Joy In Simple Things

 

It didn’t seem like a big thing,
A low spot in the lawn
Where the spring rains had pooled a bit.
By dusk it would be gone.
 
Since they were only passing through
They didn’t need a lake,
Just a small spot where they could find
Some rest and a short break.
 
They paddled happily a while,
Then, before dusk came on,
They quacked with joy and spread their wings,
Took off and they were gone.
 
I don’t know why this memory
Still brings me such delight,
But when I see this reminder
My day just feels so right.
 
I think I like to remember
That simple joys are best,
And that I’m wealthy past belief
When my soul is at rest.
 
Thank You, Lord, for this photograph
And the delight I feel
Each time I’m reminded my joy
In simple things is real.
 
Philippians 4:11
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.
 
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Vengeance Is Yours, Not Mine

I’m listening to You tonight,
Not giving You commands.
I don’t need to explain it all
To one who understands.
 
You know my thoughts about this world,
And those who rant and shout,
Demanding that I praise their sin
And do not call it out.
 
I want to give them back the same
Rage they have poured on me,
But vengeance is not mine to take,
That’s not how I’m to be.
 
I need to hear You remind me
Of these points, now and then.
I may, and shall, condemn their deeds,
But give to You, their sin.
 
You know the path that they will choose.
I can pray they return,
But I cannot punish them for
The evil scars they earn.
 
Please give me strength when I should stand,
And, when I should not speak,
Please give strength to hush, instead.
Your wisdom’s what I seek.
 
I shall not pray that You destroy
Those who rejoice in sin.
You know when vengeance is needed,
And when grace should begin.
 
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
 
Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. 

Eternity To Eternity

 

Yesterday, today, tomorrow,
One thing remains the same.
God’s in control and we are not,
Despite what some might claim.
 
His is the power to command
The heavens and the earth.
It will be so beyond earth’s end,
And was before its birth.
 
For any man to claim power
Is but a farce and lie.
God does not relinquish His might,
His kingdom cannot die.
 
Stand not within your own pride, then,
But in His holy name,
Knowing that His redeeming grace
Is there for us to claim.
 
Immortal and eternal King,
We lift to You our praise.
To You alone, in Trinity,
Forever and always.
 
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
 
Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
 
1 Timothy 1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

A Branch Of The Vine

 

God planted His Word in this earth,
And Christ became His vine.
All those who live and grow in Him
Are fruit, ample and fine.
 
As long as the branch stays attached
To the vine’s sanctity,
Then that fruit which it produces
Will grow abundantly.
 
If a branch grows apart from Him,
It withers and will die.
Without Him, it will bear no fruit,
However it may try.  
 
Time and again the vine has shared
His mercies with us all,
But few are those branches that choose
To answer to His call.
 
Do not be the branch on the vine
That withers and is lost.
Stay close to Him, rooted and strong,
Through drought or bitter frost.
 
Grow closer in Him and rejoice
As the harvest draws nigh,
For that fruit which still lives in Him,
He’ll gather by and by.
 
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
 
Jeremiah 2:21
Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

Nothing Fancy, Except...

 

There was nothing special today,
Except for all of it.
From seeing others live Your grace,
To helping out a bit.
 
I didn’t think it all made sense
Until You showed me how
The pieces all fit into place.
It makes sense to me now.
 
Sometimes it’s not about the task,
Simply that we obey.
The blessings spread beyond our sight,
For this is the Lord’s way.
 
We cannot know what we can’t see,
But His plan is in place,
And I am grateful that, today,
I got to share His grace.
 
Tonight I rest in simple peace,
Nothing fancy or fine,
Except for those lessons I’ve learned
Obeying The Divine.
 
Luke 11:28
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
 
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Blessings Beyond Belief

 

The blessings You poured out today
On those so dear to me
Are vast and unbelievable,
Yet, they are clear to see.
 
I didn’t ask You for that grace,
It never crossed my mind,
But You knew what joy it would bring.
Lord, You are more than kind.
 
I stand humbled once more by all
The mercies You display
To those who love and trust in You.
You never turn away.
 
Please help us keep our eyes on You,
Our feet upon the way
That brings us closer to You, and
Thank You for this blessed day!
 
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
 
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Unyielding Love

 

I lay them down at Your feet, Lord,
My worries and my cares.
I know I tend to take them back,
When I’ve said my prayers.
 
This time I plan to just let go
And leave them in Your hand.
That’s how I see it in my mind,
The way I have it planned.
 
I bet You’re laughing in heaven
At my bold, well laid plan.
You know me well enough to know
Planning does not mean can.

 
I know that You know what is best,
Your sight exceeds my own,
And I know that I trust You first.
At least that much, I’ve grown.
 
Now I need to put in practice
What I’ve said I will do,
And leave them in the hands of Him
Who’s love will see me through.
 
Thank You for loving me so much
That, even when I flinch,
Your love is still unceasing, and
It does not yield an inch.
 
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
 
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Rejoicing While I Wait

 

I’m stumbling in the dark tonight,
I need to hear Your voice
Before I can begin to write.
Until then, I’ll rejoice.
 
When a day’s pace is at high speed,
I sometimes cannot hear
Over the noise in my own head.
Yet, You’re still always near.
 
So, while I wait to hear Your voice,
I’ll sing a song of praise.
For You are always listening,
Even on my worst days.
 
Thank You for waiting patiently
Until my mind is clear
Enough to recognize Your voice
Speaking where I can hear!
 
Acts 17:27
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
 
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Being A Nurse Tree

 

My heart’s been broken more than once,
And some wounds never heal,
But, when I lean upon His grace,
His love is all I feel.
 
I may never be whole again,
Yet, I’ve the faith to know
That, however broken I was,
I can help others grow.
 
I can assure the little ones
Who follow after me
Learn how to live and how to grow
To be all they should be.
 
I can help them to grow deep roots
Planted in God’s own Word
And teach them how to reach for Him,
To never be deterred.
 
It’s as if God sees beyond those
Broken places in me.
He knows the strengths that rest beneath
The scars that I still see.
 
The nurse tree in the old forest
Gives root to the new tree,
And it will grow to fill the place
Where she once used to be.
 
Yet, it could not grow without her
To help it get its start,
And that’s what I can offer to
Those rooted in my heart.  
 
Thank You for seeing what I missed,
What I still need to do,
Help my family tree’s new shoots  
Grow strong, rooted in You.
 
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
 
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Blessed To Serve

You’ve blessed me with so much to do,
Helping those that I love.
It keeps me focused on life’s joy
And not its push and shove.
 
It doesn’t matter that I run
So fast I fear I’ll fall,
Because nothing delights me more
Than answering their call.
 
Thank You for seeing my calling
Is helping where I can.
It’s as if You made me for this,
Like it’s part of Your plan.
 
Thank You for giving me this chance
To help those I love so,
And for the heart that loves to serve,
Which You chose to bestow.
 
1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
 
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.