Category Archives: Poetry

This Is My Lord

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A light into the darkness
A shelter from the storm
A river in the desert
This is my Lord

A healer to the hurting
A comfort when I mourn
A hope for all the hopeless
This is my Lord

A way when there is no way
A still small voice to warn
A peace in time of trouble
This is my Lord

A shaper of my future
A mender when I’m torn
A teacher of the righteous
This is my Lord

A friend when I am lonely
A truth when I am scorned
A rock and firm foundation
This is my Lord

A thousand years from now
He is who I’ll adore
My Savior and redeemer
This is my Lord

Effective Prayer

I Give My Call

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I come to you this morning
Down on my knees in prayer
There is no fear or worry
I know that you are here

I see the sun arising
I hear the birds new song
You made all of creation
Just so I could sing along

As the sun brings light from darkness
You alone will bring me joy
Help me stay right here before you
Help me stand up and rejoice

I cry out to you my Lord
I bow down before your throne
You are all that I have longed for
Make me yours, yours alone

I lift up my hands to worship
God of glory, Lord of all
This is how I start my morning
Unto you I give my call

My days are full. I have a lot of jobs and responsibilities and can get very busy and distracted as he day wears on. Correcting maps, selling insurance, working the garden, caring for the dog, cooking various meals, writing my poetry and other projects, reading, devotions, preparing he worship services, recording lessons and so much more make it a hectic day once things get going. That is why I choose the mornings to come to my Lord in prayer. If I waited until later in the day I would rarely take the time. Now don’t get me wrong, I pray when the Spirit leads me to throughout the day. It would be interesting to make a note each time God brings someone to my remembrance and I pray for them at that moment. I do not do that because I think God intends these type of prayers to be private. The morning is my main time with God because it is uninterrupted and quiet. I can hear Him when it is quiet. I can hear Him when I am still, before the chaos of the day creeps in. That is why I choose the mornings to spend time with my Savior. It’s by far the best of times!

Psalm 63:1a King James Version (KJV)
63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

The Believers Life

The Light of Jesus

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The probing light of Jesus shines in my heart today
It dispels all the darkness and drives my doubt away
My faith is lifted upward as in His name I pray
I do not have to worry for His light is here to stay

The searching light of Jesus is in my soul today
It seeks out all my hidden thoughts and washes them away
When I turn towards His light I am more apt to obey
Then all my secrets vanish as the light is here to stay

The guiding light of Jesus is on my mind today
I know that I must watch as His word will lead the way
The lamp He leads me with will nit let me go astray
Because I know His pathway is where I want to stay

The brilliant light of Jesus displays it’s strength today
He shows up in my weakness when I take time to pray
His power overwhelms me as I struggle to obey
He comes in like a flood and then He’s here to stay

I will worship Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength
Because He sheds His light on me I follow in His way
I could not live without Him every single day
So under His anointed light I will always stay

And God said “Let there be Light, and there was Light.” This was on the first day of creation. There was day and night and it was the first day. The odd thing is that on the 4th day He created the sun, moon and stars. But isn’t it the Sun that lights the day? So what is this Light that separated the day from the night on the first day? This Light is the Word, the Truth of God. It separates light from darkness, good from evil, and sin from righteousness. It divides the soul and the spirit of man. Our soul might desire one thing, but the Light comes in and says we should do another. This is the Light
that Jesus says He is. He says He is the Light of the world. His light shines brightly on all we do, revealing the inner thoughts and intents of the heart. His Light cannot be dispelled by any darkness. His Light is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I need His Light to constantly shine into my life so that I can see who I really am. Only He can shed light on that inner man. I shut him up in darkness, behind a door. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, hoping to let His Light shine in that closed, dark room. That is the only way my sin, my darkness, can be dispelled.

How much darkness is in your life today? How many rooms have you closed off to Him. Let His Light shine into all your inner chambers, bringing with it the freedom that only Christ can bring. Then you will find true peace and joy. Then you will experience the love of Christ as it is meant to be.

1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I Sing His Praise

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I sing the praises of my God Almighty
I sing the praises of the risen Lamb
I sing the praises of the true redeemer
I sing the praises of the great I Am
I sing the praises of the God of mercy
I sing the praises of the God of grace
I sing the praises of the Lord Jehovah
I sing His praise. I sing His praise

When I was going through cancer, His praise was on my lips. As I lay on my hospital bed, weakened by a stem cell transplant, I would lift my voice up to praise Him in the middle of the night. The nurses just didn’t quite get why I could praise God when I had cancer. But I had my reasons – lots of them. First ands foremost, He saved me. He called to me when I least expected it and I answered that call. I was far away from Him, basking in the dull glow of sin, thinking I was OK. But the pr3eacher that night convinced me I was not OK, that I was headed for hell;, a terrible place I decided I did not want to go to. I raised my hand for salvation and before I left Iowa on that vacation I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Right there, that is enough to praise Him every second of every day. I don’t need any other reason to give Him praise.

Now he daily gives me reason to praise Him. I have a wonderful family, a blessed life and so many things that God has brought my way. I have a million reasons to praise Him. I give Him praise all the time. In the morning, just before the dawn, I praise Him. In the heat of the day I praise Him. As the sun sets at night, I praise Him. In every circumstance, every trial and every trouble, my praise goes up to Him because I know He is with me. Any Christian who does not praise Him is missing the mark. We were made to praise Him, have fellowship with Him and be devoted to Him. He is a faithful, righteous, gracious and merciful master who loves us more than we can fathom. Give Him praise today!

Psalm 147:1 King James Version
147 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

The Valley

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You guide me up the mount and through the valley
Every step you show me where to go
On the summit I can sense your presence
But it seems that you’re not there down far below

Then I look around while walking through the valley
I see trees and fauna growing next to me
Then I realize the mountaintop is rocky
If I want to grow the valley’s what I need

I call out to my blessed Lord and Savior
I cry out Lord I need your guiding hand
And even though I may not feel His presence
I know that I am walking in His plan

He grows me in the valley if I’ll listen
The mountaintop just has pretty view
Let me see myself as you have seen me
So I can see the growth that makes me new

I’ll linger in the valley as you guide me
And I’ll climb up the mountain when you lead
But I’ll always remember it’s the valley
That provides me with life eternally

Mountaintop experiences are far more enjoyable. First of all, the view is spectacular so often. I grew up in New England where mountains are plenteous. My brother and I loved to climb and hike and would do so often. Mt Wachusett was nearby, Mt Monadnock was a favorite destination and mountains Lafayette and Lincoln are a wonderful hike and climb. The view from the top was always spectacular. You could see for miles. In the fall, the foliage was unbelievable. I highly recommend everyone go through New England in the fall at least once in their lives. On some cooler days you could see the fog hanging down in the valley, So pretty.

In the valley you could not see anything bur trees and brush. Maybe a stream here and there. If you did not have a trail it was hard to know exactly where you were or what direction you were going. It could be dark and dangerous. But you must go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. The valley is where life is. Always growing and ever changing.

I our spiritual lives it is in the valleys of life where we grow, where we can bloom. God is always guiding us and helping us to overcome the difficult trails we have to take. If we will remember that it in the troubles and toils of the valley where our life grows, we will love being in those valleys. There will be a joy that will always bring us through

James 1:2-4 KJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Worthy Are You My Lord

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As I wake up and rise out of my bed
I remember the words you’ve often said
You said you’d be with me everyday
All the way

So I lift up my hands above my head
I remember the words I’ve often said
I will take time to lift to you my praise
All my praise. All my praise

CHORUS
Worthy are you my Lord
Worthy of all honor and glory
Worthy are you my Lord
Worthy of all power and praise

Each day passes faster than the last
As I listen close to all that you have asked
I will follow you every single day
All the way. All the way

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Not a day goes by that I will not worship you
Not a night goes by without a word of praise
I lift my hands to heaven
I lift my voice up high
All of creation testifies

CHORUS

If you’d like to hear how this goes, I recorded a rough version on my Church Facebook Page  here is the link:

Restored

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I am down on my knees
Here at your feet
Bringing my plea
Lord, help me please
I don’t know where to go
I don’t know what to do
I’ve fallen down once again
Restore me as I repent

I know you are faithful
You will hear my cry
You’ll grant your forgiveness
Your mercy applied
Then by your grace
I will look on your face
I’ll lift up my praise
Restored once again

I am so glad for His word because in it are contained so many promises that I can call upon in my day of trouble. I seem to walk into trouble way too often. I give in to the temptations in my life and feel ashamed that I was not strong enough. It is a battle that goes on between my flesh and my spirit all the time. I always pray that my spirit will win, but I am not always successful. When I fail Him, I just want to run away and hide. I don’t want Him to know and yet He already knows. He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows my trials and temptations. He knows where I struggle and what triggers those battles. He knows everything about me, more than I know my self. He knows all things and I cannot escape Him.

His word says He is faithful. He is always with me. He will heal me like He did the woman with the issue of blood. He will deliver me like He did the demonic man of the Gadarenes. He will forgive me like He did the woman taken in adultery. He will provide for me as He did for the five thousand. He will challenge me as He did Peter. He will change my direction as He did with Saul. He will answer my prayer. He has already taken my sin and provided that healing. All I need to do is go to Him in prayer. Then He will answer.

John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Wings of Mercy

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God rides on wings of mercy
Proclaims His majesty
The greatest wonder in this world
Is His love for me

He lavished grace upon me
When He set me free
The cross He bore made Him my Lord
For all eternity

I always want to stay in His presence
I always want to hold His hand
I want the feel the essence of His Spirit
Filling me again

It is a wonder to me how he could love me so much He would die for me. I was a wretched sinner, guilty of breaking every one of His ten commandments. I blasphemed His name, served other Gods, didn’t give a hoot about the Sabbath and was not an honorable child. Did I murder someone? No, but my words were deadly. Maybe not adultery in it’s true sense, but fornication and lasciviousness again and again. I was a thief, a coveter and a liar. I didn’t not care about those commandments. On top of that I was a drunk who loved certain drugs. I was a mess.

But He found me where I was. He cried out to me and called me to come to Him/ His mercy beckoned me to ask for forgiveness and His grace washed me whiter than snow. The day I asked Him to be my Lord was the greatest day in my life because I started to understand His love. After walking with Him for over 35 years I am still trying to wrap my head around His great love. It is a miracle!

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

Helper of the Fatherless

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I’ve been weak, I’ve been poor,
I’ve been tired, I’ve been alone
I’ve been down in the pit of despair
I have often wondered why my God
Would care about my life
As He holds me in the palm of His hand

He’s the helper of the fatherless,
Protector of the weak
Defender from my enemies,
Provider of my needs
He’s a very present help
When trials come my way
In ever storm, I can depend on Him.

I’ve been blind, I’ve been bruised,
I’ve been hurt, I’ve been abused
I’ve been wounded in the depths of my heart
I have often wondered why He came
To save a wretch like me
As I cope with all the struggles in my life

Then I hear His voice cry out to me
So soft and oh so sweet
My child, there is no need to fear
I will always be here

So hold my hand, walk with me.
Seek my face, talk with me
Keep me close by your side
And I will always be your guide

I am the helper of the fatherless,
Protector of the weak
Defender from your enemies,
Provider of your needs
I will never forsake you,
Or leave you all alone
I will be near every day of your life.

This is a so real to me. My father left us when I was five. I felt the abandonment of a kid without a father. I was fortunate to have an amazing Mom, and an older brother who always let me hang with him. It took me more than 4o years to reconcile with my father. We got quite close before he passed away 10 years ago. I can’t help but wonder how many of the protesters are without a father. How many do not know that love that only a father can fulfill? How many are living with anger and bitterness over their broken family and just need a place to vent that anger? How many have turned to a life of gangs and groups to get the family feeling in their lives? The need Father God more than anything

Psalm 68:5s KJV
He is a father to the fatherless

I Will Praise Him

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I will praise Him
I will lift my hands and lift my voice
And I will praise Him
Not because of anything He’s done
Not because He healed me
or because He delivered me
or because He provides for me
or because He protects me
I will praise Him because He is
He is the creator of all things
He is the maker and placer of the stars
He is the master of all that lives
He has a plan designed for all of the universe
and for every animal
and for every person
even me
I don’t deserve a thing He does for me
I don’t deserve anything He has already done for me
I don’t deserve the plan He has for me
He does it all because He loves me
So I will praise Him
Not for anything
I’ll just praise Him
In every situation
I will praise Him
Yes, I will praise Him

I read Psalm 68:3-4 this morning and it is the inspiration for this free verse poem. What it says is “Let the righteous rejoice” It does not give a reason that we should rejoice. Just that we should rejoice. We should not need a reason to praise Him. We should just rejoice, day in and day out, in good or bad, in hunger or sorrow, in sickness or pain. These are all times we should praise Him. It’s easy to praise Him when things are going well. But the true Christian should never have to wait until things are good before they praise Him. They should praise Him despite the circumstances. If you truly love Him and are devoted to Him, there should never be a time that you are not rejoicing! There should never be a time you are not praising Him

Psalm 150:6 KJV
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord