Let us mingle midst belongingness-worth
As partnership creates blest bonding zest
Around healthy camaraderie's mirth
We first experienced in our homes' sweet nest.
Growing up along our mingling terrain
We learned that with others, we ought to blend
Fellowships, we built; and friends, we did gain
Keeping them graciously until the end.
Having spirit toward gratitude light
With sharing, giving, caring, loving-glow
Mingling blooms in companionship delight
For God grants joy* along engagement-flow.
Let us continue in our mingling spree
Smiting hypocrisy through respect-ground
Showing kindness of peaceful good-works' glee
Thankful for brothers and sisters around.
*Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
May 12, 2026
2nd place, "2026-05-02 MINGLE" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 5/20/2026
Beware of my building tension might
driving destructive and perilous fight
or causing anxious, grievous fright
toward shameful frustrating flight.
Be braced against my building tension height
toppling solid relationships plight
shaking fellowships held tight
as I reveal conflicts in full sight.
Behold my building tension blight
starting as solidifying delight
then lurking hypocritically right
putting doubts midst skepticism sprite.
Be warned; my building tension blocks light
I'm PRIDE, treating meekness as weak and trite
breaking you down with my selfishness bite...
choose me; together, reconciliation we smite.
Believe my building tension with faith's insight
admonishing the prudent along negotiations aright
keep trusting God* for His wisdom, clearly bright
granting triumphant peace day and night.
*Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
February 27, 2024
2nd place, "This or That, Vol 23" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh; judged on 2/29/2024
There must be a start
And a completion in time
To lay out the story
Of the developing mind
At the point of choice
There was cover of night
Only then, could beauty
Appear as manifested light
The KING of GLORY walked
Found His children in leaves
Under the tree of figs
He cursed that tree at the gate
For offering what it could never give
In the cool of the day
At dusk, he entered the garden
To become beaten flesh
For a heart that has willfully hardened
...against LOVE
The story has always been
About the beginning of the end
Time creatures can't comprehend
If they don't know TRUTH about SIN
It has nothing to do with behavior
Only the heart that created matter
Growing deception to combust
Dimensions of crystal...shattered
Gathering the Harvest
Reconciliation repairs
The highway has been rebuilt
Righteousness reigns
The WAY is sealed
Finally, LOVE FELLOWSHIPS w/MAN
Written by Trudy Schrader on 06-13-2023
November holidays in our country
Serve as fellowships for the ministry
Great gatherings toward revival bliss
Never can joyous worshipful hearts miss.
Midst “All Saints’ Day”* is women’s virtue time
Where Ladies’ conference resounds faith chime
Learning from Scriptures midst trust-propped ventures
Thanking God Who blesses kindness’ gestures.
On the scheduled “All Souls’ Day”** engagement
The men enjoy their soulwinning moment
Sharing the Gospel of Christ, marked by love
Granting peace and grace from Father above.
"Bonifacio Day"*** celebrates valor
Midst unity sans selfishness-pallor
Thus, church sportsfest presents good teamwork's zest
Blest well with camaraderie that's best.
Then as November birthday greetings flow
Thanksgiving along cheers of praises glow
Around prayer partnerships tied by care
While brethren gather for blessings to share.
*November 1; **November 2; ***November 30
****Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
November 24, 2022
Resting on-solder John AN EPITAPH
So dies this wayward soldier laid at rest
Battled on raging strong
At skies night he fellowships
Now with those others veterans of other wars
His body now at peace
As God has him now on His golden streets
Resting on-soldier John
2/3/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2022©
It is the ultimate in Irony,
And it is everything short of funny,
As people give up the chance of honest money,
To sour streets to the point where they are no longer sunny.
Risking friendships,
Working relationships,
Breaking up partnerships,
Truly believing they are sailing their own ships,
As words cherry picked from pirated ships,
Captained by those with doubtful fellowships,
Who refuse to divulge who owns the ships,
Are passed on to to a growing membership,
Who refuse to believe they are sailing in doomed ships.
Oh the Irony of it all,
As they have the gall,
To go to a mall,
And talk of freedom for all,
When once home into a chair they fall,
Unable to turn off the switch on the wall,
Connected to a screen that increases their zeal,
For what is unreal,
In a time when our backs are against the wall,
With covid in it for the long haul.
In our country’s
calendar of events
September is replete with
pursuits worth enumerating
reminding me to bask in meaningful
involvements, optimizing God-granted strength
midst pressure, propelled by blissful functionality.
With well-being focus…
I learned that September 16-22
is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week,
thus, my schedule seeks for appropriate
on-line seminars for the sake of our special child.
As to educational endeavours
Sports Heroes Day was celebrated
on the 10th, while all virtual classes for
Academic Year 2021-2022 did start last 13
along festivities like Family Thanksgiving Day.
Then birthdays and anniversaries
of loved ones radiate with greetings...
thus, fellowships abound, although compliance
to social distancing and health protocols is practiced.
Topping these all, September
commences Christmas celebration…
now, here am I preparing for my teaching
engagement, grateful to God for opportunities
to do* my life-building roles, with joy and diligence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
September 17, 2021
Summer months in the Tropics
zestfully endowed by God
for life-building endeavour
spiritual wellness' overhaul
cheerful reaching-out
empowering… yet exhilarating
while basking in nature’s bounty
granting rejuvenation-triumph
along prayer meetings’ delight!
Breathtaking faith-adventure
via miracle-propped lessons
upon mountain-trek ascent
for fellowships sublime…
invigorating blissful stewardship
volunteer-works' revival
nurtured and nourished by Christ
Who reigns in every Season*
toward victorious journey ahead!
*Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
April 17, 2021
Edited on March 16, 2022
1st place, "A BRIAN STRAND 1090" Free Verse Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 3/17/2022.
Amazing celestial night's beauty exposes Almighty’s glorious might
Blessing mankind to enjoy blissful serenity during prayer plight
Cheering star gazers to behold firmament*'s majesty of awesome height
Directing dreamers for exciting ventures, sans delusion-blight
Enriching poets toward functional creativity-flight...
Festively gathering friends for loving fellowships that invite
Geared toward earnest gratitude of healthy laughter; yes, that's right
Hoisted upon glowing hope for another tomorrow's morning delight
Inspired to live daily midst truth along Scriptural wisdom's insight...
Joyously I'm enthralled with lunar wonders of God's gleam so bright.
*Psalms 91:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
October 1, 2020
Edited on October 12, 2023
ABC with monorhyme form
I’m Summer, God-blest wondrous season*
ordained in your calendar for wellness reason…
maximize my offered rejuvenation lesson
freeing you from boredom-prison
toward revitalizing your person.
Refreshing your spirit with revival grip
have invigorating nature trip
through mountain trek’s ascending strip
enjoying faith adventure zip
thanking the Lord for wondrous creation-dip.
Immerse your body into water plunge delight
cooling down through swimming’s zesty might
to vanquish scorching rays’ blight…
then bask under the shade for relaxation flight
freeing mind from burdensome plight.
Midst my vacation-packed blissful pleasure
Strengthen your fellowships of love-ties measure
with family and friends beyond earthly treasure
inspired for reaching-out tasks despite pressure
toward heavenly pursuits’ seizure.
*Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Summer in our country is from March to May.
(Personification with rhyme)
June 26, 2020
1st place, "Summer Love" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Chantelle Anne Cooke; judged on 7/4/2020.
Merriment’s warmth kindles family reunions. Midst cold December breeze, fiery thanksgiving bonfires envelope clan bonds. Prevailing over joyous fellowships are praise-filled testimonies exalting God Who in His goodness has wrought all things perfectly beauteous in His time. Indeed, He makes no mistake since His ways are perfect. This reality has my soul accepted as my siblings and I soberly, yet gratefully celebrate the yuletide season with our Dad’s first death anniversary. Though unfathomable to my finite mind, the Lord’s sovereignty grips my faith; thus, I trust Him.
joy blends with sorrow
celebrating birth and death*
life’s wondrous beauty
*Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
December 15, 2019
1st place, "December or January Haibun" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Caren Krutsinger; judged on 2/7/2020.
Exuberantly blest indeed
I praise God*, the great Summer source
rejuvenating peace-filled heart
grateful through gracious fellowships
midst soul-retreats: fiery divine
empowering faith’s revival...
driven for loving service-bliss.
*Psalm 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
September 6, 2019
Trust In God-An Acrostic
Term fellowships grant undoubting reverence
Rational credences distrust, mistrust
Unconditional credences reverence
Superstitious credences discharge, in God we trust
Tentative guesses become align with His Kingdom
Infidelities serve belief in forgiveness
New credences guess, in God we trust
Gross infidelities swear God already forgiven
Obvious merits deserve grace observed
Derivative instruments discredited confession devotion merited
7/15/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2019
Love-bonding moments midst fortifying faith-triumphs
Etched in my heart’s veins…
Warm fellowships midst tear-filled mirth
Distinctly carved within my soul’s chamber---
Blessed family huddling around contentment bounty
Picturesquely entombed inside my spirit’s cells…
Always ready to resurrect, quickening my nostalgic neurons
Reviving me against oblivion-burial
Never to become sepulchered memories…
Since God rejoices* me with the days of my youth.
*Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice… in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
May 28, 2019
Honorable Mention, "Pick A Title, Vol 5 - Verse" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh; judged on 6/25/2019.
Everyday, with all my heart, I thank God* jubilantly…
for His uncountable endowments:
breath of life---
especially the enjoyment of free oxygen
verily costly in the infirmary’s intensive care unit;
strength to accomplish goals---
despite challenges hurdled
against toils’ stress and burn-out’s afflictions;
reaching-out and serving sessions---
for relationship-building and bonding intimacy
sharing blessings, spreading love: truly fulfilling;
faith-increase along spiritual empowerment---
midst divine fellowships with my soul Lover
there on the altar of devotional serenity;
wondrous relaxation---
restive against pressures so torturous
gracious respite as short breaks;
poem writing moments---
creative prowess at work
of marvelous bliss only my Master can grant.
*2Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve…
May 7, 2019
Edited on May 1, 2020
Honorable Mention, "STRAND no 750,any form,any theme" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 5/12/2020.
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