Not By Works

How mighty are we, in our eyes,

And yet how small, in fact.
We list our talents with a pride
That can’t remain intact.
 
For pride does not salvation bring.
That’s born only in grace,
And faith is all that leads us to
Redemption from disgrace.
 
However mighty you may feel
There’s nothing you can do
To bring the grace of forgiveness
His life, and death, brought you.
 
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Through the Debris

They smile above last year’s debris,

Growing through the decay.
Determined to face life with joy,
Despite what’s in their way.
 
I sometimes forget that I, too,
Need to face life that way,
And not get bogged down in debris
That clutters every day.
 
Oh Lord, give me the faith I need
To rise up and display
The same simple joy in my life
That I saw bloom today.
 
Luke 12:27
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

My Focus

I’m trying not to look back, Lord,

On all that I’ve done wrong.
I’m keeping my focus where it
Should have been all along.
 
I know that I’ve learned from mistakes
That I made in the past,
But I need to look forward to
The future that will last.
 
For we all walk where our gaze leads.
This much I fully know,
It’s critical to focus on
Where we intend to go.
 
So help me keep my eyes on You,
Where my gaze ought to be,
And not upon sins of the past
From which You’ve set me free.

Watch Over Me

I needed You again today

And, of course, You were there.
I called upon You in my need
Because I know You care.
 
It is as if You linger near,
Keeping an eye on me.
But I am grateful that’s the way
That Your love seems to be.
 
In fact, it does my old heart good
Too turn and find You there.
So please keep watching over me,
Oh Lord, I need Your care.

Live Alive!!

Oh, live not merely to survive,

But live so well that you will thrive!
It’s not enough to work and strive,
We were each made to live alive!
 
However small, you are alive,
So push yourself, yes, always strive
To live rejoicing, learn to thrive,
Live life fully, don’t just survive!

The Witness

It rises on time every night

To travel cross the sky,
And when the sun brings forth the dawn
It lingers still near by.
 
Thus, faithfully it witnesses
The passing of the years.
How short the lives it monitors,
Each fraught with joy and tears.
 
And yet it watches patiently,
Just as the Lord designed,
A world that knows it only as
A moon that’s cold and blind.
 
Psalm 89:37
it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.

Dance in the Night

There’s light even in darkest night,

So don’t tremble with fear.
Rise up and dance with joyful heart,
Knowing that God is near.
 
The darkness seems to hold our fears,
We tremble in the night,
But night time means dawn’s on its way,
So let your heart be light.
 
Psalm 91:4-5 
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

In The Mist

The mist was thick across the bay,

The sunlight dimmed to grey,
Yet still he carried on in flight
With faith he’d find the way.
 
I need to learn to face this life
With that much faith each day.
Then I will not allow the mists
To slow me on my way.

Love the Lord

I love You, Lord, with all my heart,

I’ll praise you with delight
For You have turned my thorns to blooms,
My darkness into light.
 
I love You, Lord, with heart and soul,
You’re my strength when I’m weak.
And I will praise You, Lord, until
I can no longer speak.
 
I love You, Lord, I always will.
For You gave life to me,
And I will not stop loving You
Through all eternity.
 
Deuteronomy 6:5  
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Fearfully and Wonderfully

You may not see it at first glance,

I’m not the showy type,
And when I appear on the scene
There’s not a lot of hype.
 
But I have been fearfully made
By He who shaped the sun.
Yes, I was wonderfully made
Before life had begun.
 
I may not look like much to you,
But to Him I’m just fine.
For He has shaped me with His love,
And that love is still mine.
 
Fearfully and wonderfully,
That’s how my Lord made me,
And I will praise Him every day
Fiercely and joyfully!

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.