Walk In Faith, Hold To Grace

Walking in faith, holding to grace,
That’s the way through this life.
Sadly, I can be a wayward child,
Which often ends in strife.
 
You give me guidance as I walk,
Lead me along the way,
But I keep trying to take charge
And ending up astray.
 
I don’t intend to argue with
The Creator of all,
But now and then I’m distracted
By this world’s Siren call.
 
Until I realize, once more,
I’m fighting the wrong fight.
I turn around, get back on track,
Walking the path that’s right.
 
It’s good to know my wayward ways
Can’t keep me from Your grace.
That was a gift given by You,
And faith holds it in place.
 
Please help me keep my feet on track,
Cast distractions aside.
Then walk in faith, and hold to grace,
Staying close by Your side.
 
Ephesians 2:8-9 
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
Romans 6:14 
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

In Sync With You

 

I have this day planned and laid out,
But, first, I have to say,
Oh Lord, my plans are in Your hands
Please lead me through this day.
 
If what I have planned falls outside
What You need me to do,
Then change my plans so they conform
To those preferred by You.
 
I know that I walk through this world
With You close by my side,
So, I need to do what I can,
Then swallow all my pride
 
And thank You that my best laid plans
Fall under Your review.
The day always goes better when
I live in sync with You.
 
James 1:5 
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
 
Proverbs 16:3 
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Not Tossed By The Winds

The winds that blow across the earth
Do so on His command.
Though we may watch them come and go,
Their path rests in His hand.
 
He formed the waves upon the sea,
And, though we sail on them,
We don’t control their ebb and flow.
That power rests with Him.
 
He set the wind and waves in place.
He gave us His Word, too,
That we may be reborn in Him,
Live as we’re called to do.
 
Before we knew Him, we were lost.
Tossed by the winds of life.
We had no hope until He called
Us out of death and strife.
 
Why then do we think we can change
The nature of His Word
By reading it through worldly eyes.
That depth of pride’s absurd.
 
Let His Word live pure in your heart
Thus, when you face travail,
You do so knowing He controls
The winds by which you sail.
 
John 3:8 
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
 
Ephesians 4:14 
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

God Is Not Mocked

 
Though I am not a scholar, Lord,
This much I’ve come to know,
You’ve told us more than once that we
Will reap that which we sow.
 
The fields sown with the Word of God
Will overflow with grace,
But those sown with sin will produce
Only death and disgrace.
 
Those who mock You and twist Your Word
To lead others astray,
Will find they’ve chosen a dark path
When they face judgement day.
 
I’m not being parochial,
You’ve said as much Yourself,
But far too many, today, put
Your Word on a back shelf.
 
They proclaim, in Your name, their lies,
Mocking the laws You gave.
As if they, too, hold Your power,
Which they so clearly crave.   
 
They are not You and when they speak
Their souls are scarred with sin
From which they will never be healed
Unless they turn again.
 
I fear that they don’t understand
The vast harvest they’ll reap
Sowing the blasphemies they speak,
The lies they choose to keep.
 
I pray that they will turn to You,
Step off the path they’re on
And seek to live within Your Word
Before their chance is gone.
 
Please help them, Lord, to understand
What lies ahead of them
That they may turn, seek Your grace, and
Avoid that harvest, grim.
 
Galatians 6:7 
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
 
Exodus 20:7 
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

The Better Part

 

Why is patience so hard to find
When it is needed most?
Yet, when it seems we are ignored,
Our patience becomes toast.
 
A little grace should be easy,
Since we each need it, too.
Still, grace can be hard to employ
When frustrations push through.
 
Why do we need to keep pushing
When the point is so clear,
But still they choose to not listen
To what they plainly hear.
 
It’s time to stop and take a breath,
There’s nothing else to do
When you’ve done all you could, then some,
To get the message through.

 

Just in case you think I’m speaking
Of myself in this praise,
No, I’m the one who’s frustrating,
Who hears, yet disobeys.
 
She tells me clearly what she wants
And I say “get in bed”,
When I should be saying, “Yes ma’am”,
And doing it, instead.  
 
Another treat, open the door,
She shouldn’t have to wait,
Yet I seem to think folding clothes
Excuses being late.
 
Despite all that, she loves me still,
And finds it in her heart
To forgive me all my failings.
Hers is the better part!
 
Ephesians 4:2-3 
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
 
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Resting In His Light

 

She slipped out of this world, softly,
Into her Savior’s arms.
She’s resting in His perfect Light,
Far from this world of harms.
 
Though you knew it had to happen,
That doesn’t ease the pain,
But loving memories of her
Will soothe hurts that remain.
 
You had to let her go to Him,
But you’ll see her once more
When your turn comes to praise His name
Upon heaven’s bright shore.
 
Until then you can still see her,
Thanks to God’s perfect grace,
Each time her grandchildren and yours
Lift up a smiling face.
 
Rest now and give your grief some time
To give way to delight
Knowing that she is resting, too,
Within Her Savior’s Light.
 
Matthew 5:4 
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
 
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.

Blessings And Thanks

And on a lighter note, tonight,
I just want to thank You
For giving me a chance to laugh
And lend a hand or two.
 
There is so much that distracts me
From counting my blessings,
But I do not forget they’re there,
Or the delight each brings.
 
The little things, the struggles met
And overcome with joy,
The day-to-day tasks that get done
With time left to enjoy.
 
The sun setting as the day cools
Enough to sit outside
And listen to the birds singing
Where peace and rest abide.
 
The stars come out to smile at me
As nighttime settles in,
And I am reminded once more
To count blessings again.
 
There are so many, I can’t count
Them all, though I try to,
But I know that each count begins
And finishes with You.
 
You are the first and last blessing,
And all that falls between
Is only there because of You.
The seen and the unseen.
 
So, on that lighter note, tonight,
I want to say thank You
For all the blessings of this day,
And for loving me, too.
 
Philippians 4:4 
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
 
Psalm 69:30 
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 

Blessed With Rest

You wrapped me in Your peaceful joy,
I felt it settle in.
I didn’t know I needed it,
Til I felt it begin.
 
A little knot loosened inside,
My breath began to slow,
And in that stillness I could feel
Your peace begin to grow.
 
Life is so busy these days, Lord,
And I am not as strong
As I was in my younger days
When I just rolled along.
 
Though, in my pride I won’t admit
That I’m feeling worn out,
I’m grateful You don’t heed my pride.
You know what I’m about.  
 
Tomorrow, things pick up again,
But, for a day or two,
I’ve had the chance to simply rest
And feel my strength renew.
 
In all the years I’ve walked this earth
I’ve never doubted You.
Though I doubt myself every day,
You always see me through.
 
Psalm 37:25 
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
 
Romans 8:28 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

Cherishing Each Moment

A time to laugh, a time to cry,
A time for joy to bloom.
Yet, timing isn’t everything
If you don’t give it room.
 
We rush through life, our goal in mind,
And don’t stop to enjoy
The little moments in each day…
Distractions can annoy.
 
Until they’ve passed and we missed them,
Then there’s no going back,
And all we can hold onto is
A memory we lack.
 
Take time to laugh, and time to cry
And take time to rejoice.
The Lord created each minute,
Cherishing them’s our choice.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4 
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
 
1 Thessalonians 5:11 
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

Stand On That Rock

 

I worry for the world some days,
Though we’ve been here before.
It seems like each time we’re at peace,
Evil kicks down the door.
 
I find myself despising those
Who seek to destroy all,
Knowing that they are answering
Once more, that evil call.
 
I know that I’m to love the man
While loathing the dark sin.
Yet, I catch myself loathing both,
And I must start again.
 
Get my feet back upon God’s path,
Stop only to take stock
Of all that He’s called me to be
Then stand strong on The Rock.
 
Don’t let the world distract me from
His Word and all it holds,
But offer grace to the lost souls,
Kindness to all the scolds.
 
Say no to sins, forgive sinners,
And help them find Him, too.
For all that He has done for me,
That’s not too much to do.
 
Through all of it, stand on that Rock,
Hold on to Him and know
That He will not let my foot slip
And He will not let go.
 
Psalm 62:6 
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
 
Psalm 94:18 
When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.