Holding On To You

The seasons pass, the years fly by,
And youth is quickly gone,
But wisdom and understanding
Will help us carry on.
 
Understanding is not my strength,
Nor wisdom my strong suit.
I’m not sure why all my long years
Seem to have born poor fruit.
 
The one thing I can state as fact,
Is, despite my crop fail,
I’ve held on to You, root and branch,
Throughout my life’s travail.
 
I will not let go of You, Lord,
For You’ve held tight to me.
I may not be Your perfect fruit,
But I’m still on Your tree.
 
John 15:4
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
 
Job 12:12
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

Sing Aloud To The Lord

Life has its struggles and its joys,
It’s not a simple thing.
Somedays the best that I can do
Is hold on tight and sing.
 
I sing the old songs of my youth,
The songs of better days,
But I find my peace resting in
Those good old songs of praise.
 
Some touch my heart with sorrow, Lord,
Others can heal the pain,
But each of them brings me closer
To You, with each refrain.
 
I lift up my voice in delight,
But also in sorrow,
For both bring me closer to You.
That’s where I want to go.
 
Psalm 95:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

A Prayer For Loved Ones

Oh Lord, I lift a prayer to You,
For You know every name
Of those I carry in my heart
And for whom I make claim.
 
I pray for healing for the sick,
Comfort for those who weep,
And strength to stand against the dark
When fears pile up too deep.
 
I pray for peace amidst the storm
And faith to see them through,
But most of all, I pray, Oh Lord,
That each draws close to You.
 
I pray that they turn eyes and hearts
Toward Your Light each day,
And that they walk close by Your side,
Each step along the way.
 
Oh Lord, I lift each one to You,
You know each need and name.
I thank You for the boundless grace,
The love that’s ours to claim.
 
Psalm 66:19- 20
but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Whole and Holy

He did not ponder if He should,
When it came to His sheep.
He simply bought us back from sin,
For we are His to keep.
 
To those who called to Him in faith,
He poured out endless grace,
And that grace still flows ceaselessly
For all the human race.
 
Yet, it was not just mortal pain
That He came here to heal,
But, also, the pain in our souls,
Unending and more real.
 
The sufferings born of this world,
Will pass away with death,
But those born out of sin filled lives
Have an eternal breath.
 
It wasn’t about healing ills,
His was a greater plan.
For He came not to make us whole,
But holy once again.
 
Matthew: 8:2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Rest, Listen, Rejoice

I love the peace of quiet days
When I have nothing planned
And I can simply rest knowing
I’m safe within Your hand.
 
I’ve lived long enough in the world,
To feel it weigh on me.
That’s why I treasure days of peace,
Though they’re rare as can be.
 
Those days that I can spend with You
Listening to Your voice,
Remembering Your loving grace,
Letting my heart rejoice.
 
I know that this time, too, will pass,
Life’s chaos will return,
But until then I’ll rest in You,
Be still, listen and learn.
 
Psalm 119:64
The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Sometimes It's A Sword

Lord, this world seems so far astray,
But You’re still in control
And I will trust Your greater plan
For every living soul.
 
I know that we are called to peace,
But, also, to the sword,
For we must stand against the dark
With those who love the Lord.
 
Please help me know, Lord, when to love
And when to stand and fight,
But mostly, Lord, help me to keep
My eyes fixed on Your light.
 
Don’t let me add to this world’s rage,
That only makes things worse.
Help me, instead, to bring with me
A blessing, not a curse.
 
This world’s in chaos, once again,
As it has always been,
But lately it seems further washed
In evil hearts and sin.
 
I want to walk through what’s to come
So as to please You, Lord.
Please, help know when to bring grace,
And when to draw my sword.
 
Matthew 10:34
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Comfort One Another

We all view life from where we live,
With our own point of view,
But that does not mean we can’t bear
With other viewpoints, too.
 
We have been called to offer grace,
The same grace we receive,
That we might lift up those in need
Of comfort or reprieve.
 
We do not have to understand
Life in the way they do,
But we do have to share His grace
As we have been called to.
 
We should not live by this world’s creeds,
Don’t misunderstand me,
But we can still bear with patience
Those who can’t fully see.
 
We need to lift them up in love,
Comfort them in their need,
Speak to them of His loving grace,
Or just help plant that seed.
 
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Your Enduring Love

I often hear Your still, small voice
As clearly as a song.
That little whisper of Your love
Comes through so loud and strong.
 
A sense of peace, a random smile
When I most want to cry,
Is just enough to remind me
That You are right nearby.
 
The moon peaking out through the clouds
Or soft rain in the trees,
Brings comfort to my worried mind
And puts my heart at ease.
 
These simple gifts come straight from You,
Of that, no doubt can be,
Because they clearly come from One
Who well knows and loves me.
 
You loved me while I walked in sin,
You love me even still.
Lord, I thank You with all my heart,
My mind, body and will.
 
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  

Don't Let Me Stray

We always say, “Lord, walk with me”,
When what we ought to do
Is ask, instead, to help us try
To walk closer to You.
 
We might not end up on dark roads,
Or lost, tangled in fear,
If we chose to follow Your lead,
Not duck and dodge and veer.
 
There’s always something to distract
The soul who wants to roam,
But there’s joy in abundance for
Those who follow You home.
 
You are the path I want to walk,
You are the only way.
Lord, please keep me close by Your side,
So I don’t go astray!!  
 
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Grace Beyond Understanding

There are no words of praise that are
Sufficient to Your grace,
For You stepped down from heaven’s throne
To redeem our disgrace.
 
You were king of all creation,
Yet You took mortal frame,
To step up to the cross for us
And heal us of our shame.
 
My mind cannot fathom such grace
The depth of sacrifice,
And yet I see it every day,
Your love, clear and precise.
 
I truly cannot comprehend
How great Your love must be,
But I will claim it, nonetheless,
And do so joyously.
 
Ephesians 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding