Reflections On Grace - Re-Posted

 

Taking time to reflect on life

Counting my blessings, too.
Thanking You for all I have,
And all that I’ve come through.
I know the road is long ahead,
There’s much still left to do,
But I’ve been blessed with so much, Lord,
And well beyond my due,
That I can only credit Grace
And that Grace comes from You. 

2 John 1:3

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Grace I Didn't See

 
I felt the world falling apart

And slipping out of place.

I didn’t know what else to do,

So I called out for Grace.

I saw an eagle flying by.

What a delight to see,

But I was focused on my fears

Of what might come to be.

So I set out to face the worst,

And there, to my delight,

Another eagle passed me by

Head and tail gleaming bright.

I turned back to my worries, though,

To try and put things right,

Until another bald eagle

Came flying into sight.

Then, suddenly, I understood

What He was telling me,

But it took three clear messages

Before my eyes could see.

Sometimes we don’t notice the grace,

Because we’re lost to fright,

‘Til it becomes so obvious

That we can see the light!

God kept telling me He was there,

That I was not alone,

But it took me a while to hear.

My heart seemed made of stone.

So now I find my spirit’s calm,

Though nothing else has changed.

But I have faith God’s in control

Of all that life’s arranged.

And I will trust that, come what may,

There’s grace that I can’t see

Until God opens up my eyes

To what He’s planned for me.

Psalm 136:1 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. 

This amazing photo of the Big Dipper lost in the Aurora Borealis is a gift from HRF and ATF, and I am so grateful for it!

Praise of Thanksgiving - Re-Posted

 

Today I lift a thankful heart

To offer God this praise
For He has loved me all my life
And guarded all my ways.
He’s loved me in my weakest times
And strengthened me once more
He’s picked me up when my whole world
Had crashed upon the floor.
He held me in His healing arms
While I wept bitter tears
Then helped me to look forward to
The joy filled coming years!

For all these blessings, and much more,
I praise His holy name
And, to the nations of the world,
His glory I proclaim.

1 Chronicles 16:8
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Hoping In Faithfulness - Re-Posted

 

I rest my hope upon your word

And look for your return,
For your love is the only thing
I’ve never had to earn.
So I will wait with confidence,
What you teach I will learn,
And I will hope, in faithfulness,
For your promised return.

Romans 8: 24-25
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Be Thankful In All Things - Re-Posted

 

I keep hearing these words today,

“Be thankful in all things”.
For there's much to be thankful for
In all that this life brings.

I've heard some say that times are hard,
Well they’re hard for me, too.  
And yet I find blessings galore
In everything I do.

The traffic was a snarled mess,
It gave me time to sing.
It rained until the streets filled up,
Things will be green in Spring.

The bills pile up, the worries too,
So I spend time with Him.
Which helps improve my attitude,
Even when things are grim.

There are worries and fears enough
To bring me to my knees,
But when I’m there I lift a prayer
Of thanks that’s meant to please.

Because the faith that sees me through
Is not a faith that’s blind,
When I don’t look for what's gone wrong,
It’s happiness I find.

So when I feel my spirits sag
I listen to that voice.
“Be thankful in all things today”,
And that’s been a great choice.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Beneath Your Wing - Re-Posted

 
The wind blows bitterly outside,  
But I am safe from harm.
I do not fear the cold, dark night,
For I rest in Your arm.

It circles me comfortingly,
I can’t doubt You are near,
And all the anger of the night
Will not cause me to fear.  

So let the storm winds rage and howl,
I’m safe beneath Your wings,
And I trust You to hold me close
Whatever storms life brings.

Psalm 91:4-5 
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Are "Good Deeds Done" Enough - Re-Posted

 

Am I a likeness of my deeds

Or are they a likeness of me?
And have I done all I could do
To make either all they should be?

Have I reached out to one in need
Or held a lonely person’s hand?
Have I upheld a weary heart?
Did I take time to understand?

And are my deeds merely done well,
Is it enough to do what’s right?
Or should my deeds sparkle with more,
Should they reflect His loving light?

Despite My Sin - Re-Posted

 

I used to think that all my sin

Might turn His heart from me,
But, when He died and rose again,
He proved that could not be.

I was afraid that all I’d done
Would cause Him so much shame
That He would turn away from me
And never speak my name.

Instead, He sought me in my sin
And spoke to me of Grace.
He said He would not give me up
Or, turn from me, His face.

In fact, He made it clear to me,
No matter where I run,
He’ll find me and He’ll love me still,
Despite all I have done.

So I am now convinced of this,
There’s no place I might be,
That God won’t find me, when I call.
Such is His love for me.

Romans 8:38-39  
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Peace and Grace - Re-Posted

 

I keep searching for the peace

That I know must be there,
Somewhere beyond tomorrow’s dawn
And yesterday’s despair.

I’ve looked for it for so long now
And yet I’m seeking still.
I haven’t found it yet and I’m
Wondering if I will.

Surely that peace is tangible,
And not some fantasy
That I can only dream about
But never truly see.

Perhaps I’m doing something wrong
In seeking it this way…
Maybe it’s not the kind of thing
That’s out there on display.

Maybe it’s born within a heart
Where You’ve a dwelling place,
And all the time that I've sought peace,
I should have sought Your Grace.  

Colossians 3:15 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

A Small Sign - Re-Posted

 

However bare or desolate

The world might seem to be,
God always leaves us some small sign
That we can clearly see;
The ray of light between the clouds,
A leaf still on the tree,
The friendly word that lifts the heart
And sets our spirit free.

Matthew 6:25-27
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

My Hope's Source - Revised and Re-Posted

 

Dear Lord, please keep an eye on me,

These next days may be rough.
It’s going to take focus and strength;
I’m scared I’m not that tough.
But if You’ll keep an eye on me
Then I might just pull through.
And I, in turn, will make my goal
To keep my eyes on You .

For, Lord, if I've learned anything
In all my many years,
It's that, when I hold on to You,
I can let go my fears!
So I will ask it one more time,
For my comfort, of course,
Oh Lord, please keep Your eye on me,
Your love is my hope's source! 

Job 6:11

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?

When the Storms Have Passed - Re-Posted

 

A day of peace will come again

When all the storms have past
And I will lay my worries down 
To rest and heal at last.

But until that day I will strive
Within this crazy world
And find what joy there is to have
In passing clouds unfurled,

In water dancing on the shore,
Or mountains cloaked in white
That reflect back the morning sun
In dazzling crystal light.

The day will come when I’ll know peace,
But until then I’ll find
What joy I can between the storms
And my unruly mind. 

My Long Journey - Re-Posted

 

The journey has been long, my Lord,

The way not always smooth,
And there have been feathers ruffled
That I can never soothe.
But with Your hand beneath my wings,
Your light upon my face,
I know that I will find a way
To reach Your peaceful place!

Acts 7:49
“‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?

Looking Anew - Re-Posted

 

I’m trying not to think of it

As a drab, drizzly day,
But take the chance to look at life
In a different way.

For yesterday was such a rush
A chaos filled whirlwind,
And I will be exhausted by
Tomorrow’s weary end.

So I am looking at today,
Though filled with rain and mist,
As that calm in between the storms
Which I’ve heard can exist!

So thank you, Lord, for time to rest
For time to spend with You,
And most of all for helping me
To look at things anew.

Psalm 62:1
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

What The Lord Has Done - Re-Posted

 

It’s not the hope a new day brings

Which should light each new day,
But is, instead, our faith in Him
Who set dawn on its way.

For it is not that burst of light
That lifts our spirits high,
It is the hand that set its path,
Upon which we rely.

So rise within the fresh, clean light,
But do not praise the sun,
For it is but a small display
Of what the Lord has done!

Deuteronomy 4:19
And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

The Earth and The Heavens - Re-Posted

 

There was that evening, long ago,

That helped me understand
How God can hold heaven and earth
At once within His hand.

I saw the moon rise through the trees.
As it came into view,
It crested past the mountain’s peak,
Both washed in pastel hue.

There in that moment, as they past,
They both lay in God’s hand
Heaven and earth, there side by side,
Answering His command.

Deuteronomy 10:14 
To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

His Boundless Love - Re-Posted

 

As wave on wave comes rolling in

I long to take a swim,
For I know that it's boundless love
Coming to me from Him.

I've never been the kind of girl
Who deserved this much grace,
And yet He sends it, wave on wave,
Like a loving embrace.

How can He love me boundlessly?
It overwhelms my mind.
And yet, everywhere that I look
His love is what I find.

So here I stand, washed in His grace,
And, boldly, I now claim
That I will walk into that love
And live within His name.

With Joy, In Praise - Re-Posted

 

With joy, my heart leapt to the sky,

Singing with great delight,
For God has loved me beyond death
And healed me with His might.

With joy, my heart leapt to the sky,
Rejoicing as it rose,
For God has called me by my name,
A name only He knows.

With joy my heart leapt to the sky
And still it sings sweet songs,
For God has claimed me as His child,
To Him, my soul belongs.

This photo a blessing from BBB. With grateful thanks.

My Tangled Plans - Re-Posted

 

My life can seem a tangled mess

Despite the grace I’ve known.
In fact, the biggest thorns grow from
The seeds that I have sown.
I lay my plans, in all my pride,
Thinking I’ll see them through,
With never a thought given to
Stopping to talk with You.

But even though the tangles grow
With such abundant glee,
And I am caught within their grasp
With no escape to see,
I know that Your love is still mine,
You won't abandon me.
I know You'll lead me through the thorns
Until I’m once more free.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

The Path Obscured - Re-Posted

 

I don’t know what tomorrow holds,

Today was not as planned,
But I don’t let that worry me
For I stand in His hand.

The way ahead may be obscured
The path too hard to see,
But I will keep on faithfully
For He walks next to me.

I may not see the best way out
Of all I’m going through,
But I trust that You know the way
So I’ll just follow You.

Renewed In You - Re-Posted

 

Oh Lord, when I am overwhelmed

I turn to You and find
That You restore me with Your love,
Body and soul and mind. 

On days when everything's in place
And working as I'd planned,
I still want to be still and know
You hold me in Your hand.

Through ups and downs and come what may,
In everything I do,
I know that my best hope lies in
Renewing me in You. 

Life's Rough Seas - Re-Posted

A little bit of sorrow and

A little bit of joy
A moment of forgetfulness
That really does annoy
The friends who always make me laugh
And those I’ve left behind
The family that I have lost
And those I still can find
The ups and downs of every day
Life’s daily ebb and flow
Someday I'd love to simply rest,
But I’ve got waves to go.

I know someday I’ll rest on shore
Beyond the surf’s rough swell,
But right now I feel tossed on seas
That only He can quell.

Jonah 1:11
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

A Place To Be Still - Re-Posted

 

You stayed with me as I went out,

Then brought me safely home.
Now I am settled in tonight
With no desire to roam.

The world was turbulent, at best,
With threats right from the start,
But You were there to shelter me
And ease my worried heart.

So thank You for the protection
That kept me safe today,
And thank You, Lord, for this still place
Where cares slip far away.

To Just Be Still - Re-Posted

 

Keeping it all together, Lord,

Can be an act of will,
Sometimes I need to slow down and
Remember to be still.

It seems like I run all the time,
There’s so much day to fill,
I forget how much I need to
Remember to be still.

So Lord I ask You to help me
To just hold on until
I get off this whirlwind and
I can stop and be still.

This photo is a gift from CTM. What a wonderful reminder that we all need to take time to simply be still with God.

And There Was Light - Re-Posted

 

Across the world the darkness reigned,

The Master raised His hand
And all the world burst into light
At His spoken command.

Now every dawn that greets the earth
Recalls the birth of light
That broke the power, forever,
Of the vast, empty night.

Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Time and Wisdom - Re-Posted

 

The seasons come, then move along.

Time runs its endless course,
And we are but a single thought
In time’s prolonged discourse.

Though we may not see it unfold,
Time moves within His Grace,
And we can’t change the speed of time,
So we move at His pace.

The simplest and mightiest
Both live within His will,
And neither has the power to
Make time turn or stand still.

It seems so insignificant,
The lifespan of a man,
But we are not without purpose
Within God’s perfect plan.

So take the gift of time you have
Been given in each day,
And make the most of that sweet gift
Before it slips away.

Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.