Changes Coming Fast

Everything changes, given time,

And time’s pace can’t be stayed,
Though there are many things today
I wish could be delayed.
 
But time moves on relentlessly,
And with it comes great change.
To face each change with dignity
Is all we can arrange.
 
So give me faith to see the good,
The color of the leaf,
Instead of focusing my gaze
On the fall and its grief.

Clouds and Light Make Gold

The lights went out, the world went black,

The wind howled past the eave.
There was so much work still to do,
This blow we’d not believe.
 
But then the laughter split the dark,
The candle lights burned true.
And everyone gathered around,
While joy saw us all through.
 
It was as the night lingered on,
That I stepped back to see
We all had worked so hard all week,
We needed to be free
 
For one night, filled with loving joy,
Unexpected and sweet.
You cannot have a golden sky
If clouds and light don’t meet!!

Why I Cry These Days

As I look back on these last years,

One thing becomes so clear,
Whichever room that I was in
My mom always sat near.
 
It didn’t matter where I was
She’d always be right there
Smiling back, when I looked up,
From some old, comfy chair.
 
I think that’s why I cry these days,
When I sit down each night,
There’s no one sitting right near by
And that doesn’t seem right.
 
I look up and see just a chair,
Without my mother’s smile,
And I know it will be that way
For quite a lonely while.
 
So now I weep a bit each day
To ease some of the pain,
Until the time when I can see
My mother’s smile again.

What is Next, Lord

I’ve prayed for wisdom with each dawn,

Though I am still unwise,
For I don’t know what I should do
At each day’s new sunrise.
 
All my past labors now are done,
That task is quite complete,
And yet it’s with a sense of loss
That my heart is replete.
 
I don’t know where I go from here,
What does success now mean?
For, though I’ve finished what You asked,
My new task is unseen.
 
So with each dawn I pray to You
To help me find my way.
Lead me to understand what’s next,
What I should do today.
 
Or is it simply that, for now,
My task is nothing new.
Instead You want me to be still
And turn my face to You.
 
Should I not worry, for right now,
About the works of man,
And seek, instead, to find You, Lord,
In every way I can.
 
For only when I’m seeking You
Will I find what I need,
And that, Lord, is wisdom enough
To ease my mind, in deed,
 
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Heart of the Tempest

I’m in the heart of the tempest,

I feel the storm winds rise.
The dark clouds of despair and fear
Are filling up my skies.
 
But through them all, I see Your face
I hear You call my name,
I rise to face the turbulence,
Your strength is mine to claim.
 
And on that strength I will rely,
Though tempests roar above,
For I can face the fiercest storm
If I stand in Your love.
 
Job 27:20-21
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night.
The east wind carries him off, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.

A Trace of You

Before the clouds consumed the sun,

Which disappeared from view,
I got one last glimpse of its light
As it came peeking through.
There, with that last glimpse of its gold
And its reflected hue,
I saw an image of myself
As I reflected You.
 
As the perfection of the sun
Was marred by water’s face,
So is my reflection of You
A poor glimpse of Your grace,
Yet that water flashed with a light
My heart longed to embrace,
And I pray I might reflect You
Even with that small trace.

Hold To Faith

 

 

Even in the darkness of night,

His light comes shining through,
So keep your faith in troubled times
For His love covers you.
 
He holds us each within His hand
As darkness sweeps our world
And, when we feel most overwhelmed,
We see His light unfurled.
 
So hold to faith and, in His name,
Defy the darkest night,
For He will lead you through its snares
With His enduring light.

Darkness and Light

The darkness must give way to light,

Rise up then, and rejoice.
Then leave behind the fears of night,
Give to His glory, voice.
 
Let your heart sing with great delight,
Rise up then, and rejoice.
For He can set each wrong to right,
Give to His glory, voice.

Photo a blessing from TK. Again.

Starting the Day

The hills reflect the morning’s light,

The river sings at dawn,
And I will join them in God’s praise,
Then rise and carry on.
 
For, when I start my day with Him,
The world falls into place,
And, in the light of each new dawn,
I see His perfect face.

Photo a blessing from T.K.

Isaiah 21:8

I stand on watch for you, My Lord,

Each day and through the night,
Though storms may rage across the sky,
I’ll watch for your true light.
For I know that, however dark,
You’re never far away
And I will stand watch faithfully,
Rejoicing while I pray.
 
Isaiah 21:8
And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.

Still Watching Over Me

Whenever trouble comes my way,

Crouching ever nearer,
I look past it and see your face,
Shining that much clearer.
 
I don’t know if fear clears my sight,
Or if, knowing it’s there,
You make yourself more visible,
That I won’t doubt your care.  
 
Whichever, Lord, the case may be,
Please know I’m glad to see
Your loving face, when I’m most lost,
Still watching over me.

Psalm 29:3

All glory to your name, my Lord,

You sing within the dawn,
And with the setting of the sun
Your glory lingers on.
 
Oh Lord, You thunder through the skies
You roar within the sea,
And yet you offer gentleness
To broken souls like me.
 
May all Your children heed Your voice,
And lift to You their praise,
That they may dwell within Your Grace
For all their earthly days.
 
Psalm 29:3
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

In thanks, Lord, for 3 years of collaboration.

Life's Humble Crown

Through life we wear a humble crown

And face each day to day
Knowing that all we love and hold
Will some day pass away.
For life and wealth are fleeting things
That time will soon erase,
But we can still rejoice on earth,
However low our place,
For heaven holds a shining crown
Formed by God’s boundless love
And endless life and joy are ours,
When we join Him, above.

Humans Plan, God Establishes

I try to make so many plans

And some of them fall through.
The frustrations can pile up fast
With nothing I can do.
 
But when I’m feeling overwhelmed
By all that has gone wrong,
I just remind myself that You
Had this planned all along.
 
Although it may not fit my plans,
I’ll walk the path you’ve laid,
For any plan that comes from You
Beats every plan I’ve made.
 
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Seen As A Whole

Each petal has a unique shape

And each a varied hue,
Yet altogether they combine
To make me think of You.
 
Thus we who live to serve the Lord
Have varied gifts of grace,
But, when one sees us as a whole,
We should reflect His face.
 
So help us, Lord, to do our part,
That Your love may shine through,
Such that all who look on your church
Will smile and think of You!

Watching Over Me

I know that you watch over me

Wherever I may go,
Although the path is fierce with thorns
Or belly deep in snow,
And when the path beneath my feet
Is soft with sweet green grass
I don’t forget to look to you,
For easy times will pass.
I feel your hand upon me now,
Guiding me on my way.
I sing with joy to know you’re there,
Beside me, every day.
 
Psalm 142:3
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.

Photo a blessing from J.O. Thank you for such a wonderful photo!

Autumn Mists and Prayers

In the mists that speak of autumn,

I hear a whispered prayer.
It warns me of the coming winter,
Of darkness and despair.
But also it reminds me of
The spring that follows on,
For there is always renewed life
When the storms have passed on.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Singing for Joy

My praise today is not a verse,

It’s a song, in joy, grown
And shared with friends who won’t leave me
To face sorrow alone.
 
And so I sing with a full heart,
In chorus with their love;
And for the gift of so much joy
I thank the Lord above.

Rejoicing Always

In sunshine or in shadow, Lord,

I will rejoice in you.
Though I am happy or I’m sad,
That praise will see me through.
 
Lord, in all things I’ll lift your praise,
Rejoicing as I sing,
For you are with me, through it all,
With all the joy you bring!
 
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Joy Comes with Morning

In my moments of great sorrow

I weep for all I’ve lost,
But when I think of what’s been gained
I don’t regret the cost.
 
My sorrow is a selfish thing,
For they don’t feel my pain,
Yet I must let my sorrow spill
Or I won’t heal again.
 
So I will weep beneath the stars
And sing to greet the sun,
For sorrow has its place at night,
But dawn means sorrow’s done.
 
Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Following Your Light

Oh, I will follow you, my Lord,

Across the widest sea.
And I will follow through the night,
Though I can barely see.
Yes I will follow where you lead,
However far that be,
For you have brought light to my world
And healing love to me.

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.”

Psalm 42:5

Why do I weep when all the world’s

Resplendent with your joy?
Oh Lord, help me to dry my tears
And find things to enjoy.
 
Why do I see just sadness here
When joy is everywhere?
Oh Lord, lead me to seek delight
Instead of bleak despair.
 
Why do I let what I can’t change
Consume my happiness?
Oh Lord, show me that I can choose
Great joy over distress.
 
Oh thank you, Lord, for your sweet grace
That wipes away my frown
And offers me, instead of grief,
A joyous, golden crown.
 
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

To Mom, On Her Passing

Joined in love that never ended,

They trod a winding road,
Walking together, side by side,
Sharing life’s daily load.
 
Until the day he departed
Into God’s shining grace.
Yet always, when she slept each night,
She’d see his precious face.
 
This morning while her children slept,
She heard him call her name
And she reached out, at last, to him,
A renewed love to claim.
 
Now they stand, once more, together,
Two hearts that love made one,
Rejoicing with the Lord forever.
Their struggles on earth, done.

Life's Tug of Wars

I find myself praying,

“Don’t let this be true.”
Yet the alternative
I can’t put her through.
 
She struggles to linger
In spite of her pain,
Yet she also longs to
Join her love again.

Life is a tug of war

In so many ways,
I can’t help but wonder,
Do I weep or praise.
 
I find myself often
Being pulled apart,
Which ultimately leaves me
With a broken heart.

An Unexpected Death

She felt each blow fall on her heart,

Piling upon each other,
As if the weight of all that sorrow,
Her last hope, might well smother.
 
She wept as if her heart would break,
Praying for God’s loving Grace,
And suddenly she saw each tear
Reflected His shining face.
 
That was the moment when she knew,
However crippling her grief,
God’s eternally boundless love
Would always bring her relief.

To B.W.

The Edge of the Unknown

I’m not afraid, though I may stand

At the edge of what’s known,
For God has promised me His peace
And that I’m not alone.
Though I face the unfaceable,
I’ll face it without fear,
For nothing troubles me for long
When He is standing near.
 
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Psalm 107:29

My heart’s tossed in a raging sea,

A tempest of despair.
I try to break free from its waves;
But I’m gasping for air.
 
When all seems lost, I call to You
And You reach out to me.
You still the tempest of my pain
And calm my raging sea.
 
You hold me in Your loving arms
And soothe my worried mind
Until the fears that once had raged
Are stilled and left behind.  
 
Psalm 107:29
"He stilled the storm to a whisper: the waves of the sea were hushed"

Long, Slow Good-bye

She’s heading someplace I can’t go,

Though I know she must leave,
Still, in my heart, I’ll miss her so
And I can’t help but grieve.
 
I want to beg her to stay here,
She’s loved me all my days,
And I can’t lose someone so dear,
Who taught me all life’s ways.
 
But God is calling her tonight,
Soon she’ll turn toward His Grace,
And I’ll be left without the light
Of her loving embrace.
 
So, as her gaze turns from this earth,
And toward God on high,
I’ll cling to her, who gave me birth,
Through her long, slow good-bye.

The Bright Spot

There is a bright spot in each day,

Though sometimes hard to see,
But if you look for it you’ll find
It shining quite clearly.
 
That moment when the clouds gave way
And joy came bursting through,
The instant when you knew for sure
God’s love watched over you.

Turning Forward in Faith

I’m turning toward tomorrow

And away from the pain.
I’m packing up the tears and sorrow
And starting life again.
 
I’ve put heartache far behind me,
Leaving it in my wake.
I’m choosing life filled with glory,
Living it for His sake.