His Love Reaches Out
By brenda drake

He reached out to me before I was born.
He desired my love before I was formed.
Strange, but wonderfully true,
As He reached out to me; He also reached out to you.
On the cross… terrible, was His agony.
In this troubled place, He reached out to you and to me.
He saw our every sin, and, He died for each and every one.
Then, He motioned to us to follow Him, when He was done.
His holy work was finished; He waited for the appointed time,
When He called my name, I reached out, and invited Him inside.
There are many special times when I’ve felt His touch;
When I lift up my heart in worship… He lifts me up.
In times of worry, and times of stress,
When I, lift up my prayer requests,
He takes the problem that weights me down,
And then, He pulls me to higher ground.
Even in times of anger, trials, or fear,
In just a breath of praise, He draws near.
His loving, hand of mercy, and His wonderful, firm embrace,
Draws me even closer; when I seek His face.
He also reaches out to me through others …it is strange indeed,
Because we are so close, when it happens; it is, His embrace. I receive!

I Jn 4:10-11

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

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Inner Beauty By Brenda Drake

Beauty shines from within
The soul that has been fully cleansed
Gone is the stain that was so deep,
That the vessel was ruined; of little value to keep.
A saved soul has a wonderful glow to it
It shines up into heaven, for, God moves through it.
Sweet, pure waters flow from this place,
With the wonderful, refreshing, mercy; provided in grace.
An acceptable sacrifice, more precious than gold.
A beautiful, treasure, the Father holds.
Made after the image of Jesus … formed by God’s hand,
A lovely bride for His Son; as He, always planned.
Beautiful, are the feet of them, that share the Good News with others.
They shine, as a finely cut diamond; offered to their soul’s lover.
Many people, strive for earthly beauty, that fades as time passes by.
However, the loveliness of the saved soul, is never to be denied
For, the eyes shine; with new hope, and the heart is glad.
For, the future is  bright … and circumstances has lost the hold it had
The light within them, beckons, for the lost to “Come and see
What the Lord has done, and to salvation receive”
Love, causes hearts to smile; with songs of praise to Jesus the Christ,
A most beautiful, and lovely sight; that causes Him  great delight.

Rom 10:15
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

How Far I Have Traveled

How far I’ve traveled in my life,
I was lost and blind, but now, I’m found with new insight.
From the dark grasp of doom and gloom; I’ve been set free.
I walk in the light, as the Light, walks in me.
Fear, was a constant companion; that always pulled me down.
But now my Lord has pulled me to higher ground
Worry; burdened my heart, and, circumstances blocked my path.
Now, by faith I see a future bright, and my Lord, my burdens pack.
Hope is always nearby … gone, is the weight of dread.
The Word of God, has spoken into my life, and paves the way ahead.
I’ve traveled, far away, from my past and shame.
My Lord has paid my debt, and has given me, the honor of His name.
I still walk, through dry places; and through storms that blow,
But presently, God is my drink, and, the shelter for my soul.
I used to feel so alone, and afraid of what lay ahead.
But today, I remember, all my God has said.
He says He never will leave me; for He lives within.
He goes before me… as I follow after Him.
He is, for me; what have I to fear, I ask?
I travel toward a heavenly city, and,I will not look back.
I walk from death to life, and from life, to life evermore,
To be with Jesus, my Savior, and my risen Lord!

Prov 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Isa 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

I Will See You Through

Place your shortcomings at my feet.
Do not allow them to cause defeat
You know you are not perfect and many flaws you may see inside,
But, if you put your trust in me, in my righteousness you abide
I know, you do not feel worthy
To be a disciple, nor able to work on earth, for me.
I know some things; looks too hard to mend,
However, I see the deepest thoughts, and the motives within.
I know you forget, and loose faith, that I love you so.
But, I will strengthen and build you up; till in you it overflows.
When the vision, is clouded, by trials of life,
Remember your Lord, is your guiding light.
You cannot, fully comprehend, a love as great defined.
Nonetheless, trust and believe, all will be as I’ve designed
Trust in God’s goodness and believe in His care – not in what you see.
Examine the promises, the Word, says will be.
Jesus, the Word, will see you through; as we are now one.
Follow the Son of God – and watch for He soon comes.

Ps 139:1-10    O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

I remember as a young child standing in my room at my grandmother’s house, looking up to the heavens and saying, “God, if you are really there, why don’t you talk to me?”  I listened, but I did not hear a thing.
Many years later, after I had asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and had invited Him into my heart, I heard God speak!  I was sound asleep and I heard “God is Love; Jesus is forgiveness.”  I woke up immediately.  I was so excited – I knew it was God!  I then woke my husband up and repeated the wonderful message God spoke to me (my husband surely thought I had gone crazy).  I wrote it down in a little book.  I was so thrilled… not only could I talk to God, but, God would speak to me!
Much later, after the Holy Spirit taught me to listen, I received this poem.  It reminded me that when I was a child, I called out that I wanted to hear His voice.  God had heard me!  I just could not hear Him.

There was a small girl child with eyes open wide to see.
She called out to the heavens to a word from God receive.
She challenged me to listen and to speak to her clear,
However, she did not have a heart able to hear.
Many years went by and I called out to her many times.
One fine day, her heart with truth aligned,
It still took her a while to rest enough to hear my voice.
Now the little child can daily draw near so her heart can rejoice.

This poem inspired the cover art of my book, Waves of Comfort, which is being published in early 2017. The water is a representation of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – He is the Living Water constantly leading, guiding, and sustaining us. The flower represents the child of God resting in His precious care.

HE CALLS ME FLOWER
By Brenda Drake

Waves of Comfort, peace, and joy, flow
From above, to my needy soul.
In troubles and trial, He is there,
Lifting, and assisting, proving He cares.
In the harsh winds He guards with His hand.
With sweet promise, He helps me understand.
His love surrounds, and passes through me – at the same time,
With whispered promise, He says… You are mine.
Do not fear or worry, I am with you every hour.
Then, my heart melts – and yet soars – when He calls me, Flower.

Here’s another poem which will be in my book, Waves of Comfort, being published by WestBow Press in early 2017. We may see ourselves as a flawed crackpot, but to the Father, we are a vessel signed by Jesus.

THE VALUE OF THE SIGNED VESSEL
By Brenda Drake

The beautiful vessel signed, but cracked,
If bumped, could shatter, and no longer stay intact.
The flaw may be cleverly hidden, hardly seen by most,
But it is not the perfect vessel, that its image may boast.
But the children of God need not worry over the flaws they perceive,
Under the love of Jesus, their imperfections the Father does not see.
They are seen as perfect under the blood,
Because of His work in their behalf, they are good.
Because of His continued work in them, day by day changed
They are a masterpiece already signed by His name.

Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Here is the poem which set the theme for my book, Waves of Comfort,  order your own copy!

WAVES OF COMFORT
By Brenda Drake

When your heart is hurting, come
Enjoy the holy presence of God’s Son.
The loving touch of the Holy Comforter
Will heal and fix your inner hurts.
When the world has walked heavily upon you and joy has fled,
Come and allow the Comforter to show you how to forgive.
When your mind is confused and you do not know the way to go,
Come and allow the Word to guide – so you can in the Spirit flow.
I’ll fill your heart with gladness and your mind with truth and power
I’ll fill your heart with love in the most world’s troubling hour.
Waves of comfort flow to you and through you to lift and to edify.
Waves of God’s goodness are your eternal supply.
Beauty for ashes, mourning is by joy replaced,
All is provided by God’s provision of grace.
Waves of God’s mercy flood the land,
Overflowing hearts and minds of those that seek to understand.
Great, abundant, heavy showers of love,
Come from the Lord above.
Whatever you need, and whatever you desire, well and fine,
Will be, provided in God’s time.
Come, and allow the Sweet Spirit to touch,
You in your deepest need with His, waves of love.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.