The Sacrifice of Praise

When alone and forsaken
Praise Him for His presence
When in need and anxious
Praise Him for His provisions
When ailing and hurting
Praise Him for the healing
When troubled and heavy laden
Praise Him for the peace
When unsure of the future
Praise Him for His direction
When in poverty and want
Praise Him for the prosperity
When in battle and warfare
Praise him for the victory
When tired and weary
Praise him for the rest.
Praise, praise Him, ye saints
For His promises are Aye and Amen
Praise, praise Him, ye saints
For His love Endures Forever!

Wisdom for Today

            Your child needs your time today
            Tomorrow you say
            before tomorrow the child gone,
            relationship hindered!

            Your spouse needs to discuss that matter today
            Tomorrow you say
            before tomorrow spouse no more
            Relationship curtailed!

            Your friend needs to talk today
            Tomorrow you say
            before tomorrow friend deceased
            Relationship forever lost!

            The opportunity here today
            Tomorrow lost forever;
            All that is certain is today
            All you need is today.
            Act now for tomorrow is another’s today!

Nothing Just Happens

" And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28.

 

            You fret and anger,
            Complain and nag
            You threaten and curse
            controlled by pride,
            Yet, it helps not!

            You push and shove
            blackmail with tears,
            You plot and distract
            Engulfed in self pity
            Yet, it helps not!

           Stop and listen
           Don’t push, don’t force
           There is a lesson, a reason
           heed to the quiet still voice
           Nothing just happens!

Will you still love me?

God loves us unconditionally and His love does not waver. How many of us can say that we have such love to those we tell that we love? What if you find that the person you love has a past that is tainted with things you degrade? What about in the future? Will you still care considering the change in looks and /or status?

Will you still love me?

Knowing I once roamed streets
Knowing I once begged to live
Knowing I once traded my body
Knowing I once habitated goal,

Will you still care?
When my looks wither
When youth fails me
When my strength shrivels
When health fails me
When my wealth is gone
When prestige dies on me

Love requires strength
It demands tolerance,
Love requires mercy
It demands sacrifice,
Love requires truth
It demands forgiveness,
Love requires stamina
It demands endurance!

Daughter of my Mother

In honor of the sister hood of women

Daughter of my mother

Whom I love and honor,
Why do you sit mourning?
Complaining, yet not acting?

You say “I’m just a woman,
greatness is another’s,
There is no one to help me”
Excuse, excuse, for mediocrity!

Daughter of my mother
don’t you know you are
what you think?
Why wait for another
to validate you?

If you believe, others will,
be true to yours and know,
Power you have to soar
O’er mountains like an eagle.

Identify your purpose and plan
Free you are, to be all
Only believe and act!

The Game of Life

            Life is a game of chess             Full of twists and turns
            You imagine if only
            the if only comes but
            it was just if only;

            Captive of your destiny
            How to arrive you ponder
            You imagine if only
            the if only comes but
            it was just if only;

            Lost in the storms of life
            How to get out you wonder
            You imagine if only
            the if only comes but
            it was just if only;

            Immersed in the fire of life
            How to ease the pain you agonize
            You imagine if only
            the if only comes but
            Wiser as the end draws nigh you know!

The Sentence

Happily married, lovely children

a good education, great status
pride of the parents, a role model.

A lapse of character, for fun
out with the boys for a drink,
she is young, pretty and exciting
a nice gal, perhaps!

The next time, just the two
out for fun, one thing to another
eating forbidden fruits
sacred vows forgotten, for the moment.

The Family, out of sight unaware
later nothing the same
A persistent dry cough, an ugly rash
unexplained night sweats
groping fear, tormenting guilt

The verdict unbearable, sentence too harsh
in ignorance the wife infected,
the children affected.
It was just for fun!

It Happened overnight

Most favored of the twelve
at seventeen the future promising
dreaming of his life mission
envied and scorned by his own
OVERNIGHT, freedom stolen
Sold to a far land!

In a foreign land favored at work
blessed and successful in all
lust in the master’s other half
tempting without success, lying
OVERNIGHT, freedom snatched
Downwards to prison!

Favored in prison, his wit tested
a dream, two dreams, interprating
Two years later, a dream by the ruler
His gift and wit put to test
interpreting the dream with wisdom
OVERNIGHT, freedom restored
Elevated to the highest office
Mighty and powerful!

Whatever May

            Whatever may come your way
            However difficult
            Whatever the challenge
            Whatever the cost
            Whatever they say,
             Stand firm!

            Whatever happens on the way
            However trying
            Whatever the nature
            Whatever the size
            Whatever they say,
             Stand firm !

            Stand firm and rejoice
            Give praise and faint not
            Greater is your reward
            Greater is your hope
            Greater is your destiny!

           Though it tarries
           Whatever will see you through!

A True Friend

“A friend Loves at all times, And a brother is born of adversity” Proverbs 17: 17.

 

All wish for a true friend
One that loves at all times;
A friend that inner secrets can trust
One that judges not, nor condemns;
A friend that is available needy times
One that comforts in trouble;
A friend that doubt not your judgment
One that earnestly counsels in love;
A friend that defends even in absence
One that is a shield against foes;

Such a friend is priceless!
for neither gold nor diamonds can replace
Such a friend a gift to treasure

For neither woes nor riches can separate
You who is such a friend
blessings and honor are yours;
For you love another as yourself
laying down your life for another!

His name is above all others

He "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likenes of men. —He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" Philippians 2: 7-8.

He was born in a manger
Of lowly “parents”
in difficult times
A leader even at birth
The wise, traveling a distance
To honor with substance,
For their king He is.

 

He humbled Himself to a servant
Serving His own as a model
A carpenter by trade
Perfect in all ways
His love unmatched before
Meek like a lamb, yet powerful

 

He humbled Himself to the end

giving all of Him for love
Suffering a most shameful death
humiliated and forsaken

Yet powerful even in death
Making a mockery of death
Loving even in pain and shame

 

On the third of days,
He arose from the tomb
Appearing to his own
For truth and comfort
Instructing His bride
With love and power

 

He deserves glory and honor
For He is the king of kings
and the lord of lords
He sits in the heavenly throne
the earth His footstool!
His kingdom is everlasting.

Hope sustains

When things seemed to fall apart
You kept me secure in you;
When things seemed hopeless
You made me believe;
When fear groped me in darkness
You lighted my way to the truth.

 

You have sustained me in weakness!
In silence, feeling forsaken and alone
You have urged me on;
When anxiety threatened my sanity
You reminded me of hope.

 

You have kept me in strength!
When I asked why, what, when….
You revealed the hidden things;
When reality failed me
You made me believe in you;
In you I have received grace!

Not Anymore

           Many times I thought, wondered
           Where you were, why you kept away.
            I wondered  whether you thought of me
            Did you miss me and mine?
            Were your others better?
            Why did you abandon and reject me?
            Never visited, called, wrote, silence!

            Many times I dreamt, imagined
            sitting with you, discussing life issues
            You, giving me wise counsel
            Filling the void in my heart
            Affirming me with your love
            Protecting me from the darkness.

            Then I met Him who is faithful
            He gave me what I needed and more; peace
            He healed the pain, affirming me as His
            He covered my nakedness taking the shame
            I can trust Him for his love endures

The Rebirth

She sits staring into space
Lost in thought, clothed in misery
Life meaningless, without purpose
Another bottle she opens to drown
Another puff she takes wondering
“Will he come home today?”
the loneliness worse, seems hopeless!

Where can she find rest?
Her soul troubled, spirit broken
A thought in mind, plan forming
End it all and rest, she reasons;
“Come to me and rest” a whisper
She wonders, then ignores

“I love you” another whisper
Suddenly, warmth surrounds
Her chains broken, she sobs releasing
Burdens lifted, joy, her spirit bubbling
Her heart renewed, hope established
She is re-birthed!

Morning Will Come

"Hope deffered makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life". Proverbs 13:12.

 

            Everyday, most moments
            Hopeless, hapless
            trials and tribulations
            Weariness and anxiety.

            Everyday, most moments
            Moody, gloomy
            Shaking and testing
            Wintry and nightly.

            Everyday, most moments
            Darkness, nightly
            Darthly and deathly.

            Where art thou day?
            Where hide you light?
            Tears overnight
            no rest for my soul;
            Yet will I hope
            For morning comes!

Why Worry

" Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through  Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:6-7.

            You wonder whether
            You will make it
            You say, “I am fatherless
            My heritage is poor;
            I am a woman alone
            raising children
            I am from a minority race
            in a foreign land”
          
            Have you forgotten THAT
            The Lord fights the cause
            of the fatherless
            He defends the case
            of the alien
            He speaks for the lonely
           Widow
            He provides for the
            Needy?

            Why worry when
            You can praise Him
            for His goodness
            When you can adore Him
            for His compassion
            When you can worship Him
            for His majesty
            When you can love Him
            for His kindness
            Why worry?

The Mission

Daily I walk, daily I run, stopping not

Sometimes in pain, times joyous
It seems so long, so far away
Yet I walk, yet I run.

When my lord, when will thy face show
Sometimes great hope, times faithless
It seems so removed, so forlorn
Yet I walk, yet I run.

Many times I call, many quiet moments
Sometimes great faith, times weakness
It seems so hard, so complex
Yet I walk, yet I run.

You are my strength, my great redeemer
Sometimes you slay me, times favored
It seems so intricate, so intriguing
Yet I walk, yet I run.

My Love

True love reaches out as demonstrated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; For while we were yet sinners He died for us.

            Your heart was bleeding
            The wound needed treatment
            You were restless and troubled
            Your anger, held in,
             threatened like a volcano
             lying dormant;
            Bitterness held you captive
            blind to all around!

            I sought you out, pursuing
            Like a young lover, I endeared
            enticing you with perfumed words
            I made you feel worthy and needed
            reaching deep in your spirit
           Where your heart was locked
            safe and secured against hope.

            I opened it so gently with
            My alluring aroma of hope
            I melted the lock with tender
            mercy healing the wound with
            The balm that last, my love!

Doubt Not

“Whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it
and it will be yours .”
So you prayed and pray,
“What if I don’t get well?
What will happen to me?
Where will I get the funds –?
How will I manage if?
It is impossible–hopeless
It is too far gone for me!
May be I am not worthy!”
Yet you prayed and pray,
How can what if, impossible, can’t
Reign in prayer?
Ask for whatever and receive
Only believe!

When You Pray

"When you pray, do not use vain repitations as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.---In this manner, therefore pray" Mathew 6: 7,9

Our father in the heavens
mighty and powerful
merciful and compassionate;
Your presence and wisdom
on earth be magnified;

exercise Your will
from heavens on earth;
Your goodness we testify
as You meet our needs daily;
forgive us when we err
for clay and weak we are;
teach us the way of mercy
that others forgive we may;
give us direction
away from evil’s path;
protect and shield us
as we journey to finish
the course o’life;
Amen!

The Prince of Peace

 " My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid" John 14: 27

            The lass dreams of a Prince
            The lad imagines he’s a prince
            But there is one true and real
            clothed in full armor;
            Mighty and powerful yet gentle
            He reaches out unexpected
            Times when low and doubting
            lost in shame and guilt
            rejected and abandoned;
            He knocks ever so gently
            Invited, He sits to sup’
            His presence inescapable
            merciful and compassionate;
            Promptly you empty your heart
            fear and pain revealed,
            confessing your guilt and shame;
            Your soul cleansed and restored
            peace abide within like never.
            The lass has met her prince
            The lad knows he is a prince!

It Isn't Easy

She sighs as she makes her prayers,

“Lord, give us our daily bread and protection.”
The child lies in bed, fed and rested
in the comfort of the mother’s love.
What will tomorrow bring, she wonders.

Her day starts early;
She prays for strength to see her through.

‘Tis another day and she must make it.
The child, clean and fed, school waits.
She hugs and whispers, “I love you son.”
She rushes for the bus.

Shelter and security she must provide.
The lad she must discipline, nurturing,

Cheering in victory,
Reassuring in life’s abandon.
‘Tis in courage, honor, she faces her lot.
Surely, it isn’t easy!

Loving your enemy

In pain and frustration I asked;
“How do I love my enemies, pray for those
who persecute me?”

He who is faithful and gracious spoke,

"My ambassador, have I called yu to be

Anything that I command, all that I ask
My love and strength, deposited in you;

To the world I gave the best, my son;
In honor of me and of love for you
My son, his life He gave, that you
may know the way to love and of love;

I direct people dried of love your way
That you, my child, may sprinkle my love
on them, offering  prayers as a love offer

In weakness my grace is perfected"

My Lord, My Lover

Hopeless and fearful
In the pit, forsaken
Broken and alone
You whispered, gently
“Come to me and rest”

In my pain, doubting
I walked away;
You followed, whispering
Melting down my barriers
Your word, my path

You picked me up
Reaching down the valley
Where broken I lay
cleansing me with water so pure
Your love, endearing and fulfilling

You loved me in my darkness
Regardless of my failures
In spite of my weaknesses
Continuously faithful and available
Directing and lighting my path

You Sustained me with hope
Merciful and compassionate
Freely pouring out your grace
My lord, My Lover, You are!

A true Helper

"She watches the over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness" Proverbs 31: 27

 

Her rest is little
At night she puts them to bed
tucking them in as she
leads them to the Father in prayer
Her hugs warm and real

reminding them of her love.

She is the last to bed
and the first to start
Holding her household
together with love

House chores await her daily
meals she must prepare and
cater for the family.

She is the foundation
in which the family is built
the heart of them all
Her husband relys on her
her children too.

Yet she daily, graciously
handles her calling.
She deserves praise and honor
She is the salt that flavors
the family’s life
Her strength revealed
even in weakness
She is a woman of honor

You Have Something

At times we wonder how we will make it. You look at your situation and it seems hopeless, from a worldly perspective. But where does faith come in?

You worry, wondering
You agonize, wishing
You resign in desperation
the situation seemingly hopeless!
Consider this;
A rod, with faith, made a way
Where there was no way;
A little oil with faith saved two sons
and a widow's destiny;
A jar of flour, a jug of oil, with faith

secured a widow and son’s future;
Five loaves, two fish, with faith
Fed 5,000 men and more!

Reach for what you have
For with faith, it’s all you need
To your next stop!