When You're In Sight - Re-Posted

 

I never used to see You, Lord,

As I walked through each day,
Though I always knew You were there,
Each step along the way.

Yet as I prayed each day for help
And guidance in my life
I came to recognize Your hand
Helping me through the strife.

Then I began to recognize
That I could see Your face
In so many unexpected
Instances of grace.

So now I see You everywhere,
And, much to my delight,
I find I’m happier in life
When I have You in sight!

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Questions To Consider - Re-Posted

 

God just stopped by to query me;

Child, what have you done today?
Did you offer a kinder word
Than what you wanted to say? 

Did you lift up a weary heart
By sharing with it a smile?
Or make another’s burden light
By chatting with them a while?

Did you reach out and pray for help
For one lost along the way?
And did you think to offer thanks
For the Grace you live each day?
                              
All of the questions that He asked
Are weighing on me tonight.
Tomorrow they will be my guide,
That I may bring Him delight.

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Anchored In Him - Re-Posted

 

The winds that circle round the earth

Can shatter the strong wall
And tear asunder all we’ve built,
Destroying each and all.

But in the fiercest storms we face,
While others twist and bend,
If we are anchored in His grace
We’ll billow in the wind.

Job 37:9
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

Mundane Beauty - Re-Posted

 

Even the unappealing things

That clutter every day
Take on an aura of beauty
When God has His own way.

His touch is obvious to see,
Even an old storm drain
Wears a coat of many colors,
No longer grim and plain.
                                        
All we need do is stop and look,
Take time to really see,
That even the most mundane things
Reflect His majesty.

A Blessing Blooms - Re-Posted

 

The garden’s full of dying blooms,

And yet her cherry smile
Lights up its withered countenance
With her sweet, classy style.

Not bowing to the bitterness
That touches other hearts,
Instead she offers loving joy,
With all that it imparts.

She chooses to see life as sweet,
Despite what greets her eyes,
Delighting in each new dawn as
A breathtaking surprise.

For it is not the autumn’s chill
She feels at each day’s start,
But the warm breath of God’s sweet love
That blooms within her heart.

Grace and Redemption - Re-Posted

 

The path that leads us through this life

Is never smooth and straight.
We have to deal with bumps and ruts
And painful twists of fate.

We get diverted from the path,
Or bogged down in our sin,
Before we find the path once more
And start off once again.

Sometimes we stray so far away,
That we can lose all track,
Until we make excuses for
Refusing to turn back.

We justify the life we choose,
Though we know that it’s wrong,
And we pretend it’s what God meant
For our lives all along.

We live so long within the sin
We think there’s no return.
That life along God’s path for us
Is a bridge we must burn,

But we forget the path we walk
Leads us beneath the cross,
And after such a sacrifice
Christ won’t accept our loss.

So He will find us on the road,
Where ever we are bound,
Reminding us of all we've lost,
He'll turn us back around. 

It’s not the sin that matters when
All has been said and done.
The thing that matters most to Him
Is grace and redemption.

Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Thank you to LHB for another wonderful photo of the Vermont autumn and a perfect fit for today's praise!

Not Overcome - Re-Posted

 

I dreamed that all the world was lost,

That darkness ruled the land,
And there was no place left where I
Could hope to make a stand.

It was as if the bitterness
Of darkness held my soul
And I feared I could not escape
From darkness’s control.

But, when I woke and saw the sun
Rising at His command,
I knew that He was still in charge
And held me in His hand.

I felt the grip of the darkness
Slowly let go of me,
For dark cannot long imprison  
The soul that God set free.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Riding Out The Wind - Re-Posted

 

The whirlwind’s fast approaching now,

I feel it in the air.
It’s tearing at the cloudy skies
And ripping through my hair.

What has been coming, now is here
And I feel whipped and tossed.
I’m fraying so fast that I fear
There’s a chance I’ll be lost. 

You are my only refuge, Lord,
From the storm that I face.
I pray that You can hear my cries
Above the winds that race.

I'll hold in faith to You once more,
Praying that I can stand
Sheltered against the worst of it,
Resting within Your hand.

In time, this too, will be long past
And my panic will end.
Until then I'll hold on to You
And just ride out the wind!

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him

Yet Still I Look Back - Re-Posted

   

Why am I always looking back

When I should look ahead.
My future is filled with His grace,
But I look back instead
At years and years of pain and sin
That I have left behind.
My Savior has forgiven me,
But they weigh on my mind.

I’m not sure why I hold them close,
Those sins of yesterday,
They hold me back from moving on
They linger in my way.
Perhaps the one who thrives on sin
Wants to keep me close still,
But He who has forgiven them
Claims me, and always will.

So I must find a way to stop
Looking behind at them,
To turn my eyes from my past sins
And focus them on Him
Until the day they lose the pull
That they now hold on me.
If my Savior’s forgiven them,
Then I must let them be.

Like Morning Mist - Re-Posted

 

Though they’re many, those sins of mine,

He scattered them like mist
That melts away with morning’s sun
Until they don’t exist.

And, like the inlet cleared of mist,
My soul floods with His light.
For He has swept my sins away
And made my dark world bright.

Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Trials of Many Kinds - Re-Posted

 

Some days perseverance alone

Is all that gets me through.
When my rock meets a stony place,
I dig my roots in You.

I know that I am tested now
That someday I might live
With all the blessings that a life
Of faith and strength can give.

So bring on all the stony paths,
The hard places to go,
And I will dig my roots in deep,
Hold tight to You and grow!

James 1:2-4 
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Rest In Him - Re-Posted

 

The psalm says "my soul rests in Him",

And I know mine does too,
For when I feel battered and tossed
He’s there to see me through.

The peace that comes from knowing Him,
From living in His hand,
Is something you must live yourself
Before you understand.

Now you may choose to fight alone,
Until your hopes grow dim,
But if you call Him, He’ll be there.
So rest your soul in Him.

Psalm 62:5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Teach Me Obedience - Re-Posted

 

The flowers do not bloom in fall

They only burst in spring
And autumn winds sing different songs
Than those winter would sing.

The seasons move obedient

To plans that You’ve outlined
And all occurs as it should be
With patterns that refined.

But then we come to folk like me,
Stiff necked, I think’s the word,
And, though I know what You expect,
I act like I’ve not heard.

Obedience is not that hard,
And Your yoke is quite light.            .
I’ve come to learn that things go well
When I do what is right,

But still I have this stubborn streak,
I’m obstinate at best.
I want to be obedient,
And still I fail the test.

So turn my heart back to You, Lord,
Teach me what flowers know.
Remind me that when I obey
Blossoms of joy will grow.

1 Kings 8:58
May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.

Learning To Wait - Re-Posted

 

I promised I would wait for You

To lead me on the way,
But I was anxious to begin
And so I went astray.

I promised I would call Your name
And offer You my praise,
But I was soon distracted by
The chaos of my days.

I promised to listen to You
And live as You’d asked me,
But I got caught up in the plans
Of all I longed to be.

Then everything seemed to collapse,
I got lost in my pride,
And suddenly I realized
I wasn’t by Your side.

But just before my spirit failed,
Consumed by all my fear,
I felt Your arms reach out for me,
To hold me safe and near.

For, though I’d run ahead of You,
You never left my side,
And so I've learned to wait for You
To be my loving guide.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Built By God - Re-Posted

 

Some cathedrals aren’t made of stone

With all the frill and frock,
And choirs singing anthems of
The same old standard stock.

There are cathedrals formed of light
That dapple a blue sky
And drape across the tallest boughs,
With spires reaching high.

Not all the choirs and the hymns
Are born in hearts of men,
For many flourish in the songs
Of robin, hawk and wren.

So worship God within the church
And in creation, too,
For one was built by man for God
And one by God for you!

Looking For You - Re-Posted

 

I woke this morning wracked with woe,

But too tired to weep;
Days filled with too many cares,
And nights with little sleep.

I needed to see your face, Lord,
Or maybe hear your voice,
But I had no time for a chat
And thus, I had no choice.

I faced the day, I headed out,
My tears began to spill,
“I need you Lord”, my heart cried out,
“I need to see you still.”

Then, through the blurring of my tears,
I thought I saw your face
Within the colors of a leaf...
I felt a calming grace.

And as I looked, I saw you there
In every passing tree.
From within their vibrant hues,
I saw you smile at me.

Then I saw your face once again,
Within the misty sun,
And, when I smiled, you smiled right back
Like we were having fun.

I heard your voice within the rain
That pattered a sweet tune,
I heard it in the swirling trill
Of a melodic loon.

I saw you in the great beauty
Created by your name
And realized I’ll never view 
This world as quite the same.

Keeping Faith In The Storm - Re-Posted

 

The storm is raging off the shore

And bearing down on me,
But I will not cower in fear
For He has set me free.

I’ll rise up on the very winds
Meant to toss me to earth.
For He has shown to me a love
Far greater than my worth,

A love that will not let me fall
Into the storm blown sand,
A love that will lift me on high
As if held in His hand.

So let the winds rage through the day
And fill the night with fear,
The Lord of love will lift me up
For He is ever near.

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

You Feed My Soul - Re-Posted

 

I cannot live without you, Lord,

The world is far too rough.
Without You all I’ll ever have
Will never be enough.

Though all the riches of the world
Lay piled beneath my feet,
Still I would starve with all my wealth,
Be lost and incomplete.

For only You can feed my soul
And see me through each day.
So I will cling to Your word, Lord.
I'll praise You all the way.

Remember the Sabbath Day - Re-Posted

 

Today I speak of marigolds

Kissed by an autumn rain,
And of sweet lavender in bloom
While warmer days remain.

The week holds days of busyness
Of being on the go,
But Sabbath is a day for peace,
For living nice and slow.

A day for seeing all God’s Grace
For what it’s meant to be,
And to count all the blessings that
His Grace has meant to me.

A Day that stands apart each week
From the fast and routine,
Filled with the gifts born of His Grace,
The seen and the unseen.

And so today I spent some time
Alone within His peace
With marigolds and lavender
And Sabbath’s sweet release.

Exodus 20:8

Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.

Too Many Blessings To Count - Re-Posted

 

Let me count my blessings, Lord…

No, that would take too long.
So let me simply thank You for
Loving me, right or wrong.
Thank You for spring, with all its blooms,
Winter with days of white,
For summer and its endless sun
And autumn, crisp and bright.
Thank You for laughter and for tears,
For those I love so much,
And for keeping an eye on them
While we are out of touch.  
Thanks for the ups and for the downs,
For each end and new start,
For blessings too many to count,
Thank You, with all my heart. 

By Grace and By Faith - Re-Posted

 

There is no glow in the morning
If You don’t light the world.
If not for Your hand in the dawn,
The clouds would go unfurled.

The wind won’t toss the misty sea
Upon the waiting land
If You don’t raise it from the depths
By Your almighty hand.

Lord, I would never see the light
Or feel the windy spray
If You had not saved me from death
And washed my sins away.

For it is only by Your grace
That I stand in dawn’s light,
The faith that brought me to this dawn
Secured me through the night. 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

This precious photo is a gift from HRF, taken in Croatia. It suited the verse better than the old one and it brings me great joy knowing who let me use it!

Calling In Faith - Re-Posted

 

The day was dark and difficult,

And all I did went wrong.
I hunkered down and did my best
To simply get along.

But then I thought I should reach out,
Ask You to see me through,
I watched the dark clouds breaking up,
The sunlight bursting through.

Perhaps it was coincidence
That both happened right then,
But I believe faith called the light
That set things right again.

Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Fierce With Joy - Re-Posted

 

We’re born of light, to live in light

And to defy the dark.
For this, the Lord of Light and Grace,
Breathed into us a spark.

He gave us, not a heart of fear,
But one made fierce with joy
That we might hold the dark at bay,
To be bold and not coy.

He calls us to rise up and shine,
To push back on the night,
That we might cast across the world
The promise of His light.

We’re born of light and we are called
To shine out through the world
That all who live within the dark
Can see His Grace unfurled.

Psalm 18:28.
Oh Lord, you give me light; You dispel my darkness.

Rise Up and Rejoice - Re-Posted

Go! Let your joy fill up the earth

And fling it to the sky!
For God has blessed you with His grace;
Raise up your joy on high!

Oh, Let your joy fill up the earth,
Raise up your voice in song.
For God is watching over you;
 His love is ever strong!

So, Let your joy fill up the earth,
Let your banners fly high!
Trust in His love with all your heart;
His love will never die!

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Standing On Him - Re-Posted

 

I like to think I’m strong enough

To make it on my own,
That I can face what the world brings
And do it all alone.
I tell myself I’m tough enough
That I can fight it through,
And come what may I’ll find a way
To do what I must do.

But I’ve found that it’s arrogance
That makes me feel that way,
For when I’ve done all I can do
I’m still lost and astray.
It’s only when I rest on You
That I begin to see
I truly can face what life brings
If You are holding me.

Many thanks to LHB for this delightful photo from her charming Vermont farm. Her blessing has become ours.

Not Overlooked - Re-Posted

 

I used to think that I’m so small

That I’d be overlooked.
Not by design, but just because
God might be overbooked.
 
But as I grew closer to God
I better understood,
He always has His eyes on me,
Watching out for my good.
 
So I quit worrying about
Him losing sight of me.
And now I work to be some one
That He'd be glad to see. 

Psalm 121:3
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber

In Joy and Peace - Re-Posted

 

I rested on the mountain side,

Beneath the singing trees.
The fragrance of the damp green moss
Scattered on the breeze.

I came out with my grief in hand
And worry in my heart,
But, as I sat there midst the ferns,
I felt the healing start.

I listened to the mountains joy,
The forest’s whispered song,
And in the space of a leaf’s fall
I laughed and sang along.

I left the wood in joy again,
Your creation filled me
With all the joy my heart could hold.
You set my spirit free!

Isaiah 55: 12
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

An Surprise Blessing - Re-Posted

 

I never saw it coming, Lord,

It slipped right up on me,
Though I was watching in good faith
And praying fervently.

I didn’t see it coming, Lord,
It took me by surprise.
It wasn’t there and then it was,
All right before my eyes.

I watched and yet I missed it still,
It came out of nowhere,
I never saw it coming, Lord,
Until it was right there.

You promised me that it would come,
And I waited to see.
Yet still it slipped up on me, Lord,
The blessing You sent me.

But I am grateful for the grace
I never saw coming,
And I am learning that surprise
Can be a blessed thing.

My Autumn Days - Re-Posted

As I move into my autumn,

When life starts to slow down,
I don’t look at what’s left to me,
And wear a mournful frown.

I’ll lift up the tattered edges
Of my bright, colored days
And dance upon the winds of faith
Singing my songs of praise.

I know that I cannot change life,
But life will not change me,
And, as I drift at last to earth,
I’ll rejoice that I’m free! 

Psalm 40:16

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” 

My Empty Spaces - Re-Posted

 

Lord, help me in the empty places,

Where my thoughts used to be.
They once filled up my mind, but now
I lose them so quickly.

I worry that the holes they leave
Might be filled with despair,
But I could find great joy in them
If I knew You were there.

If You would fill the emptiness
With a sense of Your grace,
Then I would not be so afraid
Of all that empty space.

In fact, my joy would overflow
At every empty place,
If I were to look at each one
And see, instead, Your face.

The inside view of a covered bridge from ATF.

Focusing On Joy - Re-Posted

 

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 autumn's looming grief.