Looking upon my hands
My heart sees their treasured worth
Hands now bent and worn
From the struggle of their work

I depend upon these hands
For them to do what they do
I ask they a little longer hold their strength
I pray Lord they see me through

These hands to me have been faithful
Hard work has been their task
Lord keep them strong for me
This of thee I ask

My two hands are tired Lord
I know you know their aches and pains
I ask Lord if tomorrow comes to me
Renew their strength again

So that I might do my work
As I have for so many years
Useing these two hands
That know not doubt or fear

I know someday they will fold
In eternal peace and rest
That will be their reward my Lord
For these hands you have blest

RLB

Within the wind
A voice sounds
Telling us
I AM   I AM

RLB

O  if we as men would only listen and hear.

Behold,
A list of Maxims
Taught me by my father;
1...............
2..............
3.............
4........­.....
5............
6...........
7..........
8.......
9....
10..
­Only empty lines of a legacy from which I have learned ,
Nothing.
Yet ,I learned more than he will ever know ,for in the empty lines there were lessons to be learned.

RLB

Heavens,
Star Shining,
Angels singing Hallelujah !
The Saviour has come!

Merry Christmas
To all!

RLB

I have within my house
A clock that rest upon a shelf
Tic tock tic tock tic tock
This clock sings all by itself

As upon its numbered face
Turn three slow moving hands
Ever forward each one moves
But someday still each will stand

Each movement of every hand
Takes me farther away
From this world here that I know
And the troubles of its way

The clock takes me to a point in time
When the clocks work will cease
It's hands stopped in stillness
As my soul is then released

Yes,the singing of the clock
Is ever with me while here I roam
I will sing with joy when the clock is silent
For then I will at last be home

RLB

Some wore a uniform of gray
Some wore the one of blue
They were brothers from north and south
Some were sons and fathers too,

Each one was a soldier
A warrior in a fight
Now they are only ghost
Seen by men with sight,

Once their feet did march
Upon the battlefields grass
Now they are just an image
To be seen within the glass,

Many fell upon the field of battle
Some alone in a place so foreign
Now all that remains of them
Is a face on a sheet of iron,

When I look into the eyes on the faces
Of these men on iron or glass
I see not a ghost
But a man, a soldier from the past,

Though now he be only an image
He was once a soldier that in battle fell
And within each soldiers image
Is held a story he longs to tell.

RLB

Why do we grieve the heart of God
With the things that we men do
If God audibly spoke
He might say these words to you

Men talk about intolerance
Yet I still give mercy and grace
Men change the definition of marriage
And slap me in the face

Men bicker and argue and fight
About a waving flag
With all that's still to be done
About enough I've had

Men **** unborn babies
Yet I hardly hear a prayer
But the pleas of the unborn
They rise to me through the air

Men have taken me out of school
No longer there am I allowed within
Men have left me at the door
Of a place where once I had been

This list goes on and on
Men know the things I mean
Why can man not read my word
And from its pages wisdom glean

There is on the horizon a day
When every man will understand
When I come down from heaven
To give justice unto men

So go upon your merry way
Push the truths of God aside
Your guilt is not upon me
For to gain your obedience I tried

I will give unto men more time
I've an abundance of mercy and grace
But know within your heart o man
You will someday see my face

RLB

There is peace,reassuring peace
In the quite of natures sound
In the very presence of God himself
Be still and know there God is found

There is peace, reassuring peace
Within the touch of the unseen wind
It washes over ones heart and soul
A peace so true does not offend

There is peace, reassuring peace
In a faith that is bold and strong
When such a faith fills ones heart
Ones heart can only sing a song

There is peace,reassuring peace
When Jesus takes us by our hand
And we trust him to gently lead us through
This dark and weary and fearful land

There is peace, reassuring peace
That only comes from heavens portal
Such a peace so reassuring
Given by God to me a mortal

RLB

No more Big City
No Working Man Blues
No more Swinging Doors
No more patriotic tunes

No more California Cottonfields
No Bonnie and Clyde
No Amazing Grace
No Always on My Mind

No more the Way I Am
No Waiting For A Train
No more Where Have All The Hobos Gone
Or When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again

Goodbye Mighty Merle
Thanks for the gift you gave
There will never be another
Who can take your place

To me you were the best
Singing for the working man
I only wish my friend
I could have shook your hand

RLB

You were the best country music has ever known.

Jesus,
Arms reaching,
D
O
W
N

T
O

M
E
Gentle hands open wide.

RLB

I know not nor claim
In this lifes living game
To have all the answers
As to the whys of now or after

Faith is all I posses
Just to live and do my best
Having hope in my heart for tomorrow
For joy to **** lifes sorrow

Life is a street one way
That directs me to a waiting grave
That becomes an opening door
Leading me to forevermore

Laugh and love and learn
Seek and look and yearn
For what tomorrow brings
With its dreams and hopes and stings

Then when life has ended
Know yours was real and not pretended
Live and breathe and dance
Life is lifes only chance

RLB

Feeling regret
Heart heavy
Failure again

RLB

Trust in Jesus
Have no fear
He is your courage
He is always near

RLB

Today I have given you
A beautiful Sunday morning
A sky of topaz blue
The Suns beams adorning

An ever gentle breeze
Passing silently by unseen
Through the leafless trees
And over the blades of green

I give you music along the way
From natures vocal cords
Singers red and blue and gray
Singing without a word

I am ever present in creation
This I am reaffirming
As I walk in revelation
On this beautiful Sunday morning.

RLB

All my yesterday's now,
Gone,
I held them but for a short time,
So many in my yesterday's I loved now,
Untouchable,
I held them but for a short time,
So much joy and laughter in my yesterday's ,now,
Unheard,
I heard it but for a short time,
We were a close family in my yesterday's, now,
Separated,
Close by physical presence for a short time,
Though separated we are bound by love now,
Eternally ,
To be reunited one by one.

RLB

Majestic
Mountains
Distant
Seen,
Daughter
Grandaughter
Close,
We
Are
Here.

RLB

Time in its passing brings so much joy and sorrow,
Sleeping dreams are awakened and come true,
Loved ones you hoped would always be, die,
But such is the truth of the passing of time.

RLB

I wear the blue of the Union
You wear the Confederate gray
But there are no colors that separate us
On this peaceful day

The cannons bow in silence
The rifles restrain their danger
We soldiers bow our heads
In honor of the baby in the manger

The battlefield rest silently
No sounds of death are heard
Only the sound of angels singing
As they proclaim the written word

"O come let us adore him"!
I hear a soldier say
With a reply of "Christ Our Lord"!
One wears blue the other gray

They come out in reverent peace
To meet upon the field
With only empty hands
No weapon do they wield

Today there will be no fighting
Today no man will die
All are looking to see his star
Shining brightly in the sky

The day will pass too quickly
Then the guns will sound again
But for now let us rejoice with one another
For this gift of the hope of men.

RLB
Dec 2014

It's a beautiful morning
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining
Sending warmth our way

The birds are singing
Their beautiful song
The leaves are dancing
As the wind moves along

The roses are blooming
In the color of red
Their is no sorrow
Their is no dread

It's a beautiful morning
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining
Sending warmth our way

RLB

The strength of love by God is given
It is placed within the soul
There it grows deep and strong and firm
Where it's roots forever hold

Love cannot be broken in pieces
Though the storm rages all around
Love holds true as a mighty oak
Planted firmly in the ground

Love reaches far beyond our sight
To places we have never seen
Above the mountains and into the sky
Even to the heavenly scene

Our love can touch a loved ones heart
Who now walks upon the golden streets
It gives s promise of joy true
And it gives a peace so sweet

The greatest love ever given
Came down from heavens throne
The son of God came in love
And now counts us as his own

RLB

Sweet remembrances
Of family knocking
Dear friends stopping by
These ,are only memories now.

RLB


Where has time taken my family and my friends?

Joy bids;
Seek me,
You will find me,
Though I may hide,
I cannot forever elude.

RLB

I
Was
Going
Under,
I
Reached
Up
To
You,
I
Needed
You
At
That
Moment,
And
You,
You
Let
Me
Drow­n,
I
Thought,
I
Thought
You
We're
My
Friend.

RLB

Have you ever stopped to listen
To raindrops falling down
And heard the music made
As they come to rest upon the ground

Instruments of beauty
That can only be played by God
Sent down from heavens throne
To nurish the earthen sod

As these miracles fall from heaven
They play a melody
Upon the highest rooftops
And on the leaves within the trees

A sound so refreshing
To hold within ones ear
Raindrops play a symphony
If you will only hear

RLB

From out of the ashes of the old
A new year has arrived
Out of the many downs and lows
By grace we have survived

This day begins the start
Of a slate that is brand new
A chance to strive for what is right
A chance to renew

A time to let others know
That by you they are loved
A time to forgive a wrong
A new hope for peace and love

Out of the ashes of the old
We have been given another year
Go forth in faith and courage
Leave behind all doubt and fear .
RLB

Too tired to hold on,
Too scared to let go.

RLB

Why is Jesus condemned ?
Why is he despised?
Why is he rejected?
Why is he belied?
Why is he forgotten?
Why is he treated with scorn?
Why is he viewed as venom?
Why is his character torn?
Why is he detested?
Why is he treated with hostility?
Why is he abhorred?
Why must he suffer such cruelty?
Why is he the bête noire?
Why is he vilified?
Why is Jesus hated?
When for you he was crucified?

RLB

Lord ,I know you are busy
With folks more important than me
But I have just one request
Lord, just one earnest plea

Lord, my hands are tired
They are not as strong as before
Lord, would you make them strong again?
Make their time a little more

You know Lord I need these hands
To do my work each day
They were not always like this Lord
Time has made them this way

Lord, my hands they hurt
At times they are racked with pain
They are now bent and crooked
And cannot long endure works strain

Lord, I know you are busy
Tending to folks with more dire needs
But Lord I've this one request
Strengthen my hands Lord, please.

RLB

Gazing down from the mountains top
Across the valleys depth below
I feel a certain peace within
That Only God could bestow

Looking across the vast wilderness
Into the place that I had been
Never thinking that I could rise
To the place where I now stand

Traveling through the valleys low
And through the rivers deep
I kept my eyes lifted up
Fixed on the mountains peak

The valley at last came to end
Then the rock I had to climb
So I began my journey up
With victory in my mind

The mountains side seemed unclimbable
And the climb it took its toll
When I at last had reached the top
There was a renewed strength within my soul

I could not have made the journey
But for the strength of God alone
For when I am weak and want to stop
God helps me to carry on

Now descending the mountains other side
And through its valley I shall not stop
For in the distance is another mountain
And I shall reach its top

RLB

My body bares the weight
Of passed and passing time
After time is used
And is no longer mine

I think that it shall be
When I am called to heavens shore
My soul will forever live
As time dies and is no more

RLB

How long will the waters of lifes river flow
How many more stories as the water rages
Before the racing water stops
And flows no more past present ages

The river of life begins pure and strong
From high and elevated places
Flowing down all it meets is new
Leaving behind its carved out traces

The rushing waters swiftly run
Carrying with them lifes numbered days
Racing down the mountains face
Quickly the waters pass away

My river of life today still flows
But someday for me the waters will cease
And the carved out traces they leave behind
I hope are deeply etched traces of hope and peace.

RLB

Help me Lord to set my mind
On things that reign above
So that when you appear in Glory
My life is hidden with you in love

Heavenly Father put to death
These things I do not need
Immorality , impurity, evil desires
Along with idolatry and greed

I know because of these
Your wrath is soon to come
At that time I pray I am hidden
In Jesus Christ the son

Help me rid myself O Lord
Of rage and malice and slander
Help me to put away my Lord
Filthy language and anger

Lord we know here there is
No Scythian , Gentile or Jew
For we are all the same
Securly held by you

Help us to be holy Lord
Making kindness our mission
Help us ** be clothed with humility
Gentleness and compassion

Teach us to forgive
Another's wrongs we see
Let love bind us each together
In perfect unity

Help us Lord to be thankful
As we teach through songs and psalms and hymns
Help us do all in the name of the Lord
Giving praise and thanks to Him.

RLB