(Prayer-Psalm. A solemn plea for mercy and
guidance in the aftermath of September 11.)

Darkness like we’ve never known
Has befallen our nation.
Terror strikes by day,
Fear stalks by night and sadness looms.
But in the darkness, there is a light.

God, our refuge in these troubled times,
Through uncertainty—ever shine.
Oh, may your mercy never cease
To guide us in the way of peace.

‘Tho you hide yourself,
You’re never far away.
But standing behind a wall,
You peep to see if I might care
To search for you.
And there is always an indication--
A clue to your nearness.

Oh, for your presence,
And your listening ear.
Just one feeble cry
And you’re on the spot.
The touch of your gentle hand,
Ever drawing me near--
Wiping every tear.

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

There is no lock or key;
The door of my heart
Is opened unto you lord.
Welcome into my humble abode.
Forever with me abide
My companion and guide.
Grace my life with beauty
In your sight.

(Psalm of Appreciation: remembering
and acknowledging God's faithfulness.)

There is no limit to God's favor
And the riches of his blessings;
His kindness cannot be measured.

'Pon awakening each day,
I can breathe, see and hear.
Morning, noon and night,
I call upon my God who hears
And answers my prayers.

Lord, how can I forget your kindness?
As long as life remains,
I will remember your favor.
Even if life forsakes me,
You will never.
Your mercy is great toward me.

Surely, as there are stars in the sky,
And as the moon shines—
As long as you are God,
I will remember.

(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.

I was created to worship you,
Oh Lord of all creation.
Who rides the waves
And strolls the seas.
And rules o’er all the nations.

The eons all belong to you,
Who made mankind of clay.
You keep the earth
And the universe,
Whom the lightening does obey.

2016’s failures and wastage
Will be quite a thing of the past
Each battle fought, or vict’ry won,
Will soon be like the setting sun.
Or like water beneath the bridge
Dead, and stagnant, and still.
For all these things we leave behind
Traveling towards higher ground.
The New Year, its failures or success,
The old year can never access.

(Meditation on the faithfulness of God's Promises; God Keeps His vows.)

Seasons come.
Seasons go.
There is a time to reap
And a time to sow.
All things may change
Under the sun.
God won't ever change;
He’s the only one.
Come what may,
His word is true.
God will keep
His promises to you.

Men may fail us,
Great and small.
The mighty mountains
May crumble and fall.
Friends may come
And friends may go.
But there is one thing
You should always know--
Come what may,
His word is true.
God will keep
His promises to you.

Lord we enter your gates
With thanksgiving.
We come before your presence
With singing.
Our voices we raise
As we enter with praise
To render to you
The glory due.
We lift our hands
And humble our hearts
As we offer praise to you.

We praise you.
We praise you, Lord.
We offer praise unto you.

Heavy rain. Wide sheets
Precipitating downward—
Puddles splash upward.

(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.

Ev’ning sun plays ‘mongst
The trees, dazzling the leaves—
Casting light and shadows.

Thank you, my Father,
That I am not alone;
You haven’t abandoned me.
For I am your child, and
In your embrace I am secure.

You are holding my hand,
And I do not journey alone.
In you I am.

(Confident in God's love.)

There is one thing I know of the Lord,
He loves me.
If ever that I am sure of the Lord,
He loves me.
He’s proved his love over again.
In all of my trials, I call on him.
He never fails to come to my rescue.
He loves me.

Whenever in doubt, I go to his word.
Said that if he cares for the birds,
He loves me.
I don’t worry. I don’t fret.
God in his mercies has not failed me yet.
His great love can never fail.
He loves me.

Ballad: Song or Psalm of Praise.

Awake, O voice,
And sing praises;
The Almighty awaits you.
His ear leans
Toward your worship.
He is moved
At the sound
Of your praise.
Arise and soar
On wings of reverence.
His scepter bids you
Into his presence.
Awake, O voice,
Arise and sing;
Sing for the King.
He awaits you.

The divine broom
Of his wondrous love
Sweeps over the hidden
Crevices of my soul.

Careful not to miss
The hard to reach places
Of nooks and crannies,
He sweeps behind the doors,
And even ‘neath the rugs.

And removing the particles
Of dirt and dust from the heart,
He sweeps and sweeps
Until he has swept it all away,
And I am clean.

(A Prayer of Penitence.)

Lord, forgive my sins;
Do not remember them
Nor hold them against me.
Grant peace and abundance
With an endless supply
Of your Holy Spirit.

Protect from every evil
And strife.
Restore my joy
And renew my faith
That, in you, I might triumph.

O Lord God, most high—
Each day, I will trust in you
With hope and an undying love.

(A Prayer for spiritual transformation,
yearning to be like God.)


Touch me, oh Lord, as I
Touch you with my praise.

By your loving kindness
And the power of your
Merciful hand, transform me
Into the glorious image
Of your wondrous love,
Oh God my King.

I know where to find Him
And how to access his presence;
For daily he inhabits my praise.

(Psalm for Meditation.)

There is a familiar place
In the stillness,
To which I am drawn
In mind and spirit—
Wooed by your manifold goodness
And abiding love.
Day and night, I think of you
With countless lovely thoughts:
Pure, pleasant, sweet,
Lofty and refreshing—
Full of hope and desire.
You are larger than my dreams,
Infinity is your dwelling.
I am rapt in your love,
And to you I bare my soul.

You are the well of living water,
The light that illumines my way,
The star in my, otherwise, darkened sky
And the sun I long for each day.
You are my strength and protection,
And the object of my meditation,
O God, my eternal hope and joy.

All day,
The gray clouds had
Promised rain, but when the sun
Appeared, they acquiesced. Not
A drop

Father, in reclining,
I go with your Word
In my heart.

Like the baby with a pacifier.
Or nourished with a bottle
Of milk, I am comforted
For a night of rest.
No tossing and counting sheep,
But only a peaceful sleep.

Oh, the hope and comfort
Of your Word…
Too big for words.

(A Psalm of Perpetual Trust.)

I will trust in God,
My strength and my helper.
He is my assurance;
My soul, be not disturbed.

There are many ships at sea,
But only those without mooring
Drift, being helplessly tossed,
And driven about by rough winds.
But those with an anchor
Are steadfast, even in the storm.

God is our stay.
All who place their trust in him
Shall never be moved.
The Lord is the anchor of the soul.

When the path is dark
And my senses are dull
And the pain is more
Than I can bear,
I look heav’nward--
‘Yon sun, moon, and stars,
Where a voice then whispers,
“I am here.”

How disappointing
That spring’s in delay.
Punxsutawney Phil
Saw his shadow today.

The winter’s been harsh
On everything.
I yearn for release
In the mercies of spring.

Brrrrrr. Uggghh!
It's been so cold.
But a tad bit longer,
Then winter shall fold.

(A Psalm of Praise.)

I praise you now,
O God of light.
The ruler of darkness
And of night
Who treads the vast
And raging sea.
For where you are,
Night cannot be.

'Pon entering life’s stormy strides,
His perfect peace accompanies
With incredible calm.

Though the rain beats down,
Floods rise, lightning flashes,
And thunder rolls,
One can rest, in spite of the storm.

I do not seek a closet shelter.
Nor to crawl under a bed for fear.
For God is my shelter,
And he is always there.

In the midst of it all, I can sleep.
I can rest in him.

Two thousand sixteen Election,
Will it bridge or breach?
And what is the prognosis—
How far will it reach?

Humm.  Who will be our next leader,
What lurks in the wake?
Will it make for good influence…
For the country’s sake?

In fulfillment of its shadow,
How far is the scope?
Will there be a sunny future?
Or the loss of hope?

The Motherland must ride it out—
This slippery *****.

Satellite sent up
Into space – shooting star comes
Down onto the earth.

Psalm-84
Oh, Lord, manifest yourself
In times of trouble.

Disclose your faithfulness.
Uncover your compassions.
Display your kind mercies.

Reveal your mighty deeds…
The stealthy moving
Of your gracious hand.

You are most generous.
And I am forever seeking
Your unfathomable love.

Oh my God, I welcome
Your blessings evermore.

(A Praise-Psalm Ballad: a song of songs.)

Blessed is the Lord,
He gives me songs:
Songs of praise,
Songs of praise.

Blessed is the Lord,
He gives me songs:
Songs to praise
Unto his name.

I will sing
With all of my heart,
All of my soul,
All of my strength.

I will sing
With all of my might.
I will sing
Unto the Lord.

Dead old seed planted.
Agricultural process -
New life generates.

(A Psalm of Exhortation to Praise God.)

Let praises arise
And ascend unto God:
The praise of the redeemed,
Like a mighty bellow.
The sound of hallelujah!
And glory!
The cry of victory.

Let the saints in glory
Dance and sing.
Ever to joyfully
Laud their King—
The God of heaven and earth,
Who redeems them from all things.

(A Psalm for Meditation:
God's greatness, man's weakness.)

Oh Lord, how great you are;
My heart melts in your presence.
You are the Creator,
And I am the created.
For you are divine,
And I am dust.
You are Master,
I am servant.

You are infallible,
I am faulty.
You are infinite wisdom,
And I am of limited knowledge.
You are eternal,
My days are numbered.
These fundamental truths
Are self-evidence
Of your divine supremacy.

Oh Lord,
These feeble hands
I raise and lift unto
You in worship and praise of Your
Great name.

Some things grab you,
Before you even know it.
Like color, for example:
Salmon, turquoise, yellow,
With beige, blue and peach.
An array of pastels.
Their gentle whispers
In bold statements.
A jargon of beauty
That warms the heart—
Just for the peering.

Color is beautiful.
Color is powerful.
Color attracts.

The floods of your joy
Overwhelm ecstatically.

In sickness,
You are my health.
In weakness,
You are my strength.
In darkness,
You are my light.
When dying,
You are my life.

Oh may my cross
Be a sacrifice,
And never a burden.

Thank you, Lord, for Christmastime
A season of love and cheer
A time to give and to forgive
And to hold one’s family dear.

Thank you Lord for Christmastime
A lovely time of the year.
A time to sing and to worship
And to cast away all fear.

Thank you Lord for Christmastime
When hope is made so clear.
And faith lights the path anew
With a message for all to hear.

Thank you Lord for Christmastime
And may its truth forever chime.

(A Psalm of Trust: prayer of the afflicted.)

Leave me not to walk alone
Thro’ barren land and wilderness,
Where the lurking of the foe
Is ominous.

Day by day, my feet would tremble,
My heart would faint,
And my faith would fail—
If it were not for you.

Oh, see me through the storm;
In You, my anchor firmly holds.
Great is your strength,
And marvelous is your love.
I shall gladly trust in you.

(A Psalm of Worship.)

I humbly enter his presence
To bow before his throne.
Let all be silent as my prayers,
Like the fragrance of
A sweet perfume,
Ascend unto heaven, into the
Throne-room of his glory.

O Lord, accept my prayers
And praise, which, continually,
Are a sacrifice unto you.

Irradiating
Sky. As morn's dawning welcomes
Light—the darkness flees.

Wide sheets of hard rain,
Now precipitating down—
Softening the ground.

In all your mercies,
Sweet and beautiful Lord,
I want to know you.

And in every trying hour,
When I may want to cowl,
Help me to trust in you.

Father, pick me up,
Though I stumble or fall.
And with a firm hand
Help me to stand.
Oh, hear my feeble call.

Teach me your ways.
Open my eyes, Lord,
And guide my heart.
Open my ears,
And help me to hear your voice.
Teach me, that I might know you.

We’re treading hallowed ground
With angels all around
As grateful hearts are bowed
For blessings so endowed.

Eyes all fixed ‘pon heaven
While ‘Thank-Yous’ are given
For deeds of kindness sown—
Both, the known and unknown.

Remembering the past
While memories still last.
Embracing our loved ones.
Recalling those who’re gone.

The thread of Thanksgiving’s
In everyday living.

Peeping from behind
A mulberry tree,
The little wildflower, taciturn,
Seemed quiet and shy,
Nonetheless beautiful.

The waves.
They come and go,
As if they have no clue
Of what to do.
They carry away,
And they bring.  
A dubious song to sing.
Double minded
And ever changing.
But isn’t that the nature
Of waves?

(A Psalm of Supplication: the cry of
grievance in affliction.)

Life's painful impositions,
I will cast upon the Lord.
He faithfully will bear them all.
At night I toss. At dawn I weep
With no desire for food,
Or sleep.

O restless soul.
God's weary sheep—
Do not fret nor stray.
In his own time,
The Lord shall
Bear your cares away.
He’ll give a song
To soothe your heart
And turn your night
To day.

(Psalm of Faith (September 9,1987) .
*One of four pioneering psalms,
by faith, reaching out for strength and
stability at an incredibly difficult time.)

God is my pavilion,
My comfort and my stay.
The rock of my salvation
Protects me day by day.
Who can understand
The wonder of his ways?
He is higher than the heavens—
More ancient than the days.
He covers with his mercy,
And preserves with his grace.
And firmly plants the feet
In a sure and solid place.
Great is his compassion,
Infinite is his love.
Justice, peace and truth
Are attributes of
The mighty Lord of hosts
Whose dwelling is above.

Punxsutawney Phil
Saw his shadow today,
Then did an ‘about face,’
And scurried away.

No fan of the winter
He shrugged, and sighed eeks!
Then returned to his den
For another six weeks.

And, so, it seems winter
Will take its sweet time
In yielding to spring’s
Magnanimous chime.

With closed eyes, enjoyed
The sunshine and flowers - Then
Opened them to rain.