Love Never Fails

Families which are close-knit
Will have a special kind of grit.
Closely bonded, they will stand,
Hearts united, hand-in-hand.

Each will help the other one
To finish all the goals begun.
None is left to stand alone,
For love and caring have been sown.

When homes are filled with Jesus’ love,
Blessings there are from above.
Special bonding will abide
And rest on those who there reside.

“Love never fails...”
I Corinthians 13:8 Amplified Bible

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Peace Instead Of Confusion

Envy and self-seeking hide
And then will try to override
In an effort to have gain,
And then disorder tends to reign.

Confusion robs and causes waste
By those who sometimes act in haste.
Time is lost and purpose scattered,
Scrambling that which really mattered.

Peace and wisdom will offset
Confusion’s seeds which are a threat.
When we practice to be humble
Confusion cannot make us stumble.

“For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition) there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices."
James 3:16 Amplified Bible

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Philippians 2:3 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Making Melody

Let my heart be full of song
And sing its music all day long.
Let harmony and beauty flow,
And love and inspiration sow.

Perhaps if I am full of song
Another just may sing along.
The melody in memory stays,
And two will soon be singing praise.

Let all worship multiply
To wipe the tears from every eye,
To sponsor joy or heal a heart,
Encouragement or cheer impart.

Fill me, Lord, with melody.
Let my song contagious be.
A lovely song can be a gift
To someone who may need a lift.

“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices (and instruments) and making melody with all your heart to the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:19 Amplified Bible

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Growing In God

I like to feel that I am winning
But know that I am just beginning.
When the first step I have won,
I know there’s more work to be done.

When we “win”, we can’t “retire”.
For God will always take us higher.
Resting on a former win
May stifle something new within.

Though we sometimes feel tired
God will keep us much-inspired.
All the “lessons” which we learn
Will bring us very rich return.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 KJV

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Fragrant Bouquet

Some people labor so they may be wealthy,
But some folks are struggling just to be healthy.
We live in a world where evil abounds.
Much that we hear our good health confounds.

We can turn off the negative flow
And spread some well-being by words which we sow.
We can be messengers filled with good cheer
And issue strong health to all who are near.

We too are stronger as we choose our words,
For sweetness of speech our health undergirds.
Joy, when expressed, will chase ills away...
As fragrant and healing as a bouquet.

“The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.”
Proverbs 15:30 KJV

“”Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24 KJV

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Fulfilling Life

When life becomes a carousel
And round and round you go...
When caught up in a pattern
Without time to think or grow...

It’s time to re-evaluate
And maybe make some change.
Don’t let “seasons” pass you by
Because you’re “stuck” long-range.

Patterns have good purpose
For the season you are in.
But when you need to move ahead
Choose patterns which will be win-win.

In life our seasons pass by once
And then forever they are gone.
Have perseverance in each one
With purpose you can build upon.

“The (uncompromisingly) righteous shall flourish like the palm tree (be long-lived, stately, upright, useful and fruitful); he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (majestic, stable, durable and incorruptible). Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. (Growing in grace) they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap (of spiritual vitality) and rich in the verdure (of trust, love and contentment).”
Psalm 92:12-14 Amplified Bible

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

An Easier Way

It’s easy to want more and more
But better when there’s less to store!
For everything I make a place,
But then stuff soon fills up my space.

Whenever I buy something new
I need to think my storage through.
Too much stuff will bog me down,
And cleaning then will make me frown.

I just may not need as much.
To “things” I do not want to clutch.
If I don’t keep a watchful eye
Stuff will surely multiply!

It’s really nice to have some space
So I can keep my things in place.
Clutter just is not okay.
Life is easier this way!

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Wisdom's Plate

Most folks do not like to wait.
They often have too full a plate.
But hurriedness may have a price
And bring results which won’t suffice.

God will make us wait with cause
Because we need to rest or pause.
His perspective we must learn
And His insights should discern.

Patience will become our peace
And from disquiet bring release.
When God says we need to wait
He’s adding wisdom to our “plate”

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”
Psalm 138:8 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Let Truth Be Known

Let truth be known and man be shown.
Let righteousness in hearts be sown.
Let light expose all evil-speaking
And those whose lies the truth are tweaking.

Truth won’t waver, it will stand.
It walks with justice hand-in-hand,
Filtering darkness out of light,
Presenting wisdom which is bright.

Truth is as a mighty rock
And something we must never mock.
It provides a firm foundation
For every man and every nation.

“Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.”
Psalm 51:6 Amplified Bible

“His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.”
Psalm 91:4 Amplified Bible

“For God’s (holy) wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.”
Romans 1:18 Amplified Bible

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Reaching The Mountaintop

Do you want to reach the mountaintop?
Spend some time alone with God.
For here you’ll reach the steepest climes
As your feet with wings are shod.

He will take you to great heights
As you have commune with Him,
Revealing truths to make you soar
Beyond your fondest dream or whim.

When your heart is turned to Him
The mountaintops are not too high.
He will lift you up to “see”
And all your hopes will satisfy.

“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.”
Psalm 18:32-33 KJV

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Beauty Of Communication

Communication is an art,
Always a good place to start.
How can any work together
If they are not “of one feather”?

Good can come when thoughts are shared
And differences are clearly aired.
For then agreement can be reached.
Faith and trust will not be breached.

But when these factors aren’t in place
Dissension rears its ugly face.
Communication, freely flowing,
Makes life much more easygoing.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”
James 3:13 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Better Tomorrow

The past we cannot rearrange,
But out of it we can bring change.
From its lessons we should borrow
To ensure a good tomorrow.

For direction we should pray
And choose to give our best each day.
The Lord will keep us out of snares
Which might come at us unawares.

Careful footsteps are the key
As to how good our days will be.
We can make tomorrows shine
If to God’s wisdom we incline.

“Blessed is the man. that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither: and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:1-3 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Respect Is Beautiful

Respect is beautiful to see,
Showing God’s love gracioiusly,
Treating others as we should,
Bringing blessing... which is good!

Respect shows courtesy and caring,
Thoughtfulness and kindness sharing.
It shows reverence and regard
And never leaves folks feeling “jarred”.

Respect is much to be desired...
A quality to be acquired.
Always we should show respect,
God’s love and kindness to reflect.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Colossians 3:17 KJV

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Diligence Prospers

The diligent prosper, though they be not rich.
Their carefulness keeps them from error and glitch.
They keep an eye on little details
And quickly will fix any problem that ails.

The diligent study to make a good choice,
And they will not listen to impulse’s voice.
They plan ahead the best way to walk.
Wisdom and planning they never will balk.

Diligence works, diligence frees,
And helps us to have well-being and ease.
When it is absent, resource is scattered,
And then we’re without the true wealth which mattered.

“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds; for riches are not for ever...”
Proverbs 27:23-24 Amplified Bible

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Winter Thought

In the days of our winter we long for the spring
And all of the flowers it surely will bring.
But winter’s long season gives time out for thought...
For us to rejoice in the blessings God brought.

Each season will have its own special “tone”.
Winter is when new thoughts may be sown.
Let winter have its own special way.
Make it a time to worship and pray.

Let it become a time of discerning,
And, in the Lord, a time of much learning.
When winter is spent and her purpose has yawned,
We will be ready when spring days have dawned.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

HIS Highest And Best

I once heard a woman say, “My mother taught me all the right ways to do things, but I just don’t choose to do them that way.” She knew what was right, but she just didn’t practice what she had learned.

I wonder how many times we hear good teachings, and even agree with them, but only receive the ones which don’t challenge us to change. When God speaks “change”, He is moving or pulling us toward something better. We may squirm or say, “This doesn’t fit”, but if we don’t move forward then we are falling behind and limiting the blessings God has for us.

If we listen intently to God’s instructions and follow through, we will find our “highest and best” in life. For He will challenge and stretch us to be more than we ever thought we could be!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Psalm 103:2 KJV

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Be Lighthearted

Lightheartedness sings... it will not look down.
It chooses to smile and won’t wear a frown.
It has good focus, and it will not fret,
Knowing that joy more smiles will beget.

The heart is not made for burdens to carry.
Release them to God and choose to be merry.
His joy is our strength... in Him we can trust.
He’ll carry the weights about which we fussed.

Lightheartedness frees us from cumbersome weights
And steers us away from negative traits.
Walk hand-in-hand with smiles and good cheer...
A worthwhile choice when problems come near!

“For the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

“This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Pause And Listen

We learn more when we’re listening
Than when we’re always talking.
We sense more when we pause
From our running or our walking.

We have more awareness
If we’re tuned to hear God’s voice,
For He will show us heavenly things
And cause us to rejoice.

His perspective changes us.
Our understanding will be more.
We’ll have sensitivity
To many things we’ve missed before.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.”
John 14:26 KJV

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
John 10:4 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Shadows

Darkness hides from truth and light.
It tries to cover it’s own blight.
Shadows are it’s chosen friend
Where it will hide to work it’s end.

Let your light expose it’s ploy.
It’s masquerade you can destroy.
Keep surveillance... fend it off.
Don’t let it come back and scoff.

Choose to be a blazing light
Where truth can rest and bring insight.
Light exposes evil’s cause,
Uncovering it’s many flaws.

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
John 12:46 KJV

© 2013 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Hidden Wisdom

Many seniors are alone
And may have never been well-known.
Some have wisdom in great measure.
When they share, you will find treasure.

They don’t seek to have renown,
But in God’s sight may wear a crown.
They may be a reservoir
Of Godly wisdom and much more.

Don’t discount these senior folks
Who may have stood as mighty oaks.
Their lives will have a tale to tell.
Listen to them for a spell.

“The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray head (suggesting wisdom and experience).”
Proverbs 20:29 Amplified Bible

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf