Each Day's Choice

When I woke up I didn’t know
What all I’d face today.
I had no way of bracing for
What life might throw my way.
 
Each day is sort of like a rose,
Its blossoms bright and sweet.
Yet, just below, there lie the thorns,
And they are not discreet.
 
You reach to cup the cheery bloom,
To smell its pleasant scent,
Only to catch hold of a thorn,
Your flesh, bloody and rent.
 
A bit of joy, a bit of pain,
But a rose is a rose.
You take the beauty with the thorns,
Because that’s how life goes.
 
You can’t know all each day will bring
But each day brings a choice.
Count up your troubles, all those thorns,
Or just choose to rejoice.
 
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
 
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Morning Song Of Joy

 

They gathered in the morning breeze
To lift a song of joy.
No matter what the day might bring,
They came out to enjoy.
 
A lesson there for me to learn,
Despite what it might bring,
Each day’s a new chance to rejoice,
Lift up my voice and sing.
 
If they, who are so small, can sing
With that much joy each day,
I, too, should learn to sing Your praise,
Whatever comes my way!
 
Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Unseen, But Very Real

 

The stillness of the evening tide,
The sun drifting to sleep,
The moon resting above the ridge
With no schedule to keep.
 
The simple moment that completes
A week lived at full speed.
Though I’ll admit, when things got tight,
You managed every need.
 
You kept my feet upon the path,
My head above the waves,
You were my strength when I grew weak.
Yours is the grace that saves.
 
Though I am still far from this shore,
I rest within its peace,
For, much like You, though now unseen,
That perfect peace won’t cease.
 
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Comfort One Another

 

A little prickly, yes, that’s me,
And hard to get close to,
But I am learning to bear fruit
That’s sweeter, thanks to You.
 
You taught me that I need to learn
To comfort, not annoy.
I’m to share love, and not those thorns
I, too often, deploy.
 
Oh Lord, they are a part of me,
Though I know they don’t suit
A life that’s meant to be about
Sharing Your Word, Your fruit. 

You’ve given so much grace to me,
How can my thorns still show?
I need to cast them all aside
And let Your sweet fruit grow.
 
Please help me, Lord, focus upon
The fruit of grace I bear
Until my prickly side becomes
The part I never share.
 
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Vengeance Is Yours, Not Mine

 

Oh Lord, I need to hear Your Word
Repeated in my heart,
For I grow angry, now and then,
And step out of my part.
 
You’ve called me to forgo my wrath
And let Your plans play out,
But some days my rage seems to burn
Too hot to just put out.
 
I know Your plans will always be
Better than those I make,
And my plans would be, without doubt,
A terrible mistake.
 
Help me, Oh Lord, to turn away
From the wrath that I feel,
To trust Your plan to right the wrongs
And help this world to heal.
 
Help me to put vengeance aside
And pray for each lost soul,
For those living in Satan’s thrall,
To be redeemed, made whole.
 
Help me to turn back from my rage,
Vengeance is Yours, not mine.
Forgiveness heals what rage destroys,
And Your Word will refine.
 
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Walk In Your Truth

 

I know You walk beside me, Lord,
I feel You there with me.
When I can’t see the path ahead,
You light the way clearly.
When I am lost in shame or fear,
You show me Your mercy
And when I feel I’ve failed once more,
You call my name, gently.
 
Oh Lord, please lead me on the path
You want me to follow,
I know I’m not always on track,
But where You lead, I’ll go.
Though I may stumble now and then,
By such struggles, I’ll grow.
Until I’m back upon Your path,
Teach me what I don’t know.
 
Teach me and I will listen, Lord,
Lead me closer to You.
You are my way, the light I seek.
What I need most is You.
 
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Hope And Rejoice

 

I call out to You in distress,
This day has worn me down.
Still, my soul chooses to rejoice
And proclaim Your renown.
 
There are no burdens I can bear
Without Your strength, your grace.
That’s why I’m grateful you give me
The strength to keep the pace.
 
Whatever life may hold in store,
This much I know is true,
That rain or shine, sorrow or joy,
You’ll always see me through.
 
Tonight, I may be weary, Lord,
But I’ll sing in delight,
For You will give me what I need,
Your love, Your grace, Your might.
 
Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Rely Not On Ourselves

 

I piled my worries on my heart
And carried them all day.
I fussed over them til they grew
Too big to push away.
 
They weighed upon me constantly
Until I thought I’d drown
In all the tears and frustrations
That just kept pouring down.
 
I had to step back, take a breath
And give it all to You
Before I could think and recall…
You’re here, You’ll help me through.
 
Before, my troubles in this world
Would bring me to my knees
And leave me wondering what I
Should do to find some ease.
 
Until I came to understand
What I was going through
Was You nudging me to reach out
And learn to lean on You.
 
Just letting go a little bit,
Was all I had to do
For You to take hold of my hand,
And all my troubles, too.
 
My worries still linger about,
But they don’t weigh me down,
For I don’t carry them alone
And You won’t let me drown.
 
2 Corinthians 1:8b-9
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

The Harvesters

 

He sends them out into the world
To gather the harvest
That He has spread throughout the land,
From north, south, east and west.
 
They scatter His Word in the world
And nurture it with grace,
That many who would not know Him,
Will someday see His face.
 
They labor through the hardest times,
Tending their Master’s fruit.
Guarding the harvest from the blight,
Caring for each new shoot.

 

Their Master called them to this task,
And, in His name, they work.
Rejoicing as the harvest grows.
His calling, they don’t shirk.
 
I lift my prayer up every day
That His harvest is vast
And thank Him for those who, when called,
Joyfully work as tasked.
 
Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Rest and Restore

 

The day has been filled up with noise,
Some laughter and some tears,
But I am ready for the peace
That comes as twilight nears.
 
I rejoice in the busy life
With which You’ve blessed me, Lord.
Yet, in the peace that comes at dusk,
My own peace is restored.
 
You guarded me when I went out,
You brought me home once more.
I long now for the peace that heals.
My heart and soul restore.
 
Tomorrow I will rise again
And serve as You call me.
Tonight, I pray for rest enough
To rise up joyfully.  
 
Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.