Forgetting What's Behind - Re-Posted

I’ve put it all behind me, Lord,

Though some of it won’t stay.
No matter how hard I might try
Some pasts get in my way.
 
They pop up out of nowhere, Lord,
Then beat me to my knees.
I try to push myself back up,
Hoping the pain will ease.
 
It isn’t until I call You,
Praying that You will hear,
That I can rise up from my knees
To find You standing near.
 
Then I can strain forward again
Along the sacred way,   
And put behind me, one more time,
The sins of yesterday.
 
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Looking For Beauty - Re-Posted

Life can be a jumbled puzzle
With pieces that don’t fit,
Yet somehow, if you look for beauty,
You see the best of it.

Don’t focus on life’s upheavals,
Look instead at the joy;
For every day contains them both
Choose which you will employ.

The Stones Sang Out - Re-Posted

My voice rang out through all the hills,

I praised His name with song,

And, when I ceased to sing to Him,

The rocks still sang along.

It was as if they knew my words

Were raised to God on high

And so they raised their symphony

To join mine in the sky.

And I recalled the words once said,

If every voice grew still

The rocks and stones would sing His praise…

And now, I know they will!

Luke 19:39-40

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

Staying Close - Re-Posted

Sometimes I wonder where You are

When I am running scared
Or when I have to face something
That’s greater than I’ve dared.
 
But each time that ask myself
Why You should even care
I turn around, only to find,
That You are always there.
 
You’ve never let me fly alone
Though I may sometimes doubt,
And when I’ve felt trapped in that doubt,
You’ve always lead me out.
 
So I will stay close by You, Lord,
And please stay close by me.
You are my strength and my refuge,
As You will always be.
 
Psalm 73:28
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Recognizing Blessings - Re-Posted

It’s not a curse, it’s a blessing

That falls all winter long
It taps a winter melody
That bids me sing along
 
I know that some decry the rain
Complaining bitterly,
But I love hearing that old song
That it’s singing for me.
 
So hide beneath your umbrella
While I turn up my face
And thank the Lord for the new blooms
That will soon take rain’s place.
 
Acts 14:17
Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

With Thanksgiving - Re-Posted

I used to ask You everyday

For all the things I need,
But when I listened to myself
It sounded more like greed.
I’d say “please give this, My Lord,
Or “handle that for me”.
How selfishly I made demands
For what I longed to see.

But then I realized a truth
That I already knew,
I needed to ask You in faith
By starting with “Thank You.”

Thank You for seeing me through this,
Thank You for helping here,
Thank You for taking constant care
Of those that I hold dear.
I know that I like to be thanked
For little things I do,
And You do so much more for me
For which I should thank You!

Now I still lift the things I need,
But lift them faithfully.
Trusting You’ll know what’s best for me,
So I ask thankfully.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Chores and Blessings - Re-Posted

I’m crazy busy these days, Lord,

With no time to slow down.
You’d think I’d be exhausted now,
And wear a constant frown.
 
But I am needed where I am,
And that brings me delight,
As all those little piles of chores
Are great gifts in my sight.
 
You’ve blessed me in the work I do
And those who work with me.
I may be worn out right now, Lord,
But I’m so glad to be!
 
Psalm 90:17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

To Bury the Dead - Re-Posted

All my anguish swept in on me,

Curled in a ball, I cried.

I wept my pillow out to sea

Upon the salty tide.

All of the things that I’d done wrong,

All those vile things I’d said,

Formed a chorus of raw disdain

That got stuck in my head.

And as I numbered all my flaws

I cowered in my bed,

For, if I rose and saw my face,

I knew that I’d despise

All of the ugliness that looked

Back through my mirrored eyes.

I thought that all of that was dead,

But yet, there it still lay,

Moldering like a long dead corpse,

And getting in my way.

For I could only stare, appalled,

At my rot on display.

And then the words came to my mind,

Spoken in Galilee,

Leave the dead to bury the dead,

Rise up and follow me.

And, as those words began to form

A whisper in my head,

I saw the sun burn through the night.

I rose up from my bed

And turned away from my dead past

To follow you instead.

Matthew 8:21-22

 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 

My Sincere Apologies

I have not posted in the past few days because I was invited to join some of my family on vacation trip out of the country. I so needed the delight of the trip after the sorrow of losing my sweet dog, Grace, and two dear friends over the past two months. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to them for including me, and to my sweet meme maker for keeping the facebook page posted in my absence. She didn't know how to post on here, so, again, my sincere apologies for leaving you wondering where we were.