This Day's End

Oh, I will rest in You, my Lord,

When this day ends at last.
May sunset find me, still and safe,
With this day’s worries past.
 
I know that each new day that comes
Will have its worries, too.
But for this night let me find peace
And let me rest in You.  

My Restless Mind

My mind is scattered everywhere,

It’s always on the move.
Fluttering randomly, as if
It has something to prove.
 
I try to find a quiet place,
Hoping that it will land,
But I can’t get it to be still
Enough to simply stand.
 
Even as I lay down at night
To seek the peace of sleep
It’s always up, moving around
With worries it must keep.
 
Oh Lord, I think I’m losing it,
My mind just can’t be still.
Yet I hope, when I pray tonight,
To still it to Your will.
 
Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Where's My Focus

The day started with wind and rain

The traffic stood in place.
The only way that I got through
Was focusing on Grace.
 
I know I’ve said this more than once,
Yet each day reminds me
There’s trouble all along the path
But Grace is what I see.  
 
I try to look up from the mud,
And spot the bright rainbow.
Both come as a result of rain,
But one is Grace, I know.

 

So, when you feel anger or pain
Take you in its embrace,
Remember there is also joy
And focus on the Grace.

Dressing It Up

Even the unappealing things

That clutter every day
Take on an aura of beauty
When God has His own way.
 
His touch is obvious to see,
Even an old storm drain
Wears a coat of many colors
No longer grim and plain.
                                        
All we need do is stop and look,
Take time to really see,
And even the dreariest things
Are bright as they can be.

Standing Out

Don’t work so hard just to fit in,

God made you to stand out.
He would not have made you that way
If there was any doubt
That He had plans for you to be
Different from all the rest.
Don’t be ashamed to be unique,
Just give God all your best.

Rejoicing as It Falls

The leaf that dropped into the pond

Left ripples as it fell.
As if, though it was near the end,
It still had tales to tell.
 
Perhaps they were of peaceful days
Rustling in a soft breeze
Rejoicing in the summer sun
That warmed the nearby trees.
 
Or maybe they were tails of joy
That could only be found
Dancing upon the autumn winds
Whirling down to the ground.
 
Its peaceful drop was touched with grace
And my heart heard it call,
“Do not mourn me. See how I dance,
Rejoicing as I fall?”

Focused and Calm

Lord, help me focus in today.

Give me a place of calm
Where I can go and remember
That I rest in your palm.
 
Today will be so filled with noise
And things that can go wrong,
But it should also be a day
Of rejoicing and song.
 
So help me, Lord, to stay in peace,
And do my very best.
Then I’ll rely on You, Dear Lord,
To handle all the rest!

The Whirlwind

At last the whirlwind’s coming down,

I feel it in the air.
It’s tearing at the cloudy skies
And whipping through my hair.
 
What has been coming, now is here
And I feel whipped and tossed.
I’m fraying so fast that I fear
There’s a chance I’ll be lost.
 
In two days’ time it will be past
And this panic will end.
Until then I have to hold on
And just ride out the wind!
 
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him

Soar on the Turbulence

They ride upon the rising wind

With sunlight on their wing
Questing each day for all that life,
In its great scope, may bring.
 
They don’t complain about the winds
That buffet them in flight.
They use them to gain altitude,
To aid them in their flight.
 
Perhaps there’s something to be said
About that attitude…
Don’t let the turbulence of life
Depress your joyful mood.
 
Instead, use it to lift you up,
Higher than you have flown,
And carry you to achieve more
Than you have ever known!

Needless Worries

The path ahead is so obscured,

And yet I must walk on.
I know that when I’ve reached the end
These worries will be gone.
 
They have no power over me
Unless I give them play,
And yet they linger in my path
To trip me up each day.
 
I see the light that’s up ahead
And I know I’ll get through,
But, until that day, pushing on
Is all that I can do.
 
Psalm 25:15
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Perseverance

Some days perseverance alone

Is all that gets me through.
When my rock meets a stony place,
I dig my roots in You.
 
I know that I am tested now
That someday I might live
With all the blessings that a life
Of faith and strength can give.
 
So bring on all the stony paths,
The hard places to go,
And I will dig my roots in deep,
Hold tight and fight to grow!
 
James 1:2-4 
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Resting in God

I rested by the shore today,

Nestled within its peace.
For, when I hear the sounding waves,
My spirit finds release.
 
Thus is it with the Lord, also,
I’m still within His Grace.
When I am frantic, tossed and blown
He is my resting place.
 
If I can stay within the calm
That flows from God to shore,
Then I can face whatever storm
That life may hold in store.
 
Psalm 62:1
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Obedient as Nature

The flowers do not bloom in fall

They only burst in spring
And autumn winds sing different songs
Than those winter would sing.

The seasons move obedient

To plans that You’ve outlined
And all occurs as it should be
With patterns that refined.
 
But then you come to folk like me,
Stiff necked, I think’s the word,
And, though I know what You expect,
I act like I’ve not heard.
 
Obedience is not that hard,
And Your yoke is quite light.            .
I’ve come to learn that things go well
When I do what is right,
 
But still I have this stubborn streak,
I’m obstinate at best.
I want to be obedient,
And still I fail the test.
 
So turn my heart back to you, Lord,
Teach me what flowers know.
Remind me that when I obey
Blossoms of joy will grow.
 
1 Kings 8:58
May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.

Waiting on the Lord

I know that this climb waits for me,

But now I have no strength.
So I will wait upon the Lord
For strength enough at length.
 
Oh Lord I want to make this climb,
As You expect me to,
But as yet I’m not strong enough
So I will wait on you.
 
Your word has offered me this hope
That I can count on You,
But I must wait upon Your time
If I’m to see it through.
 
So, Lord, I’ll wait upon Your will
And then I’ll make that climb.
For I have found You faithful, Lord.
I’ll wait upon Your time.
 
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Frost and Joy

There was a touch of frost that day

That fringed each perfect leaf
And crystalized my every breath,
Though the chill kept them brief.
 
Yet still the rich colors of life
Shown through that frosty glaze,
Reminding me that there is joy
Even in such cold days.
 
I will not let the my thought dwell long
On winter’s biting chill,
When I can focus on the life
That beats beneath it still!
 
Genesis 8:22
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

A Prayer, A Thank You

Oh Lord, let me speak only words

That bring glory to You.
Let nothing that I do today
Be what I should not do.
Keep my feet moving on the path
That You would have me walk
And when I come to those rough spots
Please, Lord, don’t let me balk.
Let joy and love be what I show,
Whatever I may feel,
And when I think too much of me,
Remind me, Lord, to kneel.
Let me give humbly of myself
To those who are in need,
And, while I take care of me, too,
Don’t let me turn to greed.
Let me take time to stop and pray,
To reflect on Your grace.
And, Lord, when I feel most afraid
Hold me in Your embrace.
I pray these things in gratitude
For all You’ve done for me,
That I might not take for granted
How rich Your grace can be.

The Raindrop Butterfly

I watched the rain run down the pane

And pool upon the sill.
I thought how dreary winter is,
It cannot be God’s will.
 
The rain poured on unceasingly
And my spirits drooped low
For winter has only begun
With many months to go.
 
The sun broke through for just a flash,
A dazzle caught my eye
For there, caught in a spider’s web,
Was a bright butterfly.
 
Small raindrops glittered on a web
Shaped like a butterfly,
And all that I could do was grin
As new rain hit the sky.
 
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Unique Perfection

You may not have a perfect smile,

Your face might be too round,
And photographs might show more flaws
Than any good you’ve found.
 
You might just talk a bit too loud,
Or sometimes play too rough,
And while you like to think you give
You feel it’s not enough.
 
You call them flaws, embarrassments
You see each gash and scar.
But they’re the unique perfections
That make you who you are.
 
Don’t hide yourself away in shame
Relax and let them show.
Delight in your unique perfection
For God has made you so.

Work and Rest

A dragonfly dropped by today

And settled on my sleeve
I held my breath and dared not move
For fear that it would leave.
 
It flitted off and settled on
A branch touched by the sun.
I pondered how long it might live
With autumn nearly done.
 
Its life is short enough most days
And these days aren’t the best,
Yet he took time amidst his day,  
To relax and to rest.
 
I spent the day running around
As if I’d lost my mind,
Yet, when I finally got home,
What message did I find?
 
Life is too short to live that way,
Work hard, then have some fun.
Get out and play, visit a friend,
And relax in the sun.

Above the Storm

Fly! Rise above the storms of life

And let your spirit roar.
For God gave you the wings to climb
Above the wind swept shore.
 
Faint not, in fear, when storm clouds rise,
But climb on high and soar.
Rise up and praise Him as you climb,
For life has much in store.
 
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Living Water

Lord this day has me running fast,

Too fast to stop and think.
I don’t have time to change my mind,
Much less to stop and blink.
 
But in my mind I rest within
My savior’s warm embrace
And drink the waters that flow from
God’s never ending grace.
 
However wild the day may be
My spirit’s calm and whole,
For I have drunk from flowing streams
Of grace that feed my soul.
 
John 4:13-15
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Faith Calls Out

The day was dark and difficult,

And all I did went wrong.
I hunkered down and did my best
To simply get along.
 
But then I thought I should reach out,
Ask You to see me through,
I watched the dark clouds breaking up,
The sunlight bursting through.
 
Perhaps it was coincidence
That both happened right then,
But I believe faith called the light
That set things right again.
 
Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Seeing The Blessings

It’s so hard to count the blessings

If your eyes cannot see
Even the smallest gift from God
For the Grace it can be.

Blessings don’t just come with trumpets,

Though some most surely do.
More often they’re the every day
Small things that come to you.
 
The day you left early for work
And saw the gold sunrise.
How breathtaking that blessing was,
But did you see those skies?
 
The rain that fell, but stopped in time
So that your team could play.
Was that just a coincidence,
Or God’s hand on your day?
 
The home that keeps the storms at bay,
The food that’s there to eat,
Even the safe drive home each night
When the work day’s complete.
 
They are all blessings in your life,
Though you might not notice.
It’s hard to say you live unblessed
When you have all of this.
 
So take the time to see the light.
And not just the dark skies.
You’ll never see how blessed you are
With your “blessing blind” eyes.

The Light Has Come

The darkness does not rule the earth

Its reign is brief at best.
It cannot set the course of life,
Only put it to test.
 
For life is born and flourishes
Within the warmth of light
And there is no point lingering
Within the fears of night.
 
So, when they hound you from your sleep
And set your heart to quake,
Remind those fears their time is past,
The light will once more break.
 
Isaiah 60:1
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Something Like Her

I thought of you again today

Just like I often do.
It made me happy when I did,
And a bit lonely, too.
 
I know it was your time to go,
And that’s as it should be,
But some have said they see your face
When they’re looking at me.
 
So, though you left this earth behind,
A bit of you stayed, too.
It makes me smile to think that I
Remind someone of you!

Watching Over Me

I used to think that I’m so small

That I’d be overlooked.
Not by design, but just because
God might be overbooked.
 
But as I grew closer to God
I better understood,
He always has His eyes on me,
Watching out for my good.
 
Psalm 121:3
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber

Autumn Blossoms

Thank You for the little blooms

That linger through the fall.
When I see them I celebrate
That I’ve not lost it all.
 
I have not lost the summer sun,
It lives still in their blooms
And it will brighten each new day
As they cheer winter rooms.
 
I have not lost the hope of spring,
In them it lingers on,
And it will last beyond the days
When autumn’s leaves are gone.
 
I have not lost joyful song,
I see it in each face
That bursts forth in the autumn’s light
And reminds me of Grace.

I Didn't See It Coming

I never saw it coming, Lord,

It slipped right up on me,
Though I was watching in good faith
And praying fervently.
 
I didn’t see it coming, Lord,
It took me by surprise.
It wasn’t there and then it was,
All right before my eyes.
 
I watched and yet I missed it still,
It came out of nowhere,
I never saw it coming, Lord,
Until it was right there.
 
You promised me that it would come,
And I waited to see.
Yet still it slipped up on me, Lord,
The blessing You sent me.
 
But I am grateful for the grace
I never saw coming,
And I am learning that surprise
Can be a blessed thing.

Mansions

On earth we build mansions of stone

And fill them with our pride,
Yet all the while we live in fear
Of losing what’s inside.
 
God builds mansions filled with the lives
Of those Christ came to save.
Each room is home to redeemed souls
Who’ve risen from the grave.
 
While He walked here, upon the earth,
He laid foundations there,
That we might have a home with Him
When we lay down life’s care.
 
So let us build our mansions here,
But know without a doubt,
God has a room He holds for us,
That we can dream about.
 
John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This lovely photo of Sandringham Estate was a blessing from KJ. Thank you, so much, for the perfect photo for this praise.

Autumn Years

As I move into my autumn,

When life starts to slow down,
I don’t look at what’s left to me,
And wear a grumpy frown.
 
I’ll lift up the tattered edges
Of my bright colored days
And dance upon the winds of life
Singing my songs of praise.
 
I know that I cannot change life,
But life will not change me,
And, as I drift at last to earth,
I’ll rejoice that I’m free!

To Live Fearlessly

He rises up above the earth

Seeking the face of God on high,
For he feels closest to the Lord
When sweeping, fierce, across the sky.
And even when he drops to earth
To rest himself for one more try,
He perches high above the world.
Then, without fear, he leaps to fly.
 
How can he live so fearlessly
When I’m bound, timidly, to earth?
He understands, better than I,
We are fearfully made at birth.
He strives to live his life each day
Not seeking comfort, ease and mirth,
But yearning to give back to God
Full measure of his birth’s true worth.
 
Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.