Your Patience Is My Grace

 
Tonight, Lord, I’m seeking Your peace,
I’ve struggled through this day.
Nothing too big or difficult,
Just stress and disarray.
 
I’ve found myself frustrated, Lord,
Each time I tried to start.
There were so many little things
That kept falling apart.
 
So here I sit with You, at last,
And watch as my thoughts fray.
Please hear the words of love and praise
I’m thinking but can’t say.
 
I feel Your mercy wrap me close
In Your loving embrace.
Thank You for bearing with me, Lord,
Your patience is my grace.
 
Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

Even In Troubles

 

In this world there will be troubles,
We’ve know that all along,
But that does not mean we give in
Any time things go wrong.
 
It means we stand up when the need
Requires we be strong
And live His Word within this world.
It’s to Him we belong.
 
He won’t leave us in our troubles.
Though we must face them still,
He’ll give us strength and faith enough
To do His Father’s will.
 
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
 
1 John 4:17
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Rooted In Him

All around the weeds grew densely
Yet it still bloomed in its joy,
For it knew, the peace of heaven,
Life’s troubles cannot destroy.
 
This world’s filled with sin and sorrow
Which demands a soul comply
Not with God, but with the culture
Which, His laws, boldly defy.
 
Yet, those who live within His Word
Do not cower before man.
Instead, they stand, faith unyielding,
And blossom within His plan.
 
There, in such a simple moment,
I have learned a truth I need,
I don’t seek the affirmation
Of the world’s voice to succeed.
 
When this world closes around me,
Menacing and all too grim,
I will still live life rejoicing
For my soul’s rooted in Him.  
 
John 17:16-17
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

My Home Is His

 

However humble it may be,
My home is filled with praise
For all the blessings of the Lord
And all His wondrous ways.
 
My home will echo songs of joy
And praise for Heaven’s King.
For His blessings outweigh the pain
That any storm may bring.
 
My home is His, my heart is His,
And both are filled with joy.
For this house, built upon His Word,
No tempest can destroy.  
 
Matthew 7:24-25
 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

Thank You: A Sabbath Prayer

 

Thank You, Lord, for loving me,
Despite all I have done.
Thank You, Savior, for making right
The wrongs that I’d begun.
 
I thank You with a heart of joy
For calling me by name,
And for the grace of redemption
That now is mine to claim.
 
Isaiah 43:1
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

I Cling To You, Lord

 

I cling to You in times of joy,
And sing to You in praise.
You are the answer that I’ll seek
Through all my mortal days.
 
I cling to You in troubled times,
You are my strength and shield.
I know that when I’m weak, You’re strong.
You won’t let go or yield.
 
I cling to You in faith and trust,
Through bounty and travail.
Despite what this world claims as truth,
Your Word, Lord, will prevail.  
 
Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

To Rest Within Your Peace

 

Peace is what I’m seeking tonight.
Though this week has been blessed,
It’s also been a long hard trek
And I need peace and rest.
 
My heart broke once or twice, it’s true.
I may have even cried,
But You were right there with me, Lord.
You kept me by Your side.
 
Tomorrow will hold chores anew,
But for tonight there’s peace
And the quiet stillness that’s born
In love that does not cease.
 
Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Another Wave Of Grief

 

As sorrow washes through again
I find myself adrift.
The grief, like waves, keeps rushing in,
My tears flow hot and swift.
 
Too many lost to time’s current,
Life’s ceaseless ebb and flow.
I cannot stop or slow its pace
By any means I know.
 
Such feats lie outside my control,
But rest within the hand
Of He who numbers every tear
And every grain of sand.
 
He knows the sorrows of my heart,
And shares with me my grief.
In His time, He will dry my tears
And give my heart relief.
 
I have to trust in His timing,
Rest not on what I planned.
What broke my heart, has healed her pain,
That much I understand.
 
I’ll stand within these waves of grief
Until the tides fall back,
And hold onto the One whose grace
Provides the strength I lack.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:2a & 4
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Beneath Your Wings, I Sing

 

You are the hope to which I cling,
The joy that lifts my heart
When everything seems to go wrong
And my world falls apart.
 
You are my strength when I am weak,
My peace within travail.
I count myself blessed beyond words,
For often my words fail.
 
I know that I don’t stand alone,
I’ve friends and family,
But, when the pushing comes to shove,
You’re where I want to be.
 
Lord, thank You for being the peace,
The truth, the way, the light.
Beneath the shadow of Your wings,
I sing in my delight.
 
Psalm 63:7
for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

Walking In Your Light

 

I stand in silence in the dusk,
The night is on its way.
Still, I hold no fear of darkness,
For You rule, either way.
 
You formed the universe we know,
And called forth dark and light.
To this day, it is still Your voice
That governs day and night.
 
Since I have called You Lord and King,
I do not walk in fear.
In dark or light, I will not quake,
For I know You are near.
 
Yours is the light that marks my path,
Whether by moon or sun,
And I will praise You for Your Light
Until my journey’s done.
 
Psalm 91:4-5
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day

In Humility

My heart is humbled by Your grace,
The mercies You’ve shown me.
I find myself lost, not in awe,
But in humility.
 
For I know I am unworthy
Of the mercies You show,
And yet You fill my days and nights
With more grace than I know.
 
I count the great gifts, but the small
I used to overlook.
That is, until I stopped to see,
And that’s all that it took.
 
You gave me food enough to eat,
And a place I can sleep.
You gave me reasons to get up,
And promises to keep.
 
You let me serve with joyful heart,
Those who needed me there,
And helped me recognize how much
Of Your love I can share.
 
You’ve shown me that just being still
Can bring me close to You,
And being still with someone else
Will help them grow close, too.
 
I see all the big blessings, Lord,
And those I thought small, too.
It turns out they’re more vast, by far;
Through them, I’m more like You.
 
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

This sweet photo of a group of Zebras caring for each other is a gift from AC on her trip to Africa. 

What Tomorrow Holds

 

The morning dawns within a mist
So thick that I can’t see,
Yet that mist will soon fade away.
The same applies to me.
 
I don’t know what each day will hold,
Just that I’ll do my best
To serve the Lord and trust in Him
To handle all the rest.
 
I used to worry, day to day,
About what lies ahead,
But half my plans fall by the way
Before I’m out of bed.  
 
I’ve come to see, that like the mist,
All of my plans are frail.
I choose to plan, but understand,
That His plans will prevail.
 
I can’t explain what I don’t know,
What tomorrow may hold,
But I have faith in He who knows,
And that faith makes me bold.
 
James 4:14-15
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Sing To The Lord Always

 

Sing to the Lord with all your heart,
Whether in joy or grief.
Sing to the Lord in your delight,
Or sing to seek relief.
 
Each morning will bring a new day,
Sing in hope and delight
That you have risen in the dawn
To rejoice in the light.
 
As each dusk settles around you,
Lift up a song of praise
That He will guard you as you sleep
Beneath the moon’s soft gaze.
 
Sing when your heart is broken
For comfort from the pain.
Sing when He lifts you from despair,
For His peace will remain.
 
Sing out a new song to the Lord
And praise Him every day,
For His love is everlasting.
It will not pass away.  
 
Psalm 30:4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
 
Psalm 68:32
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah

Staying In Your Light

I’ve walked through darkness, now and then,
And I prefer Your Light,
So, I’m doing my best to stay
Right here, within in Your sight.
 
When I walk near You, I’m at peace,
Though troubles come my way,
For I know You always see me
And listen when I pray.
 
I’ll stay as close as I can stay
While walking through this life
And keep my eyes fixed on Your Light,
Whether in joy or strife.
 
You called us to live in Your Light
And that’s what I will do.
For I know, living in Your Light,
Means I’m living in You!
 
John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Work, As For The Lord

 

The great and mighty claim power,
That they can never own,
For all the power and glory
Are His, and His alone.
 
He formed the oceans and the stars,
The winds move at His will.
Though man may see himself as great,
All glory is God’s, still.
 
Let your hearts be humble, not proud,
Work hard at all you do.
Let all the glory that you seek
Be for Him, not for you.
 
For when we work at what we do
As if it were for Him,
The work we do is of value,
And not done on a whim.
 
Serve others as you would serve Him,
Rejoice in all you do,
And don’t let mankind’s vanities
Distract or distress you.
 
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

He Will Not Leave Me

 

My path was not always easy,
Yet I was not alone.
At first I didn’t understand,
But understanding’s grown.
 
As Joshua was told to trust,
So, too, have I been told
That He will always walk with me
Though this world’s dark and cold.
 
He will not leave me without hope,
For He is close to me,
And close to Him’s the only place
That my heart longs to be.
 
I may not see Him at my side,
But I know that He’s near,
For I find I can face what comes
With more faith and less fear.
 
I cannot know what lies ahead,
But He who loves me knows,
And He will stay close by my side
Wherever this path goes.
 
Deuteronomy 31:8
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Avoid Anger, Be Gentle

 

I see the anger in the world
And shake my head in shame.
For I know we are called to share
His grace and not our blame.
 
It seems to just pop out sometimes,
When we ought to refrain.
We seem to forego all kindness
And let anger remain.
 
Yet, what is gained by that anger,
Better still, what is lost?
For anger, carried for too long,
Levies a brutal cost.  
 
It robs us of the peace we seek,
The joy of each day’s grace,
And sears the heart with its poison.
Of love, it leaves no trace.  
 
After a time, we cannot see
The damage that’s been done,
Until we turn to find a friend
And learn that we have none.
 
Be gentle with your fellow man,
Set quarreling aside,
And find a way to walk in peace.
In His mercy, abide.
 
Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

My Refuge In Troubles

 

You’re my refuge, my hiding place,
When troubles come to call.
You are the greatest strength I know
When my back’s to the wall.

I try to stand up and be strong,
But, when my strength grows weak,
I call out to You for shelter
And for the peace I seek.
 
Though this world is filled with danger,
I know I’ll make it through,
For my hope rests not in myself,
But wholly, Lord, in You.
 
You are my strong fortress, my rock,
And I will sing Your praise,
For You’ve sheltered me in Your grace
Through all my hardest days.
 
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

The photo of this handsome fellow is another sweet gift from ATF! 

Jesus Wept

 

Jesus wept for Lazarus,
And for his sisters’ pain.
Though He was God, He was human,
Both aspects still remain.
 
The Son of God wept for a man,
But not for him alone.
He bore the grief we all will bear
While He was flesh and bone.
 
He knew, with the knowledge of God,
What each of us must face,
Each broken heart, and broken soul,
Each torment and disgrace.
 
In grief, He wept for Lazarus,
And that same love He kept
For each of us, through all we face.
For us, too, Jesus wept.
 
John 11:35
Jesus wept.

Time To Count Blessings

 

I stopped to count my blessings, Lord,
And praise You for such wealth.
I’m overwhelmed by so much grace,
My home, my food, my health.
 
I’ve finished my chores for the week,
One more way I’ve been blessed.
For now I have the time I need
To just be still and rest.
 
Tomorrow will bring more to do,
And more blessings for me,
As I gather with friends at church
And then with family.
 
Oh Lord, the wealth of Your sweet love
Is vast in its array.
I thank You for this quiet time
To count blessings today!
 
Psalm 144:15
Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

The Robes Of His Teachings

 

Though I may wear the finest robes
And strut for all to see,
Still, I will be but scattered dust
For all eternity
If I do not put on instead
The robes of His mercy,
And all the blessings I’m to share,
As they’ve been shared with me.
 
Colossians 3:12-13
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

His Word Stands Forever

 

The empty voices of the world
Cry out, then fade away.
For, without substance of their own,
They hold no force or sway.
 
The winds sweep through, destroying all
Within their path and yet,
The trees regrow, the rivers flow,
And the earth will forget.
 
The empty voices, like the winds,
May bluster in their wrath,
But they will not deter God’s Word
Or move it from its path.
 
The grass will wither, as will they
Who claim God’s role and name.
While those who stand within His Word,
Eternal life may claim.
 
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Fret Not

 

There is great evil in the world.
Darkness holds many hearts
Captive to anger and the sin
Which mindless rage imparts.
 
Let not the poison of the world
Infect your mind and soul.
Fret not, when evil shows its face,
For God is in control.
 
Don’t let your heart be infected
With that rage and despair,
For God’s Light still outshines the dark.
His love is everywhere.
 
Be still and wait, with faith in Him,
Trusting His perfect plan,
For God’s love does not fade or fail.
Fret not, oh child of man.
 
Psalm 37:7-8
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Bright As The Noonday Sun

 

The seasons come and soon pass on,
Until the years have flown.
Then we look back on all we’ve lived
And wonder if we’ve grown.
 
Are we much wiser in our years
Or still foolish and wild
As we were in our younger days,
That willful, selfish child.
 
I fear I may be some of each,
Wiser, but still beguiled
By all those elusive treasures
And those I have compiled.
 
I count my blessings every day
And praise God with full heart,
Then get sidetracked on things in which
I’ve given Him no part.
 
At least I’m wise enough to see
How foolish I remain
And how much of this worthless world
I struggle to retain.
 
Once more, I reach out for His grace,
And wisdom to teach me
How to reflect His righteousness
For all the world to see.
 
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

His Strength, Not Mine

 

Oh Lord, sometimes even small things
Seem too big to get through.
Wash the clothes or take out the trash,
Just clean a dish or two.
 
The world can weigh so heavily
That small chores become large.
It’s in such times I hold on to
The One who is in charge.
 
The One who set the moon’s orbit,
And calls each star by name
Can help me stand up through it all.
His strength, not mine, I claim.
 
Oh Lord, this day has worn me out,
But it is nearly through.
Please, let me lean upon Your strength,
Then rest and start anew.
 
Psalm 105:4
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Healing The Broken Hearted

 

This world can break a mortal heart
Without a second thought.
Despite all we may try to do,
No healing can be wrought.
Nor is there a price we can pay,
No cure that can be bought,
To bring the restoration for
Which all mankind has sought.
 
That healing only comes from Him,
The price already paid
Upon the cross at Calvary
Where all our sins were laid
Before the Lord, The One who heals
The broken and dismayed.
Only in Him is found the peace
By which healing’s conveyed.
 
Give up to Him your broken heart,
Let go of all the grief
Which you have carried through this life,
With no hope of relief.
Moment by moment the pain will ease,
Like a new budding leaf,
Until you realize at last
The peace born in belief.
 
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Keeping My Eyes On You

 

Tonight, I sing of eagle’s wings
Mounting up to the sky
And, though I still stand here on earth,
My soul joins him to fly.
 
For he drew my eyes to heaven
As he rose up in flight,
Until I caught a glimpse of You
And Your eternal Light.

 

I’m grateful that I stopped to look
When I saw him pass through
For he reminded me, once more,
To keep my eyes on You.
 
Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

You Love Me More

I love You, Lord, with all my heart,
But You love me much more.
You took my sins and washed them clean.
What I break, You restore.
 
I walk this earth and fail each day
To follow faithfully,
But You do not cast me aside.
You keep Your eye on me.
 
The lost lamb that You came to find,
You rescued me by grace.
Though I try to stay close to You,
I often lose my place.
 
Yet, You don’t let me wander far
Before You call me back.
You are my hope and shield in life,
In You, I find no lack.  
 
I love You, Lord, with all my heart,
But You love me much more.
You’ve guarded and You’ve guided me
Since birth, even before.
 
1 John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.