Fighting Words

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I felt my words start to come out

In tones that wouldn’t do

For one who tries to walk the path

That was laid out by You.

 

I asked myself how would those words

Do anything but harm?

My words should heal, not aggravate,

Bring peace and not alarm.

 

So many times the words spill out

Before we think them through,

Then we are left to face the mess

That those words brought us to.

 

Lord, help me keep watch on my words,

To pray before I speak

That I might offer to others

The same kindness I seek.

My Favorite Time of Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I seek the stillness of the dusk,

The evening hovers near,

And I will settle in its peace

Knowing that You are here.

 

The day was filled with daytime things,

The night will bring me sleep,

But in between I find stillness

And peace that I can keep.

 

I wouldn’t give up the bright day

Or the deep, starlit night.

Yet it is in the in between

That I find most delight.

 

For that is where I find myself

With time to just be still,

And listen as You speak to me,

Knowing, full well, You will.

 

During the day I call to You,

For what my need might be,

But in the dusk I can at last

Hear You speak back to me.

 

Thus I seek the stillness of dusk,

As evening hovers near,

And settle into the soft peace

I feel when You are here.

By Faith, Not Works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We live within a sin filled world

And we each bear the stain.

Despite all of the good we do,

The sin will still remain.

 

We cannot undo what we’ve done,

Those wrongs can’t be made right.

There is no good work we can do

That will turn dark to light.

 

We are forever doomed to death,

The wage that’s paid for sin,

If restitution relies on

The broken lives of men.

 

There is no recompense for sin

If left to our device,

But our redemption has been won

Through perfect sacrifice.

 

Stand in that grace and walk in faith,

That you may someday claim

The absolution granted you

By living in His name.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.