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.
I lift my voice in songs of praise,
I rejoice in Your name,
But mine is not the only song
Your wonders to proclaim.
Within the new day’s light.
The blossoms sing out in Your praise
In colors sweet and bright.
Their songs of praise to You
As the soft breezes stir their leaves
While it is passing through.
In joyful praise they sing.
Rejoicing, each in their own way,
To You, our Lord and King.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break
forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Though it is joyful on its face,
There’s poison at its core.
Be careful that you’re not deceived,
Death’s all it holds in store
Behind a smiling face
There lies a heart that longs to lead
Innocence to disgrace.
Their words are sweet to hear,
But there is poison in their hearts.
Be cautious when they’re near.
To lead you far from Him.
The vipers, as in days of old,
Still harbor souls most grim.
Turn back from those who try
To make you believe something that’s
A pretty, poisoned lie.
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless
evil, full of deadly poison.
I found a photo just today
Of loved ones lost to me.
I felt fresh sorrow fill my heart.
That’s how it’s meant to be.
Like blossoms, we all die.
Yet, He has promised renewal,
And His Word does not lie.
But His Word will live on,
So, if He’s called them home to Him,
Then they aren’t really gone.
And knew He’d redeemed them.
Knowing that, I choose to rejoice
And give my thanks to Him.
And wither in the sun,
I’ll rejoice that His Word stands true
And my new life’s begun,
Then turn my fading gaze toward
The Light of Heaven’s Son.
The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of
the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the
flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever
Oh Lord, the little blessings fall
Like raindrops from the sky
And scatter on the barren ground,
Refreshing what was dry.
Greater is He who calmed the seas
Than he who stands on shore
Shaking his fist at the tempest,
Achieving nothing more.
With stars in the dark night
Than he who stands with eyes cast down
Denying there is light.
Then redeemed us from sin
Than he who calls out from hell’s gate
To come and sin again.
Your wonders on display
All fill my soul with hope and peace
And I praise You each day.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You
who have done great things, O God, who is like you?
I often overthink my fear,
Or let my worries grow
Until they bind me, tie me down.
Tonight I’ll let them go.
And I know You love me,
So, I am giving them to You.
That’s where they ought to be.
Then I’ve no cause for fear.
I’ll watch my step, but walk the path
That You’ve made straight and clear.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths.
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.”