All posts by L.L. Shelton

About L.L. Shelton

Bonnie is a Jesus Lover, and in light of the fact, loves His wonderful church. She is interested in many things and enjoys sharing her view of some of them on this blog. She is a poet and a singer of songs. She resides in Memphis, Tennessee, where she is a dedicated wife and the mother of seven children- five of whom she educates at home, as the eldest two have graduated homeschool and are pursuing their own interests. In her spare moments she may be found in her home office with a client, as she is a practicing Biblical Counselor and a Life Coach. She welcomes you to print and share her articles and poetry, and to quote freely from them with the understanding that she is to be acknowledged as the author. Mrs. Shelton does NOT OWN the copyright to the majority of the photos and other types of illustration used on this site!

Who We Are

Poetry

(With a nod to Mary Shelley)

Frankenstein and Dracula
And wicked witches all,
Find return in human heart
With back against the wall;
Depravity is all she wrote,
Resonating with the world
Is our pitiable condition,
As from the garden hurled.

Copyright 2018.   L.L. Shelton.

Undercurrent Through Clay

Poetry

Moon can not glow,
As sun will not shine,
Stars disappear
With all sense of time,
East now meets west,
North can’t find south,
Dislocated teeth
Bruising the mouth,
Motionless hands,
Legs that won’t travel,
Still melody flows-
Soul shall not unravel,
As hidden below
Your Word yet does battle.

Copyright 2018.    L.L.  Shelton.

The First Kingdom

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Living the Word, Politics

I am a Christian.  This does not mean I am perfect but it does mean that I strive to be like my Master. My Master lived and walked the earth and his biography is aptly recorded in the Scriptures. Therefore, I read and study his life to learn NOT what WOULD He do, but WHAT DID JESUS DO? This question should be central to all followers.

I grow weary with both major political parties using God’s Word to justify their various positions and actions.  Haven’t they ever heard of separation of church and state? Of course they have! They site it when it is to their advantage.  There was a reason that the founding fathers of our country, who probably had a collective I.Q. twice that of any group of citizens we could put together, today, touted the principle regularly.  Did you know that it was their idea of a way to ensure that the church is protected from the government- protected from tyranny?

We who are followers of The Way are citizens of his heavenly kingdom first.  Our allegiance belongs to God in Christ first and to our nation second.  This enables Christians of all earthly kingdoms and nations to be a collective “nation” of our own, of God, that is unified and overrides all other systems when it is necessary to obey God. This is not a difficult Truth, if you read the book and look for the answer with the sincere motive of finding how to be like Christ by learning what Jesus did.

Let’s not continue to drag our facsimiles of God into our political squabbles. He genuinely exists and He is everywhere.  He continues to make Himself known to all who are paying attention to Him.  We are primarily a part of a bigger better system.  Our first loyalty is to a King who has issued his law and identified it as the most important, the greatest of all laws:  The rule to love God FIRST, as He defines it, your neighbor second and equally with yourself; and to avoid any confusion He further interprets his law:  Do unto others- any other human being- as you would have done unto you.  Our efforts to mold and make God into something other than He has declared Himself to be are futile at best, absolutely foolish, and at worst, evil.

Copyright 2018. L.L. Shelton.

Bless and Keep Me

Poetry

Keep me faithful
As the river winds,
Keep me gentle
As the whispering breeze,
Keep me shining
As the brightest flower,
Keep me bold
As the stately trees,
Keep me hungry
As the suckling things,
For you always,
Saving King.

Copyright 2018. L.L. Shelton.

These Weak Arms

Poetry

Moving among them
Sensing the need,
Soaking in pain,
Feeling the plea,
Drenched in the rain,
Drinking in sorrow,
Swelling informed
Of trial for tomorrow,
Carrying harm
In these weak arms.

Moving through me
Sensing my need,
Soaking in Truth,
Feeling I’m freed,
Drenched in my Christ,
Drinking in sorrow,
Swelling informed
Of joy on the ‘morrow,
Carrying Love
In this heart from above.

Copyright 2018.  L. L. Shelton.

Divine Arrangement

Poetry

We like God
To stay small
In His box
Down the hall,
In the attic
Up the stairs
Until that day
Standing on chair,
Pull the cord
Drop the door
Bring it out
Manger to floor,
Dust it off
Nice and clean
Pretty little
Nostalgic scene,
Merrily we
Dance and sing
Of a tiny
Newborn king.

Copyright 2018.   L.L. Shelton.

Ever An Illusion

Humanity, Living the Word

In a moment, a truth can occur with sudden clarity, as when I read his post celebrating the wedding of his sixth and youngest child, complete with final tag: #lastweddingforever. Granted there is every reason to rejoice over nearly any wedding as in a world often clearly displaying hate, it is truly refreshing to focus on a celebration of love. But, that is not the truth to which I refer, rather it is this: We do not have any idea whether or not it will be the last wedding. But It is easy to forgive the naive perspective. Control is ever an illusion.

Copyright 2018. L.L. Shelton.

An Immigrant’s Plea

Poetry

America! Most Gracious! Free!
Give of yourself- your liberty!
Crumbs from your table,
Please share with me.

I may take my time to read
And write the English that is yours,
I may not know your history
When I embark upon your shores,

But I will learn as you nurture me
In the bosom of tranquility,
Grateful for opportunity,
Escape from dreadful tyranny.

Copyright 2010. L.L. Shelton.