By Myself To Pray

 

I need to leave behind the noise,
And seek that peaceful place
Where I can hear the voice of God,
And feel His perfect grace.
 
I know that He is always near
And He can hear my call,
But often I cannot hear His
Through the noise of it all.
 
It’s in those times I seek the wilds
Where wind sings in the trees,
And rivers laugh as they rush by
On their way to the seas.
 
There in the heart of creation
My mind at last can hear
The voice for which my soul has longed
Growing vibrant and clear.
 
I feel His peace wash over me,
His words refresh my soul
Until even my weary heart
Has been healed and made whole.
 
Then I can rise and return to
The noise that this life brings,
Still hearing His voice, soft and clear,
Speaking as my heart sings.
 
I do not doubt that He is here
Beside me every day,
But now and then I need to go
Away, listen, and pray.  
 
Matthew 14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

I Shall Not Hunger

 

All praise be to the Father who
Feeds me, body and soul,
Who gathered up my shattered parts,
Redeemed, and made me whole.
 
While I was lost, He came for me
And lead me home again.
He is my shelter and my strength.
I rejoice in His plan.
 
I struggled all the days I lived
Until He called my name.
Now, even when the way is hard,
His mercy’s mine to claim.
 
Thus, I will lift all praise to Him
Who feeds body and soul
With loving mercy, healing peace,
And grace that makes me whole.
 
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Eyes To See The Blessings

 

Today there are not words enough
For all the grace I saw.
Those miracles and those mercies
Leave my heart filled with awe.
 
The little things that helped so much,
And the great big things, too.
The world tried hard to trip me up,
But Your love saw me through.
 
I can’t explain how blind I was
To so many blessings,
Until You gave me eyes to see
The gifts that Your grace brings.
 
I used to think, “that was lucky”
When things fell into place,
But now that I see more clearly,
I recognize Your grace.
 
Each day I see them as they are,
Those gifts of boundless love,
That, in the past, I might have missed
As blessings from above.
 
Lord, thank You that my eyes now see
The blessings in each day
And that my heart now understands
That You send them my way!
 
Matthew 13:16-17
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Doing A New Thing

 

Last year is past, it won’t return,
Fix your eyes on the dawn.
Rise up in faith in the new year,
Rejoice, and carry on.
 
Those words seem easy to be said,
But harder to live out.
Though past, last year still adds its weight
To this year’s hope and doubt.
 
Yet, in His love, we are made new,
Not what we were before.
We cannot cling to what we were,
When we’re now so much more.
 
Let go of last year’s sin and shame,
Pick up your Savior’s grace
And go, rejoicing, into the life
He gives you in its place.
 
Do not consider things of old,
He’s doing something new.
Let your heart sing with joy knowing
That something new, it's you!!
 
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Your Love Is Eternal

 

The sun sets on another year.
Still, joy lights up the skies,
For I have faith that very soon
A new year’s sun will rise.
 
You formed the heavens, laid their path,
And Your plans will prevail.
Upon that truth, I stand in faith
That Your love cannot fail.  
 
Your love is an unceasing love,
Your mercies, Lord, are vast.
Greater even than the heavens,
Is the love that will last.
 
The sun and moon will rise and set,
Until they burn away,
But Your love is eternal love,
And it is here to stay!
 
Psalm 36:5
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Joys And Tears

Today was not an easy one,
It had ups and some downs,
But at the end of it I’ll say
There was more joy than frowns.
 
Tears filled my eyes from frustration
And, also, from relief,
But, in the end, Your plan prevailed,
Despite my disbelief.
 
The ups and downs of every day
Assure I hit my knees
Each time I come to a day’s end,
To say thank You and please.
 
You never cease to amaze me,
Your grace is without end.
Your plans are always far better
Than what I may intend.
 
I lift my thanks to You once more,
For all the joy today,
And even for the tears I cried.
I prefer life Your way!
 
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. 

To Pause and Reflect

 

The time to pause and to reflect
Has come around once more.
Both my blessings and my failures,
A review, not a score.
 
I don’t see You when I see me.
Barely even a trace
Of Your patience and forgiveness,
And precious little grace.
 
Yet there is some of each in me,
More than there was last year.
I’m heading on the right path now,
Though I have not drawn near.
 
I know that I will never be
A faithful reflection
Of You and all Your loving grace,
But still, the work’s begun.
 
Please help me keep my eyes on You,
Lord, that’s where they should be.
If I’m to grow to reflect You,
It’s You I need to see.
 
Proverbs 27:19
As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

Each Season's Perfection

The wind that whistles in the eaves
Is calling through the night.
The warmth of the daylight now fades,
Frosting all within sight.
 
The winter has its own rhythm,
Balancing dark and light.
The nights are long, the days are short,
Though often crisp and bright.
 
I love the spring, with all its joy,
The summer’s warm delight,
And winter’s cold, quiet beauty.
Each season is just right.  
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven

Bless The Lord, My Soul

I feel the Sabbath settle in,
The pace of life slows down,
And all the world within my sight
Reflects Your golden crown.
 
You are my peace within the storm,
My path when I am lost,
The shield between me and my sins.
For You have paid the cost.
 
Your mercies and Your grace abound,
Blessings beyond my due,
And I will rest upon Your Word
Knowing that I’m with You.
 
My soul sings out its praise to You
In joy that will not cease,
For this world reflects Your glory
And fills my heart with peace.
 
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits 

All Praise I Sing To Him

 

All glory to the Lord on high,
Praises I sing to Him.
He called my name and I am His.
All praise I sing to Him.
 
All glory to my soul’s Savior,
Praises I sing to Him.
He redeemed me from the darkness.
All praise I sing to Him.
 
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Praises I sing to Him.
He keeps my feet upon God’s path.
All praise I sing to Him.
 
I sing my praises to Lord,
The three, the perfect one,
Creator, Guide and Redeemer,
Father, Spirit, and Son.
 
Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit