Be Strong and Courageous

 

Oh Lord, I watch the storms roll by,
The raging winds abound.
Yet I will stand strong, undeterred,
Within the faith I’ve found.
 
The world may tell me to believe
As they demand of me,
But I’ve seen Your truth in my life.
That’s all I need to see.
 
There is no other choice to make,
Nothing I’d rather do
Than walk this path, ride out the storms,
And hold in faith to You.
 
The tempest will rage on a while,
Before its winds subside,
But I will still be standing here,
When those storm winds have died.
 
For I live within Your command:
Be strong, live not in fear!
The Lord, your God, has called you His
And He is ever near.
 
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.

Help Me Watch My words

 

I woke up grumpy this morning
And wishing I could sleep,
But I had chores I had to do
And promises to keep.
 
I found myself fussing at things
That didn’t work just so,
I even snarled at a car
That was moving too slow.
 
That’s when I heard You call to me,
Remind me of the grace
That I’d received and now should share
To others in my place.
 
I felt You bid me mind my words
And the heart that formed them.
Our words reflect what our hearts hold,
And mine were harsh and grim.
 
I stopped and bowed my head in shame,
And asked You to help me
To find the heart I’ll need today,
Then be who I should be.
 
Lord, help me take that kinder heart
And find each loving word
That I would rather hear from me,
Than those I’d said and heard.
 
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

This wonderful photo of an owl watching us is a blessing from TWT and beautiful Wyoming!

Blessed By Faith

 

Each night my final prayer has been
Please guard me while I sleep.
I know that it’s a wasted prayer,
For I am Yours to keep. 

You’ve promised us Your love endures,
Your mercies will not fail,
And I can sleep without worry
That Your grace will prevail.
 
Though I have used up so much grace
By the end of each day,
Your mercies are renewed each dawn
And always on display.
 
Even when I have failed You, Lord,
Your love has not failed me.
I have no need to pray for grace,
It’s mine abundantly.
 
Please help me pray each night instead
In thanks, not in request.
Your faithfulness is enduring,
By faith in You, I’m blessed.
 
Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Braced For The Fight

Each day the world brings some new pain,
Struggle or frustration
That often leaves me overwhelmed,
Doubting how to go on.
 
I tell myself to buckle down,
Don’t give up in dismay.
I brace myself for what is next,
What life’s sending my way.
 
As I am bracing for the fight,
I hear You remind me
That I can take refuge in You,
You’re always there with me.
 
It doesn’t mean the fight won’t come,
But I won’t fight alone.
I’ll have the shelter of Your grace,
Stronger than steel or stone.
 
I can walk into what may come
If I walk by Your side.
You are my refuge and my strength,
In You my hopes reside!
 
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

A Flow Of Blessings

 

So much grace, so many blessings,
Far too many to count.
Your mercies, Lord, have overflowed,
A swift and rushing fount.
 
Floods of Your grace wash over me,
I stand within the flow
Praising the name of heaven’s King,
The Lord who loves me so.
 
I don’t deserve Your love, Your grace,
Nor even Your mercy,
But You have poured them out on me,
Flowing abundantly.
 
Oh, Lord, Your mercies overflow
Exceeding every prayer.
Please help me share Your flowing grace
With others in despair.
 
Teach me to channel that same love,
Which You’ve poured out on me,
Onto others who’ve not yet heard
Of You or Your mercy.
 
Oh Lord, I stand here overwhelmed
Amid all Your blessings,
The best of which is, without doubt,
The joy sharing it brings!
 
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.

To See You In Me

I always hope I’ll see You, too,
When I’m looking at me.
Though I will never be like You,
In some ways, I should be. 

I need to see Your grace in me,
I need to see Your strength.
I need to see the kind of love
That goes to a great length.
 
I need to see the patient heart,
And mercy for the lost.
I need to share the redemption
That You bought at such cost.
 
I pray that I will see the faith
I find in You each day,
Enough to strengthen me and some
To share along the way.
 
As wondrous as You are, Oh Lord,
I know I cannot be,
But I will pray with all my heart
To see more You in me.
 
Proverbs 27:19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

An Unexpected Place

 

We have been called to walk in faith
And that’s what I have done,
Though I get anxious, now and then,
In this walk I’ve begun.
 
I haven’t always understood
The places You’ve led me,
But I know You have plans in place
That are too big to see.

 

That’s why, when I find myself in
Some unexpected place,
I pause and lift my voice in prayer
For Your guidance and grace.
 
Then I listen to Your answer
Before I start again.
I trust You and I’ll walk in faith,
Though I don’t know the plan.  
 
Jeremiah 7:23
but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.

With Just A Prayer

 

Though I may stand upon the crest
Of earth’s mightiest peak,
I still will not be close enough
To find what I now seek.
 
If I should sail into the stars
And beyond heaven’s roof,
I still would find Your holy throne
Distant, Lord, and aloof.
 
Yet, when I simply bowed my head,
And called to You in prayer,
Then You heard and You answered me.
I have no doubt You’re there.
 
Though I can’t see You anywhere,
You’re everywhere I look.
From mountain peaks to distant stars,
And prayer was all it took.
 
Psalm 69:13
But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

I'll Keep My Eyes On You

 

My eyes are fixed upon You, Lord,
And that is where they’ll stay.
Through all the madness and the mess
That this world sends my way.
 
For though I was born in this world,
I’m a child of Your grace,
And I will keep my eyes on You
Until I see Your face.
 
I’ve heard Your Word and I believe,
Nothing can change that now,
But I know that this world will try
To distract me somehow.
 
As You have called, I wish to serve,
To share Your truth, Your Word,
To all who still walk in the dark,
Who have not seen or heard.
 
Lord, You sent me into the world
With work that I’m to do.
Father, please keep Your eyes on me,
And I’ll keep mine on You.
 
John 17:16-19
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Rend Your Heart

 

Oh Lord, I’ve led a sinful life,
As has all of mankind
Since Eve first disobeyed Your law.
Sin’s too easy to find.
 
You redeemed us upon the cross,
Our pain and shame You bore,
That we might have a second chance
To “go and sin no more.”
 
It is a choice we have to make,
Contrition or remain
Living in sin despite Your grace.
The choice is stark and plain.
 
In days long past tradition was
We’d rend our clothes in shame,
Then cover our head in ashes,
Your forgiveness to claim.
 
Yet, it does no good to rend clothes,
That’s not where sins abide.
Instead, I’ll rend my heart and leave
Sin with no place to hide.
 
For it is in the heart of man
Where sin dwells and holds sway.
We must open our hearts to You
To wash that sin away.
 
So, each day I will bow my head
And rend my heart anew,
Knowing that true forgiveness, Lord,
Is always found in You.
 
Joel 2:13
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

The Family Of Believers

 

The rough, wild lands spread all around,
But, in its midst, they stand.
Joined in their faith, sharing their joy
And living His command.
 
The family of believers
So often stand alone,
But they are tasked to share with all
The grace they have been shown.

Even when life is bramble filled,
There’s always joy to see,
And that joy grows abundantly
Within His family.
 
They’ll welcome you in from the wild,
And share with you His grace,
For that is what He did for them
When they were in your place.
 
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

These Ring of Fire sunflowers are another beautiful gift from ATF! 

Walking Each Day With You

 

I walk the shoreline in the dawn
That I may hear Your voice
Before the chaos of the day.
I listen and rejoice.
 
Your glory abounds all around,
Wondrous it is to see,
But even more wondrous, indeed,
Is that You walk with me.
 
I’m humbled that You take the time
To listen as I pray.
I know that You have many calls
Upon Your grace each day.
 
Yet, when I reach out, You are there,
You hear me when I speak.
You answer patiently and share
Your guidance, which I seek.
 
I praise You for Your boundless love,
More vast than sky or sea,
And for the quiet time You spend
Each day walking with me.
 
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

This sweet photo is another gift from ATF, this time from Semiahmoo. 

Watching Over Me Always

Oh Lord, I rest in You tonight,
My busy day is past.
Though tomorrow is on its way,
Some rest is mine, at last.
 
My chores are done, my errands run,
The evening’s drawing nigh,
And I am grateful, through it all,
That You were right near by.
 
I know that I was distracted,
More than a time or two,
But I always felt You close by.
My peace comes straight from You.
 
Tonight, I know I will sleep well
And rise in the new day,
For You’ve always watched over me,
And always will, I pray.
 
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

Abundant Blessings

 

A bit weary, but so grateful,
Tonight, I lift a praise
Of thanksgiving, pure and simple.
Your mercies still amaze.
 
Your timing isn’t what I planned,
But it is clear to me
That it is far better than that
Which I’d thought it should be.
 
You’ve answered all my prayers today,
And given me much more,
I cannot wait to see what grace
Tomorrow holds in store.
 
Abundant are the Lord’s blessings,
Delivered at His pace,
And every day He fills our lives
With His unending grace.
 
Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

The Glory Of All Your Works

 

The moon was rising through the mist
Behind the distant tree.
It wasn’t until it cleared both
That it was there to see.
 
In silence it moved on the path
That You set long ago.
Though we may calculate that path,
Its full course we can’t know.
 
The heavens and the earth present
Their own unique array
Of wonders and of mysteries
In breathtaking display.
 
The mountains and the oceans vast,
The trees, the desert’s sand,
The sun, the moon, the milky way
All rest within Your hand.
 
Each formed out of the majesty
That is Your grand design,
And each one wondrous to behold.
A gift, rare and divine.
 
Each offers breathtaking displays
Of their Creators plan,
And of the glory and the grace
He offers mortal man.
 
1 Corinthians 15:40
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.

This Ragged Soul

 

You planted Your Word in my heart,
Watered it with Your grace,
And I have felt it slowly grow,
Even in that tight space.
 
At first it was just a small seed,
The idea of change,
Nestled within my rough edges.
Something both real and strange.  
 
Yet, as it grew within Your Light,
I came to understand,
That what was blooming in my heart
Rested safe in Your hand.
 
Lord, I will praise You every day!
You took this ragged soul
And held me close within Your Light,
Renewed me, made me whole.
 
Job 12:10
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Even In Sorrow, Sing

 

Songs of sorrow, and songs of joy,
The songs that touch a soul.
Lift up your voices, sing your songs,
His love has made you whole.
 
Sing to the Lord in rejoicing,
Sing to Him in your pain.
Lift up your voices, sing your songs,
For His love will remain.
 
Sing out to the Lord in all things,
Let Him hear every voice.
He who redeemed you, loves you still.
Lift up your songs, rejoice!
 
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

However Long The Path

 

However long or hard the path
My refuge is in Him.
He shelters me within His peace,
When life grows dark and grim.
 
I could not stand up in the storm
If I stood all alone.
Yet, when I stand within His strength
I’m more than flesh and bone.
 
He calls His children to His side,
And shields them with His might.
Blessed are the children of mankind
Who live within His light.
 
Psalm 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Pride Goes Before The Fall

 

Sometimes our pride gets in the way
Of who we ought to be.
We get tripped up in ego, then
Just fall out of the tree.
 
I will admit my parables
Are not on par with His,
But I can find no better way
To make my point than this.
 
A cautionary tale, indeed.
Walk humbly, seek His grace,
Or you, too, might trip on your pride
And end up on your face!
 
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

This delightful photo is another of those from AC. A bit of lighthearted joy today! 

Some Time To Rest

 

A day of errands, then of chores,
Far too busy for me,
But, now that the work’s all been done,
I can rest peacefully.
 
Tomorrow is a day of praise,
Tonight my thanks flow free
To You who gives me work and rest,
And watches over me.
 
Psalm 121:5 & 8
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

This delightful moment is one form AC on her trip to Africa. 

Too Many To Count

 

I try to count them every day,
The blessings of Your grace,
But they mount up so rapidly
I always lose my place.
 
The friendly smiles, the helping hand,
The chance to share a laugh.
There are too many to keep track,
My count is short by half!
 
It doesn't matter all that much,
If that’s the way it goes,
For a blessing’s still a blessing,
Even if no one knows!
 
Psalm 144:15
Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Anger Destroys

 

Anger will stalk the heart of man,
Working to tear the soul
To which God gave new life and joy,
The soul His blood made whole.
 
Anger will peck and tear away
At any peace we find.
Unless we cast it from our heart,
It will consume our mind.
 
It circles every day we live,
A vulture with its prey,
Waiting for sin to answer rage
And seal the soul’s decay.
 
Anger will come, it’s part of life,
But forgive and move on.
Don’t let that evil eat at you
Until all life is gone.
 
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Upon The Cusp

 

There on the cusp of dark and light
I came to understand
How both are needful, of value,
And formed at Your command.
 
We can see light, without the dark,
But it sharpens our view
And helps us to appreciate
The light of life in You.
 
For when the night is upon us,
The moon and stars shine true.
Even when swaddled in dark clouds,
We see them peeking through.
 
Yet, when the sun begins rise
And sweep the dark away,
The heavens rejoice in delight,
A colorful display.
 
Right then, upon the cusp of change,
With dark and light in view,
My breath always catches in awe
To be so close to You!
 
John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Be Still, My Child - Reprinted In Memory of a Friend

Be Still and let my words heal you,
Don’t talk, just listen please.
I formed you in your mother’s womb
And I can give you ease.
 
You run so fast, you cannot stop
Until, at last, you fall.
Why do you wait so long before
You answer when I call?
 
Listen to me, I’m telling you
That I am all you need.
Let go of all the ifs and buts.
Listen, my child, take heed.
 
This world is not an easy place,
But you still have a choice.
Go on as if you are in charge,
Or listen to my voice.
 
Be still and rest within the peace
That I have formed for you.
Be still and listen to my voice,
As I’ve asked you to do.
 
I hold all things within my hand
The heavens and earth, too,
And you, who are more precious yet,
Be still child, I’ve got you!
 
Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself

Your Strength In Me

 

I cry out for Your strength tonight.
The day was long and rough,
But I’m still standing in the faith
That Your grace is enough.
 
Those little things that just pile up
Despite all that we do,
Leave me even more thankful that
I can find strength in You.
 
When I am weak, I call to You,
When I am strong, I praise
The King in whose strength I can stand
Even on these rough days.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Rejoicing, Praising Him

 

The beauty of His creation
Stands in joyous display
As winter melts and spring bursts forth
Into its bright array.
 
The blossoms of each spring’s delight
Reflect His perfect grace
As they lift their eyes, filled with awe,
Toward His holy face.
 
They know that with summer’s approach
They’ll wither and grow dim,
So, they spend each moment of life
Rejoicing, praising Him!
 
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

He Trains My Hands - For Armed Forces Day

There is no wall to demarcate
Between dark and the light.
The line is drawn between the wrong
and all we know that’s right
with courage and with fortitude
and faith that will not swerve
by men who stand upon the line.
The men who choose to serve.
 
Freedom’s price is dearly paid,
Then paid and paid again,
by children and by lonely wives
and by those loyal men.
They hold, with flesh and blood and steel
and sometimes with raw nerve,
a line of hope against despair.
The men who choose to serve.
 
We sleep in peace, we pray in faith,
we work without the fear
that those who seek to do us harm
can ever draw too near
because they keep their faith with us,
with strength and calm reserve,
the men who stand upon the line.
The men who choose to serve.
 
We owe them more than we can pay
And yet no price is asked
Except for someplace safe to rest
When they’ve laid down the task.
For they know other brave young men,
will step up to the mark
and carry on the task for them,
the fight against the dark.
We owe them more than platitudes
for the price they have paid.
We owe them more than gratitude
for sacrifices made.
We long to, but can’t give full due
of all that they deserve,
we owe too much to all of them.
The men who choose to serve.
 
Psalm 144:1
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 

From 2007- Re-printed from my other blog in honor of Armed Forces Day.