My Thanksgiving

I've been a little busy and not had time to write here. But last night at church we had a great thanksgiving service, and three sermons in one! It was so fabulous. Pastor asked me to read a thanksgiving poem of mine, so I wrote this.

My Thanksgiving

People often don't understand

Why I so often dance and sing

Praises to the Lord, my God and King.

They understand life's been hard.

They realize it's been a struggle.

But why I dance? To them it's a puzzle.

I used to be a miserable person

With a soul so lonely and lost,

Until I heard of Jesus, met Him at the cross.

I could tell you the story of my life,

But it's really hard to explain

How joy came out of so much pain.

Jesus is the only way I can answer.

He has a special gift to give,

A gift that makes me want to live.

There are so many things He has done:

He pulled me out of the miry clay.

He walks with me each and every day.

Just for me, He was nailed on the cross.

When He died, and shed His blood,

He was thinking of us with unconditional love.

I am a very needy person, so...

He holds me on His lap and in His arms.

He keeps me safe from all harm.

He gives me strength for each test.

He gives me peace so I can rest.

He gives me joy, and the fire of hope.

He mends my heart and helps me to cope.

He gives me sight so I can see

The words of love meant just for me.

He gives me ears so I can hear

How, to Him, I am so dear.

So many blessings I can't even mention,

There's something I don't understand -

How can I waste the blessings flowing from His hand?

How can I not, in the grayness of the dawn,

Honor Him with thanksgiving?

For I am still in the land of the living.

How can I not thank Him for the beauty of a flower

When He keeps me safe in His strong tower?

How can I not thank Him when my life is so full?

How can I not thank Him for saving my soul?

There are so many blessings for me,

But the biggest blessing that sets me free,

The blessing that keeps me thankful every day,

Is that God loves me, no matter what others say.

And for His love that gives life everlasting,

I will enter His presence with thanksgiving,

And let Him know He is my God, my Lord,

The one I will always love and adore.

I pray you have a safe, blessed, and peaceful Thanksgiving. Amen.

Oh What Joy

I was in a valley.
I was tightly bound.
There were dry bones
All around.
I was in a pit,
And sinking fast.
I had nothing to hold on to,
Nothing to grasp.
I wasn't going to last much longer,
I was sinking so fast.
There was death all around me,
In a place where nothing lasts.
I was so scared,
I was terrified.
Trying to break free,
I fought and I cried.
My mom and my dad
Couldn't rescue me.
My sisters and my brothers
Couldn't set me free.
In a valley so deep and forsaken,
I didn't have the skills I needed to cope.
Vultures and sin were eating at my flesh.
My life had no hope.
I fought and tried to get away.
My heart was broken and so sore.
There was no one to help me,
But somehow, I thought there must be more.
Something was tickling my memory.
I thought about stories I'd heard.
Something about a man named Jesus,
And how he taught God's word.
The stories said he was knocking at my heart.
They said he could wash away my sin.
They said he was a gentleman, and kind,
And that he would keep knocking until I let him in.
Those stories said he could unbind me.
They said he could make me clean and whole again.
They said all I had to do was ask.
So I asked, and I prayed.
I knew there was a God; I hoped the stories were true.
"Jesus, would you come into my heart today?
Can you get me out of this mess I've made?
Would you come into my heart to stay?"
Oh what joy, because the stories were true.
Oh what joy, those stories I heard.
Oh what joy, I'm one of those stories today.
Oh what joy, all because of God's precious word.

Relent

Relent
and repent.
Jesus was sent
for all of us
who went
astray
and so far away
until our circumstance
gave us yet another chance
to pick ourself off the ground
and turn around
to go back home
where we’re not all alone.
So relent
and repent
today.
Learn God’s way
and stay
in the presence
of Jesus.

Average

I joined a writing "class" online, and am doing homework! I've only done one lesson so far, but thought I'd post this one and get some feedback from others too. I just want to see what others think, there aren't any right or wrong answers. Thank you in advance.

It’s an average looking house in a working class neighborhood. The front porch needs paint, white lace curtains hang at the windows, a light glows warmly.

As she approaches the house, she thinks about how average her life is.

She unlocks the door, enters the house, and is blown away by three whirlwind tornadoes.
“Hi mom! What’s for supper? See what I made today?” and her average weariness melts into nothingness as her heart bursts with love.