Of value…
Life, laughter, memories, and eyes able to see
The work of God revealed in others, and in our surroundings.

Life …
Life is a gift from God, filled with joy, and learning years,
And some sadder times of trial, uncertainties, and tears.

Laugher…
Laugher flavors our lives with a sweet taste.
As we recall and share them, others are touched in a positive way.

Memories…
Memories of good times cause the heart to sing,
A joyous melody in tune with our King.
Of value also are memories that may cause us to cry;
Loving words spoken into our lives.
Precious are the memories of love ones missed.
A loving touch is delivered in remembrance.
Good recollections are valuable, keep them safe within.
For those of most value will be revisited again and again!

Time is of value….
We have only one life. We do not know how long we have to live.
 Because time is so valuable we need to wisely spend it
 God’s desire is for us to enjoy life and to have a heart able to see.
The most precious gift bestowed to set us free.
With heart and eyes open to others in our midst.
For they to are of great value because they are His.

  Of Value

Take time to smell the flowers, and enjoy the warmth of the sun
Feel the breeze.. count the stars… enjoy God’s creation
Take note of the neighbor, take time to smile and be nice
Look for the sparkle in a snowflake, and for the colors in the ice
Behold God’s gifts; take time to worship and to give praise
For even in a sinful land, you can find joy along the way

Phillipians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my face book friends.

 Flower of Respect

Consider the flower…it is a beautiful thing.
It is a chosen gift for pauper or for King.
Lovely and sweet smelling….often shared.
They are fragile and must be treated with care.
Flowers have the ability to lift spirits when sad.
With the touch of God it inspires and makes a heart glad.
Mothers are like flowers too;
How many times has she bloomed for you?
She is there from beginning and even till the end,
She is your greatest fan.  She is your greatest friend.
Her love is powerful, with an aroma of her own.
She is truly the beauty of the godly, well run home.
Her place of honor is well known in heaven’s realm above,
For like the flower’s  bloom she also demonstrates God’s love.
What a wonder she is to see.
When you show her love she is renewed right in front of thee.
There is great value in her child’s words of praise,
Like a flower of respect are the words “Happy Mother’s day”

Ephesians 6:2-3
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

         When we begin to complain about how much we have to sacrifice for those we love it would be good to remember all Jesus did to ransom us from the sure eternal death of our sinful soul.  We indeed have a lot to give thanks for.

Traded Agony for Our Joy

He rose up the dead and laid down His life.
He poured out His all in His sacrifice.
They cursed at the Word and spat on Him who gave them breath.
In His thirst, His desire was to our thirst quench.
He was beaten, stripped, and shamed,
As they called out taunts and dishonored His name.
He offers His righteous robe and His name to all who will receive.
He trades His agony for eternal joy to all who believe
He walked and talked with sinners and shined His life bright.
To the repented even now He shares His light.
His heart broke at the weight of sin.
So our life could be free and whole to one day rejoice in Him.
He laid down His life and rose on the third day conquering death,
With promise to lift up every believing life victorious.
The devil cowers at all the promises His sacrificed life guarantees,
For he knows one day he too will fall upon his knees.

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.

When we invite Jesus into our lives, He lives with us in our world.  At the same time, we enter into His Kingdom and live in Him in His world.  We are new creatures living in a new dwelling place.  We walk on earth’s dusty streets and by faith on the streets of gold at the same time.

The Dwelling Place

There is a dwelling place
Where there is freedom while in a firm embrace.
This place is as safe and as secure,
As it is holy and as it is pure.
It has only one entrance and it is full of light.
Wise are the ones that have found the way of right.
In this place there is no fear or shame.
Abundance, health, and mercy are in His name.
Love’s touch is very evident in this place.
Sweet adoration is lifted under the banner of His grace.
Eternal benefits are sure profit to each soul,
That allows the Holy Spirit full control.
When you abide in Jesus and as He abides in you,
You become a holy dwelling place too.
One in the Spirit, with Him as one,
A refuge to others to become.
The Church is built up with living stones.
No man dwells in this place all alone.
The One that loves more than you will ever understand,
Makes His home with the redeemed just as He planned.
A place that allows peace and rest to all that come in;
A wonderful, holy work to house all that are drawn to Him.

Psalms 90:1
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Ephesians 2:5-6
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

            We live in a sinful, messed-up world.  No one is perfect and no one lives and loves perfectly.  God is love.  Jesus lived and loves perfectly.  When we are saved we still are not perfect but we are perfected by His work on the cross.  The Word of God gives us needed wisdom to learn how to walk in the footsteps of our Lord.  We have opportunity to ask for assistance making our requests in Jesus’ name.

Love is Your Cover

Love covers a multitude of sins.
It does not eagerly expose nor does it condone them.
God is love. He loved man so much|
He chose to die so He could their life touch.
In His death every sin and shame,
Every devilish plot was applied to His name.
He exposed sin on the tree and every debt paid,
So seeking hearts could be saved.
Saved from the penalty of sin’s price;
Saved so they could live as one with Christ.
Love forgives and restores with help from above,
Such is the power and ability of love.
Love turns the other cheek
And purposes to only good things speak.
Love sacrifices and places self, last.
Love reaches to the future refusing to turn back.
Love is not always mushy and soft to touch,
But love is strong and always willing to lift up.
Love the neighbor as yourself; do to others as you wish done to you.
If you practice love’s presence you must learn to forgive others and yourself too.
Love is always available; He is as close as a prayer.
Love is your cover, and is always willing to His love share.

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Mark 12:30-31
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

            I am at awe when I think about how majestic my God is and so thankful for how much He has done to make me able to be one with Him for eternity.  There is no real reason for us to worry or be depressed.  He is the answer to every question and He is more than anything we could ever need.  He is in control; in faith remember, nothing can take us out of His loving care.

Engraved on His Hand

Your hurts, your pains,
Your bondage’s and your chains,
Your inability, your flaws inside,
The sins you’ve allowed to abide,
The evil thoughts, the hurtful plans,
The unkind words, the harsh demands,
Your fears, your heart’s cry,
Every untrue promise you’ve spoken, every lie,
Your greed, your lust, your shame,
Everything under the sun named,
Every sickness of body, soul, mind,
Every minute of wasted time,
Every hope or dream, every desire,
The secret place of inner fires,
Each thought, and unspoken request,
All kind deeds, every moment of needed rest.
All things I am acquainted with, for you see
I have experienced them already.
I suffered and felt the weight of them for you.
Know my friend this word is true.
Your remembrance is engraved in my hand.
When you have accepted my plan
When you purpose to align with the Father’s will.
In you and through you His will is fulfilled
So walk on knowing I AM is in full control of your life
You are well known by your Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;
thy walls are continually before me.

Psalms 31:15
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,
and from them that persecute me.

      I will never forget the first time I felt the wonderful warmth of God’s favor.  I was completely and forever changed.  There is no place more comfortable or satisfying than in His presence.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the knowledge He also desires our time together and loves to hear the sound of my voice.

The Sunshine of a Grateful Heart

The new day’s sunshine warms the land.
The smile of God warms the heart of redeemed man.
His love is evident at every turn.
It cannot be bought, it is not earned.
His love like the sunshine falls on the just and unjust too.
It too when treated with disrespect may badly burn you.
God’s favor is as sure as is His love.
It surrounds, and rises from within, and falls from above.
Allow its sweet benefit to wash over you;
In its holy sun shine move.
Perhaps the joy of salvation has been pushed down,
By the threatening clouds of life all around.
You need to remember God is in full control.
He has a sure hold on your soul.
He smiles at remembrance of your smile.
Such is the love He has for His child.
He is pleasured by the sound of your voice each day;
And draws close when you pray,
He is glorified when in remembrance you come,
To revel in the warmth of Jesus grateful for all He has done.

Colossians 2:6-7
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

            Holy Spirit is making us more like Jesus each day.  It is an exciting truth and yet there is a certain responsibility to it.  Are we not to do as He did whenever we have opportunity?  He never asks us to do what He does not give us the strength and ability to do.  We are a work in progress formed by the Master’s hand.

The Master’s Hand

Formed expertly by the Master’s hand;
Guided to fulfill His master plan,
A beautiful masterpiece put on display,
To Christ’s image portray.
Anointed, appointed and commissioned to serve,
By living, speaking, and serving the Word.
You are a light in the darkness; a fresh water supply
To assist another seeking thirsty soul dry.
A work in progress, yet finished by the work of God’s Son.
In a daily battle and yet the battle is won.
The touch of the Master upon your life,
Assures every wrong is made right.
His touch is as close as a prayer.
When you give praise He is already there.
His touch is upon you, in you and also flows through you.
When you reach out to another the Master hand touches them too.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

        When a buried half-memory visits we are tempted to dredge it all up. When it is a good recollection it is a pleasurable experience. However in unwanted remembrances we need to allow the Lord to help us lay it aside or to reveal in His time with His healing touch.

Digging Deep in the Sands of Time

Digging deep in the sands of time,
Uncovering things hidden left behind.
Things that the mind selected,
As not worthy of noting and therefore rejected.
Little memories surface and try to find permanent place,
Where they are kept and not erased.
But is it always wise to dig down to them?
To bring them back to surface again?
Occasionally it is healthy to do,
For in recollection they no longer bother you.
It is better when God helps you dig deep,
For He has a gift of healing for you to keep.
Then the memory is better than before,
For they are touched by the hand of the Lord.
Forgive others as you have been forgiven and you will find,
Buried hurts are changed by the sands of time.

Psalms 51:9-13
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

The Rock

The stone was heavy and it was sealed tight
The tomb that held the Master was dark without light
How could they finish the work they needed to do?
Who would the great obstacle move?
Their footsteps slowed hearts heavy within
They felt the great loss of their Lord and friend.
Dried tears still stained their cheeks.
Pain within was tight with grief.
Sorrow filled every thought,
Their bruised, aching hearts relief sought
What would they need for the great struggle ahead?
Preoccupied with worry they forgot what their Lord said
He said that He would die and He would live again.
He told them He needed to pay for their sins.
He declared He would defeat the enemy
He professed He would set the captives free
As they approached the sepulcher… what a glorious sight
The inside of the tomb was filled with light
Could it be, their hearts cried?
The Stone is removed and Jesus in not inside
He has risen! Their eyes wide with joy and hope within
Could it be? Can it be they would see their Lord again?
Easter time remembers the work of Jesus on the Cross of shame
And it celebrates that the Lord did not behind the stone remain.
He is at the right hand of the Father in intercession for you and me
So now we on the Solid Rock stand new, whole, and set free

Psalms 95:1
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation.