Thought For the Day: Reflect Upon Your Present Blessings – Which Every Man Has Many – Not On Your Past Misfortunes of Which All Men Have Some

“Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

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What Can Be Said of A Woman’s Touch?

The River - Winter Wonderland  -It's A Wonderful Night For A Sleigh Ride
What Can Be Said of A Woman's Touch?
by Michael Doyle

With a touch of her hand
He finds happiness again
With her look, he understands
What he is meant to ascertain

Her walking beside him
Makes his sight less dim
As he opens his heart to see
Her presence brings him tranquility

There is a peace in her eyes
That unwraps in pleasant surprise
There is the taste of her lips on his own
They whisper he is no longer alone

With the things of his heart unspoken
She's the wholeness restored, no longer broken
It is less of a fall than an unwrapping of arms
As he discovers the truth of her charms

One string strung together in time
Is the happiness of two souls that bind
And the fires of the heart shine happiness
Like two falling stars reaching out for bliss

(c) December 18, 2023 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Winter Love Valley - Love On the Ice

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First Principles: Nothing Is More Certain Than That A General Profligacy and Corruption of Manners Make A People Right For Destruction

“Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the best constitution will be ineffectual, and slavery must ensue.” – John Witherspoon (1776)

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Thought For the Day: The Most Potent Weapon In the Hands of the Oppressor Is the Mind of the Oppressed

“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” – Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist (18 Dec 1946-1977)

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A Servant’s Heart

Indiana Amish Heartland Scenic Drive 06272020
A Servant's Heart
by Michael Doyle

Jesus came to walk with us in humility
Doing this, He put on the ways of humanity
Making habit of our most common ways
To speak to us, being present in our days

His ways are the best for keeping relationship
Held close to our souls, and not just worship
God is near each of us in His daily presence
We must miss this is the nature of His essence

A million miracles are ignored as they change
Our lives come daily to serve and rearrange
Those things that come with prayers unceasing
And can be observed in our blessings increasing

Pushing back against human fear and insecurity
We become content and learn to walk with humility
Knowing our savior walked this world in humble ways
We, too, should walk our beliefs through our days

We, His followers, know our path remains ever true
This brings us the blessing of unity for me and you
Our place is to work together for good and in harmony
Putting on the ways and attitude of Christ's humility

Every tongue eventually confesses Christ's condescension
Derived from His choosing to give up His superior position
And becoming human to die on behalf of all humanity
From having to stoop to look down, He forsake His divinity

From His fingers, He set the universe in its place
Yet, He holds all of us in His gentle embrace
Born in that manger, He gave Himself for our redemption
In return, we must always keep this in our contemplation

This death submitted to led to our resurrection
Yet, so many fail to realize this vital connection
But with attention given, this shows God's submission
On behalf of humanity, the other half of the commission

Greatness comes in humility as written across the sand
That one thin line we live in with God's commands
These that rule our hearts, spilled out in that hour
Evidencing for us all that love is the greatest power

Living as the salt of the earth is God's one expectation
Holding our lights shining from the hills of inspiration
Following this soul shine is our spiritual intention
As we are servants attempt our best to live with attention

To make that right different in the places that we walk
Not just giving lip service in the words that we speak
These are the purposes of our acts in the great commission
We intentionally try to live our moments without omission

Instead, doing our best in taking on the habits of godly ways
Serving and loving others throughout our best days
Washing the corruption away from the filthiest streets
Humbling ourselves to wash this away from others feet

Busy as we believe we are, God brings us the opportunity
To serve our best grace and bear this with dignity
Paying heed to what will come to stretch our hearts
And keeping God's love in motion from the start

We must put the needs of others above our own
If we are to be the humble servants of the God's throne
We find a way to bless someone else each passing day
Keeping a servant's heart with attention enough to sway

That it will set us on the path of rightful attitude
In living out our lives with the humblest gratitude
Putting aside our fallen, decrepit ways of false pride
Instead, compassion and kindness keep us on God's side

(c) December 17, 2023 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Charlestown State Park, Rose Island and the 1937 Flood

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Thought For the Day: Humility Will Open More Doors Than Arrogance Ever Will

 “Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will.” – Zig Ziglar

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First Principles: In Your Relationships With One Another, Have the Same Mindset As Christ Jesus

Imitating Christ’s Humility

“1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

“5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” – Philippians 2:5 NIV

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Feels Like Singin’ In the Rain

Freedom Gospel Church -Sing The Shout of Joy
Feels Like Singin' In the Rain
by Michael Doyle

Across the musicals of American Broadway
The composers have found a thousand ways
To move our spirits to hurt and to soar
And they leave us wanting to hear more

As the songsters lay our souls bare
Feeling at the fabric deep within the snare
Life comes across explained as we long
To dance the rhythm of another song

Romeo and Juliet knew their glory
But could not match West Side Story
Yet somehow, we find our way to happiness
With all the songs, we sing along and miss

Until the next song hits the hearts that sing
We keep the joy of the songs showtime brings
Just like Singing in the Rain struck its poses
And kept the hits coming like bouquets of roses

The songs we sing leave us fit as a fiddle
Between the highs and lows, they find that middle
As if guided by the stars grown cold from above
They inscribe themselves on our souls full with love

The temptation is felt to fall into a thousand dreams
Making us cry and then to laugh, until we burst at our seams
It is a beautiful girl montage in a wedding of painted dolls
Each note that is played is one that reminisces and recalls

In the end, I am sure we'll see from the center on third row
That you are my lucky star, and I am wise enough to know
That a good morning is one that finds you meant to be with me
We can feel it in our souls, imprinted like a Broadway melody

(c) December 16, 2023 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
House of the Singing Winds 10012020

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First Principles: To Disarm the People…Was the Best and Most Effectual Way to Enslave Them

“To disarm the people… was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” - George Mason

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Thought For the Day: Great Countries Need To Secure Their Border For National Security Purposes, For Economic Purposes and For Rule of Law Purposes

“Great countries need to secure their border for national security purposes, for economic purposes and for rule of law purposes.” – Jeb Bush

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