Christmas Emotions

 

There is a whisper of sorrow
Nestled into my heart.
It’s always there, soft, but present,
When the holidays start.
 
My world is filled with joy and light,
And each year they both grow.
Yet, I know that, tucked in my heart,
Lingers that small sorrow.
 
It’s not a deep, unhealing scar,
More a sweet memory
Of those with whom I’ve shared these joys,
Who, now, aren’t here with me.
 
The whisper isn’t loud or strong,
They would not want it so.
It’s just enough to remind me
That such love won’t let go.  
 
The holidays are filled with joy,
As they are meant to be,
And I will hold my loved ones close,
In life or memory.
 
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Stillness And Prayer

 

Quiet moments and gentle thoughts,
The week draws to a close
As I find what I’ve been seeking.
Your peace is my repose.
 
I have, at last, started to rest
And, as the night draws nigh,
I find I am content to spend
This time, just You and I.
 
Tomorrow I’ll start out again
With new chores on my list,
But, for tonight, my world is still.
Its chaos is dismissed.
 
Thank You for giving me so much
To get done every day,
But, even more, I thank You for
Time to be still and pray.
 
Matthew 14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

To Dance With Joy

 

Tonight, I seek the joy and peace
That rest within Your Word.
The world has spoken, all day long,
And noise is all I’ve heard.
 
The busy rush of everyday
Can weigh upon my heart
Until I feel the stress born tears
Slowly begin to start.
 
That is my clue to just step back
And rest upon the rock.
Read Your words of hope, peace, and joy,
In which my soul takes stock.
 
I read the wisdom of prophets,
The insights of old kings.
I speak the words You spoke to us
And feel the hope it brings.
 
The world begins to fall away
When I focus on You
And listen with heart, mind and soul,
As You taught me to do.
 
Then, as the world grows to silence,
I feel the joy unlock
Until Your hope, Your peace fill me.
I dance, Lord, on The Rock!  
 
Romans 15:12-13
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Wages Of Sin

Be careful who you choose to serve
As you walk through this life.
Serving the Lord, sharing His grace,
Or serving satan’s strife.
 
Oh, you who walk the roads of sin,
Of hatred and of wrath,
Will find yourself unsatisfied
At the end of the path.
 
For those dark longings cannot feed
The hunger in your soul.
You will just magnify that lack
With hate and sin, your goal.
 
He’s warned us more than once or twice
To turn from that dark way.
The price for serving satan takes
Eternity to pay.
 
There is a dark heart in us all,
That Christ’s grace can make right,
But only if you turn back from
The darkness to the Light.
 
If not, prepare to face the wrath
You seek to sow in life.
Eternity is a long time
To live beneath that knife.
 
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Your Love Is Greater

 

My heart grows heavy, now and then,
When I look at the world.
The anger and the violence,
Both stones and slanders hurled.
 
Our lives grow darker every day,
And our thoughts more unkind.
That light that’s at the tunnel’s end,
Is difficult to find.
 
Yet, when I fear all hope is gone,
I feel Your perfect grace
Fill up the darkness with Your light
‘Til hope reclaims its place.
 
The hope born of a faith filled heart
Returns to me once more.
There is no joy this world may take
That Your love can’t restore.
 
Your love is greater than my fear,
That faith will heal my pain.
With Your love as my guiding Light,
Faith, hope and joy remain.
 
1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

When You say Go

 

Each time I seek to hide away
I hear You call to me,
You have a task for me to do,
Somewhere I need to be.
 
I tend to try to be alone,
To hide from the world’s eyes,
But You know what is best for me,
Despite what I surmise.

 

I tend to panic, just a bit,
But I have learned one thing…
When You tell me it’s time to go,
I go with rejoicing.
 
I give the panic and complaints
Enough time to be heard,
Then send them off while I head out,
Grateful and undeterred.
 
I may come home a bit weary,
But I am so blessed, too,
For You trusted me to get done
What You sent me to do.
 
While I may hide out from the world,
I’m always in Your sight.
When You call me to stop hiding,
I dance, Lord, with delight!
 
Jeremiah 23:24
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Advent Week 3 2025 - Joy

Lift up your voices to the Lord,
Rejoice in His blessings,
And never let your hearts forget
All that His mercy brings.
 
A hope, a peace, a joyful soul,
His promise never fails
To lift us up and lead us through,
Even life’s worst travails.
 
Join with your brothers and sisters
To praise His name in song
And let the joy of thankful hearts
Rise up all the day long.
 
Let every praise be filled with joy
And let that joy increase
Knowing His love for you is fierce
And His love will not cease.
 
Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
 
Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Follow Me

 

I never heard the angels sing,
Nor followed a bright star,
But I too found Emmanuel
Without travelling far.
 
I wasn’t out watching my sheep,
But I still heard His call.
His quiet voice said “follow me”,
And so I did. That’s all.
 
There was no fanfare, no rich gifts.
All that He asked of me
Was that I follow where He leads,
And that’s where I will be.
 
Just as those who were called before,
I don’t know what I’ll face,
But I know who I’m following
Into the Lord’s embrace.
 
John 12:26
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Life's Maelstroms

 

When we stand in the maelstrom
We often curse and cry.
Instead of asking for Your help
We blame You and ask why.  
 
When times are good we sail on by,
Thinking we’re in control.
It’s almost as if we can’t see
The picture, clear and whole.
 
It may be that times of distress
Are meant to teach us to
Stop thinking about “poor old me”
And turn our thoughts to You.
 
Acknowledge we aren’t in control
Of most that this life brings,
That we need You to guide us through
This life’s arrows and slings.
 
If we reach out to You in faith
Instead of rage or pride,
We find that we can withstand life
With You there by our side.
 
The tempest eases, the path clears,
And we find our way through.
Maybe the storms are meant to teach
Us how much we need You.
 
To show us that we’re not the one
Who’s in control each day,
But, He who is, stands close enough
To help us find the way.
 
There will be maelstroms, now and then,
That pop up in this life,
But You will always be the peace
We need to brave such strife.
 
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Lead Me To The Rock

Wherever I may find myself,
I call out to the Lord.
For He it is who redeemed me
And all my hope restored.
 
When life is easy, I rejoice
And celebrate His name,
But when troubles rise around me,
It’s His refuge I claim.
 
I turn my back upon my fears
And turn my eyes to Him.
I follow Him as He leads me
Along the rock’s high rim.
 
He’s my fortress, my high tower,
My refuge in despair.
In Him I find respite and peace,
For His love’s always there.
 
Lead me, Oh Lord. I’ll follow You,
Though my heart’s faint within.
For my faith rests within the grace
That healed me of my sin.
 
Psalm 61:2-3
from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.