Morning Prayer

For just today, please give me peace,

Let the world fall away,

Take all the anger from my heart.

Please give me peace today.

 

For just today, please give me joy,

Let your light fill the air.

Take all the worries from my mind,

Give me laughter to spare.

 

For just today, please give me hope

Let grace flow into me

Then let it flow out to the world

Like a renewing sea.

  

Just for today, I ask You, Lord,

Use me to do some good.

Too often I forget to give

Back as I know I should.

In Black and White

 

The world is vibrant in array,

With many colors on display,
But I stand out, with some dismay,
In shades of drab black, white and gray.
Yet I’m content and I will say,
Though it may sound somewhat cliché,
God made me, and I’ll gladly stay,
This fearful and wonderful way!

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

This gorgeous photo was captured by my aunt, JSK. I just loved it she joyfully shared it with us! Thank you, J!!

That Place I Lost

Oh Lord, I can’t find that still place

That once lived inside me.
You know, the place that I could go
To sit and let things be?
 
I don’t know where it could have gone,
Though it has gone, clearly.
I wonder if it is because
I’ve gotten so busy?
 
Or is it all the noisy thoughts
That whirl inside my head
All through the day and even when
I settle in my bed?
 
I know I’m in the working world,
And that was a good choice.
Both a necessary evil
And a cause to rejoice.
 
For this is work I’m meant to do,
You gave this gift to me,
And I do it with a glad heart
As it was meant to be.
 
But sometimes in my busy days
I need some extra grace
And that is when I notice most
That I’ve lost my still place.
 
So come and sit beside me, Lord,
Please touch my busy mind
And help me see my way back to
The place that I can’t find.
 
Then linger by me for a while,
 I love it when You’re near.
Those are the moments I still hold
As most precious and dear.

I Look To You

I look to You in times of loss,

Of worry, or of fear.
I know that I won’t see You, but
I will see signs You’re near.
 
I don’t expect to see You, Lord,
Amongst this life’s blessings,
But I do see your handiwork
In all the little things.
 
There are those who only believe
The things that they can see
And yet their eyes are often blind
To what I see clearly.
 
Each problem that seems too immense
For one as small as me,
At Your direction soon becomes
An opportunity.
 
The darkness gives way to the light,
A path opens at length,
And when I feel broken or lost
You fill me with Your strength.
 
Where those who won’t see find despair,
I find impending grace,
Where they see only the mundane
I look on heaven’s face.  

Burnished and Refined

I know my edges are still rough

And sin still stains my face,
But You won’t give up on my til
I’m burnished by Your Grace.
 
I know that I still have a ways
To go before I’m there,
But You keep working on me, Lord,
With gentle, focused care.
 
I may not sparkle right now, Lord,
But I have faith that You
Will have me shining like the Son
By the time You are through.
 
Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

A Shadow on My Heart

There’s a shadow over my heart

Of sorrow that will be,
A pain that no healing can ease,
From which I can’t be free.
 
How swift is life, it’s here, then gone.
Patterns of dark and light
That punctuate the passing days
Before the last good night.
 
I weep for those whom I have lost
And those who’ll soon pass on.
I pray for those who’ll still be here
When I am long since gone.
 
This life is tinged with bitterness,
And death’s its last embrace,
But I find comfort in knowing
Heaven is filled with Grace.

Psalm 31:9
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.

Psalm 119:60

I know that I should move quickly

To answer when you call,
But I am paralyzed with doubt
For I’m too weak and small.
 
How could I be of service, Lord,
To one as great as You?
I am so insignificant,
I don’t know what I’d do.
 
It seems as if my heart is stone
And, though I want to cry,
I don’t think I could rise and go
Even if I could try.
 
But I have heard you call to me,
So I must find a way
To shake off all this doubt and fear,
Then hurry to obey.
 
Psalm 119:60
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Too Busy Today

I got so busy today that

I forgot about You.
I had so many projects on
My list of things to do,
That I did not spend time with You
Until the day was through.
 
Most days I know that there’s some sense
In running the day through.
I have a job, obligations,
And so much that I do,
But Sundays are the one day, Lord,
I ought to spend with You.
 
So now, before the day is gone
And it’s too late to do,
Please come and sit beside me, Lord,
I’ll stop and sit with You.

A Day Off

I thank You for this peaceful day,

Though I got so much done,
I still was able to relax
And have a little fun.
 
The sun was warm, but not too hot,
The grass was sweet and green,
The water was blue as the sky,
The air was fresh and clean.
 
Tomorrow will be different,
There’s work that must be done,
But I am thankful for today,
The rest, the peace, the sun!

Turbulent Times

The world has grown so turbulent.

Though, it’s done that before,
I still find it unnerving when
I don’t know what’s in store.
 
So many things I know are wrong
Have now been declared right
And innocence is sacrificed
For cruelty’s delight.
 
I sometimes don’t know which is best,
To fight or let things be
And trust the plan You have in place,
That I cannot yet see.
 
I know this turbulence will pass,
But what damage is done
By all the darkness in its wake?
What new trouble’s begun?
 
Lord, I trust You with all I am
And all I hope to be.
I just wish I could look ahead
To see what I can’t see.