Broken Windows

I look beyond the window
Of the house wherein I dwell.
I long to dance upon the moss,
Drink water from the well,
Engage in conversation
With the children playing there.
But my longing turns to tears
As I breathe this stuffy air.
This room with four square corners
That I know is not my call.
Why must I then be stuck here
While outside Autumn falls?
With all that is within my heart,
I want to self-combust.
I raise my fist to break that pane.
One whispered syllable: "Trust."
Angrily, I shake my fist
"But now, NOW is my time!"
And out of frustration
I sit to pout and whine.
But the still, small voice just waits
For me to settle down.
Then speaks in tones so gentle,
"I'm not trying to keep you bound.
I don't want you to bust the window,
But that doesn't mean You're doomed.
I only want to protect You.
Broken windows badly wound.
I'll open it up in my timing;
Child, soon you will fly free
And do those things I made you for,
But for now, please trust in Me.
I can't tell you what I'm planning;
It must be a surprise.
But when I do it that sight out the window
Will be too glorious for your eyes."
I look beyond the window
Of the house wherein I dwell
And the excitement builds within me.
As I know this: All is well.


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To read the Oregon Journey blog post that corresponds with this poem, go HERE.

He Was There

The future looms ahead of me
I wonder what I'll find
Until I hear a still, small voice
That prompts me, "Look behind."

I look and see the valley low
From which I shortly came.
Its grasses and its rivers say,
"He was always the same."

Behind the valley lies the sand
The desert, hot and dry.
Upon its cactus written:
"I hear before you cry."

The little hills beyond them lie
Mounts of joyous song.
Their gentle slopes so sweetly call,
"In weakness, He is strong."

The murky swamp, the forests dim,
With quicksand, paths unsure.
The frogs and snakes now chirp and croak
"With Christ, you were secure!"

The open grassy flatland
Where lions stalked their prey.
Those lions now roar peacefully;
God shut their mouths that day.

The lake of hope, love's waterfall,
The stream of grace, so free.
All gently tell me of His Words:
"I'll always walk with Thee."

The mountains on horizon's past
Against a sky of blue
Remind me of His faithfulness
For He was ever true.

I turn again to look ahead
To empty, steep inclines.
Dark thunderclouds may loom above,
But I will start to climb.

I'll keep my eyes upon the peaks
And cast on Him my care.
For one day soon as I look back
They'll whisper, "He was there."

I am a Flower Bulb

I am a flower bulb
Awaiting lovely Spring.
Sometimes I want to rush ahead
To see what this may bring.
And yet if I rush ahead
When I think I feel the sun
And bloom. I’ll die
When winter frost doth come.
And so I wait, enjoying
The season that I’m in.
For winter’s season like others
Will come to an end.
I will bloom a flower –
My Creator’s plan.
Yet, how I bloom and when I bloom
And where is in His hand.



Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 1, 2008
All rights reserved.

Happy Day, Joyous Way!

As I walk in His way
All my heart rejoices
I sing praise to His name
Joining heav’nly voices.
I am His, He is mine,
Wondrous love is this!
Since my heart has been redeemed
He my substitute is.
Chorus

Chorus
Happy day! Joyous Way!
Walking with my Savior.
In His love, eyes above
Living in His favor.
Sins erased by His grace
Now I seek His face
Thus I live, my heart rejoicing
To His praise.

Once I walked in the path,
Road of sin and sorrow.
But that changed, now I have
Hope for all tomorrows.
He has giv’n, peace and heav’n,
Bought by His own life.
Now I rejoice in His love
Tell others of my Christ.
Chorus

Based on Psalm 68:3-4
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, February 20, 2008
All rights reserved.
Opt. Tune: Wonderful, Wonderful

He Worketh All Things Well

He worketh all things well,
O promise rich and sweet!
To sit and wait and rest and trust
While sitting at His feet.
He worketh all things well
His perfect ways are best!
O Jesus come and draw me near
Where nothing can molest!

He worketh all things well
His promise I believe.
So I with a surrendered heart
With joy each day receive.
I trust in His strong arm
TO guide me, and His voice
Shall comfort me in daily trials
Yea, I shall still rejoice!

He worketh all things well
Yea in His blessed time
He worketh still His wonders
“The glory, Lord is thine!
Thou art the God of all the earth
Nature alone doth tell.
And this shall be my witness:
“Thou worketh all things well!”

Copyright Miriam Rainwater, March 29, 2006
All rights reserved.

May I, O Lord

May I walk Thy perfect ways
This my prayer, O Lord, to Thee.
Always giving Thee the praise
Free of self and sin and “me.”

May I learn Thy perfect life
More like Jesus would I be.
That my life show Jesus Christ
And His work on Calvary!

May I know Thy perfect will
And submit my will to Thine.
May I grow like Jesus still
In my heart and will and mind.

May I love Thy perfect laws.
May I obey until the end.
A heart inclined unto Thee, cause
My heart to be; cleanse from sin.

May I trust Thy perfect plans
As I listen for Thy voice.
My all I give unto Thy hands
And in Thy perfect love rejoice!



From Psalm 101:6
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, March 23, 2006
All rights reserved.

He Knoweth the Way

H e knoweth the way that I cannot see
How rich are the ways of the Lord!
How full is His grace and His mercy;
How bounteous His blessings outpoured!

Chorus:
He knows! He knows!
He knoweth the way that I take!
He knows! He knows!
He knoweth the way that I take!

He knoweth the way through the waters,
His blessings abound unto men.
His promise, “For I will be with thee”
His love hath the victr’y o’er sin!

He knoweth the way when the shadows
Hide thee from His shining pure light.
He sendeth a guide for to help thee,
Hosanna! Thy home is in sight!

He knoweth the way through the sunshine
He lovingly walketh beside.
He knoweth that when He hath warmed thee,
His gold, thou shalt come forth refined!


Copyright Miriam Rainwater, May 19, 2005

All rights reserved.

Opt. tune: Redeemed
From Job 23:10

God Has Ways

God has ways beyond our knowing,
Each is in His perfect plan.
Through the shadows and the sunshine,
He will guide me with His hand.

Chorus:
God has ways beyond our knowing,
Yet my Lord is faithful, true.
Nothing comes across my pathway
But the Lord hath thought it through.

God has ways beyond our knowing,
O, for grace to trust Him more!
We can never understand the
Whole of what He has in store.

Copyright Miriam Rainwater, February 14, 2005

All rights reserved.