The lightening flashed
The thunder shook the earth.
So close living stopped.
Power not imagined.
Rupturing any sense of security.
Praying in desperation.
The fear of death.
The awe of God.
convulsing life.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV
Blessings of abounding goodness,
in the work we’ve been given to do.
Transforming life from menial,
to purveyors of life made new.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 3:10 NIV
The sun peeking at a brand new day.
A flock of geese honking mist away.
Deep breaths of cold clean air.
I rejoice at God’s loving care
Some big, some small,
Some not worth knowing at all.
Some are wispy, some are deep,
Some show up and make me weep.
Some breed fear, some garner hate,
leading me to a hurtful state.
anxious thoughts pop up unbidden
though I try they won’t stay hidden.
I try to say a proper prayer
But nothing comes ‘cept useless air
Should I say a prayer someone else has written?
Not my own, and hope I’ll be forgiven.
“Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.”
Does a rote prayer count when thoughts disrupt?
The grass needs mowing, It’s time for supp.
But, it’s all I’ve got, when thoughts do bite.
to say His prayer takes all my might.
Then hallowed Father gives to me.
Jesus, the one who commands all authority.
By His power dark thoughts have to go.
Through faith I’m given this one thought to know—
Jesus loves me.
“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1Corinthians 2:16
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3 ESV
I missed the Northern Lights,
for I fell asleep while waiting.
I missed the solar eclipse,
because I wasn’t in the path it was taking.
Thank God I won’t miss the Lord’s final coming,
for it’s not by my effort that’s wanting,
Its His love that’s steadfast and sure,
He will make me holy and pure,
to be with Him…life everlasting.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3 ESV
Ouiet has a voice,
Stronger than the guns of war,
Louder than the wail of grief.
Calling us out of our anxiety.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
There is a song my Lord sings for me,
a song of great delight,
a song to soothe my spirit,
a song of hope and light.
O Lord open my ears to hear,
open my eyes to see Your face,
open my soul to know…
Your song of loving grace.
The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love.
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:10-12 NIV
In this current trial,
I will remember Your mighty deeds.
As I meditate my heart rejoices,
“How great and good are You O Lord
Your love endures forever.”
“As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:38 NIV)
There was a woman of heartache,
caught in a life of shame.
A prostitute, alone,
with no one else to blame.
She took her tears to Jesus and spilled them on His feet.
The people were appalled, didn’t He know she was a cheat.
“Unclean, don’t touch her!
The law says she should be stoned.”
But Jesus touched her bitter tears and turned them into sweet.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4 NIV)
There are many tears in this hurting world
with all its death and pain.
Tears from accidents and addiction woes,
hidden tears of shame.
Tears of grief at supper
for an empty space.
Dry tears of depression,
making life so hard to face,
But harshest are the tears,
of a heart hardened by conceit.
Where pride prevents the sinner
from kneeling at Jesus feet.
“Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47 NIV)
The sun dips low.
Forever gone this day,
and I must let daylight go.
Even though I wish it to stay.
But I know the one who loves me,
He will go with me through the night.
The promise of Resurrection Morning—
The coming of endless light.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 5:5 NIV
Stephen L Hufman 