You, The Moon, And Me

 

The day was filled with so much grace,
So many chores got done
Before I just sat down to rest
And watch the setting sun.
 
I watched it wash the world in light
Before it slipped away,
But it was not until moonrise
That peace agreed to stay.
 
It settled just above the crown
Of a bare, winter tree,
And simply rested there a while
To keep me company.
 
There were some great gifts all day long
But none compared, clearly,
To sitting there, the three of us,
Just You, the moon, and me.
 
Thank You for helping me to do
More than I thought I could,
But mostly for the time with You.
It did my soul such good.
 
Psalm 116:7
Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Working Joyfully Always

 

It’s true life has its ups and downs,
Maybe even dismay,
But you are working for the Lord,
So be glad every day.
 
He’s given you a task to do
Because He knows you can.
Though you may doubt you have the skills,
Rejoice! This is His plan.
 
Don’t let this topsy turvy world
Leave you doubting your worth,
For He knew all you would achieve
Even before your birth.
 
Despite the ups and upside downs
That this life holds for you,
Work joyfully, as for the Lord,
In everything you do.
 
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Thankful Praise

 

Each day Your blessings overflow,
Each night I sleep in peace.
My worries scatter like the mist,
I feel them fade, then cease.
 
I don’t know what each dawn may bring,
But what I do not doubt
Is that You know, and I have faith
That You’ll guide me throughout.
 
Each day may bring trouble my way,
But it will also hold
Too many blessings to number,
And I’ll watch them unfold.
 
Each evening as the sun settles
Beneath the star filled sky,
I find Your peace nesting in me,
For You’re always nearby.
 
Lord, I praise You with joy filled heart,
My soul wrapped in delight,
For all the blessings each day brings
And for Your peace each night.
 
Psalm 92:1-2
It’s good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High: to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

The beautiful photo of the sunrise is another blessing from DE. 

The Sojourner

The world keeps rushing in at me
Like waves upon the shore.
Yet I do not fear its swift tides,
For I’ve seen them before.
 
I used to live within the world.
It called me and I came,
But I no longer hear it now
When it calls out my name.
 
For I have found the path I sought,
The voice I will follow,
And neither was born of this world.
That’s all I need to know.
 
The soul that this world used to own,
Was purchased at a price
Far greater than it warranted.
My soul, His sacrifice.
 
He calls me to walk through this world,
Keeping my eyes on Him,
That I will not be swept away
When life once more turns grim.
 
Yes, I still walk this storm swept world,
As He’s called me to do,
But only as sojourner.
I’m following Him through.
 
I do not fear what I can’t hear,
The call of temptation.
The only voice I listen to,
Is that of Heaven’s Son.
 
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 

Another amazing photo from ATF and the beach! 

Lessons Learned

 

It lay there on the beach today,
Washed in upon the tide.
As it waited for the next wave,
It drew me to its side.
 
I knew that it would not survive
If that wave never came,
But it lay there in perfect peace
And praised God’s holy name.
 
It bore the mark upon its back
Of Christ on Calvary.
It reflected back heaven’s light
And not earth’s misery.
 
I thought I heard a voice whisper
A verse I knew by heart,
“Be still and know that I am God”.
It surely fit the part.
 
It lay there not knowing its fate,
Wearing its faith out loud.
Just being still, trusting in Him,
Humble in awe, not proud.
 
The waves were rolling in closer,
So I went on my way,
But I won’t forget the lessons
Learned on the beach today.
 
I’m still not sure which one it was
That I was there to see;
Being still in His glory or
Faith in adversity.
 
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

This amazing photo of a jellyfish on the beach is another blessing from ATF! 

In Your Right Hand

 

This world can lead us far away
From our own native land,
But we can’t travel far enough
To slip out of Your hand.
 
Though we sail through the ocean’s tides
Or ride the wind swept sky,
We cannot travel out of sight
Of Your adoring eye.
 
You hold us close, yet let us soar,
The world is ours to see.
Though, when the stormy winds rise up,
We know where You will be.
 
We cannot lose all hope in You
When You hold us so tight.
You are the wind that fills our sails
And You’re our guiding light.
 
Lord, I may seek some distant land,
Or settle by the sea,
But either way, I’m in Your hand.
Right where I want to be.
 
Psalm 139:9-10
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 

Another sweet beach photo from ATF! What a beautiful photo.

Within Your Stillness

 
I stand within Your stillness, Lord,
Your blessings fill the air,
And I am washed within that grace.
Your love is everywhere.
 
I stand within Your stillness, Lord,
Rejoicing in Your light
And singing praises to Your name.
You are my soul’s delight.
 
Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

A Neighborly Turtle - Just For Fun

 
They had a neighbor stop by today
To check that all was well.
He wanted to brighten their day,
But couldn’t reach the bell.
 
His heart was where it’s meant to be,
Offering neighbors grace.
Yet, he found frustration instead
Of a neighborly face.
 
Still, he had tried to reach out to
His neighbors, as he should,
And that was when God’s plan stepped in
To turn this loss to good.
 
For before he could turn and leave
More neighbors stopped by, too,
And they were tall enough to do
The ringing he can’t do.
 
Loving others as ourselves and
Helping in all we do,
Was magnified in that visit…
Friendly neighbors times two!
 
Matthew 22:39
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
 
1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Thanks to ATF for this fun photo of a random turtle showing up to a friend's door... just ahead of her arrival. 

I Give You Thanks

The day was filled with lots of joy,
And blessings everywhere.
Tonight is time to just be still
And lift, to You, my prayer.
 
Thank You for watching over me,
My coming and going,
And for blessing me with the joy
That friendships always bring.
 
Thank You for time spent in Your Word,
For helping me to grow
In understanding more fully
All You want me to know.
 
Thank You for food and a safe home,
And for all those who care.
Most of all, Lord, I thank You
For always being there.
 
For holding me when I am weak,
For comfort when I cry,
And, if I find myself astray,
I know that You’re nearby.
 
In everything I do each day
There is something of You,
Your love, Your mercy and Your grace.
Lord, I give thanks to You.
 
Psalm 118:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Praise Him Anyway!

Lord, I think my train of thought
Has jumped the track today.
I’m not quite sure when it happened
Or what drove it astray.
 
I know that I set out today
With my plans well in place,
But here I sit, at this day’s end,
Of my thoughts, there’s no trace.
 
I guess that life holds many things
That fall outside our plan.
I’m grateful that You can control
The things I never can.
 
Lord, I may be wheels deep in mud,
My thoughts scattered about,
But I know You love me enough
To show me the way out.
 
Thank You for staying close to me
And for Your patience, too.
Even if I can’t find my words,
They still belong to You.
 
Psalm 146:1-2
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.