Friday, March 11, 2011

Expectation Living

April 2, 2011

Psalm 121

I look into the forever
I look into His face
He is my help
In All His Ways.

He doesn't let me stumble
He doesn't let me fall
Always He watches
And doesn't sleep at all.

The Lord is my shade
At His right hand
I do not fear
For He is always near.

He engraves my name
On the palm of His hand
The sun shall not blind me
In the moonlight, He sings over me.

Forever - Forever!
God watches over me.
Forever - Forever!
Farther than I can see.
Forever - Forever!
Now and for an eternity!

Wrritten at the 2011 RCC Retreat by Heather, Katie, Belva and Emily

March 15, 2011

Prayer is....
...knowing that God is real
...to see His power
...to praise His name
...to know He is dear.

Prayer is....
...trusting and believing
...asking for guidance
...placing my Hand in His
...and knowing His fragrance.

Prayer is...
....living hope that is ours
....to know that He hears
...and know He answers
...having faith until He appears.

March 8, 2011

Expectation Living

Who writes the expectations
That fill my heart each day?
Who holds the pen that writes
Frustration in a myriad of ways?

The names are Confusion Chaos
And Confounding Commotion
That fill my every moment with
Increasing defeat and frustration.

From the depths of despair
I raise longing eyes to You
“Lord, write on my heart your message
Of eternal expectations true.”

Fill my heart and my mind
That Jesus is Lord of all
So world expectations will dim

And all I hear is your sweet call.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

February Thoughts

Who Is Jesus?
Galatians 5:22-23 -
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Who is Jesus? My Savior
He's the Shepherd, Lord and King
He's the Prince of Peace, my Shield
He's the love song that I sing.

How can I ever praise Him?
No matter the trouble I see,
No matter what circumstance,
I love Him, He set me free.

I lift my heart to you,
I lift up my hands
To the Shepherd, Lord and King
His faithfulness ever stands.

Sing a song of kindness,
Sing a song of faithfulness
In patience I will rest
Jesus is my gentleness.

He's my over-flowing joy
His glorious peace is mine
He gives me self-control
He's the love and joy I find.


HOPE (2/8)
Psalm 37:3-4 -
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Colossians 1:27 -
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Psalm 33:20-21 -
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
.I Peter 1:20 - 21 -
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

My hope is in you, O Lord
I trust your Holy Name
Your love never fails
You are ever the same.

You are my help
You are my shield
In You I find wisdom
To You I ever yield.

The desires of my heart
I receive day and night
For it is in You
I ever will delight.


He Cares (2/6/11)

Psalm 31:7 -
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
Psalm 121:8 -
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
I Peter 5:7 -
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

The Lord watches over you
He watches over me

Forever more He watches
He knows, He cares and sees.

I give Him all my troubles
I give Him all my cares
For evermore He watches
He wipes away my tears.

He know my anguish
He knows my sorrow
I know He ever cares
He knows my tomorrows!


RESTING (2/3/11)

Psalm 91:1 - Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 23:2 - He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

In the shadow of the Lord, I rest.
In His love, I am blessed
He leads me beside still waters
His name I praise and profess!

Teach me your great wisdom
And your grace so winsome
From sin, give me freedom
Mere men will never fathom.

Without you, my days are few
Without you, there's no virtue
With you, forever is truly new
Each day I'm resting in you.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

2011 - God's Promises in January

Psalm 84:10-11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.


Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Blessings

Count your many blessings, the words ring
As a child, I heard the people sing
A blessing of love, a blessing of giving
Makes our life on earth worth the living.

A blessing here, a blessing there
Turns a cloudy day into a day so fair.
Trusting Jesus is the way you know
To be blessed and in Him to grow.

Is a spiritual blessing ever out-grown?
Does it rust, or is it just a loan?
No, a blessing is celebrated heaven-wide.
For the Lord, our shield, walks by our side.

Hebrews 4:12 -
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Bible Tells Me So

The most precious words I hear.
Come from the Blessed Book
No matter where I look
The words are sharp and clear.

Jesus loves me, this I know.
He stays right by my side.
In His Heart I will abide.
His words He does bestow


Yes, Jesus loves me
Every day, in every way
His truth and love it conveys

I read it in His Book, you see
.
His Words bring me hope and life
Dividing the spirit and the soul
His words make me whole.

And pierce me like a knife.

Jesus loves you and me
He touches us with His glory
Let me tell you the story
How His love sets us free.

Romans 12:4-5-
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Belonging

I searched far and near
For a place to belong.
Bereft and lonely, I cried
So still, hear heard lost its song.

Then I met Jesus, Lord and King
He gave me a song to sing
Of hope, joy and love
He became my Everything.

Now I belong to Jesus,
I am a part of one body.
I belong to you, you belong to me.
IN Jesus we are each - somebody!


1/17/11
John 10:28-29 -
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Everlasting Assurance

A baby nestles against his mother's face
Secure and loved in his special place.
Nothing like love's assurance
Unconditional love has its own fragrance.

A fragrance that lasts through the ages
Spoken of by ancestral sages
A child may leave that tender time
Life loses its rhythm and rhyme.

Just as the love of our Father Lord
Creates a place where we are adored
Our Father Lord promises this day
That we cannot be snatched away.


1/16/11
Winter Woods

The trees stand in the grey of the night
Singing a mournful melody, sad, yet sweet
Of the Christ crucified in their sight.
The trees bowed their heads in defeat.

On the third day, their eyes beheld Jesus arise.
He ascended into the skies, into Heaven.
The trees lifted their heads and opened their eyes.
To catch one more glimpse of the One without Sin.

Let the trees tell their story in the whispering wind
Listen to them tell of their Creator and His Might
He created the universe as time did begin.
The trees stand waiting until He returns to their sight.

(Written in response to the song by Ron Pennington)

1/12/11
Anger
Psalm 39;5 - Proverbs 15:1

Anger lurks inside waiting
When my defenses are low
Then grabs my heart
And sets me aglow.

My world begins to be on fire
From the inside out.
Then I act and yell
Leaving no doubt.

In Jesus, I find His Joy
My anger dissolves in peace
And as I learn to forgive
In me, His grace will increase.

For harsh words and looks
Makes one's temper fly
While a loving soft spirit
Bids Anger a swift goodbye.

1/9/11
I Cry out to You
Psalm 34:17 - Luke 19:40 - Psalm 55:17

My heart will not be still
For without you, I am not filled
You're my strength, I live in your will.
I cry out to you, Oh, Lord

In your mercy and grace
I look upon your face
Help me find You in this Place
I cry out to You, O, Lord.

Without you I am undone
I love you, God's Own Son
You are the Only One
I cry out to You, O Lord.

I am reaching out to You
Singing your praise so true.
Praise that is ever new.
I cry out to you, Oh, Lord.


1/7/2011
Angels
Psalm 34:7
Hebrews 13:2

Are angels around us today?
How do they communicate?
What do angels say?
As messengers of Yahweh.

Angels surround us day and night.
Guards that protect, not within sight
Angels who guard those of the light
Those who fear the Lord.

Without warning, without a sign
We may entertain angels divine
They may be strangers by design
But angels bring us God's message.

Angels all around us who do
God's bidding with virtue
Angels who major in rescue
Of mortals like me, it is true.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Feels Like Home

October 31 - Romans 8:26

The singer sings the words, "Cleanse me, oh, God, and make me Thine.
For this body belongs to You, For your purposes and not mine.

God created us and Jesus cleanses us, And we are His through and through.
The Holy Spirit resides in us, Making the House of prayer ever new.

In every way may it be, That I obey each day
And simply choose you, And follow, trusting your way.

Lord, Keep on using me, As you will,
And my heart cries out, Lord, before you, I am still.


October 30 - Romans 8:28

Lord, you hear my cry, For the one on my heart.
You know how my heart yearns, Your will to him impart.

He once was yours, He once claimed you as Lord.
Yet he walked away, And left a broken cord.

I raise my beloved, And pray with tears.
Save Him, Lord, Take away His fears.

Take Him by your hand, Awaken his love for you.
Bring him to full grace, To the divine love He once knew.

Send the Holy Spirit, To intercede for him.
I love this one so, Make his life a praise-poem.

October 29 - John 11:26

Lord, I believe, Yet I hold back
A part of my heart as if there is a lack.

I guard my words, I guard my soul,
As if it is I, Who is in control.

Then in trembling fear, I dance all around
The truth of Him, And His love that surrounds.

Lord, help my unbelief, Help me believe
Without a doubt or fear, To your love, I'll cleave.

October 27 - I Peter 4:13

Tell me about suffering, And I will tell you,
Of the One who died, On the cross for me, it's true.

What agony He endured, And horrific pain,
As he bore our sins, Suffering and blood-stained.

How can I but love Him, How can I but care,
So deeply, I give my all, To Jesus, God's Son so fair.

Though I lose my all, My song I shall sing
Of my love for Thee, My Savior, My King.

When I learned what, He did for me,
I know the depth of His love, I know His grace so free.

Each wretched moment, I think I endure
Is nothing at all, For I live for Jesus, so pure.

October 26, 2010 - Romans 8:26, Psalm 139

When I was a child, I didn't understand
I wanted my own way, And my wishes I would demand.

Then I learned about God, How he made m.
My body is His temple is where - The Holy Spirit is to be.

Jesus went into the temple one day, To throw the evil doers out
He turned over the tables, and the money rolled about.

My house shall be called, A house of prayer, he said.
I open my heart to Him, and pray, I am Spirit-led.

October 25, 2010 - James 4:8

The sky is filled With messages from you.
The brilliant morning sun
Comes peeking through
The fleecy clouds take on
The reflection and hue.
Birds rush about
Singing praises as they flew
The earth says come,
Come, Lord Jesus, I love you.
My arms reach up...
To receive your love anew.
Then your love floods
My soul, through and through
And I remember, Draw near to God
And He will draw near to you!

October 24, 2010 - Galatians 2:20
I am the one, Look at me
To any man I will not, Bow my knee.

I am the one, I am my own man.
What I accomplish, Will forever stand.
Then I met Jesus, And lost myself,
In His saving grace, And His Love-self.

I am crucified with Christ, He's my living King,
He is the life I live, He is the song I sing.

October 23 - John 14:15

If I love Him, I will obey...
If I am one, With Him this day.

If is a punctuation mark On which Kingdoms are won
If is a pause in life, That stops a frantic run.

If is a great word, That creates anxiety
It stops me in my tracks and causes me to question my piety.

If I love and obey, God brings His love through me
So others will know the way, And in Him be free.

October 22 - I Corinthians 6:19

Nothing is more real
Nothing is more today
Than to surrender
To Jesus and His way.

In Jesus we give
Ourselves, hiding nothing
The world tries to pull us
From your purpose and loving.

We do not quiver in fear
At the first hint of pain
We simply grips his nail pierced hand
And remember the cross and stand.

Holy is your blessed name
Praises to you we sing
Lead us and guide us,
Saviour, Master, our King.

October 21 - Matthew 17:20

A faith-mark is the place
Where God leaves His love-trace.
Where God taught us
His Word to trust.
Our lives He sweetens
And our faith He strengthens
Faith is the indelible mark
Of God's presence in a personal-arc
Holy Father, come place in me...
Your faith-mark for all to see.

October 20, 2010 - Hebrews 11:6

I came into the world
A natural being
Impulsive and vain,
Selfish earth-seeing.

Then I met Jesus
And I surely know
That knowing Him
Is to love Him so.

To know is to trust
The One who loves me
He died on the cross
To set me free.

I am made whole
The Holy Spirit leads
And faith is boundless
For Jesus satisfies my needs.

October 19, 2010 - II Corinthians 5:21

At every turn on earth
I must show my I.D.
To let others know
And verify whom they see.

The papers I carry
Are written to reveal
My identification
Signed and sealed.

Then I met the One
Who bore the world's sin
His I.D. are the nail prints
His power and love is sovereign.

I cross the bridge
Of His great sacrifice
And the Great I am
And His love for me will suffice.

October 18, 2010 -
Romans 5:10

Justification is not
When I believe
Or when I repent
It's when I perceive
That Jesus died
On the cruel cross
And rose again.

Feels Like Home…..

It is your smiling face
In this comfortable place
That feels like home.

It’s the way you wrap your arms
Around me, that disarms me
That feels like home.

It’s the hurts you heal
That makes it real
And feels like home.

I never have to pretend
With my closest friend
You Feel Like Home.

How long will home last?
Will it soon be passed?
Oh, it Feels like home.

I’m home where I can share
Jesus’ love and care
He makes it Feel like Home

Jesus gave His Life for me
So I could live eternally
Where I feel at home.

With Him, it feels like home.
For me, it feels like home
Where there is love and trust
Where it Feels like home