I had the strangest dream last night
like many dreams it was bizarre
filled with various images
funny as they usually are.

I brought some kittens home with me
just as cute as they could be.
My larger dogs tried to eat them
but I jumped in to set them free.

I worked hard with the dogs and cats
and I helped them live together
they soon became the best of friends
in storms or in pleasant weather.

Someone gave me the biggest snake
which I didn’t want to take home
but I put him in the front room
and I thought I would let him roam.

Before I’d even turned around
he tried to swallow a kitten
which I retrieved quick as I could
and saw that I had been bitten.

Next he reached out to grab a dog
which was just trying to play
the snake bit my other hand
as I pulled my dear dog away.

When I awoke I was in shock
and tried to interpret this dream.
My past studies had taught me
to search for a common theme.

The kittens were my small problems
the dogs made the problems greater
the snake was the much larger threat
which showed up even later.

Little problems always exist
but they’re swallowed by those bigger
and we don’t like to tackle big ones
though we should, we don’t seem eager.

If we solve the little problems
the big problems still are there
but solving big problems first
can help us avoid such despair.

Unsolved problems which are so big
seem to hide the small ones away
but if we deal with each at once
we’ll solve the others another day.

A Pure Heart
By larry r Linville

Based on Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God.”

What can I do for a pure heart.
What must I do to get it done?
I’ve worked hard to make it happen
but it seems I’m always on the run.

I can read God’s word every day
and that is a good thing for sure
but that, in itself, won’t do it
no matter how long you endure.

Only God creates the pure heart
and that’s what he desires to do.
So you must open wide your life
and let him create it in you.

Creation Sings Praise
By larry r Linville

How shall we express praise to God?
Lightning shall flash like a strobe light
thunder shall beat like a snare drum
while a soft horn tells us it is night.

The sirens will give us warning
that great danger is always here
while the coo of a turtledove
reminds us that God’s always near.

So listen to the world’s chorus
and dance with all creatures on earth
proclaiming the greatness of God.
and telling the world of His worth.

Come all from youngest to oldest
and raise you many voices as one
knowing that when the praise is overit has only just begun

The Old Country Road
By larry r Linville

The road to town was hard to travel.
It didn’t have near enough gravel.
The early spring thaw and the heavy rain
complicated the hilly terrain.

You had to navigate all the ruts
knowing your tire chains would make more cuts..
When they got so deep the car would drag
you had to learn how to zig and zag.

Sometimes you couldn’t help getting stuck
and a tractor pulled you from the muck.
You hoped the sun would shine the next day
so you could drive to town all the way.

During the summer the grader came
and worked hard for the road to reclaim
but the fall rains began their assault
and we couldn’t seem to make it halt.

Deep winter snows came to set the scene
with no time to clear it in between
and we knew we’d go through it again
with the spring thaw and the heavy rain.

This cycle was completed each year
and the fact it would happen was clear.
Every year it would get us all down
until we finally moved into town.

Bikers and Robins of Spring
By larry r Linville

Bikers and robins have appeared.
The bikers covered in leather
and robins with their red breasts
celebrating the spring weather.

Bikers drive through fast food places
getting greasy burgers to eat.
Robins just get to feast on worms
as they sing their short high pitched tweet.

They’ll both disappear a short time
as winter returns a brief while.
Then with warm weather they come back
and they both will wear a big smile.

They are the first to welcome spring
because they can’t patiently wait
so they try to rush the season
which seems to them always late.

You can watch your geese migrating
and listen for the croaking frog.
I’ll wait for robins and bikers
before talking of spring in my blog.

Words of My Mouth
By larry r Linville

(based on Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O God.”)

My words are just like dynamite
they can build up or destroy
it depends on how I use them
whether they bring sorrow or joy.

My words are controlled by my heart
when I take time and hesitate.
Heart and mind work together
when with God’s Word I meditate

I meditate when I take time
to allow God’s spirit inside
with heart and mind working together
God’s message enters to abide.

So let these two be in balance
as natural as my breathing.
That’s when my heart’s meditation
will become words that are pleasing.

How Majestic is Your Name!
By larry r Linville

(based on Psalm 8)

What does “majestic” mean today
when we are not ruled by a king
when presidents do not capture
any image to make us sing?

Perhaps what makes God majestic
is something not found in a name
but in the beauty of this earth
in which children learn of His fame.

No human could create the stars
and put the planets in their path
spreading farther than we can see
beyond counting by all our math.

Why has God made us so special
and placed us in such high esteem
giving us leadership duties
and the ability to dream?

By Streams of Water
By larry r Linville

(based on Psalm 1:3)

Plant me by streams of water, Lord
and send my roots down very deep.
Fill my heart with nurturing love
and on the straight path help me keep.

Help my limbs extend to give praise
with leaves and abundant fruit
which grow large and so tasty
because they have a healthy root.

Extend the seasons we produce
the fruitfulness of your grace
to share the good news of your love
for all folk of the human race.

May those streams of living water
with a great abundance flow
so our green leaves never wither
and the winds of your spirit blow.

Ads On TV
By larry r Linville

As I sit with remote in hand
watching my favorite TV
when a commercial comes on
I think there’s a conspiracy.

When the program stops for an ad
I switch to another station
and they have a cute little dog
getting served some Ken-L- Ration.

I switch again quick as I can
and possibly pick up a game
but there’s another commercial
and I can’t remember its name.

Commercials seem to be in sync
by now I forgot where I switched from
and I get those awful singers
from some crazy credit dot com.

I guess I need to spend money
to get myself a new Tivo
and fast forward through commercial
to watch a commercial free show.