Lost and alone
No way to cope
Trying to survive
In a world without hope
Then I found God.

Things are hard
Each and every day through
At times I wondered
Just what to do
But things were better with God.

No food to eat
But God did provide;
Arrived home to find groceries
On the porch outside.
Yes things were better with God.

Not enough but still
The bills were due;
An unexpected raise
God saw me through.
Things were better with God

God's blessings so numerous
I forgot to pray;
And I found myself
Drifting away,
I forgot - things are better with God.

Days became harder
Blessings were few;
Didn't realize I had wondered
Away from you.
Should've remembered things are better with God.

Life seemed much better
From an outside look;
But no one saw
The foundations that shook.
Things hold together better with God,

Out of practice
Forgetting to pray;
Lost and stumbling
Along the way.
Yes, things were better with God.

Once again, I find myself
In a world without hope;
But remembering, I know
There's a way to cope.
Things are better with God.

God is my all
On Hi I can call
I know He hears my pleas,
When I'm in a stall
Or I stumble and fall
He's always there for me.
Life is mostly hard
And some days harder than most,
But I can boast
On a God who's faithful and true
And will always be there for you.
In the midst of a frown
When life has you down
And you're struggling to survive,
Though it may be rough
You're getting tough
And the point is
You're still alive.
What doesn't **** you
Makes you stronger,
It's a fact that's sad but true,
So don't wish for the battle
To go away
But for the strength
To see you through.

Undeserved favor
Amazing Grace
A gift from God to those of us
Forgiveness for wrongs,
A chance to make things right
An almighty protector
On our side of the fight.
A love never ending
A hope that flies;
Unending mercy
In our father's eyes.
A life eternal
In a heavenly place;
Thank God for His
Amazing Grace.

When the son said "Father
What must I do'
I'll do it no matter the cost."
The Father replied,
"There's only one thing to do
You must follow the road to the cross."

Mocked and scorned and beaten
He gave his life
For the lost;
He did not wish to go
But he followed the road to the cross.

The way to the cross isn't easy
It's narrow and it's straight;
But it's a road that must be taken
If we're to enter Heaven's gate.

I was depressed
There is no denying it;
To the point
I dreamed of a new way to die.
For years this went on.
God says he would never put upon us
More than we could bare.
Maybe I was at my breaking point
I don't know
But I do know I needed God,
I was invited and went to a small church.
There might have been fifteen people there,
But that didn't matter
Because God was there.
I had been struggling for years
To hold onto a Christian form of life;
Not feeling God
But trying to believe He was there.
That night
He proved it to me.
He lifted the burden of depression.
Immediately gone
Were the thoughts of suicide.
All of a sudden
Life had hope.
There was no more
Crying myself to sleep,
No more hopelessness
Life wasn't a dead end road anymore.
I could see tomorrow and opportunities.
I could feel God's presence again.
I could spend time with Him
And know he heard my every word.
And I believe Smith Wiggleworth had it right:
When he said
"There is no limit to what we may become.
If we dwell and live in the Spirit."
I became whole
Free from depression
Enjoying a world of endless opportunities.

Give me the unction Lord
To be ready when you call
Fully clothed in your armor
Prepared, lest I should fall.
Let our gifts and your talents be nutured
And used at your command,
Filled with pride at being your child
Never afraid or ashamed to stand.
When I see others around me
Let me seek to fulfill their need
Let your spirit and your word
Be the food on which I feed
And when this life is over
May you find my life worthwhile
And with open arms proclaim to me
Thy good and faithful child.

Let me dear Lord
With each step I take;
Look to you
For the choice I make.
Whether the sky
Is blue or gray;
Let me speak with encouragment
Of all I say.
Let me always look up
To each soul I greet;
I was so wretched
When first we did meet.
Let jealousy and envy
Be a part of my past;
And let self control
Be a trait that lasts.
Let love always be
My driving force;
And through your word teach others
To find the others.

Endless waves
Of fear and doubt
A thousand what ifs
Tossed about.
Old regrets
Still seeping in
Wondering if
There's a way to win.
An ocean filled
With stepping stones
Each one named
Each trial honed.
Some will sink
And some will rise
Fill with joy
Or desperate cries.
If only one stone remains
Then I can cope;
So long as that one
That rose is called hope.

Thank God for the little things
That may not seem worthwhile
Soon you'll find the little things
Are the things that make you smile.
That barely whispered thank you
Is an example you have set
One that speaks of character
To the people you have met.
You may not think it matters
But believe me that it does
They may not know why they like you
But they'll like you just because.
Every simple act of kindness
Is a light that shines the way
A beacon for the soul in need
To guide them when they stray.
A candle in the darkness
May not seem to shed much light
But in a world that's filled with darkness
It's a beacon burning bright
So don't forget a please and thank you
When you're meeting someone new
That example tt you set might be
A beacon guiding you.

Sinking in the shadows
Inside I hear a cry;
Now is the time to stand and fight
Not the time to hide.
Your battles are not flesh and blood
But demons stalking you;
They try their best to keep you down
They'd love to **** you too.
But do not fear for you have friends
There's angels by your side;
Fiercely they protect you
So you can stand with pride.
Our God would never let you face
A battle you can't win,
He's always there to help you
On Him you can depend.

There comes a time to plant
For the food we need;
A time to harvest
And collect the seed.
Even greenery has
It's appointed time
To take root and grow
To tree or vine.
Even Jesus had a time
To live and die
To spread God's word
To show us why,
There comes a time to harvest
The seed we've sown;
Are you a Christian,
Did you make it known?
Did you share your story
With someone else
Did you feed the needy,
And give them help?
Did you practice the love
That Jesus showed;
Did you help someone
Get out of the cold?
Have you taken the time
To plant and sow?
Harvest is coming near
You know.

God guide this day
With your blessing and grace;
Judge not with justice
But put mercy in its place.
Look not to the doings
But to the intent of the deed;
Let our thought be guided
By your planted seed.
When confusion sets in
Lord send us your peace
The one that passeth understanding
And sends comfort through grief.
When worthlessness and depression
Come knocking at my door;
Lord double the reinforcements
That weren't there before.
When the voices sy that no oe loves you
Help me remember that's not true;
When all the world had turned against e,
Let me know there's trust in you.
When my prayers feel like no one's coming
And I cannot hear your voice;
Let me see past circumstances
Let having faith always be my choice.

I wish you the chance
To fulfill your dream
Apart from me
So it would see.
I am so very
Proud of you
Of the man you are
And all you will do.
A child of God
I raised you to be
He's always there
Don't forget to see.
No matter how you struggle
There is always hope;
With God there is always
A way to cope.
May He give you strength
When the day is long
And courage enough
To see you home.
Wish I could remember
All the words you wrote
For they lift me up
And give me hope.
I raised a man
Of integrity and strength;
Who pushes through
Even when he's weak.
When you're on your own
I know you'll flourish and grow;
And when nothing's happening
I still want to know.
I pray God's goodness clings
Like a shadow to you;
And that He keeps you safe
In whatever you may do.
May He send you encouragement
Every day
And laughter and joy
To lighten your way.
Never forget
That you are loved
When you're touching cloud nine
And soaring above.
Sometimes out of sight
Is out of mind;
So don't forget those of us
You've left behind
I'm so afraid when you're gone
I'll never see you again;
Or even if I do
It'll be who knows when.
You'll have laughter and pain
I won't be there to see
I'm afraid you'll thrive
And forget about me.
I know your life will be easier
Without the hassle of us;
And you'll forget to call us
Just because.
You'll have new adventures
And meet new friends
A new world of excitement
You won't want to end,
I won't ask you to stop living
Or traveling around;
Or to give up any
Of the joy you've found
Just remember to call
Every once in a while;
And know it will bring
Your mother a smile.
It'll brighten my day
Just to hear your voice;
Fill my heart with love
And a need to rejoice..
When you sleep at night
Don't forget to pray
And know I'll be praying
For God to guide your way.
God is sending you to Alaska
He prepared the way;
With room and board -
He heard a mother pray.
I dedicated you
A long time ago;
For God to protect you
Where ever you go.
So I leave you now
In the best of hands;
And know God has for you
The greatest plans.
So keep in mind
You are never alone
And you're always welcome
To come back home.
You're always be
In our hearts and prayers
As we wish you the best
And bid you farewell.

By: Linda Duncan

Chiseled memories
Once new and unforgettable
Now pounded away
By the rapid waters of life.
They float through my mind
Like a misty fog.
Sometimes I feel like I could reach out
And grab hold,
But the clarity slips through my fingers
Like vapor.
How could I have forgotten,
Things I never wanted to forget?
Is senility creeping in,
Or have I forgotten that too?
Age,
It just has a way of undermining
Your grasp with reality.

Infectious,
It spreads.
The quiet becomes deafening.
What once was peace
Becomes paranoia,
And though I am exhausted,
My eyelids heavy -
The quiet disturbs my peace.

I have a sentence of death upon me
Like every soul alive
I too will have to face it
There's no where to run and hide.
How will I take the journey
Will I overcome and learn
Will I be accepted into heaven
Or cast aside to burn?
Will the character I develop
Be good to human kind
Or will I neglect the the truth
And succumb to a reprobate mind?
I know I've good intentions
But they don't always seem to be enough.
We all are shaped and molded
By the battles that are rough.
I can only hope my sculpture
Will, in the end, be well defined
By a moral strength of character
And a productive state of mind.

I will overcome, I will survive
This illness trying to destroy my life.
Despite the hurt, despite the pain
I will not let it drive me insane.
God didn't promise no suffering
We'll all have some;
But if we walk by faith
We can overcome.
Through faith
All things are possible
We only have to believe;
And reach out
With open hands
Expecting to receive.

The wind is blowing something fierce
I hear it’s deafening cry;
As if in pain it stopped
To mourn and ask us why.
We’re cutting down the forrest
At such an alarming rate;
The lands that once were large and vast
Have begun to dissipate.
The floods are raging wild
With no trees to stop their flow;
With all the mistakes
That we have made
You should think we’d know.

Lord help me not to falter
In the faith I have for you
To know you can accomplish
All you said that you could do.
To know I only have to ask
And in my heart believe
That you in your wisdom
Will supply my every need.

Twin peaks of pleasure
Pointed toward an aching touch,
plead satisfaction.
An involuntary spasm
And I open myself;
Eager for the approaching journey.

Upon blank pages
I exercise my emotions
Worries, loves, hates,
Indecision, insecurities;
All those things
That threaten
To explode to the surface
Like a worn punching bag.
These blank pages
Accept in silence
All those emotions
That threaten to consume me,
And when the last word is written
And the last period placed,
The overwhelming burden
Was somewhat lighter
And from what became therapy,
Poetry emerged.

On the verge of unbelieving
That Heave can exist;
For depressions pull is strong
Not so easy to resist
The constant toil of daily life
Is a struggle at its best;
But every life is filled with hardships
As we journey on our quest.
It isn’t what you want in life
Like wishing on a star;
It’s how you deal with what life gives you
That determines who you are.
So I’ve quit thinking every obstacle
Is a hazard in my path
I’ve quit blaming everyone else and God
For the failures that I have.
I’ve determined if life is better
I’ll have to make it for myself;
I’ll work hard for things I want
Not counting on any help.
If I’m down, I’ll lift up myself
By doing things that I enjoy;
If it makes me feel like laughing
Then mud cakes will be my toy.
I’ll cast off the worldly standards
Of what’s socially right to do;
And live my life for me, this round
And what it takes to get me through.

You are saying I choose to let them hurt me
And mayhap you are right.
If I choose every action
And every reaction
Then I condone myself
No matter what I choose.
Am at fault
Even their reaction
Is partly mine to blame;
For it was my action that created their reaction,
So why do I suddenly feel doomed
In every choice I make.

Sometimes
I feel like I’m drowning
In the whirlpool of life.
Caught
In the swirling vortex
Occasionally
Getting the chance to breathe
Before I go back under
The drowning weight of life.
Does it ever stop spinning?
I’m sure it must have been tranquil
At one time,
But I can’t seem to remember it.
I want to be happy,
Go with the flow;
But in the toilet of life
I spend most of my time
Trying to stay afloat.

Fear of Water

Reflections from the setting sun
Glisten and dance upon the water.
A cool breeze comes and goes
Capturing the soft smell of saltwater.
The sun, a blazing ball of orange
Is halfway sunk into the water.
Standing upon the small deck,
I look out at the breathtaking view.
But, all I can think about is the murky water
And whether or not I might spring a leak

Uphill struggles on the road
That lead me near to you;
Panicked times when doubt seeps in
Dear Lord what should I do.
Put on the armor you have said
And after doing all stand still.
Renew your strength and wait on me
Just rest, this is my will.
These fleshly thoughts are tempted
To fix everything myself;
Forgetting I can never win,
Unless I have your help.
Sometimes it’s hard to fight
That need to push ahead
To just be still, stop pushing
And wait on you instead.
Lord give me the wisdom
To pull back if needed,
The strength to push ahead
Or the faith to just stand still and wait
The way your word has said.

I read
What excites,
Soothes,
Or
Makes my blood  boil.

I find in meditation
The realization
That classification
Is only in relation
To my determination.

Clothed in dark
Demented souls can hide;
Made known only
By the fire in their eyes.

The pits of hell go
Where ever they go;
Always looking for
The unsuspecting soul.

Where evil lingers
Might be a door;
Beware of who
You open it for.

I could see the shadows dancing round
Ominous and dark
And the silent fluttering of sounds
Inside I felt the mark.
The scar of fright was upon me
I began to see invisible things
Frightful things in the shadows
And the morbid wind began to sing
A sad and lonesome sound
It called out in the night
And the echo that replied
Filled my soul with fright.
The wind began to howl and scream
As it moved about with force;
And for the terrors that it brought
It carried no remorse.
Ripping, crashing, thunderbolts
Smashing things about;
Clinging to the walls I cried,
No one could hear my shout.
When it all was over
And the winds begun to cease,
With the death and devastation
Came an eerie, silent peace.
The winds had crashed their boundaries
Rebelling across the sky;
And the clouds had hopped aboard
Eager for the chance to fly
And through the twisting, turning funnels
They found they had the power;
To bring human kind down to its knees
To watch us as we cowered.
That eerie peace, like a gloating smile
Looked on at what they’d done;
Now let them say that they are gods,
Laughed out the mighty sun.

True evil lurks
We may see what it does;
But it spans the gap
Of what is and what was.

Innocient illusions
Will lure to its web;
And before you’re aware
You’ll be chained to its bed.

Unseen are the demons
You’ll find behind smiles;
Beware of mine
Then a woman’s wiles.

Angers that flare
Pull down walls of trust;
And a desperate soul
Will do what it must.

Only one salvation
Will ever be true;
And it’s lingering there
It’s calling to you.

Beware my friend
Which voice do you hear;
One bathed in hope,
Or one clothed in fear?

Black as pitch
And clothed in the night
Hypnotic eyes
Such an eerie sight.

Did I really see
Is there something there?
My eyes can’t find it
But my spirit’s aware.

Running this way and that
I stumble and fall,
I hear it’s approaching
It sounds out it’s call.

I must find safety
It’s closer I fear;
Only the eyes
Let me know that it’s near.

The black wolf is beauty
But its’ danger belies
The souls that it’s captured;
They sound out their cries.

I race toward the light
That shines in the dim;
Where I thought might be safety
Instead, I find him.

Tall, dark, and handsome
Such beauty outside;
But safety alarms me
For the eyes cannot hide.

I look for a moment
In the eyes of a man
Nd suddenly before me
The black wolf stands.

Trapped in his den
I search for escape;
Do I surrender
Or be devoured by hate.

The wolf will take my life
I know;
But if I surrender to the man
He’ll take my soul.

I fell like I’m being
Spied on or stalked
Maybe I’m being laughed at
Or mocked.
I feel like someone’s
Playing with my mind
It’s like fear and excitement
Both combined.
Suddenly afraid:
Paranoid
I felt like I was in the middle
Of a deep dark void.
Constantly searching
For the unknown force
And still unable
To find the source.
Nerves are shattered
Imagination runs wild;
Jumping to conclusions
Like a little child.
For a logical explanation
I’m racking my brain.
I feel like I’m dreaming
Or going insane.

With the words now on paper
That once flooded my head
I can finally rest
And lay down to bed.

I couldn’t sleep
I had to write
Though sleep fought hard
It lost the fight.

Words too crammed
They had to escape
I wanted to sleep
but they couldn’t wait.

Heavy burdens
Tear filled nights,
Indecision
About wrongs and rights.
Separate paths
Which one to take?
Troubled
With so much at stake.
Strong in mind
I use to think;
Feeling now,
I’m on the brink.

So unreal
It’s hard to think.

Shrouded in darkness
The demons lie,
Waiting to terrorize
The innocent soul.
Twisting and turning
The touches of truth
Into something
The heart does not know.
And, in the darkness where demons dwell
And fear feeds the flower of deceit,
Only the hunger that you feed the most
In the end will be what you believe.
By: Linda Duncan

I’m sure it wasn’t easy
Being a teenage mother with child;
It would have been simpler to have aborted me
And had another one after a while.
But you chose right over easy
Stood firm and held your ground;
And even when things got a little rough
You never once backed down.
You sacrificed time after time
To give me the things I needed;
To push me on ahead in lie
To make sure I succeeded.
You made time for the nagging questions
That only a child could ask
You made being a mother
Seem like a simple task.
I’m older now and wiser,
And in the years I’ve grown.
I’m settled down and married
With children of my own.
And being a mother I’ve learned
Is one of the hardest things to do;
And yet I remember throughout the years
It seemed so easy for you.
I remember you always having the time
To put my fears to rest;
Or time to put away your life
And help me on my tests.
I remember things you did without
To buy me shoes or a dress;
You never got impatient
Or treated me like a pest
And I pray that when the years are gone
And my children are grown up too;
They will think half as much of me,
As I’ve come to think of you.
I’ll never forget your sacrifice
Just to bring me into this world;
I just wanted to let you know,
Love always, from your little girl.

If all were fair and just in the world
Maybe there would be peace.
If the world had wisdom and understood
Maybe the fighting would cease.
If all men had sympathy and caring
Maybe no child would live unfed.
If life held no pain or sorrow
No tears would need be shed.
If all could be humble and meek
Then pride would not stand in our way,
There would be no ambitions to to drive us
No temptations to cause us to stray.
If each soul could be filled with laughter
There could be joy in each heart.
If all men could be brethren
Then each man could feel a part.
If at any time your life is this
Then your life is rare.
And the world could be like this
If the world were just and fair.

I walk in darkness
But not alone.
I find myself
Bumping into pain
Stabbed with confusion
Crying in the darkness
With only the sound of my own sorrow
To break the silence.

Fear shrouds in like a mist
Until terror takes over.
And, through my tears
I look at the enclosing shadows;
And, strange as it may seem,
I find hope
Knowing they are cast
By the light.