When I survey
The skies above
I think of God’s
Amazing love
He sent His Son
To bleed and die
To show His love
For all mankind
So now I sing
My highest praise
I will lift up
His precious name
Jesus
Precious Jesus
Came to die
To show His love
Jesus
Precious Jesus
I worship you my Lord
He gave up all His glory
To come to earth a lowly child
No pomp or royal feast announced His birth
His childhood was quiet
Though His parents knew His fate
They knew just who He was and His great worth
Then when the time was comes
That He should start to show Himself
He submitted to the baptizing of John
The heavens opened wide
A voice spoke loud and clear
God said Behold This is my beloved Son
For three years He did preach
And heal the sick and raise the dead
As He put the wisdom of the wise to shame
The people followed close
The leaders of that day sought ways
They could rid themselves of Him and all His fame
The plot against Him thickened
When He tore the leaders down
They determined It was time for Him to go
They riled up the crowds
They condemned Him in great haste
Urged the crowd to cry out Crucify Him now
He was whipped and beaten
Spit upon, a crown of thorns
Then they nailed His hands and feet to that tree
He cried Father God forgive them
As He bowed and gave His life
Taking all my sin and shame, He set me free
He was buried
Stone secured Him
The hope they had was dead
Then early Sabbath morning
The guards fainted in dread
The stone rolled away
He arose from that old grave
Victory forevermore
For His children, young and old
With all that I have in me
With every breath I take
I will lift my song of praise up to the Lord
His worship fills my heart
And flows out through my lips
Forever He's the one that I adore
I can assure you
That God has a plan for you
Which will be better than yours
I know for certain
That His way is destined
To wipe away all of your tears
When you give in
And respond to His calling
He'll guide you each step of the way
And when it gets hard
He’ll send in His mercy
To make your life better each day
Just like a watchmaker He has a plan
It has been designed just for you
He knows He design
He knows when it’s time
To work out His plan in you
When you seem to be broke
And you’re wondering why
Just put them in His loving hands
Don’t worry or fret
He knows what to do
To put you together again
A watchmaker knows how to fix His designs
He knows all the parts and their place
The watch’s design is no puzzle to him
His knows all about every piece
God’s your designer and He knows your life
He knows what the future will bring
Your trials are never a problem for Him
He knows how to lead you through things
Just like a watchmaker He has a plan
It has been designed just for you
He knows He design
He knows when it’s time
To work out His plan in you
(note: This poem was written in 2017 when I was in cancer recovery. I am since cancer free)
I’m tired of being tired
I’m sick of being sick
I cannot wait until this cancer’s gone
But while I sit here waiting
For good health to return
I’ll lift the name of Jesus in a song
You wonder why I praise Him
When things are not so right
When He allowed this sickness in my life
The answer is so simple
It’s not hard to understand
When you think of all He’s done for me through time
He has loved me
He has saved me
He has healed me
He will raise me
He removed my sin and promised me new life
He delivered me
He’s been merciful to me
I will praise Him every day of my life
Now even when I suffer
When my life seems out of place
I do not forget what he has done for me
In the midst of any trial
I can raise my voice and sing
Hallelujah to my soon and coming King
His promises are true
His love is everlasting
His grace will cover all my foolishness
His mercy never fails me
His peace is inn my heart
His joy unspeakable flows endlessly
He has loved me
He has saved me
He has healed me
He will raise me
He removed my sin and promised me new life
He delivered me
He’s been merciful to me
I will praise Him every day of my life
I give you praise
For morning sun
For birds and bees
For rocks and trees
I give you praise
For all you've done for me
I give you praise
For fam'ly cheer
For daughters near
For soul mate dear
I give you praise
For all you've given me
I give you praise
For saving me
For keeping with
For loving me
I give you praise
For what you do for me
Every day
I give you praise
My heart ablaze
My hands are raised
With words of praise
I lift your name
For who you are my Lord
I give you praise
The highest praise
I lift your name
Above all names
I give you praise
You are the King of Kings
To love like Jesus loved we have to love them all the same
It doesn’t matter where there from or how they spell their name
Thin or tall, large or short their size is not an issue
Neither is the color of their skin or what they’ve been through
To love like Jesus loved we must remember who we are
Sinners that are saved by grace because we gave our heart
No one deserves His grace at all especially not me
Who am I to keep that grace when He says set it free
To love like Jesus loved means to reach out every day
We must give all we have to those who need to find their way
We cannot pick and choose who comes across our daily path
Each person that we meet is someone He has planted there
To love like Jesus loved means to put away our pride
It means that when we get put down we take it all in stride
It means that grace is over all and mercy rules the day
It means that when someone needs help we take the time to pray
To love like Jesus loved is not an option we can shun
He gave us His command that we must reach to everyone
So let’s get busy church and do the bidding of the Lord
Because to love like Jesus loved is what He truly called us for
The wind blows
Gently at times
Gusty at others
From the north,
then from the south
The wind blows
Where does it come from?
Where does it go?
How does it shift,
And change
At a moments notice?
Are you prepared?
Ready for the changing wind?
Ready for the calm?
Ready for the gust?
Are you prepared?
The Spirit blows
Comes in like a flood
Then is quiet
Charging us up,
Giving us rest
Unannounced, the Spirit comes
Desiring to guide us
To talk with us
To take us along a higher path
Always there, near
Do you hear Him?
Do you sense Him?
Does He touch your soul?
Does He alter your life?
Are you ready for change?
The wind changes direction
At a moments notice
The Spirit will change us
At a moments notice
If we're ready, willing.
Allow Him to come in.
Allow the Spirit to blow
Blow new life into your soul
And be ready
For change.
God’s been good to me
Always
The circumstances may look bleak
My health my not be good
My finances may struggle
But God has been good to me
Always
God’s been merciful to me
Always
He delivers me from evil
He holds me tightly in His arms
He reassures me with His peace
He has been merciful to me
Always
God’s been gracious to me
Always
He has forgiven me countless times
He has overlooked my faults
He has provided when I have failed
He has been gracious to me
Always
Even when I cannot see it
He is good
Even when I cannot understand
He is merciful
Even when I lose my way
He is gracious
Always and forever
He loves me
So when I’m down and out
When life seems upside down
When sorrow or sickness come
When darkness is in my life
I will still praise Him
I will still worship Him
I will still trust Him
Because Always and Forever
He loves me
Have you been to the manger where He was born
Where shepherds and wise men worshipped the Lord
He came from His throne up in heaven above
To become a man and show us His love
Have you been to the river, Jordan’s the name
Where John was baptizing so many that day
When Jesus came to be baptize
The Father spoke up and said I’m pleased with Him
Have you been to the mountain of Olives to hear
The sermon of Jesus that challenged your ear
He spoke with authority as the crowd heard
How they could show love through the pow’r of the word
Have you been to the tomb where Lazarus lay
He was buried and gone for over four days
Yet He came back to life when Jesus had prayed
He walked out of the tomb and gave God the praise
Have you been to Gethsemane’s garden at night
The shadows are deep in the soft pale moonlight
It is here Jesus prayed not my will but thine
As disciples slept close by not liking the time
Have you been to the cross where He suffered for you
I can’t imagine the pain He endured
In agony He cried forgive them today
Then He gave His life freely and died
The sepulcher waited, the stone closed the door
But nothing could hold down my Savior and Lord
Three days later He rose, the victory won
Have you tasted His love
Have you asked Him to come
Into your heart to save you today
If you desire heaven there’s no other way
You say I can’t go there it’s too far away
I tell you I visit them every day
Just open your Bible and read of these things
Day after day new faith it will bring
I’m all smiles
I know my Savior loves me
I'm all smiles
I know He will take care of me
All smiles
I know that in my time of need
When fear sets in and I lose peace
He will be there to comfort me
And make me smile again
I never have to worry
For the Lord is on my side
My trust in Him survives the biggest storm
When I am in a hurry
And the answers don't arrive
I can feel the safety of His loving arms
His promises are true
His love is everlasting
His mercy covers every time I fall
He never leaves me blue
He cheers me so I'll sing
He turns my every sorrow to a smile
I'm all smiles
I know my Savior loves me
I'm all smiles
I know He will take care of me
All smiles
I know that in my time of need
When fear sets in and I lose peace
He will be there to comfort me
And make me smile again
In the heat of midday sun
Or the darkness of the night
He reassures me with His gentle voice
And when the day is done
I see the stars so bright
Reminding me He’s there with His grace
When my smile turns upside down
When peace just can’t be found
My life seems out of place
I cry to see His face
He comes with tender care
And pulls me from despair
I can no longer frown
My smile has turned around
I'm all smiles
I know my Savior loves me
I'm all smiles
I know He will take care of me
All smiles
I know that in my time of need
When fear sets in and I lose peace
He will be there to comfort me
And make me smile again
The Psalmist 