Thought For the Day: What A Child Doesn’t Receive He Can Seldom Later Give

“What a child doesn’t receive he can seldom later give.” -P.D. James (Phyllis Dorothy James), novelist (3 Aug 1920-2014)

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Always, Never, and Forever

Always, Never, and Forever
by Michael Doyle

Always, never, and forever,
A girl in her youth though herself clever.
With a haughty sense, and lacking grace
She said goodbye to his parental embrace.

Her father silently let go,
Hurting that he had barely said hello.
It's the modern age of subversive shallow,
And his fire had begun to burn low.

He hadn't meant to break her concentration,
Weary as he was of her proposed distraction.
He knew only her world was in her hands
And he? He quietly does his best to understand.

Letting go into the spirits of the air,
He knew that he must close his eyes and dare.
A panda's diary spoke of a world yet to explore.
He had taught her so much; the world would teach her more.

The ashes of time were left but hard to find,
There in the shining days inside her mind.
She was sunshine and darkness, needing no shadow.
He was a father quietly letting go...

... With only a mostly hidden tear...
... knowing he would miss and love her...

(c) August 3, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

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For God’s Love

For God's Love
by Michael Doyle

I.

In truth and good faith, I do well,
Unashamed as I am of the full gospel.
Fanning into flames my testimony,
In the name of God and spoken faithfully.

From faith and for faith, we live,
Taking our lead from what righteousness gives.
Turning to God for what we need,
We hope to transform these lessons into word and deed.

Following the path lead out by Paul,
We take in life's fusion of all.
Taken in as a form of ministry,
We seek the truth we can derive from history.

We, humanity, in all of our many seasons,
Have given up on God for multiple reasons.
The questions are about fallen human nature,
And what perhaps is the best way to mature.

Who are we, what are we in our ancient origin?
Where are we going and is ours ever the ways of sin?
Said only quietly but in the naked declarative,
We have lost our way no longer held in narrative.

II.

The progressive Left accuses us of clinging to God.
I'm not overly bright, but I don't think that's odd -
That we who are civilization's greatest conceivers
Are also among the strongest of believers.

We live in common society as captive exiles,
Keeping our faith, patiently dressed in smiles.
Martin Luther realized God's love as a gift.
Righteousness is meant to bridge the rift.

It's not meant to hold us down in misgiven fear,
But rather to give us strength to persevere.
Instead, the modern world has psychologically
Given up on truth and no longer lives morally.

It is seen as uncomfortable to witness sin,
Forgetting that respect for God is where wisdom begins.
The Gospel holds the truths told at heart
For this then is exactly where we need to start.

The Devil wants the godly to live in despair,
We need to chase him back to Hell and keep him there.
It's not the what of what we do, but what God has done.
It is in this that our sacred victory is already won.


III.

It's said that Paul in statue was considered small,
But he did mush and was spiritually ten feet tall.
The word of the cross is the heart of the Gospel
That each Christian is charged to openly tell.

The story of Jesus is a challenge to the Jews,
And it was folly to the Gentiles in their views.
It's hard to take in rising from the dead,
Yet our attention is needed to all things He said.

That He alone is the truth, way, and the light,
Born to guide us out of darkness into the Father's sight.
There's no shame in sharing all parts of the Gospel.
It's the truth as told for all to faithfully reveal.

The winds of corrupt society are blowing in our face,
No longer at our backs, yet still, we lovingly embrace
All of the truths we hold out and speak as if we're bold,
And we are in no way ashamed of the Gospel we are told.

It is in this that we find and share spiritual connection,
Beginning with our blessings from His resurrection.
The road to Damascus brought a rebounding change.
It was blessed, needed, and yet radically strange.

IV.

The truth spares us sin's dark penalty,
And this then is all the truth to me.
Yet, having the truth is not the faith of salvation,
But it brings us nearer to that destination.

Even if untold, the Gospel is the un-played song,
Regardless of if life is short or keeps to be long,
Satisfaction is found in hold our faith strong.
It is, to the family of God that we do belong.

The Gospel isn't merely to give information.
It is, in fact, to effect radical transformation,
Becoming something central to turning life upside down.
In doing so, we gain our victory's sweetest crown.

I'm not foolish enough to put faith in only myself,
And my salvation won't be found on some unread shelf.
It's through the power of Christ that I'm redeemed,
As holy as this is, it is as if I have steadily dreamed.

It is to say that when push comes to life's shove,
I, among others, stand firm for the cause of God above.
It's in this righteousness, I pray for and of
That in God's strength, we will live for God's love.

(c)August 3, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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Thought For the Day: The Purpose of Life Is Not To Be Happy. It Is To Be Useful, To Be Honorable, To Be Compassionate, To Have Make Some Difference

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.: – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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First Principles: The Spirit of God Gave Us Does Not Make Us Timid, But Gives Us Power, Love and Self-Discipline

” For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,o but gives us power,p love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

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First Principles: I Have Always Found That Mercy Bears Richer Fruits Than Strict Justice

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln

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Thought For the Day: First Say To Yourself What You Would Be; and Then Do What You Have To Do

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus 

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Something Beyond Beautiful

Something Beyond Beautiful
by Michael Doyle

When the hurricanes pass me by,
And I realize that I did not die.
I go to the place where the river flows,
That quiet place where nobody goes.

I find that passion has ruled my game,
And my character has framed my name.
I was born to touch your precious feelings,
Dancing in the moonlight is soul revealing.

I smile as you and I cuddle to speak,
And I promise you a love song every week.
You smile and say that will be wonderful,
And eyes shine like something beyond beautiful.

The thing is that time is the opening key.
It's told me the truth of what will be.
I couldn't live if living was without you.
There's never been a feeling more true.

Life packs a wallop straight between the eyes,
Laying back on tall grass, taking in the sunrise.
My dreams sent me the angel that you are.
I see your vision painted deep within the stars.

I smile as you and I cuddle to speak,
And I promise you a love song every week.
You smile and say that will be wonderful,
And eyes shine like something beyond beautiful.

We can last forever, past the lonely night,
I feel the hunger that fades into your light.
These dreams are the dreams to chase around,
It's there in your love, it's what I've found.

The tears that dragged me down have gone away,
It's been like this since that magical day.
I looked deeply into your soul and found my love,
And on that day I knew what I had dreamed of

I smile as you and I cuddle to speak,
And I promise you a love song every week.
You smile and say that will be wonderful,
And eyes shine like something beyond beautiful.

(c) August 1, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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First Principles: The Test of Leadership Is Not To Put Greatness Into Humanity, But To Elicit It, For the Greatness Is Already There

“The test of  leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” – James Buchanan

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Thought For the Day: No Philosophers So Thoroughly Comprehend Us As Dogs and Horses

“No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.” – Herman Melville

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