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.

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.

Small Blessings, Great Joy

 

I’ve simple thoughts to share tonight,
But they are filled with awe,
For I have witnessed such blessings.
Let me share what I saw.
 
I saw a yellow butterfly
Settle on fresh mown grass.
I heard a swallow sing with joy
As I beheld it pass.
 
I saw wild berries ripening
Upon a thorn wrapped vine
And stood beside a quiet pond
As Your peace became mine.
 
The smallest blessings seem quite large
In the light of Your grace,
And I see each one as a gift
That You have set in place.
 
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
 
Psalm 104:24
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

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. 

Sweeping Streets In Heaven

 

When I walk in through heaven’s gate
I’ll do so wrapped in sin.
Yet, when my savior calls my name
I’ll be washed clean again.
 
I haven’t done one thing in life
To earn that cleansing grace,
But because I know He is Lord,
He’s made for me, a place.
 
I don’t care if it’s sweeping streets,
As long as they are His.
It’s not the work, it’s who it’s for,
And that’s just how it is.
 
Please, hear me when I tell you, friend,
Reach out to Him today,
So that, when you reach heaven’s gate,
They don’t turn you away.
 
For there is no place that compares
To living in His Light,
And He’s the only path that leads
You to that holy site.
 
I can’t say how grateful I am
That He’s saved me a room,
But I can tell you I will dance
When He hands me that broom!
 
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
 
Psalm 145:20
The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

Not Coincidence, But Providence

I often hear people remark,
“What a coincidence”,
When, in fact, they’ve just walked in grace,
His plan, His providence.
 
We see the world through human eyes
Without understanding
The magnitude of what we’ve seen.
Human viewpoint branding.
 
We need more than just eyes to see
What’s happening these days.
We need a heart that understands
What it sees and obeys.
 
This we should pray with each new day
And when the stars arise,
That we may not just see, but know
What’s there before our eyes!
 
Lord, please give me eyes that can see,
A heart to understand,
That I may recognize the Grace
Which comes straight from Your hand.
 
Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. 

Matthew 13:15-16
For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 

My Recharging Station

The gull flew down to settle on
The solar charging block.
It sat there hunkered down, fatigued.
What’s next has left me shocked.
 
For, after it had charged a bit,
It stood up tall and proud,
It raised its head and sang a praise.
Its voice renewed and loud!

 

Now you may think I’ve missed a fact,
Or even two or three,
But I was there when this went down.
And it’s happened to me.
 
I’ve sat down in my Savior’s peace
And cut out all the noise,
Until I felt weariness flee
Leaving behind fresh joys.
 
I’ve rested in His living grace,
The mercy He pours out,
Until I’ve found my strength, once more.
Then I stood with a shout
 
And praised His name with all my heart
Rejoicing that, at length,
He renewed me so I could soar
On the wings of His strength.
 
A parable as old as time,
From a new perspective.
Recharging’s one thing we all need
In this world where we live,
And we are blessed, His peace and rest
Are gifts He’ll gladly give.
 
Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
 
2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

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.

My Heart Trusts In You

 

I’d stressed about it through the day,
How things could all go wrong.
I heard You tell me to trust You,
To let my faith grow strong.
 
At some point I chastised myself,
And vowed to trust in You.
I knew, however bad it got,
That You would see me through.
 
Maybe that should have been the clue
I was still holding on
To all my worst imaginings.
You can’t fear what is gone.
 
I said, “Forgive me”, tried again
To let go and have faith
That my worries would prove to be
No more than a mere wraith.
 
I walked in and walked out in joy
For everything went right.
I thanked You for being my peace,
My strength, and my delight.
 
When all was said and done I sang
In praise and gratitude
That You love me and taught me to
Make faith my attitude.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
 
Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

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.

A Memory And A Smile

A few years back a friend dared me
To write a praise for her
Using an accidental shot
She took. I did concur.
 
The accidental photo popped
Up in my memories,
And I’m feeling nostalgic now.
I ask for patience, please.
 
I’m re-posting the praise I wrote
Because it made me smile
And because I still miss my friend.
Which I’ll do for a while.
 
So here it is, that praise from old.
Two things that still hold true,
We miss you here, we’ll see you soon.
To C, this one’s for you!

 

The world’s gone topsy turvy, Lord.
What once was up is down,
And I would try to smile on through
But, like this, it’s a frown.
 
I don’t know what to make of this,
The world’s all wrong somehow.
I’d love for You to set it straight….
And, by the way, right now.
 
I guess I’ll have to be patient.
That’s harder than you’d think,
And if I rise to carry on
While upside down, I’ll sink.
 
Oh yes, the world’s topsy turvy,
It’s all gone to my head.
And I could give up without shame,
But I’ll trust You, instead! 

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

We love you, my friend! 

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.