In Your Word

My thoughts get lost within Your word,

They linger in my mind,
And when I face a troubled day
They’re always there to find.
 
They sparkle in the tangled webs
Of worries or despair
And help me to remember that,
No matter what, You’re there.
 
The little gems of precious love
That lift from me my pain
And help to remember that
The hard times won’t remain.
 
Proverbs 4:4
Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.

Into The Light

I keep my face turned to The Light,

Though sometimes I’m afraid
That I will be held out because
Of the mistakes I’ve made.
 
I keep my face turned to The Light
In the hope that I’ll see
A clearer path than what I’m on
To be whom I should be.
 
I keep my face turned to The Light,
However dark the days,
And I let the Light fill my heart
By singing songs of praise.
 
I keep my face turned to the Light
That someday I might see
The face of my Lord, who redeemed
A wretched soul like me.

A Peaceful Place

How blessed am I to have a place

Of such security
That I can live without the fear
Of raw brutality.
 
I go to sleep each night in peace,
And each day I’m still free.
I live my life with peace of mind
That others earned for me.  
 
I don’t have all that I might want,
But I’m not one for greed.
Since I have peace, and just enough,
I have all that I need.
 
So, yes, I live a simple life,
I live it peacefully.
And I lift thanks to God for those
Who give that peace to me.

 

Those Who Mourn

Take time to hold the one who weeps

And offer comfort, too.
For sorrow that you can’t escape
Lingers out there for you.
When that day, at last, finds your heart,
And it’s broken in two,
It is my prayer that someone comes
To weep and comfort you.
 
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Comprehending the Incomprehensible

The hills stretch back millennia

The seas are older still,
And yet they are a passing thought
When compared to Your will.
 
The stars will burn out in a blink,
And new stars take their place,
But even their bright, burning lives
Merely reflect your face.
 
I speak the words, they’re meaningless.
I still can’t understand
The power over time and form
Resting within Your hand.
 
Oh Lord, how far does Your hand reach,
How old your memories,
And how am I to comprehend
Such miracles as these?
 
Proverbs 8:25
before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth

For The Blessings

For holding me safe in Your hand

For helping me to understand
For the new lessons You have planned
For all these things, Oh Lord I pray.
 
For ups that follow all the downs
For all the laughter and the frowns
For fallen lives turned into crowns
For all these things, Oh Lord, I pray.
 
The Grace that saved the world from sin
Then rose up from the grave again
The savior of the world of men
Oh Lord, I thank You and Amen!

The Hole in My Heart

There’s a hole in my heart tonight

That I can’t seem to fill,
And I can’t find what once was there.
I’d bet I never will.
 
They say with age the mind may go,
But speak not of the heart,
For there is no repairing it
Once it’s been torn apart.
 
Yet as the days and years go by
And I lose those I love,
I wish I could call back to me
Those whom God’s called above.
 
But little bit by little bit
I’ll bid my heart adieu
Until I find the missing parts
In heaven, Lord, with you.

On Wings Like Eagles

I watched it soaring through the sky,

Pure majesty in flight,
With every feather burnished by
The morning’s vibrant light.
 
I know that I am bound to earth
A stranger to the sky,
But my heart still leaps up with joy
To see it passing by.  
 
For I have placed my hope of life
On my Lord’s promising,
That I will rise myself, someday,
On wings, untiring.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

A Gallery Visit

One of my friends hosts a blog of photography and praise. She has just opened a new page on the blog called The Bible. She takes one verse from each book of the Bible and pairs it with one of her favorite photographs. She said she'll probably change up the verses and photos now and then, but it really is quite impressive and delightful!! Go check it out!! Then check out the rest of the blog!!

http://www.agalleryvisit.com/bible.html

A Cooper Moon

The sky was burnished copper where

It ringed the rising moon
And both were set in darkness for
Midnight was coming soon.
 
I’ve seen the moon a thousand times,
But never quite that way
And, while some might think it eerie,
It took my breath away.

It left me pondering again,
How mighty is the hand
That offers such amazing sights
Merely at His command.
 
How grand the artistry of Him
Who fills the sky with light,
Whether it be the sun by day
Or misty moon at night.

Psalm 111:2

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Around the Bend

I don’t know what’s around the bend.

Sometimes that frightens me,
But then I hear Your loving voice
Speaking comfortingly.
 
You tell me that the road may run
Through valleys grim and cold
And, though I might be terrified,
You’ll help me to be bold.
 
You tell me that the mountain’s peak
Will be mine to traverse,
But You will help me to be strong
When bad turns into worse.
 
You tell me that not every bend
Will bring me tears and pain,
But both will lie along the path
Every now and again.
 
I hear Your voice promising me
There will be great joy, too.
A joy that passes all I’ve known,
A joy that’s born in You.
 
I’m still a little nervous, Lord,
Of what lies round that bend,
But I will walk out with the faith
That You are my trail’s end.

A Day of Rest

I thank You for this day of rest,

Rest that I well needed.
My body had cried out for sleep,
But that cry went unheeded
Until I had no choice but hear
Or fall in exhaustion.
And so, Lord, my thanks for this day
Of getting nothing done.

Prickly Days

Some days are just too prickly, Lord,

And this was one of them,
But, though it had its ups and downs,
It was more glad than grim.
 
And so I go to sleep tonight,
Weary enough to cry,
But too grateful for all Your grace
To let tears touch my eye.
 
I Love You, Lord.
Amen

Gathering Storm

There’s a storm on the horizon

And rain scenting the air.
The little birds head for the trees
To settle and prepare.
 
I cannot shelter in the trees
When storms threaten my day,
But I can shelter in Your grace,
Lift up my heart and pray.
 
So, let the storms gather about,
The wind, the rain, the hail,
I will not fear what is to come
For Your Love will not fail.
 
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Life From Death

Although it slumbered peacefully,

Death smoldered at its heart,
And in the quiet light of dawn
The mountain blew apart.
 
It shattered the world in its reach,
Blasted it past all hope,
Destruction flourished in its wake
On every hill and slope.
 
But time has passed and in its course
God’s love has shown its face,
For where destruction once had ruled,
New life bursts in its place.
 
So, though the world seems to be lost,
Do not let your faith fail.
For God alone calls life from death,
And His love will prevail.
 
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Deeds of Darkness

I hear you crying in the night

It echoes in my ears,
But night will pass, the dawn will come
And you will dry your tears.
 
For tears are creatures of the night,
Born from the heart’s dark pain,
But morning washes them in light
Until joy comes again.
 
Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Lost in the Mists

I think my mind is failing me,

My thoughts all go astray,
And I am worried that they might,
Someday, just slip away.
 
I know that it may be my fate
To lose what I now hold,
But I had hoped it would not come
Until I had grown old.

I know I may just be busy,
With too much on my mind,
But still I worry at each thought
That I cannot quite find.
 
Please help me, Lord, to just hold on
To what I still have left.
There’s so much I still need to do
And I’m feeling bereft.

Standing In Faith

I’m standing faithful to Your word,

Though my knees may be weak
And I may tremble at the thought
Of standing up to speak.
 
The world is turning on itself,
Wrong often now is right,
And those who speak up in Your name
Must often stand and fight.
 
But I will rise up when You call,
Proclaiming with full heart
That I am faithful to the Lord
Though the world falls apart.
 
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Psalm 61:2

You hear me when I call your name

And lift me in your hand,
You are the rock that’s higher than
The world where I now stand.
 
When I am weak and falling down
Yours is the face I seek,
To give me strength to rise again.
You are my mountain peak.
 
Oh Lord, I praise Your name on high,
You are my Rock, my strength,
And I will Praise You, Lord, until
You call me home at length.
 
Psalm 61:2
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The Promise

Each time I must confront the death

Of someone I adore
I’m reminded of Your promise,
The life that lies in store.
Sometimes it is the only thing
That helps me to hold on,
The promise that we’ll meet again,
And dead does not mean gone.

Titus 1:2
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time

Awash in Sin

I am not quite perfected yet,

I’m still awash in sin,
But I’ve learned that, to finish, Lord,
It’s crucial to begin.   
 
So I rise up with each new dawn
And try it yet again,
To live my life as You desire,
Without the stain of sin.
 
As You can see I’m not there yet,
Much to my own chagrin,
But You have promised, though I fail,
You’ll still forgive my sin.

Being Content

I know that there’s still much to do

So far I need to go,
But for the moment I’m content
To simply take it slow.
 
I don’t need more, and I’ve had less
Than what I have right now,
And I have learned to make it through
With more or less somehow.
 
I know I can be restless, Lord,
Though I try not to be,
But for right now I’m working on
Living contentedly.
 
Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Adrift

Whenever I feel I’m adrift,

No solid ground in sight,
I turn my eyes up to the Lord
And trust that all is right.
 
For I can’t change where I might be
Or what life hands to me,
But if I live my life in faith
I live it joyfully.
 
I will not let the troubled times
Leave me stranded someplace
Where I believe I can’t look up
And recognize His Grace.
 
So, though I find myself adrift
And far from solid ground,
I’ll turn my eyes up to the Lord
Where help and joy are found!

In A Rush

I rushed from place to place all day,

Never once sitting still,
And in all of that hurried rush
I worked hard to fulfill
The goals that I had set myself…
While ignoring Your will.
 
Thus, as I came to this day’s end,
Feeling empty and chill,
I realized that I had failed,
Despite all of my skill,
To do the thing You’d asked of me…
Be with You, and be still.
 
So take me now, Lord, though I’m late,
And into me please spill
The peace that passes all I know,
And all I ever will,
That it might guard my heart and mind…
And teach me to be still.
 
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Saying Grace

I thank You, Lord, for every meal

And for this life I live.
The world is full of troubles, Lord,
And has much pain to give,
But You have kept Your eye on me
And, though some days are lean,
I’ve always lived with more blessings
Than some have ever seen.
So Lord, once more I want to say,
For all You’ve done for me,
Thank You, Your bounty overflows.
I’m grateful as can be.
 
Psalm 65:11
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

A Few More Memes

Sing to the Lord

Sing to the Lord with joy filled heart,

Lift up to Him a song.
For He has loved you from the start
His love is pure and strong.
 
Sing to the Lord, lift up your praise
Though all the world refrains.
For God’s blessed you so many ways
And His love still remains.
 
Sing to the Lord, all of the earth,
Greet each dawn with delight.
For through His love we have new birth,
Baptism in His Light.
 
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.

I Meditate on Your Deeds

I contemplate the vast cosmos

That wheels across the sky,
The microscopic creatures
I can’t see with my eye
The song the wind sings in the trees,
A robin’s plaintive cry.
How mighty and how varied are
Your works, Oh Lord on High.
 
How is it that You hear each voice
That’s lifted up in prayer
Or see tomorrow’s bright promise
Though night still chills the air.
Oh Lord, I cannot understand,
My mind cannot conceive,
How You can do all of these things,
And yet, Lord, I believe.
 
Psalm 77:12
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

In, But Not Of

Do not forget you’re in the world

To serve within God’s plan,
And don’t get lost trying also
To serve the will of man.
 
Be in the world, but do not let
The world get into you,
For if you’re lost you cannot work
As God needs you to do.
 
So stand and be strong in the Lord
Serve, answering His call.
Live in the world, but stand apart.
He matters most of all.   
 
John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Patient In Affliction

Joyful in hope, faithful in prayer,

Those things come easily,
But patience is much harder, Lord,
Faced with adversity.
 
I’d ask that You show me, again,
How patience ought to look,
But You have taught me that before.
The lessons never took.
 
So I will work on faithful prayer,
And hope most joyfully
That someday I will grow enough
To suffer patiently.
 
But until then help me to guard
My thoughts, the words I say,
For when afflicted I tend to
Let my temper hold sway.
 
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 40:2

When all my world is at the edge

And there’s no place to go,
Then I will stand upon The Rock
Until I feel faith grow.
 
When there is no place in my world
That offers solid ground,
Then I will walk upon The Rock
Until faith can be found.
 
When I am tossed by every wind
That tears at heart and soul,
Then I will cling fast to The Rock
Until my faith is whole.
 
You are The Rock that is my strength,
You’ve held me up through worse.
I’ll trust my life within the hand
That shaped the universe.
 
Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

In Over My Head

When I get in over my head,

I call and You are there.
I may still have to learn to swim,
But I do not feel despair.
 
When the floods rise all around me,
I call out and find you near.
There may still be raging waters
But I will not drown in fear.
 
Lord, I know that life’s a tempest
And storms will rise and fall,
But I also know that You, Lord,
Will be with me through it all.

Quiet Sunday

It was a simple day today,

Sunshine sparked off the sea,
The breezes rustled all the blooms
Upon each shrub and tree,
And I found time to realize
How much You’ve given me.
 
The peace that ruffles through the waves
And whispers as they pass,
The happiness that’s burrowed deep
Within the sun warmed grass,
Were part of my own personal
Sunday afternoon Mass.
 
And I am grateful for the time
That I had for today
To sit in peace and talk to You,
To praise Your name and pray,
Before I had to rise again
And get back on my way.