Not Listening

He spoke to her, but she slept on,

She didn’t want to hear.
Yet still he spoke the urgent words
Into her sleeping ear.
 
There was such wisdom in the words,
That she chose to ignore.
Had she but listened to his thoughts,
Life could offer much more.
 
But still she turns her head away
Each time he tries to speak,
Not understanding he offers
The answers we all seek.
 
Deuteronomy 5:27
Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”

The photo of the sleeping duck and the turtle is a blessing from a friend, LB. Thank you so much!

Resting in Hope

I struggled through the last few weeks,

I worried I would fail,
But, in the end, I called on You
To help in my travail.
 
I found the peace I needed then,
To finish those long chores,
And now I can rest for a while      
In the Love that restores.
 
Acts 2:26
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,

The photo is a blessing from LRS, Thank you SO much for sharing this with us.

The Mowing Shirt

I never know where they’ll come from,

These praises God sends me.
Today I shook my head and said,
“Oh Lord, that just can’t be”,
Yet here I sit writing that praise
As you can plainly see.
 
It’s just a tattered old work shirt
That’s ripped and frayed and torn
By all the trees it’s snagged upon
Through the years it’s been worn
While mowing in my parent’s yard.
But offer it no scorn,
 
For just today it taught me much,
A lesson I should learn.
A branch hooked me up by my shirt
While making a tight turn,
And it would not let go of me
Though I spoke sharp and stern.
 
It snagged upon an older slash
And tore that snag anew
Before I got it untangled
And pushed the tractor through,
But first I had to back it up,
Something I hate to do.
 
I had just been lamenting that
Time was moving too fast
And very soon the day would come
When these mow days are past.
They remind me of one I love,
But nothings meant to last.
 
So when the tree snagged on my shirt
It snagged on my heart, too,
As I heard a small voice tell me
What I needed to do
Was back up and let it all go
Before I pushed on through.
 
For I can’t move on in my life
Til I give the past rest,
And, while I’ll have it with me still,
I can’t live life distressed;
If I am focused on what’s lost
I can’t give life my best.
 
So I will let go of the past
When the old home is sold,
I’ll retire the mowing shirt,
So tattered, torn and old,
And turn my face to tomorrow,
Step out and live life bold.

Made My Day

It was a small act of kindness,

But it lit up my day,
And, though it wasn’t a grand act,
He went out of his way.
 
He did it with a cheerful smile
And then he walked away.
I stood there watching him walk off,
Unsure of what to say.
 
A simple deed and sweetly done,
For no reason I saw,
Simple kindness out of the blue.
It left me flushed with awe.

Nearby

I’m always grateful for the one

Who’s never far away;
The one who answers when I call,
Who’s there to help or play;
The one who laughs when I’m laughing
And listens when I cry.
Whether they’re family or friend
I’m glad that they’re nearby.
 
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

The Difference in a Moment

I was the next one in the line,

I’d been there for a while,
Yet when I stepped up I was told
“I’m closed now,” with a smile.
The person just before me paid,
But I was turned away.
What a difference moments make
In the course of our day.
                          
But, as I waited once again,
In yet another line,
I realized that I had learned a lesson
Clear and fine.
For life is short, the moments pass,
Then we must say good bye,
However well we have behaved,
However hard we try.
 
Be sure you give each moment time
To show you its full grace,
Before you’re left with many lost
That you cannot replace.
Don’t take for granted that moments
Will constantly be there,
But recognize time passes fast,
And there is none to spare.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Until That Day

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed

But that will pass someday,
Then I will look up happily
And, with rejoicing, say,
“Dear Lord, I thank you for the grace
That brought me to today.”
But until then, I’ll keep the faith
And bow my head to pray.
 
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Blessings Counted

I stopped this morning to count them,

And I was quite amazed,
The vast abundance that I found
Left me both stunned and dazed.
I had not realized how much
Was there before my eyes
Until I stopped to count them all.
My blessings, what a surprise!
 
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Smiling Through the Tears

This wasn’t where I planned to be

At this point in my life,
I didn’t plan for loneliness
And tears to be this rife.
I didn’t plan to know this loss
Or feel its wound this way,
But I know that, ahead of me,
There lies a brighter day.
 
I know that no good can come from
Letting life make me blue,
But some days tears are all I’ve got;
They’ll have to see me through.
Yet, God has promised me this grief
Was never meant to last,
So I’ll show life a joyful face
Until this time is past.
 
John 16:20
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Balancing

The things we balance in each day,

The chaos and the glee,
The worries that weigh our hearts down,
The joys that set them free,
Are part of God’s plan to shape us
Into who we should be.
 
Proverbs 16:11
Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Let Me Be Still

Let me be still and know that You

Still hear me when I pray
Let me be still and know that You
Walk with me every day
Let me be still and know that You
Still have work I must do
Let me be still and know that You
Have plans to see me through
Let me be still and know that You
Are mightier than sin
Let me be still and know that You
Have washed me clean again
Let me be still and know that You
Loved me before my birth
Let me be still and know that You
Are praised throughout the earth
Let me be still and know that You
With the heavens are shod
Let me be still and know that You are God.
 
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Ephesians 4:16

All the petals intertwining,

Holding each other tight,
Adding their strength to the blossom
As it grows in the light.
 
We should live much like that blossom
And hold each other dear
Not forgetting we grow stronger
When those we love are near.

Ephesians 4:16

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Topsy-Turvy

When the world seems topsy-turvy,

All upside down and out of place,
I know that God can set things right
Through just a simple act of Grace.
 
So I face the topsy-turvy,
Take each upheaval in my stride,
For I know the great upholder
Is only prayer’s length from my side.


Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Disappointment

When disappointment haunts my day,

You hold me in Your hand,
Reminding me that all’s not lost;
It moves at Your command.
 
It may not have been a great day,
But You’re still here with me.
And though my hopes seem washed away,
It’s what was meant to be.
 
I still have work that I’m to do,
For I still walk this earth,
And, though I made my human plans,
Your plan has greater worth.
 
Though my plans have all gotten lost,
Faith won’t allow despair.
Besides, You hold me in Your hand
And You will get me there.

Always Near

Be still, my child, for I’m with you,

Please give to me your fear,
For fear is not a gift of God
And I am always near.
 
Please lay your worries at my feet
I’ll dry each falling tear,
For sadness is not born in Faith
And I am always near.
 
Be still and know that I am God,
And you are very dear.
Don’t let the world mislead you, Child.
For I am always near.

Dichotomies

How odd the differences I see

When I take time to look at me;
The tomboy still lives here, that’s true,
And something of a princess, too;
I’m always there to fight for right,
Yet wake up frightened in the night;
I recall things I should forget,
And lose track of those I’ve just met.
Despite all my dichotomies,
There’s one thing I still do with ease.
Lord I still turn to You each day
And, with humble repentance, pray.

Unexpected Miracles

I did not see that coming, Lord,

It took me by surprise.
Yet, there it came, out of the blue
And right before my eyes.
A miracle so surprising
It took my breath away.
I never saw it coming, but
I’m glad it came my way!
 
Psalm 78:24
He rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.

Just Being Near

There’s not a lot that I can do

To help my fellow man,
But still I try to find a chance
To help out when I can.
Sometimes I help out with a load,
Sometimes I lend an ear,
But other times what’s needed most
Is simply to be near.
To lend a shoulder for a tear,
An arm to be leaned on,
Is sometimes all it takes to help
A stranger carry on.
 
Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Buds of Hope

The little buds of future plans,

The hopes for what might be,
The seeds from which tomorrow’s dreams
Become the joys we see.
 
Although we sometimes give up hope,
Hope’s tougher than it seems,
So hold on to those little buds
Until they’re answered dreams.

Looking Back

When I am tempted to look back

At the life left behind,
I fear I’ll see all my mistakes,
But You are what I find.
 
You remind me that those mistakes
Have been left in the past.
Those sins have all been washed away;
It’s Your love that will last.

Leading the Way

Let your children lead the way,

For innocence is theirs.
They have not yet been tattered by
Life’s worries and its cares.
 
Teach them to love Him while they’re young,
And their love will be true.
Then you can follow that love home
When doubt overwhelms you.
 
For God has blessed His little ones,
They’re precious in His sight,
And, when we lose track of His path,
They’ll be our guiding light.
 
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

My Hunger

Feed me, Lord, for I am hungry;

I’m hungry for Your Word.
The Word that walked at Your right hand
Before Your laws were heard,
Before You spoke the endless night
Into a budding day.
Oh Lord I hunger for Your Word;
Please fill my heart today.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Moments

There are moments in every day

That take my breath away
They aren’t the big momentous ones,
But their memories stay.
A gentle breeze through dusty trees,
The new mow summer hay,
The glory of the Lord on high
Bursting forth in display.
 
Psalm 93:4
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.

My Bouquet

A little bouquet of blessings

You gave to me today,
For all the things that could go wrong
Instead went the right way.
 
The little blossoms of delight
And, dare I say, relief,
Reminded me that I am loved
Beyond due or belief.

The Climb

The path that we’ve been asked to walk,

Gets harder every day;
Though many set out on the path,
Most fall along the way.
The choices and excuses made
Don’t change what we must do,
For we are called to faithfulness;
We have to see it through.
 
Each step we climb leaves those behind
Who walk another way,
However clear the path may be,
Some choose to go astray.
So many hear the words He spoke
When He too walked this earth,
But only a few follow Him
All the way to re-birth.
 
The path gets harder everyday
As we seek compromise
With all that this world declares truth,
Though we know they are lies.
Yes, I have stumbled more than once,
And fallen on my face,
But I pray I can climb in faith
Until I walk in Grace.
 
Matthew 22:14
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Whisper in My Ear

You’re always right there with me, Lord,

To whisper in my ear;
Reminding me to trust in You
And not give in to fear.
I walk in faith, I live Your truth,
I hold Your promise dear,
For when you whisper of Your love
I know that You are near.

Close Friends

Things just go better with a friend,

Or maybe two or three,
And I can always count on you
While you can count on me.
Although we have a thorn or two,
We look past all those things,
And stick together through it all
For the love friendship brings.

Strength

He may be battered by the storms,

And by the years he’s seen,
But he stands proudly, fierce and strong
In spite of where he’s been.
 
He is a fighter, he won’t quit,
And he will never run,
He’d proudly do, once more again,
The things that he has done.
 
And when he’s called, again, to stand
Before the coming storm,
He’ll rise up in the face of fear,
To face down each new swarm.
 
So look not at his battered face,
But at his focused gaze,
For he is stronger than you think;
Wiser for these hard days.

As In A Mirror

The person that I see today

Will not always be me,
As if the mirror obscures some
Of what I ought to see.
 
For I am limited in life
By what my eyes can see,
Yet someday, when I see clearly,
I’ll see a better me.
 
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Job 36:4

My heart sings to me in the dawn,

“Be not afraid to fly.
For God, who knows what’s best for you,
Is watching from nearby.
He knows what’s best for you today,
He knows what lies ahead,
And He has His plan well in place
While you lie still abed.”
 
So I rise up within each dawn
And face it without fear.
Though, bad or good, God knows what’s next,
And I know He is near.
 
Job 36:4
Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

Perspective

How varied are the works of man,

Some are small, some are grand,
But none of them compare to those
Created by the Master’s hand.
 
Even from many miles away
His handiwork’s easy to see,
It dwarfs the grandest works of man
And sets my mortal spirit free.
 
Deuteronomy 3:24
“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?