(A Psalm of Trust: trusting in God's
Infallible Word.)

The Lord said, 'Trust in me,
For I will deliver you.'
And my God said,
'Look unto me and be saved
All the ends of the earth,
For I am God;
Besides me there is no other.'

Save Lord!
Send salvation from Zion.
And deliverance
From your holy heaven.
According to your sovereign word,
Do that which you
Have solemnly declared.

(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 Psalm of Worship.)

His scepter is unto me;
I will enter his courts
And cherish the moments.

His throne is the reservoir
Of life and blessings
From which a river
Of abundant sustenance flows.
Lord, quicken me;
In you I live.

Hours are only seconds
In your presence
Where time is but
A fleeting moment.

(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.

(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.

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.

(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.

(A Psalm of Exaltation.)

The angels worship and cry holy,
Covering their face before him
Whose throne is of jasper
And the sardine stone.

His presence is brighter
Than the sun at its brightest.
He is more glorious
Than ten-thousand-noonday suns.

His beauty exceeds the topaz, ruby,
Onyx and beryl stones.

My head bows,
And my heart is humbled.
My hands rise in submission
To his will.

Elohim! Elohim! Most high God,
Unto you, I give praise.

(Ballad: a song of deliverance.)

Now I know that
The Lord can save.
He delivered me from
The will of the grave.
With songs of deliverance
And songs of praise,
He affirms my soul
In his righteous ways.
By his matchless power
And invincible might,
He speaks a word
And darkness is light.
He is the joy of my soul
And the hope of my life.
The lover of my soul
And the love of my life.
He enlightens my eyes
With spiritual sight—
Even in the midst
Of confusion and strife.
I know that God can save.

(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.

Psalm of Worship: (Psalm of Worship: a melodic composition.)

As I look upon the rivers
And the beauty of the sea—
All your hands have made, Lord,
Which includes me,
I humbly yield my heart
In submission to your will.
Let all the earth keep silent—
The winds and waves be still.
Let the angels humbly bow
At the footstool of your throne.
And all the people worship,
For you are God alone.

I will declare your goodness
And exalt your fame.
You have done wondrously,
And holy is your name.
Holy is your name.

(A Psalm of Purpose.)

God ordained the seasons
To be determined by the elements.
He made them for a reason—
To bring him glory.

In spring, God gives the farmer
Seeds to plant.

In summer, he gives rain
To water the crops—
Bringing them to maturity.

During the fall (Autumn), men
Graciously reap the harvest.

And in the winter, everyone enjoys
The fruit of his own labor—
Consuming the increase thereof.

Spring is the resurrection of life,
And summer is its peak.
Fall is the waning of life,
And winter is its demise.

A continuous cycle;
As long as the earth remains,
Spring, summer, fall and winter,
Shall never cease to bring God glory

(Prayer-Psalm. An intercessory prayer in perilous times, during the aftermath of September 11.)

Lord, protect our nation;
In you we place our trust:
One God who is sovereign,
Omnipotent and just.

Guide us by your mighty hand,
Great God who falters not.
Preserve the freedoms of this land—
Our heritage and lot.

(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.

(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 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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(A Psalm of Declaration: the sovereignty
of God.)

From everlasting to everlasting,
Behold—I am God.
I've created mankind
From the dusty sod.
There is no disparity
Nor variance with me.
In truth, as I am—
I shall forever be
Alpha and Omega—
The first and last.
The dawn and scope
Of ages past.
There is none like me,
And my decree shall be.
I declare all things;
There is none like me.
I am self-existing:
For I alone am God
Who rules the powers that be
With the scepter and rod.
I, Jehovah, never change.
And tho' the heavens sever—
I the Lord am the same
Yesterday and forever.

(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.

(A Psalm of Exhortation to godly fear.)

Bow the knee to the holy One.
Worship with standing ovation:
Rivers, grass, sun and stars.
And man the crown of creation.

Let the kingdoms fear the Lord,
And all the people make haste.
He is head of the universe;
His eyes are in every place.

The sovereign King ‘pon his throne
Shall judge the world and the nations.
One clasp of his powerful hands
Would terrify creation.

Sing, O winds. Sing praises to him;
Bow you mountains and trees.
Let every beast do obeisance to God,
And all men fall to their knees

(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.

(A Psalm of Trust: patiently trusting despite adversity.)

My deliverance is in
The Lord's hands.
I wait for him in prayer
With meditation and praise.
The Lord will strengthen me
In trials.
He will not allow the enemy
To defeat me.
My God has placed a hedge
Of protection on every side.
Morning, noon and night,
He watches and no evil
Shall befall.

(A Psalm for Meditation: godly devotion and commitment.)

Lord, I live to worship you,
And breathe to sing your praise.

Daily, my soul arises in your presence
With eager longing and expectation.

Oh life-giving One, draw me
With your wondrous love
And sweet words of comfort.

Don't be far from me,
But take my feeble hand
As I reach out to you.
Come closer as I draw nearer to you,
Oh my God, that I may forever
Know your abiding presence.

(A Song of Trust. A doxological hymn.)


All-wise and loving
Heavenly Father,
I completely rest
In you.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(A Shepherding Psalm: caring for the sheep.)

Unto green pastures and meadows he leads—
Safely through danger, beneath shady trees.
Shoring up brooks so the waters run smooth,
That his sheep safely drink from a calm, gentle pool.

They do not worry, but rest in his care—
Knowing the Good Shepherd is always there.
He keeps the enemy at distant bay.
And keeps his sheep out of harm's way.

Although in error, one might stray,
He tenderly rescues it right away.
All those in his care, he safely keeps.
He is the Good Shepherd that cares for his sheep.

(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.

(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 Exaltation: God's name is a
strong refuge.)

O Lord, your name protects—
Even as a shadow covers from the sun.

It is a lovely name, comelier than the lily
And sweeter than the rose.
And holy. All-powerful
And high above the earth—
Even higher than the heavens.

Nature provides crannies
For the tiniest creatures.
And dens for the wild beasts
That they might dwell safely.

The fox is protected
In the burrows of the earth,
And the squirrel finds refuge
In the hollow of a tree.
The scorpion's sanctuary
Is beneath a rock,
And the hive is a shelter
For the bee.

Even so, Lord, by your wisdom—
You have established for us a haven
In your name, wherein we are safe.

(A Psalm of Expectation.)

Seeking deliverance,
Day and night I cry unto God
And would not be satisfied.
How long, O Lord,
Until my deliverance is come?

My heart securely
Trusts your word.
You are my salvation
And the anchor of my soul.

Protector from all harm,
And a refuge from the storm.
My battle-axe and shield
In the war of life.
Stronghold, high tower,
And a shield from strife.

O God my Strength,
My helper and guide—
The cleft of the rock
In which I can hide.
I will trust in you.

(A Nostalgic Psalm: the power of God.)

O God, manifest yourself
That men might see,
And marvel, and wonder.
You spoke the worlds into existence,
And separated night from day.
Placed the elements in the skies
And created man in a wonderful way.
Bring back the ancient miracles
Like when you parted the sea
And delivered Israel en masse—
Mightily setting them free.

You provided in the wilderness,
Filled the temple with your glory,
And spoke from the darkness of Sinai;
What an awesome story.

Show, again, your sovereign power
That your strength be known,
And men might truly realize
That you are God alone.

(Ballad: exhortation to praise God.)

Extol the Lord Most High,
Let his praises ring.
Throughout all the earth,
Exalt his lovely name.
Embrace His purity,
And testify his fame
From the rising of the sun
To the setting of the same.

(Meditative Psalm: quest for total surrender.)

I beheld the wind, blowing upon
The grass of the field.
Leaves swayed under the power
Of its influence.

The flowers danced
As the grass dazzled—
Its blades shimmering in the light.
That which was dormant
Had suddenly come to life.

O Lord, breathe upon me
The breath of your holy Spirit.
Quicken me, and possess my being
That, in harmony, I might sway
To the power of your perfect will.

(Psalm of Exhortation to Praise God.)

Let every glad heart
Sing unto the Lord.
Rejoice in his goodness,
And worship at his feet.
Extol him! Extol him!
Exalt his mighty throne.
The Lord is above all,
And he is God alone.

The deep—even the deep—
Is subject to him.
He rules the meek and proud.
Let the ocean roar
With thunderous praise,
And the cosmos shout aloud.

O earth, extol him!
Exalt his mighty throne.
The Lord is high and lifted up;
For he is God alone.

(A Psalm of Worship.)

My heart is prepared
To worship God:
I will kiss the Lord
And sing unto him.

I will speak of his goodness
From dawn to twilight
And follow his excellent way.
I will meditate
Throughout the night
And seek him at midday.
My longing heart shall,
Reverently and humbly,
Bask in his presence.
Upon my Lord,
I will pour praise.

(Psalm of God's Majestic Power.)

He spoke a word
And there was light.
He made a law
To divide the night.
He formed man
Who lifelessly lay—
And gave him life
At dawn of day.
His testimonies
Of power and might
Are miraculous
And upright:
Bread from heaven,
Parting the sea,
And raising the dead.
Almighty is he.

He attends the needy,
Helps the oppressed,
And delivers those
Who are distressed.
His awesome miracles
Are great in number
That all should fear
And remember
The omnipotent
Power of God.

(Psalm of Exhortation: worship God.)

Let mankind worship him—
Redeemed by his plan.
Let the angels worship—
Created at his command.

All birds, and beasts,
And creeping things—
Let them bow before the King.
For God, supreme, made everything:

The lamb and lion,
And fowl’s wings.
The oxen, cattle, bear and kid—
All things wonderful he did.

Let all who live and breathe—sing!
Oh glorify the sovereign King.

(Song of Exaltation: doxological hymn.)

Give me the strength
To praise you Lord,
The breath to laud Your name.
You alone are glorious;
You deserve the fame.
May your kingdom ever stand
And your praises ring.
Live forever—true and grand—
Great and mighty King.

(A Meditative Psalm: trusting in God.)

My every thought of you
Is comforting in trials.
In you, I rest peacefully
In life’s bleakest hours.
My faith looks up,
I will trust and not fear.
Though the day is uncertain,
You will always be there.
The strength of your love
Will see me through.
Oh, God of all mercies,
My refuge is you.

(Ballad: a suppliant's song.)

Lord God of heaven and earth,
Consider my affliction
And deliver my soul.
Oh, God of heaven and earth,
Hear me when I call
Unto you Lord.

I will call upon the Lord
In the morning.
I will call upon the Lord
At noon.
I will call upon the Lord
In the evening.
For he will hear me when I call.

(A Prayer-Psalm.)

Lord God, the ruler
Of night and day,
You are the God of my sleep
As well as every wakeful hour.
Make my sleep sweet
And my rest complete.
Every vigilant moment,
Guide my feet
That from Your Word
I’ll never stray,
But will seek your path
And follow your way.

(Psalm of Deliverance: God saves His people.)

God worked wonders
For his people
When he delivered them
From Egyptian *******.
Thus the story is told:
A destitute nation
In a land that was strange—
With feet shackled
And hands chained—
Was ruled by Pharaoh
An oppressive king,
From whose hands
No freedom rang.
They cried in affliction
With wailing aggression,
And God delivered
From hell's oppression.

'Twas a mighty deliverance,
So the story goes.
He showed his strength
That men of sod
Might know the power
Of an awesome God.

(Prayer-Psalm: grievance too painful to utter.)

I implore you, Lord,
Daily placing my petitions
At your feet.
Hear my cry
And answer my prayers,
For I am torn and speechless.
You know my troubled heart.
Only you can interpret my tears,
Which tell the story,
As one by one they gently fall
Against the tenderness
Of my cheeks
And drop to solemnly rest
At Your beautiful feet—
Speaking volumes that only you
Can understand.
My heart safely rests in You.

(A Psalm of Trust: God is able.)

Is there anything too hard for you, O God,
The worker of miracles and wonders?
You are the architect of life.
You’ve produced the sun, moon and stars.
And have authored all of the planets.

You, who are the inventor of light,
Have created more than a billion galaxies.
You produce all that is good.

Oh Lord, you are the epitome of power
And the essence of true greatness.
There is nothing too hard for you.

My soul shall freely sing
And worship the Lord forever.

(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.