Ecclesiastes 5:20

As life’s struggles spill around us

And try to pull us down,

We turn our faces from our fears;

We learn to smile, not frown.

By looking forward to the light

And turning from our fears,

We seek to reflect on life’s joys

And leave behind its tears.

Life isn’t always what we plan,

Sometimes it’s how we live.

Reflecting on his gift of love

Brings us more love to give.

Ecclesiastes 5:20
They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Home Is Where Your Sky Is

I’m back where I belong again,

Beneath a Northwest sky,

Where evening shades of pastel light

Remind me I can fly.

They lull me into restful sleep

Beneath a hometown moon.

Thank you for a perfect trip, but

I won’t leave again soon!

Psalm 93:3

They raise their voices in your name,

The waves that rush the strand.
They dance where sea and sky reach out,
Rejoicing, to the land.

The sing their praises to your name,

They roar and crash in joy.
They raise their voices with great glee,
Their praises to employ.

For you are master of the sea

And you command its might.
You stand astride the mighty waves
And gild them with your light.

I too will raise my voice in joy

And dance with all the glee
Of the waves that rush the shore
From the windy sea.

Psalm 93:3  

3 The seas have lifted up, LORD,
   the seas have lifted up their voice;
   the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea—
   the LORD on high is mighty.

Psalm 97:1

I stood upon an empty shore
Where silence filled the air.
The murmur of the little waves,
The breeze tugging my hair,
All listened for the songs of joy.
There was no music there.

And then the breeze picked up a song,

The waves began to dance;
The soaring clouds unfurled their flags,
The sun cast his warm glance
And all the world rejoiced that he
Gave us a second chance.

Psalm 97:1
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

Luke 4:40

There, in the last moments of light,

I turn again to you

Recalling all I’ve done this day

And all I didn’t do.

So many words I left unsaid

And some I should have, too.

I swear each day to walk the walk;

Each day that plan falls through.

I’m broken and I’m flawed, I know,

Thus with each dusk I kneel

And pray that you will, once again,

Touch me that I may heal.

Luke 4:40
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Perfect In Its Design

I had this great plan all in place,

With everything worked out.

I’d have two weeks of total peace,

There simply was no doubt.

I’d turn inward to read and rest,

My muse I’d surely find,

But as it turns out it seems you

Had something else in mind.

I have to say, my plan was good,

But yours was better still.

And so, begrudgingly, I bow

To your enticing will.

Perfection is not in me, Lord,

But it’s what you do best;

So bring on all the noisy love

And I’ll forgo my rest!

Psalm 87:7

They don’t know why the fountain’s there,

Nor how the waters flow,

They simply know it’s cool and wet

Where heat and drought both grow.

They splash within its cooling flow

To drink their thirsty fill;

They know that it holds what they need

And that it always will.

Lord, you are such a fount to me,

I turn to you in thirst.

Your love flows sweet when I am parched

And I splash in head first

To drink from the fount of your grace

That flows unceasingly;

And I will sing you my heart’s praise

With love, unfailingly.

Psalm 87:7
As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”

Proverbs 17:17

I think your heart cracked some today

And that tears mine in two,

But we know it’s not possible

That I can fly with you.

Though we each have our wind to ride,

Sometimes our flights will cross;

And we must keep our focus on

The blessings, not the loss.

But I’m the shadow when you soar

For your joy lifts my wings.

And each time, when our flights do cross,

My heart leaps up and sings.

So do not salt the sea with tears,

Instead, let your wings soar.

For we will meet again someday

Upon a sunny shore!

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

2 Peter 3:18

Lord, please help me to keep growing,

To be who be who I should be.

Don’t let me stay the small, closed heart

That I so often see

When dealing with the ones I love,

Those who want to love me,

But find me often just too hard

To love them tenderly.

Oh, Lord, please help me grow beyond

This small, hard hearted me.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

The Light in the Storm

Where do they turn when storms arise,

Those who won’t seek your grace?

To what great truth turn they their eyes

If not to your dear face?

How to withstand the darke’ning skies;

Where is their hiding place?

Where do they turn when their soul cries

If not to your embrace?

You shelter me when dark clouds swarm

And threaten from above,  

For you’re the light within the storm

And I rest in your love.