2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

          Do you feel insignificant and wonder if your life really is of any value?  When we have a low self esteem we may feel like the little penny in this poem.

There Was Once a Penny

There once was a penny in a drawer tossed away.
For an extended time it there stayed.
So long it remained in this place,
It was almost like home embraced.
Then, one day, its world was tipped upside down.
It was picked out of the mess; the lost was found.
After a very close inspection,
It was cleansed, and carefully placed in a valuable collection.
This is as the story of many that walk the earth.
They too are living in a messy place, not valued for their worth.
Many, even embrace the place they are in too,
So accustomed in the realm they move.
But then, life as you know it;  is also rearranged,
Turned upside down, now new and changed.
You too are found beautiful, and valuable, in the Fathers sight.
For now, you’ve been chosen, to abide in Christ.
The lost is found, alive and new.
Like the penny in our story, is your story too.

Prayer
Lord, I am forever grateful You saved my soul. I know You have planned a wonderful future for me.   I know You are the only good thing in me.  Help me to live my life to bring glory to You.

We are surely rich with God’s goodness within.  The Word says even our feet are beautiful when we share the Good News with others.

Share the Richness of Christ

Heaven’s streets are golden, and pearls are the gates
Every beautiful gem is evident, to God’s approval demonstrate.
But the most Precious Jewel is Jesus, God’s Son.
The Father sent Him to earth to show His love and provision.
God is love; He died upon the cross;
To share Heaven’s riches with the lost.
Jesus took everything unprofitable upon His own back,
So He could provide new life to those that had lack.
The believing, repented sinner; the new born soul,
Finds, the Jewel of heaven has risen within; to make them whole.
The life of Divinity causes richness inside beyond compare.
More and more, the wealth is noted, when it is with others shared.
Each, born again child of God, is a part of the body of Christ.
Each one has God’s rich favor upon their life.
See the good in your brother and sister; sing praise to lift them high.
And the precious Jewel of Heaven within you is also recognized.

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace;that bringeth good tidings of good,
that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Controlling Joe

Watch out, here he comes; old Controlling Joe!
He barges in, to “the right way show.”
He believes he has a “superior ability,” to get people in line.
He has a perfect plan, that he has designed.
Controlling Joe’s presence is tolerated, but is enjoyed by few,
For, he conveys to whoever is near, what they need to do.
Pray for him; I know it is hard sometimes;
Pray Jesus takes a hold of his lines.
For when He does, you will see a miracle take place before your eyes;
Controlling Joe is under control and is truly wise!
He now stands back, and lets the Holy Spirit lead the way.
What a victory!  What a joy!  What a wondrous work to be praised!

Prov 16:18-21
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and thesweetness of the lips increaseth learning

Loved by Every Drop of Blood

Loved, by every drop of blood shed upon the tree,
Loved by the Holy Sacrifice offered to set the captive free.
Loved by every heartfelt pain
Endured to break every chain.
Every stripe upon His back, opened wide and raw,
Was to heal every lash, caused by the evil one since the fall.
The weight of the curse was felt by God’s Son,
Every sin’s penalty was paid when His work was done.
His very essence of life was given to free the Nations,
When, in agony He felt the final separation.
“My God, why have you forsaken me,” in His last breath
He cried, “It is finished”
Evil celebrated and cheered, for they had killed God’s Son,
But, for them it was not finished; God was not done.
His weeping followers would weep no more.
They were astounded with great joy, at the sight of their risen Lord.
He is alive, and now He is seated at His Father’s side,
Soon to return, for the blood washed, His without spot or wrinkle bride.
You were loved, by every drop of His precious blood that flowed,
So, He that formed all you see, could your life forever hold.

John_3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Bitter Betty

Bitter, Bitter Betty – what a sight to see,
As a prune mixed with lemon is her personality.
She’s not a very happy soul,
Her eyes are darkened with every kind of woe.
To her, nothing is good; and nothing really tastes sweet,
Gold is not really gold –probably not even Heaven’s streets!
Her face puckers in such a grimace, that  even her laugh
Sound a little like a snarl coming back.
Life has become a burden for Bitter Betty to endure.
To her weakened, unforgiving state; nothing is seen as pure.
Perhaps you know her or her brother; although they are hard to embrace,
They can be helped by prayer, so bitterness is erased.
Jesus makes bitter, better than before.
When they repent and learn to forgive with the help of the Lord.
Come, if you too, find you are bitter and sour faced,
So you will have a joyful step, with a mouth filled with praise.
Bitter Betty becomes Better Betty, what a lovely sight,
For now she shines with the countenance of Jesus Christ.

Eph 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Pouty Patty

Pouty Patty is the one with the large bottom lip.
When all does not go as she planned; she is upset.
She will pucker up her face to show her displeasure.
Her own way, is to her, her greatest treasure
Pouty Patty will pretend to not hear what you say,
Especially, if she believes things are not going her way.
It doesn’t really matter how much you give in to her,
There will always be another time, Patty’s pout will occur.
If she stays too long in this place she will see,
That she is soon joined by Sadie self pity.
Together they will form a team, that wallows in self made mire.
All made possible because of selfish desires.
But Jesus truly desires to set Pouty Patty free,
So she’ll not be bound with her evil tendencies.
He wants her to take her mind and eyes off from herself,
So she can have a smile; instead of her lip puffed out.
If she allows Him, He will make her heart glad; so it will sing.
He will change Pouty Patty into Praising Patty, a glory to Christ the King.

Rom 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 Isa 43:21
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Angry Andrew

Angry Andrew has friends; not the best to hang about.
Strife and division, are always nearby to help him out.
Angry Andrew’s fire is a deep burning inferno; that cannot be satisfied.
But, anger needs fuel to keep its flame alive.
You can be sure, that strife and division will add to the flame.
To be wise; you must not allow them to remain.
For anger is like a roaring lion, that will not be easily appeased.
Only by constant vigilance and will, can you live in peace.
For every little thing sets him up to blow up again.
The angry man or woman needs the Prince of Peace to rule within.
Do you recognize this one I talk about in rhyme?
Pray, that with the Holy Spirit’s help, he will have peace of mind.

 Prov 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Eccl 7:9   Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

          Some people do not look you in the eyes when they speak.  It causes some mistrust when I am not allowed to behold the light within them.  One of the things that drew me to Jesus, was the genuine love I saw in the eyes of His followers.    I pray that I always will be open and transparent, willing to shine out God’s  love as I testify His goodness.

Love Eyes

Eyes of God’s love sparkled with a shine,
Heaven sent, reaching across eons of time.
Eyes reflect the beauty of a soul,
Love completes the image; in a life clean and whole.
Love-eyes behold the world in a different way,
They look through the new lens of grace.
Forgiveness is in every glance.  When motivated by love,
It is a gift sent from and to God above.
Shine forth your light, children of God;  the world looks deep inside.
When eyes are clear and open – they know God abides.
Darkness is gone, brooding sins do not cast shadows across the day.
Love eyes are full of God’s light; to help another find the way.

Matt 6:22-23
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Luke 11:33-34
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

So, so many questions, fill our hearts, in our everyday lives. The answer to His divine plan, we are able to be at peace; even in very troubled situations.

Jesus is the Answer

Look up, the answer soon comes.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and on all He has done
Look up in faith, not down in dread.
Do not look back; look up in faith ahead.
Believe the answer is at hand.
Read the Word, and you will understand,
The chosen need to see,
They only need to trust and believe.
I am the path and the way.
I am the destination you will find one day.
I am the Savior you have allowed inside.
I am your answer, and your peace, when in me you abide,
I am the Comforter and your best friend.
I am the King that soon comes again.
I am the solution to every problem you face,
For I am the One, who has your sins erased.
When you learn to trust Me, to care for you,
You have done all that you must do.

Ps 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Ps 56:9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Depressed Jess by  Brenda Drake

Depressed Jess… Oh, what a mess;
All he feels is unhappiness.
He walks with a dark cloud overhead.
All he sees are obstacles, and all he feels is dread.
His smile is upside down.
His eyes do not look up, they look to the ground.
He walks with a heavy step and drags his feet.
He faces every problem or trial with utter defeat.
He slumbers many hours without attaining rest.
The day’s hours, are like a sentence; because he’s so depressed.
In his depression he begins to feel,
That only his outlook in life is true and real.
But, he is deceived.  The evil one lies to him.
His greatest enemy pretends to be his friend.
There is help for him;  it is on the way.
Someone has recognized his plight, and they’ve begun to pray.
Depressed Jess still has a choice: he can choose, to the Light see,
Or, he can choose to continue to entertain the enemy.
If he listens to Jesus, he must not in this place stay.
He must decide to change his ways.
Jess has a new name, when he decides to depression fight.
Depressed Jess, becomes the best Jess; the close follower of Christ!

Prov 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow
of the heart the spirit is broken.