Happy Mother's Day: My Heritage of Faith

HERITAGE OF FAITH

In Memory of Dorotha Viola Smith Houston 1917-2002

In Memory of Doris Ruthelle Gartman Moseley Bock 1919-2007

In Honor of Donna Mae Houston Moseley b. 1944

How blessed I am

What a heritage of faith

Women who pray fervently

Consistently portraying a life of grace

Always encouraging, affirming, interceding, uplifting

Full of gentle strength and always believing

Beside their men and yet women of independent fervor

Raising their children to rely on their Savior

How blessed I am to know them, dear Father

And even more so, to be loved by and to love them

Grandma, Gram, Mom, oh how I praise You!

To me they're precious, and to You, priceless gems.

May I continue in their pathway

May I be a woman of honor, of prayer and of grace

May I pass on to this next generation

This amazing heritage of faith.

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her...Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."--Proverbs 31:26-30, NIV

Tids 'n tads, part 1

Sometimes You are as close as breathing
When I speak in faith, simply believing
You are near.

Other times I just can't feel you near me
Yet you have promised You're always here
You are near.

No matter what my feelings are
Whether it seems You're close or far
You are ever near, You are here.
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"'You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart'".--Jeremiah 29:13, NASB

"'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'"--Hebrews 13:5b, NASB

"'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age'".--Matthew 28:20b, NASB

"As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me."--Psalm 55:16, NASB
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This doesn't happen as often as it used to, but occasionally the Lord will bring a verse or two to mind and I will scribble it down on a scrap of paper. Later, I will revisit, pursue & expand it until I feel the "poem yearning to be a song" is complete.

Sometimes, though, that slip of paper might get lost/buried under a pile of stuff and forgotten about for weeks, months or years! Such is the case with several snippets I've found recently.

I've been reading these repeatedly, and try as I might, I'm not coming up with anything that I feel completes them, so I'm sharing them "a la carte" if you will. Along with the partial poem will come my thoughts and some relevant Scriptures.

These verses about God's nearness are precious promises to me. My feelings are very fickle and often aren't true. As I read once, faith is not a feeling. I must go back to what I know to be true, and that's what the Lord says in His Word. He promises me He is always with me, and hears me when I call.

So whether I'm feeling super-spiritual because I had a great time of fellowship with Him in His Word or intense moments in prayer OR whether I feel far away from His heart, due to my own sin or failure to trust Him or spend time with Him...the truth of the matter is that He's always near.

Actually, He's nearer than near. He's here.

I'm so glad for that!

Glory to the Creator King

A blanket of clouds within my sight
From way up here, it's easy to see Your might
Creation sings its praise to You, for
It's so amazing what You can do.

Striking beauty of the flowers,
Colors that display Your awesome power
Mountains high and valleys low
Big blue skies and the seas below
All creation sings the song;
Without a thought, I sing along:

Glory to our Creator King,
Maker of all, Lord of everything
There's absolutely nothing you You can't do
No problem too big that puzzles You.

In the grand display of a marvelous world
Or in the small things You're still bold
Teach me, Lord, to see Your power
In the everyday little things,
And You only may I obediently follow.

For You're just as strong when You're holding me
As when you formed the massive seas.
The questions and turmoil in my heart this day
Are no match for You, and so I'll say:

Glory to my Creator King:
Ruler of all, Lord of everything
There's absolutely nothing that You can't do
Teach me, Father, to completely trust You!

Glory to my Creator, Father and King
You're worthy of any and all praise, so I can sing:
Glory to my Creator King
Ruler of all, Lord of everything!


"The Heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."--Psalm 19:1, NASB

"'For nothing will be impossible with God.'"--Luke 1:37, NASB

"And looking at them Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"--Matthew 19:26, NASB

"'Worthy are You, our Lord and our God; to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.'"--Revelation 4:11 NASB

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

As songwriters and poets have testified over time, there’s something very special about a White Christmas. For us Christians, there are such eternal analogies within this beautiful wonder. Sitting inside the warmth of my parent’s house in northwestern Ohio one Christmas morning, I looked with amazement on the many inches of pure white snow. I couldn’t help praising our mighty God for the cleansing power of His saving blood over the blackness of my sin. May we never forget the miracle of salvation that began on earth with a tiny baby whose birth we celebrate during the Christmas season. May we be often reminded of this life-changing truth each time we delight in the pleasure of clean white snow!

“O Loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again…sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Ps. 51:1-2, 7 TLB

A Christmas Snow

The clean beauty of the snow
Silently covers all the earth

Much like my Lord did show

His love, which gives to me my worth

For as sparkling and pure

As untouched snow

Is the state of my heart,

Because to Calvary He did go

Unspeakable beauty,

Unfathomable grace

Unthinkable mercy

You died in my place.

This gorgeous reminder

Of your cleansing salvation

This snowy wonderland’s

Such a magnificent creation

Thanks, Lord, for the pleasure

Of a world so crystal white

But so much greater is the cleansing

That made my heart aright

This white Christmas gift

Outside and within

Praise floods my heart

Where can I begin?

May I ever praise you

For the cleansing of my soul

As I gaze at the beauty

Of this freshly fallen snow!

Because He Came

While all these things are wonderful parts of the Christmas season, there is so much more to this holiday! You see, if Jesus hadn’t come, we would have no Easter—no cross—and therefore no salvation! So while we’re celebrating the wonder of this season, let’s remember that the Greatest Gift ever is Jesus, and He desires to have first place in our hearts. He came so that we would be His—let’s live like we are and tell everyone we know how our lives are different all because He came!

“’And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’.”

Because He Came

Because He came that holy night

We can now know His awesome power and might

Though helpless as a baby on that night long ago

Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus never succumbs to His foes.

Because He came we have the greatest gift

Emmanuel, God with us—gives our spirits a lift

For this tiny baby grew up to be the Man

Who died to provide salvation to every woman, child and man.

Because He came we can have such hope

No matter how painful life may get, we can always cope

For in His grace and His mercy His love He imparts

We need only be willing and open our hearts.

Because He came there’s life after this

If I didn’t say this, I’d be so remiss:

What have YOU done with God’s greatest gift?

Have you openly received and partaken of it?

Or have you sealed up your heart as tight as a drum

Placing the Gift on the shelf so it’s touched by no one?

Oh surrender now to receive His grace

The forgiveness you need is found in His face

God’s greatest gift, Jesus, can be yours now—forever

No matter what you do, His love you can’t sever!

Because He came, the world’s never been the same

Nor our hearts, for His gift eternal changes have made

So now we can say “Merry Christmas” all because He came!

So Far

It’s that time of year when many of us write Christmas cards/letters and reflect on what has happened in our lives and the lives of our family over the past year. In the vein of feeling reflective, I wanted to share this poem that I wrote for my thirtieth birthday, an undisclosed number of years ago! Every word is still true, and I praise the Lord for putting up with me and for patiently teaching me that He hasn’t brought me this far just to leave me. I can trust Him, and for today, that is more than enough!

What You’ve Done So Far

What You’ve done so far, my Savior

Is to free my soul from sin

Your life was the price You paid

To cleanse me from within.

What You’ve done so far, my Father

Is to love me as Your own

A love unconditional and freely offered

It’s transformed me—given me hope.

What You’ve done so far as Provider

Is to bless me abundantly

Family, friends—so many loved ones

My heart overflows with thanksgiving.

What You’ve done so far as Rescuer

Is to save me from myself

You kept me safe within Your arms

Even when I denied needing Your help.

What You’ve done so far as Healer

Is to touch me powerfully

Though the pain still often surfaces

You’re right here—comforting me.

What You’ve done so far, my Dearest Friend

Is to teach me loyalty

Despite my fickle heart and changing moods

You’re always here—You never leave.

What You’ve done so far as Shepherd

Is to tend me with such care

Though I’m wayward and stubborn,

You lead me, lovingly keeping me near.

What You’ve done so far as teacher

Is to use the school of pain

The lessons learned have hurt, yet honed me

My suffering has brought me gain.

What You’ve done so far as Grace-Giver

Is to free my mind from guilt

You’re patiently teaching me a different way

And I know I’m learning still.

What You’ve done so far has changed me—

I’m not where I thought I’d be

Yet Your plan is better always

Make me content to follow Thee.

What You’ve done so far, my God Almighty

Words cannot adequately express

This verbose writer with ready pen

Is speechless in Your holiness.

What You’ve done these thirty years

My mind can scarcely comprehend

By Your grace You are my Savior,

Shepherd, Teacher, Rescuer, Friend.

Father, God Almighty, Healer, Provider—all You are

No matter what You’ve got in store for me

I’ll remain amazed at all of

What You’ve done so far.

“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Ps. 146: 1-2 NIV

“When my heart my grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by your righteous right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Ps. 73:21-26, 28 NIV

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10 NIV

Your Garden of Grace

Make me walk by Your side, soak in Your light

Let Your life-giving river quench my parched soul

To grow here in Your Garden, Your Garden of Grace

The seeds of Your truth planted in time

Watered by many through years that go by

Though I didn’t always seek Your Son-light

The light of Your grace was always shining on me

How You’ve been faithful, dear Lord to fertilize and grow

In my sin I allowed the weeds to cover Your truth

Yet Your mercy brought rain again to this dry soil

The soil of my heart has been always tended by You

True Vine, Master Gardner, Savior and Friend

How lovingly You’ve kept Your garden that’s my heart

As I reflect on all the seasons of my life, both storms and bright days

You’ve skillfully crafted this plot You’ve created

With Jesus as my sun and Your Word as my rain

My faith grows so slowly and yet just at Your perfect pace

Prevent me from hindering the tilling You must do

Make this clay moldable and ready for Your use

Make me walk by Your side, soak in Your light

Let Your life-giving river quench my parched soul

To grow here in Your Garden, Your Garden of Grace

The Lord has taught me much about this concept of His garden of grace in my heart. One interesting concept I’ve thought of is that fertilizer comes from waste…that waste is putrid and filthy, though it contains some of the best nutrients for rich soil, which yields a bigger and more beautiful harvest. The “fertilizer” of life will look different from time to time (heartache, financial pressures, ministry woes, strained relationships)—but in the hand of our Master Gardner, all will be used to make the soil of my heart that which produces more beautifully, and closer to His design. This won’t happen overnight, just like a garden doesn’t grow the day after the seeds are planted. Sometimes the soil lays dormant for a while—because maybe the soil of my heart needs to be burned so that it will be able to grow things again. Often I let weeds of impatience and jealously and worrying crop up in my garden—and this requires the Master Gardner to pull the weeds. Not fun, but oh so necessary for His long-term garden design. Though I have only a view of the soil and the earth, our God sees the whole garden, as perfect as He made it to be, because He sees His garden of grace in the soil of my heart through the light of His Son. May we be patient as the Gardner gently and graciously cares for the gardens of His grace growing in our hearts.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser…Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me…If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:1, 4, 7 NIV

Empty Arms: Hannah's Story

Hannah’s earnest plea for a child is one that my heart has cried (and will continue to, I expect) so many times. Yet the same God that so abundantly blessed this godly woman by granting her the desire of her heart will someday (and even today in the interim) fill this child-size void in my heart with His tender, gentle, comforting presence. Praise be to YAHWEH the God of Israel and the God of my life! Only He is worthy of praise, for only He gives the gift of life, the gift of gratitude, the gift of tears, and the all-encompassing, never-ending gift of grace!

Empty Arms

Hannah’s Prayer of Desperation

[I Samuel 1: 9-11]

Holy God my Father

I come before your throne

Though I love you will all my heart, Lord,

There’s times I feel so alone.

My empty arms are aching

For a precious little one

You know my heart, oh YAHWEH

So to you, my Lord, I come.

Each time I see a baby, Lord

There’s sorrow in my heart

When I let my emotions take over,

I’m nearly torn apart.

My empty arms are hurting

But in the midst of the pain, I see

That only you are able

To fill this void inside of me.

So though my heart is fragile

And my flesh is only weak

Help me God to trust you—

It’s solely your face I seek.

So though my arms are empty

I praise you for your grace

In your sovereign time you’ll fill them,

Until then, I seek your face.

I wish I knew how to post a song on here. I wish you could hear my dear friend Becky’s beautiful voice sing this as a lullaby. This is the first time that one of my poems has been set to music. It is a portion of the poem “Gaze Into My Eyes” that I posted last week.

Gaze into My Eyes

Hannah’s Lullaby from Yahweh

[Words by Rebecca Lynn Edumondson (now Campbell) and Sarah J. Moseley]

I’ve loved you right from the start

And have all the best for you

You are my child

I love you with all my heart

Gaze into My eyes, my child

In them You’ll find my peace

You’ll find no judgement here

Only my sweet release.

Seek me and you’ll find me

When you seek me with all your heart

Come. rest in my arms

I’ve loved you from the start.

Gaze into My eyes, my child

There you’ll find my rest

In the midst of all your cares

I’ll turn your good into My best.

This Child

Hannah’s Song of Dedication and Praise

This little child, used by you

Greater things no one could do!

You formed him perfectly in side of me

Now he’s yours Lord, I set him free.

What a gift you’ve give your servant

My whole life up till now

My heart beat for you, Lord,

I knew you could—somehow!

Is there any reason you blessed this simple servant

With love so rich, so free?

No, my Lord Almighty—

It’s all you, NONE of me!

My life now has such purpose

My head now raised, I see

That all along you’ve loved me, so I’m here on bended knee.

He’s yours Lord and yours only—I give him up, I give him up to Thee!

Empty Arms: My Story

Picture is of a photograph © by Anne Geddes

This is not going to be a light-hearted post. So if you're looking for something fluffy, funny or impersonal, please click past this one. This week marked the 9th anniversary of a decision I made that changed my life forever. One of those decisions that you can't go back and change your mind--no matter what happens and what you learn after the fact that might have led you to make the opposite decision.

"Empty Arms" is my story...it is also the story of Hannah, my favorite biblical character. This post will be my story; the next post (above this) will be Hannah's. The beginning of the "Empty Arms" story is when I originally wrote it a baby dedication Sunday several years ago...going through part of the grieving process that I might not ever be one of those couples who brings their precious baby in front of the church to dedicate him/her to the Lord.

Then later that year in a semester at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), the Old Testament Survey prof, Dr Ron Allen, lectured on I Samuel chapters 1 and 2. While I had heard the story of Hannah so many times, that time he told it, Dr Allen brought to life for me the story of Hannah and her desperate prayer for a child. As I listened, the Lord quietly whispered to my heart that “Empty Arms” had many similarities to Hannah’s anguished pleas. Since November 3, 2000 when I choose as a 27-year-old to have a (medically necessary) hysterectomy, my appreciation of Hannah’s story has grown significantly. While there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord has designed me to be a wife and mother, I know now that if there are children that are mine, they will not be from my body. The Lord has given me a dream of a precious baby girl that I will name Hannah Hope. She might be Asian, or might be Romanian—she could be red, brown, yellow, black or white! Her name is Hannah because I will have waited SO LONG for her. Her name is hope because the Lord gives me hope when He rekindles that dream within me.

This decision to have a hysterectomy obviously had life-altering implications. I had always dreamed of being a mother naturally, of some day (when the Lord provided the husband) giving birth to a wonderful miracle of life. I still desperately wanted to be a mother. However, since 1993 (when my endometriosis was discovered), I had sacrificed many things (in hindsight too many things) in order to save my ability to bear children. A best friend, a fiancé, and quality of life were among the most noticeable. But by far, the most devastating thing I sacrificed in order to save my childbearing ability was my dependence on my Shepherd. It was as if I was telling the Lord, “You can take anything and everything, except this.” Holding on to ANYTHING, be it a righteous, godly desire or not—is failing to depend on Christ for everything.

I know that my Shepherd knows the path I’ve chosen, and more than I desire to hold a baby, I do long to be cradled within His strong loving arms. I can honestly say today, more than 9 years after my surgery, He continues to heal and restore me in my brokenness. I still go through mourning periods, but the Lord has provided a wonderful way to fill my arms--for now. I keep babies in the nursery at church every week. Every time I hold a baby, I try to remember that it is not outside of the Lord's power (even at the age I am now) to give me my own child someday.

Empty Arms

My Prayer of Desperation

Abba, God my Father

I come before your throne

Though I love you will all my heart, Lord,

There’s times I feel so very alone.

My empty arms are aching

For a precious little one

You know my heart, my Shepherd

And you know what I have done.

If I’d known then what I know now,

I’d have never made that choice,

But in your loving mercy

Through my pain I heard your voice.

Each time I see a baby, Lord

There’s sorrow in my heart

When I let my emotions take over,

I’m nearly torn apart.

Yet you’ve been patiently teaching me

To hold tight to your mighty hand;

As much as I long to hold my baby,

You long to hold me—oh, I scarce can understand!

My empty arms are hurting

But in the midst of the pain, I see

That only you are able

To fill this void inside of me.

So though my heart is fragile

And my flesh is only weak

Help me Lord to trust you—

It’s your heart only that I seek.

When I cling to my cares and troubles, my Jesus

I hinder your work in me

It’s only when I surrender my stubborn will

That you can begin to use me graciously.

So though my arms are empty

I praise you for your grace

In your sovereign time you’ll fill them, Lord—

Until then, I seek your face.

About a year after "Empty Arms" was written, I was at a DTS Women's retreat. The speaker, Gail Seidel, spoke about Naman's slave girl.Naman’s little slave girl was used greatly by God. She was in the midst of awful circumstances—as a slave she had no rights. Yet God used her in the life of Naman to bring him to faith in Yahweh. What this song means to me is that ALL children are a gift from the Lord who He desires to use greatly. Our children are not ours—they belong to God first; He has “loaned” them to us to instill in them the truths and values and love and character that will best make Him look great and get the most glory. Praise the Lord for the gift of a child’s smile, the softness of a baby’s skin and the joy they bring any time you’re in their presence!

This Child

A Song of Adopting Love

This little child, used by you

Greater things no one could do!

You plucked her up, out, and here—for me!

This precious life now yours, set free!

What a gift you’ve give your servant

My whole life up till now

My heart beat for you, Lord,

I knew you could—somehow!

This child, precious child--my arms enfold her sweetness, my lips caress her smile

Is there any reason you blessed this simple servant

With love so rich, so free?

No, my Lord Almighty—

It’s all you, NONE of me!

My life now has such purpose

My head now raised, I see

That all along you’ve loved me, so I’m here on bended knee.

She’s yours Lord and yours only—I give her up to Thee!

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Ps. 37:4 NIV

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph. 3:20-21 NIV

Shepherd of My Heart

This picture she entitled “New Birth” was drawn by my dear friend Vel Sweet at my request in 1999. Mrs Sweet is with her Shepherd now, and all that knew and loved her miss her here on earth.

Shepherd of my heart, Keeper of my soul

Make me walk in Your path, trusting in You alone.

How tenderly You guide me, how gently You lead me on

Through green pastures and troubled waters, to the place You call Your own.

I’m such a wayward lamb, dear Lord—my eyes look far away

Help me cling closely to You, following You today.

In the darkness You’re my solace, in my weakness You’re my peace

I’ll follow You, my Shepherd, hold tight to this foolish sheep.

Though the road be often rocky, the way You go is best.

I see just the present, but You see the final rest.

Though many times I stray from You, Your staff reaches out to rescue me

This stubborn sheep whom You love so much receives such mercy from You, my King.

On my own I fall so quickly—there’s snares on every side

Inside my heart holds bitterness, anger, jealousy and pride;

But when I simply follow You—though I cannot see the way,

You lead me steadily and patiently, so it’s here with You I’ll stay.

I know Your voice, Good Shepherd—I hear You softly call my name

My heart yearns to follow You, but my faith just wanes and fades

May I always trust You, Lord, as I clutch Your nail-scarred hand

For by Your grace You care for me with love I’ll never understand.

Shepherd of my heart, Keeper of my soul

Make me walk in Your path, trusting in You alone

How tenderly You guide me, how gently You lead me on

Through green pastures and troubled waters, to the place You call Your own.

Of all the analogies that convey attributes of God in the Bible, my favorite is the Good Shepherd. Sheep are completely helpless to care for themselves in any and every way, and thus are entirely dependent upon their Shepherd for all of their needs. Our Gentle Shepherd knows the needs of our lives—needs that even we are not aware of. He will tend to us with such skill and loving care, even when we fail to acknowledge His grace amid our sinful stubbornness. But when we humbly place our hearts in His hands, He will gather up our pain, our failures, and our weaknesses and eclipse them with His love. I praise God that He bothers with such a wayward, foolish lamb like me—and I’ll be forever amazed that He gave His very life to save mine.

“He tends His flock like a Shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11 NIV

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…” Ezekiel 34:15-16 NIV

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:14, 15, 27 NIV

Gaze Into My Eyes

Gaze into My eyes, my precious one
In them you’ll find my peace
You’ll find no judgment, anger or pain
Only my sweet release.

Gaze into My eyes, my child
I want you to see my grace
It matters not what you’ve done or failed to
Just look into my face.

Gaze into My eyes, my broken one
There you’ll find my rest
It’s in the midst of your problems, cares and worries
That I’ll turn good or bad into my best.

Gaze into My eyes, my weary lamb
In them you’ll perceive my love
Cease your striving, doing and trying
And simply look up here, above.

Gaze into My eyes, my child
I heard you when you cried
Let my mercy erase the stain
It’s for that sin I died.

Gaze into My eyes, oh fragile one
Let your weakness become my strength
I am the God that changes not
No matter the torrent’s waves.

Gaze into My eyes, dear servant
Be still and hear my truth
Don’t get so busy that you fail to see
The One who gives life and breath to you.

Gaze into My eyes, my dear one
Let your anxieties fall apart
Though it seems sometimes they’ll overtake you,
I’ve got you close here to my heart.

Gaze into My eyes, my singer
Rest under the shelter of my wings
In your brokenness I’m making a song
That only you can sing.

Gaze into My eyes, weak and tired one
Look long at their tenderness
I know your heart and see your faith
And I’m here beside you in this wilderness.

Gaze into My eyes, my treasured child
Remember my faithfulness through years gone by
I held you then, I hold you now
Just stay here—it’s all right to cry.

Gaze into My eyes, oh dear one
For only here you’ll find true peace
My love for you knows no limits or boundaries
No matter what, it will never cease.

Gaze into My eyes, my precious one
In them you’ll find my peace
You’ll find no judgment, anger or pain
Only my sweet release.

In the sweet eyes of a baby or the happy face of bright colored flowers we can see the Lord’s face. His eyes are ever on us; they never close in sleep. There is no pain so deep nor joy so boundless that’s not encapsulated in our Jesus’ face. All the answers to all our needs lie there—is there any better place to look? Let’s rest in these incredible truths this day and find strength for tomorrow in His eyes.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chron. 16:9

“But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge…” Ps. 141:8

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” Ps. 18:1-3

This was the first poem I wrote after a "drought" of many years. It was the beginning of what was a very prolific year for me. A portion of these words were set to music by a dear friend, and without me telling her my thoughts about the style, she fashioned it as a lullaby. Perfect! The Lord is softly calling all of us to gaze into His eyes!

With You I'm Home

This is the view from what was my Grandpa’s backyard (Waverly, NY in 1995)

No matter what my feelings say, no matter where I live or where I stay

No matter how far I roam from you, With you I’m home.

With you I’m home, with you I’m home—I am not ever alone

‘Cuz with you I’m home.

Far from you I’ve wandered so many time before—

Your wayward child comes running—you’ve got an open door.

There’s no other place I truly fit here on this cruel earth

‘Cuz only you love me unconditionally—only you gave me my worth.

Could it be that all my searching was part of your great plan?

I do not know, but I praise you—out of the rocks, you’ve laid a road of sand.

Loved ones may be far away or even right next door—

This feeling of not belonging has come so many times before.

While you’ve lavished dear friends and family down on me,

I sometimes feel all alone, ‘cuz I forget—only you hold my identity.

May I trust you more than my feelings, thoughts and cares

May I find the security of your presence when it seems that you’re not near.

No matter what my feelings say, no matter where I live or where I stay

No matter how far I roam from you, With you I’m home.

With you I’m home, with you I’m home—I am not ever alone

‘Cuz with you I’m home.

Throughout my life, I have lived many places, worn many faces, and been different from most of my peers. Satan loves to discourage me by telling me that I don’t fit in with anyone or anywhere. Yet that is one of His crafty lies that I so often believe; the truth is that my Savior is my secure shelter and my source of being and life. I praise Him that no matter how we feel or what we think or what others say, there are truly no “misfits” with our God, because each of us is at home with our Lord as long as we’re laid at the foot of His cross!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” Matt. 18:12-14