Wonderful Friends

I may not always understand

Or recognize gifts from your hand,
But friends are one gift I can see,
And I’m as grateful as can be.

 

For all the best friends on the earth
Are mine, beyond my meager worth,
And I’m most grateful, my life through,
For all the kind things that they do.

Feeling Old Today

I’m feeling older today, Lord,

Than I am meant to feel,
And all the little aches and pains,
Today, seem very real.  
 
I know I’m whining quite a bit
For someone who’s so blessed,
Yet I can’t help but feel that I
Am failing one more test.
 
I have too little energy
For all I did today,
And, when I try to focus in,
My mind has gone astray.
 
I see those younger than I am
Bursting in perfect bloom,
I feel as if I’m in their way,
Taking up too much room.
 
I don’t like feeling this way, Lord,
It’s not my normal state,
But I have felt it coming on
And now it’s in full spate.
 
I know that by tomorrow’s close
The worst will be behind,
But if you’ll keep an eye on me,
You know I wouldn’t mind.

Up To My Neck

Up to my neck in hot water,

Hoping that I won’t drown,
But, at the rate that it’s rising,
I fear I’m going down.
 
I know it’s only the moment,
A moment that’s soon past
For, just like the rising waters,
Hard times will never last.
 
But Lord, while I’m in this moment,
I’m reaching out to You.
Please calm the rising waters, or…
Calm me until it’s through.
 
Matthew 8:24-26
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Among Strangers

Please wrap them in Your loving arms,

Enfold them in Your grace,
Surround those lost and far from home
Until they’re safe someplace.
 
Lord, help them see a friendly smile
On every stranger’s face,
And, when they’re feeling most alone,
The warmth of an embrace.

Along The Way

I’m growing weary, oh my Lord,

It feels like my edges might fray,
The tears I hold back are so few
Compared to those that get away.
And yet I cannot let myself
Wallow, lost in complete dismay,
When You take time to place such joy
Along the path I walk each day.
So, with the tears and frazzled nerves,
Thank You for joy along the way.

Poppies, Honor, Remembering

The little poppies bow their heads

In honor of those lost,
The lost we’ll honor through the years
For paying such a cost.
Although the poppies bloom, then pass,
They leave new seeds behind.
So those we honor leave seeds, too;
The truths we all must find.
The courage and the sacrifice
To do what must be done,
To leave behind a better world;
The job Christ had begun.
 
John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Blooms and Thorns

Be quick to listen, not to speak,

It’s difficult I know.
I tend to speak my every thought,
I let my sharp thorns show.
So help me, Lord, to try harder
To listen and be kind.
I can’t help that I have these thorns,
But make them hard to find.
 
James 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

Weeds of Life

The yellow blossoms of the broom

Now cover each hillside.
They were not native to this land,
Though they’ve spread far and wide.
 
So many people think them weeds,
A nuisance they must clear,
Yet if you stop and look again,
You’ll see their vibrant cheer.
 
Today I felt that what life brought
Reminded me of weeds,
But God reminded me we’re here,
To serve each other’s needs.
 
So I am looking, once again,
At the weeds in my day
To recognize the lovely gift
That God’s placed on my way!
 
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Joy and A Smile

Thank you, Lord, for the smile today.

I really needed it.
And now that it is well in place,
I think I’ll let it sit.
 
Tomorrow brings new worries, Lord,
But none come until dawn.
So, for tonight, I’ll take the joy
And pray it lingers on.

See Me Through

When everything I did went wrong

I cried and pushed on through,
Instead of stopping to be still
And calling out to You.
Things still might not have gone smoothly,
Some troubles are a test,
But I’d have faced some with more grace
And risen past the rest.
 
But I did not think to seek You
And so the day was rough,
Until I finally looked up
And cried out, “Lord, enough!
I’ve learned my lesson today, Lord,
I turn my eyes to You.
I know that I won’t get things straight
Unless You see me through.”  

Sister Friends

We’re all a little different

Yet our lives intertwine
Though we’ve grown up from diverse roots
We seem to form one vine.
They are my sisters, not by birth,
But by God’s rich design.
And I love them with all my heart.
I’m blessed their friendship’s mine.
 
Hosea 2:1
“Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’

Thirst Unquenched

All those who drink these waters now

Will thirst again one day,
But those who drink of God’s sweet Grace
Will drive thirst far away.
 
These waters quench a body’s thirst,
The spirit longs for more;
A longing only God can sate
Upon a distant shore.
 
So drink your fill upon this earth,
But know your thirst will grow
Until you stand upon the shore
Where God’s sweet waters flow.
 
John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Counting Promises

It’s one thing to count your blessings,

When you look, they’re easy to see.
But counting promises in faith
Is harder than it needs to be.
 
For promises of things to come
Cannot be spotted here and now,
But with a heart filled up with faith
Your soul can count them anyhow.
 
So look with eyes that see by faith
And count the promises ahead,
Then lift your voice in songs of praise
To Him from whom promises spread.
 
Luke 1:45
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

I Thirst for You

Oh Lord, I thirst for You each day.

I rise within the dawn
And when I find You by my side
I smile and carry on.
 
I seek You earnestly, My Lord,
In everything I do.
With all that makes me who I am,
My Lord, I long for You.
 
You are the life everlasting
In a parched, arid land,
And I will seek You, Lord, until
I rest within Your hand.
 
Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

My Strong Fortress

I know nothing of the troubles

That some in this world bear,
For, even in the worst of times,
I live within Your care.
 
Lord, I take shelter in Your strength,
You are my fortress strong,
And when the darkness closes in
You are my morning song.
 
Though all the world may come at me
To break me, mind and soul,
I know that I can hide in You
And You will make me whole.
 
So I will stand upon Your strength
And sing through every woe,
For I know that You hold me tight
And that you won’t let go.
 
Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

"Cry Me a River"

When I feel sorrow welling up

I turn my eyes to You
And when I hear You call my name,
I let it flow on through.
 
Though grief can rise up suddenly
Despite all I can do,
You are my refuge in the flood,
The pain will flow on through.

Remembering the Gardener

I thought of you again today

As I passed poppies on my way.
The little breeze taught them to dance
And I stood watching in a trance.
 
They never were your preferred bloom,
And yet, you always made them room;
Just one small corner of the bed,
Washed in yellow, orange and red.
 
You planted once, yet back they grew,
Until they’d spread the whole bed through.
And, though you fussed, you left them there,
Nurturing them with tender care.
 
Though now their bed is lost in grass
And grass is your bed too, alas,
I still think of you when I pass
The wind-blown poppies, bright as brass.

Keep An Eye On Me

Please, keep Your eye on me today,

I’ve got so much to do,
I worried that I’ll get caught up
And take my eye off You.
 
I never mean to glance away
But somehow I still do.
So keep Your eye on me today,
Lest I lose sight of You.

A Cheery Smile

When I’ve been busy all day long

Rushing fast all the while,
It’s nice to come home and find there
A perfect little smile.
 
I know it’s just a rhody bloom,
At least it seems to be,
But it’s a cheerful smile from God
If you were to ask me.
 
You see the world the way you choose
And I’ll see it my way,
From my view point, when I got home,
God smiled at me today!

Artistry

There are some things that catch your eye

And make it clear to all,
That God still rules the heavens and
They answer to His call.
 
The artistry of man is born
Within the heart of God.
Thus, it can come as no surprise
That His works leave me awed.
 
And I would proclaim mightily
The glory of my Lord,
But His works say it perfectly.
I’ll grant them the last word.
 
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Mother's Day

There is no question when you see

A mother’s loving gaze,
For it is filled with hopes and dreams
For all her children’s days.
 
May they be blessed with happiness,
More than she’s ever known,
And may they have enough to eat
Until they are full grown.
 
May they live lives that touch with grace
The lives of those they meet,
While also finding what it takes
To make their lives complete.
 
May they live life purposefully
That may they rise to soar
To heights greater than she has known.
She prays all this and more.
 
Yes, you can see the love she holds
In every mothers eyes,
And that her children love her back
Should come as no surprise.

Seeking

I seek You daily, Oh my Lord.

In everything I do
I find myself, throughout the day,
Looking always for You.
 
Whether I’m working or at play,
You’re always on my mind,
And every time I look for You
You’re always there to find.
 
I’m never too far from a thought
That you are right near by
And I can find you easily
If I were just to try.
 
So I will knock on every door
That life puts in my way,
Because I know You’ll answer me.
I’ll seek You, Lord, each day.
 
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.

Frayed to Fringe

Sometimes life needs a little fringe

To cheer the day to day.
For, when things get too serious,
And edges start to fray,
Turning the frayed edge into fringe
Can hold the stress at bay.
Yes, one small moment of delight,
A smile along the way,
Is often all it takes to add
Some fringe to any day.
 
So go ahead and face each day
Determined to push through,
But keep in mind, when nerves get frayed,
A little fringe will do.

Seasons Change

How hard and cold the winter world,

Sheathed in its robes of ice,
The trees line up on rocky slopes
In rows, cold and precise.
 
And yet beneath the winter’s cold,
Just one warm breath away,
Are joyful blossoms of the spring
Waiting for a new day.
 
Thus are there seasons in each life
Where joy’s trapped out of sight,
But with the breath of God’s sweet grace
It bursts forth in delight.
 
So do not fear the winter’s cold,
For seasons come and go.
Remember that the Grace of God,
Can thaw the coldest snow
And bring forth blossoms born of joy
Which flourish as they grow.

The Edge of the Falls

She stands within the rushing stream

Upon the falls steep edge,
And yet she feels no fear at all,
Teetering on the ledge.
 
For there is peace in solitude,
And few will join her there.
That leaves her free to face her fears
And challenge her despair.
 
There’s so much that she has to face,
So much to still get through,
That sometimes she doubts “getting through”
Is something she can do.
 
Yet she has faith in God’s great plan,
So she’ll get up and try.
Who knows, she might just take a chance,
Leap off the edge and fly.
 
Isaiah 66:12
For this is what the Lord says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.

Surrounded

Some days I feel so all alone,

Too lost to even cry,
I feel that if called out loud
I would hear no reply.
 
And yet I know the truth is this,
I’m not alone at all,
For I’m surrounded by Your love,
You answer when I call.
 
So I will pick myself back up,
I’ll smile into my fear,
For I’m surrounded by Your love,
And You’ll always be near.
 
Psalm 136:3-4
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

A Place To Rest

I’m weary and I need to rest,

I’ve been aloft too long.
I know that there are storms ahead
And I am not that strong.
                               
Oh Lord, I call upon You now,
Please hold me in Your hand.
Please calm the winds and still the waves,
They’ll answer Your command.
 
Oh Lord please be my somewhere safe
While storm winds gather near,
For I know that within Your grace
There’s nothing I need fear.
 
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Abundantly

Abundantly, gloriously

All that God gives to me
Reminds me that I am His own.
 
Thankfully, victoriously
Sharing Him joyfully
With those to whom He's yet unknown.
 
His Love He gives generously
Dying to set us free
I’m reaping the grace He has sown.
 
Abundantly, gloriously
Living His charity
Until I can kneel at His throne! 
 
1 Timothy 1:14
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

 

My Wings

I may not have an eagles wings,

But my wings still will fly,
And they will lift me from this earth
Where I can touch the sky.
 
Or I may skim the ocean’s waves
To dance above the foam,
Wherever the wind carries me,
I still can be at home.
 
And yet, though I may cross the sea
Or rest in distant lands,
I still will never go so far
That I fall from His hands.
 
Psalm 139:8-10
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Lost in the Woods

I’ve been seeking a new purpose,

Exploring here and there.
So many possibilities,
But none for which I care.
There’s lots of things that I can do,
But none appeal to me.
So I am asking You for help,
Guide me where I should be.
Don’t leave me lost out in the woods,
Lord, lead me from this place.
I feel I’m off the path You want,
It’s gone, without a trace.

National Day of Prayer

To thee I pray, my blessed Lord,
For peace throughout this land,
And may we turn once more, Oh Lord,
To reach out for Your hand.
 
Today I pray for those in fear,
Who call out in Your name,
For those who suffer grief or loss,
And all who live in shame.
 
Oh Lord, I lift to You the lost
Who don’t yet walk with You.
Please help them find their way to grace,
As only You can do.
 
I also ask that You help those
Who seek to spread Your word
To those who’ve turned away from You
And those who have not heard.
 
But most of all, Lord, I thank You,
For giving me this voice
With which to praise You every day.
I can’t help but rejoice.
 
So Lord, I join my voice in faith
With those who stop to pray,
To praise You and to ask Your grace
On each of us today.
 
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.