I've Been Distracted

I’m going to step back from the world,
And turn my eyes to You.
I’ve found myself distracted by
The things I shouldn’t do.
 
The world seems out of line right now,
But I don’t have to be,
For I am Yours and have been called
To be a better me.  
 
That isn’t always my instinct,
I’m not a perfect child,
But I’d rather stay close to You,
Than out there running wild.
 
Oh Lord, remind me who I am,
And to whom I sing praise.
Let me not be distracted from
Your word and all Your ways.
 
Psalm 119:5-7
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 

In Grief And Joy

 

The day was filled with tears and grace,
A little bit of both.
It has been said it’s in struggle
That we tend to find growth.
 
I guess some days I grow a lot,
On days such as today,
But please know I’m grateful for grace
When You send it my way.
 
I know that You suffered in life
That we might live again,
So I should expect my share of
The sufferings of man.
 
I could not bear the pain You knew,
And You’ve not asked me to.
Yet, even when grief weighs me down,
I hope to love like You.
 
To stand up under the sorrow,
And offer grace to all
Who walk the path that I am on,
Lift them up when they fall.
 
Still, I am most grateful to find
As day comes to its end,
That I have counted more blessings
Than heartbreaks I can’t mend.
 
I rest tonight in joy and grief,
And lift my praise to You
For holding tightly those who grieve,
And those who know joy, too.
 
Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Two Camels Short

 

Too often we seek our desire
Instead of our great need.
We want the world, or so we think,
Succeed, and then exceed!
 
The glass we think that we have filled
Looks emptier by far
Than what we thought we had achieved
Reaching that higher bar.
 
For, though we have it all, we find
Our lives still incomplete.
We own the world, but not the wealth
Found at our Savior’s feet.
 
All of the gold this world offers
Is of no real value,
When compared to the redemption
That He freely gave you.
 
We can gather all of the wealth
That mortal man values,
But we’ll still live unsatisfied
If that’s the life we choose.
 
If you feel two camels short of
The wealth you seek on earth,
Then seek God first, His grace and peace
Exceed all this world’s worth.
 
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This delightful photo is a gift from TAF, taken on her trip to Egypt. 

I'll Rejoice In You

I’ve stumbled and I’ve fumbled, Lord,
Trying to find my praise.
I think this might be one of those
“Just be still” kind of days.
 
So, I will do as my heart bids,
And listen for Your voice.
While I’m waiting, I’ll use my time
To sing out and rejoice.
 
For though I cannot find the words
That speak to my heart’s praise,
My soul never hesitates to
Rejoice in You always!
 
Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand

Breaking Bread Together

 

As it was in the early days,
When His voice still echoed,
And those who’d heard it understood
The truth His words bestowed,
 
Then they would gather lovingly,
Sharing with each other
The words He spoke, the bread they ate,
And grace for one another.
 
Today we try to keep alive
That same breaking of bread,
Though sharing seems a bit harder
With stiff neck and hard head.
 
Too often we tend to aspire
To pride in what we give
Instead of trying to inspire,
To live as we should live.
 
Let us look back and learn from those
Who had much less to share,
But shared it gladly, nonetheless,
Because they felt You there.  
 
Lord, help us share Your Word, Your grace
With loving hearts these days,
For Your Spirit still lives in us.
Let us break bread and praise.
 
Acts 2:46-47
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Keep Guard On My Mouth

 

We live in frictious times, that’s true,
And some are prone to wrath,
But I am trying to live life
Walking along Your path.
 
You taught us to speak out with grace,
Though truth is still a must.
Yet there are so many who choose
To speak rage and disgust.
 
It’s easy to be drawn into
Responding out of ire,
But You’ve called us to speak from love,
So I must quench that fire.
 
Lord, when I start to speak my mind
Please remind me to pause
And seal my lips until I’m calm
In respect of Your laws.
 
Help me to hold my tongue and think
Before I speak harshly.
Then give me wisdom to speak truth,
But do so graciously.
 
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

It Was Always There

 

Those still waters were hard to find
I thought I never would,
But then I listened with my heart,
As You had said I should.
 
I heard a soft whisper of peace
Beneath the day’s wild rush.
It held a gentle note of joy,
So soft, almost a hush.
 
The ripple of reflected light
Rustled upon the shore
And I followed that gentle sound
Where I’d not been before.
 
The water flowed, peaceful and sweet,
My old soul felt brand new,
And it was then I realized…
The water flowed from You.
 
The still water was always there,
Yet, I had failed to see
That I’d been standing all my life
In Your love and mercy.  
 
John 4:14
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

A Sabbath Rest

The cold is coming back again,
The dark night settles in,
The air is filled with chimney smoke.
Let the long night begin.
 
I’ll step back from life’s hurried pace,
Take time to count blessings,
Then rest until the dawn calls me
To all a new day brings.
 
In You alone my soul finds peace,
A hope to see me through,
And, as a new week commences,
I’ll fix my thoughts on You.

Hebrews 4:9-10
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Your Glory, My Thanks

I give to You my thanks, tonight,
For watching over me.
You kept me from the harm ahead,
Which I could not foresee.
 
You reminded me to give grace,
And then, abundantly,
You poured it back into my life.
I praise You thankfully.
 
I sleep each night without the fear
That once haunted my life.
Though this world hasn’t changed, I have.
I no longer fear strife.
 
I try to give more of myself
To those who need a hand,
For I’ve received from You more grace
Than I can understand.
 
I pray that I’ll give You glory
In everything I do,
And, in the name of my Savior,
Grow closer, Lord, to You.
 
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Resting In Your Hand

 

Where do I find the courage, Lord,
To speak to You at all?
You are the creator of worlds,
while I am weak and small.
 
I have no voice the mountains heed,
The heavens ignore me,
And there are no commands I know
That will calm a wild sea.
 
Yet, every day I lift my voice
And call Your name anew,
Praying that You will hear my heart
As it cries out to You.  
 
Each day, without fail, I hear You,
In words I understand,
Assuring me that I still rest
In the palm of Your hand.
 
Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?