I Stand Apart, Not Alone

 

I have been called out more than once
Because I stand apart
And do not echo the voices
That say, “just trust your heart”.
 
I stand within the world’s boundaries,
And help out where I can,
But my eyes are fixed on the Lord
And not the works of man.
 
My soul is His who redeemed it,
I stand for Him alone.
My heart’s not fixed on worldly dreams,
But on the grace He’s shown.
 
I offer that same love and grace
To others in this world
Because He’s told me to do so,
Not for invectives hurled.  
 
Some may believe the choice I make
Is a foolish mistake,
But I have seen where their path leads.
That’s not a path I’ll take.
 
Let this world speak against me, Lord,
I’ll keep standing apart.
For I stand firmly on Your Word
In body, mind and heart.
 
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
Isaiah 55:6-7
the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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.

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.

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.

Finding His Peace

 

In times of sorrow or of stress,
May your soul seek His peace.
When life is too busy to think,
May your soul seek His peace.
 
It is in Him, true peace is found,
And He gives it to all
Who turn to Him and call to Him.
He will answer that call.
 
The world may still be turbulent,
The storms may still roll through,
But you’ll face them with peace and joy,
For He’ll give that to you.
 
He is the strength, the hope you need,
In Him they both abound.
Yet, even more, He is the source
Where peace and joy are found.
 
So, when life’s outside your control
And troubles will not cease,
Then turn your heart to Him and know
Your soul will find His peace.
 
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.

Love Your Neighbor Anyway

 

Love your neighbor as yourself, yeah,
That’s what we’re called to do,
But have you seen some of the folks
Who share this world with you?
 
They drive slowly in the fast lane,
Or right up on your tail
When you are stuck behind a truck
Right beside the guard rail.
 
They count out pennies while you wait
In the express check out.
They tell you how you ought to think
And what to live without.
 
I know the commandment is clear,
But this is also true,
There are many annoying folks
That we each run into.
 
Yet, let me say it once again,
For those who didn’t hear,
Just love your neighbor as yourself.
His instructions were clear.
 
It wasn’t a mere suggestion
Though we may wish it so,
It was a commandment from God.
That’s what you need to know.
 
You wake up each day needing grace
So, share that grace with all,
And give it with the same patience
God uses when you call.
 
Matthew 22:39
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Finally, Rejoice

 

The ending of each week, it seems,
Finds me weary and weak.
Yet, it is Your peace, not my rest,
That my heart and soul seek.
 
For, in Your peace, is rest secured,
And healing for what aches.
When my mind needs restoration,
Your peace is all it takes.
 
The week may set me scurrying
Until I want to weep,
But I am never far from all
The peace my soul can keep.
 
I simply have to turn to You
And listen for Your voice.
Then peace, and rest, and healing grace
Fill me and I rejoice.
 
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.

Obeying His Voice

I think I went astray again,
I seem to every day.
I set out, fixed upon Your path,
Then get in my own way.
 
I might have said a word or two
That I should not have said,
Or had a thought that had no place
Being heard in my head.
 
In point of fact, I need to say,
There’s no “might have” at all
I will confess I did it, Lord,
And You, You saw it all.
 
Help me recall that selfishness
Is not born of Your grace,
And is, therefore, an attribute
That I should not embrace.
 
Please help me get back on Your path
And fix my eyes on You.
Help me to guard my words and thoughts
In all I say and do.  
 
I know I’ll likely stray again,
Much to my great dismay,
But, when I hear You call me back,
I won’t get far astray.
 
Daniel 9:9-10
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 

More Friday Thank Yous

 

What is it about Friday nights
That’s leave me with one thought,
“Thank You for always being there
Through all this week has brought.”
 
It’s thank You this and “thank You that,
And Oh, Lord, I thank You….
But guess what, Lord, the truth remains,
I thank You, yes I do!  
 
You’ve kept my feet upon Your path,
And my heart fixed on You.
You’ve challenged me to offer grace
To all I run into.
 
You’ve held me when my strength gave out,
And also when I cried.
When I got lost along the way,
Your light has been my guide.
 
The storms roll in, my fears rise up,
But You just hold on tight
Until I realize I’m safe,
Sheltered within Your might.
 
Each week I hurry here and there
Trying to keep the pace,
Until, by Friday night I just
Want to rest in Your grace.
 
So, once again, I thank You, Lord,
For this week’s “things to do”
And for the time, this Friday night,
To just be still with You.
 
Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

This Day's Grace Was Enough

 

Let me start out tonight with thanks!
Though sometimes things got rough,
And by the end some stress remained,
This day’s grace was enough.
 
I stumbled now and then, oh Lord,
But I knew You were there.
So, I picked up and tried again.
There’s no need for despair.
 
Life threw a few wild hits at me
Over the past few days,
But each time I started to quit,
Some new grace caught my gaze.
 
I know that I will struggle here,
And trip more times than not,
But You’ve taught me how to rejoice
No matter what my lot.
 
You’ve shown me that pure self pity
Avails me not at all,
But lifting my voice up in thanks
Frees my heart from its thrall.
 
A thankful heart sees more blessings,
Than one blinded by tears
For everything that has gone wrong,
Or might in coming years!
 
I don’t always remember that,
I’m just human, it’s true,
But, when I get lost in the dark,
Your Light comes shining through.
 
Lord, I will finish up tonight
The way I started out.
Thank You for helping me see joy
Instead of fear and doubt.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

By Myself To Pray

 

I need to leave behind the noise,
And seek that peaceful place
Where I can hear the voice of God,
And feel His perfect grace.
 
I know that He is always near
And He can hear my call,
But often I cannot hear His
Through the noise of it all.
 
It’s in those times I seek the wilds
Where wind sings in the trees,
And rivers laugh as they rush by
On their way to the seas.
 
There in the heart of creation
My mind at last can hear
The voice for which my soul has longed
Growing vibrant and clear.
 
I feel His peace wash over me,
His words refresh my soul
Until even my weary heart
Has been healed and made whole.
 
Then I can rise and return to
The noise that this life brings,
Still hearing His voice, soft and clear,
Speaking as my heart sings.
 
I do not doubt that He is here
Beside me every day,
But now and then I need to go
Away, listen, and pray.  
 
Matthew 14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

To Dance With Joy

 

Tonight, I seek the joy and peace
That rest within Your Word.
The world has spoken, all day long,
And noise is all I’ve heard.
 
The busy rush of everyday
Can weigh upon my heart
Until I feel the stress born tears
Slowly begin to start.
 
That is my clue to just step back
And rest upon the rock.
Read Your words of hope, peace, and joy,
In which my soul takes stock.
 
I read the wisdom of prophets,
The insights of old kings.
I speak the words You spoke to us
And feel the hope it brings.
 
The world begins to fall away
When I focus on You
And listen with heart, mind and soul,
As You taught me to do.
 
Then, as the world grows to silence,
I feel the joy unlock
Until Your hope, Your peace fill me.
I dance, Lord, on The Rock!  
 
Romans 15:12-13
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 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.

When You say Go

 

Each time I seek to hide away
I hear You call to me,
You have a task for me to do,
Somewhere I need to be.
 
I tend to try to be alone,
To hide from the world’s eyes,
But You know what is best for me,
Despite what I surmise.

 

I tend to panic, just a bit,
But I have learned one thing…
When You tell me it’s time to go,
I go with rejoicing.
 
I give the panic and complaints
Enough time to be heard,
Then send them off while I head out,
Grateful and undeterred.
 
I may come home a bit weary,
But I am so blessed, too,
For You trusted me to get done
What You sent me to do.
 
While I may hide out from the world,
I’m always in Your sight.
When You call me to stop hiding,
I dance, Lord, with delight!
 
Jeremiah 23:24
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

To Which I Cling

 

The answered prayer, unending grace,
A hope made manifest,
And now a precious little life
Rests on her mother’s breast.
 
There is no fear You cannot calm,
If I give it to You.
I need to learn to just be still
And trust You’ll lead me through.
 
Your mercy is my hope, Oh Lord,
Your grace is mine always.
The strong refuge in which I rest,
Even on fear filled days.
 
You are always right here with me,
I need but call Your name
To feel Your presence strong and clear.
Your help is mine to claim.
 
Your grace and peace, my hope and faith
All cause my heart to sing,
But it is Your enduring love
To which my soul will cling.
 
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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!

Too Much Sad News

 

Oh Lord, tonight I have no words.
My thoughts, scattered and frayed,
Are drowning in the waves of grief
That will not be allayed.
 
The sorrows rush in ceaselessly,
A never-ending flow
From which I fear I can’t escape
However far I go.
 
I know that these storms, too, will pass,
But right now I feel lost.
In wave on wave of pain and grief,
My poor spirit is tossed.  
 
Lord, hold me close within Your grace
Until once more I stand
Far from the ocean of my grief,
Beyond this shifting sand.
 
You are the rock to which I cling,
The anchor that won’t fail.
I know that Your love is greater
Than this passing travail.
 
I’ll cling to You within this storm
Until You cry, “Be Still”,
Then all my tears, my grief will cease
In answer to Your will.
 
Psalm 107:28-29
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

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.

I Can Rest, Despite Travail

 

The day will come when all the world
Will rest within Your peace,
But for right now, it seems that wars
And troubles will not cease.
 
That good that we are called to do
Gets lost within the noise
Of those who proclaim false idols,
And praise their barren joys.
 
The grace You share with each of us
Is cast aside as stale
By those who worship all the sins
That cause mankind to fail.
 
Lord, I know You are in control,
You’ve overcome this world,
And, I can stand in faith despite
Each curse and stone that’s hurled.
 
I find I can rest and be still,
Though I still face travail,
For I have Your peace in my heart,
The peace that does not fail.
 
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The Family Of Believers

 

The rough, wild lands spread all around,
But, in its midst, they stand.
Joined in their faith, sharing their joy
And living His command.
 
The family of believers
So often stand alone,
But they are tasked to share with all
The grace they have been shown.

Even when life is bramble filled,
There’s always joy to see,
And that joy grows abundantly
Within His family.
 
They’ll welcome you in from the wild,
And share with you His grace,
For that is what He did for them
When they were in your place.
 
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

These Ring of Fire sunflowers are another beautiful gift from ATF!