Your Love Surrounds

This weekend I was camping with my family and in laws. I was blessed with some time at the beach with my two sons. While they played I sat and marvelled at the splendour of God's creations. Each tree, curve in the edge of the lake, each noisy crow that woke me each morning. God's love comes beaming through all day long. I was very inspired and in complete awe, as I am everytime I get to spend some time admiring this beautiful country that God has placed me on.

Your Love Surrounds

Almighty God, your love surrounds me
From the tops of the pine trees
to the sand beneath my feet
Your love is there

Your love rises with the sun
and follows me until the day is done
Comforting me when my day goes sour
Your love stays with me every hour

As I focus my sleepy morning gaze
over a new day's haze
I see Your love shimmer back at me
through each branch of the tall pine tree

Here I sit with a coffee in hand
admiring this beautiful land
where My Lord you placed me to live
Oh what a precious gift to me you did give

Almighty God why do you love me so
surrounded by your love I must continue to grow
I know when I meet your grace and receive forgiveness
I can't possibly understand why you love me and my mess

Thank you My God for loving me
I do not deserve this gift of mercy
Oh My Yahweh, what would I do
if I didn't receive all this love from you

My Almighty God, may your love
forever pour down on me from above
and may I share this blessing
with all those I know and meet in passing.
Amen.

Be Still

Being still and listening to Lord Our God is very difficult for some of us. We like to let human life get in the way making it harder to see God in our lives everyday. I've been learning just where to find God in my day to day comings and goings. It's been a struggle but it gets easier everyday. There are days when I've been really busy and haven't made time for scripture reading or prayers and I feel it. I get down. Here is my latest that helps pick me back up when I'm not finding my God.

Be Still

Be still and know

when pain and hurt head your way

He'll be there at the end of your day

Be still and know

when anger shows itself

He'll help you nail it to the shelf

 Be still and know

when frustrations rise

He'll be there loving and wise

Be still and know

when you are feeling lost

He'll guide you at no cost

Be still and know

When life is rough

He'll give you courage to stay tough

Be still and know

when days are dark and glum

He'll send you friends to show you fun 

Be still and know

when you feel your back against a wall

He's there to catch you when you fall

Be still and know

when the tears stream down your face

He's here to wipe them dry with His grace

Be still and know

when life is at a stand still

He's at work doing His will

Be still and know 

He's a forever faithful loving God

Be still and know 

that He is God

Be Still.

(psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the Earth)

Senseless tragedy affects us all

Folks, a few weeks ago we all became affected by the tragedy of the disappearance and eventually death of Tim Bosma. I'm sure I am joined by many when I say I worried with the family, mourned with the family and felt the pain with the family. To some degree this story has touched each of us, as does most tragedies. A few days after this story aired my heart felt heavy and the need to write a poem began. I've struggled what to put down because emotions were running high. I've tried to narrow down all that I have felt. So as a tribute to a man I not only never met and didn't know anything about, his family, and to anyone who has ever lost someone unexpectedly here are the only words I can seem to offer. I don't know what it will mean to any who read this but if anything I pray it turns our hearts to God.

Up from this mess

Oh Lord what is this mess?

Missing, vanished, violated

details unfolding leave us irritated

senseless, disgusting, demeaning

reasons that we are not understanding

a life from us removed today

and all we did was pray

Prayers for protection and safety

Prayers for peace from anxiety

Prayed day and night

Never letting hope from our sight

Hoping for God to rescue the soul

The world has one soul less

Heaven has brought him from this mess

Never to hurt

Never to fear

but forever he is near

Our hearts he will guide

yet we must hold him inside.

Yes there will be a hole oh so deep

but we cannot stay and weep

Our hearts will be heavy in sorrow

but with God there is always hope for tomorrow.

We must love and serve The Lord 

and one day Heaven will bring us up from this world

and it's mess so we too will 

never again feel hurt

never again fear

instead we'll live have a peaceful eternity with Him.

I must tell of my big brother and share him.

Some of us have big brothers, some of us don't. Some have friends that are like big brothers. Big brothers are great aren't they? They protect us, guide us, love us. Sometimes they hate us, fight with us, break our toys or get us into trouble. What if you could have a big brother that would take the rap for all the things you do wrong, and still love you? What would you do if you had a big brother who spent a life time paving the way for your spot in paradise and could show you the way to never ending treasures? Wouldn't you want a big brother like that? I know I would. There is such a brother. He is Jesus. He is your brother why not welcome Him home to your heart today?

Big Brother

I have a big brother

Who is like no other

his unending love pours down from the sky

it warms my heart and lifts me high

I have a big brother

who came from the virgin mother

to teach and tell 

of a message we don't listen to all to well

I have a big brother 

who came from the most amazing Father

He took the rap for all my sin

leaving me forgiven

and eternal life if I just believe

I have a big brother 

who is like no other

He's here for me and you

to love Him and Believe in him

is all we must do

Our big brother 

is here for us in any weather

Through every storm and trial

He'll walk the extra mile

He'll wait with arms open wide

Our big brother loves the poor and meek

restores us when we're weak

Brings us to the Father

when forgiveness is what we seek

Our big brother is as special as can be

I'm so thrilled to have a brother as he

His name means Savior

He gives me more than I could ever hope for.

I love my big brother

and He loves me

one day in Heaven

together we will be!

My Jesus my brother

took the rap for me

I cannot wait till forever 

with him  I will be.

If all of the ......God's beauty is everywhere

I decided to have a bit of fun. When I think of God's creation and how much He loves everyone, I am filled with joy. I wanted to get in touch with my inner child and use my imagination to illustrate a way we can enjoy God's love for us. It follows the song "If all of the raindrops...." Enjoy and remember God Loves the World.

If all of the raindrops

were drops of Heaven's dew  

What a rain it would be

I'd stand outside 

with my face to the sky so blue

If all of the raindrops

were drops of Heaven's dew 

I'd be soaked

If all of the snowflakes were 

The Mighty Eagle's feathers

what a snowfall it would be

I'd stand outside with my arms open wide

to catch all that I could see

If all of the snowflakes were

The Mighty Eagle's feathers

I'd have one warm blanket

If all of the sunbeams

were God's love for us

what a sunny day that would be

I'd stand outside naked and free

so the beams would tan all of me

If all of the sunbeams 

were God's love for us

I'd truly be sunburnt

If all of the winds

held God's kisses

I'd stand on a mountain top

to catch each one and 

be sure He never misses

If all of the winds 

were God's kisses 

I'd want to be blown away!

When Dreams speak ...

One night I had a dream that was so real. I can still feel the touches and breaths. It feels like I was really there in the moment. I have tried to capture that here.

He Spoke in My Dream

Warm, late summer breeze

feeling not at ease

Out to the meadow I did go

where I was going I did not know

My heart burned with desire

My soul thirsty and dry

Just kept walking and gazing

toward the sky

There's something out here

Oh my Yahweh, I cry

 Wish You'd come down from the sky 

to talk this out with me

Out from the shadow a figure I did see

dressed in white top, blue jeans 

red running shoes 

His sparkling blue eyes caught my gaze

as I shook myself out of a daze

he reached out his hands, my heart jumped

No words spoke just smiles

we began to stroll for miles

down the hills we would roll

as we laughed and talked

serious then silly, like life long friends

then on to the ground

we fell with a bound

head to head we lay

in the heat of the day

his breath I could feel

his touch so real

it seemed like time stood still

the clouds they rolled with the wind

as we lay gazing at the sky

we named each one as they passed us by

After what seemed eternity

we rose to our feet and this is what he said to me:

"Trust in Me, Lean not on your own 

understanding, I am with you always"

then with a hug and kiss on the cheek

the light of day into my eyes did peek.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

Mathew 28:20 And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age

Full of despair? Try this?

I am trying to work on some new ones, in the meantime, I thought I'd repost this as a reminder to many and a wake up to others.
The inspiration for this came from some messages I was getting while reading my daily devotionals and reading plans the one day. The thoughts of being broken and lost then being saved hung on my heart until these words poured out. I know of many people personally who are like the person talked about in the first and seconds stanzas. I pray for them everyday that one day they will be like the person in the final few stanzas. If you know someone today who doesn't already know The Lord, why not have them read this with you or some of my other ones.

Was and Am because of Him

I am broken,

dark and bitter,

guilty and full of shame

fit right into the evil one's game

I am scared

alone and discouraged

hopeless

don't know where to go from this mess

Day in and day out

I have lived without

joy and peace

wanting and needing more.

Then you walked through my door

You told me to follow you 

You told me the enemy lied

following him, I'd have died

You placed in my heart everything I had to do

Under your wing I did go

rescued by your grace

no more would I be broken

no more would there be bitter darkness

Gone would be the guilt or shame

You've helped me beat 

the evil one at his own game

I am forgiven

free and humbled

rescued

washed clean by My Savior's blood

I am purified

saved and loved

 grateful

that I've been chosen from God above

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; 

it is the gift of God