A Hand Along the Journey: Poems for the King from One Pilgrim to Another

This is a poetry blog, but today's thoughts are in prose. Can you imagine how long of a poem it would have been to convey everything? 😊           Yesterday at 1:11pm my husband and I headed to the children’s hospital with our 19 month old daughter. We didn’t walk out of that building until 8:00, and the intervening hours were not dull, to say the least…           Bethany had been sick since Monday afternoon with a tummy virus and congestion. Her brother and cousins had all had the same thing last week, so we settled in to fight the 72-hour bug one more time. One of our biggest concerns was preventing dehydration, which we worked at every way we could. I literally held her all day/night for several days, giving her water one teaspoon at a time. In many ways, she was improving, but by Thursday night, her lack of wet diapers was concerning us. I didn’t want my baby to have an IV, but by F...

“He made the stars also…” (Gen. 1:16) Every now and then at close of day I step outside for a change of pace, To feel the night’s cool breeze and see The starry sky looking down at me. The coolness of night with its gift of repose Mirrors serenity nothing else knows, Except for the fellowship that we share: My Lord and I, He’s beyond compare.    Pin pricks of starlight so far away Make me think of another day, And what it was like when the God Who made them Walked upon earth as the Incarnate Man. In the Gospels we’re told that He’d rise up and pray Before the hustle and bustle of day. As He sat on the hillside in the quiet dark night, He must have looked up at stars silent and bright. Did they remind Him of when at command of His Word He flung them in space as Creation’s Lord? Did He think all the more of His Father and home, That He missed while on earth for us He did roam? Did they remind Him of u...

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Which is in heaven.” “Let your light so shine, Glorifying your Father.” This was Your command To disciples at hand. Well, I’ve taken the plunge To shine publicly, But I pray that I’ll always Serve with purity. Competition and pride Would Your awesomeness hide, So keep them far from me; May I look only to Thee. If I start to slip Without even knowing, I beg You to show me Immediately. Please touch other lives, Both near and worldwide, With the greatness of You Through all that I do. Your glory’s my goal, Your love’s my sweet song, That others may join Redemption’s glad throng. And I’ll bow the knee Of my heart unto Thee, As Your humble handmaid, My life at Your cross laid.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Tim. 4:7 I’ve been entrusted with the Truth, A rare and precious gift, And it’s my job to pass it on As I run life’s race so swift. So many through the years I’ve known Have loved and lived for Him And it’s my turn, as they have shone, To never let His light grow dim. To stay the course consistently, To focus on the prize, To never stop, to faithful be Before all watching eyes.   My children see me every day; They must see Christ in me, If they’re likewise to Him obey When the baton transfers again shortly. There’s more to life than temporal things And pleasures we enjoy. We run for Jesus, King of Kings; His will is our employ. So run today I must, I will, With all that in me is! His strength will keep me running still  Through all my life, the  glory His.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul.” – Psalm 103 Holy Savior, Son of God, On this very Earth You trod, Stepped across the universe, Born to become one of us. Holy Savior, Son of Man, Living by the Father’s plan, Died to pay the price for sin So we could be born again. Holy Savior, I need You! Though I’ve received life anew, Still I often fail to be All that I know honors Thee. Holy Savior, Gracious Friend, God Who loves me without end, Make my life a fragrance sweet As I worship at Your feet. Holy Savior, Heaven’s King, There one day Your praise I’ll sing, And until then here do the same As I seek to live Your Name.

“…the glory of children are their fathers.” – Proverbs 17:6 A mirror of my daddy’s face Is in my soul; time can’t erase All that he means, or his embrace; He’ll always hold an honored place. I think of my dad every day, And often wish he could have stayed. I’d give a lot to hear what he’d say To grown-up questions I’d send his way. I’d give a lot if he could know The man I married, who’s like him so, And watch his grandchildren as they grow; But God’s answer to those hopes was “no.” When I was young, I never knew How great my daddy really was; I grew Up not quite knowing just how true An unsung hero he was, how great his honor due. But he knew we loved him, and he gave His love to his family, who bear his name. He lives today beyond the grave, Because of Jesus, Whose power does save. So, Daddy, know I still love you, And will until this life is through; And then in Heaven with life anew I’ll sing His ...

John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. Dear Christ, when You were here on earth, And traveling dusty roads, There was a place You loved to be – A home in the town of Bethany. There Your weary feet could rest, Your spirit be encouraged, For Bethany betokened love, A reminder of Your home above. A place to go, forever welcome, To fellowship with friends; To eat a meal, or just be still,   To love, and to be loved. Lord Jesus, we kneel before You know, Just starting our own home; We consecrate it all to Thee –   Oh, make it like Bethany! May You always be welcome within our doors, Just as You were by those friends; Help us always to treasure and worship You With all that we are and do. Help us also daily to love one another, Living Your sacred design. Ma...