Blessed To Serve

You’ve blessed me with so much to do,
Helping those that I love.
It keeps me focused on life’s joy
And not its push and shove.
 
It doesn’t matter that I run
So fast I fear I’ll fall,
Because nothing delights me more
Than answering their call.
 
Thank You for seeing my calling
Is helping where I can.
It’s as if You made me for this,
Like it’s part of Your plan.
 
Thank You for giving me this chance
To help those I love so,
And for the heart that loves to serve,
Which You chose to bestow.
 
1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
 
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

We Gather To Praise Him

 

We gather to sing the Lord’s praise,
Acknowledging the grace
That never fails to lead us through
Even the darkest place.
 
The mercy that will not condemn
Those who cry out to Him,
The light that never fails to shine
When all our hopes grow dim.
 
The love that sacrificed it all
That we might be redeemed,
Then rose again to prove His might
Was greater than it seemed.
 
We gather that we might draw near
To Him before His throne,
And rejoice in the ceaseless love
He offers to His own.
 
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 
Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Even The Smallest Wonders

 

How vast is all of creation,
Each facet formed by You.
The heavens stretch beyond our sight,
The ocean depths do, too.
 
I am in awe of such grandeur,
Resplendent in display.
Yet, I’m awed also by all those
Small things I see each day.
 
A leaf opening up in spring,
The butterfly in flight,
And even an old spider web
Marked by mist and soft light.
 
I do rejoice in Your great works,
But, too, Lord, in the small,
For I know, in Your loving grace,
You formed them, one and all.
 
Psalm 104:24
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
 
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Yours Is The Peace

 

I’m grateful that the world keeps me
Tasked with so much to do,
But, more than that, I’m glad I have
A quiet place with You.
 
The crazy pace of every day
Assures I can still run,
And run I will back to Your peace
When each wild day is done.
 
Please keep my eyes fixed on the prize
Of serving as You’ve asked,
While holding to Your perfect peace
Till I’ve done as I’m tasked.
 
Then let me rest within that peace
And praise You, heart and soul.
Yours is the peace I’ll always need,
You alone make me whole.
 
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
 
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Working Like A Swallow

Work and worry go hand in hand,
And their impact can be
A burden weighing heavily
On simple folks like me.
 
Yet, if I choose to work with joy,
Each little task or chore
Can be a blessing beyond words
knowing what lies in store. 
 
It helps me to keep this in mind,
That all the work I do,
Is to be done with the same joy
I’d have working for You.

 

Whether the task is menial
Or of vast importance,
I want to work diligently,
Not leaving things to chance,
 
If I am to serve here on earth
With the same love You shared,
Then I must work harder than most.
For You left nothing spared.
 
If Your eye’s on the sparrow, Lord,
Then that’s what I will be.
Building and feathering life’s nest,
While singing joyfully.

 

I’m not looking for great reward
For the labor I do,
But that my work, done joyfully,
May bring delight to You.
 
I’ll never be able to do
The work You did down here,
But, when I work with joy and praise,
I always feel You near.
 
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
 
Psalm 128:2
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 

In Faith, Not Doubt

 

I stood upon the windy shore
And watched the waves rush in.
Unrelenting in their fierce quest,
To sweep the beach again.
 
It’s easy to stand there and know
That each day those great waves
Will sweep back down upon the shore,
But knowing never saves.
 
Now that which we can clearly see
Is His work on display,
But faith is trusting when He says
What’s unseen’s on its way.
 
That’s not an easy thing to do
When you stand in the storm,
But He’s calmed the waves more than once.
Let faith become your norm.
 
For that which we cannot yet see,
Is a promise away.
He’s standing by you on that shore,
He hears you when you pray.
 
The answer isn’t always as
We see it in our mind,
But if He says it’s on its way,
It will be there to find.
 
Lift up your praise and call to Him,
Asking within His will.
Then don’t be too surprised to see
The tempest growing still.
 
Psalm 107:29
He made the storm to be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
 
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Heed The Warning Signs

Loud thunder starts to fill the sky,
And I will not complain,
For it is heralding the chance
Of some much needed rain.
 
There were some other hints of rain,
But I took little note.
They were so quiet I ignored
Those hints. They seemed so rote.
 
I realized, about the time
Those thunder clouds rolled in,
That we tend to give the same heed
To the warnings of sin.
 
They’re often quiet, those warnings,
And temptation is sweet.
If we don’t stay ever alert,
They’ll land right at our feet.
 
The voices and the choices of
Sin we will face on earth
Are so destructive to our souls,
While carrying no worth.
 
Don’t miss the small signs that appear,
Before it is too late.
There’s no use in barring the door
Once sin is through the gate.
 
So, while we need the rain that comes
Thundering though the skies,
Against the sin that slinks on in,
Keep guard with watchful eyes.
 
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
 
Proverbs 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. 

Plant It, Then Share It

I need to take time now and then
To teach myself The Word.
It’s well that I share it with all,
But not myself? Absurd.
 
We each should hold it in our hearts,
Ever prepared to give,
But also, to remind us of
The truths we need to live.
 
We cannot share what we don’t know,
However much we care.
While truth that’s rooted in our hearts
Is a truth we can share.
 
Take time to share His perfect truth,
But take time to, also,
Plant His Word deeply in your heart,
Where He will help it grow.
 
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the messenger of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
 
Psalm 119:30
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

Above This Broken World

 

Oh Lord, this is a broken world,
But we will sing Your praise.
For there is nothing like our God,
Whose mercies still amaze.
 
Let all the hearts and tongues of earth
Declare His holy name,
And lift our voices up on high,
His glory to proclaim.
 
It falls not to the hearts of man
To seek honor on earth.
There is nothing that we can do
That’s equal to His worth. 

Instead let us raise our eyes up
Above this messy world
And sing to Him to who’s heavens glow
With His banners unfurled.  
 
For there is nothing like our God,
Whose mercies still amaze,
And we will sing with joyful souls
To Him our heartfelt praise!  
 
Psalm 113:5-6
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
 
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Watching For Signs

 

I try to be a listener,
And have eyes that can see,
But sometimes I don’t understand
What You're asking of me.
 
I’ve picked up and followed Your call
A time or two, I know.
I bet I’ve missed more than I’ve heard.
That’s not how this should go.
 
I think I need more than just eyes.
Maybe a learning skill
Would help me recognize the signs
That clarify Your will.
 
I want to go where You call me,
Do what I’m called to do.
I need to learn to hear and see
The instructions from You.
 
Lord, help to understand what
You’re calling me to do.
I may not get them quickly, but
I’ll watch for signs from 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.
 
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Beneath Your Wing

 

Tonight I rest beneath Your wing,
Someday before Your throne,
But in between I know that I
Will never be alone.
 
Within the stillness of the night
Your mercy does not sleep.
Through I may not see You nearby,
Your vigil You still keep.
 
You guard my going out, Oh Lord,
And, too, my coming in.
There is no place that I can go
That Your will has not been.
 
So, when I lay down and seek rest
My weary soul will sing,
For I am never out of sight,
Always beneath Your wing.
 
Psalm 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
 
Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

A Simple Praise

 

Today’s is just a simple praise
To thank You for Your love.
I turn my heart, my eyes, my mind
To heaven up above.
 
I lift my praise up to You, Lord,
For waking me each day,
And for the strength to stand in faith
Despite what comes my way.
 
I know that I would not make it
If You cast me aside.
That’s why I’m grateful for the grace
In which I now abide.
 
I thank You that You called my name
To follow You. I’m Yours!
I’ll follow You and praise You in
The joy Your grace assures.
 
I thank You for the sacrifice
You didn’t need to make,
The suffering that You endured.
All of it for my sake.
 
I thank You that my eyes can see
How wonderful You are
And that my soul can feel the love
You carry in each scar.
 
A simple praise, but genuine,
For in it I proclaim
The gratitude I feel each time
I call upon Your name! 
 
Romans 5:2
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
 
Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Inside My Own Bubble

 

I lift my pleas up to You, Lord,
With awe and reverence,
Until I start telling You how
I think You should commence.
 
I get caught in my own bubble,
My thoughts are all I hear.
I never stop to remember
You’ve made Your power clear.
 
You knew the path we each would walk
When You called down the light.
I might think that I know what’s best,
But You know what is right.
 
If I’d just stop sharing my plans
For a minute or two,
I’d hear Your voice reminding me
That You know what to do.
 
You’ve got me and all those I love
Tucked close in Your embrace.
You don’t need my instructions on
How to deliver grace.
 
Lord, thank You for hearing my pleas
And ignoring the rest.
My bubble may think my plan’s great,
But Yours are still the best.
 
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
 
Habakkuk 2:3
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

I'm Focused In

 

Sometimes I question if I’m called.
Lord, please don’t get me wrong.
It’s not the call, but my own doubt,
My spirit’s not that strong.
 
I know You’ve called me, but I ask
Is this what I’m to do,
Or have I just misunderstood
What You’re calling me to?
 
I’d like to say that I will stand
Without question or doubt,
But You know all that’s on my mind,
And all that I’m about.
 
When I wonder if I heard wrong,
I stop and just listen,
For I know Your Spirit will speak,
Set me on track again.
 
I am aware some think I’m odd
To believe I hear You,
But when I just stop and listen
Your voice comes softly through.
 
You’ve never led me astray, Lord,
Though I’ve swerved now and then,
So when I hear You I focus,
Get up and start again.  
 
I know I cannot understand
All that You’ve seen and know,
So I don’t trust me over You.
I go where You say go.
 
Thank You for all Your patient grace.
Living beneath Your wing
Has made my choices easier,
For the wisdom You bring.
 
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
 
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

A Calling, A Joy

 

When I first saw this sweet photo
My heart burst with delight.
That precious pup sat in the field
With sunflowers and light!
 
Yet, when I spoke with his human
I understood much more,
For he’d been flushing out the birds.
Doing what he’s trained for.
 
Though it is not that season yet,
He works at it each day,
Because that’s what he's called to do.
For him, it’s work and play!
 
It called to mind a simple truth
The Word offers to me,
The joy that comes from serving God
Comes to us innately.
 
He’s called us to love Him and those
Who share this life we live,
To praise Him and rejoice in all
The grace He’ll freely give.
 
I find I’m happier by far
When standing in His grace,
Then I have been at any time
Or any other place.
 
Lord, like this pup, let me do first
That which You’ve called me to,
Then rejoice in the vast blessings
I always find in You.
 
John 15:10-11
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
 
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

This sweet photo is a gift from TT. Such a joyful blessing! 

On The Wrong Path

 

We all have walked down the pathway
Where we should not have been,
Seeking the praise we would receive
From the voices of men.
 
Alas, that path does not end well.
Despite all we have done,
When we are focused on ourselves,
We lose sight of the Son.
 
We are not called to please mankind,
But share with them the grace
That's only found when we live life
In our Savior’s embrace.
 
We do not serve others for praise
Or the fame we might claim,
But because we want to share Him
That they might call His name.
 
Don’t seek the praise of mortal man,
For it holds no value,
But seek instead to serve The Lord
As He’s called us to do.
 
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
 
Matthew 6:1
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

A Time To Rest And Heal

 

A time to rest, a time to heal,
A time to be patient.
The perfect time to just be still
In the peace You have sent.
 
It isn’t always easy, Lord,
To just be still and wait,
But Your timing is always right,
Never early, nor late.
 
So, I will just be still in You
And trust in You always.
Then, when the time for healing comes,
I’ll lift another praise.
 
Until then please help me be still
And trust in Your timing,
For I know Your plan is in place,
With the peace it will bring.
 
Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
 
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Standing In Faith Through The Storm

 

In tribulation I will stand
And keep my eyes on You.
For, in my weakness, You are strong,
And You will help me through.
 
Today I stand within travail,
But my roots still run deep
In the Word and the promises
That I know You will keep.
 
You never said it wouldn’t hurt,
But that You’d see me through.
Lord, I will stand on that promise,
And hold, in faith, to You
 
Psalm 71:3
Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
 
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

A Simple Procedure, A Needless Worry

 

Tomorrow may be a rough day,
But nothing I can’t face
If I do so within Your strength
And through Your loving grace.
 
A little thing compared to all
That others have walked through,
And even I have faced worse things.
Still, I’m glad I have You.
 
You are the calm within my storm,
The laughter, midst my fear.
When I am anxious, I recall
That You are ever near.
 
Tonight I’ll sleep, then rise at dawn
To prepare for the day.
Before I leave, I’ll take a breath
And a moment to pray.
 
Then I will step out in the faith
That Your peace will abide
And all my worries mean nothing,
For You are by my side.
 
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
 
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

His Word, Unchanging

 

The forest burned beyond the hills
And smoke filled up the sky,
Skewing the perspective of those
With smoke stinging their eye.
 
The rising sun peaked through the smoke,
Hot pink, as you can see.
Yet, above the line of the smoke
The clouds glowed goldenly.
 
This world can sometimes influence
The way we perceive things
And that can cause some confusion
With the fallout that brings.
 
Much like the sun seen through thick smoke,
God’s Word can be obscured
By all that we want it to mean,
But that truth is secured.
 
The sun does not change what it is
Seen through smoke or clear skies,
And God’s Word is unchanging, too,
Despite all this world’s lies.
 
Don’t be distracted or deterred
By what this world shows you,
But hold to God’s unchanging Word,
For it alone stays true.
 
Hebrews 13:8-9
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
 
Psalm 119:89-90
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Hard Truths, Still True

 

That time will come without warning,
But come it shall one day,
And it won’t be some random date.
He’s planned it out this way.
 
If you are out there in your sin,
Then in sin you will stay.
Yet, by His grace and through His blood,
There is another way.
 
He’s calling to you, will you stop,
Listen, and turn around?
Don’t stand there thinking you have time.
You’re in the lost, unfound.
 
I know that it’s been said before,
But I’ll say it again,
The time is running out to get
Your ducks in a row, Man!
 
Your name will be called at His throne
And, by His grace alone,
You can be counted with His sheep.
Give Him your heart of stone
 
And He will heal it, make it whole,
Declare your sins as paid.
Tetelestai, the debt is cleared
And in His tomb it’s laid.
 
The time is running out, oh Man,
To get your ducks in line.
Give your heart to the Redeemer
Before You face the fine.
 
Matthew 24:36
 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
 
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Mocked By The Rain

 

The sky went dark, the air grew still,
The clouds begin to speak
In soft, but deep and rumbling tones.
I knew that, soon, they’d leak.
 
Which is, actually, quite funny
Since I had just been out
To water the flowers and yard,
And stave off a small drought.
 
Sometimes I know You laugh at me
And I laugh right along,
Because I think my plan’s perfect,
When, clearly, that is wrong.
 
The rain now taps soft on the pane
And I smile with delight.
For, though the rain is mocking me,
You’re still perfectly right.
 
Lord, we so dearly needed rain,
To me it’s a blessing
To have it splashing on the spot
Where I’d been watering!
 
Psalm 68:9-10
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
 
James 5:18
Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

When Stayed On You

 

When all the worries piled up
As the day moved along,
I felt like I might sit and cry
If one more thing went wrong.
 
Then, just as that last thing went wrong,
I felt Your peace once more.
I closed my eyes and turned my heart
To You, whom I adore.
 
The world slowed down, Your peace poured in
And my wild thoughts went still,
For Your perfect peace only comes
When I trust in Your will.
 
The world may try to block it out,
To pile the worries high,
But when that perfect peace rolls in,
Then I know You’re near by.
 
Tomorrow might bring more worries,
That seems to be the way
The world tries to control my thoughts.
Your peace drives it away.
 
Tomorrow is another day,
Tonight, what I will do,
Is rest my weary spirit in
The peace that’s born in You.
 
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
 
Jeremiah 31:25
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.

He Strengthens Me

 

A day can go crazy so fast
It’s hard to just hold on,
But He has strength to see me through
When all my strength is gone.
 
More than once or twice I have
Felt like this little leaf
Holding on with nothing more than
His word and my belief.
 
Each time I think I might give up
I hear His still, small voice
Reminding me I’m not alone.
I hold on and rejoice.
 
For my strength rests in Him alone
And He’s faithful always.
His strength is mine when I’m in need…
Which seems to be most days!
 
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
 
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.