Living under the wings of the lovingkindness
Of my GOD keeps me expecting the ultimate kindness
As I dole it out in my work for HIM
Even though there are times the treatment I
Receive from other folk makes my
Smile wattage go dim.
But, I don't worry much about that because I know
That, if mercy and kindness I continue to sow,
A fine reaping harvest of both I will grow.©
********
Yesterday, at the doctor's office, I was talking to a young lady and, of course, Covid-19 came up in the conversation. I told her that, as GOD's child, I put my trust in HIM and know in my heart that HE is mindful of me. I told her that all of this stuff with the virus will be handled by HIM in HIS good time and that I am not unduly bothered because HE knows that my heart belongs to HIM and that I depend on HIM. I told her that I have been walking with HIM long enough to know that HE will take care of me, come what may. She agreed wholeheartedly.
I told her that there is a lesson in the virus for all of us. You see, GOD can send one condition and have it teach each of us what we need to learn. Some of us need to learn to trust HIM, no matter what comes up; others may need not to lean on self so much and recognize that HE is GOD. Still, others may need to learn that above HIM, there is no other and that the world does not turn if HE should tell it not to! Now and then, man is made to recognize that no matter how powerful, how much money, how self-made you think you are, etc., it all hinges upon the will of GOD.
I gave her a good pep talk and she seemed very appreciative of it. She noticed the sign on my car when my husband arrived to pick me up and said that she would get one of my books because she loves Christian authors. I thanked her and went on my merry way. I mulled over in my mind a bit that you never know when you will get an opportunity to say a word of praise about GOD. I was glad that I did it and it was not planned either. It just came up and out.
I awoke this morning to the newscaster saying that Oxford is very close to a vaccine for Covid-19! There is a possibility that the vaccine may be ready as early as September! Now, now, now, don't get all excited, just watch the news and see if any mention is made of it. When that part of the newscast was over, I thought to myself, "Only GOD!" And I gave HIM thanks and I thought about the conversation that I had had with the young lady at the doctor's office earlier when I bragged on GOD.
In HIS Own Time
GOD does things when
And how HE wants them done
No matter what say men
And I have learned to trust and
Wait on HIM because HE has shown
Me time and time that HE can.
And if Oxford does indeed turn up a vaccine
The whole world will rejoice
And will thank GOD with a united voice!©
(Based on Isaiah 14:7)
********
As a spiritual Jew, no man and no woman can make me believe that I am not worthy of the salvation of GOD, for "All have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD." That goes for you, too. If you have done or even thought some things that you ought not to have, ask forgiveness, and keep stepping for GOD or start stepping if you have not already done so.
I was reading in Isaiah this morning, and I had to read seven chapters before I could come up with what I thought it was saying and could grasp it well enough to try to present it to you. Four verses grabbed my attention after I had pondered over and tried to find a sub-point to pull out to stand with the main point that jumped out at me, which was the fact that Christ was coming to save GOD's people from their sins.
This morning, I read in Isaiah where
The coming of Christ was foretold
Because GOD's people needed to be
Saved from their sins
And I am so glad that the lovingkindness
Of GOD allowed me to be grafted in.
I, who was not a recipient of the glory
Of GOD, was allowed to become a partaker
Of the glory and salvation of my MAKER
And I, even I, get to tell my part of the story
Of how HE died on the cross
To save me and all others from being lost.©
********
As surely as we try to do the right thing, something or someone will always come along and try to deter us from the job that we are intended to do. It might come in the form of discouragement, heartache, heartbreak, loss of job, etc. It might even be called Covid-19.
But when I read Isaiah 8:10, my hope grew
And my trust sprouted anew
Because disappointing the GOD, WHO, said
That HE would wipe every tear
Should be what I dread and fear
And not some virus from some laboratory
Of some man
Because verse 10 of Isaiah 8 tells me
"That no matter the plan
It will not be allowed to stand
Because I have given my allegiance to GOD
And, HE will be my sanctuary."©
********
So, though I do not know what tomorrow will bring, I do know WHO called me via the Gospel and has carried me through all of my yesterdays to such a degree that I know that HE cares for me and will carry me forth through "tomorrow." Be blessed.
WHO provided me shade from the heat
During those hot, faith-draining days
That life handed me to orchestrate my defeat?
WHO sheltered me from the storm and rain
When life hit me with deluges again and again?
GOD, the MASTER of all creation, did
Above on and in the earth, and because HE did
I owe HIM my everything
And that's why from my lips and pen
You will often hear praises ring.
For I know that if I lived a hundred lifetimes
I could not thank HIM for all of the times
That HE has come to my rescue, sometimes
Even from myself.
While HE is a COMPLEX PUZZLE too
Great to be figured out by man,
I am just thankful to be able to say
That I serve a GOD, WHO can
Do whatever I need HIM to.
I can't tell you all about HIS glory
All I can do is say that HE saved me
And keeps me day by day
As I continue my journey up the narrow way.©
********
I aim to follow YOUR rule and law
Though I be saddled with
Problems of my clayish flaw
Because I know that if
I hold on to and maintain-
Fruits of the righteous
I will attain.©
(Based on Isaiah 3:10)
********
Be blessed.
Walking by faith,
When I see a situation that is troubling, I tend to want to fix it. I guess I am what could be called a word fixer. Isaiah says it best when he refers to my gift as having the right words. See scripture below:
Isaiah 50:4 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
4 The Lord God gives me
the right words
to encourage the weary.
Each morning he awakens me
eager to learn his teaching;
Now, I don't wonder anymore as to why people seek me out to talk to me about their problems or why I feel driven to attempt to say the right words at certain times; why I feel driven to write poems for certain situations in honor of people who have made a great contribution to the church, whether locally, nationally or globally.
Having said that, you now understand why I feel driven to speak about Covid-19 as I did on my Twitter feed today.
I am the way that GOD made me
And I do try to give it my all
So, when I wake up, whether
In the wee hours or no
I write to try to place thoughts
On your heart for you to take
With you, each place that you go.
Yes, I know I have a job that
I have been assigned to do
And I take that job seriously because
One day, reckoning time will come due.
And I want to be able to say that I
Tried hard to leave seeds of light
With brand new sparks
In every heart that I found enshrouded
In the discouragement of the dark.©
********
Usually, one does not punctuate the title of a piece; however, it is permissible if it is needed for clarification or emphasis. I have heard often enough in my life the scripture that says, "Let everything that hath breath, praise the LORD." When I was a child, it used to tax my mental faculties sore as I tried to figure out how anything other than a human being could do that. I mean, the lower animals have breath, but they can't praise HIM because they can't talk, right? I just figured it was a way of making sure that all human beings knew that it was imperative that we praise GOD. That was the way I reasoned it out in my head and never thought much about it until my trip through Psalms this time around.
Then I read the last three chapters of Psalms today, and my mind was agog. You might say, "Well, Alma, it does not take much to put your mind agog," and you would be right. But when I explain what had me agog this morning from my reading, your mind will be agog, too.
Here is the text that had me agog:
Psalm 148 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.
148 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also established them forever and ever;
He has made a decree which will not pass away. (O-o-oka-ay...?)7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
Sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven. (Wow! Yes, this scripture threw me beyond my childhood memories of wondering about the animals and whether or not they could praise!)
I mean, there are some things that most everybody knows and accepts, right? Uhm hmm, well you can see my astonishment when thinking about the things listed below being able to praise the LORD:
That is a list of what astonished me about praise from the heavens. Now here is my list that astonished me about things on the earth in reference to praising GOD:
Now, I know why I was led to pen the book, W.O.W. created w.o.w. The WORKER OF WONDERS created a woman of work.)
And I will remember as long as I can formulate coherent thought that, as HIS creation, we are to offer the LORD praise. I mean, if a mountain that does not live, as far as I know, can offer praise, then we as the talking part of HIS creation better take note and do what we have been told repeatedly in the book of Psalms, "Praise the LORD." And let's not forget the thanksgiving.
My mind is still agog thinking about a hill being able to speak and so forth. HIS glory is above heaven and earth. WOW! Be blessed.
Because of what through
The Scriptures I see
I think, "Oh, what manner of
Praising people we ought to be.
For, how can a mountain, a hill, a tree, etc.
Praise the LORD for HIS work
Pray tell me how these things can be?
Yet, it is commanded, so it must be so
It's just too deep a thing for me to know
And neither can I understand how a star
The sun and the moon can praise
But they offer their praise, too
And that goes back to my first thought
Concerning the amount of praise that
You and I should do.
Praise to YOU, LORD, for YOU do all things well
And that is why I allow praises from my lips to swell!©
********
Well, I am close to finishing up my stroll through Psalms, and I must say that I enjoyed my walk this time around more than in years past. I think the difference is that I took the time to make it palatable to you, and that made me put it into a strolling down the garden path format. Whatever the reason, it was enjoyable, and I hope that our time in it has blessed you in your life's walk. Tomorrow will be my last work from my stroll through Psalms for a while.
I may do Isaiah, Romans, or Hebrews next; however, I am open to doing whichever book you might be interested in my tackling. If you have a preference, let me know via this blog, and I will attempt it. At any rate, I appreciate the courtesy of your readership and hope that my thoughts generate productive thoughts in your heart as we make our trek toward eternity in preparation for the day of judgment.
Here is a poem inspired by Psalm 146:5 and Psalm 147:11 & 18. Enjoy!
To the great GOD, WHO causes the winds to blow
And WHO causes the waters to flow
I feel YOU in the gentlest breeze
That ripples across the grain
And I see YOUR power to imbed
A straw in the trunk of a tree
And inspire awe in me.
I see YOUR hand in the tiniest trickle of water that flows
And I see YOU in the thundering waterfall
That is quietening and awe-inspiring for us all.
And I am further inspired and reassured when
I read verses like Psalm 147:11 that have
YOUR lovingkindness nestled within
So, Thank YOU for being my HOPE and my HELP
WHO guards my way and orders my steps.©
********
My Momma told me
And now I have my own story to tell
About how the GOD of my Momma and
Her generation does all things well
Because HE has allowed me an intimate
Relationship with HIM
And I can tell the world that HIS
Lovingkindness will envelop and sustain you
When the wattage of your faith begins to dim.©
********
When I awoke this morning, a song that I rarely, if ever, sing was blasting in my head. The name of the song is, "Standing on the Promises." So, in a puzzled state with that song playing in my head, I went on to get my Bible to begin my stroll through my two chapters of Psalm for the day.
Have mercy, Y'all, I got goosebumps again this morning when I read verse 8 of Psalm 143. Below is how that verse reads:
Psalm 143:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (The underlining is not a part of this verse, I just did it to emphasize the part of the verse that gave me goosbumps.)
So, you can imagine the almost astounded state I was in when I read six verses down, Psalm 144:2.
Psalm 144:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
This verse set my soul on fire because I had been awakened with an inspirational song about GOD's promises and HIS lovingkindness. I felt like I had wings on my feet, and like my smile could light up a dark room! Y'all, joy pulsated through my veins with every beat of my heart as I thought about This GOD of mine, This GOD of my Momma's faith, and This GOD of my Grandaddy's faith!
Somebody might be asking, "So, you woke up to a song; what's the big deal about that?!" Well, to you, I say that the coincidence of the song and the verses grabbed my attention. We have already established the fact that there are no coincidences in life and to awake to a song reminding me that I could stand on the promises of the GOD that carried my Momma (preacher's daughter), and my Grandaddy was enough to grab my attention and hold it fast. I can tell you this; when you are in the grips of a moment of enlightenment, that grip will last until you finish reading whatever Bible passage that began it.
So, I continued my reading, but I read three chapters instead of my usual two. Why? Well, the reading was getting so good to me that I wondered what moments of enlightenment might jump out of the scripture next. I don't know; I guess that I was supposed to read the next chapter. And when I did and found the scripture about one generation telling the next and the next about the works of the LORD and about HIS lovingkindness, my joy and amazement were complete for this moment.
You see, that word lovingkindness just wraps me up like a fluffy well-fed kitten. I mean, I just like the word, the sound of it and all that it entails, and when that word is spoken of with regards to the CREATOR of this world, my ROCK, my soul gets excited. I know that "Every good and perfect gift comes from GOD," so one tailormade for me has to be something else and is to be treasured! How sweet and how lovingly kind it was to be awakened by the angels of the GOD of my Momma and my Grandaddy. Here's the gist:
Yes, and since HIS angels walk the land, HE sent me a reminder of this fact.
I tell you, folks, I will be on winged feet the rest of the day
Because GOD sent me a morning wake-up care package
That drove cares, problems, and concerns away.
I can hear HIM say in Isaiah 54:15, (paraphrasing)
Problems may come, but not by MY hand
And for your sake, they will not be allowed to stand.
My soul has sprouted wings of joy and
I have added a bit of my story
To my family's generational history about
The GOD I serve and HIS glory!©
********
And so, I will close with this thought:
Psalm 144:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!Psalm 145:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
I am blessed because my Momma's GOD is my LORD
And I will bless HIS name each day that I live
Because HE knows and loves my frame so well
That HE can send the right wake-up call to
Cause my heart with joy and hope to swell!©
********
This is what my Momma's Daddy told her and subsequently, what she told me:
Psalm 145:4-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious [a]splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 Men shall speak of the [b]power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They shall [c]eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
I had a problem that I found out about late last night, and it was heavy on my heart. And Y'all know that sometimes when you fall asleep with a problem on your mind, it will pop to the forefront when you awake in the morning. Well, my problem did the same. So, as is my custom, I went for my walk in Psalms. The one for today was Psalm 142. And guess what I found when I opened my Bible to read? Yes, I found my garden path scented with the aroma of answered prayer! My soul marveled, and I rejoiced as I devoured the scripture. And when I finished the reading, this blog post was born, poem included.
There are some times in life
When we can be brought very low
But, I wanted to remind everybody
That, as HIS children, we have
An advocate against the foe
For, we know where to go.
Sometimes our enemies feel like
They can do us wrong
And that, since we are powerless
We can do nothing about it because
We are weak, and they are strong.
But, daughter of a preacher's daughter that I am
I don't allow my soul to be riddled with doubt
I, instead, turn it all over to Jesus
And watch HIM take impossible situations
Smooth them over and work them out.
You see, the world likes to make us feel helpless and small
But I know a MANGOD, WHO answers my call
And has been doing it for so many years
That I don't hesitate at all
Like a charter member of Hebrew 11's hall of fame of faith
I, with confidence, state my case and watch
As my COMFORTER eradicates my problems
And, one by one, let's me see them fall.
During these trying times, always remember that
If you are GOD's child, you have an advocate
With the FATHER, WHO sits on Heaven's throne
And I'd like to think that this problem arose in my life
So that I could remind you of the benefits
Of prayer, especially during these times of strife.
(Based on Hebrews 11 & Hebrews 8:1-6)
We have talked about coincidence a little bit, haven't we on several others of my blog posts? Well, if this particular problem had not arisen in my life, I would not have made the application to prayer in such a poignant manner as I did this morning. If this blog post answered a need in you, understand that according to the providence of GOD, you have received an answer to your prayer and a confirmation that GOD is aware of your situation and is working the matter out for your good.
Whatever
Whenever
Wherever
However
I Will Remember that My Beginning, Before I Was Formed, Was Written In GOD's Plan Book and Folks, I step on!
I can step past whatever, whenever, wherever, however, and whomever because I travel the road called ultimately. That means that
And do you know why? Of course, you don't; I mean, you might know why you step, but you don't know why I step. So, I am going to tell you.
When I opened my eyes this morning, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Trust in the LORD." So, as is my custom, I went to get my Bible to continue my walk through Psalms. You know that yesterday, I cited Psalm 138, verse 8, which says:
Psalm 138:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Now, let me show you the beauty of the LORD's working in my life. If you have been keeping up with my blog, then you know that, here lately, I have started a couple of sessions with the words, "I wonder..." Uhm, hmm, well, I had been wondering about something very strongly and about how I could get my message into certain boardrooms in a more powerful way. Yes, I always use the avenue of prayer, and for a while, it seemed to be working, but then... Well, you know how life goes; something goes awry, and things go back to square one or, seem to get worse.
BUT, oh no, not this time! Before I could get to my Bible reading this morning, here is what happened. Let me show you the beauty of things when GOD's angels walk the land. Y'all are going to love this! As I said above, I had been wrestling with how to make an even more impactful statement than I had already sent up in my prayers, and was vexed that the progress seemed to stop. Ha, I need not have worried because I heard one of the most powerful men on the planet speaking my words from his mouth as if I had written the script for him! I did a doubletake, and just stared open-mouthed at the television while he ran down through my train of thought, even putting anger and voice inflections where I had in my diatribe with myself!!
Somebody just said, "Say what?!" Yep, you heard me correctly. That is what happened. So, with that, I went on to read my Bible and take my walk through Psalms, all the while, puzzling over the coincidence of hearing my words (voice inflections included) coming from somebody else's mouth on the television screen. Then I opened to Psalm 139 and got goosebumps. I mean, this was a scripture that I knew well, in fact, had included in my book, From the Tallest Mountain in My World.
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
From reading my Bible, I realize that all positives and negatives in my life mean that JESUS, in HIS infinite wisdom and care, strategically weaves the pattern of my life so that all things fall according to HIS plan. And I am moved to tell HIM, "Thank YOU, great LORD, for YOUR love and care, and I will remember this fact as I continue to step on."
Forward I Go
Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 139 have let me know
That You have already made plans
For me and armed with that
Knowledge, it is forward that I go.
I see in nature when I look around
That you never leave situations to chance
For Your meticulous preparation
Can be seen throughout all creation
You plan things down to minute details
And because of that fact, I get assurance
And armed with the knowledge of Your love
It is on down the row that I go.
When I think about the fact that Your
Omnipotent hands fashioned me in my work
In the way that You wanted me to chop my row
I get renewed vigor and tenacity
No matter what is thrown at me by my foe
And it is with relish that I tell the world
My God loves you and me and this is a
Fact that I know
For knowing that I am a part of His eternal plan
I chop the weeds that are on my row
Whether they are tall or high
It is with determined tenacity
That I, with my eyes on my Father work my row
As toward the eternal city, I go.©
(excerpt from Chopping My Row by Alma L. Jones)
********
Never forget that you are still in GOD's hands...
Psalm 138 tells me that whatever is concerning to me, GOD will handle it. So, I walked with HIM through another day, and I bow to say Thank YOU.
FATHER, DEVINE
Thank YOU for the joys that are mine
That includes the complex and the simple
From wondering about the
"Washing of a rainbow's knee"
To the sweet smile of a baby
When he googles at me
But, most of all, Thank You for THEE.©
There are times when so much
Good fortune on you befalls
That you wonder what you have
Done to deserve it all
Only to realize that it was
Planned for you
After all.©
(Based on Psalm 136)
There are 26 verses in Psalm 136, and you know what I discovered about each of the verses? They all end with these words:
"For HIS lovingkindness is everlasting."
Now, while I know that this Psalm was written in reference to the nation of Isreal, I can make it apply to me as well. How? Easily, I am spiritual Israel. And I know that the lovingkindness that GOD displayed for Israel is extended to me, too.
So, when folk hate on me because
I do certain things for HIM, I just
Keep working right along
And when I can, singing my song
Because I know that the GOD that
I depend on will justify my faith in HIM
By displaying HIS love for me with flair!
Haters didn't stop David, and they won't stop me
As a matter of fact, I will keep working
Until I cross the threshold of eternity.
So, keep going folks, and you will see
That though some people ride your coattails
Right up to the gates of eternity
Your destination will be worth it
Just you wait and see!©
********
When I see JESUS, it won't matter
How many tears I have had to cry
Because HE promised to wipe
Every tear from my eye.
The skipping joy and pollyannaish joy
That, down here, I displayed
Will be exhibited as I walk on streets
That are, with gold, laid.
And when, with a tremulous grin,
I see JESUS, I'll say, "I finished the work
That YOU gave me to do
Though the world made me cry
And made it hard to be true to YOU
So, Thank YOU for helping me make it through."©
********
The Valley Wide
As I look across the valley gaping wide
I have no fear because JESUS walks by my side
And I wanted to tell you, America
That no matter what the valley throws
At you and me
We will be okay because we are shepherded
By the PRINCE of eternity
For, sometimes, it takes abject adversity
To make us see
The love of JESUS in its complex simplicity.
And make no mistake about it
New writers, poets, and storytellers from
This virus will be born
So that future generations will be
Comforted on their sojourn.©
********
I Love YOU, LORD GOD
MAKER AND SAVIOR of man
Lifting my voice this Wednesday morning to say
I trust YOU and depend on YOU
Because YOU are my HOPE and STAY.
Psalm 131:3
Psalm 130:5-6
********
Never let circumstances or men determine the boundaries of your faith. And always work through today while looking toward tomorrow.
I awoke this morning and gave thanks for another day
I thought about life from my Momma's viewpoint
And wondered what she would have to say
About the present condition of our land
And I can hear her say, "Baby, you just keep
Holding on to GOD's unchanging hand
And I promise you that at the end of the day
You will be able to stand, still."
That was my Momma's way of saying:
"Keep the faith, child, 'cause GOD will."
So, I find myself in the midst of the valley wide
But, I remember the teaching of my Momma and
How GOD took care of me, sheltered me and
Gave me favor when, as a little girl, I cried.
And though I do not understand life's course
I know enough to maintain my faith in
And keep my grip on my POWER SOURCE
Because one of these days, skirmishes will be over
And I will walk in the sun-washed meadow
With my feet nestled in clover
Because HE will have brought me through the valley wide
And allowed me to walk in victory on the other side.©
(Based on Psalm 129:1-2.)
*******
Sometimes, the race you are running
Seems to be all uphill
And sometimes, the going can be so arduous
That you grind to a halt and say
"I won't; I won't; I won't!"
Only to be firmly shown
"Oh, but you will."
Now, Y'all know that my husband is a preacher
Who has been preaching some 40 years
And, as his wife, I have had to shed
Quite a few tears.
But, I learned early on that
Because of the position he was in
People would look at me as an available
Jab cushion and whenever he said or did
Something that made them mad, they would
Give the old pincushion a jab, as if to say,
"Take that, and no use complaining about it
For I am not a fool because I hid
The deed behind a smile, anyway."
Now before he became a preacher
I could hold my own
And I didn't take much from anybody
After I got grown.
But, all that changed when he
Became a preacher man
For I had to learn the meaning of
"I can't, but GOD can."
I couldn't change their hearts about
Whatever unreasonable thing they were about
So, I used prayer and watched GOD work things out.
Sometimes, it only took a modicum of effort
For folk to see another's point of view
And sometimes, it took so much that
I shuddered at what the LORD put some folks through
And still, at other times, the aggressor seemed to win
And all I could do was bow my head, humble my spirit
And, in tears, walk away with chagrin
To their smirks, whisperings, and titters as
My spirit was rekindled to continue
To work toward my journey's end.
But through all of my years as a preacher's wife
I learned to lean on GOD and that there were
Some things that I could only say to HIM
Because choosing the health of the church
Was to choose the greater good!
For at those times I thought to myself
"When GOD looks at this situation, what will HE see?"
And I decided within myself, "Well, when whipping
"When GOD looks at this situation, what will HE see?"
And I decided within myself, "Well, when whipping
Time comes, I am going to conduct myself so that
HE does not have to include me."©
For the greater good
Each of us gives of ourselves
To get things to turn out as they should.©
********
Joy is mine
In the time of trials
Or sorrow and woe
Because I have a SAVIOR
WHO got up one day, you know.
Visited by sorrow
Sickness or pain
But, because HE got up
I shall have joy again.
HIS love for me brought
HIM down from glory
So that He could rewrite the
End of my story.
And while this life, at times, may
Bring me sickness and grief
I know that this is temporary
Because I'm going home one day.
And when I reach up
Into my arsenal of faith
I can don my mantle of joy
That this world cannot understand
And I can strut my stuff
As I prate about my GOD
WHO loves me from on high
And is preparing for me a
Home in the sky.
HE loved me so much that HE
Got up when HE conquered death
And told me that HE would
Come back to get me before HE left.
So, I can walk among chaos
And what have you
But nothing can take the anticipatory joy
That reigns in my soul with the
Knowledge of my GOD's love
And I know what it is to
Have hope that the world cannot take away
Because HE got up and HE's coming
Back for me one day!
And whenever hopelessness tries to assail me
I remember that the GOD WHO got up
Reigns in victory
Moved Heaven and earth because He loved me
Walked down through the cosmos
Spoke to winds, shut up the sea
Walked on water, etc. all because
HE said HE would meet me in Gallilee!
My hope remains in the LORD! And if you shake me until my head flops like a ragdoll, I'll still be mewling to my GOD. And when HE decides that enough is enough, I would hate to follow in the footsteps that some men have trod, for, after all, GOD is GOD!
