Doses of Faith

Where Is My Mother? by Rose Ellen Kelly I feel all alone.           Where is my Mother?           My Dear Sweet Mother,                        Do you love me? Auntie loves me with all her heart. I love her hugs and kisses. She takes me to school Buys me pretty dresses Teaches me to sing Laughs when I'm happy Wipes my tears away Buys me a bike Cheers me when I'm sad Dear Mother, where are you?           Do you love me?           Are you saving me loving kisses? Someone sent me some money, Money just for little lonely me. Someone is watching me I wonder who could it be Someone hangs the phone on me Could it just be for me I know my Auntie loves me Dear Mother, did you send me the money?           Did you hang the phone on me?           Is it beca...

In my work with children, I've seen what divorce does to children.  Mostly, divorce where a parent places selfish desires over their children.  I have a cousin whose mother left her and never returned.  The heartbreak she suffered for years.  These next 2 poems reflect the emotions children have shared with me. Waiting For My Dad by Rose Ellen Kelly Dad's coming to get me. I know he'll come for me. I've packed my ball and mitt. We'll have lots, lots of fun. We'll play in the bright sun, Play with the water gun. On the porch in the swing, I will wait for my Dad. The squeaky door opens Mom smiles, but she happens To have tears, back in eyes. I wish my Dad, still, loved Mom. He loves me.  He will come. I will wait: he will come. Sun is gone.  It is dark. I'm waiting in the swing. It is warm; it is soft. It must be Daddy's loft. Out I'll climb, tip toe soft. Oh, No!  This is my bed! Where is?  Where is my Dad? I'll a...

god of madness by  Rose Ellen Kelly (Written a few days after 9/11 - the day terrorist attacked US) The work day starts with a rush in the morning. Many minds with many paths Facing the new day with no meandering. Ready for the new work day With deals, deadlines, dates, and focusing On the responsibilities laying ahead. The ritual routine of running to work for a living To gain respect, satisfaction, treasures undefined In lovers, children, friends, neighbors... Interupted           With Blasting                     Pain and Death.           SHOCK!!!                                  NOISE!!! BLOOD!!!                                          PAIN!!!       ...

My African Violets by Rose Ellen Kelly With wide dark green leaves And soft velvet violet petals,  My African Violets are a joy to the eyes. They love the morning light And delight in the afternoon shade. No need to make a fuss, For they make no demands. Just quench their thirst Every seven to eleven days. Now, dear Loretta has spied My dear darling African Violets. Slowly, Loretta drags her feet To stand and gaze Over my dear delicate plants. Bending over my African Violets, "Don't they need water?" Oh, dear, sweet Loretta, Please don't drown my dear plants. With wide dark green leaves And soft velvet violet petals, My  African Violets attract Loretta. There she stands and stares, Desiring to water my dears. "Don't they need water?" "Let me feed your dears." My dear delicate violets Demand only to be left alone. Note: Kevin's mother's health was not good and we heard from his sister often.  She coul...

Religion and Truth by Rose Ellen Kelly Religion is the "puffed up"           Laws of man. Interpreting and twisting "God's Laws"           For sinful man. Giving false teachings and hope           To the blind man. Sending many to a life of despair,           Trusting the "puffed up" man. The love of God is humble,           Not vain. He wants us to yield to His will,           A few can. Requirements are simple, but only           To the selfless man. My mind, heart, soul, and life is God's            To shape as He can. Note: Written 11 February 2006.  I had written partial with notes in 2001.

I was asked for a poem.  As I flipped through my notebook of poems I've written over the years, I decided to post a few of them here.  Each poem has a story or expresses an emotion I had at the time of writing.  One of my frustrations over the years with churches is man's laws.  Laws established due to prejudice, hate, pride, or plain ignorance.  Below is one of those short poems scribbled down to cool my spirit. Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. What's in a Heart by Rose Ellen Kelly A deacon and man of the church Is judgmental and prideful. He goes by the Laws of Man      With a heart of self indulgence. Oh, are the hearts of the church Meek, caring, and loving? Can we find a pure heart? Is there a humble heart? What's in a heart? A child of God will have A heart of love Se...

A Call For Help By  Rose Ellen Kelly O precious LORD, you know my heart, When life is hard and fall apart, LORD, it is you that I do call. What else to do?  To my knees fall, Weeping, praying for your sweet peace. Keep me standing with love and grace. My dear loved one with heavy heart Feels all alone with broken heart. Which path to take is the question. Seeking to make a decision That will be right for all involved. Dear LORD, what's right?  Let this be solved.

      Jesus was arrested in darkness.   In the quiet place where Jesus took his disciples to pray, he is betrayed in the dark with a kiss.   The sun had gone down, and when the sun rises, he will be standing before Pilate with his accusers standing outside.   Jesus broke no Roman law, but he stood before Pilate, a Roman governor.   In Matthew and Mark the main accusation was Jesus’ claim that he could destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.   This is in Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58. The other accusation was that Jesus is the Son of God, Luke 22:67-70 and John 18:33 – 37.   Pilate could find no fault to punish Jesus, but the high priests and scribes along with the crowd they brought shouted, “Crucify him!” Will they realize by the end of the day that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?      It was a long day for many in Jerusalem.   The man who was welcomed by the masses a few days earlier is tried and cho...

     Jesus' life was foretold by the prophets.  With Jesus' arrest and questioning by the high priest, scribes, Pilate, and Herod, the below scripture is evident of what I study today in the gospels.  I strongly believe that they let self-righteousness, pride and religion rule in their hearts.  This is my fear of religious doctrines.  I fear that man's interpretation is not God's truth.  Oh man!  Be careful!  Only seek God's word for God's truth and not your own self-righteousness. Isaiah 53: The Sin-Bearing Messiah 1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we...

      I have never figured why people chase and follow after a mob.   I don’t understand why believe lies and chant with the mob.   I’m reading a series of books about Germany during WWII.   I notice the mobs were mostly the youth.   Hitler took power around 1933 with his charismatic personality.   He appealed to the masses without jobs.   He appealed to the youth.   When things are bad in ones life, they tend to blame someone other than themselves.   In Germany, they blamed the Jews.   With Hitler promoting the perfect race, they killed those with deformities and sterilized those who they considered not perfect.   Hitler did this for power.   The masses followed because he fueled their desires and hate.   Then, in today’s world, we see groups following blindly believing lies.   If you notice, it is mostly the youth.   Many have been concerned with the large groups who attend the Trump rallies. ...

     This is last week of lent.   Most of us have spent most of lent in quarantine.   This time has given me a lot of time to think, pray, study, read, and meditate.   I’ve set a schedule because I don’t want to spend all day in bed.   I get us early to pray and meditate on scripture.   I exercise.   I try to arrange time in the mornings to watch CBS Morning News.   I like Gayle King.   News watching is limited to one hour.   You know, too much of anything makes a dull mind.   Each week I’ve scheduled three to four hours on three days to work in yard.   After three weeks, there isn’t much left to do but a little maintenance.   Yesterday, I cleaned my pantry.   There were way too many empty jars and plastic containers.   After clearing out the clutter, I have plenty of space in the pantry.   Yes, I recycle.   The jars and plastics are in separate containers.   I live in rural America, ...

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace.   In the world you shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”       Jesus and the disciples have left the upper room.   They are on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.   Before they cross the brook Cedron to enter the garden, Jesus prayed.   Jesus did not wait to pray in the garden.   He knew that Judas would be there, so on their way to the garden, Jesus continues to warn the disciples of coming events.   He will be crucified.   They will scatter and leave him.   He gives them comfort with the promise of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer in Jesus’ name.   He warns them of coming tribulation and assures them that he has ‘overcome the world.’   Then, he lifts his eyes to heaven and prays.      First, Jesus prays for himself.   In these short five verses in John 17:1-5, Je...

     Tomorrow, Palm Sunday will be different than previous years.   The world is shut down.   There will not be the usual services together.   There will be no gatherings.   Easter Egg Hunts will not happen.   We will continue to watch services from home.   It is good to have live streaming.   We will not fellowship together in person but through Google Duo or Skype, I’ll see my grandchildren.   On Face Book, I’ll hear some special music via solo and a sermon.   I wonder how will my grandchildren and your families worship tomorrow on Palm Sunday.   Will you do something together as a family to commemorate Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem?   With families home next week, will they take time each day to worship and teach the children about Jesus’ last days?      As I read about Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem in Luke 19, verse 41 brings me to wonder about today.   Luke 19:41 reads, “When ...

    These are trying times.   Again and again, we hear about the pandemic.   We can’t avoid it, because it has affected everyone in the world.   It broke my heart yesterday as I watched the news.   The people of India leaving the large cities to go home after losing their jobs.   Jobs are lost because of COVID19 and government ordered everything to close.   This left hundreds of people with only one option, walk back to their villages.   As I watched the roads filled with people, I wondered how many will make it.   Then, I turn on the TV for the morning news this morning with news of thousands more in our country sick with this virus.     It is easy to let this get us down.   Very fortunately, I know someone has my back.   Jesus knows me and always has my back.      If you watch programs or movies with a military theme, you will hear, “I got your back.”   In other words, “Don’t worry, I’m watch...