Sunlight and Shadows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft light flickers on moss and fern,

Shifting the verdure’s hue.
Nothing else changes in the wood;
Just the light’s point of view.

Constant is the sunlight’s visage,

Though shadows shift and flow.
The ferns reach up to grasp its light
And, as they strive, they grow.

So, like the fern’s beneath the trees,

We’re rooted to the earth;
Yet, in our striving to reach God,
Our shadowed souls find worth.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Well Done, Faithful Servant

You labored loyally for years
In dirt and dust and sun,
And, when each day’s labors were past,
A new was soon begun.

You never shirked the task at hand,
When weary, you pushed through.
And, when the job required more,
You did all you could do.

And now you rest in soft blown grass,
Your labors are long past.
Faithful servant, you have done well.
You’ve earned some rest at last.

Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Serving Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scrub the feeder twice a week,

Refilling it for you,
And I do this to help you out.
It’s the least I can do.

It takes such energy, I know,

To move that constantly;
If I can offer easy meals
I do so willingly.

And you, you have so many blooms

From which to sip your fill,
And yet you come each day to drink
Outside my window sill.

I can’t think you do it for me,

To fill me with delight,
But none the less my heart lifts up
When you pop into sight.

So with great joy I’ll care for you,

Because I know how to,
And count my blessings, now and then,
To catch a glimpse of you!

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Old Age

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My hair’s a little faded now,

But I still bloom with joy,
For I don’t need beauty or youth,
Your blessings to enjoy.

Although I’m slipping on in years,

There’s much I’ve left to do.
For years I lived focused on me
And now I live for you.

I may be past my brightest bloom,

But, without doubt, I know
I’m blessed that you still care for me
And I have room to grow.

Psalm 92:14

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green

Battered, But Rejoicing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though I may have been buffeted

And battered some by strife,

The blessings far outweigh the grief

When I look at my life.

I could count all the things that hurt,

That tore the heart of me,

Or I could turn my gaze instead

To where my eyes should be;

The friends who make their love a gift,

The peace that fills my days,

The grace that lead me through tough times,

The words I lift in praise.

So many scars that time won’t heal,

But they mean less to me

Than those scars earned on Calvary

That set my spirit free.  

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 6:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever moving from bloom to bloom,

Hungering to be fed;
Never able to rest for long,
Moving on through the bed.

I feel your hunger now and then,

The need to look for more,
Although I know that abundance
Is what God holds in store.

If I could only trust and wait,

How much more peace I’d know;
But my faith is slow in its growth
So I hunger and go.

Someday I’ll find my faith has grown

Enough to let me rest.
Until then, I will work on it
And pray I pass that test.

Luke 6:21

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Psalm 27:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I seek you when I’m lost in fear,

I seek you in my pain.
I seek you when my joy is great
When sun’s warmth dries the rain.

I seek you when I rise each day,

I seek you in the night.
I seek you when the stars give way
To morning’s burning light.

I seek you, Lord, in every thought,

In every prayer I raise.
Lord, I will seek you and rejoice
Through all my earthly days.

Psalm 27:8

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

The Gift of Grace

Grace guides my life and Grace guards it,

Life’s pieces fall in place.
I have no gifts or benefits
That have not come through Grace.

I’m blessed beyond my own small due
And, much to my disgrace,
I still fail to be worthy of
His loving gift of Grace.

And yet His Grace still touches me;
There’s no way to replace
The unconditional blessings
That only come through Grace.

 I openly admit the truth,

The world’s too harsh to face
If I could not face it knowing
I live within His Grace.

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Psalm 5:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They nestle closely by her side,

Sheltered within her shade.
Delicate and fragile blossoms,
Both in her image made.

They each will grow in their own right

To bloom most joyfully,
But they will owe their start in life
To her sanctuary.

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Shall Not Perish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honor them and remember them,

Though lost, they’re always there.
Fill not your memories of them
With sorrow or despair.

For that is not what they would ask

If they could speak today.
They would say live and do it well,
Lift up your hearts and pray.

Stand up for those who cannot stand

And speak for those now gone.
Declare that life’s triumphant still,
Rejoice and carry on.

A new day dawns with each sunrise

And life renews again,
For we, who live within the Lord,
Cannot be killed by man.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.