The Colors of My Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the patterns that form my life

Swirl in my mind tonight;
The love, the joy, the broken heart,
The sorrow and delight.
 
They swirl in bright and vibrant shades,
In textured overlays,
Of memories and hopeful dreams
From all my life’s long days.
 
I might have wished for brighter shades,
Less dark colors would do,
But life is much more beautiful
When splashed in varied hue.

Ecclesiastes 3:4    

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Photo courtesy of Annie Fitzsimmons & taken at the Chihuly Glass Museum Bridge

Watching Over Me

Thank you for watching over me
Thank you for staying near
Thank you for guarding those I love
Who are so very dear

Thank you for watching over me
Thank you for all you do
Thank you that all the roads I walk
Lead me right back to you

Thank you for watching over me
Thank you for so much grace
Thank you for being everywhere
When I need to see your face.

Psalm 21:6
Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

As Burdens Piled Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As all the world piled up on me,

I felt it weigh me down.
I wondered why you had picked me
To live beneath a frown
And then I hear that he was gone,
A friend had slipped away.
I realized that I was blessed
To have my stressful day.

No more his wife will see his smile

Or hear his laughing voice.
If her day's rough, she’s all alone,
And really has no choice.
So when I feel my burdens weight
I bow my head and pray
To thank you for comforting her
And thank you for my day.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Isaiah 40:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the spring the new grass appears,

Waving sweet and high,
Though, with the drought of summer’s heat,
It withers up to die.

The summer grasses sweep the field

Where cheerful blossoms grow,
But soon they will be buried in
Deep drifts of ice and snow.

The beauty of the earth is frail,

Passing in a season,
But still the Word of God endures,
His great love, the reason.
 
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Adjusting Through Joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’re not where you thought you would be

When you set out in life,
But you have chosen joy instead
Of bitterness or strife.

You’ve set your sails for happiness,

Though you sit high and dry.
It takes a special heart, when faced
With loss, to laugh not cry.

And, as you light your world with joy,

So you light my world too.
I hope that I can face life’s woes
With as much joy as you.

Turning From The Darkness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll put the darkness behind me,

Turn my face to the light,
And place my faith in God’s great love
To help me with his might.

I leave the land of the withered,

Where hope shriveled and died,
And turn my face into his light
Where life is not denied.

He’s the light that I will follow,

Darkness will be dispelled.
Its hold on me will be broken
And all my fears be quelled.

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Living In My Weeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is the path that I must walk

So over grown with weeds?
They snag at me and pull me down,
And that won’t suit my needs.
There has to be an easier
Path that I can take,
This one is so tangled with weeds
Progress is hard to make.

How did I get on such a path?

I’m much too good for it,
And don’t say it’s the path I chose.
That’s not true! Not one bit.
These weeds are not of my making,
Though some could well be mine.
I couldn’t have grown all of these
Through my thoughtless design.

That one does look like selfish thoughts

When asked to give my time,
And over there I see harsh words
When my conduct’s not prime.
Oh my, there’s folk that I let fall
When they reached for my hands,
And, sadly, I see many times
That I broke God’s commands.

Oh Lord, I might be on this path

Through all that I’ve done wrong.
Please help me find a better way,
I’ve walked this path too long.

Broken Chains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was wrapped in guilt and sin,

Harsh chains that dragged me down,

You lifted me, you broke my chains

And offered me a crown.

When I was mired in my pain,

Chained to heartache and woe,
You tore the chains from round my heart
To give joy room to grow.

I raise a song of gratitude

And leave my chains behind.
You love endures unfailingly
And heals all of mankind.

Psalm 107: 13-15

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

Seeking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that I have spent my life

Seeking so many things,
Hoping that I would find in them
All of the joy life brings.

And yet, though I have quested long,

I found not what I want.
I am grown weary from my quest,
My soul is worn and gaunt.

So now I ask, as you have said

That you want me to do,
Please help me get back on the path
That will lead me to you.

For I have learned that what I sought

Is not on earth at all,
But born in heaven, of your love.
Oh Lord, please hear my call.

Matthew 7:7

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

She Was on My Mind

The last time that I saw her face

Or got to hug her tight

Was years ago, while she was strong
And still winning the fight.
 
I always planned to get back there,
To see her once again,
But something’s always going wrong
In every well laid plan.
 
I missed the chance to say good-bye
And tell her just once more
That she was so precious to me,
Someone I could adore.
 
Now she’s been on my mind again,
As I moved through this day,
And, if I could get word to her,
I know what I would say.
 
“I missed my last chance here on earth,
But you found God’s pure Grace,
So I know I’ll hug you again
And kiss your shining face.”

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Sunlight and Shadows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft light flickers on moss and fern,

Shifting the verdure’s hue.
Nothing else changes in the wood;
Just the light’s point of view.

Constant is the sunlight’s visage,

Though shadows shift and flow.
The ferns reach up to grasp its light
And, as they strive, they grow.

So, like the fern’s beneath the trees,

We’re rooted to the earth;
Yet, in our striving to reach God,
Our shadowed souls find worth.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Well Done, Faithful Servant

You labored loyally for years
In dirt and dust and sun,
And, when each day’s labors were past,
A new was soon begun.

You never shirked the task at hand,
When weary, you pushed through.
And, when the job required more,
You did all you could do.

And now you rest in soft blown grass,
Your labors are long past.
Faithful servant, you have done well.
You’ve earned some rest at last.

Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Serving Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scrub the feeder twice a week,

Refilling it for you,
And I do this to help you out.
It’s the least I can do.

It takes such energy, I know,

To move that constantly;
If I can offer easy meals
I do so willingly.

And you, you have so many blooms

From which to sip your fill,
And yet you come each day to drink
Outside my window sill.

I can’t think you do it for me,

To fill me with delight,
But none the less my heart lifts up
When you pop into sight.

So with great joy I’ll care for you,

Because I know how to,
And count my blessings, now and then,
To catch a glimpse of you!

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Old Age

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My hair’s a little faded now,

But I still bloom with joy,
For I don’t need beauty or youth,
Your blessings to enjoy.

Although I’m slipping on in years,

There’s much I’ve left to do.
For years I lived focused on me
And now I live for you.

I may be past my brightest bloom,

But, without doubt, I know
I’m blessed that you still care for me
And I have room to grow.

Psalm 92:14

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green

Battered, But Rejoicing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though I may have been buffeted

And battered some by strife,

The blessings far outweigh the grief

When I look at my life.

I could count all the things that hurt,

That tore the heart of me,

Or I could turn my gaze instead

To where my eyes should be;

The friends who make their love a gift,

The peace that fills my days,

The grace that lead me through tough times,

The words I lift in praise.

So many scars that time won’t heal,

But they mean less to me

Than those scars earned on Calvary

That set my spirit free.  

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 6:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever moving from bloom to bloom,

Hungering to be fed;
Never able to rest for long,
Moving on through the bed.

I feel your hunger now and then,

The need to look for more,
Although I know that abundance
Is what God holds in store.

If I could only trust and wait,

How much more peace I’d know;
But my faith is slow in its growth
So I hunger and go.

Someday I’ll find my faith has grown

Enough to let me rest.
Until then, I will work on it
And pray I pass that test.

Luke 6:21

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Psalm 27:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I seek you when I’m lost in fear,

I seek you in my pain.
I seek you when my joy is great
When sun’s warmth dries the rain.

I seek you when I rise each day,

I seek you in the night.
I seek you when the stars give way
To morning’s burning light.

I seek you, Lord, in every thought,

In every prayer I raise.
Lord, I will seek you and rejoice
Through all my earthly days.

Psalm 27:8

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

The Gift of Grace

Grace guides my life and Grace guards it,

Life’s pieces fall in place.
I have no gifts or benefits
That have not come through Grace.

I’m blessed beyond my own small due
And, much to my disgrace,
I still fail to be worthy of
His loving gift of Grace.

And yet His Grace still touches me;
There’s no way to replace
The unconditional blessings
That only come through Grace.

 I openly admit the truth,

The world’s too harsh to face
If I could not face it knowing
I live within His Grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Psalm 5:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They nestle closely by her side,

Sheltered within her shade.
Delicate and fragile blossoms,
Both in her image made.

They each will grow in their own right

To bloom most joyfully,
But they will owe their start in life
To her sanctuary.

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Shall Not Perish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honor them and remember them,

Though lost, they’re always there.
Fill not your memories of them
With sorrow or despair.

For that is not what they would ask

If they could speak today.
They would say live and do it well,
Lift up your hearts and pray.

Stand up for those who cannot stand

And speak for those now gone.
Declare that life’s triumphant still,
Rejoice and carry on.

A new day dawns with each sunrise

And life renews again,
For we, who live within the Lord,
Cannot be killed by man.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

When Age Speaks, Youth Should Listen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sat, listening as he spoke,

Caught on every word.
He had so many tales to tell
That I had never heard.
He’d seen so much and done much more
And shared it with a grin,
He had a way of taking life
And making it a win.
From World War II right to today,
He shared his tales with me
And when I left the waiting room
I’d lived his history.
 
He said he plans to carry on
Til he’s one twenty five
And if the world’s still looking good
Then he’ll just stay alive.
I laughed at the audacity,
But, if somebody could,
There’s no one else who’d find a way,
But I’ll bet that he would.
So for the lesson in life’s joy
That you taught me today,
I thank you, Lord, for sending him.
Please keep him safe, I pray.

The River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A stream of sorrow runs through me

That I can’t turn or dam.
It’s born, not of the outside world,
But comes from who I am.

I feel it swelling every day,

It's coming on too fast.
And if I cannot stem its flow,
Then I shall drown at last.

I know the flow is rising fast

Because of all my fears.
They’re looming out in front of me
And feeding on my tears.

But I know that he never sleeps,

He hears me when I cry,
And he will stem the rising flood
Until that stream is dry.

The fears that sweep over me now

Well soon still and subside,
For he is my enduring strength
And in his strength I’ll hide.

Psalm 71:3

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Dance the Sky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have to rise up off the ground

To give your wings a try,
You cannot cling to what is safe
If you intend to fly,
You can’t be tethered to the earth
If your goal’s to climb high,
So let go of what holds you back,
Rise up and dance the sky!

An Angel Spoke To Me Today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You look lovely”, she said to me

As we were passing by.
I stopped and turned back toward her
Until I caught her eye.

I’d had no chance to wash my hair,

I had no make-up on.
I must have misunderstood her
And she was almost gone.

“What did you just say as you passed?”

I questioned her, confused.
She said, You look lovely today.”
Her smile frank, not amused.

I gathered up my startled wits,

Thanked her for her kindness.
I mentioned that she too looked grand
In her attractive dress.

I turned to carry on my way

Wondering what it meant;
Until that moment I’d felt frayed,
Worried and fairly spent.

I had the worries of the day

Lining up in my mind
Until she eased my growing qualms
By saying something kind.

So I stopped right there where I was,

And looked toward the sky.
I thanked the Lord for that angel
That he’d sent strolling by.

Alzheimer's

The nights are getting longer now,

With less time spent in sleep.
Her body and her mind grow frail;
There’s less of her to keep.

I lie awake and watch her dream,

She speaks to love now dead.
I want to cry, but that won’t help.
So I watch her instead.

She hears God calling quietly.

I’m not surprised it’s so,
But I’m not ready for good byes.
I don’t want her to go.

I tell myself that it’s alright,
The way it’s always been,
But watching as she fades away…
Easier said than seen.

1 Timothy 5:4

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.