New Beginnings

 

The New Year is upon us now,
The old year is behind,
And everyone has a fresh start
Lingering in their mind.
 
Tomorrow is another day,
Each new day holds promise.
Step out, they say, in the new year
And last year’s woes, dismiss.
 
I understand the sentiment,
It means a lot to me,
But my new year, and my fresh start
Began on Calvary.  
 
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Thanks, again, to A & KT for this amazing photo of the mountain shadow cast by Mt Rainier on the clouds over the inlet. 

His Amazing Creation

 

I stand in wonder at Your works,
How vast is the array.
The mountains, oceans, soaring clouds,
Brilliant in their display.
 
We see it every day, all day,
Until it seems mundane,
This majesty that shapes our world.
Some boring old refrain.
 
Yet, when we pause and take the time
To notice what is there,
We catch a glimpse of miracles,
So common, yet so rare.
 
The hand that formed the sturdy trees,
Also sent the soft breeze
That ripples the leaves into songs
Which cannot help but please.
 
The voice that spoke the light to life
And cast it cross the sky
Has colored it with every hue,
Enchanting to the eye.
 
The mountains rise, the ocean roars,
But each holds to its place
As if there is a greater plan,
One born of joyous grace.
 
How wondrous is His creation!
Take time to recognize
The everyday magnificence
That’s right before your eyes!
 
Psalm 96:6
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Not By Works Alone

 

We each have walked a long, dark path,
Done things we wouldn’t share,
Knowing we’ll stand before Your Throne
In our shame and despair.
 
We seek to hide behind our works,
The good we might have done,
But there is only one true hope –
The price paid by Your Son,
 
It matters that we do good works,
To prove our change of heart.
We cannot truly call Him Lord,
Without a brand new start.
 
Yet, there is nothing we can do
From the muck of disgrace
That justifies our redemption.
For that we need His grace.
 
Oh Lord, I tremble in my shame,
My soul is stained and grim,
But I hold in faith to The Word,
For I belong to Him.  
 
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Family Time

 

This day has been a crazy one,
Filled with both joy and noise.
It’s hard to think of a moment
When I felt grace or poise.
 
But then again, what matters most
Was not having control,
But having time with those I love.
It’s good for heart and soul.
 
There’s time enough in every life
For pain and sorrow, too.
We need to treasure the sweet days
When love and joy shine through.
 
Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

His Steadfast Love

 

This world was formed out of His love
And, despite all we do,
It is that same unending love
That keeps on shining through.
 
However dark and grim the night,
The dawn and light draw nigh
To cast the darkness to its knees.
His Light shines from on high.
 
He is eternal, Heaven’s King,
And His love is the same.
Call out to Him and He will hear,
There’s mercy in His name.
 
Take refuge in His loving grace,
Turn your eyes to His light.
For He has called you, you are His,
In you, He takes delight.
 
Psalm 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

As He Loves Us - Advent - Love

 

A simple man, his simple wife,
A child born in the night.
Simple enough, until you know
He was heaven’s delight.
 
They walked a path laid long ago,
Following God’s command.
For simple as it may have seemed,
It was what He had planned.
 
They did not question the Lord’s love
For all along their way
They felt it in each step they took,
They lived it every day.
 
That same love that brought Him to earth
Was sent for all mankind,
Live it and give it back to Him
With heart and soul and mind.
 
Matthew 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

The Height and Depth of Love - Advent - Love

How wide the gorge between each heart
And the joy it once knew
Before this world did all it could
To break each heart in two.
 
Thus has it always been in life,
We struggle and we fail,
For, in the end, we bear the scars
Of all this life’s travail.
 
This world of pain is vast indeed,
But it cannot compare
To all the joy of heaven’s grace
And the love that lives there.
 
For God is not limited by
The heights and depths of earth,
It was His vast, unyielding love
That gave creation birth.
 
For He holds precious each small bird,
More so each broken heart,
And He poured out His love on earth
To give us a new start.
 
The hurt will heal, the scars will fade,
Let His love take their place.
Lift your eyes up to heaven’s heart.
Live in His loving grace!
 
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

His Light Remains - Advent - Joy

 

The Lord of light for all the earth
Was born when dark held sway.
His birth signaled that a new thing
Had begun on that day.
 
He brought to earth not only light,
But life and joy and peace.
Fulfilling God’s promise to man,
That His grace will not cease.
 
Lift up your hearts, sing out in joy,
And let His praises ring.
For He who came to light the way
Is still heaven’s true king!
 
Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Perfect Joy - Advent - Joy

Joy is such a simple thing
When seeing through my eyes,
But, when I stop to think of Him,
That joy is a surprise.
 
It isn’t just about blessings
That matter here on earth,
It’s about the greatest of all,
The blessing of His birth.
 
He gave up godhood to save us,
To give us a new chance.
When I think of what I should face,
My soul can’t help but dance!
 
I’m starting to understand now
What true joy’s meant to be…
The fact that He loved us that much
Is perfect joy to me.
 
Isaiah 24:14
They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; over the majesty of the Lord they shout from the west.

Entwined In Troubles - Advent - Joy

 

It’s easy to rejoice and sing
When this world falls in place,
But when we’re entwined in trouble,
Of joy, there is small trace.
 
Yet that is when we need our joy,
To lift our hearts in song.
It may not fix what troubles us,
But joy can make us strong.
 
A heart that finds cause to rejoice
Even when life is rough,
Will see fresh blessings everywhere,
And have more than enough.
 
Be strong and let your voice sing out,
Rejoice and hope in Him.
Let that joy lift you through all things,
Whether hope filled or grim.
 
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Still Rejoicing - Advent - Joy

Tonight, my joy’s in simple things,
The wind brushing the eaves,
Or starlight dancing in between
The still unfallen leaves.
 
The peace that comes this time of year
As the pace starts to slow.
There’s time to sit beside the fire,
To watch the embers glow.
 
As those shepherds did long ago,
Taking turns in the night
To keep close watch across the hills,
Their sheep, and the firelight.
 
I know I can’t fathom their joy,
As fear turned to delight,
But that stillness, which came before,
Lingers near me tonight.
 
My heart rejoices in the news
That they received back then,
So, I’ll sit by my fire and watch.
I know He’ll come again.
 
Psalm 84:2
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Songs From My Soul - Advent - Joy

 

I’ve never heard an angel sing,
But joy still fills my soul,
For I am redeemed from my sin.
His love has made me whole.
 
He lifted me out of my fear
And comforted my grief.
When in despair, I called to Him
And found joyous relief.
 
I am a child of Heaven’s King,
And blessed that it is so.
I see His blessings everywhere,
And every day they grow.
 
Though I have not heard angels sing,
I know their songs of praise,
For that same joy is in the songs
That I’ll sing all my days!
 
Psalm 98:1
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

The First To Know - Advent - Joy

 

That night the angels let their song
Of joy and praise ring out.
Yet, only shepherds on the hills
Heard the sound of their shout.
 
For He had placed their humble hearts
Above those of their kings,
The first to know, to hear the word,
And live the joy it brings.
 
He spoke to those who honored Him
And not their mortal pride.
Those He knew would do as He asked,
Spread His Word far and wide.
 
For their faith and obedience
He blessed them above all,
The first to know the joyous news,
They heard His angels call!
 
Isaiah 29:19
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

When I'm Weary - Advent - Peace

 

You are the peace in which I rest
When I lay down at night.
You are the hope in which I rise
Within the morning’s light.
 
I pick up and I walk each day
Through all that this life brings,
But it is in Your peace I find
The songs that my heart sings.
 
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Live Together - Advent - Peace

 

What can you share with a sister
To heal a broken heart?
How can you uplift a brother
Making a brand new start?
 
How can you help a soul to sing
When angst tears it apart?
How can you heal the wounds you cause
With no grace to impart?
 
We need so much from each other,
Yet we forget to give
The same mercies and loving peace
That we each need to live.
 
We cannot sing with joy filled hearts,
While mired in despair.
That’s why we need each other’s joy,
Your joy is yours to share.
 
We can’t walk side by side through life
While always finding fault
In those with whom we walk life’s path.
Instead, heal and exalt.
 
As we have been redeemed by Him,
We share a common call
To walk the walk, and live the talk,
And share His peace with all.  
 
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

In Thanks For So Much - Advent - Peace

 

We do not thank the Lord for food,
For wealth or our life’s hours.
We thank Him for the loving grace
That makes such blessings ours.
 
The value lies not in the gift,
But such grace from the hand
Of Him who formed the galaxies
With a simple command.
 
His power is vast in array,
While we are of small note.
For Him to see us and bless us
Is not mundane or rote.
 
It is, instead, abundant grace
Poured out on you and me.
Blessings beyond what we deserve
That He gives us freely.
 
It’s not about the food we eat
Or our wealth on display,
It’s about love, joy, righteousness,
The peace He sends our way.
 
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The Son Will Rise - Advent - Peace

 

My world lies wrapped a dark night
As it was long ago
When all there was to guide the way
Was one star to follow.
 
It led the three where they’d not go
Left to their own design.
Yet they followed and there they found
The humble, but divine.
 
The Prince of Peace lay at their feet.
They bowed with great delight
In Him for whom they’d wandered far,
Through many a dark night.
 
So was it for the three wise men,
So is it for us, too.
For He’s the light that shines for us,
That leads us home to You.
 
Along each dark path we must walk,
We know The Son will rise.
Thus, we will walk, peace in our hearts,
Til His light fills our eyes.
 
Luke 1:78-79
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

In Your Perfect Peace - Advent - Peace

 

I sit within Your perfect peace
And I can hear Your voice.
All the world may crash around me,
But my soul will rejoice.
 
For my faith lies not in the world
Of what I see or hear.
It’s in the shelter of Your peace,
Where my soul knows no fear.
 
This world’s a tattered, broken place
Filled with chaos and pain.
Yet, when I strip away the noise,
Your peace and grace remain.
 
I have to walk through this world’s noise,
However loud the din,
But I know I’ll find perfect peace
When I let You come in.
 
1 Corinthians 14:33a
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Peace To This House - Advent - Peace

 

He sent the Twelve to share His word
To the earth’s very ends,
Not just to those they all knew well,
Their family and friends.
 
As each was sent to a new place
He told them what to do,
Offer His peace upon the house
And all who dwelled there, too.
 
To this day, that command still stands,
Wherever we may go
We are to offer peace to all,
The loving peace we know.
 
We are not called to make demand
That His peace must be theirs,
But for those who accept His love,
They’ll never doubt He cares.
 
The peace that’s born of heaven’s grace,
The sins from which we’re spared,
Is the same peace we have received.
His peace, which must be shared.
 
Luke 10:5-6
Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.

Hope Abounding - Advent - Hope

 

It is in the dark of winter
That my hopes and fears collide.
All my worries seem to nestle,
Tucked in closely at my side.
 
Hope is easier in summer,
In the warmth of longer days,
But it holds more precious value
When the dark echoes in praise.
 
Lord, You lift me up in darkness,
Fill my emptiness with Light.
In You I find hope abounding,
From You springs peace and delight.
 
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Unseen Hope - Advent - Hope

 

I dreamed about you earlier,
We laughed and had a chat.
Sitting, once more, in the kitchen
Where we’d so often sat.
 
We’d been laughing, some silly thing,
When you stepped out of view.
I answered you with a question,
But no response from you.
 
I asked again, I called your name,
But still heard nothing back.
So, I got up and followed you
Still making my wise crack.
 
Yet, as I walked to where you were,
Or, where you should have been,
You were not there. I was alone.
Then I woke up again.
 
I miss you, and that will not change,
But life must still go on.
The empty places in my heart
Reflect what is now gone.
 
Yet I cling to the unseen hope
That I’ll hug you again,
For we all trust in the promise
From heaven’s Son of Man.  
 
Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

Filled With Hope - Advent - Hope

 

From the stump of Jesse’s line
A shoot burst forth and grew,
As prophesied long years before.
His promise was proved true.
 
He is the way, the truth, the life
And His word does not fail.
Though darkness falls upon our lives
His Light and Grace prevail.
 
Though He’s the Lord of Israel,
He called the Gentiles, too,
And covered us in redemption,
As only He could do.
 
By this, our hearts are filled with hope
That we can hold onto.
Though we are lost in this dark world,
His Light will lead us through.
 
Romans 15:12
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Patient In Hope - Advent - Hope

 

The blossom sleeps in winter’s cold
Nestled beneath the soil,
And, with the advent of springs warmth,
Begins its work and toil.
 
Then, breaking through the dirt, it grows
Into unfolding plumes
That reflect summer’s bright sunshine
In all its joyous blooms.
 
It is with that same patient hope
That we will someday grow
To reflect back the grace of God
That we have come to know.
 
We are still buried in the loam
Of this, our sinful world,
But, patient in our hope, we’ll grow
Into His blooms unfurled!
 
8:25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

We Hope In His Blessing - Advent - Hope

 

How often do we turn our gaze
To that which can destroy,
Our troubles or our broken dreams,
While ignoring our joy.
 
We walk through hard times every day
But there are blessings, too.
Why do we focus on the pain,
But joy, we look right through.
 
It all comes down to what we seek,
For that is what we see.
If we spend our time counting tears
Then we’ll find misery.
 
For those who live with hope in Him
Their troubles come, then go,
But their eyes stay fixed on His grace
From which all blessings flow.  
 
Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

His Eye is On Us - Advent - Hope

 

We live beneath His watchful eye,
And, if we look, we see
The power of His loving grace
Poured out for you and me.
 
Our prayers do not go unheeded
By Him to whom we turn,
His Glory is abundant, and
His grace we cannot earn.
 
That is a gift to those who hope
In love beyond compare
And who live in the faith that He
Will hear each lifted prayer.
 
We cannot count upon this world
To offer aught but strife,
While He blesses each breath we take,
Watching o’er every life.
 
His watchful eye is ever turned
To those who fear His name
And live knowing His steadfast love
Is always theirs to claim.
 
Psalm 33:18-19
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.