A Well-Watered Garden Is Yours

The  Lord will guide you always,

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land,

And will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11 NIV

The Bible tells us the truth about God and what he thinks about us. All you have to do in order for your life to become a well-watered garden is to receive, speak and believe the Word. God makes many promises to us in his Word, and he does not lie. He is a faithful God, one in whose word we can trust. He causes everything dead to live again.

If you will allow him to, he will bring back to glowing life your dead dreams, hopes, abilities, beliefs, possibilities and faith. It is never God's will that you should live in a dead, barren and parched life. He is the life-giver, through his precious Son, who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. 

Watch the sprigs of luscious growth begin to form

as you open to God's way,

receive his word

and believe his promises.

POETRY: About How The Bible Changes Us

Read the Bible everyday, read a variety of scriptures and watch the changes happen.

Subtle Changes

The Word molds.

The Word shapes.

Read the Word,

And you'll never have to try

To be good.

You will evolve,

Into a thing of beauty

Before God.

 

~ SJ Holland ~

Submit Your Christian Poetry To Be Read At A Podcast

J. Todd Underhill is back reading Christian poetry at his SoundCloud podcast Poems of Prayer and Praise. To have your Holy verse considered for reading send it to him at poemsofprayerandpraise@gmail.com

He really has a great voice that he terms euphonious. You won't be disappointed. You'll love hearing him intone your verse and the verse of others as we worship and praise our Lord Jesus Christ and God The Father.

If you are reading this from a feed or email alert, you probably can't see the podcast video player above. To listen to J. Todd's latest poetry reading, click and follow this post to Draw Nigh To Hope. You'll find the SoundCloud player in the post, where you can click the play button and listen.

Poetry: The Paths You Give Me

Dear Lord, your mercy is wonderful,

So everlasting and true.

You fill me with soaring thankfulness

For all that you for me do.

I never want to desert you,

No matter how hard the way.

Your loving arms do surround me.

I seek you every day.

The paths of others do wander.

The paths of others do stray

Away from your loving kindness,

As they would seek their way.

But never again will I do it,

Consider that you don’t care.

I’ll hold to the paths you give me.

Your love will keep me there.

~ SJ Holland ~

Poetry: He Will Turn It Into Good

He Will Turn It Into Good

I heard a man on TV today,
Who spoke about suffering and trials to allay,
The feeling that struggles are really for nothing,
The often unfairness and our life's contorting.

He said if we could not determine a cause,
That we can be certain and give this applause,
That we will come out of it richer inside,
The strength that we get will show on the outside.

Some trials are too heavy, some burdens beyond,
What we think is fair, way too much put upon.
But, there is not anything God cannot use,
To make our lives better, to help us improve.

That does not support that our pain is ordained,
That God must make sorrow for blessings to rain.
He does not need trouble and horror and woe.
He needs not the evil from that pit below.

We live in a world that is set on a course.
The fault is not ours so we feel no remorse.
We know we can't change Satan's evil world reign.
The Blood of Our Savior we use as a bane.

Don't think about quitting or turning on God.
To God be the glory and give him a nod.
He will make it right, this old world has to go,
And all of the pain and the suffering and woe.

So what can't be changed will be taken for you,
And made as a blessing, to help others too.
Just keep holding on and don't dare you forget,
That you will come out of it richer and blessed.

 

~ SJ Holland~

"He Will Turn It Into Good" poem ©Holland Writing & Publishing
Image: Pixabay.com

Poems Of Prayer & Praise Call For Christian Poetry

Submit your Christian poetry for reading by writer J. Todd Underhill at the SoundCloud podcast Poems of Prayer and Praise: poemsofprayerandpraise@gmail.com

Listen sometimes as he shares verse written by various writers, as well as his own poetry. You won't be disappointed, because he has a wonderful reading voice. He reads Christian poetry every Sunday morning and shares a scripture and statements of faith. 

POETRY: Wonderful Words

Wonderful Words

 

I study your Word.

It's lovely to me,

Though sharp, and cutting, and true.

 

It brightens my path,

And straightens it too.

It turns my gray skies to blue. 

 

~ SJHolland ~

POETRY: A Great Day Of Faith

It started with God, and coffee, and me.
Oh, what a day it was slated to be.
So full of faith, abounding with hope.
No reason to wonder, worry or mope.

Fear was the first to be tackled down.
No more fear would be coming 'round.
Worry was next, a quick exit to make.
Hopelessness exited in its wake.

Waiting to fill up my spirit with love,
All for the sake of sweet Jesus above,
God's Holy Spirit gave comfort to me.
Oh, what a day it was slated to be!

~ SJ Holland ~

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Enjoy Each Blessing Fully

Have you ever thought to yourself that if a certain blessing had just come back at the time when you really needed it, it would have been better? Do you sometimes choose to put the use of a blessing on hold until what you feel would be a better time to enjoy it? Ever tried to wait and collect the blessings that you feel go together, before you take pleasure in and use them?

Well, lately I've thought like that, and even often before lately. It seems that many things in my life did not happen when I wanted them to. When I feel that I really wanted and needed some things, the acquiring of them alluded me. They say that God may not come when you want him to, but he's always right on time. I have to say that my years of experience with him has proven that, despite what I may feel at times of sadness and distress.

Though I can't say that I've gotten all that I've wanted, yet, or that all has happened when I most needed it to, God has greatly blessed me in many ways. Those blessings came exactly when they should have, because God makes no mistakes and his plans are always perfect. This is what the Word, the Holy Bible, tells us, and this is what I choose to believe.

So I was standing at the coffeepot, thinking about something or another that I was considering putting on hold, or feeling that I had to wait for something else before I could enjoy it. Then I thought "No! God's blessings don't come to be saved. They don't appear to be stored up. They don't happen to be banked. They happen to be utilized and enjoyed as they manifest." God is not in the storage business. He's in the immediate-use business, the acquire-it-as-you-need-it business, the demand-and-supply business. My new poem then sprang to mind. Allow it to inspire you to live fully each day, draining out each blessing as God sends them your way.

It seems to me that rarely
Do they come along on time.
We want to get one blessing
So another can align.

It seems that life is often
Just a waiting game you see.
We wait for this to happen,
Then we feel that we can be.

But rarely does it happen
That our blessings fall in line,
With what we want to happen
In our fairly finite minds.

For God is of the infinite,
The infinite is Him.
And though we may think otherwise
His plans are not a whim.

His plans are not haphazardly
Patched up to make our lives.
The blessings when they happen
Are on time and God-devised.

Don't try to re-arrange them,
Choosing pleasure in just some.
Enjoy each separate blessing
To the fullest, as they come.

~ SJ Holland ~

Happy Autumn!

Poem: (c)2015 SJ Holland

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Roger Laidig: Finding Purpose and Joy, It's A Journey

Learn how to find purpose and joy in life.

Finding Purpose and Joy: It's A Journey, is an 81-page guidebook written by Purdue adjunct professor and Christian counselor Roger Laidig.  It is written in easy-to-read layman style, and printed in large text. Throughout the volume are simple, strategically-placed line drawings that support the life-changing lessons that Professor Laidig presents.  He outlines his case for the necessity of finding purpose and joy in about 14 short chapters, labeled as "steps". There are many profound points shared in this peacefully-written and quietly motivating book.

Finding Purpose and Joy

One point that Roger discusses is The Four Quadrants Time Management System. This is an effective way to corral our schedules, and he details it on pages 27-32. His explanation on page 34, of victimization, shows just how much insight he has into one of the significant origins of victim mentality, and how it manifests. If you want to get a spiritual handle on your memories of enduring mistreatment, you need to read this revelation. It will help you work with God to obliterate some negative effects of your past. You can believe that the truth always sets us free, one way or another. Professor Laidig has spoken a truth here that hit home for me. There is so much more in this book to help us grow towards healing and fulfillment.

Learn about the "white page" and "black dot" concept in personalities, and how it can help you to value and appreciate others.

In step 4, he explains how holding on to hurt and anger, as a result of mistreatment, causes us to continue to lose twice. I like how he reveals, in Step 5 a different understanding of what really happens when we insist on winning in every encounter that we have with anyone. In step 7, I enjoyed learning about the "white page" concept regarding personalities, and how it relates to the one black dot that can be present. Each time that I picked up this short book, I read something that my spirit quickly absorbed.

In every chapter Professor Laidig reveals at least one pertinent and interesting principle that will help us to find purpose and obtain joy in our lives.  You will find this candidly and insightfully written, self-help book to be easy to comprehend and enjoyable to read. Additionally, you can use it as a workbook by referring to the "Points To Ponder" at the end of each chapter. This makes "Finding Purpose and Joy" a practical book for Christian healing and growth.

Roger Laidig, writer

About his book Roger shares:

Most of us spend the first half of our lives trying to build our lives, grow in our careers, make more money, strive to live in nicer homes, and drive nicer cars.  At the same time as we have children, we want to make sure that they achieve and so we get them involved in many activities so that they can keep up with or do better than their friends.  And yet, something seems to be missing.

If this describes your life at least to some degree, does life seem to feel like somewhat of a 'rat race' filled with anxiety?  Or maybe you're experiencing relationship challenges, your job situation is uncertain, or you’re struggling with debt.  In the depths of your soul are you wondering, "Is this all there is to life?"  If so, there is reason for hope.  Where you are at today is not your destination.  Rather, it's just the first day of the rest of your life.

So as you move forward on your life journey, this book was written with the desire to help you find purpose and joy in your remaining days.  And it can and should be the greatest season of your life.

Learn more about Roger at 

His Website
 
Finding Purpose and Joy: It's A Journey is available, in various versions, at:
 
Amazon

Lulu

Barnes & Noble

Poetry: The Weaver

My life is but a weaving,
between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow,
and I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I, the underside.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver,
In the pattern He has planned.


by Grant Colfax Tullar
______________________________

From Faith, Prayer & Tract League
Grand Rapids, MI

Image from Pixabay.com free images

Poetry: Reasons And Seasons

When your burdens heavy laden

From the cares you find in life,

And you cannot find a reason

For your troubles and your strife,

When it feels you go in circles

And at times you walk in place,

And your tears flow like a river

As they each run down your face,

You must know you're not alone there

In your place of tears and pain,

And the burdens you now carry

Are not carried all in vain.

For there's reasons and there's seasons

To the mysteries in life,

There's sowing and there's growing

Through our happiness and strife.

We're shaped and rearranged

With each burden that we bear,

A hard heart now made softer

One that understands and cares.

And though your pain seems now in vain

On this journey we call life,

Soon you'll look back and you'll realize

There were reasons for your strife.

A lesson learned, a different view,

We're growing all the time,

You need only search within your heart

And a reason you will find.

_______________________________________________________________
Gina Laurin
©38173-D Come Follow Me, New Hope Books, A Salesian Missions Publication

Image: Pixabay Free Images

Poetry: God Be With You

May His Counsels Sweet uphold you,

And His loving arms enfold you,

As you journey on your way.

May His Sheltering Wings protect you,

And His Light Divine direct you,

Turning darkness into day.

May His Potent Peace surround you,

And His Presence linger with you,

As your inner, golden way.

(Author Unknown)

God be with you as you draw nigh to Him, present your body as a living sacrifice, seek first His Kingdom and put on His armor each day. 
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Image Credit: bambe1964

Poetry: High Flight & Touching The Face Of God

The Most Famous Aviation Poem
and A Mantra For Pilots All Over The World

I don't know anyone of a certain age, who watched any PBS TV at all, who doesn't remember this stirring video clip. It was aired as the sign-off of many PBS stations across the US, during the 60-70s. Of course, it gives me chills as it begins, as the music crescendo rises then levels off, and the narrator's deep voice speaks the first few riveting words, Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of earth...

(Note in email for email followers: Included are 2 Youtube Videos that you can view at my blog. They are the main feature of this post. Please don't miss them.)

The poignant thing for me is not only that the pilot thought so much of God's creation that he considered himself to have touched God's face; but because of what I learned about the author of this highly-emotional poem. He was a young Royal Canadian Airforce pilot, of American and British heritage; whose parents were missionaries. After he was assigned to No. 412 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, which was formed at RAF Digby, England, he died in a mid-air collision (Wikipedia). How fortunate that he enclosed such a beautiful poem in a letter to his parents. It has always filled me with exhilarating hopefulness, and continues to bless the world.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee

No 412 squadron, RCAF

Killed 11 December 1941

Magee is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Scopwick in Lincolnshire, England. On his grave are inscribed the first and last lines from his poem High Flight:

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth –
Put out my hand and touched the Face of God. (Wikipedia)"

_____________________________________________________________________
Sources Cited:
Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gillespie_Magee,_Jr.
Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3WueJWlb4
Feenbox Aviation- http://www.feenixx.com/aviation/High_Flight_Poem_Poster.htm
Deltaweb UK- http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/hiflight.htm

Poetry: One Thing You Must Believe

Enjoy your life today.

Thanksgiving is on the way.

They come and go so soon.

Look at the Harvest Moon.

Take a peaceful walk.

To beautiful nature talk.

Holidays come and go.

They come so fast you know.

Find joy in little things.

A little bird that sings.

Wake up! Enjoy today.

Only good things say.

Don't wait another day.

Enjoy your life today.

Holidays come and go.

They come and go you know.

Your joy is not in them.

Or any other whim.

Take pleasure in today.

Though holidays are on the way.

The holiday it will leave.

One thing you must believe.

That joy comes from within.

It's always with you, then.

~ SJ Holland ~

I so look forward to the holidays, don't you? Seems like there's always something that we're waiting on to happen; so that we can be happy and experience joy and pleasure. It's so easy to forget about today when we're so wrapped up in tomorrow. Before we know it, that long-awaited event or holiday has come and gone. And then for a moment, the light seems to have gone out of our lives, and the joy with it.

 

Create things everyday in your life that give you that same kind of joy while you're anticipating an event, while you're waiting on any holiday to arrive. You can, because it does not come from without, but from within.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

(Psalm 51:12, KJV)

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

(Psalm 126:5, KJV)

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  

(Psalm 16:11, KJV)

 ____________________________

Image Credit: tlindenbaum

Scriptures From: Bible Study Tools

Poetry: It Matters To Me About You

My child, I know thy sorrows,

Thine every grief I share;

I know how thou art tested,

And, what is more-I care.

Think not I am indifferent

To what affecteth thee;

Thy weal and woe are matters

Of deep concern to Me.

But, child, I have a purpose

In all that I allow;

I ask thee then to trust Me,

Though all seems dark just now.

How often thou hast asked Me

To purge away thy dross!

But this refining process

Involves for thee-a cross.

There is no other pathway

If thou would'st really be

Conformed unto the image

Of Him Who died for thee.

Thou can'st not be like Jesus

Till self is crucified;

And as a daily process

The cross must be applied.

Just as the skillful gardener

Applies the pruning knife,

E'en so, I too would sever

The worthless from thy life.

I have but one sole object-

That thou should'st fruitful be!

And is it not thy longing

That I much fruit should see?

Then shrink not from the training

I needs must give to thee;

I know just how to make thee

What I would have thee be.

Remember that I love thee!

Think not I am unkind,

When trials come to prove thee,

And joy seems left behind.

'Tis but a little longer

Until I come again;

What now seems so mysterious

Will all be then made plain.

Take courage then; and fear not!

Press forward to the prize,

A crown of life awaits thee,

Glory before thee lies!

 

~ Alice C. Lefroy ~

 

 

Hold on. Don't give up. Tell God.

___________________________________________________________________________
Poem From: The Tract League, Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1390
Image Credit:  bcjordan

Poetry: If We Send No Ships Out None Will Come In

Life without purpose is barren indeed.
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed.
There can't be attainment, unless there's a goal.
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.

If we send no ships out, no ships will come in.
Unless there's a contest nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.

So whatever is wrong with your life today,
You'll find a solution if you kneel down to pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health.
Not just for honor and prestige and wealth.

But pray for a purpose, to make life worth living.
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For great is your pleasure and rich your reward,
When you make you life's purpose
The choice of the Lord.

(Author Unknown or possibly Helen Steiner Rice)

My Encouragement To You

Please send your ship out one more time. The answer to your prayer is around the corner.  If you just don't give up you will experience it. The Lord is working to bring your desire into the physical. Let your net down at the time and in the place at which the Lord tells you. Just do it one more time, according to the Lord's will.  It doesn't matter how many times you've tried before.  Just do it again. Your draught of fishes is within reach. Your ship is on its way. Your kite is getting ready to catch the wind.

Luke 5:4-6

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Image Credit: alwaysmnky

Poetry: Life Is A Miracle Don't Let It Slip Away

Looking up at a Winter sky.

We run across cutesy quotations, verse and poetry everyday.  Often our emailboxes are crammed with positive alerts and good news notes, many that we have subscribed to.

Sometimes our lives can seem overloaded with positive thinking suggestions and admonitions to look up, think upwardly, aspire upwards, be upwardly mobile.  I support and promote all of that.  I am a positive thinker and becoming more so, as I combat cynicism, discouragement and dejection.

I ran across this poem in my bulging quotations file.  I don't even remember from where it came.  There is no credit to who wrote this insight into selflessness.  When I read it, I was inspired by the simple suggestions to be present and positive in our lives.

Life is a miracle

Don't let it slip away,

Open your heart to others

Give of yourself each day.

See the beauty in everyone

Regardless of where they've been,

Some have a difficult journey

And really need a friend.

Share your gifts and talents

Listen with your heart.

Do the things you dream about

But don't have time to start.

Pick a bouquet of flowers

Show someone that you care,

Be gracious and forgiving

Life is never fair.

Hold on to your courage

You may need it down the road,

We all have a cross to bear

It could be a heavy load.

If you practice all these things

No matter where you roam,

You may find both sun and rain

But you'll never feel alone!

(anonymous)

Do the things you dream about but don't have time to start.  Make the time to do the things that you don't have time to do. Make the money to do the things that you can't afford.  Make the effort to do the things that you wish you felt like doing...Understand?

Dear Father: I pray that for each person who reads this post, that you will broaden his scope and widen her horizon. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

___________________________

 

Image Credit: Artsy Craftery Design Studio