Father God,
a new year of school is here and students are returning to the classroom.
So much excitement.
So much apprehension.
Please hear my prayer as our kids resume.
There will be reading and writing and arithmetic too.
Spelling, science and all things new.
There will be friends and lunch and games galore.
There will be all of that and so much more.
Routines will be changing.
Schedules will get busy.
Sometimes all of this can make one feel dizzy.
So, Father God, hear my prayer,
and bless our children here and there.
Bless their teachers.
Bless their year.
Guide them so they will not fear.
Keep them safe, Lord, every busload.
Bless all drivers who share the road.
Bless our children here and now.
May this year cause them to say “Wow!”
Amen 🙂
Poetry
Vastness
My family and I went to Cape Disappointment recently – a beautiful Washington State Park situated where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean. While at North Head Lighthouse in the park, I stood at the fence and stared at the vastness of the ocean. What a humbling sight. I wish my kiddos weren’t so antsy to leave so I could have gazed at this scene longer. How they weren’t amazing by this is beyond me. And so I started taking pictures (not that any picture(s) could do the ocean justice). While gazing for the short time I had, the following poem started to take shape. I just love how God works in awe-filled moments like this.
I stared at the ocean and stood there in awe,
With my gaze fixed upon what I was seeing.
The scene was vast and very overwhelming,
But then a great thing happened that was freeing.
My thoughts started to drift and wander towards You,
And in the blink of an eye Your grace appeared.
I pondered the scene that was set before me,
And now it’s Your love that’s in my brain so seared.
For I am a sinner undeserving of You.
A lost soul that ought to be left with the dead.
But that’s not my ending for You came to save.
Jesus my Savior took Your wrath in my stead.
And now I have hope that there is more to this life.
A full Life with You at Your Great Banquet feast.
So much in this life has left me in despair.
Now since I’m in Your love my fear has now ceased.
And so I thank You my God for this vast scene,
For showing me that Your grace is more vast yet.
Your faithfulness is great and so amazing.
This moment is something that I won’t forget.
Abounding God
The morning dew covers the ground
I know that Your love so abounds.
Your grace surrounds me all around.
I thank you that my life is found.
But now I enter the battleground.
My Lord, Jesus, I seek to resound.
May Satan be completely bound.
For You are always ever crowned.
Found In You
My thoughts drift towards You, oh God, as I seemly gaze into another world. To others I look distant, disconnected and lost, but I know I’m found in You.
Through Jesus I am found in You.
You capture my attention as I leave the world behind. The world is persistent, though, as it continues to beckon for me to return, but it’s You for whom I long.
Only You.
The world moves and shouts but I stare right through it –
not noticing,
not paying attention,
lost in my found-ness
The world wants me but I want You more.
The world says its beautiful but it can not compare in the slightest to You.
Some call this daydreaming but You are not a dream. You are my reality. Some call this wasting time, but no time is wasted with You.
Oh God, the world is loud, so please hold my gaze that I may get lost in being found in You.
Good Morning, Sweet Lord
To God be the glory this morning and everyday. Seek His Spirit to guide you and keep your eyes firmly fixed on Him. God blessed your night that you may bring Him glory. So, let’s get underway…
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Good morning, sweet Lord, I’m refreshed this day.
And ready to follow You in Your way.
It’s Your love I desire to display.
Good morning, sweet Lord, let’s get underway.
Sweet Lord
I am drawn to writing prayers/blessings concerning the day’s end. I mean, what a vulnerable time to be lying in bed sleeping, trusting that everything will be alright. Kids sleeping down the hall. Everything quiet. Your brain is in deep sleep. You are seemingly at the mercy of any evil that may befall your home. But praise be to God, through Christ Jesus my Lord – He has my back (as it were). And so, I can say, “Good night, sweet Lord” and drift off to sleep in peace.
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Good night, sweet Lord, may I rest this night,
And wake tomorrow to the morning’s light.
In Your arms I am always alright.
Just You, sweet Lord, are my heart’s delight.
Good night, sweet Lord, protect me this night.
Surround me with love and keep me from fright.
For Satan does seek my soul to incite.
So oh, sweet Lord, please keep me in sight.
Good night, sweet Lord, please hold me so tight.
That I may feel Your strong holy might.
Your glory, oh Lord, I’m pleased to recite.
Good night, sweet Lord, my soul You excite.
The Unknown
The congregation that I serve continues its discernment process concerning the potential purchase of a property in a neighboring town. There are still a lot of questions and fears about going forward with the purchase or remaining where we are at. Whatever the case, God will be with us. My prayer is that we cling to God no matter what the outcome of the vote is. After all, God is the one in control, not us.
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The unknown doesn’t have to be scary.
Nor do options that vary.
God is in complete control.
Therefore, fear is totally contrary.
My faith Satan always seeks to deflate.
My peace he seeks to negate.
I want to trust Jesus more.
Oh God, my spirit would you please elate.
May I walk with you into the unknown,
That I may not be alone.
I know that Your hand will guide.
I praise You that I am Your very own.
Oh God, please lead me so that I can see.
From You may I never flee.
It’s Your will that I’ll follow.
Oh God, In You I want to always be.
The Maze
I feel as though I am walking through a maze.
Walls and turns
Dead ends
Back-tracking
Trying to find a way.
Just when I think I am making progress, I have to turn back.
Try something new.
Find a new way.
But then I get lost,
again.
Now which way?
I need to get out of this maze.
But the more I try, the more lost I get.
I can’t see the whole picture.
I can’t see the way.
I need help.
Who will show me the way?
Who will be my guide?
Oh God, please show me the Way out of this maze.
Please show me the Way.
Carrots
I am tired of the world’s empty promises,
for it cares nothing for me.
It promises satisfaction.
It promises fulfillment.
It dangles its promises before me as a carrot before a horse,
and I can never quite obtain it,
always falling short –
lacking,
hungry,
unfulfilled.
But You have promised me Your heart, oh God.
No empty promise.
No dangling carrot,
rather You lovingly feed me the carrot and I am filled.
Now it’s You I long for,
but You long for me more.
I desire You,
but You desire me more.
I strive to know You,
but You know me –
more.
And yet, You still feed me carrots?
No strings attached?
No empty promises?
I am fulfilled.
Oh God, please feed me more
carrots.
Praying the Psalms ~ Psalm 119:81-88
These verses in Psalm 119 really struck home for me. The psalmist is pleading for help to remain true to God’s law and not be seduced away. There are many people twisting scripture to their own advantage. There are many pressuring the Church to become more “relevant” and thus the temptation to seek peace with the world. May I stand firm on the Truth of scripture as challenges come from all sides. God help me.
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It’s You that I long for, oh God.
It’s in You that I place my life.
But the world persecutes me, God,
And thus I have nothing but strife.
When will You come to my defense?
When will Your Spirit comfort me?
How long must I endure attacks?
Oh God, it’s You I long to see.
False teachers teach their own message,
And in Your Word they do not stay.
They preach a word that’s not from You,
So keep me true that I won’t stray.
They fight and shout and long to stop,
Your Word of hope – Your Word that saves.
But it’s Your love that gives me life,
So may I stand and be so brave.
When the world fights hard against me,
You’re my salvation and my shield.
It matters not what they can do.
My life is Your’s so I won’t yield.
The Heart of a Pastor 