Poetry Corner
A Glimpse of What’s Coming…🌿
Welcome to Poetry Corner, a quiet space where God’s whispers turn into rhythm, reflection, and encouragement.
Here, you’ll find short poetic pieces — small seeds of inspiration — written to uplift your heart, strengthen your spirit, and gently prepare you for the full poetry book that will be released in God’s perfect timing.
Each piece you read here is just a preview, a tender glimpse of the greater work that’s on the horizon.
Some poems will speak life over your day…
Some will strengthen your walk with Christ…
Some will comfort your spirit during difficult moments…
And all of them will carry the same heart you’ve always poured into your Encouraging Mondays messages.
Pause, breathe, and let these rhythms bless you.
Encouraging Mondays: Coaching the Heart and Mind,
now speaking to you through Poetry Rhythm.
🌿FEATURED POEM — “Holy Spirit–Led Speaking Life”
(November 14, 2025 — 11:00 AM)
By Shawna Stately
Poetry Snippet
Meditating on God’s Word shapes what we say—
Speaking life becomes our rhythm, our way.
What we speak, what we do, and how we pray
Reflect the Light we carry each day.
Honor the Lord with words gentle, true—
Even toward hearts that feel weary or blue.
Let our speech lift burdens, not heighten strife.
Let love lead our tongues…
and let Christ guide our life.
“How Jesus Loves Us”
A February Valentines Day Poem
February 4, 2026
By Shawna S.
They say, “Jesus loves you,”
but sometimes those words feel far away—
when prayers feel unanswered,
and nights feel longer than the day.
Jesus loves us
when we are tired of being strong.
He loves us in the waiting,
when everything feels wrong.
He loved us in the garden,
when He prayed with tears and pain.
He loved us when His friends fell asleep,
while He carried the weight of our shame.
He loves us when we doubt Him.
He loves us when we run.
He loves us when we feel forgotten,
and when we think we’re done.
He loves us in our broken places,
the ones we try to hide.
He loves us not from a distance—
He walked this road, and He died.
He was beaten. He was mocked.
He was wounded for our peace.
Not because we earned His love,
but because His love would not cease.
Jesus loves us on our best days,
and He loves us on our worst.
He loved us before we knew His name.
He loved us first.
So if you’ve ever wondered,
“Does His love include me?”
The cross still answers,
“Yes—eternally.”
🌿“Peace in Your Atmosphere”
(November 15, 2025 —2:00 AM)
By Shawna Stately
Speak peace into every space you enter—
Peace in your thoughts, in your breath, at your center.
If chaos rises, refuse to agree;
God’s presence calms what you cannot see.
Stand firm in grace when the pressure is near—
Your voice can shift the atmosphere.
🌿“Grace for the Journey”
(November 16, 2025 — 9:00 PM)
By Shawna Stately
Your steps are ordered, even when unseen.
Your path is guided, guarded, and clean.
Walk in your purpose with steady pace—
God goes before you and covers you with grace.
You are becoming all He intended you to be—
Step by step, moving faithfully.
🌿“Strength for Today”
(November 17, 2025 —9:00 AM)
By Shawna Stately
When the day feels heavy, rest in His care.
Whisper His name—He is already there.
Strength is not rushed; it flows like a stream.
God fills you gently, restoring your beam.
Rise in His joy, refreshed and renewed—
Heaven is cheering you through.
🌿Speak Life
(Originally Written May 5, 2013—8:50 PM)
By Shawna Stately
Come on and believe with me,
in the power of the Holy Trinity!
The Holy Spirit will teach you,
everyday in life how to get a breakthrough!
Use your tongue not to speak death, but to speak life,
even when you’re going through a series of challenges & strife.
That’s how God’s Word tells us to fight!
Don’t you know you’re always in God’s sight?
So have faith — even as little as a mustard seed,
follow Christ & you WILL succeed!
Think positive & prosperous thoughts,
and be careful about what you say.
Great things will eventually happen for you
while you’re choosing to do things God’s way!
The enemy can’t have you or your mind.
He already knows his fate —
it’s only a matter of time.
Go ahead & thank God for things you may not yet see,
and watch them unfold
by God’s Holy Trinity!!!
🌿 AMEN
(November 18, 2025 — 12:35 AM)
By Shawna Stately
Amen… what does it truly mean
when we whisper it gently or speak it out loud?
It’s saying, though I can’t… my God can,
and lifting His name in honor, faithful and proud.
It’s trusting the Father for who He is,
our loving Lord who never fails.
It’s sealing our prayer with agreement and faith,
believing His Word always prevails.
Let’s say Amen every time we pray—
with hearts surrendered, steady, and true.
For in the blessings of God’s gentle arms,
is where He promises to carry you.
🌿WHEN WE GATHER
(November 18, 2025 — 12:50 AM)
By Shawna Stately
Let’s laugh and sing,
shout and pray—
each time I’m in town
and I come your way.
Let’s talk about the good times,
and some not-so-good too…
and thank our precious Father
for His mercies toward me and you.
Let’s gather together
as often as we can—
demonstrating to one another
that we truly are each other’s fan.
When we gather, it’s bittersweet…
because leaving again never feels right.
But being together is always a treat—
a blessing that warms the heart
long after the night.
🌿REFUSE TO ABUSE
(November 18, 2025 — 1:10 AM)
By Shawna Stately — Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Everyone was made in the image of God—
no one should be harmed nor struck with a rod.
Abuse comes in forms both cruel and unkind,
leaving wounds in the body, the heart, and the mind.
It creates trauma, confusion,
and storms no one can see—
but God’s heart breaks for the hurting,
and He calls His children to be free.
Abuse is abuse…
no matter the abuser’s claim.
Don’t mistreat someone
then shift the blame.
Just because you’re angry
doesn’t give you the right
to yell, to threaten,
or pick every fight.
Treat people right—
or leave them alone.
Striking someone with your hand
is as wrong as using a stone.
No one deserves
a slap in the face—
it dishonors our God
and the beauty of His grace.
Ask God to forgive you
for the cruelty you’ve shown,
using anger and harshness
as weapons you’ve grown.
Being an abuser
should never be your title—
don’t let aggression and pride
become your idol.
God calls you higher…
to healing, to repentance,
to peace, to life.
Refuse to abuse—
and walk away from strife.
“Thankfulness Turns Ordinary Moments into Holy Reminders of God’s Goodness.”🌿
(November 20, 2025)
By Shawna Stately
Let’s have an attitude of gratitude every day,
thanking our perfect God for brightening up our way.
Being thankful for God’s provisions and the way He cares,
Being thankful for our many blessings God allows us to share.
For God keeps showing His goodness in moments everywhere,
reminding us His love is faithful, steady, and always there.
Gratitude opens up our hearts to see God’s gentle hand,
guiding our steps with mercy as He leads us by His plan.
Cooking With Love on Thanksgiving Morning💛
(November 27, 2025)
By Shawna S.
In a sleepy morning kitchen, with a heart that still believed,
I chopped and stirred and seasoned while God’s strength helped me breathe.
Two hours’ rest behind me, yet joy kept me awake—
Because cooking for the ones you love is love you choose to make.
The celery, peppers, onions danced softly in the pan,
The cornbread cooled with purpose—part of God’s unwritten plan.
The yams browned bold and stubborn, marshmallows toasted deep,
I laughed and whispered, “Lord, I’m tired,” but He held me on my feet.
Green beans stretched with courage—French style nowhere in sight,
But grace stepped in like always, turning shortage into light.
And the dressing? Oh, that blessing—warm and seasoned through—
A little taste of family grace that only love can do.
I packed each dish so gently, wrapped with care and foil tight,
A DoorDash bag now preaching what it means to serve with might.
Thanksgiving on the go today, but still the Spirit moved—
Because love that’s cooked with sacrifice is love that’s heaven-approved.
At my son’s house we gathered, every plate and heart made full,
And I knew God fed us deeper than what lay upon each bowl.
For healing lives in kitchens where the tired still choose to give,
Where laughter meets the weary hands that simply love to live.
So here’s to meals made sacred, here’s to grace in every glove,
Here’s to weary, joyful moments—
This is cooking, this is healing,
this is ministry in love.
🍭FROM CANDY FACTORY TO HEALING KITCHEN🍌
(November 28, 2025)
By Shawna S
My home was once the Candy Factory,
a sweet-tooth heaven on every side—
bowls of treats on countertops,
little delights I kept supplied.
Kids would grin the moment they stepped in,
grandbabies knew just where to run,
and handing out those goodies felt
like laughter, comfort, love, and fun.
But somewhere deep inside my spirit
a holy stirring began to rise—
a whisper soft, yet steady, saying:
“Daughter, it’s time for you to prioritize.
Honor Me in how you nourish,
honor Me in how you live,
lead your family by example,
with the choices day by day you give.”
I felt the weight of legacy—
how habits shape the years ahead,
how health is not just body-deep
but a renewing of heart and mind instead.
So slowly I began the shifting,
learning to eat unto the Lord,
setting down the Candy Factory
and picking up His truth, restored.
Some days I slipped, some days I soared,
some days I craved what once was mine,
but God was patient in the process,
growing strength in me over time.
I learned that discipline is worship,
healthy choices can be praise,
and honoring this temple
is another way I lift His name.
So now I build a Healing Kitchen—
with fruits and greens and foods that heal,
with gratitude in every slice,
and prayer in every simple meal.
Not perfect… but surrendered.
Not pressured… but renewed.
A woman led by purpose
in the small things that I choose.
And as I walk this 21-day journey,
I share it with my family, too—
because transformation multiplies
when others see what God can do.
If a Candy Factory past can change,
then healing can reach anyone—
for the Lord restores our patterns,
and He completes what He’s begun.
So here I stand—heart open wide,
grateful for grace along the way,
turning sweets into stories of growth,
and habits into hope today.
From Candy Factory to Healing Kitchen,
this is the journey I gladly live—
a testimony shaped by love,
and a legacy I long to give.
POEM FOR TEMPLECARE ON
12-10-25
**“Fast is fine —
but why must fast mean sick?
Why must hunger be answered with
grease, sugar, and tricks?
Convenience is good —
but health is better.
We don’t need cheap ingredients
that weigh us down like tether.
Give us food that’s quick,
but clean.
Warm or fresh —
not processed, not mean.
Feed our children life,
not dyes.
Teach their palates truth,
not lies.
Because healthy is possible,
fast is possible —
we just need a world
that chooses both.”**
🌱 — Encouraging Mondays: Coaching the Heart & Mind
✨ “MOMMA” — The Heart of Our Home💛
(November 28, 2025)
By Shawna S
She was friend to all and enemy to none,
A soft place to fall, a warm rising sun.
With hands that healed and a heart that gave,
She carried others in waves and waves.
An only child with no one there,
Yet somehow grew into love’s fullest prayer.
No mother to teach her, no father in sight —
Still she learned how to shine with a gentle light.
Life tried her early, but kindness stayed strong;
Her spirit was steady, her patience lifelong.
Storms came and went, yet her peace never shook —
Because love was her language, and service her look.
“Momma,” they called her — kids far and near,
Because her love erased walls, erased distance, erased fear.
She cooked for the block, she opened the door,
Fed the hungry, loved the lonely… then loved them even more.
Hot dogs on the porch, popcorn in the bowl,
TV outside just filling up souls.
But when Mr. Paulk’s footsteps came down the street,
We turned into lightning — hands, hearts, and feet!
By the time he reached home, the house looked brand new —
No sign of the crowd that my Momma withdrew.
Yet even in secret, her kindness was bold —
A treasure of warmth the world seldom told.
She lifted up children that weren’t even hers,
Bought gifts for birthdays, for babies, were furs.
She mothered the siblings of whoever we’d date —
Welcomed them in with a smile so great.
A foster mom, a warrior, a giver so true,
The kind of rare soul God hand-selected for you.
She stayed gentle in storms, stayed faithful in strain,
Her love was a shelter from struggle and pain.
And now in my kitchen, when laughter appears,
I feel the echo of her through the passing years.
Though she’s gone home, I still sense her near —
In every small joy and each volunteer tear.
Momma, your legacy lives in all that I do —
In how I love others, in how I push through.
I honor you daily, in word and in deed…
Your servant-hearted life planted every seed.
Friend to all. Enemy to none.
Your light lives on in the lives you’ve touched — one by one.
Your love lives forever — through me, through ours…
A beautiful garden of God’s tender flowers. 🌻🌷🌹💐
🕵🏼♀️Food Detective!
By Shawna S
**God made your body special,
from your head down to your feet.
So be a little Food Detective
every time you eat!
Look for ‘added sugar’ —
if it’s zero, that’s the clue
that this food will help your body
do what it’s made to do.
Crunch veggies, sip water,
try fruits in every hue…
Healthy choices make you strong,
and God is proud of YOU!
Popcorn The TempleCare Way
By Shawna S
12-4-25
Back to the basics, simple and pure,
A pot and some kernels — that’s all you need for sure.
No mystery powders, no chemicals hidden,
Just popcorn popping that makes you smitten.
Pour in your oil — coconut or an alternative clean,
Watch the small kernels shift, shimmer, and gleam.
Add a touch of sweetness if that’s what you crave —
A drizzle of maple, the clean way your body will rave.
Every small choice is a temple you tend,
A moment of care your temple you defend.
So pop with intention, enjoy every bite,
A snack made at home, clean, simple, and right.
Our body is not our own it was bought with a price.
Eating to honor the one who shed His blood for us and gave us life.
🌿A Christmas Poem
His Name Shall Be Called…
By Shawna S
12-23-25
🎁Unto us the Child was given,
Heaven’s promise drawn near,
Light stepped down into our darkness,
Love made visible, hope sincere.
Wonderful Counselor — wisdom speaking,
Truth that quiets every fear.
Mighty God — strength unshaken,
Power wrapped in mercy here.
Everlasting Father — steady, faithful,
Arms that hold both time and grace.
Prince of Peace — calm in the chaos,
Rest for every weary place.
Born not in splendor, but in surrender,
Cradled where the humble belong.
Angels whispered, shepherds listened,
Heaven met earth in sacred song.
Jesus — the Name above all names,
The Gift the world had waited for.
Hope in flesh, salvation breathing,
Love arrived… forevermore.
🌈Happy New Year: New Mercies, New Steps
By Shawna S
January 1, 2026
A new year dawns with morning light,
God whispers hope into the night.
Yesterday fades, its weight released,
For mercy wakes and does not cease.
His compassions—steady and true—
Arrive each dawn, forever new.
Not borrowed grace, not secondhand,
But fresh from God’s own loving hand.
We do not walk as who we were,
No chains remain, no guilt to stir.
In Christ, we rise—made whole, made free,
To walk anew in victory.
The past no longer holds our name,
No shame, no fear, no lingering blame.
We step ahead with hearts made clean,
Alive in hope, reborn, redeemed.
So here we stand—one breath, one voice—
A brand-new year, a holy choice.
To trust the work God will complete,
And walk in grace with steady feet.
New mercies greet us—morning bright.
New life begins—walk in His light.
He Will Hold You:
Will you hold on to Him?
By Shawna S
1-6-26
When the ground beneath you starts to shake,
And your strength feels worn and thin,
When prayers fall quiet on tired lips
And doubt tries to settle in—
He will hold you.
When the night feels longer than the day,
And tears speak louder than words,
When your heart is searching for a refuge
And answers still haven’t emerged—
He will hold you.
Not with force,
Not with fear,
But with hands that have always known your name.
Hands that carried the weight of the world,
So you wouldn’t have to carry your pain.
He will hold you when you’re steady.
He will hold you when you fall.
He will hold you when you don’t know
If you can hold on at all.
But the question gently waits in the stillness,
Not spoken to shame or accuse—
When He reaches for you in love and grace,
Will you choose Him, too?
Will you hold on when the answers delay?
Will you trust when the path feels unclear?
Will you rest in His promise
That He is near?
He will never loosen His grip.
He will never let you go.
His faithfulness is not dependent
On how strong you feel or know.
He will hold you through every season.
Through the breaking. Through the bend.
Through beginnings that feel uncertain
And endings you didn’t plan.
So when the storm passes through your soul
And the calm feels far and dim,
Remember this truth—steady and sure:
He will hold you.
The question remains, soft but true:
Will you hold on to Him?
🌿STAY CONNECTED
Encouraging Mondays is more than a website — it’s a growing community of faith, reflection, and peaceful transformation. If God has been speaking to your heart through these messages, I’d love for you to stay connected throughout the week. Each platform gives you a unique way to receive encouragement, grow spiritually, and walk in God’s perfect peace.
LinkedIn — Weekly Encouragement & Reflections
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawna-stately-853771390
YouTube — Encouraging Mondays Video Messages
http://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingMondays
Podcast Devotionals With Shawna S. — Listen on the Go
https://open.spotify.com/show/3pT2RcBNOKpa8A2vuYIJ4W
Wherever you choose to connect, may these messages speak life to your spirit and peace to your heart! 💛
Make it stand out.
