Yarn

As I look at all this yarn,
There's a warm feeling in my heart.
There are so many things I can make!
My fingers are itching to create
Hats for soldiers, afghans for the elderly,
Sweaters for children overseas.
A sweater, a shawl, a scarf, a hat,
Making something special is where I'm at.
An afghan to keep someone warm,
Booties for the baby being born.
Textures and colors to mix and match.
Knit or crochet, which fever will I catch?
Every time I go to the store,
When I see yarn, I want more!
All crafters have their stash.
When something's needed, "I can help with that."
Laugh at me, I don't care.
As long as I have yarn, I can share
A piece of me, a little bit of my heart.
Look at all this yarn! Where should I start?

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.

Bible Study

Last night was a good bible study at church. And exciting news for me as well. I get to read some of my poetry at the Veteran's Day celebration on November 6. Yippee!! What an honor to get to recognize all our vets so publicly. Thank you, Lord. Use me as you will.

So last night I did something new...I wrote three liners instead of a long poem. Very interesting. I know they came from God, because I usually don't write like this.

The receipt
Of deceipt
Led to death.

Staying in the light
Gives us life
And takes us to God.

Isn't it odd
We forget that God
Is the final judge?

Why do we rant and rail
When we fail
To follow God's path?

We suffer from rejection
Because of the deception
Of the lies we believe.

Even when life is hard
And we have a broken heart,
God is worthy to be praised.

If our flesh we do satiate,
How can we radiate
With the glory of God.

When we allow the intrusion
Of any delusions,
We will surely die.

When we diverse,
And forget to reverse,
We fall away from God.

Let me know what you think of this style. It's new for me, but I kind of like it. Brief and to the point. Something I can put on a calendar, or my computer, to remind me where to keep my focus. Have a wonderfully blessed day!

A New Day

Today was a new day. I went to bed early last night, and woke up early today. I felt good, and got to work right away. Good thing, because between 6 and 9 a.m. is when I accomplished almost all the work I did today. Tonight I made someone's costume for work. It's done except the finishing touches she's planning to put on it. So much work for something she'll wear only once. Oh well.

Robin was ambitious and cooked lunch and dinner today. Ken called yesterday; we're having Thanksgiving on Saturday at Bob's church. Only have to give a donation for using it. It's nice they let us come in. That reminds me, I have to let Cindy know, and I'm going to tell Becky too so they can come if they can make it. I hope I can save enough money for us to go. No money from Robin, she's still working only part time. And I have to get enough money for the holidays to get Stephanie and James home, and back to school. And have enough for me to go for my check up for the heart study when I take them back that first week in January. All I can do is walk in faith that what is needed will be there, and keep on working for it. Because I believe God helps those who do the work and don't sit back and wait for the blessings. Faith is like a muscle, it needs to be exercised to get stronger.

The jeep died again. I got the new battery, it ran for three days, and died again. So I think it really does need an alternator. John said he would rebuild it for me, so I'll have to talk to him. Another month to save up enough for that. Another month of walking home from work. That means my clothes will continue to get too big! I don't mind that at all.

Now I'm tired, so emails to Cindy and Becky, and off to bed I go. Happy dreams tonight, I think. And I'll wake up singing a new song, ready to start another new day. Isn't it wonderful we have new days to write the pages of our life in? I'm glad I get all those new days, with new mercy and new grace. Be blessed.