(A Psalm of Affirmation, reaffirming
my faith in God.)

I have faith in God
Who gives me the strength
To climb mountains
And leap over walls.

He leads, guides
And protects me each day,
And restores all
That was taken away.
My heart safely rests in him.

The Lord is my life,
Health and strength.
He is the breath of my being.
My soul is happy in God.

(A Psalm of Praise: let all things bring Him glory.)


The songs of praise surround me;
I will sing of God's goodness faithfully.
Oh earth, hear my song
And the trees sing along.

Let the sound of the birds
Be joyfully raised
As dawn's twilight
Emerges with praise.
Let the moon and stars
Tell the great story—
Brightly sparkling
With his glory.
Let the waves prance
And the clouds dance
As the sun peeps
Upon the sea.
They all show forth
The praise of God
Who causes them to be.

For the Lord has made all things,
And let them bring him glory.

Where my favorite flowers
Rest in a vase.  
And I deal with matters
At a personal pace.

Where I spend winter,
Spring, summer, and fall.
And my favorite pictures
Grace every wall.

And it’s where I recover
When I have been frail—
Where I get all my tweets,
My ‘e’ and ‘snail’ mail.

Tiny little inchworm
Moving right along.
But then came a bird
To rob him of his song.

God the problem solver,
The repairer of the breach
And restorer of all things.

Like with the repairman
That fixes broken items,
I am learning to give
My problems to you Lord.
For the power of restoration
Is in your hands.

What kind of love is this
‘Pon which, gratefully, I’ve stumbled?
So great I cannot understand it.
So incredible I have never known,
Nor can I ever know it.

A love all encompassing.
No exceptions. No exclusions
A love beyond limits.
No fences, walls, boundaries or borders.

More faithful than the dawn,
More just than the law.
And purer than the light.

And yet, it is a tough love.
Demanding justice, mercy, truth --
And whatever is right at all cost.

Always requiring responsibility
And accountability.
A love that demands the best.

At the nursing home
I visited my friend
Whom I hadn’t seen
In a long time.

Her life had ebbed,
And her health was in steady decline
As she struggled with
The dreaded Alzheimer’s.

While she slept soundly,
The squirrels played cheerfully
On the jolly ‘ol tree
Just outside her bedroom window.

A captain at the helm
Of the ship,
God rules his universe.
He turns it at will
For it’s his ship.
Man, nature or beast—
All must comply.
The controls
Rest in God’s hand.

(Psalm of Deliverance (September 8,1987) .
*One of four pioneering psalms,
Depicting a soul-cry from despair.)

I cried to the Almighty,
The Creator of my life.
My heart was overwhelmed;
It seemed there was no help.

My soul was daily stirred
With tears of constant flow.
I wept. And I wept.
Only to weep more.

My frail, quivering voice
Tunneled through the air—
Crying for deliverance
From the pit of despair.

Haply, God would hear me
Deeply pining there
In such pain and anguish,
More than I could to bear.

For my tears broke his heart
As my cry reached his ears.
And he, in tender mercy,
Considered all my fears.

And moved with compassion,
He sent help from above.
He’s the rock of my salvation
And the banner of my love.

The world’s
Accoutrements
Bear no weight unless the
Heart has found its rightful place
In life.

Life’s skies, beauteous,
Are ever morphing – but the
Ole mountain’s steadfast.

Truth is
A torchbearer.
It is eyes for the soul
And a true guide for the conscience.
Truth speaks.

Life—a beautiful
And sacred phenomenon -
Plagued with so much ill.

(Psalm of Trust: steadfastly looking unto God in adversity.)

The enemy boasts victory,
But in the Lord I trust.
For He is ever merciful,
Loving, kind and just.

I will keep his covenant
Whose word is ever true.
His promises are steadfast
And constantly renewed.

Your love never wavers, Lord,
Your mercies cannot fail.
You’ve never shrugged my prayers,
Which oftentimes are frail.

My help comes from you.
I will look unto the hills
And claim your every promise
Until each is fulfilled.

Winter.
Thirty degrees.
Inside peering out. ‘Tis
Cold. But warm inside. Thanks for
Shelter.

In every river
There’s a sea.
In every acorn,
There’s a tree
And in every boy,
There’s a man.

Wearily I call to him in prayer
His presence is manifested.
…His hand ‘pon my shoulder.

My soul is quickened.
With tears of joy,
My heart palpitates.
And through quivering lips,
I render praises to him.

Assurance overwhelms.
My heart is strengthened,
And, in him, I am comforted.

Early
Morn. Red sunrays
Hug the bare tree trunks in
A mid-winter scene. Thirty-six
Degrees.

(A Narrative of Omnipotence.)

Listen, and I will tell you a story
About the God of old.
A mighty rock for ages stood
In highness where no other could;
His throne secure and banner set
To reign o'er the earth.
He treads the dark and unknown;
No secret lurks by night.
By his omnipotent power,
All is brought to light.
A gesture, nod, or slant of the hand
Unleashes his might in the land—
Releasing an astounding force
That none can understand.
His way is sure, his word is swift.
In him everything consists.
Marvelous works he has done
Who shares his glory with no one.

All have felt the Lord's embrace,
Tho' none has ever seen his face,
As his eternal love and grace
Envelopes the human race.

To live another day.
To know God.
And to help someone
Find their way.
These are grand opportunities.

May each have the chance
To climb his Everest
And wave the victor’s banner—
Nabbing the opportunity
To overcome every challenge.

Somewhere in the far
Distance, a lone dog barks, and
Barks—then sheer silence.

(Nostalgic Psalm: a quest for rest.)

O that I had the wings of a dove,
My soul would fly to be at rest
As the eagle flies above the earth,
And the sparrow embraces her nest.

I would soar above my troubles,
Fill my heart with a song
And be safe from war against me.
How long? O Lord, how long?

I watch as an owl in the night,
And like the dove—I mourn.
When will the darkness be light
And the night be gone?

But like the sparrow that finds a home
And the swallow—a cozy nest,
I will dwell at the altar of God
And abide in his perfect rest.

Desperately, I cried to God
And He has not heard me today.
He does not answer.

The path is dark.
The way is bleak.
Oh Lord, where are you?

You are my only light, Lord,
Oh, guide me, I need you now.
Hear my call.

I will wait for him;
He will come.
For he will answer me.

He is before me an opened door;
I have but to enter.
His presence is life and goodness.
And the omnipotent God
Has the power to work
All things for my good.

The cawing crow,
Object of strife,
Does have its place
Here in this life.
Its hue is dark
Its numbers rife.
It sounds of caw
And not a fife.
To the farmer
And to his wife,
The crow is but
A fowl most trife.

Clever. And deadly.
Evil of every kind occupies
Life’s nooks and crannies--
Casting deep shadows.
Beware. Mankind beware.

As night is full of darkness,
So life is full of evil.
But God is light.

There is no darkness
In him who rules the dark
And brings good out of evil.

(A Steadfast Trust.)

Surely tomorrow will come
With all her joys, and ills,
And sorrows.

But there’s no need to fear.    
For, Lord, I know that…
Still, You are God.

(A Song of Deliverance (September 8,1987) ,
*One of four pioneering psalms.)

I sought God in the night
When trouble stirred my soul.
And, oh, what a delight
To find comfort in his word.

He whispered to my ears
Sweet and glorious things,
And brought me from despair
On mighty-eagle wings.

He put a song in my heart
And dancing in my feet.
My night was turned to day
And my bitterness to sweet.

The Lord God of hosts—
Jehovah is his name.
Sovereign is his power,
Only he can do such things.

Any
Thing else lost is
A hindrance. But lose the
Mind, and it stops one in his tracks.
Mem’ry.

I am like the weak
Little loggerhead,
Prodding. Pushing along.
Trundling across
The sandy dunes of time,
Striving to reach
The sea of infinity
For its healing waters.
Infinite living waters.

(A Psalm for Meditation: remembering God.)

If I were to forget my name,
Let me remember God:
The One who created the
Heavens and earth, and all things.

The God who formed man of dust.
And miraculously causes life
To secretly grow in the
Confines of the womb.

Even in trials—
Let me remember his blessings,
Faithfulness and generosity.
Let me recall his tender mercies.

And if I forget all there is to know—
Let me remember the God who has brought me.

(Cry of Grievance: life's overwhelming problems.)

Except for God's mercy,
My troubles would have long
Destroyed me.

Multiplied like the stars,
They are as deceitful as
The ways of a brook.
An innocent prey, stalked game;
I am the target of their poignant aim.

Like water, my troubles flow;
They are as unwelcome as a foe.

But God shall plague them.
He shall bind them with a strong cord
And crush them 'neath his mighty foot.
And they shall cease.

Lord, by your sovereign power,
Rebuke them into oblivion
That they all cease.

**NOTE: This psalm does not refer to any person. Herein, I am simply speaking of the daily grind in my life, which seemed to have been multiplied one-hundred fold.

Blackbird crafted nest,
Laid its eggs, and hatched its young—
Bright little blackbird.

Some things
We’re bound to know
Experientially,
Tho’ good, bad, happy or sad it
Might be.

(Prayer-Psalm: a hymn for the nation in the wake of 9/11.)

Almighty Deliverer, save our nation—
The land that you have given us.
The heritage of our fathers,
Founded upon a godly trust.

Our banner waves against the sky,
Stars and stripes flying high.

Though storm clouds rage,
The hope of the ages
Will ever be our Light—
To go before and guide the way
That we shall not fear the night.

(Reflecting upon my first encounter with the Lord. After desperately seeking to know Him, I found God on the pages of His Word.)

I thought to find him there
in nature--the singing brooks.
The sparrow’s song.
The murmuring sea.
And even the brilliant Mr. sun,
But it wasn’t to be.

Instead, I heard a faint-soft voice
Speaking to me from the pages
Of his awesome and abiding word.
‘Twas then I realized
That I had found him.

(A Psalm of Grievance: the cry for relief.)

My trials are many and heavy,
Seemingly never to end.

Will the tempest toss
And breakers rage forevermore,
As one by one the waves come
Crashing o'er the shore?

The tide-swell is ominous,
The howling winds blow.
And lurking beneath the surface
Is a subtle undertow.

But God’s voice, all-powerful,
Creates a calm in me
As his Spirit 'pon the waters
Stills the raging sea.

Ignore a problem if you would
It will increase as best it could
Until it reaches zenith height
And send you scrambling
With all might.

A little flower
Planted in God’s garden--
I grow,
Nurtured by his hand.
Betimes the morning dew descends,
The sun beams,
The rain pours.
And scattered winds
May cause me to bobble.
But still the motley colors
Are radiant and fair—
For I stand in his courts
Amongst the others there.
A testament to God’s mercy and care.
His compassion is enduring.

God combs the earth,
Scouting the good and evil.
His eye is set—
Like a microscope.
And with microscopic lenses,
He scrutinizes the tiny atom.
Of every fiber of the being,
Even the tiniest particles,
Nothing escapes his all-seeing eye.

(A Prayer-Psalm for national strength, healing
and restoration in the aftermath of September 11.)

Restore our health, Lord.
Heal the brokenness
Of our inconsolable wound.
Comfort the soul of this people;
Quell the fear that looms.

Strengthen the weary heart,
Pour forth the oil and wine.
Console this hurting nation,
And mend this broken vine.

Oh, merciful, loving God—
So sovereign and just—
Give us faith to see
And the courage to yet trust.

Come nightfall,
He holds my hand
And comforts my heart—
Leading me through the dark.
Some nights are longer
Than others,
But he never leaves me
To face the dark alone.
God is there.

(Love Ballad: a psalm of gratitude.)

I love you, Lord, for who you are
And for all you've done.
You delivered my weary soul
From the wicked one.

I love you for each sacrifice
And feat beneath the sun.
There is just no other,
You are the only One.

You’ve always heard my cry,
Oh God, my strength of old.
And never will forsake me—
Whatever might unfold.

I love you for seeing me through
Every storm and vice.
And I shall but love you more
With each day of life.

(Psalm of Exaltation.)

The heavens whisper his name
With each twinkle of the stars.
The clouds dance before him,
Dropping dew of blessings.
The snow exalts his purity
In its whitest form.
Trees bow as the winds dance
To His Excellency.

The voice of the waters roars from the sea,
Proudly proclaiming his majesty
As men and angels bow their knees
To worship the Lord most high.

There is no way to the Father,
But through Christ the Son.
His innocence on Calvary:
The cross and all He’s done.

There’s no other way to God,
But give your heart to Him.
His arms are opened always
To receive you on a whim.

There’s no other way to heaven,
But by the “Master Plan”—
The marvelous gift of salvation
For the lost and longing man.

(Psalm of Purpose.)

Lord of all things—
Great and small;
Master of masters,
And Ruler of all.

Let the mountains
Echo with ecstasy,
And the hills joyfully
Ring with glee.
Let the lilies dance
In all their grace,
And the angels humbly
Cover their face.
Let the sea roar
With thunderous praise.
And the locust's chirp
Be heavenward raised.

Let the cry of the cheetah,
And the lion's shout,
Be heard in the heavenlies
Round about.
Let the hum of the bee
And the bird's sweet tone,
Ascend before
The life-giving throne.
For all were made
Of one mighty hand—
Divinely fashioned
For his perfect plan.

Perching high ‘neath the
Blue skies, a dark mount’nous range -
Laced with pristine snow.

(A Psalm for lamenting September 11.)

Our dream towers are fallen
'Pon our children:
Fathers and Mothers are crushed.
Sons and daughters are perished.
Husbands and wives—dead.

Our finest buildings
Are become rubble—
Leveled to the foundation.
We are in mourning.

A perfect day is turned into night
With clouds and thick darkness.
The people mourn, Lord,
The people mourn.
With great heaviness, they mourn.
Sorrow has become our bread;
But midst the darkness, there is light.
In weakness we are made strong,
And from the ashes we will rise.

Oh Lord, our hope and shield,
You are our refuge and strength—
Even in these troubled times.

(A Melodic Composition: exhortation
to trust in the Lord.)

Trust in me. Believe in me
To protect you from all harm.
No evil shall betide you;
I will hold you in my arms.
Come and hide
In the shadow of my wings.
You can call unto me
For anything.
I am there to supply your needs.
Only trust in me.

Oh Father,
My constant companion
And faithful guide
I give you my heart forever.
I commit my life to you
For safekeeping.
Hide me in your *****;
In you I rest.