Blessings and Blessings to Share

 

In quiet moments I take time
To count all my blessings.
They are so many, so varied,
And each, their own joy, brings.
 
The blossoms out of memory,
Planted by a lost friend.
The comfort of the gentle breeze
With every evening’s end.
 
The songs that raindrops on the roof
Play when I cannot sleep.
Sins forgiven and the promise
That my soul’s Yours to keep.
 
The fruit in autumn, winter’s snow,
Summer’s soft lullaby,
And how I feel You hold me close
When this life makes me cry.
 
Abundantly, they fill my life,
Your blessings overflow,
And I pray I can pass them on
Everywhere that I go.
 
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.

Weariness and Rest

 

This life is not an easy one,
More than a time or two
I’ve found myself wanting to quit
Rather than walk it through.
 
Yet, that gives credit to but half
Of all that this life brings.
For ever time I want to cry,
There’s two times my heart sings.
 
Today I’m weary to my core,
Both heart and mind are frayed.
While sanity may have been lost,
My sense of joy has stayed.
 
I’ll rest in You tonight, Oh Lord,
From this day’s harried pace,
And rise tomorrow, firm and strong,
Restored within Your grace.
 
1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Of Life And Joy

 

Dark and cold, there in the ground
Lay the work of mankind.
Efficient in its purpose, yes,
But no joy there to find.
 
Until the seasons joyous dance
Brought the colors of fall
To drape the mundane works of man
In joy for one and all.
 
Thus, are the works of man and God
Aptly personified,
As mankind’s practical design,
By His hand, glorified.
 
We are His creation, it’s true,
But beyond our command
Are all the blessings we know well,
Yet can’t quite understand.
 
We know how the parts make the whole,
But not what makes it live.
True life is the Creator’s gift,
It’s His, alone, to give.
 
Appreciate mankind’s good works,
But know, with all your heart,
That life comes from the Lord alone
And joy plays a big part.
 
Psalm 92:4-5
For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!

Songs of Joy, Tomorrow

 

Oh Lord, I need Your peace tonight,
Today was hard to bear.
Tomorrow will be brighter, though,
For Your love will be there.
 
This world can break a heart with ease,
But Your love heals the pain
With blessings greater than the loss,
And joy that will remain.
 
Lord, I will close my eyes tonight
And give my pain to You.
Tomorrow I will rise in joy
And sing Your praise anew.
 
Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Getting Back On The Path

 

Oh Lord, I pray that we might turn
Back to the path You set.
We seem to be a bit astray,
But we are not lost yet.
 
I think we lost sight of Your Word
As this world called our name,
But we have been Yours from the start,
And that’s the Truth we claim.
 
Please help us find the path again,
We’ll fix our eyes on You.
You set the path we are to walk,
I know You’ll lead us through.
 
Psalm 25:5
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Sing Out His Praise

 

How can the mind of mortal man
Understand who You are?
How can we comprehend the force
That formed each moon and star?
 
You called the universe to life,
Your name is in each breath,
And it is by Your grace alone
We’ve been rescued from death.
 
I cannot think of words of praise
Sufficient to the cause
Of honoring Your loving grace,
Your holy word, and laws.
 
There are no words that can express
What I can’t even know,
And yet my heart longs to sing out.
Dear Lord, I love You so.
 
Oh Father, please accept my praise.
Though I can’t understand
The full authority You hold,
I trust in all You’ve planned!
 
Psalm 68:4
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.

I Call To You

 

So many loved ones struggling, Lord.
I worry, now and then,
That I can’t do more to help out,
Or where I should begin.
 
It doesn’t matter what the cause
That burdens their lives so,
It matters that I can’t free them
From all that brings them low.
 
I know that it is not my place
To fix this world we walk,
But it can truly break my heart
To do no more than talk,
 
Or listen as they talk to me
Of struggles faced each day.
Often it seems all I can do
Is bow my head and pray.
 
Lord, thank you for being right there
Each time I call to You.
There may be nothing I can do,
But nothing’s beyond You.
 
Psalm 17:6-7
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Gather Together

 

I’m rather into solitude
By instinct and nature.
I love to visit now and then,
but home’s what I prefer.
 
Yet, You have called us to gather,
Together as a church.
Offering support to the whole,
Not sitting on our perch.
 
It’s not as easy as it sounds
For some of us to do,
In fact, I’d never even try
If it were not for You.
 
But You left Your throne far behind
To gather with the lost
And teach us how to truly love;
A blessing, with a cost.
 
You gave us each the choice to make:
To gather in Your name,
And learn to love like family,
Or live in sin and shame.
 
Lord, since I choose to follow You,
I’ll learn to gather, too.
It can’t compare to what You gave,
But I’ll do it for You!
 
Ephesians 2: 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I Rest In His Shadow

 

Tomorrow is another day,
Another song to sing.
Tomorrow holds a new promise
Of all that it may bring.
 
Tonight hold’s peace, time to renew
And rest within His grace,
Knowing He holds me close to Him.
I’m safe in His embrace.
 
Tomorrow, when I rise once more,
I’ll praise Him with delight
For the redemption of my soul
And for my rest tonight.  
 
Psalm 91:1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Your Law Is In My Heart

 

Your law is within my heart, Lord,
Your mercy, on my soul,
And it is by Your grace alone
That I have been made whole.
 
You came to me when I was lost,
Trapped by my own desire
To live within a world of sin.
You saved me from the fire.
 
You called my name, and I am Yours,
You gave me a fresh start.
Oh Lord, I want to do Your will,
Your law is in my heart!
 
Psalm 40:8-9
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.

From The Stump of Jesse

 

You had this planned right from the start,
Even our redemption.
You knew that we could not stay true,
That we would need Your Son.
 
Before You called light from the dark,
You had this plan in place.
Prophets from centuries before
Spoke of His perfect grace.
 
A living shoot from an old stump
Battered by endless strife,
Brought forth for all this broken world
Redemption and new life.
 
Each sin scarred heart will call Him Lord,
And praise You for the plan
The sacrifice that has redeemed
The wayward soul of man.
 
Isaiah 11:1-2
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

Thank You For Talking With Me

Today, Lord, I lift up my voice,
Knowing that You are near,
Rejoicing in the loving grace
That holds me ever dear.
 
You are my hope when I am lost,
My light on a dark day.
When I can’t see the path ahead,
It is to You I pray.
 
You have not failed to answer me,
Though I, sometimes, don’t hear,
But, when I stop talking at last,
Your words are very clear.
 
I’ve learned to talk to You each day
As often as I can.
I find more comfort in Your words                                                                      
Than in my fellow man.
 
Thank You for being close to me
Each step along my way,
And thank You for taking the time
To talk with me each day.  
 
Psalm 145:17-18
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

The Wages of Evil

 

The Lord has called us to forsake
A life of sin and strife,
But He has also let us choose
The path we’ll walk in life.
 
The price of sin, eternal death,
Is often grimly paid.
Yet, He grieves for each wayward soul,
Who chose sin, and then stayed.
 
The darkness comes for all of us,
But light follows the dark
For all who know and call Him Lord.
He’s the eternal spark.
 
For those who choose a sin filled life,
And turn from His clear path,
There is one answer, grim and hard;
They’ll, one day, know His wrath.
 
The evil that fills heart and mind
Will kill both, ruthlessly.
The darker the path they have walked
The harder death will be.
 
Turn back from darkness, do not heed
Evil’s seductive call.
Redemption’s price, already paid,
Is there for one and all.
 
Don’t let the evil of this world
Be all you speak and do,
Or you will find death, when it comes,
Holds even worse for you.
 
Ezekiel 18:23
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
 
Proverbs 10:16
The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

A Place To Rest

A moment spent in silent thought,
A prayer of thanks and praise
For bringing me closer to You,
And for these quiet days.
 
The morning mist wrapped me in peace
And whispered of the grace
That led me out of the tempest
Into this restful place.
 
For all my life I’ve walked the path,
The rough and rocky way,
Learning to know You as I walked,
And how to trust and pray.
 
I know my journey is not done,
But You have brought here
Where I can rest, renew, rejoice
And feel You ever near.
 
The time will come when I must rise,
And carry on, once more.
For now, I’ll rest within Your peace
Upon this quiet shore.
 
1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Walking In Darkness

 

It seems as if the darkness draws
Closer to us each day.
Though we may stand with lanterns bright,
The dark seems here to stay.
 
The world is falling back once more
Into its sinful ways,
And with that sin comes the darkness,
The guilt obscuring haze.
 
I know that we’ve been here before,
This darkness is not new,
But I can’t see the path to walk
Unless I’m close to You.
 
I know that there are many more
Trapped in this darkness, too,
Who call Your name and seek Your light
Trusting You’ll lead us through.
 
For Your children all know Your voice
And our trust is in You.
The darkness that consumes this world
Can’t hold a light to You.  
 
Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.

Thank You, Lord

Lord, thank You for the suffering
That keeps my faith on track,
And thank You for the miracles
That show You have my back.
Lord, thank You for being my shield
When I’m under attack,
And thank You for Your vast patience.
That’s something I still lack.
 
I seem to have this tendency
To ask for everything
Without stopping to simply say
Thank You, oh Lord and King
For helping me through every day,
With all that it can bring,
And holding me when I’m afraid
To trust You, rise, and sing.  
 
So, for tonight, I lift my praise
In thanks, simple and true,
For keeping my feet on the path
That leads me straight to You.
 
Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

This amazing photo is a blessing from AC, from her trip to Africa. 

Please Teach Me, Lord

 

Lord, give me strength to walk the path
That You’ve asked me to walk,
And teach me how to use Your words                               
Each time I start to talk.
 
Remind me daily of the grace
That You have shown to me.
Teach me to offer that same grace
To others, lovingly.
 
Teach me to be patient with all
I meet upon the path,
As You are patient with me, Lord,
offering peace, not wrath.
 
Give me the wisdom that I need
To listen when You speak
And then to share that wisdom with
The others who still seek.
 
Exodus 4:11-12
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Each Season's Blessings

 

The seasons change as God designed,
His will is on display
In spring's blossoms, in summer’s grass,
In autumn’s bright array.
 
It seems as if the seasons drag
When we are young and spry,
But as we grow older each year
They seem to hurry by.
 
There are blessings in each season,
Enjoy the gifts each bring.
In summer’s warmth or winter’s cold,
Rejoice, take time to sing.
 
For God’s design includes us all,
There’s purpose in His grace.
Stand patient, with your trust in Him,
Relish each season’s pace.
 
James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

The Lord Is Great

 

I seek You in my joyous days,
I seek You in my tears,
I seek You when I am confused
By my worries and fears.
 
I turn to You and offer praise
From a heart once broken
By a lifetime of suffering,
By my own shame and sin.
 
You are the Light in a dark world
I turn my eyes to You.
I seek to walk the path You set
Trusting You’ll lead me through.
 
Because You called me out of sin,
I’ll seek You all my days,
And I will do so with a heart
Filled with wonder and praise.
 
Psalm 70:4
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!”

In The Hurricane

 

The storm is shattering the night
For those caught in its path.
They need the anchor of Your grace
To ride out its wild wrath.
 
Oh, Lord, You’ve always stood by me
When I was terrified,
You held me close each time I wept
Until my last tear dried.
 
Tonight, Lord, this storm’s breaking hard
And many need Your peace.
I pray that You will hold them tight
Until the storm winds cease.
 
I pray that they will feel You there,
Holding them close to You,
And that they find Your strength within
To ride the tempest through.
 
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This photo was taken during a hurricane earlier in the summer. The tree bent sideways in the photo was bowed to the ground several times, in different directions, but it did not break. 

A Song of Peace

 

I felt the peace of heaven’s song
Wash through my heart today,
While all my worry and my stress
Was gently swept away.
 
My spirit soon joined the chorus,
Joy filling every note,
And hope became the essence of
The song that heaven wrote.
 
I pray that, despite each day’s rush,
You, too, find time to sing
And that you feel the peace and joy
That Heaven’s song can bring.
 
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Red Sky At Morning

There is an old sailor’s story
That, when dawn’s sky is red,
There is a big tempest brewing
And trouble lies ahead.
 
I’ve been seeing that warning sky
Grow deeper every day.
I don’t know when the storm will hit,
But it is on its way.
 
This world is walking into pain,
As it has done before.
Yet, this time I stand in its path,
Upon this troubled shore.
 
Oh, Lord, there is no way for me
To hold this storm at bay,
And there’s a chance that all I love
May well be washed away.
 
While I will stand up in the faith
That You are in control,
I ask that, if the storm takes me,
Lord, You will keep my soul,
And those I love, who love You too,
Will come through strong and whole.
 
Jeremiah 25: 32
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.”

Looking Toward the Unknowable

 

The waters of the ocean rush
Upon the wind tossed shore,
The storm clouds mount up heavenward
Promising more in store.
 
The earth has trembled beneath us
More than a time or two,
And mountains spewed forth rock and flame,
Destroying all in view.
 
There are no troubles on this earth
That have not shown their face
To all the world time and again,
Until they’re common place.
 
Though there is nothing on this earth
That has not been before,
We cannot start to understand
All heaven holds in store.
 
From creation to redemption,
The proof is everywhere
Of love that healed the sins of man
That we could never bear,
 
Of blessings beyond mortal count,
And mercies unending,
The peace, surpassing all we know,
Of which the angels sing.
 
The earth and sea, the stars and clouds,
We’ve seen them all before,
But we can’t begin to conceive
All heaven holds in store.
 
Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Go and Do Likewise

 

It isn’t always about you,
Sometimes it’s about grace,
Giving others priority
And taking second place.
 
Those who need help that you can give,
Even a word or two,
May have nowhere that they can turn
If they can’t turn to you.
 
We have each received gifts from Him
That we are called to share.
Make use of those gifts as you can
And show others you care.
 
Head out into the world each day
With blessings on your mind,
And offer mercy, great or small,
To everyone you find.
 
For, as you’ve received grace from Him,
It should be no surprise,
That He wants us to share that grace…
Now, go and do likewise.
 
Luke 10:36-37
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Hear My Heart, Oh Lord.

 

I have no words to lift tonight,
Though my heart’s full of praise.
I’m absolutely worn out from
These crazy, busy days.
 
Please know my heart is filled with thanks
Though my mind holds no thought.
I’m overwhelmed by the blessings
Your loving grace has brought.
 
Oh Lord, please listen to my heart
And to the love that’s there,
Despite the whirlwind in my mind,
My heart holds praise and prayer.

I Know You Know

I didn’t see that coming, Lord,
But I bet that You knew.
In fact, I bet that sweet blessing
Came straight to me from You.
 
I still don’t fully understand
Why you should love me so.
I guess that’s something else You see
That I may never know.
 
I’m grateful to You every day,
But, somedays, even more
Because You know what I will need
And You have it in store.
 
Today, what I needed was space,
I had so much to do.
Yet, other days I need a shove,
To simply push on through.
 
I used to worry all the time
About what lay in store,
But now I just pick up and go
Where You have gone before.
 
I’ll count the blessings of silence
And room to clear my head,
Then I’ll be ready for what’s next,
Trusting You’re up ahead!
 
Psalm 139:2-3
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Storm Tossed

The world can whirl by so quickly
That we feel tossed and blown,
But keep in mind, You’re not the world’s,
His blood made you His own.
 
He has your name upon His hand,
Your life is on His heart.
He knows each step that you will take
And has known from the start.
 
Don’t let the world toss you about.
Let each storm blow on by,
While You hold onto His promise
Of love that does not die.
 
There is no power in the storm
That He cannot control.
Let His voice be the anchor for
Your weary, worried soul.
 
Be still within the storm’s chaos,
However fierce and grim,
For He has calmed the storm before.
Be still and rest in Him.
 
Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”