His Hope

The night is mother of the day,

The winter of the spring;

And ever upon old decay

The greenest mosses cling.

Behind the cloud the sunshine lurks,

Through showers the sunbeams fall;

For God, who loveth all His works,

Has left His hope with all.

Whittier

Man of Sorrows

Man of sorrows Lamb of God
By His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God
Has been on Jesus laid

Silent as He stood accused
Beaten mocked and scorned
Bowing to the Father's will
He took a crown of thorns

Sent of heaven God's own Son
To purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones
Who nailed Him to that tree

See the stone is rolled away
Behold the empty tomb
Hallelujah God be praised
He's risen from the grave

Teach Me Thy Way!

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way!

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way!
In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,
In failure or success, teach me Thy way!

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way!
Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way!

Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way!
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!

He Who Safely Keepeth

He who safely keepeth,

Slumbers not, nor sleepeth;

Though by all the world forsaken,

Wherefore should I fear?

That which He hath spoken

Never can be broken,

Who shall harm the trusting heart 

When He is near?

He will keep me ever,

Where no pow'r can sever

From my heart, the love that hides me

In His secret place.

There in faith abiding,

All to Him confiding,

Through His Spirit I am sealed

An heir of grace.

~ Lyman Cuyler (aka Fanny Crosby)

Yahweh to Abraham

Can you make a star? I can!
Can you make a baby? I can!
Can you crumble walls, with your fist, to the ground? I can!
Can you fill wounded souls with jubilant sound? I can!

Can you see the heart? I can!
Can you love the dark, crazy? I can!
Can you take the world's swords, remake them for plowing? I can!
Can you unite the world's sects, make them peaceful and bowing? I can!

Can you feed the birds? I can!
Can you heal the dying? I can!
Can you wash the earth with fire or a flood? I can!
Can you wash your heart in the river of My blood? I can!

Can you do the impossible? I can!
Can you change the unchangeable? I can!
Can you make the faithless an army of soldiers? I can!
Can you remain faithful after generations are over? I can!

And I Am.

I AM

Darkness, blinded mind;
Hands groping; stumbling,
Fumbling in the night;
Heart confused.
Where do I turn?
Who is the One who will light my world?
I AM!


Hungry, deep cravings;
Throat parched, thirsty,
Empty, no water in sight;
Heart seeking.
What will satisfy?
Who is the One who will feed my soul?
I AM!


Lost, running through the maze,
Can't get out, cold,
Alone, tired, wolves snarl and bite.
Heart lonely and afraid.
Where is my shepherd?
Who is the One who will seek me?
I AM!


Dying, mind fading,
Aching, pain, stress and strain,
Feeling no strength or might.
Heart sick and sinking.
Where is the meaning?
Who is the One who will give me life?
I AM!


Lonely, mind full,
Needing a friend, an ear, a shoulder,
Betrayed, let down, hurt.
Heart broken.
But who really cares?
Who is the One who will truly love me?
I AM!


Dirty, wicked,
Mind's thoughts, the work of my hands,
Hurting people and can't change.
Heart black and trapped.
Who can rescue me?
Who is the One who will make me clean?
I AM!


Beauty, mind full,
A flower, purple,
Orange sunset, lake rippling,
Stars twinkling in the night.
Heart dancing.
Where did it come from?
Who is the One who made this glory?
I AM!


Despised, rejected,
An outcast, weird,
Unfashionable, not PC,
A pilgrim, homeless in the night.
Heart set apart.
Who understands?
Who is the One who accepts me?
I AM!


Riches, status,
Reputation, ambition,
Worldly wisdom, pleasure,
"Wine sparkling bright."
Heart careless.
Where is the real treasure?
Who is the One worthy of my devotion?
I AM!


Who are You?
I AM YAHWEH,
The Eternal God,
Self-Existent.
I will be Who I was.


I AM your light.
I AM your food.
I AM your shepherd.
I AM your life.
I AM your lover.
I AM your righteousness.
I AM the giver of all good gifts.
I AM He Who accepts you.
I AM your treasure.

I AM!

Open Our Eyes

This life is only an echo

Of the deeper life to come

This ache is born of

Your Spirit in our hearts

Calling us homeward

Till our passing days are done

And You bid us "rise and...

"Come, now the wait is over

Eternity's begun

Wake, now the dream is ended

You're finally free to run" (Dance in the morning sun")

Open our eyes

Open our eyes

Wonder is only a window

Beauty is an open door

Longing, leading us onward through the night

To what we're made for

When these shadow lands are done

We will hear You crying...

"Come, now the wait is over

Eternity's begun

Wake, now the dream is ended

You're finally free to run" (Dance in the morning sun")

Open our eyes

Open our eyes

All that's eternal

You've set in our hearts

Our joyful desire burns like the morning star...

Open our eyes (to the joy that's to come)

Open our eyes (to the home that we seek)

Open our eyes (to the promise of heaven)

Open our eyes (to eternity's dream)

We're longing to see (open our eyes)

To live in Your light (open our eyes)

To always be near (open our eyes)

Open our eyes

~ Words by Doug McKelvey

Oh, Tame Me, Lord

Oh, tame me, Lord! rebellious nature calm,

Oh, tame me, Lord!

This heart, so tossed and filled with wild alarm,

Oh, tame me, Lord!

These human longings, let them end in Thee,

And let me be Thy bondslave, even me!

I will not ask Thee to account to me

For aught Thou dost;

For crosses sore, or paths I cannot see:

But I will trust.

No second causes shall perplex my soul,

Or stay from yielding all to Thy control.

The raging storm I dare not fight alone,

Ah, show Thy face! Say, "It is I!"

Thyself to me make known,

Ah, show Thy face!

Then what care I for darkest depths of woe?

Thine arms, O Christ, shall fold me close, I know!

Oh, save me, Lord! Subdue this stubborn will;

Oh, save me, Lord!

In spite of all, Thy purposes fulfil

In me, Oh, Lord;

I yield my self, and all I have and am,

To follow Thee, Thou all redeeming Lamb!

How can I fear? Thou art so near to me;

How can I fear?

I hear Thee say, "Believe, and thou shalt see!"

How can I fear?

I now believe, and trust Thy mighty power,

To save, to heal, to keep this very hour!

A Sweet Poem

I found this yesterday in a book I am reading by Margaret Sangster. The book is entitled Fairest Girlhood and was first published in 1906.

There's but the meager crust, Love,

There's but the measured cup;

On scanty fare we breakfast,

On scanty fare we sup.

Yet be not thou discouraged,

Nor falter on the way,

Since Wealth is for a life, Love,

And Want is for a day.

Our robes are hodden gray, Love,

Ah! would that thine were white,

And shot with gleams of silver,

And rich with golden light.

Yet care not thou for raiment,

But climb, as pilgrims may,

Since Ease is for a life, Love,

And Toil is for a day.

Our shelter oft is rude, Love;

We feel the chilling dew,

And shiver in the darkness

Which silent stars shine through.

Yet shall we seek our palace,

And there in gladness stay,

Since Home is for a life, Love,

And Travel for a day.

The heart may sometimes ache, Love,

The eyes grow dim with tears;

Slow glide the hours of sorrow,

Slow beats the pulse of fears.

Yet patience with the evil,

For, though the good delay,

Still Joy is for a life, Love,

And Pain is for a day.

~ Author Unknown

Knowing You, Jesus

All I once held dear, built my life upon

All this world reveres, and wars to own

All I once thought gain I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this -

Knowing You, Jesus

Knowing You,

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings

To become like You in Your death, my Lord

So with You to live and never die.

Knowing You, Jesus

Knowing You,

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord.

~ Graham Kendrick

She Wants to Be a Homemaker

To me she is a beauty queen

I love to watch her on the screen

In our home movies

And when she sings around the house

She's got a voice that knocks me out

She is my favourite singer.

But you won't see her on T.V.

Or hear her on the radio

Worldly fame is not her aim

And she's the first to let you know

She wants to be a homemaker

It's her dream to raise a family

And give her love to just one man

And I thank God it's me

I'll never underestimate her

'Cause she could take this word and turn it on

But she takes her love

And makes our house a home.

She can't afford to spend her day

In a old soap opera haze

She's much too busy

At night she puts the kids to bed

She's makin' sure their prayers get said

Before she lays down with me.

It's plain to see

That she's not seeking glory on this earth

'Cause she believes in honesty

And the joy of giving birth.

She wants to be a homemaker

It's her dream to raise a family

And give her love to just one man

And I thank God it's me

I'll never underestimate her

'Cause she could take this word and turn it on

But she takes her love

And makes our house a home.

~ Paul Overstreet

Tied Down

“They tie you down,” a woman said,

Whose cheeks should have been flaming red

With shame to speak of children so.

“When babies come you cannot go

In search of pleasure with your friends,

And all your happy wandering ends.

The things you like you cannot do,

For babies make a slave of you.”

I looked at her and said, “’Tis true

That children make a slave of you,

And tie you down with many a knot,

But have you never thought to what

It is of happiness and pride

That little babies have you tied?

Do you not miss the greater joys

That come with little girls and boys?

They tie you down to laughter rare,
To hours of smiles and hours of care,

To nights of watching and to fears;

Sometimes they tie you down to tears

And then repay you with a smile,

And make your trouble all worth while.
They tie you fast to chubby feet

And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.

They fasten you with cords of love

To God divine, who reigns above.

They tie you, whereso’er you roam,

Unto the little place called home;

And over sea or railroad track

They tug at you to bring you back.
The happiest people in the town

Are those the babies have tied down.

Oh, go your selfish way and free

But hampered I would rather be,

Yes rather than wear a kingly crown

I would be, what you term, tied down;

Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,

Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,

The fettered slave of girl and boy,

And win from them earth’s finest joy.”
~ Edgar A. Guest

Would you like to know any even bigger reason why

being "tied down to your kids" matters and can be enjoyable?

Read these beautiful words from Miss Shannon's blog : http://maidenoftheking.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-does-it-matter.html

I Will Go

By Steve Green

Give me ears to hear Your Spirit;

Give me feet to follow through;

Give me hands to touch the hurting;

And the faith to follow You.

Give me grace to be a servant;

Give me mercy for the lost;

Give me passion for Your glory;

Give me passion for the cross.

And I will go where there are no easy roads,

Leave the comforts that I know.

I will go and let this journey be my home;

I will go.

I will go!

I'll let go of my ambition,

Cut the roots that run too deep;

I will learn to give away

What I cannot really keep,

What I cannot really keep.

Help me see with eyes of faith;

Give me strength to run this race.

I will go, Lord, where Your glory is unknown;

I will live for You alone.

I will go because my life is not my own;

I will go.

I will go.

I will go!