The Bruised Reed Did Not Break

All of the forces of evil
Sought to break Him on earth,
But He would neither bend nor break
Til He redeemed our worth.
 
They tried to silence both His voice
And those He called by name.
Yet they could not smother the wick
That burned with His bright flame.
 
I was not there when He called them,
Nor when they answered Him.
Still, I stand here with faith I learned
By listening to them.
 
Try though they might, He would not break,
He stood in victory
Until He had bought absolute
Healing for you and me.
 
They bruised the reed, the wick smoldered,
But my Savior held true,
And that’s why I, a mere Gentile,
Can hold on in faith, too.
 
Matthew 12:20-21
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope. 

His Steadfast Love Endures

He called the universe to life.
The heavens He secures,
While moon and sun both call Him King.
His steadfast love endures.
 
He filled the earth with mountain peaks,
With rivers, swift and wide,
Then wrapped them all within the arms
Of the sea’s shore and tide.
 
With life abundant, He filled them,
A vast, varied array
That flourishes, each in its time,
And, in time, fades away.
 
Those created in His image
Are blessed above them all,
For when they cry out, He hears them.
He answers when they call.  

 

For He who holds the sun and moon
Resting within His hand
Holds them, as well, His love endures.
Praise Him throughout the land
 
Psalm 136:7-9
to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever 

Be Vigilant And Faithful

 

Be vigilant and guard your heart
For it has been foretold
That evil spirits, evil men
Will keep growing more bold.
 
They seek to claw us from our faith,
Or lead us far astray
From the truth living in His Word.
Be alert, turn away.
 
Keep your eyes fixed upon His Word,
And question prayerfully
The one who whispers promises
Of wondrous things to be
 
If you but follow this slight turn
Away from the path laid
By all He taught, the blood He shed,
The covenant He made.
 
Live in His Word, attend your thoughts
And keep your soul secure.
Be vigilant and guard your heart,
No false prophets endure.
 
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Songs Of Joyous Praise

 

Oh Lord, my heart cries out with joy,
Your name is on my tongue.
For I am blessed beyond belief.
Your praises will be sung.
 
I lift my thanks up with great joy,
Your peace I claim as mine.
Lord, I’m grateful to have a place
Within Your grand design.
 
I cannot fathom why You called
A broken soul like me,
But I will follow, rejoicing,
For Your love set me free.
 
I’ll sing to You, oh Lord, my God,
From mountain top to shore.
Through all the earth my praise I’ll sing
To You, whom I adore.
 
Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

He Carried Away My Sins

 

He carried my sins far from me,
So why do I still call them mine?
You’d think I’d leave them in my past,
Not let them age like some fine wine.
 
They are the scars I carry now
To remind me of all my flaws,
The many times I willingly
Turned my back on His love and laws.
 
Yet, He has given me new life
With strength and wisdom I will need
To stay on path and follow Him.  
What I need most is to pay heed.
 
That He died seemed somehow mundane,
Yet it becomes breathtaking when
I found all my sins died with Him,
And, unlike Him, they’ll stay dead sin.
 
Those sins are now no longer mine,
I need to stop holding to them
And turn my heart, my mind, and soul
To forever hold on to Him.
 
He carried my sins far from me,
So why do I still call them mine?
I will surrender them to Him
And claim instead His grace divine.
 
2 Peter 1:8-9
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Reflect His Light To All

 

When the day shines with heaven’s light
It sleeps upon the shore.
Yet, when darkness falls on the land,
Its light shines bright once more.
 
So, too, should we, in this dark world,
Offer to all His light,
Reflected from hearts fixed on Him
And filled with pure delight.
 
We cannot shine with His brilliance,
But can reflect His grace,
Casting it out across the earth
That all might seek His face.
 
We have been given a great light
That we’re not meant to hide.
Let His love shine in this dark world,
Reflect Him far and wide.
 
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.

Awed And Blessed

 

He stood there in the quiet pond,
Not seeing his own face,
Seeking instead his morning meal,
Depending on Your grace.
 
I stood in awe of the beauty
I saw reflected there.
He was hunting for His meal,
And I, for peace to spare.
 
The week had been so very long
And lived at such a pace,
That no matter how fast I ran,
I knew I’d lose the race.
 
I’d lost the peace that comes from You,
But held on to the fear
That I would let everyone down
Whom I hold to be dear.
 
I got caught up in getting done
My list of things to do,
And that had lead me to forget
To just listen to You.
 
Yet, when I saw him standing there
Reflected in the light,
I heard Your voice and felt Your peace
And knew I’d be alright.
 
It’s funny how well You know me,
I don’t always hear You,
But I will always stop in awe
At such a stunning view.
 
Thank You for knowing me so well
And loving me enough
To remind me that I am blessed
Even when life seems rough.
 
Psalm 144:15
Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Higher Than The Earth

 

The vast empires born of man
Rise up and then they fall.
Those who once ruled with great power,
Later realms can’t recall.
 
We see for just the brief moment
When we stand on this land,
But He who rules beyond all time
Holds the earth in His hand.
 
We’re not just dust that’s here and gone,
For each one bears His mark,
But most will come and go from earth
Without knowing His spark.
 
We see this world and this life from
Our foothold on the earth,
But His view covers time and space
Beyond ending or birth.
 
Therefore, all glory man achieves
Is meaningless until
It’s measured by obedience
To Him and to His will.
 
Those who ruled kingdoms long ago
Have nothing now to claim,
For we who stand where they once stood
Don’t even know their name.
 
Speak not, oh man, in arrogance
Of what you know and see,
For you are blind in sight and mind
Within eternity.
 
Yet, He who sees beyond our sight,
Knowing what we can’t know,
Is He who formed us, called us His,
And He still loves us so.
 
Rejoice then, knowing you can’t see
Beyond this life’s domain,
And fix your eyes and heart on Him.
In Him is life’s true gain.
 
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This amazing photo of Egyptian ruins taken from a hot air balloon is another gift from TAF and her adventures! 

Staying Close To You

 

You are the way, the truth, the life,
And I know that is true,
For I have traveled other roads,
But they led back to You
 
It took a while for me to learn
To stay upon the way
To which You have directed me,
Lest I should go astray.
 
For go astray, I surely have,
And, like a wayward sheep,
My shepherd came to bring me home.
My soul is His to keep.
 
I didn’t see the path as well
When I was young and wild,
But, as I've grown, my sight’s improved.
I’m a less wayward child.
 
Now, with great joy, I stay on track
As You’ve taught me to do.
You are my way, my truth, my life
And I’ll stay close to You.
 
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Whatever the season

There are those who complain of heat,
And those who fear the cold.
There are a few who dislike both,
More so as we grow old.
 
Yet there are those who seek Your peace
Despite the season’s pain.
We simply rejoice in the gift
Of sunshine or of rain.
 
There is no season without You,
For You have formed each one,
And we will seek Your blessings in
The moon’s light or the sun.
 
In summer’s warmth, or winter’s cold,
Or autumn’s growing chill
I’ll relish each day as it comes,
Rejoicing in Your will.
 
Psalm 74:16-17
Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.