Unpolluted

It seems so easy to show grace,

To give to those who weep,

But the promise to live His truth

Is much harder to keep.

The world can hold so much allure,

With wonders that amaze,

That I find I am sometimes drawn

To mortal thoughts and ways.

I find I let anger or grief,

Desire or sweet delight

Lead me into the muddied waves

Out of the pristine light.

And I am forced to recognize

That, though once more, I fail,

There are no paths that lead to Him

Which aren’t fraught with travail.

So once again I turn my heart

Toward that distant place

Where I can live, not of this world,

But in His perfect Grace.   

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

This photo is a blessing from a new, but treasured friend, JHS. The verse is one of my Cousin CK’s favorites that seemed to fit the lovely photo. 

Jealousy

Lord, don’t let me be envious

Of those with more than me,

For there are many who see me

As being quite wealthy.

I’ve never been as poor as when

I wallowed in pity

Thinking that I lacked what I need

To live successfully.

The truth is, I was right back then,

I see that now, clearly,

And what I lacked was gratitude

For all You’d given me.

So, Lord, please help me fix my gaze

On all You’ve given me,

That I may not look at the world

Through eyes of jealousy.

1 Corinthians 3:3 

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

Out of Reach

So often the things I want most

Are just out of my reach.

I can’t quite seem to get to them

Across the endless breach.

I like to think that I know best

All that is good for me,

But clearly You see the same thing

Yet view it differently.

I know You want to me to push hard

For those things I must do,

Yet learn that, when You tell me no,

I need to listen, too.

Oh Lord, I’m going to place my trust

In the lessons You teach,

That I will know when to push on

And when it’s out of reach. 

This darling photo was taken by my cousin, Casey. It so captured my heart that I asked him to let me use it. Thanks, Casey!

Prayers for the Journey

Oh Lord, my journey lies ahead.

The road winds before me,
And there is no place I can rest
As far as I can see.
 
I know this is the path for me
And joy lies at its end,
But I am worried I’ll get lost
Around some unseen bend.
 
So now, before I’m on my way
I bow my head to You.
Please watch over me as I go
Then bring me home to you.

Wind Dancing Praise

There is a power in the wind

That can be fierce and wild,
And yet it is that very wind
That has me so beguiled.
 
It is the wind that lifts me up
And teaches me to soar.
The wind that lures me to the sky,
To rise and be much more.
 
I know the wind can break my wings
And drive me to the ground,
But it has given me a life
That I might not have found.
 
Oh Lord, I thank You for the wind,
That You call from the sky,
And for the wings that You gave me
That I might rise and fly!
 
Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

My Eyes On You

I keep my eyes always on You,

My heart is made to serve
My feet are settled on Your path,
And from it, they won’t swerve.
 
You have loved me since long before
My mother gave me birth.
You wrote my name among the stars
And taught my soul its worth.
 
You’ve lifted me beyond myself,
Something I could not do,
And I will not be shaken from
My constant faith in You.
 
Psalm 16:8
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

The Task at Hand

It’s been a day, Lord, oh so long,

With so much on my plate
That I have not yet written this
And it is getting late.
 
But You have given me the task
Of loving those in need
And if I fail to love them, Lord,
Then that task won’t succeed.
 
So I took time to love someone
And put my praise aside
Until I knew that all was well
And we had stemmed the tide.
 
Thank You for giving me such friends
And for the love we share.
It is by loving them that I
Remember how to care.

John 10:25

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,

Perfect Gifts

There are no shadows in the light,

They fall outside its reach,
And the wave never seeks its rest
Until it’s on the beach.

There is a rhythm in the world,
Patterns of time and place.
The good and perfect gifts of His
Pure and unending Grace.

When I start moving too quickly
The world blurs out of view
And with it goes any hope of
Catching a glimpse of You.

So, even when the day gets wild,
With all its hurried pace,
I need to take time to seek out
Those perfect gifts of Grace.

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.

This is the second sunset photo from SNW. I think it is absolutely breathtaking and what a gift from both Sweet S and from God!

Out On a Limb

I’m gonna go out on a limb

And say I’ve seen it all,
The ups, the downs, the win, the lose
The climbs and every fall.
 
But there’s one thing I’ve never seen
In all the years I’ve know.
I’ve never seen the day when I
Had to face life alone.
 
You’ve always been right there with me
In everything I’ve tried,
And win or lose, I’ve always known
That You were by my side.
 
So let the world think what it will
When it looks on my face.
I may be ruffled up by life,
But I am touched by grace!

Psalm 62:1

The world gets busy these days, Lord,

And I give it my best,
But, when the flurry stops at last,
I still can find no rest.

For I am tossed from thought to thought,
My mind whirls from the day,
And, though I bid my thoughts take rest,
The world draws them astray.
 
That’s when I turn my mind to You,
And, through prayerful request,
I draw my thoughts back from the world
And, In You, I find rest.
 
Psalm 62:1
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

A Grateful Prayer

Dear Lord, this life can be so hard,

There’s no doubt that is true,
But You have blessed me with so much
And I give praise to You.
 
I have to work hard for each meal,
But I have food to eat,
And I cut corners now and then
To make my ends all meet.
 
I walk the world without someone
To walk it by my side,
But I have family and friends
Who help me stem the tide.
 
I have shelter when darkness falls,
Though it’s not fine or grand,
And I sleep safely every night
Nestled within Your hand.
 
So, Lord, I know this life is hard,
I struggle to get through,
But I can take the hard times, Lord,
Because You’ve blessed me, too.
 
Psalm 34:19
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

Summer Fruit

How beautiful the summer fruit,

Born from the buds of spring,
But it takes autumn’s crisp, cold winds,
Their full flavor to bring.
 
Do not lament that, in your youth,
You did such foolish things
That still, in your antiquity,
Shameful memory clings.
 
For we are like that summer fruit
That ripens on the tree.
It takes the seasons’ complete march
To reach maturity.
 
And we are meant to bloom in Youth
And grow through summer’s heat
Until, at last, autumn’s chill winds
Teach us that life is sweet.
 
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,

Cupped in Your Hands

You hold me, when I’m most afraid,

Cradled within Your hands
And I am safer, nestled there,
Than in these earthly lands.
 
You lift me on my broken wings
And dry the tears I cry.
You teach me to be strong enough
To return to the sky.
 
I know the time will come too soon
When I must rise and go,
But for this moment hold me close.
Oh Lord, I love You so.

A Walk on the Shore

I walked with you along the shore,

Contented as can be,
While every wave rushed up to us,
As if they envied me.
 
I listened to Your every word.
My heart beat with such glee
That all the waves that washed the sand
Cried jealously of me.
 
You spoke of love beyond this life,
Deeper than the salt sea,
And that love, born of sacrifice…
You offered it to me.
 
Oh Lord, You washed my soul with grace
And I wept joyously.
The ocean waves rushed to the shore
And they rejoiced with me!
 
Psalm 93:4
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.

 

One of two BEAUTIFUL sunset photos that SNW has offered to let me share with you. She took this on the Oregon Coast. THANK YOU, Sweet Angel!

Holding to Pain

I don’t know what to say tonight

Or even how to start.
There are so many scattered thoughts
Weighing upon my heart.
 
The pain from a wound not yet healed,
Worries with more to spare,
And something of an emptiness
That isn’t quite despair.
 
I know that if I take the time
To give them all to You,
Then I will find I have the peace
To turn to something new.
 
But right now I am wallowing
In all the hurt and pain
That I’m not ready to give up,
Or even to restrain.
 
I know it’s selfish of me, Lord,
And more than shameful, too,
That I would rather hold the pain
Instead of holding You.
 
Please help me to break loose from me,
And all my pettiness,
That I might once more know the peace
That comes from happiness.

The "Just Enoughs"

The day was filled with little things

That went wrong, then went right.
All the little “just enoughs” that
That make my burdens light.
 
I almost seems like troubles come
So You can cast them out.
I’m learning to pray through them all
And face them without doubt.
 
I thank You with a joyful heart
For all the little things
That could have been much worse but for
The blessings Your grace brings.

Watching

I know that You keep watch on me,

I see You now and then
Reflected in my every day,
Each little where and when.
 
I hear You in the rustling leaves,
The patter of the rain.
I feel Your hand in every breeze,
As if it’s clear and plain.
 
I know You watch over us all,
But I think it’s quite clear
You keep a closer eye on me…
And I am glad You’re near.

The Still Morning

In the stillness of the morning,

When my heart is fixed on You,
I can hear a new day calling
And I don’t know what I’ll do.
 
Help me to face this day smiling
With a heart so filled with Grace
That there is no room for anger,
And frustration finds no space.

Help me to offer Your blessing
To all those who come my way
That they might end up rejoicing
No matter how hard their day.
 
Help me stand up to the troubles
That life offers mortal man.
With all the faith I can muster,
Help me do more than I can.
 
In the stillness of the morning,
In the pure light of Your love,
Lord, I count upon Your promise
Of the sweet Grace from above.

A Glimpse

I watched the panoply of stars

That swept across the sky
And recognized how small I am
Within the Lord’s great eye.
 
I heard the rushing of the wind
Crushing all in its wake
I recognized how weak I am
And I began to quake.
 
I saw the sea rush to the shore,
Singing unceasingly.
I understood what faithful means
As it applies to me.
 
I live within the twilight world
Trapped between day and night
But now and then I glimpse the truth,
A heavenly insight.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

This photo was kindly shared with us by KLS. It intrigued me and I just loved the precious imagery it called to mind. Thank You, K!!

Sing the Songs

I’ll sing to You where I am, Lord,

For You have sought me here.
I wasn’t looking to be found
And yet I found You near.
 
You sought me out, here in my shame,
When I denied Your call,
And though I tried to run from You
I never ran at all.
 
For You are there before me, Lord,
Wherever I might run,
And I surrendered to Your Grace
Before I had begun.
 
I don’t know why You love me so,
But, despite me, You do.
So I would sing to You, from hell,
because, Lord, I love You!
 
Psalm 137:4
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

Seeking Again

I thought that I had found the path,

That I was on my way,
But it looks as if I was wrong
Or that I’ve gone astray.
 
I thought I was getting better,
But I was wrong to think
That I was heading the right way.
Instead I’m at the brink.
 
Where once again I realize
I’m broken beyond hope
And all that I can do for now
Is do my best to cope
 
And keep on looking for the path,
That leads where I should go.
The path that leads me to become
The me You want to know.

Prickly Days

There will be days when things go wrong

That you had thought were right
And all that you had well in hand
Is scattered out of sight.
Those days can be more painful than
They’ve any right to be,
But no one said that life was meant
To pass by easily.
 
Lift up your heart, despite it all,
For life can still be sweet,
Even if there’s a bed of thorns
Scattered about your feet.
The painful moments will pass by
And joy will come again.
Therefore keep your thoughts on the joy
And put aside the pain.

Our Children

They are such precious little hearts,

They mean the world to me.
Oh Lord, please keep them safe from harm,
Let them live joyously.
 
Please teach them to be wise and strong,
Then give them wings to fly.
They may not always succeed, Lord,
But let them always try.
 
Please help them grow to be more than
I ever hoped to be,
For they are all I leave behind,
They are the best of me.
 
Please set them high upon Your rock
Shielding them as they grow,
Then give them purpose in Your plan,
And let them boldly go!
 
Psalm 27:5
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Move a Mountain

I fear I may have gone astray,

And not for the first time.
The clear path that I’d been walking,
Is now an uphill climb.
 
I know where I am meant to go,
But not how to get there.
I have to find another path
Or give in to despair.
 
But You are calling out to me,
So, my Lord, come what may,
I’ll move this mountain to reach You
And faith will lead the way.
 
Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

A Moment's Peace

There is a peace within me now,

Since I spent time with You.
The world is still in chaos, Lord,
But You will us through.
 
I only had a few moments,
But, Lord, it was enough.
For now I have the peace I need
To stand when things get rough.
 
I have the hope I need to last
Beyond the longest night
Until the darkness is broken
By morning’s perfect light.
 
The world is broken, this I know.
There’s nothing I can do,
But, Lord, my soul finds rest and peace,
And hope when I’m with You.
 
Psalm 62:5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

At The Edge

I’m standing at the edge of choice,

Turn back or wade on in?
I don’t know what might lie ahead,
Behind’s the life that’s been.
 
I’m hesitant to move ahead,
Not knowing what’s in store,
But I don’t think that I’ll have long
To linger on this shore.
 
I’ve walked in faith for all my life,
That walk now nears its end.
I leave behind me all I’ve known,
Both enemy and friend,
 
And turn my face to the promise
That He gave long ago,
Wondering if I’ve done enough
That can freely go.
 
What legacy do I leave here
When I, at last, depart?
How will my life be reflected
When Heaven sees my heart?
 
Proverbs 27:19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

I have so many loved ones recently lost or fighting for their lives right now. When I found this old picture it just made me think of how I might feel when I come to that line...

In Your Light

I wandered so long in the night,

The moon was my best friend,

And I was unaware of what

Might lie at the night’s end.

But when the night grew dark and cold,

I quivered in my fright

And called to You to rescue me,

Renouncing the dark night.

I felt warmth on my face again,

The world quickly grew bright,

And all my fears scattered and fled

In Heaven’s cleansing light. 

Sometimes I think back on the night

And on the life I knew.

It’s in such times that I rejoice

That I now live in You!

Psalm 89:15 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Stop Looking Back

It seemed that I always looked back

Recounting my mistakes.
I wasn't inclined to skip one
Or give me any breaks.
 
I’d count them and I’d flail myself
For living with such sin.
I’d ask forgiveness for the wrongs,
Then flail myself again.
 
It didn’t matter that I knew
That I’d been forgiven,
I still carried the memories
Of each and every sin.
 
One night as I lay in despair
And shame at all I’d done
Knowing that forgiveness was mine,
A gift I had not won,
 
I read the words that finally
Broke through the endless blame
And allowed me to let go of
A whole lifetime of shame.
 
The words appeared so mundanely,
But in answer to prayer.
If He has forgotten my sins
Why should I give them care?
 
I understand that, by His death,
He cast them far from me
And I will no longer call back
Sins from which I am free.
 
Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Proverbs 4:23

Be sure to guard your heart, He said,

For it’s precious to me,
I placed a love within its walls
Of greatest purity.
 
I made it strong enough to bear
The pain that life may bring
By bracing it with joy enough
That it knows how to sing.
 
With charity and compassion,
Wisdom and a few tears,
I’ve given it the grace it needs
To brighten all your years.
 
Be sure to guard your heart, my child,
From it, all you do, flows.
Be careful what you plant in it,
And from it, what then grows.
 
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Doing

Sometimes you make it very hard,

To do as I should do,
I guess that really is the point
That I need to get to.
 
I read the word, well most of it,
And try to share it, too.
But that, I’ve come to understand,
Is not enough for You.
 
It seems that I am expected
To live the word, as well!
And that’s where things get trickier
For me, as You can tell.
 
I'm pretty good at talking, Lord,
I do it all the time,
In fact I do it well in prose
And even, sometimes, rhyme.
 
But doing, that’s a harder thing,
It seems, for me to do.
Are You certain that doing is
That important to You?
 
Okay, I won’t sit here and sigh.
Doing must be begun,
And, though it may be difficult,
I’ll get that doing done.
 
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Where I can Hear

I seek You where the world is still 

And I can hear Your voice
Where I can see You most clearly.
I seek You there, by choice.
I know that I can find You on
The crowded noisy street,
But I could not hear what You say
Where man and machine meet.
 
So I will go where I can hear,
Your quiet whispering
And where I know my heart will find
Enough joy left to sing.
I’ll seek You in the quiet world,
Of lakes and mountains grand.
For I hear You most easily
When standing in Your hand.
 
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Another gorgeous photo from my Aunt JSK. Lake Jenny near Jackson Hole, she said. Perfect!!