UPLIFTING POETRY

Oh, Lord, I’m So Weary

Oh, Lord, I’m so weary

My soul can’t find its rest

I worry and I wonder, Lord

Why must I take this test?

I try to lead a good life

I’m willing to share with those in need

Nothing I have is too good, Lord

Your children I’ll help to feed.

My bed it offers no comfort,

I lay down, but no sleep appears

I say, “The Lord is my Shepherd!”

And suddenly, He calms all my fears!

I don’t know where this path is leading,

But I’m willing Your hand to hold.

Give me strength, patience and acceptance,

One day, Your Glory I’ll behold!

Lord, You say if only I’d let go and let God,

I could move mountains, rivers and seas

Dear Lord, grant me the faith of a mustard seed

And I’ll forever praise you on my knees! - **BJC**

My Self-Worth

My self-worth is not measured by

My bank balance

The kind of car I drive

The house in which I live

The company that I keep

How many vacations I take in a year

The town that I come from

The designer whose clothes I wear

Nor by what other people think I should be!

All things considered,

My self-worth is

All about how I feel inside

Knowing that I am the best at what I do

Believing that I am loved and am lovely

Being conscious of who I am

Knowing where I want to go

Knowing how I will get there, and

Never forgetting that I am a child of The King! - **BJC**

Impossible

Impossible is not a word

That I care to conceive

Because it makes a liar of

The King whom I believe!

And since the King whom I believe

Has never let me down

Impossible is not a word

Around me to be found!

For me, all things are possible

Impossible holds no dread

Believe God — He will deliver

And impossible will be dead! -**BJC**

I Never Asked: “Why me?”

I never asked: “Why me?”

When I was born

When I heard my first sound

When I recognized my mother’s voice

When I heard my own voice

When I walked my first steps

No, I never asked: “Why me?”

I never asked: “Why me?”

When I learned to read

When I sang my first solo

When I went on my first date

When I got my first job

When I got married

When my baby was born healthy

No, I never asked: “Why me?”

But, ingrate that I am

I asked: “Why me, Lord?”

When I only had chicken to eat

When I had to wear last year’s winter coat

When I lost a job with no benefits only to find one with benefits

When I was struck by a car and survived to talk about it

When I had to move to a smaller residence

Oh, yes! I asked: “Why me?”

Then, one day, the scales fell from my eyes

And, suddenly, I realized that I have never asked: “Why me, Lord?”

For a roof over my head

For an agile mind, and great creativity

For food always on my table

For eyes that see Your creation every day

For health, for strength, for friends and family

Nor, for my spared life

No. I never asked: “WHY ME?”

Lord, I thank you for the blessings! - **BJC**

Sabbath

The Sabbath is the Holy Day

Where we shall find His rest

He bids us come, and live in Him

For He will surely bless.

Come unto Me, and labor not

On this Memorial Day

Of creation and redemptive power

He calls all to obey.

His blessing we shall surely find

When we do not forget

To remember His Fourth Command

To rest until the sun shall set.

So invite a friend to share a meal

And to our Lord sing praise

Sing Hallelujah, say a loud Amen

Every Sabbath Day, always!

             Sabbath Day, Sabbath day

            Our cares, we put away

            We rest today, in the way

            The Lord has specified

            Blessings He has promised

            To all who will obey

            So please, all, do remember

            The Lord, we should obey

            And rest, and get your blessing

            Every Sabbath Day! -**BJC**

The song of Praise today is: Sabbath Rest by Longview Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church Sanctuary Choir

The Publican

I'd rather be a Publican

Never a Pharisee

Because I know I don't deserve

The blessings Jesus heaps on me!

Yon Pharisee, he stands so proud

Of all his accomplishments

He spits at me, because he says

A sinner, I'll always be!

Last week when we went to temple

He pushed ahead of me

And said his prayers for all to hear

So they'd praise him like always!

I went because I knew my need

I stood behind a pillar

And beat me chest, and hung my head

And cried “Lord, help me! I am a sinner!”

I speak of this so you would know

Pride has no place in heaven

A humble heart, justification finds

And leads you up Jacob's ladder!

So just perhaps you're a bit proud of heart

Humble yourself before Him

Confess your sin, He will forgive

And give you a crown in heaven! -**BJC**

The Song of Praise Today is: Sing Out My Soul to the Lord by the Goretti Group and Dixieland

“Lord, Speak to Me!”

I was raised to be a Christian

But ran away from God

I wandered lost and weary

Too frightened to go home

Then one day when I could not go on

I prayed unto the Lord

I cried out in supplication

And begged Him for His Word.

The Lord, my Father in heaven,

Did not reject my prayer,

He knew my heart was weary and my soul was worn with care,

Tears of sorrow soaked my pillow

For all my wasted years

Filled with pain and humiliation

Because I gave in to my fears.

When I could cry no longer,

I prayed: “Lord, speak to me”

And now that I was listening,

He finally spoke to me.

“Oh, weary one, cease your wandering

You cannot hide from Me,

I’m the King of all creation

And My eyes are watching thee.

There is no need to fear my yoke

My burden is very light

But should you find it too heavy,

Give me, and all will be right.

My wayward child cease you wandering

Place your head upon My breast

Let go and I will take control

It will be for the very best.

And when your journey on earth is through,

Come home to Me and rest,

And on resurrection morning,

You’ll take your place with the blessed!” - **BJC**

The Song of Praise for Today is: Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Cece Winans

The Rain Drops

The rain, it plays a tatoo

Upon my window sill

And even if I’ve been unwell

I no longer feel so ill!

The tip tip top pop, says to me

That these are baby rain drops

But the plop plop klop bop says to me

That these are daddy rain drops!

It makes me laugh to hear them

Play with their rain drop clan

And though I’d really love to join

I just watch the rain drops land!

And when their frolic of the day

Becomes a memory

I say thanks for the laughter that they brought

And write a poem to me:

The rain it makes me happy

The rain it makes me glad

I know my mommy loves me

And I am never bad!

Jesus sends the raindrops

To water on the earth

It fills up all the drinking tanks

So there will be no dearth!

Yet, they’re those around the world

Who have too much or NONE!

And I know that life for them

Can’t be any fun!

So I will say a little prayer

When I go to sleep tonight

And ask the King of heaven

To make all wrong things right! -**BJC**

The Song of Praise for Today is: Be Strong In The Lord!

The Blame Game

One day I said to Gabby

That parents were to blame for young ones going wrong

She looked at me, and said scornfully:

“You really, really aught to be ashamed!”

Gabby rounded on me, and

Screaming like a banshee, said:

“Young people are no good!

They act like them people from the Flood!”

“Gabby, you know you are wrong, girl!

Children don't raise themselves!

Their parents set the first example,

And their children just sample!”

I really pity those young ones

Who follow the example

Of the rich, the bored, and the corrupt

Instead of emulating good parents

Who live in God's fear

They emulate actors, and athletes shooting up!

Oh, Father, I pray for Your mercies today

To help us raise children who obey

The Still Small Voice of Your Holy Spirit

So that we'll see our Glorious King one day! **BJC**

The Song of Praise Today is:  Symphony of Praise by California Baptist University Choir and Orchestra

Pray or Party

My friends – they wanted to party

I – just wanted to pray

I – marched to my own drummer

My music – it had no flair!

I – just wanted to sing praises!

They – just wanted to raise hell!

I walked alone – no companion.

Their group – it just ran pellmell!

I stood alone – by the altar

They were laid out – cold as stone

My heart – oh, how it grieved me

To see – I was still praying alone!

I finally understood the words of my Mam-ma

When she said: “Only walkers together agree!”

I've chosen to walk the “Straight and Narrow!”

No “Broadway to Destruction” for me!

Please heed the call of the Master

Do good, and good will follow thee

Look ahead, never left, all ahead, Friend

Jesus is waiting to crown thee! **BJC**

The Song of Praise today is: Take My Hand, Precious Lord on Gaither Homecoming

Talking to Jesus

Lord, I don't feel like praying

Your voice I do not hear

I have asked, and asked for a blessing

But You really don't seem to care!

My car broke down on the highway

My kitty has gone astray

My pantry is standing quite empty

And the refrigerator has nothing to share

Dear Child,

I know what you need, and provide it

That broken down car spared your life

Your kitty was carrying rabies

And you were eating away your life.

I always answer the prayers of my children

I counted the hairs on their heads

Your trials are for your perfection

And will lead you to eternal life!

Look well at all that befalls you

And know that My hand is there

What was meant to you for evil

In Me will turn out for good!

I called you for My purpose

You say you love your Lord

There is nothing that can take you from Me

For you're covered in My Blood!

Just keep praying to Me, I do hear you

I always answer for your good

Don't worry about the words - just  call on Me

For I saved you by My Blood. **BJC**

I Believe In ME!!

Everybody says, “Child, the Future is Yours!

Victory over No Expectation, if only you believe in yourself!”

Yet, everyday, I see those for whom the future is lost

Long faces, stooped shoulders, vacant eyes

Begging all who see them to extend a helping hand.

Everybody waits, with bated breath,

Imploring me to look up, to seize my moment in the Son

Never letting the Legion of Hope Lost

Mire me in the Lake of Expired Expectations.

I look up,

I seize my moment, and

I ACHIEVE!

Because, I Believe IN me!!

The Song of Praise for Today is: Beautiful Isle of Somewhere by Mother/Daughter Duo Trudi Lalor & Philomena Keyes