Looking Forward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I leave behind the past, the lost.

I know its price, I’ve paid the cost.

And now I face the coming year

With hopeful joy, instead of fear.

There’s so much still ahead of me

And I’m excited as can be.

For what’s to come beats what is past

And God has promised it will last.

So come on, New Year, bring it on,

Let’s don’t look back at what is gone!

 

2 Peter 3:13

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

In His Peace

There was a moment in the dawn,

When everything was still,
And He was waiting for me there,
To ease my restless will.
 
I feel I have to fight each day
The demons I create,
I have to work to curb and tame
My ever changing fate,
 
I have to roar defiantly
To face down my own fear,
But in that stillness, born at dawn,
I knew that He was near.
 
The tendrils of that peaceful dawn
Still twine within my mind
And all the stresses of my day
Continue to unwind
Until His face, His peace, His grace
Is all that I can find.
 
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Storm Winds

The wind howls coldly through the eaves

And bites into my heart.
I know that dawn will come again,
Though night’s just had its start.
I feel so cold, just listening,
I shiver, though I’m warm.
It’s as if, just by hearing them,
The winds can do me harm.
 
How is it, though I know I’m safe,
There’s still a fear in me?
How can I not have faith in walls
That were built so strongly?
Is this how the disciples felt
When the storm stirred the waves?
Though they were safely in His arms
Did they still fear their graves?
 
Luke 8:25

“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.

Gifts of Love

It is the purest gifts of love

That helps to see us through,
When we feel lost, so overwhelmed
We don’t know what to do.
 
It doesn’t take an act so large
The whole world will take note,
For just a little love can keep
A sinking heart afloat.
 
And I have known such acts of love
In this last month or two.
And, though they come from angels here,
I know they start with You.
 
So, Lord, please know I’m holding on,
For love will bring me through,
And, when I thank them for their love,
Please know, I thank You, too.
 
1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Look Around

There are so many splendid things 

That we simply don’t see
Though they are right before our eyes
As God meant them to be.
I wonder if God tests us thus,
We ask for many things,
But seldom turn to notice what
Each one of those prayers bring.
 
We say, "Oh Lord, please bring me through",
But when the night is done
We seldom stop to see the joy
Of a new rising sun.
We ask the Lord to bless our plan
When things seem to be grim,
But when the plan goes well at last
We seldom think of Him,
 
So take the time to look around,
There’s beauty everywhere
And proof abundant of God’s love,
Of His enduring care!

Storm Clouds

We watch the dark clouds rolling in,

A new storms on its way.
There are those times when we are sure
All we can do is pray.
 
But as the storm clouds pass on by
We once more understand
Whatever life may send our way,
God holds us in His hand.

Christmas Dawn

In the fresh light of the dawn,

As Christmas comes again,
I am reminded of His Grace
On behalf of lost man.
                              
He sacrificed immortal life
To walk on earth with man,
And then He died that we might live
To be born once again!

The Snow Was Deep

The night was cold, the snow was deep.

They huddled by the fire to sleep
While watching over flocks of sheep.
 
Then there, above the snow’s cold creep,
Waves of Angel songs did sweep,
Proclaiming vows that God would keep.
 
Then they rose up and left their sheep.
Such joy required they take a leap
And find the child who lay asleep.
 
Though the snow lay cold and deep.
 
Luke 2:15
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Twisted Roots

Even among the twisted roots

Of a long fallen tree,
There is a lacework loveliness
That’s obvious to see.
 
Though you may not see it that way,
It’s clear as it can be,
It’s that same twisted loveliness
That my God sees in me.
 
For I was fallen, dead and lost,
Twisted from root to bough,
But despite all my brokenness
He saw beauty somehow.
 
He brought that beauty out in me,
Though I still don’t know how,
But this old twisted, broken tree
Is something precious now.
 
Isaiah 61:4
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Facing Hard Times

Oh Lord you must have something great

That’s on its way to me,
Because the devil’s at my back
And I’m scared as can be.
 
They say that those for whom You’ve planned
Something that’s really great
Will often find the Devil’s there
Trying to twist their fate.
 
Well he is breathing down my neck,
Whispering in my ear
That I can’t handle what I face
With confidence and cheer.
 
I’m tempted to listen to him,
As tears form in my eyes,
But that temptation will not work
Because I know he lies.
 
Please help me to remember, Lord
That You’re in charge, not him
And I can call upon Your Grace
Though things seem mighty grim.
 
Acts 14:22
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.