Every Exhalation

Every Exhalation (first draft)

Each gentle thoughtless inhalation
every calm exhalation
unheeded

or indeed deliberately forced
thought about in struggle

or in joy

or in mere grateful fascination

as done in chilled frosty air
when children watch their breath's moisture
become a white poof evaporating

like dear memories of an elderly one
counting down their total sum
with pictures lying beneath wrinkled thumbs
of activities fast done in past fun or humdrum,

slower
to eventually stop.

Heartbeats to sadly succumb.

So I cherish individual seconds
to minutes
to hours

hours
hours galore

more or less

to relish a strong wind with drops
splattering quickly on a thirsty youthful tongue

as a dear child who once spun around
with dandelions in hand
and seeds from the past, long ago begun

to future spread
for generations to come

opening
once closed doors
inviting

as generosity,
hospitality 
brings wondrous delight

with its bounty of deliciousness
to taste buds and sight shared
do friendship incite.

Love and kindness
never wrong.

Always right.

So each sunrise
should never be a presupposition
of beauteous seconds spent

traversing to leisure or work
as time deservedly lent.

Thank you, Jah

for your gift of eternity
to thankful ones
undeservedly extended.

200 words
Write a poem for contest Gratitude - Jane Kostman
Hello and welcome to my contest on"Gratitude": 
Write a poem  that is all about things you are thankful for the most. And what they mean to you.

Eternal Happiness​—In Heaven or on Earth?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2000721?q=john+17%3A3&p=par © 15 hours ago, Lucretia Mccloud    family • friendship • love • spiritual • teen  

'Death, Where Is Your Sting?' Contest: One Solitary Life

This solitary "son,"
one of three staked--

He, undeservedly.

A "god"
temporarily
silenced,

hung till dead on a tree

won victory
over mankind's

permanent sleep.

*

This solitary "son,"
most misunderstood,

Father lovingly created.

"Chief Agent of Life"
Firstborn of All creation,
through which all else exists,

willingly

became "Ransom"
to regain Adam's lost:

Perfect life on earth.
Eternal to persist.

*

This solitary "son"
unwarrantedly Hated,

Conquered the World.

"Wonderful Counselor"
humbly positioned
at the feet of His

apostles.

Directed

to imitate
His example.

To the End

Loyally Protected.

*

This solitary "son"
Gloriously elevated, 

arriving Mounted a White Steed.

"Prince of Peace"
King of God's Kingdom
eliminating enemies seen and unseen.

Death

ejected. Obedient servant's perfected.
Universal harmony finally regained.

"Death, Where Is Your Victory?
Death, Where Is Your Sting?"

Contest ... Based on Dr James Allan Francis © 1926. Also ... John 1:1; Matt. 16:24; Heb. 12:2; John 12:49; Micah 5:2; John 3:13; 6:38; 6:62; Col. 1:16, 17; Acts 3:15; Romans 5:12; John 16:33; Isa. 9:6,7; Dan. 2:44; 1 Cor. 15:55. © 12 minutes ago, Lucretia Mccloud    spiritual • love • hope • death • misc   

Tell Me Why Does He Not Intervene for Contest: Tell Me Why

Initially implied: These children themselves are equipped enough to decide, regardless of a lack of complete knowledge, wisdom, experience. Just let them freely leap and fly. Immortal, they'll be. Forever to reside. In heaven or hell to roast their hides. Who's God to tell them they'll die, although all good things to them He did provide?

Thus began a universal judicial case: Satan to defy. Affected each of us in every race. Even angels fought to keep their place in loyalty to their Creator, as a third followed this slanderer to the Almighty Holy face.

So over time, governments varied tried to Jehovah prove: "You're not necessary or wanted as mankind's too perfect guide." Thus in sin, men slid where not originally destined to slide. Into a grave to forever as dust abide. Until a ransom given purchased an obedient minority's lives.

However, tampering with evidence it would be called if God interfered with men's choices. Everyone free-willed appalled. So permitted lifestyles not emanating from him to let all involved or onlookers see that even under horrific circumstances created by an enemy, upon God we must lean.

Yes, love God and neighbor to show God respect plus gratitude for His perfect Son, Christ, sent. One who'll erase all suffering in these 'critical times' spent. Soon, Jehovah vindicated as Sovereign after His rulership a 'great crowd' lovingly by not just words but actions defend. No longer to them a glorious earth lent.

Tell Me Why
Give me your feelings today.  Parkland is crying and so am I up north.  

20 lines

Make it count.

Keep Your Eyes on the Big Issue
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402017447?q=Job&p=par ©10 hours ago, Lucretia Mccloud    hope • pain • society • spiritual • teen   

Days To Come!

Heard the roar
of rushing waters
rising centuries
to distant clouds.

Heard the screams;
the mothers retching
doubled over in piercing bows.

Ripped apart the hearts of many.
Grief in tragic overload.

Since: Toted carts of parts
of any
in caverns dark
their bodies blown,

after blood bought
then sold cheaply.
No one able
to them discern.

Or, the march over distorted bodies
mounting high on hills to burn.
Lacking urns to comfort gently
and send forth to all concerned.

This history recently increasing
veils mankind 
no longer proud
of multitudes of peoples ending 
enclosed in hateful
dreaded shrouds.

As they wailed or wept in sadness
from the Heavens
heard the groans.

Father and Son both bathed in goodness
in sympathy
they too sadly yearned
for the day
to end this madness.
For muddy waters to cease their churn.

Kept in memory, heart and mind
each and every precious person
to reestablish to humankind.
Each and every to be resurrected
in their turn and in His time.

Talents special He remembers.
Songs they sung from memory.
The day of birth their family members
gathered around in heartfelt glee.

Anniversaries, 
graduations
divorces and tragedies.

These make up the composition
of ones confined at different levels;
decomposed in various degrees.

Yet, Almighty knows their makeup;
DNA specifically.

So imagine with eyes of reason
exhibiting strong solid Faith

this loyal love and integrity
of One Powerful
and so delighted
to finally as He foretold

see

righteous and unrighteous souls reunited:
His cherished recreated progeny.

Picture parades in circles, cycles
daily, weekly, under rotating suns.
Just the sounds of mirth and laughter
when a loved one does return
enthusiastically and totally welcome.
Minds accepting dear 'Truths' they'll learn.

These preparations all made in wisdom
for these ones
soon earth to come.

He Will Call
and They
Will Answer.

Oh! What Happiness
for Everyone!

This is my first contest and I am looking forward to reading some wonderful writes. All you have to do is use the images provided as a prompt and let your imagination run wild
http://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/1402/Powerful-Photo-Of-Last-Veteran-Of-His-WWII-Battle-Group-Marching-In-Parade-AlonePoem
Poem or short story

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101994005?q=resurrection&p=par
275312 © 2 days ago, Lucretia Mccloud 

Comfort From Heaven (for contest: Letter From Heaven) first draft

"I long for your salvation,
For your word is my hope.

"My eyes long for your saying
While I say:

“When will you comfort me?” Ps. 119:81, 82.
Just how do I cope

with this grief crippling my heart
every second of every day?

They say 'time is a great healer'
so then why do I stay in complete sorrow

day-after-every
wakening ray?

"Do collect my tears in your skin bottle.
Are they not recorded in your book?" Ps. 56:8.

"O Hearer of prayer,
to you people of all sorts will come." Ps. 65:2. Since needing real comfort,

to you "the God of all comfort,"
all national mourners in bereavement
will earnestly look.

For, about you stated:

"He is a God, not of the dead,
but of the living, for they are all living to him.” Luke 20:38.

"For this is the will of my Father,"
Jesus, to his disciples did explain,

"that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life," vowed to them "I will resurrect him on the last day.” John 6:40.

This we know
for did not Job himself pray:

"If a man dies, can he live again?

I will wait all the days of my compulsory service

Until my relief comes.

You will call, and I will answer you.

You will long for the work of your hands." Job 14:14, 15.*

This written even before Jesus promulgated:

“I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who exercises faith in me,
even though he dies, will come to life". John 11:25.

As even to Daniel
it was in endearment
comfortingly related:

“But as for you,
go on to the end.

You will rest,

but you will stand up for your lot
at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13.

"for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out". John 5:28, 29.

Yes, "I have hope toward God,... that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." Acts 24:15.

"They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree,
And no one will make them afraid". Micah 4:4.

This of survivors and resurrected ones prophetically inscribed
to be anxiously anticipated.

"You open your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing." Ps. 145:16.

Isn't the reuniting with our loved ones
a strong desire of obedient humanity

a promise to us

you will lovingly bring?

Write a poem for contest Letter From Heaven...Big Points.....Anonymized! - Nicole Alexander
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102009132

He Will Call

(Job 14:13-15)

1. Life, like a mist, appears for just a day,
Then disappears tomorrow.
All that we are can quickly fade away,
Replaced with tears and sorrow.
If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:

(CHORUS)

He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.

2. Friends of our God, though they may pass away,
Will never be forsaken.
All those asleep who in God’s mem’ry stay,
From death he will awaken.
Then we’ll come to see all that life can be:
Paradise eternally.

(CHORUS)

He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.

(See also John 6:40; 11:11, 43; Jas. 4:14.) © 6 hours ago, Lucretia Mccloud    hope • love • death • family • friendship   

Time#time, #forever

Time

As a ribbon old and tattered or new and whole blows
in breezes tranquil at times rapidly fast or blissfully slow

forward
until visually seen by passing eyes no more

it still goes... 

endless

while beneath a globe spins
seasons warm, cold and then
autumn

a beautiful blend of colors
once vibrant, becoming muted until falling
dried out, bend over 'till spent

molecules broken down
their particles lent to renewal

as spring arrives
birthing new buds
generations... beginning to end

since becoming dented... the first human pan
in mankind's circling span.

Rebirthed trends upon demand
fashionable when

every decade, years ten?... for 

"What has been
is what will be,

And what has been done
will be done again;" since

"There is nothing new under the sun." Eccl. 1:9.

Unless by a Creator active.
Proactivity enacted

to reverse consequences
of sinful acts
parental begun.

The bell tolls
the gong is rung
as is always done:

"There is an appointed time for everything,
A time for every activity under the heavens:

A time for birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up;

A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to wail and a time to dance;

A time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away;

A time to rip apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak;

A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace." Eccl. 3:1-8.

But,

"What does the worker gain from all his efforts?"

Here Solomon of biblical records states:

"I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of men to keep them occupied.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has even put eternity in their heart;

yet mankind will never find out the work that the true God has made from start to finish." Eccl. 3:9, 10.

Unless one does
"keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons,

making the best use of your time,
because the days are wicked." Ephs. 5:15, 16.

"For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have done the will of the nations

when you carried on in acts of brazen conduct, unbridled passions, overdrinking, wild parties, drinking bouts, and lawless idolatries." 1 Peter 4:3.... Hasn't it?

For, "the time left is reduced." Yes, "the scene of this world is changing." 1 Cor. 7:29, 31.

"He is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the military wagons with fire." Psalm 46:9.

"There will be an abundance of grain on the earth;
On the top of the mountains it will overflow.

His fruit will flourish as in Lebʹa·non,

And in the cities people will blossom like the vegetation of the earth." Psalm 72:16.

"And no resident will say: “I am sick.”
The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error." Isa. 33:24.

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes,
and death will be no more,

neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.

The former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4.

"The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it." Psalm 37:29.

For, in "Just a little while longer,
and the wicked will be no more;" Psalm 37:10.

And as the apostle John envisioned:

"And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying:

“To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb
be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might
forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13.

Time endless and eternal
in joy.

"They will fear you as long as there is a sun
And as long as the moon remains,

For generation after generation.

He will be like the rain that falls on the mown grass,
Like showers of rain that water the earth.

In his days the righteous will flourish,

And peace will abound
until the moon is no more.

He will have subjects from sea to sea

And from the River to the ends of the earth." Psalm 72:5-8.

Isn't this worth the time necessary to explore?

Write a poem for contest സമയം / Time - Jay Dee
This is a Malayalam contest....
Give me a poetic expression of your concept of time....
Jay Dee © 4 minutes ago, Lucretia Mccloud    nature • hope • death • society • spiritual