Working Joyfully Always

 

It’s true life has its ups and downs,
Maybe even dismay,
But you are working for the Lord,
So be glad every day.
 
He’s given you a task to do
Because He knows you can.
Though you may doubt you have the skills,
Rejoice! This is His plan.
 
Don’t let this topsy turvy world
Leave you doubting your worth,
For He knew all you would achieve
Even before your birth.
 
Despite the ups and upside downs
That this life holds for you,
Work joyfully, as for the Lord,
In everything you do.
 
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.

Thankful Praise

 

Each day Your blessings overflow,
Each night I sleep in peace.
My worries scatter like the mist,
I feel them fade, then cease.
 
I don’t know what each dawn may bring,
But what I do not doubt
Is that You know, and I have faith
That You’ll guide me throughout.
 
Each day may bring trouble my way,
But it will also hold
Too many blessings to number,
And I’ll watch them unfold.
 
Each evening as the sun settles
Beneath the star filled sky,
I find Your peace nesting in me,
For You’re always nearby.
 
Lord, I praise You with joy filled heart,
My soul wrapped in delight,
For all the blessings each day brings
And for Your peace each night.
 
Psalm 92:1-2
It’s good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High: to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

The beautiful photo of the sunrise is another blessing from DE. 

The Sojourner

The world keeps rushing in at me
Like waves upon the shore.
Yet I do not fear its swift tides,
For I’ve seen them before.
 
I used to live within the world.
It called me and I came,
But I no longer hear it now
When it calls out my name.
 
For I have found the path I sought,
The voice I will follow,
And neither was born of this world.
That’s all I need to know.
 
The soul that this world used to own,
Was purchased at a price
Far greater than it warranted.
My soul, His sacrifice.
 
He calls me to walk through this world,
Keeping my eyes on Him,
That I will not be swept away
When life once more turns grim.
 
Yes, I still walk this storm swept world,
As He’s called me to do,
But only as sojourner.
I’m following Him through.
 
I do not fear what I can’t hear,
The call of temptation.
The only voice I listen to,
Is that of Heaven’s Son.
 
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 

Another amazing photo from ATF and the beach! 

Lessons Learned

 

It lay there on the beach today,
Washed in upon the tide.
As it waited for the next wave,
It drew me to its side.
 
I knew that it would not survive
If that wave never came,
But it lay there in perfect peace
And praised God’s holy name.
 
It bore the mark upon its back
Of Christ on Calvary.
It reflected back heaven’s light
And not earth’s misery.
 
I thought I heard a voice whisper
A verse I knew by heart,
“Be still and know that I am God”.
It surely fit the part.
 
It lay there not knowing its fate,
Wearing its faith out loud.
Just being still, trusting in Him,
Humble in awe, not proud.
 
The waves were rolling in closer,
So I went on my way,
But I won’t forget the lessons
Learned on the beach today.
 
I’m still not sure which one it was
That I was there to see;
Being still in His glory or
Faith in adversity.
 
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

This amazing photo of a jellyfish on the beach is another blessing from ATF! 

In Your Right Hand

 

This world can lead us far away
From our own native land,
But we can’t travel far enough
To slip out of Your hand.
 
Though we sail through the ocean’s tides
Or ride the wind swept sky,
We cannot travel out of sight
Of Your adoring eye.
 
You hold us close, yet let us soar,
The world is ours to see.
Though, when the stormy winds rise up,
We know where You will be.
 
We cannot lose all hope in You
When You hold us so tight.
You are the wind that fills our sails
And You’re our guiding light.
 
Lord, I may seek some distant land,
Or settle by the sea,
But either way, I’m in Your hand.
Right where I want to be.
 
Psalm 139:9-10
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 

Another sweet beach photo from ATF! What a beautiful photo.

Within Your Stillness

 
I stand within Your stillness, Lord,
Your blessings fill the air,
And I am washed within that grace.
Your love is everywhere.
 
I stand within Your stillness, Lord,
Rejoicing in Your light
And singing praises to Your name.
You are my soul’s delight.
 
Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

A Neighborly Turtle - Just For Fun

 
They had a neighbor stop by today
To check that all was well.
He wanted to brighten their day,
But couldn’t reach the bell.
 
His heart was where it’s meant to be,
Offering neighbors grace.
Yet, he found frustration instead
Of a neighborly face.
 
Still, he had tried to reach out to
His neighbors, as he should,
And that was when God’s plan stepped in
To turn this loss to good.
 
For before he could turn and leave
More neighbors stopped by, too,
And they were tall enough to do
The ringing he can’t do.
 
Loving others as ourselves and
Helping in all we do,
Was magnified in that visit…
Friendly neighbors times two!
 
Matthew 22:39
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
 
1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Thanks to ATF for this fun photo of a random turtle showing up to a friend's door... just ahead of her arrival. 

I Give You Thanks

The day was filled with lots of joy,
And blessings everywhere.
Tonight is time to just be still
And lift, to You, my prayer.
 
Thank You for watching over me,
My coming and going,
And for blessing me with the joy
That friendships always bring.
 
Thank You for time spent in Your Word,
For helping me to grow
In understanding more fully
All You want me to know.
 
Thank You for food and a safe home,
And for all those who care.
Most of all, Lord, I thank You
For always being there.
 
For holding me when I am weak,
For comfort when I cry,
And, if I find myself astray,
I know that You’re nearby.
 
In everything I do each day
There is something of You,
Your love, Your mercy and Your grace.
Lord, I give thanks to You.
 
Psalm 118:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Praise Him Anyway!

Lord, I think my train of thought
Has jumped the track today.
I’m not quite sure when it happened
Or what drove it astray.
 
I know that I set out today
With my plans well in place,
But here I sit, at this day’s end,
Of my thoughts, there’s no trace.
 
I guess that life holds many things
That fall outside our plan.
I’m grateful that You can control
The things I never can.
 
Lord, I may be wheels deep in mud,
My thoughts scattered about,
But I know You love me enough
To show me the way out.
 
Thank You for staying close to me
And for Your patience, too.
Even if I can’t find my words,
They still belong to You.
 
Psalm 146:1-2
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

Wondrous, Indeed

 
The scientists explain the skies,
They map the land and sea,
But they so often overlook
The wondrous mystery.
 
The gravity, the solar flares,
The tides that rise and fall.
They chart events and track their course,
Missing the best of all.
 
Each facet of the universe
Is in place by design,
And fits into their maps and charts
By a plan most divine.
 
Sometimes we have to look beyond
Our own rational view
And recognize they’re still wonders
Set into place by You!
 
Psalm 145:2-3
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

This precious photo is a gift from HRF from her time studying in Denmark. 

When I Stopped Running

 

I wanted to be still today,
But life got in my way.
It seemed as if there was no peace
To be found in my day.
 
I hurried here and hustled there
Without stopping to hear
The still, small voice for which I longed,
The wisdom I hold dear.
 
He waited until I slowed down
Enough to hear His voice,
And then He whispered quietly,
“I’m right here, child. Rejoice.”
 
I felt my heart fill with delight
As peace washed over me.
It took me all day, but, at last,
I’m where I want to be.
 
Job 22:22
Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

My Reckoning

 

We speak of standing before God
To answer for our sin
As if it’s just a “check the box”
Then head out with the win.
 
I know that Christ will speak for me,
But I must stand and face
The list of sins, of all I’ve done,
A tally of disgrace.
 
I may not have to bear the weight
That such a life should bring,
But I must hear each one declared,
A shameful reckoning.
 
That is the reason that I rise
Each day and try once more
To walk closer beside the Lord,
Than I have walked before.
 
I try to be less of the me
That I have always been,
To live my life with much more grace
And with less and less sin.
 
I know I’ll still stand at God’s throne,
As each of us will do,
I’m just trying to keep the count
Down by, at least, a few.
 
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

From Rising To Setting

 

I praise the name of Heaven’s King
And call Him Lord of all.
The earth and every star on high
Answer His holy call.
 
The sun rises to light the world,
Then sets that it may sleep,
And all is done by His command.
His are the laws they keep.  
 
It is with joy I watch His works
Unfold throughout each day,
And it’s with awe and gratitude
That I rejoice and pray.
 
I sing my praises to the Lord,
Through all each day may bring,
And, in my joy and gratitude,
I feel my soul take wing.
 
Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

I'm Heavy Laden Tonight

 
Oh Lord, the world weighs heavily
Upon my heart today,
So, I am reaching out to You.
Please hear me, Lord, I pray.
 
I need the peace that comes to me
When I spend time with You.
It helps to listen to Your voice
When nothing else gets through.
 
In every life there are those days
Meant to gently remind
That we can’t control what happens
When life starts to unwind.
 
All we can do is trust that You
Have Your plan well in place.
Then say a prayer and seek the peace
That lives within Your grace.
 
That’s what I’m doing here tonight,
I’m reaching out to You
To seek what this world can’t provide.
Your peace to see me through.
 
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Crown Of Glory

 

The crowns of earth sparkle with gold
And gems of vast array.
Yet they are nothing when compared
To heaven’s grand display.
 
The glory of the Lord shines down
Upon this troubled earth,
While we tend to be focused on
Treasures of lesser worth.
 
We toil and struggle, lay our plans
For honor, wealth or fame,
While greater treasure lies in reach
For each of us to claim.
 
There is a treasure beyond wealth
In the soul’s redemption
And there’s abundant glory in
following Heaven’s Son.  
 
Take time to stop and lift your gaze
Away from the mundane
And fix your eyes, your work, your hope
Where true treasures remain.
 
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
 
1 Peter 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

This amazing photo is another gift from ATF! What a blessing! 

Four Points Of View

 

It seemed to be duplicative
When I first read the verse,
But as I’ve come to understand
Its message is quite terse.
 
The call is simple in its stance,
Love God with all you are.
Yet there is much more to be said,
And done, much more by far.
 
Your heart is where all that you love
is stored like precious gold.
All that we treasure most in life,
Is that which our hearts hold.
 
Our mind is where we build our lives
And lay the path we’ll walk.
It’s the center of hopes and dreams
That are more than mere talk.  
 
It is with our strength that we win
The race that we must run.
It’s one thing to have plans in place,
Much more to get things done.
 
Our soul is the center of who
We are and who we’ll be.
It’s knowing what’s right from what’s wrong,
To live accordingly.
 
Our lives are not a great puzzle,
Each piece tucked in its place.
We are a cord of four fibers
Woven by heaven’s grace.
 
Our hearts, our minds, body and soul
All have their own purview.
Yet, each one, entwined with the rest,
Combines to make you… you.
 
So, love the Lord with all you are,
From every point of view,
And know that, even that great love,
Is less than He loves you.
 
Mark 12:30
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

This photo was a gift from AC taken on her trip to Africa a few years ago.

Obey His Voice

 

He drew a line across the sky,
Running from left to right,
One half of heaven dark with clouds
And one half washed in light.
 
I had a list of things to do,
Errands I had to run,
But I stopped and I held my breath
Seeing what He had done.
 
The sun was not quite free of clouds,
But it was shining through.
As if obeying Him despite
All that the clouds could do
 
That simple lesson touched my heart.
Those who do as He asks
Will have their efforts magnified
By His help with the tasks.
 
Lord, let me live obedient,
So that, in all I do,
The grace You’ve poured into my life
Will shine on others, too.
 
Deuteronomy 28:2
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Apologies! A phone, pointing into the sun's light, so it's not the best photo. 

Satisfied And More

 

I struggled with my chores today,
At least twice nearing tears.
I called out for Your peace and grace,
Help managing my fears.
 
I stepped up and I tried again,
To find what I needed.
I called out to You knowing that
My words would be heeded.
 
I turned around and there it was,
The first answer to prayer,
Then suddenly, each place I looked,
One more answer was there.
 
My soul was hungry for Your grace,
I feared it might stay so.
Yet, You have feed me, filled me up
With more than I can know.
 
You met my needs, You threw in joy
To satisfy me more,
And reminded me that You have
So much more love in store.
 
You feed my soul with boundless grace,
My heart with loving joy.
The perfect peace You give to me,
This world cannot destroy.
 
Oh Lord, I rest within the dusk,
My spirit satisfied.
I praise You for the loving grace
That You’ve never denied.
 
Psalm 22:26
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!

What's In The Scars

 

You cry out that there is no God,
For proof you bare your scars,
As if to claim you overrule
The hand that formed the stars.
 
You walk this world in your own pride,
Then wonder why you fall.
You can’t see beyond your next step,
But claim to know it all.
 
Perhaps the fact that you bear scars
Should help you understand
That this world and the path you walk
Are beyond your command.
 
The way is never without pain,
Did you see His life path?
Yet, He loved us enough to shield
Us from our own sin’s wrath.
 
I pray that you will someday find
You’re not the force you see,
But are instead the precious child
Who He’s called you to be.
 
Then you, too, can call out to Him,
Seek Him with all your heart.
Give Him the scars of this life’s sin,
And live in His fresh start.
 
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

You Will Be Saved

 
The plan is not complicated,
It’s quite a simple one,
Belief and confession are what
You need for redemption.
 
Yet, we can make it so complex
By focusing on “me”
And not on what we’re called to do
Or who we ought to be.
 
He laid the path and paid the toll,
But still we turn away,
Thinking that we can handle things,
By doing it our way.
 
Eternity is a long time
To live without His grace,
And those who follow their own path
Will never see His face.
 
Life’s everyday temptations can’t
Replace the peace and joy
That walking with Him through this life
Assures we will enjoy.  

 

Turn back to Him while there is time,
His arms are opened wide
To welcome home His sweet redeemed
And keep them by His side.
 
Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

These photos are a gift from ATF from her trip to Africa a few years ago. They are still wonderful!  

Seeking His Presence

 

Let my heart seek You always, Lord,
Let me rejoice in praise.
Let there be no doubt in my mind
That You guard me always.
 
Let me seek You in all I do
And in all that I pray,
Let Your light be what marks the path
That I walk every day.
 
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!