Wisdom and Joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the other garden blossoms

Are prettier than me,
Their petals, ruffled in the breeze,
Are shaped so perfectly.
 
But I am well beyond my prime,
My beauty fades away.
Each petal withers, then it falls,
I’ve fewer every day.
 
They say that wisdom comes with age…
So I must not be old,
But every inch of leaf and stem
Starts aching in the cold.
 
Though wisdom may not be mine yet,
I’m making a good start,
For, old or young, pretty or worn,
God’s joy blooms in my heart!
 
Job 32:7-8
I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

Don't Fear the Storm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw the storm clouds rolling in

Across the distant hill,
And felt the air catch in my throat
As it grew thick and still
 
So ominous as it approached,
It rumbled in my mind,
And I was frantic, searching for
Some refuge I might find.
 
But I was caught out in the storm
With no place I could go
When lightening flashed across the sky
And wind began to blow.
 
I knelt down in the rising wind
And cried out in His name,
“Please turn the storm, for my life’s sake,
Or at least make it tame.”
 
But in my heart I knew the storm
Would not turn from its path,
And I would have to find the strength
To withstand its full wrath.
 
So I rose up to face the storm,
Because I knew I could,
And I felt Him right by my side;
That’s when I understood.
 
He did not need to turn the storm,
His presence was my balm.
For, once I knew that He was there,
I faced the storm with calm.
 
And now each storm that hammers me
Does not leave me in fear
For I do not face them alone,
My Savior’s always near.

Lost and Found

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had no doubt that I was lost,

I fell and could not stand.
Though I had travelled many days
Across the barren land,
It seemed that I could not escape
The mountain’s circling band.
At first I wept with fear, then I
Began to understand…
I was not lost; I’d found my way
Into Your loving hand.
 
For Yours is every mountain peak,
Each hollow, shaded dale,
And Your love flows through every stream
Along the mountain trail.
Although the path was steep and rough,
Compounded by travail,
Still, in the end, I found my strength
In love that cannot fail.
 
Psalm 95:4
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

A Joyful Shadow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may be just a humble weed

Growing beside the curb,
But with the bright light of the sun
Its shadow is superb.
 
And we can be just like that weed,
Despite our humble plight;
We still can cast a joyful shadow
By living in God’s light.

Make Life Sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiding there among the blossoms

He seems so fierce to me,
But, when I look beneath the fear,
There’s so much more to see.
 
Without him there would be no bloom,
In seasons yet to be,
And through his efforts all day long
Comes the sweet honey.
 
So much like me, that honey bee,
It can do so much good,
But, if it chose to offer hurt,
It most certainly could.
 
Thus I keep focused on the good
That I can do each day
And try to make life sweeter for
Those I meet on the way!

Blending in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though I’m a plain and simple thing,

Unnoticed on most days,
By lots of folks who pass me by
Down sidewalks and hallways;
I know that God sees me each day,
And loves me just the same,
As any creature, lovelier,
For I live in His Name.
 
And I may blend in to the world
That passes me right by,
But I know I can’t disappear
Beneath God’s loving eye.
 
Psalm 121:8
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

My Life is Hard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cried out to the Lord in rage,

“Why have You made it so?
You’ve planted me in barren rock
And then told me to grow.”
 
“My child I need you to be strong
That you may offer shade
To those who otherwise might fail
In these fierce lands I’ve made.
 
I need you to stand up to heat,
To winter storms that blow.
Thus I have planted you in rock
With strength you’ll need to grow.
 
So do not doubt my faith in you,
I know your heart is strong,
But trust Me when I say to you,
I’ve planned this all along.”

I Will Hasten

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Day was long, and filled with joy,

With family and fun,
But I was anxious to depart
For one task was undone.
 
I needed to spend time with You,
So I said my good bye
Then hurried off to spend some time
Just my Dear Lord and I.
 
I found myself, all through the day,
With thoughts turning to You.
But the fast pace kept cutting in
As it is want to do.
 
But now my heart is set on You,
I’ll hurry on my way
And spend some time within Your peace
To praise you and to pray.  
 
Psalm 119:60
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Let The Light Shine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If He’s The Light and we’re the world,

Living within His glow,
Then we should open each closed door
So that His Light can grow
To fill the spaces lost in night,
Where streams of terror flow
And pain and sorrow seek a hope
They fear they’ll never know.
 
Try not to block another’s light,
Instead, help it to grow,
That those who dwell, lost in the night,
May someday see His Glow!
 
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 34:5

I seek always to find the Lord
In every leaf and tree.
In fact, I look to see His face
In everything I see.
 
I see him in the rising moon.
The sun across the bay;
I find Him on the summer breeze
Or in a winter day.
 
With diligence I seek the Lord
That someday, through His grace,
I’ll stand before Him and I’ll feel
His Love shine on my face.
 
Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Photo is a blessing from AF and HF

Lost in the Weeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I often get lost in the weeds

Of all that has gone wrong
Instead of keeping my eyes on
What’s been right all along.
 
The blessings we see every day
Sometimes slip from our sight
When we get focused on what’s wrong
Instead of what is right.
 
So help me, Lord, direct my sight
To focus on the good,
Let troubles wither from neglect,
As they properly should.

He Is Mightier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I feel overwhelmed and lost,

Consumed by my despair
I want to give up every hope
Of living through my care.
 
But I know that, however large,
My troubles seem to be.        
They cannot stand against the force
Of God’s fierce love for me.
 
He shaped the stars and formed the earth
Then set them on their path.
How minor by comparison
Is mortal pain or wrath.
 
So I will give my fears and woes
To Him who word is life,
And I will carry on in faith
Unfazed by pain or strife.   
 
Psalm 102:25
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Seeking Him

I seek to find Him everywhere
He dwells in everything.
The morning’s sun that ruffles on
The songbird’s golden wing.

I seek Him in the words He spoke,
The promise I find there.
I seek the Lord with all my heart
And He is always there.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 123:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I lift my eyes to heaven

I’m filled with wonder at your grace.
When I lift my arms to heaven
You clasp me in your safe embrace.
When I lift my heart to heaven
All my fears vanish without trace.
When I lift my soul to heaven
Your glory reflects in my face.
 
Psalm 123:1
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

Red Sky At Morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m told a red sky with the dawn

Means trouble’s on its way,
But it still represents to me
The best part of the day.
 
I used to live all by myself,
Though life was seldom slow,
And, when I wanted something more,
I’d just get up and go.
 
But now I live within the task
That you have given me,
And, while I’m not a prisoner,
My time is never free.
 
I can’t just go out for a while
Or stay in when I choose,
For I have people who need me.
My time’s not mine to use.
 
In fact, the only time that’s mine,
Is when the first lights dawn,
For once the sun is fully up
The day’s adventure’s on!
 
So you can watch for storms to come
With every ruby dawn,
But I will claim my moment’s peace,
Rejoice, then carry on.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days

The Narrow Path

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way was wide and smooth to walk

That led away from God,
But tangled was the narrow path
That they, the faithful, trod.
 
Those whom He called to spread the word,
And those who heard their voice,
Were all who chose to walk the path
When God gave them the choice.
 
They lived their lives along that path,
In service to His word,
And, though the path was hard to walk,
They blessed all those who heard.
 
Thus His path was less travelled on,

And so it is today,

But wide and easy is the road
That leads a soul astray.
 
Matthew 7:12-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even as battered as it is,

Its beauty is divine;
Its wings, though tattered by travail,
Are delicate and fine.
For, all that God has made on earth,
He’s marked with grace sublime,
And everything is beautiful
Despite the scars of time.
 
The vastness of His mighty works
Are hard to comprehend,
And even time’s beyond our grasp,
From beginning to end.
Yet He sees all His creation,
However great or small,
With eyes that look, beyond the sin,
To beauty in us all.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Patient Expectation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I lived in a murky panic,

When everything went wrong.
I struggled through each weary day,
Still losing all along.
 
I prayed that You would intercede
And begged for a reprieve.
I asked for some small direction
In which I could believe.
 
Before dawn I had a vision,
You clearly spoke to me.
You put it into words I know,
As plain as it could be.
 
“Think of it as a cake you bake.
You wait, expectantly,
For time to pass, so it’s well done.
You do so patiently.
 
For you know if you take it out
Before the cake’s cooked through,
Then it will fall, become a mess,
And you must start anew.”
 
So now, when things get murkier
Than I can quite see through,
I don’t let panic overwhelm.
I know just what to do.
 
I wait for what is to come next
To cook completely through.
With patient expectation, Lord,
I gladly wait on You.
 
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

By Your Fruit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God plants a seed in every heart,

But we must make it grow.
It only thrives with diligence
And, by its fruit, He’ll know.
 
Nurture the seed within your heart,
Let God’s abundance show,
That all who see it see Him too,
And by your fruit they’ll know.
 
Matthew 7:19-21
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Pierced By Shame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know the way that I should live,

The path that I should walk,
But sometimes I’m distracted by
All of the noise and talk.
 
I let myself get caught up in
The things that I should not;
I know You’ve shown me how to live.
I guess I just forgot.
 
I wandered out a bit too far
Into the bitter weeds
Of wilful thoughts, of careless words,
And bold, rambunctious deeds.
 
But just before I lost my way
And strayed too far from You
My heart was pierced by awareness
Of all I know is true.
 
While I might rightfully bear shame
For what I thought or said,
I’m grateful that you called me back;
I cling to that, instead.
 
Romans 2:15
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Even Such Little Things as Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel so overwhelmed sometimes,

Crushed to my very soul,
I don’t believe there’s any hope
That I’ll ever be whole.
 
I know you move the sun and stars
With a simple command,
While every bud that spring gives birth
Flowers within Your hand.
 
Why would a mind, so powerful,
Take time to stop and see
The worries that can overwhelm
The heart of one like me.
 
And yet, as small as I may be,
You still hear every prayer
While guiding the sun on its path
You guide me, too, with care.
 
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Gather Together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They say there is strength in numbers

I say there’s beauty, too,
For when we gather together,
We also gather with You.
 
Even the darkest of places,
Sparkle when touched by His Light,
So come, beloved of Jesus,
Let’s gather in His sight.
 
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

They Will Be Gone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many things these days

That drive my heart to rage,
But God has cautioned me to calm,
For wrath becomes a cage.
The things that I can handle here,
I’ll tackle, I suppose,
But all the rest I’ll give to God,
And let Him handle those.
 
Although the problems of this earth
Spread far beyond my sight,
I know there aren’t so many wrongs
That God can’t make them right.
For He can see beyond today
To when all wrongs have past,
And He’s assured me that evil
May flourish, but won’t last.
 
So lift your heart and live in joy,
Stand up for what is true.
Then give the rest into His care,
For He knows what to do.

Psalm 37:8-10
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.  A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

Only In Light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It stands alone, each day at dawn,

To greet the rising sun,
And joyfully it lifts its face
As each new day’s begun.
 
It does not fear the night that’s past,
For light shines out each dawn,
And, even in the dark of night,
In its heart light shines on.
 
It stands apart from all its kind
Living not in their shade
For it knows that, only in light,
Is God’s true face displayed.
 
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

In Simpler Terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With just a word He formed the stars

And shaped the earth and sea.
He spoke, and light broke through the dark;
Then all life came to be.
 
His way is perfect in all things,
Hard as it is to see,
But when I see it all in place,
I’m inclined to agree.
 
Yet, when creation’s immenseness
Looms overwhelmingly,
I try to put it all in terms
That makes more sense to me
 
Instead of counting endless stars,
To vast for me to see,
I recall that He made the bloom,
But also made the bee.
 
Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.