Your Steadfast Love

So many have said it before
With finer turn of phrase,
But I want to lift up to You
My own small words of praise.
 
You gave me life, then redeemed me,
And, with Your empty grave,
You paid the price to set me free.
I’m no longer death’s slave.
 
I don’t deserve to know such love,
In fact, none of us do.
Yet that is exactly the love
We each receive from You.
 
I thank You, Lord, for loving us!
How wondrous are Your ways
That gave us life eternally.
To You, I lift my praise.
 
Psalm 107:8
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Crazy Day and Blessings

Today was crazy all day through,
But You were always there.
Your words of comfort and of peace
Reminded me You care.
 
I think I even heard You laugh
More than a time or two,
But that’s okay because, frankly,
I laughed at myself, too.
 
I don’t have some fine turns of phrase
To lift to You tonight,
But, Lord, thank you for being there
And for holding me tight.
 
You took me out, You brought me home,
Then let me rest a while.
As I count up all these blessings,
I cannot help but smile!
 
Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.

Let My Faith Flow

From mountain peak to the salt sea,
The river winds on through.
It never pauses to question
If that’s what it should do.
 
For it heard Your voice from the dark
Call out, “Let there be light!”
And that was all the proof needed
To establish Your might.
 
From that point on, the river flowed,
Obeying Your command,
From mountain peak to ocean shore
To its Creator’s hand.
 
This is the faith I need to live,
Listen, trust and obey,
Until I find myself at rest
In Your presence one day.
 
Lord, let me flow like that river,
And trust Your unseen plan.
Let all my faith rest in You, Lord,
Not in the plans of man.
 
John 7:38
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

A Blessed Mess

Each day she comes to stay with me,
A blessing, that is true,
But each night, when she goes back home,
There’s clean up work to do.
 
The toys are piled up everywhere,
Debris covers the floor,
And there are giant nose prints on
Every window and door.
 
I laughed each day at all the mess,
Until I thought it through.
I came to realize, just now,
That this might reflect You.
 
Each day I go to bed and sleep,
Leaving behind the mess
That I created all day long.
Yet, You love me no less.
 
You love me, You watch over me
With care and tenderness,
And You suffered so much that day
To clean up all my mess.
 
I cannot help but think that You
Must shake Your head some days
And wonder why You put up with
All of my messy ways.
 
But You loved me enough to die
That I might live with You.
That’s far beyond comparison
To what she puts me through.
 
Lord, I do love that messy child,
She’s perfect as can be,
But I love You, Lord, even more
For putting up with me.
 
1 Peter 4:9-10
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Blessings To Share

Lord, I can count all day, each day
And never count them all;
Those blessings You’ve poured out on me,
Both the grand and the small,
Out number all the troubles and
The tears that I’ve let fall.
 
Oh Lord, Your blessings are so great,
They’re everywhere to see.
You’ve poured them out into my life
And asked just this of me,
That I would share them every day
And do so joyously!!
 
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.

Rest Beneath Your Wing

Lord, let me rest beneath Your wing
For just a little while.
Then I’ll start, once more, tomorrow
With a praise and a smile.
 
There are no special burdens, Lord,
That weigh upon my heart.
I just need time to rest in You,
Then I’ll make a fresh start.
 
The world grows heavier each day,
But that’s as it should be,
And I know, when I need to rest,
You’re always there for me.
 
Tonight, I lift a weary heart,
But one still filled with praise,
And thank You for Your loving peace
Through all my toughest days.
 
Psalm 119:76
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Holding On To You

The seasons pass, the years fly by,
And youth is quickly gone,
But wisdom and understanding
Will help us carry on.
 
Understanding is not my strength,
Nor wisdom my strong suit.
I’m not sure why all my long years
Seem to have born poor fruit.
 
The one thing I can state as fact,
Is, despite my crop fail,
I’ve held on to You, root and branch,
Throughout my life’s travail.
 
I will not let go of You, Lord,
For You’ve held tight to me.
I may not be Your perfect fruit,
But I’m still on Your tree.
 
John 15:4
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
 
Job 12:12
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

Sing Aloud To The Lord

Life has its struggles and its joys,
It’s not a simple thing.
Somedays the best that I can do
Is hold on tight and sing.
 
I sing the old songs of my youth,
The songs of better days,
But I find my peace resting in
Those good old songs of praise.
 
Some touch my heart with sorrow, Lord,
Others can heal the pain,
But each of them brings me closer
To You, with each refrain.
 
I lift up my voice in delight,
But also in sorrow,
For both bring me closer to You.
That’s where I want to go.
 
Psalm 95:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

A Prayer For Loved Ones

Oh Lord, I lift a prayer to You,
For You know every name
Of those I carry in my heart
And for whom I make claim.
 
I pray for healing for the sick,
Comfort for those who weep,
And strength to stand against the dark
When fears pile up too deep.
 
I pray for peace amidst the storm
And faith to see them through,
But most of all, I pray, Oh Lord,
That each draws close to You.
 
I pray that they turn eyes and hearts
Toward Your Light each day,
And that they walk close by Your side,
Each step along the way.
 
Oh Lord, I lift each one to You,
You know each need and name.
I thank You for the boundless grace,
The love that’s ours to claim.
 
Psalm 66:19- 20
but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Whole and Holy

He did not ponder if He should,
When it came to His sheep.
He simply bought us back from sin,
For we are His to keep.
 
To those who called to Him in faith,
He poured out endless grace,
And that grace still flows ceaselessly
For all the human race.
 
Yet, it was not just mortal pain
That He came here to heal,
But, also, the pain in our souls,
Unending and more real.
 
The sufferings born of this world,
Will pass away with death,
But those born out of sin filled lives
Have an eternal breath.
 
It wasn’t about healing ills,
His was a greater plan.
For He came not to make us whole,
But holy once again.
 
Matthew: 8:2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Rest, Listen, Rejoice

I love the peace of quiet days
When I have nothing planned
And I can simply rest knowing
I’m safe within Your hand.
 
I’ve lived long enough in the world,
To feel it weigh on me.
That’s why I treasure days of peace,
Though they’re rare as can be.
 
Those days that I can spend with You
Listening to Your voice,
Remembering Your loving grace,
Letting my heart rejoice.
 
I know that this time, too, will pass,
Life’s chaos will return,
But until then I’ll rest in You,
Be still, listen and learn.
 
Psalm 119:64
The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Sometimes It's A Sword

Lord, this world seems so far astray,
But You’re still in control
And I will trust Your greater plan
For every living soul.
 
I know that we are called to peace,
But, also, to the sword,
For we must stand against the dark
With those who love the Lord.
 
Please help me know, Lord, when to love
And when to stand and fight,
But mostly, Lord, help me to keep
My eyes fixed on Your light.
 
Don’t let me add to this world’s rage,
That only makes things worse.
Help me, instead, to bring with me
A blessing, not a curse.
 
This world’s in chaos, once again,
As it has always been,
But lately it seems further washed
In evil hearts and sin.
 
I want to walk through what’s to come
So as to please You, Lord.
Please, help know when to bring grace,
And when to draw my sword.
 
Matthew 10:34
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Comfort One Another

We all view life from where we live,
With our own point of view,
But that does not mean we can’t bear
With other viewpoints, too.
 
We have been called to offer grace,
The same grace we receive,
That we might lift up those in need
Of comfort or reprieve.
 
We do not have to understand
Life in the way they do,
But we do have to share His grace
As we have been called to.
 
We should not live by this world’s creeds,
Don’t misunderstand me,
But we can still bear with patience
Those who can’t fully see.
 
We need to lift them up in love,
Comfort them in their need,
Speak to them of His loving grace,
Or just help plant that seed.
 
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Your Enduring Love

I often hear Your still, small voice
As clearly as a song.
That little whisper of Your love
Comes through so loud and strong.
 
A sense of peace, a random smile
When I most want to cry,
Is just enough to remind me
That You are right nearby.
 
The moon peaking out through the clouds
Or soft rain in the trees,
Brings comfort to my worried mind
And puts my heart at ease.
 
These simple gifts come straight from You,
Of that, no doubt can be,
Because they clearly come from One
Who well knows and loves me.
 
You loved me while I walked in sin,
You love me even still.
Lord, I thank You with all my heart,
My mind, body and will.
 
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  

Don't Let Me Stray

We always say, “Lord, walk with me”,
When what we ought to do
Is ask, instead, to help us try
To walk closer to You.
 
We might not end up on dark roads,
Or lost, tangled in fear,
If we chose to follow Your lead,
Not duck and dodge and veer.
 
There’s always something to distract
The soul who wants to roam,
But there’s joy in abundance for
Those who follow You home.
 
You are the path I want to walk,
You are the only way.
Lord, please keep me close by Your side,
So I don’t go astray!!  
 
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Grace Beyond Understanding

There are no words of praise that are
Sufficient to Your grace,
For You stepped down from heaven’s throne
To redeem our disgrace.
 
You were king of all creation,
Yet You took mortal frame,
To step up to the cross for us
And heal us of our shame.
 
My mind cannot fathom such grace
The depth of sacrifice,
And yet I see it every day,
Your love, clear and precise.
 
I truly cannot comprehend
How great Your love must be,
But I will claim it, nonetheless,
And do so joyously.
 
Ephesians 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding

By Grace We're Saved

A teardrop in a time of grief,
A whispered word of prayer,
A song of gratitude and joy,
Or heartbreaking despair.
 
Each one is lifted up to God,
Each from a humble soul,
Each one needing His perfect grace
To make the broken whole.
 
Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Staying On The Path

We never know when it will come,
The call that brings us home.
We may live 90 years or more
Above the peaceful loam,
 
Or we may wake up in the dawn
And never see the night
Before we’ve walked into the warmth
Of His enduring light.
 
We go so far astray in life,
Because we can’t conceive
Of how close death walks by our side,
Despite what we believe.
 
Yet in that walk through every day
We need to keep in mind
The Words by which we’re called live,
The path we’re meant to find.
 
He gave to us His clear commands
And laid the path to walk,
But it’s our choice to follow Him
Or simply talk the talk.
 
With so much to distract each day
From what we’re called to do,
It matters that we keep our eyes
On Him who leads us through.
 
For if we lose sight of the path
And go too far astray,
We may not have found our way back
When we come to that day.  
 
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You,
And where You’ve walked, follow.
So, when it’s my turn to come home,
I won’t have far to go.
 
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

In Your Sight

I lay out plans for each new day,
All I intend to do,
But most days I forget to pause
And run those plans by You.  
 
I suspect it’s less arrogance,
As thoughtlessness, most days.
I tend to get up and head out
Focused on my own ways.
 
But Your ways are not my ways, Lord.
How quickly I forget,
Until I’m caught in my own plans
And, suddenly, regret!
 
Regret that I did not ask You
To lead me by Your ways.
Regret that I lost sight of You
While running my own maze.
 
Regret that I just leapt on out
And gave no thought to You,
Until I needed Your guidance
To help find my way through.
 
You always get me back on track,
But after much travail.
If I had only asked You first,
I’d have a smoother trail.
 
I may still walk the hardest roads,
But I’d have what I need
To walk the path with peaceful heart,
If I just let You lead.
 
Lord, help me grow to understand,
To pause and pray each day,
Before I step out on the path
And get in my own way.
 
Psalm 19:14
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Brokenhearted, Yet Again

How do we bear up under grief?
That weight shatters the heart,
And shrouds it in a darkened veil
That joy can’t draw apart.
 
There is no strength that can prevail
Which finds its root in man,
But, in the grace and peace of Christ,
We find the strength which can.  
 
Oh, Lord, I give to You my heart,
Shattered once more by life,
I pray that You would heal the wounds
And tears that run so rife.
 
I place my faith in the promise
That You are close to me
In times of sorrow, as in joy,
And I’ll wait patiently
 
To feel the comfort of Your grace,
My broken heart to mend.
The only healing that will work
Is Your love, without end.
 
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Finding His Peace, Now

We worry and we rush through life
With lists of things to do,
When all that we need for relief
Is just to rest in You.
 
You’ve called us from the weariness,
But it’s hard to let go.
Until we sit still long enough
To hear what we should know.
 
In You we will find perfect peace
Born out of loving grace,
The kind of peace that lets us leave
Our frenzied daily pace
 
And step into the simple joy
Of being close to You.
In truth, oh Lord, there’s nothing else
That my heart wants to do.
 
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Heaven Declares His Glory

Glory, glory to God on High!
Hosanna to His name!
In awe, I watch as heaven sings,
His wonders to proclaim.
 
I cannot hear the song they sing,
But I know every word.
For I have sung that song myself
And all the world has heard.
 
Rejoice, rejoice with all your heart,
As heaven sings along.
Declare the glory of the Lord.
Sing His praise with your song.
 
In morning’s light, in night’s still sky,
The songs that heaven sings
Echo the peace that fills my heart,
The joy that His grace brings.
 
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Bearing With One Another

Bear patiently and offer grace
To those who walk with you,
For we have each received blessings
So far beyond our due.
 
Lift up each other as you walk,
Protect those who are weak,
And keep a mindful guard upon
The words you choose to speak.
 
We have been called to love the Lord
With all that we possess,
But we are also called to love
Our fellow man no less.
 
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

I'm Not Alone

You walked beside me all the way.
Though I did not see You,
You kept a close watch over me
Until I made it through.
 
The way was rough and hard to pass,
As You said it would be,
But by the end I understood
The gift that was to me.
 
Each time I stumbled, You reached out,
I felt You by my side,
And You were there to comfort me
Each time I sat and cried.
 
I talked to You at every step
Because I knew You’d care.
I never doubted one moment
That You would be right there.
 
I grew so close to You at times
It seemed I heard Your voice
Or felt Your arms holding me close
When life left me no choice.
 
Lord, if the path was less rocky
And easier to tread,
I might have credited myself,
When it was You who led.
 
Because I had to call to You
Each step along the way,
I came to know how great the love
That You give me each day.
 
Today I stand and sing Your praise,
The dark valley behind.
Tomorrow I will start again
With Your grace on my mind!
 
Psalm 116: 1-2
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

The Right Balance

 

It’s hard to find the balance, Lord,

That I need in each day
To offer grace with all my heart,
Yet still turn sin away.
 
Redemption means we call You Lord,
Then change the path were on.
Not say the words, then turn around
And let sin lead us on.
 
I want to give grace where I can,
But not condone the lies.
Man cannot claim redemption while
Living lives You despise.
 
Yet, knowing that we all stumble,
I need to find a way
To know when to hold on tightly,
And when to step away.
 
I don’t want to let go too soon,
Nor hold on for so long
That I add to their confusion
Of what’s right and what’s wrong.
 
The balance seems precarious,
But what I’ll hold on to
Is doing all that I can do
Then giving them to You.
 
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.