Each Day's Choice

When I woke up I didn’t know
What all I’d face today.
I had no way of bracing for
What life might throw my way.
 
Each day is sort of like a rose,
Its blossoms bright and sweet.
Yet, just below, there lie the thorns,
And they are not discreet.
 
You reach to cup the cheery bloom,
To smell its pleasant scent,
Only to catch hold of a thorn,
Your flesh, bloody and rent.
 
A bit of joy, a bit of pain,
But a rose is a rose.
You take the beauty with the thorns,
Because that’s how life goes.
 
You can’t know all each day will bring
But each day brings a choice.
Count up your troubles, all those thorns,
Or just choose to rejoice.
 
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
 
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Morning Song Of Joy

 

They gathered in the morning breeze
To lift a song of joy.
No matter what the day might bring,
They came out to enjoy.
 
A lesson there for me to learn,
Despite what it might bring,
Each day’s a new chance to rejoice,
Lift up my voice and sing.
 
If they, who are so small, can sing
With that much joy each day,
I, too, should learn to sing Your praise,
Whatever comes my way!
 
Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Unseen, But Very Real

 

The stillness of the evening tide,
The sun drifting to sleep,
The moon resting above the ridge
With no schedule to keep.
 
The simple moment that completes
A week lived at full speed.
Though I’ll admit, when things got tight,
You managed every need.
 
You kept my feet upon the path,
My head above the waves,
You were my strength when I grew weak.
Yours is the grace that saves.
 
Though I am still far from this shore,
I rest within its peace,
For, much like You, though now unseen,
That perfect peace won’t cease.
 
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Comfort One Another

 

A little prickly, yes, that’s me,
And hard to get close to,
But I am learning to bear fruit
That’s sweeter, thanks to You.
 
You taught me that I need to learn
To comfort, not annoy.
I’m to share love, and not those thorns
I, too often, deploy.
 
Oh Lord, they are a part of me,
Though I know they don’t suit
A life that’s meant to be about
Sharing Your Word, Your fruit. 

You’ve given so much grace to me,
How can my thorns still show?
I need to cast them all aside
And let Your sweet fruit grow.
 
Please help me, Lord, focus upon
The fruit of grace I bear
Until my prickly side becomes
The part I never share.
 
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.

Vengeance Is Yours, Not Mine

 

Oh Lord, I need to hear Your Word
Repeated in my heart,
For I grow angry, now and then,
And step out of my part.
 
You’ve called me to forgo my wrath
And let Your plans play out,
But some days my rage seems to burn
Too hot to just put out.
 
I know Your plans will always be
Better than those I make,
And my plans would be, without doubt,
A terrible mistake.
 
Help me, Oh Lord, to turn away
From the wrath that I feel,
To trust Your plan to right the wrongs
And help this world to heal.
 
Help me to put vengeance aside
And pray for each lost soul,
For those living in Satan’s thrall,
To be redeemed, made whole.
 
Help me to turn back from my rage,
Vengeance is Yours, not mine.
Forgiveness heals what rage destroys,
And Your Word will refine.
 
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Walk In Your Truth

 

I know You walk beside me, Lord,
I feel You there with me.
When I can’t see the path ahead,
You light the way clearly.
When I am lost in shame or fear,
You show me Your mercy
And when I feel I’ve failed once more,
You call my name, gently.
 
Oh Lord, please lead me on the path
You want me to follow,
I know I’m not always on track,
But where You lead, I’ll go.
Though I may stumble now and then,
By such struggles, I’ll grow.
Until I’m back upon Your path,
Teach me what I don’t know.
 
Teach me and I will listen, Lord,
Lead me closer to You.
You are my way, the light I seek.
What I need most is You.
 
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Hope And Rejoice

 

I call out to You in distress,
This day has worn me down.
Still, my soul chooses to rejoice
And proclaim Your renown.
 
There are no burdens I can bear
Without Your strength, your grace.
That’s why I’m grateful you give me
The strength to keep the pace.
 
Whatever life may hold in store,
This much I know is true,
That rain or shine, sorrow or joy,
You’ll always see me through.
 
Tonight, I may be weary, Lord,
But I’ll sing in delight,
For You will give me what I need,
Your love, Your grace, Your might.
 
Psalm 42:5
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.

Rely Not On Ourselves

 

I piled my worries on my heart
And carried them all day.
I fussed over them til they grew
Too big to push away.
 
They weighed upon me constantly
Until I thought I’d drown
In all the tears and frustrations
That just kept pouring down.
 
I had to step back, take a breath
And give it all to You
Before I could think and recall…
You’re here, You’ll help me through.
 
Before, my troubles in this world
Would bring me to my knees
And leave me wondering what I
Should do to find some ease.
 
Until I came to understand
What I was going through
Was You nudging me to reach out
And learn to lean on You.
 
Just letting go a little bit,
Was all I had to do
For You to take hold of my hand,
And all my troubles, too.
 
My worries still linger about,
But they don’t weigh me down,
For I don’t carry them alone
And You won’t let me drown.
 
2 Corinthians 1:8b-9
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

The Harvesters

 

He sends them out into the world
To gather the harvest
That He has spread throughout the land,
From north, south, east and west.
 
They scatter His Word in the world
And nurture it with grace,
That many who would not know Him,
Will someday see His face.
 
They labor through the hardest times,
Tending their Master’s fruit.
Guarding the harvest from the blight,
Caring for each new shoot.

 

Their Master called them to this task,
And, in His name, they work.
Rejoicing as the harvest grows.
His calling, they don’t shirk.
 
I lift my prayer up every day
That His harvest is vast
And thank Him for those who, when called,
Joyfully work as tasked.
 
Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Rest and Restore

 

The day has been filled up with noise,
Some laughter and some tears,
But I am ready for the peace
That comes as twilight nears.
 
I rejoice in the busy life
With which You’ve blessed me, Lord.
Yet, in the peace that comes at dusk,
My own peace is restored.
 
You guarded me when I went out,
You brought me home once more.
I long now for the peace that heals.
My heart and soul restore.
 
Tomorrow I will rise again
And serve as You call me.
Tonight, I pray for rest enough
To rise up joyfully.  
 
Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Find Joy In The Moment

Just a simple moment’s delight,
Nothing to change the world,
Yet it still brings joy to my heart,
To see them both unfurled.
 
The bright light of God’s creation
Highlighting man’s design,
And both combined to remind me
Of the joy that is mine.
 
I know the beauty of the Lord
Outshines that of mankind,
But He has given both to us
And both delight the mind.
 
We cannot know the vast array
Of all that God has planned,
But we can find delight within
Those joys we have at hand.
 
Therefore, be joyful in this life
And share that joy with all.
Rejoicing in life’s sweet moments,
However great or small.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:11-12
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.  I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live

Grief And Tears

We walk with grief, now and again,
As we move through this life.
Though His grace flows unendingly,
Sorrow can still seem rife.
 
It sometimes feels as if we stand
With grace just out of reach,
A river flowing, distantly,
Down to an empty beach.
 
You know the grace is yours to claim
When you wade in the flow,
But each time you look up it seems
You’ve still got far to go.
 
A broken heart affects our sight,
By obstructing our view.
Not of the grace that we can’t reach,
But of our view of You.
 
The river flowing with Your grace
Is no further away
Than the prayer of a broken heart.
He hears each tear we pray.
 
Lift up your tears, then, and your praise,
Offer Him both of them.
His grace is never out of reach
For those who reach for Him.
 
1 Peter 1:6
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials 

A lovely photo of the River Tay from ATF and her trip to Scotland. 

Vanity Of Vanities

 

In reading through the Preacher’s thoughts
I’ve come to understand
That even one lost to himself
Can serve as God has planned.
 
So many served their own desires
Only to turn at last
And walk within heaven’s design
Before their lives had passed.
 
The wisdom that they learned in life,
They passed on to us all.
I pray we let their “lessons learned”
Be our clarion call.
 
The path of pleasure unrestrained
May offer swift delight,
But vanity of vanities,
You’ll fall out of the Light.
 
We fix our eyes on our delights
And turn away from Him.
Then, vanity of vanities,
Our souls grow bleak and dim.
 
Turn back, as did the kings of old,
David and Solomon.
Hold on to Him, not vanities
That crumble and are done.
 
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Green Pastures And Still Waters

 

I had my chores laid out today,
You had another plan.
When it comes right down to it, Lord,
Your plans beat that of man.
 
You set in motion one day’s rest
That I needed, no doubt,
As if You knew, before the dawn,
What I’d not figured out.
 
A day of rest within the whirl
Of all that life brings on
Was what I needed to ensure
The stress was truly gone.

 

The psalm says You lead us to rest,
Body and soul restore,
And I will testify to that.
I am renewed once more.
 
Psalm 23:1-3
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

These two lovely photos of peace and rest are from ATF on the Aran Islands and Scotland. 

Keep Watch Over My Words

The words that come out of my mouth
And those within my heart
Should always find their roots in You.
Your Word’s where mine should start.
 
Please, help me keep guard on my words,
And let my heart stay true
To all the lessons You’ve taught me
That I may honor You.
 
Let unkind words that have no worth
Remain unsaid, I pray.
Yet, if there are hard truths needed,
Help me find a kind way.
 
My thoughts are not always as good
As I know they should be,
But help me guard my words until
I am a better me.
 
You bear with me so patiently,
And show me such mercy.
I pray that I will learn to think
And speak as graciously.
 
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 

Learning When To Hold On

 

There are those times, despite my plans,
That my world seems askew.
It’s in such times that I have learned
To give my plans to You.
 
If I hold on to what’s sideways,
I’m bound to lose my grip
On everything that matters most.
I can’t let that much slip.
 
Yet, if I stop holding on tight
And give it all to You,
You always have a better plan.
One worth holding onto.
 
There are no “best laid” plans in life
That don’t come with a flaw.
I do my best, give You the rest,
Then watch with breathless awe.
 
When all my plans go sideways, Lord,
I let go and embrace
The plan that comes from trusting You
And Your consistent grace.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

This delightful photo is also from ATF and her trip to Scotland. 

Eyes That Will See

 

The storm was forming on the sea,
Yet, standing on the shore,
I could see what the afternoon
Clearly held in store.
 
I know that storms are part of life,
And troubles will sweep through.
Yet I will not give in to fear,
I’ll take refuge in You.
 
The winds may batter at my door,
Or chill me to the bone,
But I will hold fast to Your grace.
My house is built on stone.
 
We do not face the storms of life
To strengthen our own will,
But that we might stand testament
To those who seek You still.  
 
Though all the world calls me a fool,
I pray they’ll come to see
That He who is my strong shelter,
Loves them as much as me.
 
Isaiah 32:2-3
Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

This photo of storm clouds over the North Sea is another precious gift from ATF, 

A Blessing, Out Of The Blue

I had an old song in my head
One not heard much these days.
I longed to hear it once again,
Though it’s not one that plays.
 
I was rushing hither and yon,
Trying to get things done,
And that song just played on and on.
It kept me on the run.
 
I got back in my car at last,
The radio came on,
And I was headed for the road,
The day’s chores not yet gone.
 
Then, just before I hit the street,
That song stuck in my head
Began playing right there upon
The radio instead.
 
The prayer I didn’t know I’d prayed,
He’d heard and He answered.
As if to say “I’ve got you child,
Your prayers don’t go unheard.”
 
I laughed out right and praised His name
Then sang with great delight
An old song no one else noticed.
I sang with all my might.
 
I know it’s just a silly thing
Most people would look past,
But He took time to grant me joy
Without the need to ask.
 
His loving grace, His blessings, flow
In unexpected ways
And I will cherish each blessing
With gratitude and praise!
 
Psalm 33:2
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 

Blessed Unsparingly

 

A gentle breeze, the rustling grass,
Sunset over the sea,
Even the hummingbird who stopped
By unexpectedly.
So many quiet blessings, Lord,
Each one precious to me.
Yet, the greatest gift of them all
Is having eyes to see
That they are blessings, gifts of love
You gave unsparingly.
 
Psalm 115:13
He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.

In You, Everything

 

When this world weighs down on my heart
Until I feel bereft,
I still know I have everything
If You’re all I have left.
 
You help me find the joy in life
When all I see is pain.
You lead me back into Your peace,
Away from stress and strain.
 
You taught me how to be much more
Than I, alone, could be.
Because You’ve healed me, heart and soul,
There’s more of You in me.  
 
When it seems I have nothing left,
I lift my heart and sing
In the sure knowledge that, in You,
I still have everything.
 
Daniel 4:2-3
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Learning To Forgive

 

There’s always been sin in this world,
We each have done our part.
Yet, there can be forgiveness, too.
If we give Him our heart.
 
He taught us how to offer grace
By giving it to us.
Our sacrifice won’t be as great,
Though we complain and fuss.
 
Sometimes it’s pride, sometimes it’s pain
That leads us to hold back
From giving the grace we’ve received.
His compassion, we lack.
 
Yet, if we offer up our hearts
To Him whose grace we need,
Then we will find we have enough,
Our own grace, to concede.
 
It still amazes me, at times,
How quickly small seeds grow
If they’re the seeds of forgiveness
That He taught us to sow.
 
Colossians 3:13
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.

Seek Him And Rejoice

 

We seek the Lord where we believe
We’ll find Him easily.
Though all creation is His home,
We look where we can see.
 
For some He’s waiting in the church,
For some, a wise friend’s side.
For some, it’s in His handiwork
He’s likely to reside.
 
Stop rushing through your every day,
Take time to seek His voice.
Stop calling out in frustration.
Be still, listen, rejoice.
 
For He is always attentive
When we reach out to Him.
Seek Him and He will answer you.
Then raise a joyful hymn!
 
Seek Him where you feel close to Him,
Wherever that may be.
In time you’ll find He’s everywhere,
Listening patiently.
 
Psalm 105:3-4
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Another beautiful photo from the Scottish coast of the North Sea. Thank you, ATF!! 

Darkness Is As Light

 

I’ve walked through troubles, harsh and grim,
Through shame, despair and grief,
But my road’s never been too dark
For Your loving relief.
 
I’ve lost my way along the path
More than a time or two,
But I was never too far gone
For Your love to shine through.
 
Even within my darkest times,
Your love was a clear light
That called me back from the abyss
 Of an unending night.
 
However dark the path I walked
To You it was light still.
You kept me always in Your sight.
I know You always will. 
 
Now, when I walk a darkened path,
I know Your light’s still there,
And with it, too, Your loving grace.
I see it everywhere.
 
Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Walking In The Same Way

 

Oh Lord, I used to pray each night
You’d keep me close to You,
Since I know I am prone to stray,
As we all seem to do.
 
I thought, if I could hold Your robe,
To keep close by Your side,
I’d know how to step out with faith,
And not my anxious stride.
 
I knew that You were with me, Lord,
Still, I could barely see
The path that I needed to walk
To be who I should be.
 
Until I realized the truth
That Your teachings evoke.
You set the path and marked our way
With every word You spoke.
 
I don’t need to reach for Your robe,
But for Your words instead,
For I am closest to Your path
Living each word You’ve said.
 
Now, I pray I’ll stay close to You
And not go far astray
By holding on to every word
You spoke to mark the way!
 
1 John 2:5b-6
By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Another thank you to ATF for this photo of an ancient Viking built wall in Scotland.

And Not Be Weary

 

The eagle, in its majesty,
Often receives my praise,
But I have my eyes fixed upon
More humble things these days.
 
I saw them on the beach last week,
Both being who they are,
And it occurred to me that I’d
Overlooked them, so far.
 
The eagle is impressive, still,
But this small sand piper
Reminded me of the calling
To which I should defer.
 
The gull stood watching the piper
Who ran upon the shore.
It never tired or slowed down,
With each wave, it ran more.
 
It went about the task at hand
Unwavering and strong.
The gull stood waiting for handouts
That never came along.
 
It was as if, that sand piper
Worked faithfully to do
What it had been placed on the earth
To do, to see it through.
 
I caught my breath as I heard You
Remind me that I too
Have been given a calling which
You’ve asked me to pursue.
 
It’s not one that will bring great fame,
It’s quite simple, in fact.
To share Your Word, Your love, with those
With whom I interact.
 
I may not fly on eagle’s wings
With all that majesty,
But working for Your glory, Lord,
I will not grow weary.

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.

Sabbath - From Rest To Restoration

 

It started as a day of rest
To honor creation,
But it became something greater
When His work here was done.
 
He died to pay the price of sin,
But when He rose once more
He changed what mankind values most…
Who waits at heaven’s door.
 
We went from Sabbath’s day of rest
To resurrection day
All those who call Him Lord honor
The price He had to pay.
 
Though we still rest, it’s in His grace,
And by His blood we’re free.
A gift beyond mere creation,
New souls for you and me.
 
Mark 2:27-28
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Another blessing of joy from ATF and Scotland.