Grass Withers, Flowers Fade

 

I found a photo just today
Of loved ones lost to me.
I felt fresh sorrow fill my heart.
That’s how it’s meant to be.
 
We’re not immortal in this life,
Like blossoms, we all die.
Yet, He has promised renewal,
And His Word does not lie.
 
The grass will fade, the blooms wither,
But His Word will live on,
So, if He’s called them home to Him,
Then they aren’t really gone.
 
For they both loved Him openly
And knew He’d redeemed them.
Knowing that, I choose to rejoice
And give my thanks to Him.
 
When my time comes to fade away
And wither in the sun,
I’ll rejoice that His Word stands true
And my new life’s begun,
Then turn my fading gaze toward
The Light of Heaven’s Son.
 
Isaiah 40:7-8
The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever

Renewed Each Day - Re-Posted

Oh Lord, the little blessings fall
Like raindrops from the sky
And scatter on the barren ground,
Refreshing what was dry.

My weary spirit springs anew
And blossoms with delight
Thanks to the blessings of Your grace.
I grow, Lord, in Your Light.

What kind of love can offer me
Such grace and such blessing
That, from a withered, broken soul,
New life and hope can spring!

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Greater Is He

 

Greater is He who calmed the seas
Than he who stands on shore
Shaking his fist at the tempest,
Achieving nothing more.
 
Greater is He who filled skies
With stars in the dark night
Than he who stands with eyes cast down
Denying there is light.
 
Greater is He who gave us life
Then redeemed us from sin
Than he who calls out from hell’s gate
To come and sin again.
 
How great are You, how vast Your love,
Your wonders on display
All fill my soul with hope and peace
And I praise You each day.
 
Psalm 71:19
Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

You Make Straight My Path

 

I often overthink my fear,
Or let my worries grow
Until they bind me, tie me down.
Tonight I’ll let them go.
 
You know what I am bound to face
And I know You love me,
So, I am giving them to You.
That’s where they ought to be.
 
If I have placed my trust in You,
Then I’ve no cause for fear.
I’ll watch my step, but walk the path
That You’ve made straight and clear.
 
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Joyously And Diligently

Work each day, as if for the Lord,
With diligence and faith.
Don’t be distracted by your pride
For that’s a hollow wraith.
 
Though we know we are not worthy,
Still we ought work and praise
And thank the Lord that He loves us
Despite our wayward ways.
 
Don’t lose sight of the One you serve,
But serve Him with such joy
That none may doubt He is the one
Whose teachings you employ.   
 
Work not for man, but, in God’s name,
Work with all of mankind
That they may also see in you
The life that He outlined.
 
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men 

Broken, Now Restored

 

When I was broken, heart and soul,
You restored me to grace.
You healed the broken pieces and
A new me took their place.
 
You lifted me back to my feet,
And held me to Your side.
The scars that had once marred my soul,
Removed and cast aside.
 
To all the world, I looked the same,
The outer me unchanged,
But in Your sight I am made new.
The old me is estranged.
 
You gave me back the joy I’d lost
When You restored my soul.
Please help to hold faithfully
To You who made me whole.  
 
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Your Footprints Are Unseen

 

I see the miracles You do
In each day that I live.
The blessings poured out on my life,
The grace You always give.
 
I hear Your voice upon the wind,
The thunder rolling in.
I feel Your peace fill up my soul
When my hope’s wearing thin.
 
In each new day, in many ways
I see the works You do,
But, despite the wonders I’ve seen,
Lord, I’ve never seen You.
 
I know You’re there, creation rests
Firmly within Your hand,
And all the universe unfolds
Exactly as You’ve planned.
 
Yet, still I wonder what I’ll feel
When I first see Your face.
I suspect I’ve had a preview
Each time I’ve felt Your grace.
 
The mountains rise, the spring rains fall,
The oceans roll on shore.
I see Your presence everywhere,
I feel it so much more.
 
I know one day, I’ll see Your face,
But until that day’s here
I’ll watch for the signs of Your grace
That prove You’re ever near.
 
Psalm 77:19
Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.

Fig Trees And Faith

 

He spoke in parables each day,
But this one He lived out.
There’s more to this than meets the eye…
Here’s what it’s all about.
 
The fig tree bears fruit in the spring
That ripens in the sun.
A second growth appears by fall,
When first harvest is done.
 
Even when winter claims its leaves,
The winter figs remain.
So, when the leaves burst out in spring
The winter fruit shows plain.
 
He knew when He came on that tree
With leaves, but without fruit,
That it would not bear figs again.
To argue that was moot.
 
He chose, instead, to make a point
About the fruit we bear.
Though we wave bright leaves in display,
We’d best have fruit to share.
 
Though we might proclaim we are His,
Without faith it’s a lie.
For when our faith takes root in Him,
Then our fruit will not die.
 
Yet, those who proffer a false faith
Can harm those who seek Him
By distracting them with false truths,
Leaves on a fruitless limb.

 

The fruit we bear by what we share
Should help His harvest grow,
And He will prune or uproot trees
Which bring His harvest low.
 
Let your roots run deep in His Word
And your faith grow each day,
That your fruit will bring Him such joy,
He’ll smile at its display.
 
Matthew 21:19
And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

Ask With Thanksgiving

 

When we lift up our daily prayers
Which approach should we choose?
Give me this, Lord and that, too, or
Would thanks be best to use?  
 
We keep thinking of our needs first
The requests of our heart.
While supplication does matter,
Thanks is the place to start.
 
Thank Him for watching over us,
For the roof overhead,
And for His Word, by which we grow,
Our precious daily bread.
 
Thank Him for those we love in life,
And those who love us, too.
Maybe even the hardships that
He’s helped us to walk through.
 
Thank the Lord with a praise filled heart,
Then lift your requests up
Knowing His love tends to lead to
An overflowing cup.
 
Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Peace Within The Storm

Your grace always amazes me.
You know just what I need
Before I even realize,
No need to beg or plead.
 
You give me peace within the storm,
Comfort when my heart aches.
You give me strength to walk in faith.
Your grace is all it takes.
 
Your works are wondrous, amazing.
I cannot contemplate
How vast is Your authority,
Your mercy’s never late.
 
You calm the seas and Your child, too.
As the tempests pass through
I do not fear the storm’s wild wrath
Because I trust in You.
 
Thank You for knowing what I’d need
Before I rose today
And having it prepared for me.
In praise and thanks, I pray!
 
Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
 
Psalm 62:7
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.