Get Organized

Time to sort out stuff,
Look at each drawer and shelf,
Figure out what’s no longer useful
Or important to yourself.

Keep things from piling up!
Avoid random clutter this way;
Decide what you want,
And give the rest of it away.

An orderly life
Is a goal worth working for;
Get started, even in a small way,
Don’t just shut the closet door.

by Elaine Hardt ©2009

Winter's Challenge

What? The streets are closed as snow drifts higher?
Toss another log on our cheery fire.
What if the electricity goes out?
We’ll hunker down, not gad about.

This is why we have food and candles stored,
For winter’s challenge, we’ll not get bored.
We planned ahead with apt strategy,
If we forgot something we’ll soon see!

Winter depicts life’s difficult ways,
We must prepare for uncertain days;
As we trust God, then He gives us peace,
Some day soon our struggles will cease.

Stormy or sunny, rainy or clear,
No need to fret, the Lord is near;
Faith in God gives reason for gratitude,
Remembering improves our attitude.

By Elaine Hardt ©2006
photo by Peter Hardt ©2008

Proposing a New Holiday: Day of Forgiveness

You didn’t deserve some situations that happened to you;
Sometimes we wonder what a good person should do.

People have caused us trouble, embarrassment, pain, and grief;
Now stubborn memories stir within us, which defy relief.

Resentments we hold hinder our maturity,
We stew and fuss, joy bypasses us, bringing insecurity.

Yes, we’ve been slighted, ignored, hurt, mistreated, and such,
But God calls us to forgive, let it go — and that seems too much.

Let’s have a Day of Forgiveness, a new holiday!
“Forgive us, as we forgive others” . . . doesn’t the Bible say?

Free from hurtful memories, free to begin again,
God enables us to forgive others, and He forgives our sin.

Trusting and obeying Him brings blessings of release,
Jesus is the One who can touch our hearts with peace.

by Elaine Hardt ©2009

This is Your Time for Blessing

An invitation to faith,
Simplicity of deep truth,
Come for your blessing:
Adults, children, youth.

Approach God . . . . . . . . .  reverently,
Ask of Him . . . . . . . . . . . . . . honestly,
Read His Word . . . . . . . thoughtfully,
Listen to Him . . . . . . . . . . . truthfully,
Confess your sins . . . conscientiously,
Acknowledge your needs . . . . openly,
Receive His blessing. . . . . . . . .  freely,
Now is the time.

Change is coming, and challenges too,
But today, just now, take time for the Lord;
He has a celebration for you.

by Elaine Hardt ©2009

Looking to the Future

I stood on tiptoe to see the future,
But a haze blurred my sight;
I rubbed my eyes, exclaimed my sighs,
As the cloudy sky dissolved into night.

“Lord, this is confusing! I wish it were clear!
At least I am certain that You are here.”

I raised my hands to God in surrender
My lips formed a grateful smile,
My Father knows, and He knows best
This must be to grow my faith all the while.

“Father, show me what to do —and when and how;
Empower me to trust and obey You now.”

by Elaine Hardt ©2008

Photo by Joy Hardt ©2003, Africa

The Gift of Christmas

Of all the gifts that could be given,
Of all surprises that would please,
The world cannot fully know
The gift of Christmas.

Of all the music of instruments and voices,
The decorations of all color and glitter,
Such extravagance to show,
We lack the fullness of Christmas.

God gave His Son, astounding
Display of awesome love,
His forgiveness to bestow
On that first Christmas.

God gave you breath and heartbeat;
Did you thank Him for life?
The gift of gratitude you owe,
Can you speak of it at Christmas?

His love, and your love in return,
Expressing eternal truth,
Surpassing sky above and earth below,
Vastly bigger than vain imaginations.

True celebrations begin within,
Welling up, surpassing emotions;
Reverence starts to grow.
His presence can be your present at Christmas.

All too soon, the holiday is gone.
We need to linger on in His presence,
Before trivia ensnares us so;
Jesus is God’s gift of Christmas.

By Elaine Hardt ©2008

Winter's Mystery and Delight

When winter’s snow comes dancing down
A frosty cold claims woods and town.
Where winter holds us in embrace
Be thankful for this peaceful place.

When winter’s morn dawns muted gray
Here and there are birds at play.
They hop about and seem to say,
Will the children come today?

When winter’s noon shows turquoise sky
The snowdrifts melt with liquid sigh.
When shadows lengthen it’s time we go
To warm ourselves by fire’s glow.

When winter’s eve brings blowing storm
All God’s creatures must stay warm.
The night holds secrets like a dream,
In stalwart woods and frozen stream.

When winter’s scene you cannot find
Look within your childhood’s mind;
There reminisce the days of yore,
Such mystery, delight once more.

By Elaine Hardt ©2002
photo by Carlene or Peter Hardt ©2004