Monday, November 30, 2015

Praise Memes






Watching Over Me


I caught you watching over me
As I ran through today.
You kept me safe on icy roads
When I got under way.
You helped me think, before I spoke,
To keep Your words in mind.
I’m fairly certain You were there
When peace was hard to find.
I’ve heard it said that You keep guard
On Your children, with love,
But after today, I’ve no doubt
You watched me from above.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Praise Memes






Looking Up


I’ve always had a thing for trees,
I don’t know why I do,
Except as they grow from the earth
Into a sky of blue
They lead me to turn my gaze up
To heaven and to You.
 
I know it’s just a little thing
And maybe silly, too,
But I can’t help look up with awe,
It’s just something I do.
For when my eyes climb through their boughs
I catch a glimpse of You.  

PRAISE MEMES


My dear friend, who is vastly talented and very faith filled, has started making these memes for my Facebook page. It has occurred to me that many of you don't follow us on Facebook, so I want to post them here, too. Thus, here are a few to start with and I'll post more over the next few days and then continue to post them as she creates more of them. Many of the photos used in the memes are mine, but many are hers as well. Some even come from others who have been kind enough to bless us with permission to use them. My thanks to TAF for all her hard work to create these and to everyone who has been kind enough to share their photos with us. Please fell free, as usual, to copy or share these as you feel so moved. If you want to follow us on Facebook we are at
 





Saturday, November 28, 2015

Beneath the Snow


The mountain stands sheathed in cold ice,
Yet deep beneath the snow
The fires of its molten core
Bubble unseen below.
 
It seems too still, almost serene,
To hide such fire within,
But that is often how it is
With mountains, and with men.
 
We all hold secrets in our hearts
That no one else can see,
Secrets of loss, of fear, of shame,
Of painful memory.
 
Walk gently then, with those you meet,
For you may never know
What burns at them from deep within,
Beneath the outer snow.
 
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Friday, November 27, 2015

The Servant's Journey


A journey lies ahead of me,
To where, I don’t yet know,
But since You’ve called, and I am Yours,
I’ll stand up and I’ll go.
 
The world is large and I am small,
But this thing I will do,
Where ever You are bound, Oh Lord,
There I will follow You.
 
I’m frightened sometimes at the thought
Of what I’ll face ahead,
But when I feel most overwhelmed
I think of You instead.
 
For if You walk that path, then I
Will travel at Your side
And this great earth will never be
Too big, too far, too wide.
 
John 12:26
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Simple Majesty


The majesty of simple things
That we see everyday
Can either go unnoticed or
They take our breath away.
It all depends on whether we
Scurry past too quickly
Or stop and simply take the time
To look and really see.
The majesty is always there,
A mirror of God’s grace,
But it is up to us to look
And recognize His face.
 
Exodus 15:11
… Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Good Night


I want to take the time tonight
To thank You properly
For getting me through this long day,
And back where I should be,
But I am so tired tonight
That I can hardly see.
So please forgive me if I’m brief
When speaking gratefully,
And know that I am thankful, Lord,
For all You do for me.
 
You’ve touched my life with boundless grace
Beyond my sinful due,
And when I’ve walked the streets of hell
You’ve brought me safely through.
I’ve learned that I can find a way
To do what I must do
If I rely upon Your strength
To charge my strength anew,
But most of all, I’ve come to see
That I can count on You.
 
So as I gaze up at the moon,
Brushing the sky with light,
I wish that I could thank You more,
But I’m too bushed to write,
A quick Thank You will have to do…
So, Thank You, Lord. Good night.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Psalm 91:4-5
















The wind blows bitterly outside,
But I am safe from harm.
I do not fear the cold dark night,
For I rest in Your arm.

It circles me comfortingly,
I can’t doubt You are near,
And all the anger of the night
Will not cause me to fear.  
 
So let the storm winds rage and howl,
I’m safe beneath Your wings,
And I trust You to hold me close
Whatever storms life brings.
 
Psalm 91:4-5 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Monday, November 23, 2015

With Thanksgiving


Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
Rejoice and praise His name,
For He’s the source of salvation
That’s yours and mine to claim.
 
See His glory shine before you,
Praise Him with great delight,
For He has redeemed all sinners
And washed them in The Light.
 
Enter His courts with thanksgiving,
Rejoice, For His love is yours,
It is the cup overflowing
That redeems and restores.
 
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Counting Stars


For every star that fills the sky
I’ve counted a blessing,
As God has touched me every day,
Through every little thing.
 
There are times I forget I’m blessed,
When life leads me astray,
But without fail another blessing
Is headed right my way.  
 
So when I start to feel my life
Has been measured in scars,
I turn my eyes to heaven and
I count my blessing stars!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Family and Laughter


Just an afternoon of laughter
With people who love me
Was all I needed, so it seems,
To set my bound heart free.
 
It was a simple reminder
That life is a blessing.
There’s nothing wrong with taking time
To lift your voice and sing.
 
Psalm 100:1-2
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Tears and Holidays


There are so many wondrous things
About this time of year
And yet, despite the joy filled days,
My eye’s touched by a tear.
 
I want to feel the joy inside
That I felt years ago,
But I find that harder to do
As the years come and go.
 
I know the joy is still in there
And it will soon come out,
But right now I fight back the tears
For those I’m left without.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

A Place for Peace


The day carried its share of stress
But there was also peace,
And grace beyond imagining
The even now won’t cease.
 
It’s not so hard to spend the day
At a speed that could thrill,
If, at the end, I find myself
Some place I can be still.
 
So Thank You for a busy day
And those who helped me through,
But most of all thanks for the place
To be still and find You.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Whispers


Lord, whisper to me in my sleep
Of hope, of truth and grace,
That when I wake up in the dawn,
I’ll recognize Your face.
 
Whisper to me of Your promise,
Remind me of my debt,
That I might always remember,
That I will not forget.
 
Whisper to me of heaven
Where I may dwell someday,
That I might live a worthy life.
For these whispers I pray.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Walking in Faith


I need to keep “walking in faith”,
That’s not an easy thing,
It seems instead I walk in dread
Of what each day might bring.
 
They say that faith will heal my fear,
I must keep that in mind.
Why am I still inclined to doubt,
When You have been so kind?
 
I know the way, You walked it first,
And I should follow You,
But I, instead, still walk with dread.
A sad fact, but it’s true.
 
You have shown me, time and again,
That You’ll be here for me,
Maybe I should let go the doubt
I’ve clung to pointlessly
And take that first step back on track
To walking faithfully.

Monday, November 16, 2015

A Stormy Night


Thank You, Lord, for the stormy night
That whistles through the eaves
And tosses the cold stars about
Like frosty autumn leaves.
 
Thanks for the rain fall on the roof
That sings a winter song
Enticing me to listen in
Until I sing along.
 
And thank You for the company
That makes the darkness bright
And keeps me smiling through the storm
Until morning’s calm light.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Right Path


There are those paths that look so right,
We follow easily.
Yet, in the end they lead us where
We never meant to be.
 
We wind up in a bramble patch
Or way out in the weeds
With nothing but a long way back
To show for all our deeds.
 
It’s hard to know the path to take
Just from a passing glance,
But since the Lord walks by my side,
I sometimes take the chance.
 
Proverbs 23:19
Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Heaven and Earth


There was that evening, long ago,
That helped me understand
What is meant by “heaven and earth
Are both within God’s hand.”
 
I saw the moon rise through the trees.
As it came into view,
It crested past the mountain’s peak,
Washed in a pastel hue.
 
There in that moment, as they past,
They both lay in God’s hand
Heaven and earth, there side by side,
Answering His command.
 
Deuteronomy 10:14
To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Wrongs and Right


I need some time to trim the rage
That’s flaring in my heart.
I find I want to fan it hot,
But that is not my part.
 
It seems that evil’s rise is swift,
Bringing tears to my eyes,
But justice will rise swifter still
To clear the darkened skies.
 
And like the duck caught on the pond
By the eagle in flight,
Evil will find its will outmatched,
For God will set wrongs right.
 
Luke 22:36
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Life on the Edge


Things often seem precarious
When we’re perched on the edge,
And we think we might just get by
If we could reach the ledge.
Yet there’s a trick known by the few
Who always seem to thrive,
They simply choose to look to God
And thank Him they’re alive.
 
So don’t give up, look up instead.
Don’t fear life on the edge.
When you grow up toward His light
You’ll grow right past the ledge.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Clear Skies


I try to soar without a fear,
Letting faith be my guide,
But there are days when I just want
To hunker down and hide.
It’s in those days that I reach out,
My need drives me to call
To ask You to lift me again,
Or catch me when I fall.
And every time I say that prayer,
Humbled by worry’s wraith,
I find You’ve cleared the skies enough
For me to find my faith.
 
Isaiah 57:14
And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Stumbling on the Path


I feel as If I’m walking blind
Along a rugged way.
I trip and tumble, and I fear
I might quit and stay down.
 
Yet when I feel most in the dark,
With scraped and bleeding knees,
I hear Your voice call out to me,
“My child, I hear your pleas.”
 
“The way may not be smooth right now,
But I will walk by you.
Then, when you stumble, I’ll be there
To help you walk on through.“
 
“Soon we will walk out of the rough
And into a new light,
But I will help you until then
For you are my delight.”
 
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Monday, November 9, 2015

A River in the Desert


My mind is barren tonight, Lord,
A desert without thought,
For I have been seared to the brain
By all this day has wrought.
 
Lord, You are like a deep river
That feeds the barren soil
Until it blossoms into joy
That no desert can spoil.
 
Please flow through me, Lord. Let me bloom,
Replenished by Your grace.
Then let me linger on Your shore
Within sight of Your face.  
 
Psalm 105:41
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

One more lovely photo in a gift and a blessing from CTM. Thank You!!!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Safe Landing


Thank you for the safe landing
Back where I want to be
And thank you for the family
That I was blessed to see.
Thank you for those I came home to
Who mean the world to me.
And thank you for my own bed, Lord,
Which I missed terribly!

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Remembering To Be Still


Keeping it all together, Lord,
Can be an act of will,
Sometimes I need to slow down and
Remember to be still.
 
It seems like I run all the time,
There’s so much day to fill,
I forget how much I need to
Remember to be still.
 
So Lord I ask You to help me
To just hold on until
I get done all I need to do
And can stop and be still.

This photo is a gift from CTM. What a wonderful reminder that we all need to take time to simply be still with God.

Friday, November 6, 2015

I Hope You Didn't See


I hope You didn’t see me, Lord,
When I did what I did.
I’m old enough to know better,
But behaved like a kid.
 
I hope You didn’t hear me, Lord,
When I said what I said.
I had a mean thought deep inside
That popped out of my head.

I hope you didn’t notice me,
Lord, I just misbehaved.
I want to act as You’d expect
From one that you have saved,
 
But I’ve so often looked around
To note I’ve gone astray.
Those are the moments when I hope
You might have looked away.

This perfect photo was a gift from ATF. What a sweet camouflaged owl and what a great blessing. Thank you!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

A Tiny Voice


I feel as if my tiny voice
Must get lost in the roar
Of voices calling out His name
Numbering more and more.
 
Yet still He seems to hear me call,
As if my voice was clear
Amid the cacophonic noise
The must assail His ear.
 
For every word whispered in faith,
However small or meek,
Will reach the hearing and the heart
Of Him, to whom we speak.
 
And He will answer every call,
For He holds us that dear.
So I will raise my tiny voice
In faith that He will hear.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Time and Seasons


The seasons come, then move along.
Time runs its endless course,
And we are but a single thought
In time’s prolonged discourse.
 
Though we may not see it unfold,
Time moves within His Grace,
And we can’t change the speed of time,
So we move at His pace.
 
The simplest and mightiest
Both live within His will,
And neither has the power to
Make time turn or stand still.
 
It seems so insignificant,
The lifespan of a man,
But we are not without purpose
Within God’s perfect plan.
 
So take the gift of time you have
Been given in each day,
And make the most of that sweet gift
Before it slips away.
 
Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Pause to Pray


Oh Lord, I pause and bow my head,
Despite my busy day,
To count the blessings in my life
Which You have sent my way.
 
The hurried pace I sometimes live
Distracts me from Your Grace
And I find that I miss You when
I keep up such a pace.  
 
So I’ve decided, in each day,
To take time, now and then,
To pause and simply chat with You,
Before I start again.

Monday, November 2, 2015

A Breath, A Prayer


The world seemed to toss me about
At the start of the day,
But holding on in faith, I’ve found,
Can turn things back my way.
It’s not about having some pull
With this great universe.
It’s more like knowing attitude
Can put stress in reverse.
Taking a breath, saying a prayer
And looking for the grace
Can lift me from the crazy whirl
Into a peaceful place.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

One Voice Calling


A voice was crying all alone,
Prepare, He’s on His way
And He will turn the darkest night
Into the brightest day.
 
He does not come to make the path
Smooth all along the way,
But He will guide us as we walk
The rock strewn path each day.
 
He comes to lift the weight of sin,
That’s become our great load,
But we must follow as He leads,
Not wander our own road.
 
One voice cried out to all the world,
But few were listening.
It seems to day we might just face
Very much the same thing.
 
Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.