My Hope in Christ - by D. Bailey\

My Hope in Christ

By D. Bailey

There was a time when I felt alone

Forsaken at its best

And in this time all hope was gone

My soul could get no rest

Heavy laden, in my journey

I would pretend I did not have a care

But that would not last; the day would come

When this weight I could not bear.

It was these moment in life – the regrets;

The pain; the guilt.  All the loved ones I left behind

The barrier my heart has built

But it was all in vain.  Because these walls they

Could not stand.  

Who knew that God could reach

so low?   Who knew He had a plan?  So, from the valley He

lifts me up and plants my feet back on the ground

 and says, "My son, the time has come – let's turn your life

around."  

Just be patient;  day by day pray for strength;

I'll lead your way.  Sometimes you'll run; sometimes

you'll walk, other times you'll say, "I can't."

But, it's in these times you'll rise with wings; you'll not

grow weary; and you shall not faint!  

So with strength

renewed; day by day and 

Jesus Christ to guide my way

Who still is the hope I thought was gone.  

That assures my soul

I'm not alone.  

He holds the key to life, death, and to much more!

 and carries the power to restore. 

So I'll put my trust in Him alone,

who holds the key to Life, Death , and so much more!  

and carries the

Power to Restore.  

So I'll put my trust in Him alone until the day he

calls me home.  

Then all my pain, my regrets,

 and my guilt He'll clear. 

When  he wipes away my every tear 

and he'll gently hold me in such

a warm embrace that truly defines

 His Love, His Mercy, His Grace; and

He'll whisper, "For  your heart, 

a faith profound, my gift to you-Salvation's

Crown!"   

                                                                               

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord

Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up

with wings like eagles; the shall run and not be weary

and they shall walk and not faint.

__Doug Bailey

Copyright 2011 All rights reserved

 D. Bailey is a guest writer on this blog.  From time to time he will publish his poetry here. 

 All Rights Reserved ® January 2012   

Ruth Clark

Where to Put Granny ... & Who Gets to Decide?

Where to Put Granny ... & Who Gets to Decide?

It's the Journey that Counts: Features - Facebook Send - AddThis

It's the Journey that Counts: Features - Facebook Send - AddThis: Features - Facebook Send - AddThis

Poem by D Bailey_#2

If I've Ever Had A Friend

by Doug Bailey    Copyright 2011-2013

If I"ve ever had a friend

I've had a friend in you, 

Though in my life I can truly say,

"I've only had a few."

People have always let me down

(because that's what people do)

When times have shown blue

But a true Friend's love shines through.

It gently lifts you up 

When things go bad,

Or 

Perhaps when you're just feeling

Sad.

It makes you laugh

When times are great;

This love forgives

When most would hate.

Without you in my life

I don't know 

What I would do.

So,

Thank you, Mom,

Your love shines true!

Poems by D. Bailey as presented to Me

I have in my possession a collection of poems, written from a place I cannot name nor whose location I can divulge.  I do have express, written permission to share them.  I hope you respond to them.  Let them reach down into your heart and soul.  They are written by what used to be a tortured soul, but now one who has found peace.

A Mother's Heart

From a mother's heart

There is none

Like the love she

Shows her son

It's not taken

It's not earned

It's not worn

but

from

a

  Mother's Heart

Love is Born

My Hope for Today

Psalm 27:1
[ A Psalm of David. ] The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1-3 NKJV

I don't know what this day holds, but I intend to let my Lord, My God, the God of my salvation lead. When I take the day back, I trust Him to nudge me back onto the path. This is my prayer for today:

"Lord, I offer myself to you ; to mold me, build me, use me as you want to.
Remove from me my selfishness, that I may better be of use to you and my fellowman.
Take away all stumbling blocks, my difficulties, that I can be a better witness to others of your power, your love, and your way of life. Take them away, every single one. I now give them to you. Grant me strength as I go about my day to do your will, not mine. Show me how I can be helpful to whomever I come into contact with today. In Christ's holy name, I ask these things and to God be the glory."

Bite You Back Potato Soup

Bite You Back Potato Soup

I found this recipe on HubPages.  Haven't tried it yet, but it sounds yummy...except for the HOT.  I'll have to do some tweaking there.

My new friend, By lcbenefield gets all the credit here.

Internet Church

Have you ever been to Internet church?  I attended this morning.  I showered, dressed, and remembered that my daughter's church was without a pastor.  I wanted a sermon.   Rather than search the yellow pages for a church, I turned on the computer.  A name had come to mind.

It's been years since I saw or heard Bishop T.D. Jakes, of The Potter's House.  It was his name that came to mind this morning.  I watched streaming video and was again moved by the anointing that God has bestowed on this man.  He has gotten a little older, but haven't we all?

Back then, I had recorded a VCR tape (remember those?) one Saturday morning and was really moved by the message.  Sunday morning, about two, my phone rang and a friend and co-worker wanted to know if she could come over.  Something in her voice told me to agree.  As soon as she walked in, she began to cry.  I led her to a rocking chair and turned on my T.V.  The VCR was already set up and I put the Bishop's tape in.  She was still crying and I still hadn't said a word.  I didn't know what to say.  All I knew was that she was prone to severe depression.

When Bishop Jakes began to talk she got very still.  For about an hour and a half we sat there, the only sound the soothing voice of Bishop Jakes.  He told her story.  He told her about her life, her pain, her loss, and her hopelessness.  Except, at the end of the tape, he spoke of hope - the hope that Jesus gives to us freely.  The forgiveness that He has already given.  All we need to do is accept His love, His mercy, His forgiveness; just as important, we need to forgive ourselves.  Our hope lies in what Jesus Christ did at Calvary.

When the tape was over, she stood up, dry-eyed.  There was a peace that I'd never seen before in her eyes.  She began to apologize for interrupting my sleep and I stopped her.  "What would you have done if I had said 'no'?" I asked her.

She looked at me for what seemed like a full minute.  "I had decided to end it all.  I thought of you and told myself that if you said I could come talk to you, I would wait."  She entered extensive counseling the next week.  I do not believe in coincidence.

The Potter's House was just a dream back then.  If you click this link  http://www.thepottershouse.org/ you can see where it is today. Bishop Jakes is still preaching about the love of Jesus Christ and our hope for all eternity,

God described as a shepherd and as a host - both descriptions show God's care of man

I woke up this morning between 1:30 and 2:00 A.M.  So, I've been sitting here browsing through the Bible.  I like the website  http://www.esvbible.org.  There are so many resources to go along with reading.  Also, there is audio to listen to while you read along.  I can close my eyes and listen.

I particularly like Psalms 23 http://www.esvbible.org/search/psalms+23/  If you register, you get all manner of resources.  An example would be that God is described in two ways:  as a shepherd watching over his sheep and as a host who cares for a guest.  

¹ "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

       ²He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

       ³ He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness

        for His name's sake.

  ⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

        I shall fear no evil,

For you are with me;

       your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

⁵ You prepare a table before me

        in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

        my cup overflows. 

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

        all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

        forever.  

No Turning Back: Robbins

No Turning Back: Robbins

3:34 P.M
I have had a productive day, although not in the areas I thought I would.  In my rambling around cyber land, I have run across a blog that is absolutely captivating.
It is here  http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com and if you are the least bit "crafty" then please give it a look-see.

I was surfing for a freebie baby bib pattern for Rhesa  and this is where I landed.  With over four thousand followers, she has to be superb.  Anyway, check it out.

By the way, the above is Rhesa.  She needs more bibs.  Awww...isn't she is a little doll?

Good Morning

This is the day that the Lord hath made. I shall rejoice and be glad in it. 

I have been reading Dr Stanley's devotional at http://www.intouch.org/.  I urge you to check out this website.  

Dr Stanley has some real-life, down-to-earth teaching that reaches the masses.  He does not talk in a lofty manner, using $50 words.  His teachings reach down into the heart and bring comfort to the wounded.  If you know someone like that, then direct them to Dr. Stanley.  That's all for now.  I may be back later - or not.  If not, know that I have you in my heart and mind even if I don't know you.  Leave a message and I will get to know you.  Google + this post and send Dr. Stanley's link around the world.  Thanks and God bless. 

The New Year

HAPPY 2012

I am late with my good wishes for the New Year, but they are just as heartfelt as if I'd gotten them to you on time.  Anyway, who's to say, "What's on time?"

I'm glad December is over.  Yes, I celebrate Christmas.  Yes, I believe that is the time of year that we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, the Savior of the world.  Yes, I'm one of those Christians, one of those who are not politically correct.  But, who's to say, "What's politically correct?"  I don't believe in writing xmas.  It gets on my last nerve.  Lots of things get on my last nerve.  Some might say, "She has a lot of nerve(s)" - they would be right on that score. 

I'm just glad it's over.  Too much traffic.  Too much commercialism, too many crowds (and in flu season, no less!)  I'm tired.  I'm trying to be depressed.  I was depressed yesterday, but today I think I may have talked myself out of it.  Such a waste of time is depression.  Being depressed bores me.  I have some books that need reading and I can't enjoy them if I'm depressed.

What is depression?  Anger turned inward?  Sometimes.  I think for me it's just being too tired for too many days in a row.  Traveling, talking to people (some that you don't even like),  sleeping in the wrong bed - that surely did not come out right.  I did get to see family that I needed to see.  That was good.  God allowed me the love of family and friends, laughter, and good food.

I listened to a podcast this morning (the URL escapes me now) of the persecution of Christians in another land.  It used to be that listening to those things and reading about them made me uncomfortable.  I felt guilty for being one of the "haves" and reading about the "have-nots" made me fidget.  God doesn't want us to feel that way.  He simply wants us to be grateful enough to do what we can, where we can, when we can.

That's it for now.  Comment if you want to.  I would like your thoughts.  I am going to try to monetize this blog, if I can figure out how, and it would help if someone read it once in awhile and clicked on a link or two.  Thanks for reading, even if you just skimmed it.  Have a good day.