“… A Fresh Breath…”

A Fresh Breath 

“Take a fresh breath “

Offer fresh words 

Gentle and patient,

Not one rotten,hurtful word- only helpful [good] 

Build up when they need it most

Stunned by a remarkable life

Forgiven, forgotten, putting on the new 

Shaking our heads to what God has done 

Some, walking casting seed in tears 

Long rows, treading long, long, rows

One day, amazed by what appeared 

Planting with sighs

Returning with joy and singing

A fresh breath, and breathing fresh words

A Fresh Breath, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: A Fresh Breath is a poem about times in life when you feel like you’ve taken a fresh breath when hearing fresh encouraging, kind words either in what you read or from someone that cares for you. Life can be hard at times and we continue to cast seed sowing in hopes of someday seeing results.

- Joe Holuta

*Inspired by Psalm 126 and Ephesians 4

 “Our mouths were filled with laughter;our tongues were spilling over into song.The word went out across the prairies and deserts,across the hills, over the oceans wide, from nation to nation:“The Eternal has done remarkable things for them.” We shook our heads. All of us were stunned—the Eternal has done remarkable things for us.We were beyond happy, beyond joyful.”

Psalm 126 excerpt

 “..to take a fresh breath and to let God renew your attitude and spirit.  Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them.”

Ephesians 4

excerpt

“… Whole world in your pocket …”

Whole world in your pocket 

Hope, Gain, fleeting, fading 

Life slips through 

Whole worlds near and pockets full *

Steel cracked and chipped bewildered too 

Short-lived life

Give way to gain 

Falling apart?  Never sight alone!

[“Breathing in new life every day”]**

The fleeting fades away

That we cannot see lives on and on

Where is his Gain?

Where is her Hope?

Have pockets full

Not lost or slipping through 

Whole world in your pocket , Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: Whole world in your pocket, is a poem about [Waking up each day and living each day like it’s your first day]. Hold tight to the important and  hold lightly that which passes and fades.

 [Lives bracketed] by Gods kindness, grace, and mercies new every morning. - Joe Holuta

* Luke 9:25 VOICE 

“Listen, what good does it do you if you gain everything—if the whole world is in your pocket—but then your own life slips through your fingers and is lost to you?”

Luke 9:25 VOICE 

** 2 Corinthians 4: 8, 16-18 VOICE

 “We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair.”

2 Corinthians 4:8 VOICE

“So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day.  You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here.  So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 VOICE

Steady me

pc emily ann

Steady me

Kneeling down to hear 

A faint and whispered cry 

Reaching down and drew me up 

Safely on a warm rock 

Holding me until steady enough 

Journeying  again

“ And if this were not enough”*

A clear mind and a new song to sing 

Steady me, 

Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

*Inspired by Psalm 40:1-3 Voice

About this poem: Steady me is a poem about coming alongside one another and carrying one another’s burdens and also, “since God cares for you, let him carry all your burdens and worries”(1 Peter 5:7).

Family does this so well! - Joe Holuta

Safely set on warm rock

“… Innocence/ carefree…”

Innocence/ carefree

A picture - years gone by

Captures the innocence of those days 

Today’s “morning – glory” of flowers 

Unfurl into full bloom 

Innocently the memory lifts the heaviness 

That years pile and press 

Photographs from a day ago 

Morning glory that hoists the soul

Grace extravagant, “mighty in battle“ 

Today again, as far gone yesterday, yesterday……..

Innocence/ carefree, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: Innocence/ carefree is a poem about family and faith. Family and faith are heroic efforts of our lives! Family comes alongside in “those moments”. Faith and family- robust and vigorous- and provides confidence as we trust God in all that concerns. -Joe Holuta

 

“…The shepherd…”

The shepherd 

Walking in the woods,

Praying, pleading,

Singing joyful thanks

The earth,

God’s canvas,

Each glimpse 

Your inspiration

Stories of green apples,

rabbits in jacket pockets,

Garlic grown, pizza throne

And always “I love you”

Strength unmatched,

Hands that serve

Sojourner for knowledge

No stone unturned

Diligence in your veins,

Bloodshed for your children, 

A microscopic view 

Of everything you do

“Walk and see 

The memories” 

Created just for us

Four turned to Eighteen

Built from your love

At a drop of a hat,

Ecouraging, lamenting, 

Holding all like your own, 

Never an outlaw, 

Always a new home

What a joy to be your “loved one”

And to see the world through poetic eyes

For what would this world be without you

But another sun and moonrise

( The Shepherd written by Rachel Arlia and Emily Ann -Happy birthday dad!!!)

“Daughters like corner pillars that decorate a palace..” 

Psalm 144:12 VOICE

“…Turn the gaze…”

 

Turn the gaze 

Spring is a time of fresh hope, full of new life

The Crocus, and Daffodil seem to declare

So easily surrendered to the maker's plan 

To sleep quietly during times in the cold, harsh earth

Revitalized to give Life another try, 

Springing forth to beauty at just the right time

Emerging, still with threat of snow, displaying resident beauty amidst inclemency 

Revealing hope in a dark time that turns our gaze- 

Looking up, looking to the past- Surviving year after year 

Remembering-faith for the future for “future Grace”. 

"When the darkness brings its questions
When trusting You becomes a wrestle
I have resolved no matter the cost- I'll follow"**
Turning the gaze of our hearts back to You again*
And the future as part of our story. 
A tiny mustard seed of faith! [Waking, and living each day like it’s our first day]
Lives and hearts  [bracketed] in safe hands, infused with strength for another season of this wild and beautiful life!
A song, so sweet, like the highest notes played on a piano stretching for every fiber of our being for one more day 🖼️

Turn the gaze of our hearts back to you again 
Shadows of winter to sunshine of spring
Frozen ground to fresh turned earthen smell filling the air
Monochrome scenes to vibrant blossoming beauty
Long nights of the winter to longer days
The Crocus, Daffodil, and Tulips too withstand the brief, brisk, recall of winter
Securing the sunshine to boldly bloom.

Turn the gaze, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: Turn the gaze is a poem about the joy I feel seeing the flowers of spring pushing through the earth to beautiful blossoming flowers. Alive again, revitalized. - Joe Holuta

*************

*1 King 18:37 voice

 “Answer me, Eternal One. Reveal Yourself so that everyone here will know that You, Eternal One, are the True God—the only God. Do it so that everyone knows You are turning the gaze of their hearts back to You again.”

**  Passion, Melodie Malone - Follow,   

        https://youtu.be/Nm7K0cQvOmQ?si=TDz9hLo7GgivC0vU