Hold to the Hand That Holds Us

Hold to the hand that holds the sand that trickles through time’s glass
The Keeper of His promises knows what will come to pass
Then should the fight be hard and night reach far into the day
Still, hold the hand that holds us in each untold come-what-may

Hold to the hand that holds the land and sea in folds of blue
He parts the waters of the deep so that we may pass through
And should the way that he allows seem foreign to our want
Still, hold the hand that holds us close where fear and worry taunt

Hold to the hand that will not fail though oft it seems, we must
Yet, if we never failed then would we ever truly trust?
His hands are rich with mercy, granting courage for this strife
Hold to the hand that holds us in the gray and gold of life

Hold to the hand that holds the plans for every one of us
And wore the nails and bore the cross for our sin; Jesus
Hold to His hand, He understands what we can never know
Hold to the hand that holds us near and never lets us go

Jan Bagwell

God  Bless !

Refine Me, Lord

Refine me, Lord,
purify me through and through.
Remove all my imperfections,
until I see only You.

Refine me, Lord,
until I am good as gold.
Take away all my insecurities,
and make me someone bold.

Refine me, Lord,
filter all my disbelieving out.
Reduce in me my hesitations,
until I no longer have a doubt.

Refine me, Lord,
cleanse me from my infirmities.
Hone in me Your strength,
and take from me my frailties.

Refine me, Lord,
purge the old man that lives inside.
Expose to me all my wickedness,
until I have nothing left to hide.

Refine, me Lord,
test me in Your truth and way.
Perfect in me a faultless heart,
and teach me not to stray.

Refine, me Lord,
purify Your love deep in me.
Polish joy into my very soul,
until Your image is all I see. 

Jan  Bagwell 

God Bless 

Zechariah 13: 9

Praise God For Springtime

Trees are adorned with green leaves.
The grass has turned green too.
Flowers are in bloom everywhere,
And I would like to pick a few.

Pretty pink and rosy red azaleas
Line my neighbor's cement walkway.
Blooms of beautiful Easter lilies
Greet me throughout the day.

God gives us different seasons
To enjoy His wondrous works of art.
With the beauty of the springtime,
He can gladden everyone's heart.

God teaches lessons through nature
As He reigns from His throne above.
He uses changes in the seasons
To show His power and wondrous love.

Springtime is a happy, joyous time
Of resurrection and of new birth
As seeds germinate and live again
And new growth springs from the earth.

Also during everyone's lifetime,
Each one needs to have a new birth.
We need to trust Jesus as our Savior
Before we leave this old earth.

Jan  Bagwell

God Bless !

Please pray for Billy Phillips  Sister

Thank You, Veterans

As Christians in America,
We put God number one.
He so loved the world
That He sent His only Son.

Christians love America,
And for our nation we pray
That God will give us mercy.
Some pray this every day.

Many veterans live among us.
Part of their lives they gave,
Serving these United States.
Freedom, they wanted to save.

Thank you, honored veterans,
For serving our great nation.
We know it was not easy,
Moving from station to station.

Some of you dear veterans
Fought for our great land.
You risked your life to go,
And for freedom took a stand!

We must not ever forget
Those who gave their lives,
Fighting for our country,
Leaving parents, kids, and wives.

Thank you, dear veterans.
On Veteran's Day, we honor you.
You served this nation well.
For it, you stood so true.

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Please Pray  for Billy Phillips sister

The Veteran's Day Parade

I feel privileged to attend
A yearly Veteran's Day parade.
Veterans should be honored
For the sacrifices they made.

Some of our younger veterans
Of recent wars take part.
In Iraq or in Afghanistan,
Each served from one's heart.

Veterans of the Persian War
Are proudly on display,
For they bravely served,
And they also march today.

Also veterans of Viet Nam
Are riding on a parade float.
I see they're getting older,
With graying hair, I note.

A number of veterans of Korea
Also are riding on display.
They seem weak and elderly.
They served in a brave way.

Then come uniformed veterans
Right from a history book page.
They served us in World War Two.
Now they are really up in age.

I thank God for the veterans,
Who served and did not fail.
They bravely stood for freedom
And served our nation well!

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Running to Dad

You can run to your Father no matter what
Covered in sin, encrusted with smut
You haven't done anything He hasn't seen
And only His touch washes you clean
You can hide in a corner and bury your head
But shame like a jam will eventually spread
Slipping into your night, devouring your day
Like a child in mud, and fingerprint play
At first it feels good, and it all seems so right
When playing in darkness we turn out the light
Dancing in shadows and trying to find
Our purpose in life though traveling blind

The mountains are steep, the valleys are low
Wrapped in such recklessness from head to toe
Trying to climb it all on our own
But no one was made to do it alone
Yet still we continue to do our own thing
Holding on to a branch in desperate cling
All the while falling on the edge of a cliff
Where the stench of our sin leaves a terrible sniff
Hovering over, the portals of Hell
Dying of thirst with no wishing well
How foolish the child who tries to enact
The ways of his folly, so deeply intact

Run to your Dad, go ahead He's still there
He's already heard each heart wrenching prayer
His pockets are full of mercy and love
His compassion and grace fit just like a glove
He sees you in the distance, His heart just can't wait
To wrap His arms around you and wipe off the slate
That has kept you in a prison of sorrow and shame
Only the Father can call you by name
There is no one on earth who completely understands
And once you are there in the palm of His hands
Your Father in Heaven will never let go
There is peace in the presence of Your Daddy's glow.....

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Witnesses from across the vast Universe

I looked up at the starry heavens and could see
the galaxies proclaiming God's great majesty.
For across the whole world the shining stars declare
God's benevolence to all and His loving care.

There's no place on earth in which their voice is not heard
speaking in celestial tongues and olden word.
They tell of great distances and eons of time,
of beginnings and endings, and things so sublime.

Shining out brightly in the universe so vast,
as into my presence came light from the past
enabling me to see God’s creativity,
and to contemplate the things of eternity.

For each star in the interstellar space so bright
shone out for His Glory throughout the day and night
and unceasingly their wonderful anthems raise
singing “Glory to God” in harmonious praise.

Whenever I tune into what they have to say
I join in their praises as I walk on my way
lifting my spirit up to the heavens’ above,
and praising the Lord for His great mercy and love.

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !