Prayer Of Thanksgiving

This table, set with centerpiece,
fine china, silverware -
has food prepared deliciously
with tender loving care.
With hungry eye, I relish this -
this meal, my daily bread -
then fold my hands and bow my head
before my prayer is said.

I do recite it quick and slurred,
though with the best intent -
and now that grace is said and heard,
it is a blessed event.
The phrases I was taught to say
were pressed down deep in me -
but words are empty without thoughts
of pure sincerity.

Yes, just before I eat, I pray,
but there's a place so crude
which moves me closer to the truth -
that others have no food.
It haunts me as I look around, the
visions of the starved -
who wide-eyed blankly stare at me
behind my turkey, carved.

I see their bloated tummies and
the flies around their eyes.
I hear soft moans from babies lips,
and echoes of their cries.
I taste the mush that they call food.
It lingers on my breath.
I feel the tears start down my cheeks.
I smell the stench of death.

I hesitate with my first bite,
then ask myself, "Do I
really care they're teary eyed
and hungry 'til they die?"
I pray that all the "least of these"
are eating well in Heav'n.
Please help me Lord, to understand
the blessings I was giv'n.

So now when I recite my prayer,
as I sit down to feast,
I ask myself if I'm sincere
and thankful in the least.
For that's when I can hear my voice
ascending to His ear.
He knows if I speak empty words
or if I am sincere.

Seasons

DEATH is the winter of sin and shame,
of pride and blame,
of guilty name,

of danger's ice,
of bad advice,
of heavy price.

LIFE is the springtime of seeds that toss,
of logs across,
of Christ on cross,

of blooming earth,
of our rebirth,
of valued worth.

WORK is the summer of fresh, clean rain,
of sweat and pain,
of growth and grain,

of appetites,
of peaceful nights,
of what excites.

LOVE is the autumn of harvesting,
of lauded sing,
of Thanksgiving,

of Heaven's grace,
of special place
and Jesus' face.

My first day Heaven

As I stood there waiting by the gates of Heaven,
I was greeted by family members and old friends
We stood there for hours trying to get reacquainted,
As they all came to welcome me in

I was completely overwhelmed by how beautiful Heaven is,
Everything here is done to perfection
And everyone here truly cares about each other,
There’s a whole lot of love and affection

See there is no hate, no pain, no suffering,
No illness, and there is no dying
No crime, no cheating, no bending the truth,
Cause in Heaven there is no lying

And I just want to say to my family back on earth,
Heaven truly is a much better place
There is no sin and there are no worries,
And you can talk to the LORD face to face

See up here, the LORD GOD is our beacon of light,
The sole source of all light up in Heaven
And I learned all of this when I walked through the gates,
On my very first day up in Heaven

A Plate of Grace

Come this Thanksgiving . . .
there will be no turkey with dressing
there will only be a plate of gratitude
served with God's many blessings.

As a substitute for candied yams,
we are going to feast on His kindness
and taste the sweetness of His favor
as we reflect on His loving guidance.

There will be no rolls and butter,
instead, we'll eat of the Bread of Life
and with gratitude we'll give our thanks
that we no longer live in hopeless strife.

In the place of creamy mashed potatoes,
there will be praise piled just as high
and we will sing to Him our adoration
instead of eating pumpkin pie.

The only beverage we will drink,
will be from the one True Vine
and with sanctification on our lips
Jesus' sacrifice will be as sweet as wine.

Come this Thanksgiving . . .
I'm not making a traditional dinner
I'll only be serving the grace of God . . .
to those I know ~ who are still a sinner!

2 Corinthians 12:9
King James Version

"And he said unto me, My grace is 
sufficient for thee: for my strength is 
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly 
therefore will I rather glory in my 
infirmities, that the power of Christ 
may rest upon me."

Lord, We Give You Thanks

Lord, we give You thanks, for the bounty of this land,
As you have touched the earth, with the power of Your hand,
Causing grain to flourish, giving forth our daily bread,
Love's provision for Your children, that we are always fed.

Lord, we give You thanks, for the fruit of the tree,
Whose seed is in itself; a wondrous mystery of Thee...
And for the horn of plenty, overflowing from the fields,
The fatness of the earth, and the harvest that it yields.

Lord, we give You thanks, for the sun that's in the sky,
For the seasons of the moon, and the dew that falls from high.
For the hills watered from Your chambers, as You satisfy the earth, 
Then send forth Your warmth, to nourish its rebirth.

Lord, how great are your works! In wisdom You made all,
To heed Your mighty voice, and hearken to Your call.
We praise You Precious Father, today and every day!
Please bless our time together, as we bow our heads and pray.

Lord, we give You thanks, for our family and our friends,
As we gather in Your Name, please help us comprehend,
That every good and perfect gift, is from Your Throne Above,
That we may see Your glory, and be nourished by Your Love!

Your Voice

A soft whisper I hear 
In the chaos of the night 
Making my mind clear 
Bringing vision to my sight 

So very clear 
It is then to me 
That whenever I fear 
You reveal Your Glory

Utterly dispersed into the air
That which brought me fear 
For I now see that You are here
And no danger can come near 

Your spoken words to me 
Pierce deep into my heart 
I fear nothing instantly 
Fully immersed in Your love

The Praise of Peace, The Peace in Praise

The praise of peace
The peace in praise
Inside the heart is Jesus raised
The ransom paid in love the cost
So that my soul may not be lost
I praise the peace in Him alone
Forgiven sins He did atone
In peace He holds me close to thee
In praise I pray to constant be