Cast Off The Husk Of Sin

 

When we hear Him calling to us
To turn from who we’ve been,
We take on a life in His Word,
Leaving behind our sin.
 
We cast away the husk of death
To find life born anew
In the grace of His sacrifice.
We change, then follow through.
 
Like a river of joy and love,
His Word has washed away
The shell of who we were before.
We are made new that day.
 
Who we once were has passed away,
And we have been reborn.
The husk of sin that once held us
Is cast aside in scorn.
 
We walk in the path that He walked
When He lived here on earth,
Learning to love Him and to share
The wonders of rebirth.
 
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.
 
Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

This is a Cicada exuviae. It is the shell left behind after molting.

We're Not Alone

 

We sometimes feel we stand alone
Against a world that’s lost.
We face the ridicule and hate,
And there can be a cost.
 
Yet, if we raise our eyes above
The world and look to Him,
We understand we’re not alone,
And hope should not grow dim.
 
We stand within His loving grace,
Never out of His sight.
Though we still stand against the world,
He’s with us in the fight.
 
It’s still a fight! Stand strong in faith,
Unyielding as a stone,
And know that He’s always with us.
We do not stand alone!
 
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
 
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

First Trust, Then Rest

 

Another day has come and gone,
Nighttime is drawing near.
I’m giving my worries to You,
The blessings stay right here.  
 
The things that I could do today,
You helped me to get through.
Those outside my control or reach
I surrender to You.
 
Tonight, though I feel overwhelmed,
I also feel Your grace,
For You have brought me through the noise
Into my quiet place.
 
I’ll rest tonight and start again
When You wake me at dawn.
I’ll make my plans, but trust in Yours,
Then rise and carry on.
 
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
 
Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

In Storms And Hard Times

 

So many people that I love
Are walking through hard days.
For most, they know You and have peace,
But, Lord, please guard the strays.
 
There are some who deny themselves
The comfort of Your grace,
And when the storms come rolling in
They are swept out of place.
 
They hold on to what they can see,
Thinking that they are strong.
Yet, everything that’s of this world
Will fail them before long.
 
Please keep them under Your wing, Lord,
And open up their eyes,
That they may know You and Your peace
Though dark storms fill the skies.
 
Until the day they call Your name
Please help them hold on to
Only that which will help them reach
Their solid ground in You.
 
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
 
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Tired And Blessed

There are some days that wear me out,
I think age plays a part,
But, nonetheless, those are the days
That also fill my heart.
 
It’s such a joy to see that smile
With two teeth peeking through,
Or share a laugh with a loved one,
A memory or two.
 
Sometimes it’s just being right there
As a friend walks through pain,
Knowing that when their pain is gone,
That friendship will remain.
 
There are so many ways a day
Can wear me to the bone,
But being tired easily beats
Walking through life alone!
 
1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
 
2 Thessalonians 3:13
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

The Bread Of Life, Or Toil

 

We always seem to want the thing
We don’t have readily.
While some pray that the rain would cease,
Others pray let it be!
 
Of all the needs and wants we have,
The one that matters most
Is that which comes from God Himself.
There is no greater boast.
 
It’s His mercy, His loving grace,
Made manifest on earth
In the life and teachings of Him
Who died for our rebirth.
 
There is no glory man can hold
Greater than redemption,
And that can only be granted
By grace, through Heaven’s Son.
 
He is the bread we need to eat,
He is the peace we seek.
His are the only truths this world
Still needs to hear us speak.
 
If you are hungry in your soul,
He is the bread of life.
If you are caught in anxious toil,
He’s your peace amid strife.
 
We each have a choice we can make,
It’s there for us each day.
We can walk through life without hope,
Or with Him all the way!
 
Choose then which bread you want to have,
The bread of anxious toil,
Or the bread of life He offers
To all of mortal coil.    
 
John 6:33-35
“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
 
Psalm 127:2
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Where My Faith Rests

 

My weather app has lied again,
There’s just no truth in it.
Though I complain in frustration,
It doesn’t help a bit.
 
So many things in life seem to
Operate much like that.
Life always seems to pull a fake
Rabbit out of its hat.
 
I’ve given up relying on
Most everything I know,
But there’s still one in whom I trust,
Where I can always go.
 
I know that I can call His name
And He will hear each word,
Those I have spoken to the world,
And those just He has heard.
 
For His is an unending love
His grace and mercy, too,
There is no path that I have walked
That He’s not led me through.
 
I may not always like the way
He’s worked things out for me,
But I have always found His way
Brings me where I should be.
 
So, lie on little weather app.
You do what you do best,
But my faith rests in Him alone,
Whose love and grace don’t rest.
 
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
 
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

The Dark Abyss

 

We stand upon the precipice,
Peering at the abyss,
Wondering how we reached a point
As dangerous as this.
 
The minions of satan’s domain,
Those who call him their king,
Wield sin and evil, hate and fear,
With all the death they bring.
 
They are not standing at the door,
They’ve already come in,
And we can see the black abyss
That dwells within such men.
 
If we don’t cast the demons out,
Then we become their prey.
There will be no place we can hide
Until the judgement day.
 
As we stand on the precipice
We have a choice to make.
Don’t be deceived, instead recall
Our children are at stake.
 
If we just step aside and watch,
Then I assure you this,
We’ll watch all those we love cast out
Into that dark abyss.
 
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:8
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

In Rain Or Drought

 

Some days it rains on my parade,
Other days it’s a drought.
Yet, either way I sing Your praise,
That’s what faith is about.
 
Whether the blessings are as asked,
Or what You know I need,
I’m raising up a song of thanks.
For they’re Your gifts, indeed.
 
It can be hard to just let go
Of me and hold to You,
But. when I recall Your vast grace.
That’s what I’ll always do.
 
As long as I have breath to sing,
To You, I’ll lift my praise.
Through rain or drought, my faith’s in You.
Your mercies still amaze!
 
Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
 
Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

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.