Sailing In Faith, Not Fear

Life’s a breeze, I have heard it said,
Just hoist anchor, set sail.
The problem happens when that breeze
Becomes an outright gale.
 
When life’s a breeze sailing is smooth,
But, when the wind turns rough
And the keel tilts into the waves,
A blithe heart’s not enough.
 
That’s why I lift a praise of thanks
As each tempest moves through,
For I have seen Him calm the waves
For me a time or two.
 
I’ve heard Him tell me, “Peace! Be still”
And felt my fear abate.
Thus, when the horizon grows dark,
I don’t just sit and wait.
 
I call out to Him, lift my praise
Of thanks knowing He’ll hear
That my trust still rests in His grace.
I sail in faith, not fear.
 
Mark 4:39-40
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

The God Of Hope

 

My life has never been tidy,
The pieces all in place,
But when I stand amid my mess
I still can see Your grace.
 
You wake me up with each new dawn
And guard me while I sleep.
Your promise to keep loving me
Is one I’ve seen You keep.  
 
I can’t hold onto much in life
Unless I start with You.
You are my anchor in each storm,
The light that leads me through.
 
I find I’m on the edge of tears
When some days get too wild,
But each time that happens I hear
You say, “I’m here, my child.”
 
You are my hope, my joy, my peace,
And You always will be.
I don’t think I’d be standing here
If You did not love me.
 
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Pain That I Can't Heal

 

I feel a little lost these days,
So much pain everywhere.
Although it isn’t mine, I still
Feel the weight of despair.
 
So many loved ones have been lost,
Too many tears are shed.
They are not mine, yet still I grieve
And wish them peace instead.
 
Oh Lord, I know that pain will ease
And tears will dry one day,
But until then I’m saddened that
All I can do is pray.
 
Although I cannot heal their pain,
I feel it in my heart
And I am grateful that You can
Complete what I can’t start.
 
You take the broken hearts of man
And bind them with Your grace
Until they heal enough to let
Your peace take the pain’s place.
 
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Let Your Light Shine

 

There is no light that shines on earth
As brightly as the grace
That is embodied by the love
Of my Savior’s embrace.
 
He holds me when I start to weep,
From sorrow or from fear.
I may not feel His arms as flesh,
But I know He is near.
 
He guides me when I end up lost
Nudging me back on path.
He corrects my rebelliousness,
With mercy, not with wrath.
 
I hear Him laugh when I rejoice.
His blessings amaze me
For they pour out without ceasing.
They’re everywhere to see.
 
He is the light upon my path
And I hope everyday
To reflect His grace as I can
To others on my way.
 
Matthew 5:16
In the same 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.

His Grace, His Choice To Give

He did not save us based on works,
Nor was it based on worth.
He did not save us based upon
Our status at our birth.
 
He saved us based upon His love,
His choice to offer grace
To those of us who follow Him,
His word and truth embrace.
 
The choice was His, as was the grace
That’s restored our value.
There’s nothing we can do to make
Our broken souls brand new.
 
Rejoice now in His priceless gift
And serve Him with delight,
For He has love and grace enough
To set your wrongs to right.
 
2 Timothy 1:9
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
 
Matthew 20:15
Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?

We Will Rejoice Again

A rose from a summer long past
Blooms in my memories.
Though I may grieve for those I’ve lost,
I will hold on to these.
 
So many loved ones now are gone,
And grief tears at my heart.
Yet, all those memories of joy,
They’re still the better part.
 
Those sweet memories bring me peace,
But more so does knowing
That they’re rejoicing at the throne
Of heaven’s gracious King.
 
I could hold on to crushing grief
Or hold instead onto
The promise that death holds no sting
For those who’ve lived in You.
 
I look upon my father’s rose
And wipe my tears away.
For though I still feel sorrow now,
I will rejoice one day.
 
John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

Obeying His Voice

I think I went astray again,
I seem to every day.
I set out, fixed upon Your path,
Then get in my own way.
 
I might have said a word or two
That I should not have said,
Or had a thought that had no place
Being heard in my head.
 
In point of fact, I need to say,
There’s no “might have” at all
I will confess I did it, Lord,
And You, You saw it all.
 
Help me recall that selfishness
Is not born of Your grace,
And is, therefore, an attribute
That I should not embrace.
 
Please help me get back on Your path
And fix my eyes on You.
Help me to guard my words and thoughts
In all I say and do.  
 
I know I’ll likely stray again,
Much to my great dismay,
But, when I hear You call me back,
I won’t get far astray.
 
Daniel 9:9-10
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 

So Many False Prophets

I hear the words of false prophets
And my heart aches for those
Who listen and who then follow
Where each false prophet goes.
 
They claim to share The Word and yet
With each and every breath
They twist It and they hide Its truth
With lies that lead to death.
 
The souls who turn to them in faith
Are following the call
Of him whose only purpose is
To assure mankind’s fall.
 
The silken words in soothing tones
That mark the easy way,
Are all intended, in the end,
To lead us far astray.
 
Beware the voices who promise
Their truth’s the better one.
Turn back from that path to the dark
And seek again the Son.
 
Matthew 24:11-12
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

I Shall Not Dread

 

The fears that used to weigh me down,
No longer trouble me,
For my hopes rest upon Your grace,
As it is meant to be.
 
That doesn’t mean they don’t pop up
To haunt me now and then.
Yet, when they do, I pass to You,
That which is beyond men.
 
I work hard to do all I can,
But I no longer fear
That which I can’t see or predict.
For, Lord, I know You’re near.
 
I don’t go out seeking trouble,
But, when it seeks me out,
I do my best, give You the rest,
And trust You without doubt.
 
Deuteronomy 7:21
You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.

Even Weeds Can Bloom

 

The world is full of amazing
People who bloom with joy.
They know Your Word and live in it
With faith life can’t destroy.
 
Their blooms can brighten a dark day
Or, too, a dreary room.
I look at them with true delight,
Though I am not a bloom.
 
I think I may be more a weed,
Not quite as bold and bright,
But I too cherish living in
My Savior’s golden light.
 
I tend to stay more out of sight
And have a thorn or two.
You might not think it about weeds,
But we are cherished, too.
 
We each are redeemed through His grace.
While some light up a room,
Others will praise Him quietly…
And even weeds can bloom.
 
Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.