Tag Archives: blessings

Jesus is my Keeper

 

(Paraphrase of Psalms 23)

Jesus is my Keeper; I’ll be content

as He leads me day by day

to pleasant places

to be renewed in him

along life’s pathway.

Although I often stumble through

many trials and snares,

I’ll not be dismayed

 by the evil doer

as Jesus calms my fears.

How my Lord continues to

keep sustaining me

with daily showers of his

blessings with love,

mercy, and peace.

Now I know that without a doubt,

His goodness will stay with me

all the days of my

earthly life

until heaven’s gates I see.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

Together once again with family and many friends.

House is aflutter with enticing aromas, clanging pans, and laughter.

Abundant home baked delights camouflage the table from sight.

Nature adds the wintry cold and a pristine layer of fresh snow.

Kittens, dogs, and children happily scamper through the hectic kitchen.

Sounds of boos and cheers from a televised game fill the atmosphere.

Grandparents, aunts, and uncles attend with young and smiling cousins.

Intrigued and famished family members finally around the table gather.

Vibrant and lively celebration of peace, joy, and prayerful thanksgiving.

Invited and included too are the dear friends loved by you.

Never neglecting or forgetting God’s numerous blessings.

Gathered and united in love while watched by the Lord from above.

Slowly Breathe In…

Slowly breathe in the fragrance

Of sweet peace in quiet stillness,

The spring scent of a lilac bush, and the

blossoms of new leaves in the forest.

Slowly breathe in the pungent

Aroma of the misty air

Stirred by the shower of rain

In the storm with white lightning glare.

Slowly breathe in the sunlit

Dawn of a fresh new day

Permeated with rays of hope

Chasing doubt and darkness away.

Slowly breathe in the wonder of

God’s never-ending love

Surrounding you in a soft blanket

Sprinkled sun drops of blessings from above.

Slowly breathe in…

Becky’s Haiku: Petals of Grace

img_20161001_093249005

As autumn gently

Departs, drifting leaves like loose

Petals touch the heart.

A Heart that deeply

Yearns for an unfilled dream yet

Through time it does learn

To remain hopeful

And still believe in Jesus whose

Love never recedes.

It is that hope and

Trust in him who keeps the heart

Sure and safe within.

Inside his blessings

Of grace showered on us like

The softest snowflakes.

Each morn, he reaches

Down from heaven to help me

Be content within.

For it is his aim

That I journey each day in

Peace along the way;

A lasting peace that

Gives hope to proceed knowing

He’s always with me.

So I may live each

Day with a hopeful heart touched

By petals of grace.

I have just attempted yet another haiku challenge from Ronovan Writes blog using the words “petals” and “heart”. If you are up  to the challenge then I invite you to also accept Ronovan’s latest challenge at this link: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/category/haiku-prompt-challenge/

 

The Gray Roof Above

IMG_20160729_201304493

Clouds hovering above hung low

Forming a billowy gray roof.

Yet the vision of a double rainbow

Gloriously did loom.

Tis a reminder today

Though the sun light is dim

Rain showers along the way

Do cleanse and brighten

This fair world from sea to sea

Though at times tainted with drought

The gardens and the swaying trees.

Glistening raindrops beneath the clouds

Finely scattered along life’s path way

Are droplets of heaven’s blessings

To gently soothe this darkened day

And encourage our hearts with renewed hope to sing.

 The arching twin rainbows stretching high above

This earth; its land and wave swept seas

To quietly mirror God’s never ending love

For you and for me.

Though a bit late, I am participating in a photo challenge this week with the word “roof”.  This adds a bit more challenge to writing poetry and it too me a while to respond! To find out more about word photo challenges visit this site: https://thearanartisan.com/photo-challenge-words-2016/

GIFT OF THE SUNSET

695

Gently, softly, this day concludes

In twilight’s glowing interlude.

Future endeavors laid to rest;

Tomorrow will appear soon enough.

Over the mountains and sea, the sun has journeyed;

Finally resting upon the windswept prairie.

Thankfulness fills the mind and heart;

Happy contentment it does impart.

Every blessing today received;

Sent from the Lord who watches and sees.

Under the canopy of a pink streaked sky,

Nestles the sun on the brink of encroaching night;

Seeping  lower, dipping down.

Evening soon clouds the darkened horizon.

Time to rest while wrapped in the cloak of deep night

Knowing the sun will dawn at morning’s light.

WAVES OF GRACE

183

Wake each new morning

As the glistening sun is dawning.

Visiting Jesus our Lord in prayer;

Ever thankful he is our everlasting Savior.

Sounds of birds joyfully singing;

Over the treetops their trills are ringing.

Family and dear friends come to mind;

Gifts of friendship, love, and laughter entwine.

Reaching to grasp this bright new day

And enjoying all that God has made.

Ceasing never; his blessings amounting.

Ever and forever, his love and mercy abounding.

LIVING in the MOMENT

183

Letting go of worry and struggles for tomorrow;

Instead choosing to be content and not entrenched in hatred or sorrow.

Valuing this new day that the Lord has made.

Investing in this time by focusing heart and mind

Not on the glittering distractions of this world;

Gazing rather upon heaven through the eyes of God’s Holy Word.

Maintaining and walking in steadfast faith

On the Lord and his wondrously saving grace.

Making this minute, this hour, and this day count;

Enjoying the sweet quiet time which you have found.

Never forgetting to cheerfully share

Treasures and blessings which the Lord has placed in your care.

Hebrews 13:5 (Holy Bible New International Version):

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Softly Spring Descends

IMG_20160423_142351962

As warmer weather surrounds

And caresses the rotating earth

The scent of spring permeates

The air in the season of renewal and rebirth.

The forests, the meadows, the rolling

Hills and the wildflower fields

Are elegantly robed in a canopy of

Emerald green; earth’s lush cover shield.

Tweeting and chirping, twittering

And trilling; oh how the songbirds love to sing.

Whether at the break of early dawn or in the orange

Twilight, nature’s choir joyously rings.

A walk through the forest in the midst

Of a sun drenched and warm afternoon

Through the lakeside cluster of trees where

A distinct honk is heard of a lone wandering goose.

And the chirps of crickets and frogs echo in the trees

 Which are softly clothed in new budding leaves.

Following a hidden and narrow rutted path

Up and down the forested hillside

Gazing far into the horizon where

The tips of treetops meet the sapphire blue sky.

The welcomed warmth of the glowing sun

Wraps itself around like a cloak of security

As if to hold me sure and steadfast

While strolling by the quietly lapping sea.

I strain to see distant images of

 Ducks and other visiting waterfowl

Who silently rest upon the lake

And along the flowing ripples remain afloat.

Meanwhile the southerly and gentle breeze

Rustles the swaying branches speaking to me.

The blowing wind gusts louder and

Stronger reaching a frenzied climax

Before quieting to whisper

After its high-pitched performance.

I couldn’t help but wonder, “What message is the

Shifting wind trying to convey to me?”

As I strolled contentedly over the hills and

Through the softly swishing trees.

I imagined the wind to reply, “It is spring;

A season of new blessings and a fresh new start.

See and remember this quiet journey through

 The forest and keep it in your heart.”

Then all too soon this day’s trek through

The countryside abruptly ends

But not before remembering that a new day

 And another journey will soon begin.

Becky’s Song: Being Thankful in January

 

IMG_20151226_125714282_HDR

(Tune: Deck the Halls):

January is too cold fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

And I can tell I’m getting old fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Oh this weather and the temperatures, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

I cannot so easily endeavor, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

 

Tis the season to hibernate, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Stay inside until Spring’s first day, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Oh but then I might miss some fun, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

And not see the bright rainbow sun, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

 

Also no sledding or skiing, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Nor walking beneath snow glistened trees, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Nor making angels in the snow, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

All because outside I won’t go, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

 

So, I guess I’ll venture outside, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Now that the bright sun did arise, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

And continue on life’s journey, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

And try to see this new day’s blessings, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

 

It is still the time to be thankful, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Knowing that God is faithful, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

He has promised to never leave me, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

And lovingly he’s always providing, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

 

So now as I step into the cold, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Following a snow swept road, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

I will remember that Jesus is with me, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sheltering me in his love and peace, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la