.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always upholding beyond my strengthened might
Thank You for proving to me Your amazing and confounding light
Truly watching me by Your counsels so right
Indeed taking me away from harm by Your protecting sight.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always cheering beyond my fear
Thank You for comforting me as to Your heart You draw me near
Truly making me whole against iniquity-affliction’s tear
Indeed enclosing me around Your care I hold so dear.
Lord God, You are my great and powerful Christ,
always comforting beyond my grievous weeping
Thank You for consoling me in my frustration-groping
Truly lifting me up when I lament, miserably coping while hoping
Indeed supplying me with Your blessings that are heaping.
October 17, 2023
Featured as Poetry Soup Poem of the Week, October 22-28, 2023
Within Hall Of Heroes His Soul Must Surely Be
Within Hall of Heroes his soul must surely be
for courage and steadfastness surged in his veins
this he truly lived for one and all to see
he fought bravely for truth and right, not worldly gains!
As teenage youth, I did such a great man befriend
and discovered what a true blessing had been given
I was away that day his life came to an end
now mourn he that for honor had always striven.
Years flown by as I look back at such a fine man
a granite rock upon which any friend could rely
I recall campfires fresh fish frying in a pan
And will see his smiling face until day I die!
Within Hall of Heroes his soul must surely be.
Man that taught me, takes faith and courage to be free!
Robert J. Lindley, 6-18-2020
Sonnet, Tribute- ( Treasures That Life Oft Gift Asking No Payment For )
We know her as Camellia...that fine name,
a perfect one for someone sweet as she;
her silky skin and amber eyes proclaim
a charming, pristine beauty, all agree.
Just like the flower's petals, pure and white
are shaped into a cup of perfect form,
Camellia molds her care to help them fight
the painful journey to more healthy norm.
Our dear Camellia comes most every day
to nurture our close friend who cannot walk.
Her tenderness and kindness lead the way
with her fine therapy and gentle talk.
Her steadfastness and excellence outshine
the beauty and the presence she portrays;
it's what's inside her heart that is sublime
and marks her loveliness in many ways.
Just as the flower does, Camellia lives,
with meaning of a pure and lovely soul;
perfection, beauty, in the care she gives
to her dear patients...help, her only goal.
August 25, 2016
~13th Place~
Contest: And In Words, She Blooms
Sponsor: Casarah Nance
Judged: 09/14/2016
"The symmetrical beauty and long-lasting quality of the flower have long been appreciated. White camellias with their pristine and pure hue depict an adorable quality. The white blossom may also symbolize perfection without blemish. Camellias, no matter what the color have meanings attached to them like steadfastness, and excellence. Once the white Camellias go into its fully bloomed form, it takes the shape of a delicate cup of petals...for the white camellia, getting blossoms with a perfectly shaped cup will embody your message of admiration for someone’s adorable qualities."
My mother’s second marriage and a godsend!
For one became my mom’s devoted son.
Sharp, exuberant, red-haired and fun,
to everyone he met, a truer friend
there could not be than him, who would defend
righteousness and with steadfastness won
success! In life, he would not be undone
until he met, with Fate, an early end.
His life snuffed out, his family - aghast -
It finished fast - no time to blink; inhale!
He passed beyond the veil with wisdom vast
(what treasure you amassed, beloved Dale).
Though in my dreams, with us here, he is cast,
I know he now serves God where angels dwell.
For PD's Contest: Best Dedication Poem
Don’t Talk About It—Write About It
As a writer and a poet, sometimes people ask me how I
do, what I do, every day as I research themes and topics
for poems or prose works that I want to write about and
develop for potential publication in the future.
The “how I do” and the “what I do” with regard to my
everyday writing on any given theme or group of themes
are predicated on the active notion that I don’t, as a rule,
talk idly about people, topics or themes per se, rather I go
ahead and focus exactly on a certain theme or subject of
interest, and then I begin to write about it.
What’s the magic formula for doing all of this research
and active committed work associated with professional
writing? The answer can be summarized in two words:
Hard Work! If one is not willing to engage and to put the
effort and work into any certain writing endeavor, a true
quality writing product won’t be the result.
I write because I enjoy writing very much. Poetry is the
one literary undertaking that I like to do the most. I find
often that writing poetry has helped me to focus, and then
to write on given ideas, topics or themes more succinctly.
When a person sees a book of poetry that has, for example,
200 poems listed in it, just think of each poem, in essence,
as its very own story.
Concerning the infamous “Writer’s Block” syndrome, all
I can say is that a writer or any aspiring writer just needs
to keep working away at their various writing efforts and
never give up. Having the requisite skills and talent to be
an effective and interesting writer, poet, or novelist are a
given. Yet, one also needs a high degree of raw moxie and
a measure of commitment and steadfastness too, in order
to see any writing venture or product to its end point, and
especially toward eventual publication.
My final closing thought concerning the writing of poetry
and prose, and any other literary endeavors, in general, is:
Don’t Talk About It—Write About It!
Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
December 31, 2018 (Narrative)