Rescued

When I look at my life today,
I know I would not have chosen this way.

My life was on a fast track,
And I don't want to go back.

I needed and wanted to slow down
And plant my feet on solid ground.

Instead, I was on shifting sand,
A traveler in this foreign land.

Tired of being so alone,
Always wanting to go home.

I seemed to be on the outside looking in,
Far too busy to have many friends.

Help me to slow down, I prayed.
But ow I cried on that day.

Like a giant tree, I fell
To fight another battle to get well.

For me, my greatest wealth
Is to have thriving, good health.

So I will do whatever I must,
Because in God alone I really trust,

To know and provide what's best for me.
His best is what sets me free.

And because of His mercy and grace,
One day, I will see His face,

Unless, of course, I fall down
With my face upon the ground,

Overcome with awe
That when God looked at me He saw,

Not the filthy mess I was in
To be rescued from again and again,

But someone worthy to be His child,
Even when I was crazy and wild.

I'm proud to be a follower of the living Christ.
I'm so glad Jesus came to give His life

To rescue me and set me free,
So I can be with Him for eternity.

Thank you.
Amen

Gone Home

He was my pastor,
He was my friend,
And though he's gone,
I know I'll see him again.

He lived what he taught,
He lived what he believed,
And though he's gone,
He didn't leave in defeat.

He followed his Savior, Jesus.
He ran the race victoriously.
He thrived under God's grace,
And to God's love he had the key.

He loved people in their joy.
He loved them through pain and sorrow.
He taught them the skills to cope,
And kept reminding them there's hope for tomorrow.

We can be joyful even though we're sad
That his journey has come to and end.
It's okay for us to miss him, but we must stay strong,
Because this man has gone home to heaven.

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.

Never Ending Love

I was lying in my bed,
Thoughts of sleep going through my head.
I woke suddenly to find
Terrible dreams in my mind.
Dreams of me as a child.
Dreams of those tests and trials.
Dreams of innocence lost.
Dreams of the horrible cost
Of a child who got used
In many forms of abuse.
I dreamed he was next to me
And no one was willing to see
How he threatened her with harm
And destroyed his child’s heart.
I dreamed of how she tried to fight.
How she stayed away from the dark and in the light.
How she tried to never be alone when he was around.
How she would sleep outside on the ground.
How she tried to be hard to find.
I dreamed of how people were not kind
When the truth became known.
Of how her mother groaned
And was torn between belief and disbelief
And could offer no relief
To her child who was all alone
And was removed from her home.
I dreamed he was in the bed
And my whole being filled with dread.
My eyes flew open and I awoke.
I looked and looked, but no one spoke.
I realized this time it was only a dream
And I wonder what it could mean.
I thought I had dealt with this issue.
The wounds had healed, leaving scar tissue.
Once more I must learn to cope.
Once more I must remember where I have hope.
I must remember Jesus really loves me.
I must search for his face until I see
The love God has for me is all-encompassing
And His heart beats with a song I can sing.
The song of never-ending love,
Never-ending love from my Father above.