Time Like Sand

The sun goes down as yesterday
And time slips through my hands again
Rays of sunlight move through shadows
In the trees above me
And I realize it will never be like what it was then.

With each inch the sun sinks down
The sky becomes a different blue
The pink and gold slide out of sight
The cool breezes shift
Until the light of day has melted into night's hue.

Like sand through an hour glass
Each moment's fleeting life drops
From time that I have to time that is lost
And all I can do
Is look back wistfully on time that is naught.

All in All

My Comfort in sorrow
My Joy in pain
My Strength for tomorrow
My Sun in the rain
My Light in the dark
My Peace in the storm
My Shepherd from harm
My Mender when I am torn
My Lover in all
My Leader in the fight
My Help in the war
My guardian at night...

My Grace in weakness
My Shield in temptation
My Healer in sickness
My Enough in desolation
My Hope in depression
My Freedom in chains
My Friend in isolation
My Wings when I am faint
My Treasure in Life
My Gain in death's gall
The quench of my desire--
My All in all.

Blank Canvas

Memories evade me

The past is too far gone

It's like I'm starting over

In a new and different world

Only the beginning

Is known to me as clear

And the present is like living

In the space of just a year

Even every day

Is like another life

It's like I'm disconnected

Or not really alive

So now I am a canvas

With not a single line

I'm here and I am ready

Paint on me Your design

And let the ink sink in
So there's more than just a trace

To look back on in tomorrow

When the rest is re-replaced.

I want more than just a shadow

Your Love displayed on my heart

So I can look back and remember
That I was your work of art. 

A Prayer From Job

11 "Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
    so perishes the hope of the godless."

Job 8:11-13

Father, put in me a thankful heart for the "cutting" that You are doing in my life, because without it I would wither more quickly than grass. May I not be one who forgets You and whose hope perishes. May I always remember who You are and what You have done. I have been given an easier lot than most; let me be grateful for it. 

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy."

Job 8: 20-21

"Weeping may last for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."The night seems as if it has been too long. Lord, when will you bring your morning? lift up my head that I may see beyond the sadness and pain and into your glorious light that is just beyond the clouds. Behind a frowning providence, you hide a smiling face. Make me thankful for each ray of sunshine and be reminded that You are here, Lord, and that You are Enough. 

May it be so. 

Songs I Can Relate To "Jesus I Come"-- A Hymn

I sing hymns so often at my church I often forget to listen to the words. It's sad, but all too often I sit or stand in church singing these beautiful songs and don't let them sink into my heart or praise God with them. I am asking God to work on me in that. 

The reason that I listened to the words of this hymn were partially because of who picked it. She's a sweet older lady at my church whose love for God shines in her grateful heart and everything she does. She loves singing hymns and I have loved every hymn she has sung for me or requested in the past, so I listened to the words when we sang this one. And they. are. beautiful. You have to listen to the melody too because they complement each other so well! I've underlined some of my favorite parts.

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Words: William T. Sleep­er, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 5, 1887.

Waiting for Forever

It's so sad to think about what could happen after two people who once loved each other drift apart. One moves on, the other never does. Then what happens? The one who never moved on lives day to day believing there is still hope, believing that someday, maybe, just maybe, they will get back together again. The hope of that "maybe" keeps them going. If that hope was not there, they would have given up a long time ago but because it is, they live on.

Yet there is always that nagging fear that the other person does not feel the same way... And sometimes, the best thing to do, the only thing they can do is to move on.

In some cases, what has happened in the past makes it impossible for them to remain friends. And when the end of the story is not yet written, it is practically impossible to foresee what will happen. All that is left is the "what if's"....