Sunday, December 28, 2008

Thank you for ME.




I just want to say thank you for loving me Lord
And I want to say thank you for ME!
I know it sounds strange to hear something like that
But I’m grateful that You let me BE.

If I hadn’t been born, just think what I’d missed
The world and the sky and the sea
The clouds and the animals, birds, and the rain,
The sun, and the fish in the sea.

You show me your beauty, Your love and Your care
You lead me when I can’t see
You cry when I cry, laugh when I laugh
A more wonderful Friend couldn’t be.

I’m here to thank You for letting me BE
You chose me and gave me a name
You knew me before both my parents were born
And you’ll take me to heaven from where I came.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Hold Out My Arms



Will there be time to say,” I love you” When the sky is rent with light?
Will there be time to cry,” God save me”! If He came back one quiet night?
The words we wish we had not said cannot be wiped away
But those that can and should be said are left until, ‘some day’.

If that day comes, and so does God, the instant is the same
‘Some day’ is now again too late, too late to call their name
Too late to say the things our heart had often longed to share
For fear of being thought too soft, if our emotion’s bared.

There is no doubt that God will come with trumpets loud and long
And call His chosen up to Him with others looking on.
What will we feel when swept aloft with loved ones left behind?
We loved them, but not quite enough to help them change their mind.

What urgent challenge did we present, their eternal life to gain
To urge them,” Soon it will be too late, you must be born again”.
Our loved ones then would fly with us away from earthly harm.
‘Go into all the world,’ You said, ‘Hold out to them my arms’.

Don’t hesitate because you’re weak or shy or don’t have charms
‘My Word will accomplish what I will, so go, hold out My arms.’
Let’s then be faithful to our call to share the love of God
In time we’ll hear ‘Well done my friend, come home to Me, your God.’

W.B. Dec 2008.

IF.

If I could draw I would draw You
Especially Your eyes,
Your hands that comforted a child,
Your feet that walked for miles

If I could paint I’d paint Your love
That saved someone like me
The love that went to Calvary
And died to set me free.

If I could sculpt, I’d sculpt Your arms
To wrap them round my heart
I’d make them strong as Yours are strong
Too strong to pull apart.

If I could live, I’d live for You
It’s all that I can do
I’ve not the talents some may love
But my heart is art to You..


W.B. Dec 2008

Sunday, December 14, 2008

I'd Love To See Your Eyes.





I’d love to see Your eyes Lord
I love looking into eyes
I’d watch You look around You
And hope You’d glance at mine.

For eyes give out their secrets
Of all that is inside
The love and joy and purity
That no-one’s eyes can hide.

They are mirrors of the soul Lord
So many eyes I’ve seen
And loved the beauty that’s within
Reflections of their dreams,

It doesn’t seem to matter though
The colour of your eyes
If they are brown or hazel
Or blue or gray besides.

Your eyes are going to show out
The soul that is within
So if you gaze on Jesus
I’ll know when I look in.

W.B. Dec 2008

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Looking Within.


I’m looking within
Will I find sin?
What state am I in?

Cleanse me Lord.

I’m looking without
At paths round about.
What is my route?

Lead me Lord.

Can I be still?
Rest in Your will?
Loving You still?

Bless me Lord.

Beauty of flowers
Brighten dull hours
Do they have powers?

Lift my heart Lord.

All You have sent
In love it was meant
I am content.

I am Yours Lord.

What Is Eternity Like?


What is eternity like, Lord?

Are the days any different or is everything just the same?

When I was a child I thought eternity was like a bathroom when the hot water had been running. Everything hidden in steam like on a mountain top when the clouds covered it. Nothing properly visible, just ghostly.

Now I think that eternity is an endless succession of days.
Nothing bad happens. Everyone is happy and kind.

You don’t get bored because you can do anything you want, but you only want to do what is pleasing to God, and that pleases you too.
I like to think there are babies to cuddle and children to read stories to.
Will the babies and the children grow up?

Now I have a problem. If they do, what happens when there are no more babies or children? I won’t like that very much, but why shouldn’t they be able to grow up? That would be what they would want isn’t it?

There shouldn’t be any problems in eternity, should there, Lord?

So then, what will eternity be like?
I obviously have no idea.
I know there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
If it’s alright with You, Lord, I’d prefer to spend eternity on the new earth.

I feel much more comfortable about that idea. You see I’ve lived on the earth for eighty years and a bit, so I’m really used to it by now and I’m used to the people, and
I just love the incredibly beautiful earth, with its wonderful scenery.

I won’t mention the creatures because I don’t want to even think about cockroaches and mosquitoes and I don’t know how I would take it if you said that they were part of the deal.
I would really be appreciative of the fact that there would be no weeds to cull.
I really hated how healthy and lush the weeds were while my precious plants barely clung to life, and how it hurt my back and my knees to deal with those awful weeds!

I haven’t mentioned this before, but I guess You remember how when I was young, almost a century ago I always wanted to be a pilot and fly a red aeroplane, well if there are planes on the new earth may I fly one then ? I believe I could do it without any lessons if I was immortal. I always thought I could fly without any lessons when I was a mortal child too.

What will Eternity be like Lord ?
I wish someone could tell me!.
W.B. Dec 2008

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I HAVE BEEN YOUNG AND NOW I AM OLD, PSALM 37 V.25


STILL YOU ARE THE ONE THAT HOLDS MY HAND.

Oh God, I am delighted by You
My Lord, I am delighted in You.
You love me, hold me, and lift me up.
May You be delighted in me.

Chorus.
Thank You for holding me Lord
For I’m human, I trip, and I fall
I can’t live without You I need You my Lord
You’re the One that keeps holding my hand.

Lord, I am committed to you
Without You what would I do?
While I’m trusting , not fretting, no enemy can stand
You’re the one that keeps holding my hand.

I’m trusting and resting in You
I’ve committed my way to You Lord
Keep leading me on up the mountains of joy
You are the One that keeps holding my hand.


Because the Lord is the One that holds my hand.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Birthday Jesus.




Happy Birthday Jesus,
How old are You today?
Mother says it’s rude to ask,
But I’m asking anyway.

My sister says You’re 2008
She thinks she’s very smart,
But Dad says You’re much older
Because You made the world at the start.

I’d love to see what you look like
Seeing You are so old
My Gran has wrinkles everywhere
And she is not that old.

It’s great You made the world, Jesus
I like to make things too.
One day when I have finished school
I’ll build a house for You.

Mum says You built a home for us
Way up there in the sky,
But I prefer to stay down here
Unless You can make me fly.

Then I could fly down here to earth
I’d miss my friends you see,
My dogs, and bird, and Guinea pigs
Would You like to come with me?

Since you made all my animals
And many more beside
I’m sure You’d like to visit them
I’ll show You where they hide.

I built them little houses,
But the one I build for You
Would be tall and grand and very large
I’m sure You’d love it too.

So You see I have things all worked out,
We’d both fly up and down.
I’d visit You, You’d visit me
Like best friends ‘do the rounds’.

W.B. Nov 2008.

Monday, November 17, 2008

FAITH AND TRUST




Where is the sun when it’s cloudy?
Where is the blue sky then?
Can we believe that the sun is still there
And the blue sky is still there as well?

We have faith to believe they are there
Because we have seen them before
So it’s not really faith, it is knowledge
And the facts are just hidden once more.

But faith is for things we have not seen
When no proof was presented to us
We believed what God said as we trust Him
For God doesn’t lie to us.

Now faith must develop with friendships
That start up with folk we don’t know
We hold out our hand and start trusting
If we trust we will never let go.

So don’t ever doubt those who love you
God will always guide them aright
Lay your troubles right down at the altar
Let your friendship and love be their light.


w.b. Nov 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Please don’t kill me!!


Who did You make today Lord?
Into whom did You breathe new life?
Was it a doctor, a nurse or a priest,
A pilot, or singer, or wife?

Each child had a hope and a future to come
Did You plan it as the world was formed.?
What happens if they aren’t allowed to live
And aborted as they are born?

Is the sigh of a breeze between the trees
A whisper of babies breath?
Or the moan of the wind high in the sky
Angels grieving at more death yet?

God gave us the knowledge to make a life
Have we the care to bestow?
Will we nurture and cherish each child we have
As they’re future we come to know?

You may be the mother of a famous man
Or a Godly holy priest
You are a part of God’s great plan
A mother, a leader, at least.

Lord You are coming.



Lord, You are coming again
Maybe today
I want to be ready Lord
Now and always

There are so many things Lord
That I now regret
Harsh words said in anger
Can’t be unsaid.

So now I press forward
To a new day
Please cleanse me and change me
So all that I say

Will bless and encourage
The ones that I meet
And I’ll walk beside You
And find others to greet.

I want to be ready Lord,
Ready today
Tomorrow won’t come Lord,
Please come back today..

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

One Set of Footprints.




There’s only one set of footprints
As I look back down the road
It doesn’t mean, although it seems
That I’ve walked the road alone.

You’ve been carrying me just lately
As my burdens weighed me down
My pain and loss and trials
Were meant to strengthen me, not drown!

So I laid them at Your feet Lord
And You just picked me up
And carried me in Your arms Lord,
Until I could stand up.

My cup is overflowing
With love and blessings too.
No time to cry or heave a sigh
There’s joy to be found in You.

WB.. Nov 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

Jeremiah 15:16 .. Your words sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart’s delight



Is there somewhere we could go Lord
I could be alone with You?
Without any interruptions
Or calling,” Would you do……………….?”

I need quiet in my spirit, Lord
And time to meditate
To just be still and silent.
And hear You whispering ‘wait’.

‘I’m aware of all your yearnings, child
I heard your unspoken pleas
I’m deep within your hungry soul
My love will fill your needs.

Just lean on Me my dear one
And I will be your strength
We’ll talk to one another
And it could be at length.’

We two have till eternity
And so, for evermore
We shall relate, just while we wait
Till you reach My door.'

W.B. Nov 2008.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Green Pastures.



I’d like to stay here
In this field of glistening green
With a few little weeds.
Just a few harmless weeds?

Not a chance! As I glance
At their harmless heads
Their roots are spreading under the ground freely
Their heads are spreading seeds over the ground.

While I’m watching.
The breeze is spreading the seeds all around.
They must be found
Destroyed, burned

Roots under the ground must be pulled out
Put in the fire, the consuming fire, not the purifying fire.
Those weeds destroy our souls
Our hopes of a harvest of one hundred-fold

We must never rest till every seed of evil,
The spawn of Satan
Is searched, seen and destroyed in the light of God’s Word.
Only then can we lie down in green pastures

While God restores our souls.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Sky's The Limit.


The sky’s the limit
Isn’t it?
That’s what they say
Anyway.

The limit to what ?
All that we’ve got?
To where we will go?
I want to know!

How high is the sky?
Do you know?
How long will it take
Me to go?

Who will I meet
Whom shall I greet?
Who will I know?
Yes, I’ll go.

Will God be there?
Do you know?
My mother, and Uncle Joe?
Then I’ll go.


W.B. Nov 2nd 08

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Lord, I Am Here.


Lord, I am here,
Kneeling before You
Crushed by sorrow and pain
Teach me to comfort those who weep.

Lord, I am here
Kneeling before You
Lonely and desperate again
Teach me to befriend some lonely soul.

Lord, You are here
Standing beside me
Loving and guiding always
Teach me to stand beside those with needs.

Lord, You are here
Kneeling beside me
Your arms holding me near
Teach me to hold those You hold dear.

Lord, You are here
Watching my actions
If some should seek You in me
Teach me never to deny You by the things that I do.


W.B. Oct 2008.

Will You Listen?


Will you listen if I tell you of a God who is love?
Would you believe it if I proved it was true?
What if I showed you that love of God
By the very things that I do?

My words are just empty clanging sounds
It’s actions that prove words are true
How do you know what you read in God’s word
If the lives of His saints don’t show you?


We are the proof of a God who is love
When we love like our God to the end
If we say’ Yes, I love you’ and then turn our back
What message of love do we send?

We are His eyes that see the need
His hands that reach out and hold
His arms that gather and protect
His feet that pace the fold.

What do men see if they can’t see God?
Our words no message will send.
We are proof of a God who is love
When we show love like God’s to the end.

W.B. Oct 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Does God Have A Sense Of Humour?


Does God have a sense of humour?
You’d better believe it….and He’s great with traffic !

We lived in a unit in a high-rise building in the heart of the city of Liverpool, Australia.
I worked at the Defence dept outside the city and across the river.
To access the four lane highway that crossed the city and the river you had to patiently wait in a line of vehicles until each one was able to slip in between vehicles on your right across two lanes and then hope a kind soul on your left would allow you to join the traffic flow ahead.
It’s very difficult to describe without a drawing.since we Aussies drive on the opposite side of the road to you.
Each morning as I queued up to make a right turn onto the far side of the highway I would be praying that some kind soul would take pity on me and let me in as soon as a gap showed up on my right.

This particular morning I was running late, after a night up with sick children, so I begged God as I drove to the junction “PLEASE, GOD MAKE SOMEONE LET ME IN TODAY”.
I reached the junction. THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN SIGHT ! I looked to the right and then to the left in amazement. The highway was completely deserted. I pulled into the highway , laughing and crying at the same time, and I am sure I could hear the Lord laughing too! I drove the two kilometres to work absolutely alone.

When the local newspaper came out the next day it bore the headlines ‘MYSTERY ELECTRICAL FAILURE STOPPED TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT THE CITY !!’

That’s my Lord! Isn’t He absolutely awesome?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

A Message From God.

* Place your own name where it says ‘child’.

Let me just hold you today, child
You are always rushing around
You need to stop, rest, and listen
Your feet hardly touch the ground.

I want to give rest to your soul, child
To whisper my blessings to you
I gave up My life FOR you, my child,
Now I want to give life TO you.

I’m always as close as your breathing
I hear every whispered plea.
You say you are not a believer
Yet I’ve heard you cry, “Oh God, help me!”

So today, my arms are around you
Just relax for a moment or two
And look in My Word for some guidance
As I whisper, dear one, I love you.

W.B

Monday, October 27, 2008

No Other Love.

No other love would plan for my creation
Would know my name and count up all my days
No other love would sacrifice His Son for me
And let Him take the Cross, my soul to save.

No other love could take my life and raise it
From the destruction I was heading for.
Waiting for me to turn and then head homeward
And run to meet me, arms outstretched in love.

No other love would take my hand and hold me
Or listen for my cry when trouble’s near
Be near me when temptations are beguiling,
Or when sorrow’s pain has grown to bring me fear.

No other love but mine, all I can offer.
It’s all I have to give, yet not enough.
My Lord, my Saviour, Friend and my Provider
I worship You, and yield all to Your Love.

Chorus.
Your Love, Your Life, Your Cross, my gain
My all too poor a gift
I’ll honour You with all my life
And in Your Love remain.

W.B. Aug 2008.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Lord Of My Life.


Lord of my life be near to me
I need Your presence. Stay with me.
Hold Thou my hand, I tremble so
At the long way I have to go.

Lord of my life, keep holding me
I only wish Your child to be
I cannot stand without Your hand
This road to Heaven’s too far a land.

Lord of my life please lead me on
Until I reach that home beyond
This earthly place with all it’s strife
And trouble that attends my life.

Lord of my life, Yes Lord, You are
I praise You Lord for what You are
My Saviour, Counsellor, my Friend
Your love for me will never end.

Lord of my life, I love You so
You hold me every step I go
What can I give You but my praise?
I’ll love you till the end of days.





W.B. Oct ‘08

Lord You Are My Life.

Where are You Lord? Are You really there? I can’t FEEL You here.
Father I need to FEEL Your presence. I feel so alone today.

Is this Your doing Lord? Are You removing my props?
Or are You showing me that I mustn’t put any stock in feelings.
They are fickle aren’t they, Lord?
Satan can play with my feelings too.
I know that, but feelings are the building blocks of my perceptions and my perceptions are that I am so alone.

I need You (that’s a fact, not a perception).

I want to sink right up to my neck in an awareness of Your presence , a sensation of Your love.
There I go again concentrating on feelings instead of facts.

The facts are these:- You love me to bits
You are here beside me and within me.
You will never leave me or abandon me
You are closer than a brother.
You are holding me in the palm of Your hand

Hold me tight Lord, I still need to FEEL it! I am so very very human.
Have mercy on me oh Lord of my life, Love of my life.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A Child's Prayer.


Please answer the door, Lord, the devil is knocking,
He put in my head things I don’t want to hear.
Please peep round the door while I hide behind you,
And tell him to clear off, because You are here.

I want to just think about all that is lovely
All the wonderful things that You do.
The devil is mean, nasty, and ugly,
He’s not to get in or he’ll make me mean too

You know that I love You and You love me too,
And the devil just hates both of us,
So if we stick together as close as we can
Then he can’t get in between us.

Just you and I Lord can win my fights
I know that You already have won
You beat Satan at Calvary there on the cross
So why is he being so dumb?

He thinks I’ll forget that You gave me a sword
And a shield and a breastplate and stuff
That they’re all in a cupboard and hidden away.
I suppose I don’t use them enough.

But if You’re beside me when the fight starts
You’ll help me to fight like a ‘pro’
So I’ll go to the door by myself, with Your sword
And tell Satan just where he can go!.

WB July 08.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

God's Creatures.

God’s Creatures

I can hear the birds chirping gladly outside
And the sun is shining again
The clouds have rolled off and the wind has died down
And now there’s no sign of the rain.

It’s funny how weather can alter the way
You feel about any old thing
The sun makes you happy, the rain makes you sad
While the wind makes a mess with its wings

Well, I’m sure that the birds must just love the wind
When it blows soft, and gentle, and warm
They can float way up high on a thermal or two
As they hold out their feathery arms

Just think how they must ache, their wings I mean
After flapping and beating so hard
To get up off the ground or escape from the cat
Or fly clear of the junk in our yard

Then there are the creatures that crawl on the ground
Not for them an escape to the sky
When things get unpleasant the best they can do
Is to try and find somewhere to hide

If you were a beetle and thought you would hide
Just under a leaf or a twig
How awful for you if I came in the yard
And marched straight over to where you were hid

I wouldn’t have meant to stand right on your head
Or tip rain off a leaf on your bed
But it might have been better if you could have crawled
Up the trunk of a big tree instead.

We all are God’s creatures and maybe He knows
What weather we each like the best
Like warm sun, not too hot, some rain, not too much
And the wind has to be at its best.

For how will the birds feel if there is a wind
That threatens to tumble their nest
As it clings to the tree tops that sway in the breeze
And strikes fear into each little breast.

And think of the crawlies that creep round about
When the rain starts to fall on the ground
Why, in no time the drops that collect on the leaves
Make a flood that a bug could just drown

So if you feel sad that the weather is bad
Remember that God cares for you
Even more than the creatures that live round about,
So spare just a thought for them too.

My Angel





I’ve lost my guardian angel, God
I think he’s gone away.
I ran and hid, that’s all I did,
So he would come and play.

How do I know he’s gone, God ?
Well, I just fell on the stairs,
And then a box dropped on my thumb.
I should have said my prayers,

To thank you for my angel, God.
I know You really care
And want me safe and sensible.
My angels’ here to share

My life, my fun, my joy in things,
And keep You in the loop
But now I fear he’s gone away
I don’t know where to look.

Do You think he’s gone to bed ,God?
Was he tired of my games ?
If I go up early will I find
Him sitting in a daze ?

I’ll go up to bed right now, God,
And I’ll say all my prayers.
I’ll thank you for my parents
Before they come upstairs.

If they come up too soon, God,
I know they’ll make a list
Of Aunts and Uncles, brothers too
And things they can’t resist

To add to my requests, God
So You’ll never get to rest
But when You do, please don’t forget
The angels round my bed.

Monday, October 20, 2008

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk. Hosea 11.v3.

What a wonderful love letter from God is the book of Hosea and how we pain our Creator and Saviour when we turn away from Him.

I do not intend to go into the book of Hosea now, or indeed the whole of Chapter 11, which is a very emotive one.

I just want to ponder on the implications of these few words, ‘it was I who taught Ephraim to walk’.

Those of you who are fathers yourselves and taught your sons and daughters to walk, as fathers do, with such loving care, will remember the closeness and the bonding which took place between you and your beloved child during those months of their young lives.
How your heart would almost burst with pride and affection when they took their first steps alone, and stumbled towards you, while you waited, arms outstretched, to catch them.
Those times , while they can never return, will remain in your heart for ever.

Those days ended, and your little one became proficient at walking alone.
They no longer needed, and probably didn’t want to run into your protective arms any longer. They thought they were all grown up and didn’t need you standing ahead of them ‘just in case’.
I am sure the time came when they did fall, and ran sobbing into your arms, crying ‘Daddy, Daddy!’, and yes, you would have been there to lift them up in your arms and comfort them, saying, “It’s alright, Daddy’s here.”

This is what our Father God does for us. He watches our progress, longs to have us near to Him, and grieves over us as a loving Father when we stumble and fall, over, and over again.

May we always remember that He, who taught us to walk, remains loving and faithfully close, holding us in His hands as long as we don’t turn away, or worse still, walk right away from Him.

W.B. Oct 2008.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Praise Pot

There is an old brown pot on my dresser that used to contains sweets (lollies) for visiting children, then grandchildren.
We don’t use it any more, they are either too grown up or on diets, so it’s time it was used for something else.

That something else, just occurred to me today.
I don’t give God enough praise for all the blessings he has given me.
Not just the big ones, like my family and my friends, my home, my health, my senses, (well what sense I still have left. That is a moot point.), but the little blessings and sweet surprises He sends at the most unexpected times.

So I have cut up strips of paper, and every time I receive a blessing or I think of one I have already received, I will write it down and put it in the Praise Pot.
On my ‘blue’ days, and we all get them, don’t we? I will tip the pot out and read them all and then I will be praising again in no time.

I haven’t decided what to do when the pot is full. You can help me with suggestions nearer the time.

I’ve two praises in the pot already. The first one is that Jesus loves me. That is a miracle in itself.
The second one is for loving friends. I just couldn't do without them.

Now I’m rambling on.

I’ll talk to you all again when my pot is filling up!
God bless you.