I depend so much on you.
In the midst of the things that cause me discouragement,
no matter what the adversity;
You are always my source of encouragement.
When I can’t seem to go on
your words, your smile, and your touch
renew my spirit
and remind me of why I love you so much.
When everything looks bad,
when it seems that nothing good matters any more;
I look and see the love in your eyes
and hope is alive, because its you I adore.
Stand by me, as I stand by you,
Spring will come again,
and life will blossom and bloom before us
as we walk arm in arm,
in God’s way,
and we’ll see Him bless.

©1999 Michael S. Davis

God made us appreciative of beautiful things.
For most of us, all those things look the same;
golden sunsets, ruby roses, emerald rings,
enthrall our eyes and bestow beauty it’s name.

But we each give beauty our own special spin,
a color, a shape, a smell that quickens our heart,
something that tells us it’s music, not just a din;
and makes beauty our own, a whole not a part.

The saying declares “Beauty is as Beauty does.”
It is what is done that sings beauty to me;
does it tickle my fancy and speed up my pulse,
and does it go to the essence of who I should be?

So, I look at you and my heart skips a beat,
and tries to keep pace with what I see there,
overwhelmed by a vision as alluring as sweet;
I’m awed to be touched by a beauty so rare.

The beauty that we each in this world hope to find,
the scarcest of wonders, the gem for which we long;
that calms restless hearts, and settles our mind,
Beauty that proclaims, “This is where you belong!”

“You’re beautiful!” I say with marveling eyes,
as I ponder world of beauty I've known,
that declaration of love and awe implies;
Your beauty beckons me and now I'm home.

©2007 Michael S. Davis

Examined in the Light of First Corinthians 13

I know that my words, no matter how eloquent or beautiful they may be,
are meaningless without love.  My actions can make my words nothing,
but the creaking of a rusty gate. I can speak God's Word with power,
revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day and
I can have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps,
but without your love, I am nothing.
I could give everything I own to the poor
and even be burned as a martyr,
but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe,
and what I do, I'm bankrupt without your love.

You are patient and kind; and care more for others than yourself,
You’re not jealous of others' success or conceitedly proud;
You’re not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable;
You don't fly off the handle;
You don't want what you don't deserve;
You do not keep a record of the sins of others;
You are not happy with evil, but are happy with the truth.
You don't pleasure in the shadings of truth,
You don’t force yourself on others, you aren’t ever me first,
You put up with so much in those you love,
You never give upon them;
You always look for the best in others,
You don’t look back, you keep on going and see it through.

I don’t want our love to ever die.
Beautiful words will fade some day
but I want the reality of the life that we live together
to fulfill each of us in its love.
I know I can still be childish in my thoughts, understanding and actions.
I want grow in my loving you
with the maturity, the responsibility and passion of a man.

It is frustrating that we do not always see things clearly.
It’s as if we're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist,
struggling along as best we can.
I know the weather will clear and
the sun will shine bright on our love!
I want us to see it all together,
see us as clearly as God sees us.
I want to see you in all your love and beauty,
knowing your love, and being deserving of it,
of you … of us!

As we continue hand in hand,
There are three things we can do
To keep us moving forward:
Trust God
Hope without distraction,
Love each other extravagantly.
The best of those three is Love.
God has taught me that…
In You.

©2011 Michael S. Davis

There is a quiet space
where we escape from all our care,
An envelope of peace and love
where our two hearts rejoin.
Here we talk and pray and play
as with one heart we share
While we cuddle in these treasured moments we purloin.

Here we rest as Husband and Wife
and share as one this bed,
While as parents we toss and turn;
hearts echoing the other’s beats.
Here we find a solace in our love well voiced,
with worries left unsaid;
As we cherish our precious moments between these sheets.

©2006 Michael S. Davis

When I sit at Jesus feet,
I’m at home.

When I read His Word and pray,
I’m at home.

With my family ‘round me gathered,
As we crown Him Lord and Savior;
When He’s King of Kings at my house,
I’m at home.

©1992 Michael S. Davis