Because in each day, no matter how dark or how long, there is a praise to be found. Sometimes our hearts are too weary or too frightened to voice them, but our souls cry out to God... and He is there.
Work each day, as if for the Lord,
With diligence and faith.
Don’t be distracted by your pride
For that’s a hollow wraith.
Still we ought work and praise
And thank the Lord that He loves us
Despite our wayward ways.
But serve Him with such joy
That none may doubt He is the one
Whose teachings you employ.
Work with all of mankind
That they may also see in you
The life that He outlined.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not
for men
When I was broken, heart and soul,
You restored me to grace.
You healed the broken pieces and
A new me took their place.
And held me to Your side.
The scars that had once marred my soul,
Removed and cast aside.
The outer me unchanged,
But in Your sight I am made new.
The old me is estranged.
When You restored my soul.
Please help to hold faithfully
To You who made me whole.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me
with a willing spirit.
I see the miracles You do
In each day that I live.
The blessings poured out on my life,
The grace You always give.
The thunder rolling in.
I feel Your peace fill up my soul
When my hope’s wearing thin.
I see the works You do,
But, despite the wonders I’ve seen,
Lord, I’ve never seen You.
Firmly within Your hand,
And all the universe unfolds
Exactly as You’ve planned.
When I first see Your face.
I suspect I’ve had a preview
Each time I’ve felt Your grace.
The oceans roll on shore.
I see Your presence everywhere,
I feel it so much more.
But until that day’s here
I’ll watch for the signs of Your grace
That prove You’re ever near.
Your way was through the sea, your path through the great
waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
He spoke in parables each day,
But this one He lived out.
There’s more to this than meets the eye…
Here’s what it’s all about.
That ripens in the sun.
A second growth appears by fall,
When first harvest is done.
The winter figs remain.
So, when the leaves burst out in spring
The winter fruit shows plain.
With leaves, but without fruit,
That it would not bear figs again.
To argue that was moot.
About the fruit we bear.
Though we wave bright leaves in display,
We’d best have fruit to share.
Without faith it’s a lie.
For when our faith takes root in Him,
Then our fruit will not die.
Can harm those who seek Him
By distracting them with false truths,
Leaves on a fruitless limb.
The fruit we bear by what we share
Should help His harvest grow,
And He will prune or uproot trees
Which bring His harvest low.
And your faith grow each day,
That your fruit will bring Him such joy,
He’ll smile at its display.
And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and
found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come
from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
When we lift up our daily prayers
Which approach should we choose?
Give me this, Lord and that, too, or
Would thanks be best to use?
The requests of our heart.
While supplication does matter,
Thanks is the place to start.
For the roof overhead,
And for His Word, by which we grow,
Our precious daily bread.
And those who love us, too.
Maybe even the hardships that
He’s helped us to walk through.
Then lift your requests up
Knowing His love tends to lead to
An overflowing cup.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God.
Your grace always amazes me.
You know just what I need
Before I even realize,
No need to beg or plead.
Comfort when my heart aches.
You give me strength to walk in faith.
Your grace is all it takes.
I cannot contemplate
How vast is Your authority,
Your mercy’s never late.
As the tempests pass through
I do not fear the storm’s wild wrath
Because I trust in You.
Before I rose today
And having it prepared for me.
In praise and thanks, I pray!
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure
dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock,
my refuge is God.
We see ourselves through our own eyes,
Thinking others do, too.
Yet, they see us in their own light,
From their own point of view.
In that, I’m not alone.
We ought to reflect grace to all
And not a heart of stone.
Our broken, human side.
Thinking we’re reflecting You, while
Showing not grace, but pride.
And praise You before all.
We won’t be perfect reflections,
But we can share Your call.
Praise You every day,
That, when others see us, they see
Your Light to mark the way.
"Let your light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
This photo is a precious gift from TAF on her trip to Egypt!
Though my path may be lost in night,
The way rocky and steep,
I will not let fear rule my heart
For I am Yours to keep.
The moon hiding its face,
Still, I will find my way to You,
Relying on Your grace.
My strength during travail,
And I will not quake in despair,
For Your love will not fail.
That leads me down dark ways,
But I know, too, You’re always near,
Even on my worst days.
To trap me in the night.
For I know there’s no darkness, Lord,
That can obscure Your Light.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the
light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is
bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
People can be so difficult
To deal with now and then,
But that has not changed over time.
That’s how it’s always been.
And just tell people, “No!”,
But we, His children, have been called
To give the grace we know.
Is what we’re called to do.
As He bears patiently with us
We’re to be patient, too.
Evil within our space,
But those who are walking with Him
Deserve to feel our grace.
I thank Him with true joy
For giving me another chance
To give grace I enjoy.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Sorry for the poor resolution of this cowbird, perched on a cow. It was taken from across the road, through the wire fence on my cell phone, but it was too funny to skip over!
He walked with them for several years,
Teaching what they should know.
Giving them gifts that they could share
With others as they go.
But there was so much more
Than what they were able to share,
And so much more in store.
The records show were done,
There were so many more that were
Performed by Heaven’s Son.
They couldn’t share them all,
And they only knew those He did
After they heard His call.
And where we stand today,
There are more miracles to count
Than any man could say.
Who formed us, set us free.
Imagine how much more awesome
The full list’s bound be!!
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were
every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not
contain the books that would be written.
Glory, Glory to the Lord
And holy is His name.
As He has risen from the grave,
We’ll never be the same.
So, too, the sons of man.
For He has loosed the chains of sin
As no other King can.
The redeemed raise their voice
And shout in praise to Heaven’s King.
Rejoice, Oh Man, Rejoice!
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men
stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their
faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among
the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
This amazing photo is a blessing from ATF and God!
The Lord knew that the hearts of men
Would tremble at the word
That He who died had risen up,
They would call it absurd.
To forestall any doubt.
That all who heard, would know the truth
The world would talk about.
So no mistake was made
That He who rose was He who died,
And in that tomb was laid.
Whose word would hold value.
Assuring that His death was deemed
As verified and true.
The pieces all in place,
That man might truly understand
God’s power and His grace.
And those who watched in grief,
No prophecy or promises
Could offer them relief.
Broken hearts filled with pain
Not knowing that, in two days’ time,
Only joy would remain.
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night,
came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in
weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the
spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was
crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had
yet been laid.
Tetelestai He cried, dying.
The debt is fully paid,
The sentence has been completed,
And victory’s displayed.
At the foot of the cross
Who wept with grief too great to bear,
Unfathomable loss.
Each wicked thought and vice
For those He loved, He paid the cost.
The unstained sacrifice.
At each and every face,
He saw not just those standing there,
But all in need of grace.
Was added to that debt.
When He looked down, He saw us, too,
And died without regret.
Rejoice then in their loss.
He paid the debt we could not pay
Upon that blood stained cross.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is
finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
They didn’t know, though He told them,
Their time with Him was through.
They couldn’t, or wouldn’t, perhaps,
Believe that could be true.
Would let themselves believe
That He’d really be crucified,
And they’d be left to grieve.
When they drifted to sleep
Instead of keeping the vigil
That He’d asked them to keep.
Recalling that disgrace,
Believing I’d have stayed awake
Had I been in their place.
Before I’ve said amen
When I pray to Him at day’s end.
My pride bites me again.
Oh Lord, thank You for loving us.
Though we still fall asleep,
We know that Your love never does
And it is ours to keep.
Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep
and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is
at hand.”
I watched the clouds turn dark and grim,
The air heavy and thick.
I knew a storm was rolling in,
And it was coming quick.
Grow more fierce in its pace,
And watched the trees twisting in fear
With no hope they’d find grace.
I still felt my fear rise
Watching that storm draw ever near,
Drowning my fearful cries.
The storm’s wrath He would face.
Yet He stood strong, watching it come,
That we might live in grace.
The brutal sacrifice,
That debt we owed had to be paid.
He stayed to pay that price.
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his
disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of
Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
I cried out to Him in my pain,
“Why is this life so hard?”
I thought then, as if He replied,
My wrists and feet aren’t scarred.
And worry’s not defeat.
Even more so when I can lay
Those worries at His feet.
Or what I’ll have to face,
But I know who is holding me
Within His perfect grace.
When You faced so much more.
You trusted God, I’ll trust in You
And face what lies in store.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets
and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your
children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not
willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not
see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord.’”
He called them out for corruption
In that once holy place.
Their avarice was palpable,
He condemned their disgrace.
From the course that they chose,
But they would not heed the Lord’s words.
They had no time for those.
That filled the place with sin,
As much as the pride and the greed
Of all those “holy men”.
Make it holy once more,
But, even more, He came for us,
To cleanse and to restore.
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold
and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers
and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My
house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
Once again, the sweet photo is a gift from AC, taken in Africa a few years back.
Near fifteen hundred years before,
They knew this had been planned.
The Psalms and Prophets told them, but
They didn’t understand.
The cornerstone disdained,
They had been warned, but over time
No clarity remained.
While ignoring God’s plan.
They had their own image of who
Should be the Son of Man.
They proved the Prophets right.
Upon a donkey colt He rode
To bring His Kingdom Light.
Oh, save us, Lord, they cried.
Well, that He did, just six days hence,
When on the cross He died.
Until He came again,
But they cried Hosanna to Him,
Their King, The Son of Man.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the
cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the
day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray,
O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!
Riding the wind, calling it life;
Watching it pass below.
What will you do when the wind stills,
Which way, then, will you go?
They shift with any breeze.
Giving each new passion control,
Living life as they please.
Or settle to dead calm,
Then they must face the consequence
Of pain without a balm.
Within the storms of life,
And end up huddled in despair
From self inflicted strife.
And into one of grace.
Ride not the winds of wild whimsy
Which often bring disgrace.
Thus, when you sail the sky,
You do so with His word as guide.
Beneath His watchful eye.
That He does not command.
Live close to Him, and through life’s storms,
Rest safely in His hand.
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil
I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after
wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
I’m glad it isn’t up to me
To win my redemption.
I set out with big plans each day,
Then fail to get them done.
The day I walk His walk,
And quickly find I’ve failed even
To simply talk His talk.
Or forget to give grace,
And suddenly I find I am
Back at my starting place.
That my faith has to rest,
But in His, who bore all my sins.
By His grace, I am blessed.
And the song my soul sings.
The only hope of redemption
I have, is what He brings.
The cornerstone of grace,
And I will thank Him forever
For healing my disgrace.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock,
my refuge is God.
I will lift up my praise to Him
Within the new day’s light,
And I will praise Him as the dusk
Grows into the dark night.
And guides me on my way.
I’ll praise Him with a thankful heart
Each night and then each day.
My mind, and on my tongue,
That this world will know of His grace
Through every song I’ve sung.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall
continually be in my mouth.
You told us this life would be rough,
But following You through
Would help us deal with the hard parts.
My hope, Lord, rests in You.
As You have so loved us.
I suspect that also includes
Those who seem prone to fuss.
Insisting they are right.
It doesn’t matter if they are,
They’re looking for a fight.
One time, or maybe twice.
I’m grateful You reminded me
To settle down, be nice.
And learning to give grace,
Even to the most annoying
Of all the human race.
At loving as You loved,
But I have learned not to bite back
When I am pushed or shoved.
You gave while You were here.
I pray for them, I give them grace,
Knowing You hold them dear.
Ignore their call to fight.
When I focus on loving them,
I’m less inclined to bite.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.
We pass beside the amazing
Without a second glance,
Because we see it every day…
The same old song and dance.
That takes your breath away.
You find yourself saying with awe,
“You don’t see that each day.”
In old photos I took.
It was the sun shrouded in clouds…
Until I stopped to look.
In clouds, behind a tree,
But I had not been looking up
When this shot came to be.
The tree was a downed bough.
I saw it clearly, and yet not
As clear as I see now.
Because it was unique.
It wouldn’t say spectacular,
But beautiful and bleak.
Because it reminds me
That so much we ignore in life
Is because we don’t see.
Shrouded in clouds of grey,
Then I shrug and just carry on.
I see that every day.
But not where it should be,
Then suddenly I’m stricken by
Its perfect symmetry.
But I’ll thank God tonight
That, what I could have walked right by,
Still gives me such delight.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the
desires of your heart.
The darkness is never far off.
Like the tide comes and goes,
It, too, sweeps in upon the world.
The darkness ebbs and flows.
Let go its hold on earth,
But slowly its power will wane
Under the light’s rebirth.
And walked its broken trails,
Have seen the light begin to shine
On this world of travails.
Of the light they have seen.
A promise of a world from which
The darkness is washed clean.
While darkness fades away.
Until that time, we wait in faith.
Our Light is on His way.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
The false prophets and false teachers
Still speak to us today.
They know the truth, but seek to lead
The unknowing astray.
His law was sharp and clear.
Yet, the false prophets, vipers brood,
Whisper lies in our ear.
And not what we have heard
Spoken by Christ, His apostles,
The truth that’s in God’s Word.
Into the sin He healed,
Knowing that, by the lies they preach,
The weak soul’s death is sealed.
Speaking in silken tone
The lie that no obedience
Is needed to atone.
To go and sin no more.
They say it knowing the dark fate
Such a life holds in store.
Christ bruised the serpents head upon
The cross at Calvary,
But there remains the viper’s brood
That’s hunting you and me.
Take your soul by surprise.
Keep your soul fixed upon God’s Word
And not on satan’s lies.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out
into the world.