Unyielding Love

 

I lay them down at Your feet, Lord,
My worries and my cares,
I know I tend to take them back,
When I’ve said my prayers.
 
This time I plan to just let go
And leave them in Your hand.
That’s how I see it in my mind,
The way I have it planned.
 
I bet You’re laughing in heaven
At my bold, well laid plan.
You know me well enough to know
Thinking does not mean can.
 
I know that You know what is best,
Your sight exceeds my own,
And I know that I trust You first.
At least that much, I’ve grown.
 
Now I need to put in practice
What I’ve said I will do,
And leave them in the hands of Him
Who’s love will see me through.
 
Thank You for loving me so much
That, even when I flinch,
Your love is still unceasing, and
It does not yield an inch.
 
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
 
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

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 a 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.

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. 

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.

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.

Like Footprints In Sand

 

They walked upon the sandy shore
Leaving a trace behind,
But, with the next incoming tide,
There’ll be nothing to find.
 
We are but a footprint in sand,
Now here, and then we’re gone.
Yet, all that we have been in Him
Remains, and will live on.
 
As numerous as all the sand,
Are the thoughts of the Lord.
That He would give a thought to us
Is beyond all reward,
 
And yet His thoughts for us exceed
All of those grains of sand,
For He still holds us tenderly
In the palm of His hand.
 
He will not lightly wash His hands
Of those He calls His own.
Our names are engraved on His palm,
More eternal than stone.
 
The world will turn, the sun will set
And rise on a new day,
But, unlike a footprint in sand,
In Him, our souls will stay.
 
Psalm 139:17-18
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
 
Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Feeling Pensive Today

 

I’m feeling pensive today, Lord,
My thoughts weigh heavily.
I needed to stop and recall
What You have said to me.
 
In this world there will be trouble
But You have overcome
All that the world can throw at us.
You’re where our strength comes from.
 
Your plan was in place long before
You commanded the light
To shine down upon this dark world.
Your design’s always right.
 
All these things that now weigh on me,
The evil taking place,
The ever growing willingness
To seek out sin’s embrace,
 
You’ve seen it time and time again.
Yet, in such vast array,
This is the first time I have seen
It all on full display.
 
I know I can’t fix what is wrong,
And I know that You can.
I also know You’re in control.
This is all in Your plan.
 
I just needed to talk to You
To get my thoughts in line,
And give to You what’s beyond me.
Then I can handle mine.
 
Thank You, Lord! I love You.
 
Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
 
James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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.

Aches And Pains And Rejoicing

 

My weary bones don’t like mornings,
But I rise, just the same,
And step out into what comes next,
Rejoicing in His name.
 
Some days He is my only strength.
Despite the aches and pain
He gives me the will to get up,
Though I might still complain.
 
For each day is another chance
To serve Him just once more,
And I’m excited to find out
What each day holds in store.
 
He never yet has let me down,
There’s always a surprise.
Some brand new blessing waiting to
Appear before my eyes.
 
So, even if I wake in pain
I thank Him for this day,
Get up, get dressed, and get ready
For what He sends my way!
 
Psalm 118:23-24
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
 
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

For His Name's Sake

In His name there is redemption
In His name there is joy
In His name is a truth, a hope
That this world can’t destroy.
 
He called us to walk beside Him,
Then share the path we walk.
To teach the wisdom He taught us,
Not simply talk the talk.
 
As He has led us, we should lead
Others to seek His light,
For that is what we each will need
To find the path that’s right.
 
Why should He care that we might live
After what He went through?
I’ve no idea, but I know
His loving grace is true.
 
For He has called me from the dark
And, for His grace, I came.
Though I was without hope back then,
Today I praise His name.
 
So, I will walk His path each day
Rejoicing as I go
For it is leading me to Him.
That’s all I need to know.
 
Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
 
Romans 3:23-24
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

This sweet photo is a blessing from AC on her trip to Africa a few years back. 

The Proof Of What's Unseen

 

The ridgeline blocks the mountain’s face
While the sun’s on the rise.
Yet its reality is clear,
As it has marked the skies.
 
The fact that you can’t see its face
Won’t disprove that it’s there,
For it has cast its shadow on
The cloudy, morning air.
 
The same is true of the Lord’s face.
You can’t see it from here,
But His shadow’s across the earth,
Present, distinct and clear.
 
It’s on the grace He gave to us,
That we now pass along.
It’s on the helping hand we give
To one who’s not as strong.
 
It’s on the lost lamb we lead home,
And on the words of hope
We offer to one who seeks peace
As they struggle to cope.
 
As the mountain’s shadow is proof
It’s there, though out of sight,
So, our lives should be the shadow
Of His eternal Light.
 
Romans 1:19-20
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
 
2 Corinthians 4:18
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Affliction And Joy

 

The struggles we faced yesterday
Were just as He had planned,
That we may help those who now face
What we can understand.
 
We may not know it at the time,
But, looking back, we’ll see
That, if we’d not learned that lesson,
How helpless we’d now be.
 
That hard earned wisdom, we apply
To aid our fellow man
By helping to ease their struggle
In ways we know we can.
 
Sometimes we need to just step back,
Stop complaining, and sing
In thanks for struggles we have faced,
The help we now can bring!
 
James 1:2-3
Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Talents From The Master

 

We each have our place in His plan,
Though often hard to see,
And He’s equipped us for that role,
All He needs us to be.
 
We’ve each been given our talents
To use and serve his plan.
Some are easy to recognize,
While some mystify man.
 
Yet He can use each one of us
To reach out to the lost,
He magnifies what we can do
To mitigate man’s cost.
 
Not you, nor I, can do alone
What we have been called to,
But by His strength, within His plan,
There’s little we can’t do.
 
He gave to us without complaint
The grace we need to live
With Him, once more, throughout all time.
Now it’s our turn to give.
 
I know I’ll never do enough
To earn the grace You freely gave,
But I pray You will use me, Lord,
To help those you still need to save.
 
Matthew 25:22-23
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

I Run Back To You

 

It’s easy to be distracted
Along the path each day.
More than once I have found myself
Unfocussed and astray.
 
In that moment, I hear Your word
Replaying in my head
And I turn back along the path
To follow You instead.
 
I know what lies ahead of me
If I don’t walk with You,
And there’s nowhere I want to be
If You are not there, too.
 
So, when I find I’m off the path
To which You have called me,
Then I will turn around and run
And go where I should be!
 
Psalm 119:59-60
When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.

I Hear You and I Praise You

 

I can hear You calling to me
In the roar of the seas,
And I can hear Your whispered voice
On breezes through the trees.
 
There’s no place in all creation
That I don’t hear Your voice,
So everywhere that I go
I’ll praise You and rejoice!!  
 
From mountain peaks my voice shall sing,
From the vast plains, I’ll praise
The Lord who speaks to me each day
And leads me in His ways!
 
Job 12:7-8
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
 
Psalm 96:11-12
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

The Weight Of All Sin

 

I carry my sins through each day,
And they can grow heavy.
I can’t fathom bearing the weight
Of all earth’s sins on me.
 
Beneath the weight of that old cross,
Christ bore for all mankind
The weight of each sin we commit
In body, heart, or mind.
 
It wasn’t just the weight of wood
That forced Him to His knee,
It was the weight of all those sins
He bore to Calvary.
 
I’ve felt it time and time again,
The shame of what I’ve done.
Each time I sin, I add more weight
To that borne by The Son.
 
We can’t take back the weight He bore
For sins of yesterday,
But we can try to add less weight
By sinning less today.
 
John 19:16-17
So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.
 
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

The Words Of The Lord

 

In all the long years of my life
I’ve watched things come and go,
They’re here one day and gone the next,
The same old ebb and flow.
 
The fashion trends, the politics,
The music we enjoy,
Those things we praise today will soon
Be those things we destroy.
 
The Lord is not like fickle man,
Who blows with each new wind.
For He who calls the wind to heel,
Is the same to the end.
 
His wisdom does not fade with time,
As blossoms in the spring,
And His words will stand forever
With all the hope they bring.
 
Don’t fix your eyes on things as frail
As blossoms that will fall,
But look to the unchanging Lord
Whose word speaks truth to all.
 
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
 
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.