Alarm goes off —
Get up and pray.
Starting out
Another day.
Cold water splash
Upon my face,
On Adam’s daughter
Of human race.
Do morning chores
And then get dressed.
Give husband hug,
And cheek caress.
And then we both
Go out the door.
Another day
Begins once more.
How can I His child be
When worldly cares relentlessly
Beat at my door?
I must let go,
Let trust decide
And be my guide.
Let go with wings
And songs that sing
Eternal glory.
Give up my way
And eyes must stay
On unseen Lord.
Does He now know
My suff’ring deep?
Of course; ‘tis His.
And calmly will I
Go to sleep
And rest in Him.
[In Mountain View, the city has planted
magnolia trees along many streets. This
was written after a morning walk.]
On Magnolia Street in Mountain View
My nose was tickl’d by morning dew.
I kicked the seed pods as I passed,
Though squirrels found them great repast.
The pods had ruin’d my mow’r twice,
Left on the lawn against advice.
So if you walk in Mountain View
Please stop and do pick up a few.
When your candle’s barely burning,
When your breath is just a sigh,
Step out into the darkness —
Lift your prayer to God on high.
Remember how He loves you
Amidst your fear and sin;
Remember how He died for you
And did the victory win.
He’ll carry you in darkness,
He’ll comfort you in grief.
He’ll give you all you ever need
If you’ll just trust in Him.
And if you don’t feel trusting,
If doubt and fear creep in,
Just let it go, give Him control,
Just give it all to Him.
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
Blest by believing,
Blest one of faith.
Blest in her offspring,
Blest by God great.
Blest in the morning,
Blest in the night.
Blest in her dreaming,
God took away fright.
Blest in her suffering,
Blest in her pain,
Blest in her offering
To God unrestrained.
Bless-ed be Joseph,
Her faithful betrothed —
By angel visited
And Mary took home.
In faith going forward
On roads then untrod,
To unknown beginnings,
They gave all to God.
Like lowly flower
Along a path —
Be glad
When you can give forth
Fragrance fair
When trod upon
The misty morning,
The sea-salt air,
The flowers blooming,
Without a care.
A fresh beginning,
The day starts new.
Our spirits filling
With purest dew.
The freshness waning
As day grows old.
With faith sustaining,
We must be bold.
When sadness threatens,
When fear seems strong,
The Spirit will come
With fresh’ning song.
[Written during the California drought of 2014 and during the Ferguson, Missouri, riots.]
I dreamed that it was raining
And streets were wet again.
The cars went by
And gave a sigh
As water splashed on them.
I dreamed that it was raining
And children laughed aloud.
With gleeful hoots
Their muddy boots
Through puddles gaily plowed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And clouds burst forth in flood.
Their waters calmed
The violence strong
And peace could now be found.
I dreamed that it was raining
And living water sped
From streamlets high
To rivers dry —
The thirsty land was fed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And black made friends with white.
The past was healed,
Their friendship sealed,
With harmony in sight.
I dreamed that it was raining
Upon the wasted land.
The thirsty earth
Could now give birth
To many seedlings grand.
I dreamed that it was raining
And cleansing tears were shed
O’er mem’ries deep,
I now could sleep,
Could rest upon my bed.
I dreamed that it was raining
And God forgave my sins.
He calmed my fears
And dried my tears,
And I could live again.
Don’t throw it all away …
So you’ve messed up,
You’ve screwed up —
Keep your head up.
Don’t throw it all away …
In your anger, in your pride,
Don’t allow the pain inside
The truth to override.
Don’t throw it all away …
Life’s too precious,
Infectious;
God’s perfecting us.
Don’t throw it all away …
God still loves you,
He’ll protect you;
Don’t listen to what others say.
The backbiters,
The infighters,
The naysayers,
The faith slayers.
Don’t listen to the “no” sayers.
It’s not up to them or you.
Surely God’s word is true.
Don’t believe lies
And don’t compromise.
The fact that He loves you,
The truth that He died for you,
His heart surely burns for you,
You must let Him live in you.
clarakatalin 