Caught In The Fog

 

I struggled with it all day long,
This thing I couldn’t see,
A path to get from where I was
To where I ought to be.
 
I even wept a time or two
In frustration and doubt
Until I dropped down to my knees
And let all my tears out.
 
I called out to You in distress,
Begging for a clear view
Along the path that lies ahead,
Of all I need to do.
 
I rose and tried to dry the tears
From eyes to blurred to see,
Until I realized that You
Had cleared the view for me.
 
I still can’t see the path ahead,
But I clearly see You,
And, since I’m called to walk in faith,
That’s what I plan to do.
 
I brushed the tears off of my cheek,
Then listened for Your voice.
I stepped in faith into the fog
And felt my soul rejoice.
 
2 Corinthians 5:6-7
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Heed Only The Shepherd's Voice

 

The world thinks it is in control,
But His lambs know his voice
And they do not follow the world.
The Shepherd is our choice.
 
The world may bid us to be still,
Or order that we speak,
But it is not the world’s orders
That His lambs care to seek.
 
We walk this world along the path
Laid out so long ago
By the Shepherd who guides His flock.
Where He leads, we will go.
 
Then let the world make its demands,
His lambs follow His Way.
Though this world offers its disdain,
We rejoice every day.
 
John 10:3-4
… The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

A List of Thanks

 

Today we lift up thanks to You
For all that we’ve received
And for the blessings of this life,
The burdens now relieved.
 
I’ll start with burdens that are gone,
The worries of my past.
I thank You that my soul’s at peace,
I can rejoice at last.
 
I’ve lived in struggle all my days,
As is the course of life.
We stand within the maelstrom of
The world’s anger and strife.
 
Yet, in Your grace I have found joy.
I’ve let go of the fear
Of all the things that might go wrong,
Because I know You’re near.
 
I thank You for the family
That’s always by my side.
Whether by blood or just though love,
Those precious hearts abide.
 
I thank You that I have enough
To make all my ends meet.
I may not have the wealth of Kings.
But just enough is sweet!
 
I thank You that You’ve held me close
Through each struggle I’ve known,
And helped me understand struggles
Are why my faith has grown.
 
I thank You that You loved me when
I was a wayward soul.
I thank You more that, by Your love,
My soul’s redeemed and whole.
 
This day is set aside for Thanks,
But my list is so vast.
Lord, I thank You that You love me
I’m no longer outcast!
 
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Wait Quietly

 

I seek for You when I am lost,
When life’s too hard to bear.
I call out to You, then I wait.
Though I may doubt, You care.
 
You are the hope to which I cling,
The strength to which I turn
When all the world is on fire
And I must watch it burn.
 
You are the song I long to sing,
Though I don’t know the words.
I hear it sung on every breeze,
And by the morning birds.
 
Oh Lord, I love to sit with You
And look back through each day
At all the moments You were there
To help me make my way.
 
I lift up to You, Lord and King,
The praises of my soul.
For You have loved me through it all
And, by Your love, I’m whole.
 
Lamentations 3:26
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Keep My Eyes On You

 

The world is filled with wondrous things,
Pleasing delights galore.
Wherever we may turn our gaze,
We find there’s always more.
 
It’s easy to be distracted
By such a vast array
Off fascinating things to see
And do through every day.
 
You gave to us Your creation,
But evil then stepped in
And tainted many wonders with
The bitter stain of sin.
 
Thus, those things meant to bring us joy
Will often block our sight
Of You, who we were born to love,
Our one perfect delight.
 
Lord, help us to appreciate
This world that we walk through,
But help us even more to keep
Our eyes and hearts on You.
 
Psalm 119:37
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Join Me In Praise

 

I sing my praises to the Lord,
His glory’s my delight.
He loved me, though I walked in sin,
He set my world aright.
 
He lifted me out of darkness
And led me to the Light.
He turned my fears into new hope,
The dim path He made bright.
 
I will not walk without travail,
But I don’t walk in fright.
For I shall ever walk with Him.
I’m sheltered in His might.
 
Join me in singing to the Lord,
Praising His holy name.
Call on Him from your own dark path,
His love is yours to claim.
 
Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Steadfast In Trials

 

I watch the waves rush onto shore,
Rejoicing as they go,
And ask myself if there’s something
They know, that I don’t know.
 
They seem to dance upon the rocks,
Again, and then once more,
A joyous repetition of  
What they have done before.
 
They don’t grow weary, turn away
From what they’re called to do,
Instead, they hold fast to the joy
And faith that sees them through.
 
My daily chores seem so mundane
Sometimes I wonder why
I’m called to carry on and on,
Until I want to cry.
 
I know there’s value in the work
That He has called me to,
But sometimes I wonder “why me?
Isn’t there more to do?”
 
Then, as I watched them rush to shore,
I heard a still, soft voice
Reminding me He has a plan,
But I can make a choice.
 
We have been called to walk in faith
Though we don’t understand,
Yet I can turn away from this…
And miss what He has planned.
 
I think I’ll choose to be a wave
Rushing, joyous, to shore
And hold in faith through this trial
To what He has in store.
 
I may not know what He has planned,
But I know He loves me
And I will face this trial with faith,
Doing so joyously!
 
James 1:2-3
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

In The Flow Of Your Love

 
You pour Your Grace out on me, Lord,
Abundantly it flows.
There, in the blessing of that stream,
My own thankfulness grows.
 
I know that I struggle with faith,
But You wait patiently
For me to remember who loves
And watches over me.
 
Each time I face a new distress,
Your love’s already there.
The blessings flowing before I
Have lifted up my prayer.
 
Oh Lord, I’ll never understand
How You can love me so,
But I could never doubt Your love
While standing in its flow.
 
Psalm 78:15-16
He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

I Belong To Him

He never has forgotten us
Though we have ignored Him.
He gave us light in the darkness,
Hope, when all else seems grim.
He led us through the narrow gate,
Along the valley’s rim.
He is the truth, the way, the life.
My soul belongs to Him.
 
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Come Sit With Me

The world is spinning fast these days,
Or so it seems to me,
And I needed some quiet time
To sit still and just be.
 
You came and sat beside me there,
I felt Your peace wash in.
I’d forgotten that’s what it takes
For healing to begin.
 
I feel like I can rise once more,
Rejoice and carry on,
And all it took was time with You.
My weariness is gone!
 
Exodus 33:14
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Love As Great As The Heavens

 

Tonight, I lift to You a praise
And thanks in this, my prayer.
You walked me through this day and when
I called out, You were there.
 
You soothed me when I worried and
Then helped me up again.
Just when I thought You were all done,
You had a another plan.
 
I sit here with tears in my eyes
For answered prayers and more.
There is no way to thank You, Lord,
You bless, uplift, restore.
 
Psalm 57:9-10
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

To The Newlyweds

 

As you step out on this new path
Keep a few things in mind.
Foremost being to hold tightly
To all the ties that bind.
 
The ties to parents, friends, sisters,
And, of course, every brother,
But, most of all, hold to those ties
That bind you to each other.
 
Speak with your Father frequently
And listen to His word.
That may seem rote, but His word holds
The greatest truth you’ve heard.
 
Set your course on the path knowing
That long and unseen road
Will have plenty of rough terrain.
Be sure you share the load.
 
Remember, when the storms set in,
Together you can stand.
Walking the path as one you’ll find
Strength in each other’s hand.
 
Give freely of the love and grace
That you know you will need.
For loving hearts and patient souls
Will help you both succeed.
 
Walk through this world with faith, with hope,
A joyful, loving heart,
Count your blessings, forgive often,
And let God do His part.
 
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

A Prayer For Them

 

The time for joy is on us now,
The big day is at hand
And I praise You for this moment,
Which You, clearly, had planned.
 
Oh Lord, I pray You lift them up
And keep them close by You.
Please give them both the peace and strength
They’ll need to see them through.
 
Let them know joy in these next days,
And all the days they’ll see.
For they have been a wondrous source
Of love and joy to me.
 
Bless them with strength when times get rough,
And faith to hold on to
The love they share with each other
And that which flows from You.
 
I thank You for the gift of love,
The blessings that it brings,
And for the peace to walk in faith
Through all that this life brings.
 
Mark 10:7-8
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

By Your Divine Grace

 

Tomorrow I will rise and go,
I’ve many plans in place,
But I know wherever I am
I’m living in Your grace.
 
It’s not because I’m a good soul,
We both know that’s not true.
It is because, despite myself,
My one true hope’s in You.
 
You lifted me when I was crushed,
You washed my sins away.
Although I often let You down,
You love me anyway.
 
Your grace is mine eternally
Due to Your plan, not mine,
For grace that all encompassing
Can only be divine.
 
Tonight, I’ll rest within the peace
That, in tomorrow’s dawn,
I’ll call You Lord and sing Your praise,
And, in Your grace, walk on.
 
2 John 1:3
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

His Peace Is Mine

 

The darkness grows deeper each day,
With cold and bitter wind,
But I am not worried, afraid,
For I know it will end.
 
The rhythms of the seasons flow
From light, to dark, to light
Thus, I’m at peace in the short day,
And don’t fear the long night.
 
The troubles of this world will come,
But in time they’ll be gone,
And I will hold on through the storms,
Trusting that they’ll move on.
 
For I have faith, however dark,
In Him who called the light
And formed the universe of stars
Out of the endless night.
 
Lord, I will hold on to Your peace
And not give in to fear,
For there are no storms I can’t face
Knowing You’re ever near.
 
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

All That You Have Said

I need to hear them once again,
Refresh my memory,
For I am walking out in faith
And need Your words with me.
 
The world is upside down right now,
But You are the high ground
On which I can find firm footage
Despite what’s all around  
 
You gave to us Your words, Your truth,
And called us to follow;
To carry those words to the world,
Every place that we go.
 
There are days when I feel worried,
That I have lost my way,
But, with Your words tucked in my heart
I don’t go far astray.
 
Tonight is one of those times, Lord,
When I just need to hear
The Holy Spirit whispering
Your words into my ear.
 
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 

To Remain In Your Love

 

I trust in You when I’m in fear.
I rest in You when I’m weary.
I call upon You in distress,
And rejoice that You will hear me.
 
The heavens and the earth are Yours,
But so is the tiniest bird.
You know each star in the night sky,
And each prayer I’ve lifted, You’ve heard.
 
Thank You, Father, for loving me
More than I can ever deserve.
Help me live as such grace requires,
To follow Your path and not swerve.
 
John 15:9
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Trusting In The Lord

 

The stillness whispers of Your grace,
And sings a song of praise,
For all of heaven knows Your name.
Oh Lord, teach me Your ways.
 
I did not always understand
What You have called me to,
But I have always known the Truth
Which lives only in You.
 
That You are king and creator
Was clear, even to me,
And I am praying I’ll become
Who You’ve called me to be.
 
It hasn’t always been in reach,
I’ve fallen short, often.
Yet, You picked me back up each time
And set me straight again.
 
Now, Lord, I walk with faith in You,
And, so that I don’t stray,
I keep my heart fixed on Your Word
And Your Light marks my way.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Family Fun

 

Some simple words for simple thoughts
Is all I’ve got tonight.
This day was loaded with blessings,
Family, and delight,
But now I’m too worn out to think.
My mind gave up that fight.
 
Lord, I will simply say Thank You
For family and fun,
And for the laughter, tears and love
That makes the many, one.
Thank You for them and for the joy
That lingers when day’s done.

Joyful Praise

 

Beneath the cold face of the moon,
Or the bright light of dawn,
I find the peace that’s born of faith,
The truth that leads me on.
 
The world is but a small part of
The creation You planned,
Yet it can fill me with such awe,
The power You command.
 
I cannot help but rejoice, Lord,
In dawn or the dark night,
For, what Your hand formed, You still rule.
That fills me with delight.
 
I sing Your praise with every dawn,
Each night I sing Your praise
Lord, You have blessed me with such joy,
I’ll praise You all my days!
 
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.

Standing Divided

 

We seem to have grown far apart,
And further every day.
We used to let each other have
Room to choose their own way.
 
Yet, somehow we forgot that grace
And patience have value.
We now cast condemnation on  
Those with a different view.
 
We’ve been down this path more than once,
And then found our way through.
In fact, the only constancy
In this life, Lord, is You.
 
When we are scattered, You are You,
When we are one, You’re You.
When nothing else makes any sense
You’re constant and You’re true.
 
I lift to You this broken land
And pray for healing grace.
I trust in Your unchanging love
For all the human race.
 
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Memories and Grief

 
The memories come crowding in
So tightly I can't breathe.
A sorrow builds within my heart,
For which there's no reprieve.
 
I’m broken, Lord, unmendable
By any hand but Yours.
The pieces, scattered, crushed and lost;
There are no other cures.
 
I call out to You in my pain,
For I’m lost in despair.
I don’t believe there’s a way out,
Unless, Lord, You’re still there.
 
Oh Father, call my name once more,
I pray You’ll lead me through.
I know that I will never heal
Until I’m next to You.
 
John 16:22
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Your Wondrous Ways

 

Morning mist on spider’s webs,
Bright colored leaves in dew,
And autumn settles in stillness
As winter comes in view.
 
I know I say it every year,
But it still remains true…
The earth and all its seasons, Lord,
Are such a gift from You.
 
The buds in spring, the summer fruit,
Autumn’s rain, winter’s snow,
Each season comes at Your command
And when it’s time, they go.
 
Lord, as I stand in autumn’s heart,
I lift my song of praise
To You, who laid each season’s course,
For all Your wondrous ways!
 
Acts 14:17
Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.

No Turning Back

 

As I look back over my life,
I see mistakes I’ve made.
The broken ground left in my wake,
Dark valleys where I strayed.
 
I hang my head in shame knowing
The price He paid for me
That I might live my life anew,
Despite myself, sin free.
 
I will not linger here for long,
I know what came before,
But that is past, those lessons learned.
I’ll wander there no more.
 
I’ll keep my focus on Him now,
And face what lies ahead.
I walked alone for long enough,
I’ll walk with Him instead.
 
Romans 4:8
Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.