Facing A Hard Decision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The water rises round the rock,

The cold winds whip and sigh.
You can try to ride out the storm
Or spread your wings and fly.
 
The choice is not an easy one,
Either way you will cry;
While such decisions can be hard,
You know that you must try.
 
The moments pass so quickly now,
Decision time draws nigh,
And the choice you’ll have to make
Becomes a do or die.
 
I don’t know which choice you should choose,
Sit still or seek the sky;
The known is always easiest,
But you have wings to fly!
 
Psalm 25:12
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

The Still, Small Voice

 

Listening for that still, small voice,

Waiting so patiently.
I may not hear you right away,
But you will speak to me.
 
I’m learning how to still my thoughts
That I might hear your voice,
And I can’t do it easily.
I have to make that choice.
 
Yet when I set myself apart
And let my thoughts grow still,
I’ve always heard you answer me
And trust you always will.
 

1 Kings 19:11-13

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Romans 8:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way he walked was never smooth,

His life was one of pain,
But I am grateful every day;
His pain was for my gain.
 
He lived that I might have a path
To follow through this life,
He suffered that I might find strength
Through all the pain and strife.
 
He died that I might live with him
Within God’s perfect light,
And that light is what guides me still
As I face each new fight.
 
Romans 8:17
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Finding Joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where is that joy you promised me,

Why is it hard to find?
I’m not a picky sort of child,
I never was that kind,
And yet it seems, when they talk joy,
I’m feeling left behind.
 
Look up from where you sit and mope,
Turn your gaze to the sky.
For there is joy abundantly
For those who look on high,
But joy is seldom to be found
By those who will not try.
 
I see it now, it’s everywhere,
In every crack and nook.
I simply had to look for it,
A nudge was all it took,
And now my world is filled with joy,
It’s everywhere I look.

Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Romans 15:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the lost leaves of last summer,

Burst the first new blooms of the Spring.
Offering, to a wearied world,
All the hope that new life can bring.
 
Lift your praises in the morning,
When the sun’s light first sweeps the sky.
Though the past is lost forever,
Tomorrow’s hope is sweet and nigh!
 
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 66:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, to get where we should be,

We must pass through the flame;
Refining all that is mere dross,
The darkness and the shame,
Until we’re burnished bright enough
That we reflect his name.
 
Psalm 66:10
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

Caring for His Little Ones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw the blossom on the bough

Its petals fine and fair,
It hung upon the rainy branch,
Seemingly, without care.
 
It was so bold, there on the branch,
Its beauty soft and pale,
And yet it seemed so delicate,
Tenuous and frail.

I wondered that it seemed so bold,

As if shielding its young,
Protecting something much more frail
As, on that branch it hung.
 
Until I saw it nestling
Beneath one petal fair,
A raindrop with a smaller bloom
Was snuggled there with care.
 
Thus I was taught to understand
That even one so small
May have a great obligation
When answering His call.
 
John 21:15-16
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

Still Water, Reflected Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead me beside the still waters,

And there let me find a safe place
Where I can just rest a moment
Away from the world’s hurried pace.
 
Lead me beside the still waters,
Where, sacred and blessed by your grace,
The currents are only rippled
By the reflection of your face.
 
Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,

Psalm 132:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for the many gifts

With which you fill my days;
For shelter, safety, warmth and food
I give you grateful praise.
And, though it seems I don’t check in
As often as I should,
I thank you Lord that, all in all,
My life is sweet and good.  
 

Psalm 132:15

I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.

Morning Stillness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the still mist of the dawn

Hides just what my heart needs;
A chance to sit in quiet silence,
Wrapped up in thought not deeds;
A chance to listen to my sorrows,
Then tuck them all away;
A chance to count the blessings which
Come my way every day;
The chance to give my weary heart
A moment to just rest
Before I rise to meet the day
And tackle the next test.

Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.