Where Are the Blessings?

Where are the blessings I have missed
Because I refused to listen?
What treasures are beside the road
I did not travel with You?

You asked me, Lord, to walk with You
Along the road of suffering souls.
But, I refused, and I went off
By another way--alone.

What blessings could there be, O Lord,
Where life is always so unfair?

I’ll not need more; not as they do!
Lord, let them have my treasures.

Another Expeience

I’ve had another experience;
Another I’m not too sure about.
I have a couple questions to ask;

Was this experience meant for me,
To help me to grow even closer?
Or, was it meant to make me useful,
For You, Lord, to use as example?

If You sent me this experience
In order that I might be useful,
Did outcome display needed changes?

Because

Because of Your love, I will love.
Because of my love, I’ll obey.

I feel You by my side
When troubles come to call.
You guide me through the pains of life,
And hold me, lest I fall.
It wasn’t always thus.
For I ignored Your aid.
I wadded deeply into sin,
And stumbled on the way.

You came to where I lay,
A filthy, mucked-up life,
Held our Your hand, and pulled me up.
“My child,” You said. “My love.”
“How could You love,” I asked,
“when I’ve ignored You so?”
You held me close, and smiled at me.
“I died for you, you know.

So now my way is clear,
For You have shown the way.
You’ve taught me how to love You more,
You taught me to obey.
I’m more free than before.
You’ve brought me to Your light
When I am puzzled, or confused,
You show what’s wrong, what’s right.

Because of Your love, I will love.
Because of my love, I’ll obey.

Bring Glory

May what I speak be filtered through Your grace;
May what I do show Your unfailing love.
May words and actions both satisfy Truth;
May mercy become my reason for life.
Not only hearing, but doing Your will
Allows Your Spirit to guide us through life.
All blessings of God are ours, forever,
More numerous than the sands on the beach.
To You alone be all glory, O Lord!
To You alone will we give accolades,
For You alone can claim to be worthy
And You, Lord, are faithfulness incarnate.
Because of Your faithfulness, truth, and love
It’s only fitting that we’d at least try
To live according to Your will, O Lord;
Through our minor struggles, bring You glory.

With Grateful Hearts

With grateful hearts, we come, O Lord,
With praises on our lips.
When listening ears
Erase our fears,
We'll hear Your voice of calm.

Oh, may we sit with You awhile
To gain serenity
Before we go
Into the world
To live our inner dreams.

End? Or Beginning?

Each “ending” is also a “beginning.”
Changing from old to the new grows our faith.
Clothed in His presence, to witness for Christ,
Brings His powerful mercy to others.

When something is ending, open your eyes.
Don’t be discouraged if you do not see.
Whatever your doubt, stand up to your fears;
When fears fall away, true faith can begin.

Pray

When God said we should pray
For those who persecute us,
He did not explain.
He could not have meant
That we should bless them.

But, God said we should pray,
Ask Him to bless offenders.
OK, LORD, I’ll ask
That You bless them all!
But, must I mean it?