Tell His Story Well

From the first kiss of soft sunrise
Until it’s sweet farewell,
I want to share His life, His ways,
And tell His story well.
 
To walk with patience, offer grace,
And share His truth with those
Who have not heard or wish to turn
From the darkness they chose.
 
We each have but one life in which
To share the Truth we know.
We’re not the vine, but we can be
The branch where fruit can grow.
 
We can’t be the Light of the World,
That task is His alone.
We can reflect His Light into
Places It’s not yet shown.
 
We may not have the gift of words
We’d need to truly share
His teachings, but we can aid those
Who have that gift and care.
 
Still, a new day brings each the chance
To live His teachings, too.
Sharing His mercy and His grace,
Is something we can do.
 
The days are passing swiftly now,
Darkness is drawing nigh.
Don’t let the chance to share Him with
Others just pass you by.
 
From the first kiss of soft sunrise
Until it’s sweet farewell,
We’re called to share His life, His ways,
And tell His story well.
 
Acts 13:47 
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
 
Psalm 113:3 
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! 

With Heart And Mind

 

There is about 12 inches in
Between my heart and mind.
Yet that can be a vast distance
When truth is hard to find.
 
My heart is fixed upon the Lord,
My mind seems fixed on me.
That is the conflict that I face
With regularity.
 
My heart knows that I need His grace,
Yet each day when I rise
I tell myself I’ll do better.
Then fail. What a surprise.
 
I keep forgetting it’s not me
Who turns me from the sin,
But is, instead, His loving grace
Where true change can begin.
 
I think my mind is catching on
To what my heart knows well.
Both heart and mind must be the place
Wherein we let Him dwell.
 
We each have a choice we must make:
Though just inches apart,
Our mind must acknowledge the truth
That we hold in our heart.
 
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.
 
Psalm 118:8 
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

Thanks For Small Blessings

 

Quiet blessings no one sees
Except those who know You.
What this world calls coincidence
Is Your grace shining through.
 
Sometimes it’s very impressive,
beyond what’s seen as real.
An illness we were told meant death,
That You step in and heal.
 
More often, though, it’s day to day,
The unexpected grace
When all the worries on our list,
Simply fall into place.
 
Today, for me it’s so much more
My list of things to-do,
Just disappeared, each one resolved
With just a word from You.
 
A day of hurry became rest,
As You erased my list.
You even handled some before
I’d found out they exist.
 
Tomorrow is a day of praise,
Of gathering and song.
Today’s a day of small blessings
That You’d planned all along.
 
Colossians 3:15 
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
 
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Far From Perfect

 

I may not live a perfect life,
But then, I’m not perfect,
And yet, You’ve called me to be Yours
Despite each clear defect.
 
You washed me in Your perfect grace,
Then set my life on track
To live, to serve, to share Your word
That no soul suffers lack.
 
I still am not always my best,
And that’s where faith comes in.
I don’t give up, sit down and weep.
I rise and try again.
 
For I am walking toward joy
Before Your throne some day.
Not by my works, but by Your grace
That washed my sins away.
 
Neither my life, nor I, myself
Will be perfect on earth,
But You who were and who still are
Restored in me new worth.
 
Philippians 3:12 
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:20 
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Taking Time To Listen

 

Taking some time to just be still,
That moment in between
The hectic pace of day to day
Which often goes unseen.
 
That one still moment between breaths
When I can hear His voice
And feel His hand upon my head.
I’ll just sit and rejoice.
 
Too often I forget to pause
And listen with my heart,
Not to what the world has to say,
But what He will impart.
 
I know that He is King and Lord,
His wisdom exceeds mine.
Yet, in that stillness I can catch
A word, a hope divine.
 
Tonight, I need to hear His voice,
Tonight I will be still.
Tomorrow I will rise in joy
And work to do His will.
 
Mark 4:39
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
 
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!”

Hard Times and Dark Valleys

 

However dark the valley is,
He’s walking by our side.
Though we bear grief and sorrow here,
He knows each tear we’ve cried.
 
Why must we face trials and pain
When we belong to Him?
How could He love us and let us
Walk through valleys so grim?
 
When the path lies smooth before us
We tend to go our way,
But when that path gets hard, painful,
We tend to stop and pray.
 
We have to understand this life
Is not an easy thing,
Believing we’re good on our own,
Adds more pain to the sting.
 
Yet, when we walk through, trusting Him
And leaning on His grace,
Then fear and worry start to ease
And peace grows in their place.
 
All that this world may throw at us,
That exceeds our control,
Is still within His sight, His plan,
And He treasures each soul.
 
Don’t fear the valley or the pain,
However harsh and grim.
His plan’s in place, He’s by your side,
Just keep walking with Him.
 
Romans 8:28 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
 
Proverbs 3:5 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Share What You Have Received

 

The little moments of sorrow
Mingle with those of joy,
As memories of yesterday
Bubble up and aren’t coy,
 
I saw the roses in the bed,
Planted there years ago,
And still blooming with such delight.
There’s joy watching them grow.
 
My father planted them, and then
My mother kept them strong.
I’ve lost them both to heaven’s realm,
But the rose blooms along.
 
I guess the moral of the tale
Is that, though we are gone,
The blessings that we leave behind
Can thrive and carry on.
 
Take time to offer God’s sweet grace
To those you meet each day.
Those blessings He first gave to you,
Share with those on your way.
 
Hebrews 13:16 
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
 
Proverbs 11:25 
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Work As For The Lord

 

Be patient and be diligent,
Working within His plan.
Let your work bring honor to Him,
And help your fellow man.
 
It need not be a masterpiece,
For God can take small things
And, from the whisper of a word,
Exquisite beauty springs.  
 
He has not called us to achieve
Perfection on our own,
But to work faithfully knowing
We’re not working alone.
 
The work we do with diligence
And with a joyful heart
Is the beginning, from which He
Creates a work of art.
 
Don’t be ashamed of humble work,
But, keeping Him in mind,
You may well find yourself in awe
At what He has designed.
 
Colossians 3:23 
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
 
Proverbs 16:3 
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Of All The Blessings

 

The blessings just keep piling up,
There’s more to count each day.
Even when I forget to look
They’re right there on display.
 
There, at the bottom of the stack,
The one on which all stand,
Is the redemption found in Christ
That rests within God’s hand.
 
There are no greater blessings in
This world that you can count,
And all that we’ve received since then
Have been on His account.
 
Keep your heart open to His word,
Your ears to hear His call,
And your eyes turned to His blessings
That you may see them all.
 
Most of all, keep your thoughts on Him,
The foundation upon
Which all your blessings have been laid.
He is your redemption.
 
Luke 15:10
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
 
Psalm 107:2 
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

Just Needed A Break

 

I stepped away to seek the peace
That I needed to find.
When this world starts moving too fast
That peace gets left behind.
 
It’s not something purposely done,
It just works out that way,
But that leaves me needing to find
Some time to get away.
 
So many things have changed for me
Over the past few years
There’s been some days of boundless joy,
And a few days of tears.
 
A different place, the same joy,
Just in a brand new way.
Still, I find myself looking for
A chance to step away.
 
It’s not the change that weighs on me,
But finding, now and then,
I can’t keep up with all the things
I used to do back when.
 
The peace I find within His grace
Helps me rest and restore,
Then I can get back up again
And carry on, once more!
 
1 Peter 5:7 
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
 
Psalm 119:76 
Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.

Unchanging Love

 

Days move swiftly, years rush by,
The end draws closer now.
Yet, You remain unchanged through all
Of life’s changes, somehow.
 
I went to bed, worries piled high.
It was hours before
Sleep, at last, calmed my thoughts enough
To rest and to restore.
 
I woke up wondering what next,
Forgetting Who prevails.
The day brought a swift reminder
That Your grace never fails.
 
All that worried me through the night,
Lay answered in the dawn.
Even questions I’d not yet asked,
Were settled and are gone.
 
You didn’t scold my lack of faith,
You healed it with Your grace
And reminded me that You have
The pieces well in place.
 
The world still turns and time moves on,
Nothing remains the same
Except for Your unfailing love.
That’s always ours to claim.
 
Colossians 1:17 
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
 
Psalm 143:8 
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Caught Rejoicing

 

In joy, it leapt from the tree branch
And floated through the air,
Intending to rest with its friends.
It never made it there.
 
An unforeseen event occurred,
A silken spider’s strand
Caught it as it was sailing by.
Not quite what it had planned.
 
Now it is hanging in mid air.
Not what it had in mind,
But, somehow, it still seems joyful,
In no rush to unbind.
 
You see, it’s still dancing up there,
In bright colored delight.
It doesn’t seem to mind having
A little longer flight.
 
For there are blessings in all things,
Though sometimes hard to see,
But, when we take time to rejoice
They’re clear as they can be.
 
The Lord has plans that we can’t know
Before we take that leap,
But we can trust, through all that comes,
The promise He will keep.
 
For He has promised us His love,
And, when we’re weak, His strength,
And that He will stay close by us.
Bringing us though, at length.
 
I hope the next snag in my plans
Will cause me to rejoice.
Like that bright leaf, joy in all things
Is a gift and a choice.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
 
Isaiah 40:29 
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Walk In Faith, Hold To Grace

Walking in faith, holding to grace,
That’s the way through this life.
Sadly, I can be a wayward child,
Which often ends in strife.
 
You give me guidance as I walk,
Lead me along the way,
But I keep trying to take charge
And ending up astray.
 
I don’t intend to argue with
The Creator of all,
But now and then I’m distracted
By this world’s siren call.
 
Until I realize, once more,
I’m fighting the wrong fight.
I turn around, get back on track,
Walking the path that’s right.
 
It’s good to know my wayward ways
Can’t keep me from Your grace.
That was a gift given by You,
And faith holds it in place.
 
Please help me keep my feet on track,
Cast distractions aside.
Then walk in faith, and hold to grace,
Staying close by Your side.
 
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.
 
Romans 6:14 
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

In Sync With You

 

I have this day planned and laid out,
But, first, I have to say,
Oh Lord, my plans are in Your hands
Please lead me through this day.
 
If what I have planned falls outside
What You need me to do,
Then change my plans so they conform
To those preferred by You.
 
I know that I walk through this world
With You close by my side,
So, I need to do what I can,
Then swallow all my pride
 
And thank You that my best laid plans
Fall under Your review.
The day always goes better when
I live in sync with You.
 
James 1:5 
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
 
Proverbs 16:3 
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Not Tossed By The Winds

The winds that blow across the earth
Do so on His command.
Though we may watch them come and go,
Their path rests in His hand.
 
He formed the waves upon the sea,
And, though we sail on them,
We don’t control their ebb and flow.
That power rests with Him.
 
He set the wind and waves in place.
He gave us His Word, too,
That we may be reborn in Him,
Live as we’re called to do.
 
Before we knew Him, we were lost.
Tossed by the winds of life.
We had no hope until He called
Us out of death and strife.
 
Why then do we think we can change
The nature of His Word
By reading it through worldly eyes.
That depth of pride’s absurd.
 
Let His Word live pure in your heart
Thus, when you face travail,
You do so knowing He controls
The winds by which you sail.
 
John 3:8 
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
 
Ephesians 4:14 
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

God Is Not Mocked

 
Though I am not a scholar, Lord,
This much I’ve come to know,
You’ve told us more than once that we
Will reap that which we sow.
 
The fields sown with the Word of God
Will overflow with grace,
But those sown with sin will produce
Only death and disgrace.
 
Those who mock You and twist Your Word
To lead others astray,
Will find they’ve chosen a dark path
When they face judgement day.
 
I’m not being parochial,
You’ve said as much Yourself,
But far too many, today, put
Your Word on a back shelf.
 
They proclaim, in Your name, their lies,
Mocking the laws You gave.
As if they, too, hold Your power,
Which they so clearly crave.   
 
They are not You and when they speak
Their souls are scarred with sin
From which they will never be healed
Unless they turn again.
 
I fear that they don’t understand
The vast harvest they’ll reap
Sowing the blasphemies they speak,
The lies they choose to keep.
 
I pray that they will turn to You,
Step off the path they’re on
And seek to live within Your Word
Before their chance is gone.
 
Please help them, Lord, to understand
What lies ahead of them
That they may turn, seek Your grace, and
Avoid that harvest, grim.
 
Galatians 6:7 
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
 
Exodus 20:7 
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

The Better Part

 

Why is patience so hard to find
When it is needed most?
Yet, when it seems we are ignored,
Our patience becomes toast.
 
A little grace should be easy,
Since we each need it, too.
Still, grace can be hard to employ
When frustrations push through.
 
Why do we need to keep pushing
When the point is so clear,
But still they choose to not listen
To what they plainly hear.
 
It’s time to stop and take a breath,
There’s nothing else to do
When you’ve done all you could, then some,
To get the message through.

 

Just in case you think I’m speaking
Of myself in this praise,
No, I’m the one who’s frustrating,
Who hears, yet disobeys.
 
She tells me clearly what she wants
And I say “get in bed”,
When I should be saying, “Yes ma’am”,
And doing it, instead.  
 
Another treat, open the door,
She shouldn’t have to wait,
Yet I seem to think folding clothes
Excuses being late.
 
Despite all that, she loves me still,
And finds it in her heart
To forgive me all my failings.
Hers is the better part!
 
Ephesians 4:2-3 
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
 
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Resting In His Light

 

She slipped out of this world, softly,
Into her Savior’s arms.
She’s resting in His perfect Light,
Far from this world of harms.
 
Though you knew it had to happen,
That doesn’t ease the pain,
But loving memories of her
Will soothe hurts that remain.
 
You had to let her go to Him,
But you’ll see her once more
When your turn comes to praise His name
Upon heaven’s bright shore.
 
Until then you can still see her,
Thanks to God’s perfect grace,
Each time her grandchildren and yours
Lift up a smiling face.
 
Rest now and give your grief some time
To give way to delight
Knowing that she is resting, too,
Within Her Savior’s Light.
 
Matthew 5:4 
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
 
John 16:22 
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Blessings And Thanks

And on a lighter note, tonight,
I just want to thank You
For giving me a chance to laugh
And lend a hand or two.
 
There is so much that distracts me
From counting my blessings,
But I do not forget they’re there,
Or the delight each brings.
 
The little things, the struggles met
And overcome with joy,
The day-to-day tasks that get done
With time left to enjoy.
 
The sun setting as the day cools
Enough to sit outside
And listen to the birds singing
Where peace and rest abide.
 
The stars come out to smile at me
As nighttime settles in,
And I am reminded once more
To count blessings again.
 
There are so many, I can’t count
Them all, though I try to,
But I know that each count begins
And finishes with You.
 
You are the first and last blessing,
And all that falls between
Is only there because of You.
The seen and the unseen.
 
So, on that lighter note, tonight,
I want to say thank You
For all the blessings of this day,
And for loving me, too.
 
Philippians 4:4 
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
 
Psalm 69:30 
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 

Blessed With Rest

You wrapped me in Your peaceful joy,
I felt it settle in.
I didn’t know I needed it,
Til I felt it begin.
 
A little knot loosened inside,
My breath began to slow,
And in that stillness I could feel
Your peace begin to grow.
 
Life is so busy these days, Lord,
And I am not as strong
As I was in my younger days
When I just rolled along.
 
Though, in my pride I won’t admit
That I’m feeling worn out,
I’m grateful You don’t heed my pride.
You know what I’m about.  
 
Tomorrow, things pick up again,
But, for a day or two,
I’ve had the chance to simply rest
And feel my strength renew.
 
In all the years I’ve walked this earth
I’ve never doubted You.
Though I doubt myself every day,
You always see me through.
 
Psalm 37:25 
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
 
Romans 8:28 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

Cherishing Each Moment

A time to laugh, a time to cry,
A time for joy to bloom.
Yet, timing isn’t everything
If you don’t give it room.
 
We rush through life, our goal in mind,
And don’t stop to enjoy
The little moments in each day…
Distractions can annoy.
 
Until they’ve passed and we missed them,
Then there’s no going back,
And all we can hold onto is
A memory we lack.
 
Take time to laugh, and time to cry
And take time to rejoice.
The Lord created each minute,
Cherishing them’s our choice.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4 
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 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
 
1 Thessalonians 5:11 
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

Stand On That Rock

 

I worry for the world some days,
Though we’ve been here before.
It seems like each time we’re at peace,
Evil kicks down the door.
 
I find myself despising those
Who seek to destroy all,
Knowing that they are answering
Once more, that evil call.
 
I know that I’m to love the man
While loathing the dark sin.
Yet, I catch myself loathing both,
And I must start again.
 
Get my feet back upon God’s path,
Stop only to take stock
Of all that He’s called me to be
Then stand strong on The Rock.
 
Don’t let the world distract me from
His Word and all it holds,
But offer grace to the lost souls,
Kindness to all the scolds.
 
Say no to sins, forgive sinners,
And help them find Him, too.
For all that He has done for me,
That’s not too much to do.
 
Through all of it, stand on that Rock,
Hold on to Him and know
That He will not let my foot slip
And He will not let go.
 
Psalm 62:6 
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
 
Psalm 94:18 
When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.