Sharpened Iron

I had walked a long and dusty road
The rocks were sharp and heavy my load
I stopped to rest at the house of a friend
Moments of quiet and peace to spend

She noticed my feet--and the look on her face!
"Those poor things-what an awful disgrace!"
She found water and basin, towel and soap
Her gentle ministration brought peace and hope

Just as the Saviour washed the feet of his men
From the dirt of the world that they walked in then
"Iron sharpeneth iron"with God's Word and prayer
 Reproof sent with love shows true Christian care

   **********

To my friend,
   Beverly,
Who has "Washed
  My feet" with
Wise words and     kindness

Overcoming!

Attention! About face! March!
John 14:15 and 15:14

My former life is left behind
Sharp orders my obedience demand
So I listen closely to each command

There are no civilians in this army!
I Tim. 2:3 Epe. 6:13-17

Comfort is passed-- I don my new clothes;
Thoughts on eternal, Covered in Right
Strengthened with Truth and walking in Light

Do your duty, Soldier!
I John 1:9. Is. 59

Searching my heart, confessing sin
Little things--like keeping clean feet
Can win the war or cause defeat

Get ready, Men, here they come!
I This. 3:3-4

Suff'ring and sorrow are seen all around
 Fiery darts whistle fearful sounds
But having done all to stand, I stand

On my command... Charge!
John 11:25-26 and 15:13

The soldier must give all--his very life!
So setting affections on Heaven above
I lay down my will to show Godly love

Keep the lines of communication open!
Phil. 4:6-7. Epe. 6:18

I look to my Saviour-put worry to rest
 Praying with passion in each battle test
Trusting the Captain for He knows best!

Raise the flag--We've taken the ground!
I John 5:4. Ps. 60:4, 11-12  Song Sol. 2:4

The Captain of Salvation brings sweet victory
 Triumphant faith marches over enemy territory
 While hope raises this banner--God's love for eternity!

Prayer's Answer

Torrents of tears puddle on my table
My weeping was met with deafening silence...

    "Please...
           Just something tangible to hang
                      Onto...

                "To see...to have...to hear..."

                        * * * * * * *

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.". Heb. 11:1

"Charity suffereth long...charity never faileth." I Cor. 13

                         * * * * * * *

To see is not Faith
     
     To have is not Hope

        And if I stop listening 
               for Your answer, it is not

                                     Charity

                          * * * * * * *

"Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee...nevertheless not what I will but what thou wilt." Mark 14:36

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Is. 26:3

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." Phil. 4:4

The Grudge

I'd walked the walls of the city everyday for months
Each circuit the journey grew smaller
As the walls grew higher
I should know because I built them myself

It started with a brick of bitter feelings
Building layer upon layer of unforgiveness
Mortared by a self-pitying pout
My heart screamed suffering--My head a justice shout

At times I would peek out the peep holes
Pin pointing more of my painful past
Adding yet another blinding brick
The walls soared skyward, the foundation deep

I had become trapped inside with only me
The darkness pulling my soul farther down
No hope, no joy, no peace
Not able to go forward, stuck on replay

Now the only way to look was up
And there I saw the light of My Saviour's Cross!
He, too, had endured hardship, rejection, loss
In a still small voice Christ said to me:

"My Child, for every sin my blood I gave
During my suffering I freely forgave
And let this truth be understood
What others may mean for evil, My Father can work for good

It is hard to kick against the pricks
Of Your Gentle Shepherd's hand
Will you follow Me--I call your name--
Or yield to sin's demand?"

 Trusting the Father's purpose and plan
My mind finally came to comprehend
Each time I let bitterness have a place
I'm holding a grudge against His Grace

Epe. 4:31-32.

Christmas Presents

Merry Christmas, Dear Jesus

I bring to you gold...
I Peter 1:7

I listen with an open heart
Finding faith the place to start
Confident in Your forgiving Love
I set my affection on things Above

I bring to you Frankincense...
 Psalm 141:2a Heb. 6:12 and 19

I admit I'm poor and weak
Your Way and Will is all I seek
Watching and prayer within the veil
Hope claims promises that never fail

I bring to You Myrrh
John 19:39-41

Just as you have died for me
"I" die so others Jesus will see
Laying aside all selfish pride
May Your Image on me abide

                      * * * * *

Dear Jesus, You bring Yourself
Is. 63:9

My gifts are only trifling things
Compared to you and what you bring
Glory and Honour, Strength and Gladness
Forever Friends in Your beautiful Palace

For I have only given what I have received...

 Your way fuels my faith
   Your truth grounds my hope
       Your life grows my love

Casting these Crowns before Your Throne
I rejoice in Your Presence

Manger Hay

If I had a part in the Christmas story,
     I would want to be the manger hay

Not a big or splashy job like the angels or the star
Not with fancy formal gifts like wise men from afar
I wouldn't be the shepherds or the camels or the sheep
And not the town of Bethlehem, awake, but sound asleep

Just simple manger hay

Serving Baby Jesus by feeding all His lambs
Learning how to watch the movement of His hands
My only tasks--to rest beneath and lift up God's dear Son
Until the blinded world will see the work that He has done

**************

Matt. 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 3:15-18

Luke 19:10

The Parable of the Blessings

At the Master's House I searched for blessings
A Stately Home with garden settings
Boldly I entered the tiny white gate,
Marched to the door-it was all so ornate!

I knocked...and waited...then knocked again...

My heart jumped to thoughts unkind--
He sent an invitation--did He change His mind?
I have knocked and waited--isn't He there?
And worse!--What if He doesn't care?

But then the Master opened the door

Wounded hands and thorn scarred face
Caused all my doubts and fears erase
With quiet voice His question would be:
"What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?"

"Please, Sir, that Thou wouldst bless me indeed!"

"Dear Child, this would give me pure delight
But will you walk by faith--not sight?
Will you listen to all I suggest--
Letting Me lead you to quiet and rest?"

Shrinking from the heavy cost--knowing without Him all is lost!

My selfishness whined in prideful pain
A new King had come within to reign
"My sinful heart I thought I knew
But, Dear Jesus, I offer it to You."

"If you then are quite agreed, deny yourself and follow Me!"

We walked through His house--my heart filled with greed
The peace in this place would comfort my needs
Yet He did not stop here to grant my request
 But went to His garden--there I was impressed!

It was a beautiful, wide open space covered over with Amazing Grace!

 Rose bushes held a Heavenly scent
Benches to perch on when feeling spent
Blades of emerald tickled my feet
I dearly loved this peaceful retreat!

Blessings galore and still there were more!

 A fountain full to quench my thirst,
Vegetables to eat when hunger is worst
Trees filled with fruit and musical birds
The Saviour's kind and gentle words:

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I lived you..."

Coming to the Garden's edge
A woodpile with a common sledge
"Hold out your arms to receive the load"
He commands--but my brain explodes!

Didn't the Master remember I had asked for blessings?

Piling on poverty, pain and grief
Hunger and thirst with no relief
 Bearing weakness, suffering shame
 All because of His Dear Name

 With burden of wood I start to weep--this is not what I came for to seek!

The Master kindly looks at me
"One request I have for thee--
Take these sticks on down the way
A Person will direct the place they lay"

Pity parties are never fun. Turning away, mine had begun.

 Days turn to weeks and weeks to months
The "Armload of Blessings" an impossible task
My sore feet stumbled to the Master's House
On bent knees I stooped to ask:

"Sir, I asked for blessings-why do you have me carry these sticks?"

 Seeing me in deep distress
He hastened to His love express
"This weight was not for you alone
Please take it to the Person shown."

"Your answer will be clear as day if you trust Me and obey!"

I turned at once to do His bidding
 Leaning not to my own picking
As I took true faith's next step
All His promises were kept!

God's Own Spirit came to show me how and where to lay my load!

          And He keeps the Garden

Matt. 5:3-16.  Luke 11:5-13
The hymn "In the Garden"
A poem about the Christian Walk