Because of You

Because of You

My body aches from weariness,
My heart has lost its song.
I fall in bed upon my face
And think, “The day’s been long.”
I feel alone within the world
Until I feel your hand.
You lift my tear-stained face to yours;
I know you understand.

And because of you
I see the rainbow through the rain,
The star in darkened sky,
The word in scrambled letters,
The breath within each sigh,
The light inside each lightening strike,
The water in each wave,
The peak of ev’ry mountain climb,
The hope to still be brave.

My bones are broken by the pain
For words hurt more than claimed.
Yet, even in this brokenness,
Within your arms I find full rest.

And because of you
I see the rainbow through the rain,
The star in darkened sky,
The word in scrambled letters,
The breath within each sigh,
The light inside each lightening strike,
The water in each wave,
The peak of ev’ry mountain climb,
The hope to still be brave.

And in the hope of your embrace
My heart has found its song.
I rise to see a brand new day.
Your strength has made me strong.
I’m not alone within the world
For still you clasp my hand
You set upon my face your smile;
I know you understand.

College--Robber!

Crazy tests,
Too much stress
Pop culture questions galore,
Awful math,
Difficult path,
Essays and projects and more.
College--
Robber
Oh what you are taking from me!
Indeed.

Ms. Snow said
It was an exchange
Yet why must I find
Molarity's range?
Exchange?
Rearrange.
Change.

Blissful the past;
Security clasped.

Tears,
Fears
Troubling years:
College--
Robber.
For this you are taking from me:
Sanity.

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."

What is Man to You?

Man.
O Lord,
So small
To You.
What
Is he compared to the heavens?
And the moon and the stars to You?
And yet,
You sent
Your son
To walk
This earth
And know
The life
Of man
To live
To die
To rise
To gain
For me?
Unto Your name be glory forevermore.
Amen.

One of the Ten

for John-Mark, whose testimony inspired me

Sodom and Gomorrah were under attack
To the Lord Abraham cried,
"If you find ten men in the wickedness
Will you save the city alive?"

The Lord answered back, "I will" and yet,
Not ten of the righteous were found.
No one was living for Jehovah's name
So the city burned to the ground.

My countryland is under attack
For sin and pride abound.
But here, as in Sodom, the Lord's eyes search
To see if the righteous be found.

The Lord calls, "Be of good courage and strength
And boldly for me take a stand.
For if there are people that live by my Word
Then I will heal your land."

I struggle to put away my pride--
The "what will they think of me?"
My own desires of flesh I lay
At the foot of Calvary

And say to the Lord, "You, I obey.
I'll stand for the truth of Your word.
I'll give You all and take Your hope
To those who've never heard."

My countryland is under attack
For many laugh at sin.
But I've made my choice; what will you do?
Will you be one of the ten?

He is Yet Alive!

He is Yet Alive!

May 11, 2008

Within a shadowed corner myst’ry lay

As ruffled folds of fabric laid therein.

What happened on the morning of that day?

Where was the body of the dead within?

I sighed and stared into the darkened room.

Who could’ve done this evil to my friend?

Why had they thus removed Him from His tomb?

Why had they killed Him? He had done no sin.

I thought back of Him and His love for me,

His perfect heart, His grace beyond compare,

His death upon the cross of Calvary,

And now this myst’ry – Jesus wasn’t here.

Behind me then a gentle voice did chide:

“Why fear ye? Joy! for I am yet alive!”

I Serve the One Whose Flag I Bear

I Serve the One Whose Flag I Bear

May 10, 2008

I serve the One whose flag I bear

The King of Hosts is He.

Though some would have me fear, despair,

My Lord shall stand by me.

He giveth me the strength to stand

Yea, even more to fight.

Thou Lust be on my left hand

And Pride be on my right.

I serve the One whose flag I hold,

My Captain – He will win.

And He will cause my soul be bold

To triumph over sin.

Though Satan and His host defy

The power of His name.

Still I will unto Jesus cry,

Yea, He who overcame.

I serve the One whose flag I raise

While pressing farther on.

Through danger, trouble, toilsome ways

Here by His grace I’ve come.

Yea, thus as I still breathe and live

And serve and shout and sing,

May Jesus wear the crown. I give

All glory to my King!

Here I Am, Discouraged

Here I Am, Discouraged

May 2, 2008

Lord,

Here I am, discouraged;

I need Your Strength and Song.

When things don’t seem to work out

Lord keep my faith still strong.

So here I am, I’m Yours,

May I Your channel be

And tomorrow may each one I meet

Leave impacted for Thee.

Use me, Lord.

Amen.

He Drawest Near

He Drawest Near

Based on Lam. 3:57

April 23, 2008

~For the Davis Family~

Thou drawest near me in the day

When trouble seeks to steal

My joy. By Thee compassed about

Thy presence strong I feel.

Thou sayst to me: "Fear thou not;

I am beside to give

My strength, My hope, My song, My grace,

As ye by My WORD live.

I will do great things for thee -

Perfect is My plan.

I will draw near thee in the day

And hold thee in My hand."

Thou Hast Redeemed My Life

Thou Hast Redeemed My Life

Based on Lam. 22, 2008

April 22, 2008

Thou hast redeemed my life

Lord, how I praise Thy name!

Thou savest me from death’s despair

And from hell’s flame.

Chorus:

Thou hast redeemed my heart, my soul,

Thus I yield all I have and am to Thy control.

Thou hast redeemed my life

From dungeons low and dark

Thou hast given strength to run

Unto the mark.

Chorus

Thou hast redeemed my life

I cry; Thou drawest near.

In this I hear Thee call me

“Child, do not fear.”

Chorus

Thou hast redeemed my life

Though Satan yieldeth not.

Thou givest grace to me to fight.

Thee I have sought.

Chorus

Thou hast redeemed my life

And heard my breath, my voice.

In Thee my Savior and my God

I do rejoice!

Chorus

Opt. Tune: My Hope is in the Lord

Thou Hast Given Me Counsel

Thou Hast Given Me Counsel

Based on Psalm 16:7

April 16, 2008

Thou hast given me counsel

In the night,

In the storm,

In the fight.

In the day,

In the sun,

In the peace.

Thou the One

Who giveth counsel,

Perfect, wise.

Thou seeest all

With knowing eyes.

I put my trust

In Thee and ask:

“Lord, give me counsel;

Know my path!”

Alone in a Different Sense

Alone.
The word doth echo strong
The lie, the Devil’s favorite song.
The only one.
I’m near despair
Doth someone care?
Alone
One bitter tear doth fall.
Alone
My lonely voice doth call.
But hark!
What is that voice I hear?
“Child, I am ever near.”
Rejoice!
My soul doth sing and shout
I am compassed about
By Thee.
O Savoir, Thou art mine
And all of me is Thine:
Heart and soul and mind.
I’m Yours;
I seek Thy will to do
O Lord, I’ll live for You
Alone.

Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 15, 2008
All rights reserved.

In Six Days

In six days the world was made
From previously void
Expanse, the earth, by God arrayed
Was by our Lord enjoyed.
On day one our Creator spoke
And said: “Let there be light.
Then brightness dark’s chains it broke
Creating day and night.
Waters separated on day two
Our Lord thought it was good.
But God in heaven wasn’t through
So day three dry land stood
Out of the waters. Grass did grow,
Each herb and ev’ry tree
With fruit to yield and seeds to sow
After their kind plentifully.
On day four the stars were seen
Along with sun and moon.
Day five brought some living things –
Birds were flying soon.
Fish were swimming in the sea.
On day six the sheep, the boar,
The lion, snake, and ram.
These all were good; but something more.
Something in God’s image: a man.
On day seven God looked back
Over the sea and the land.
And saw that nothing His plan lacked
For perfect was His plan.



Based on Genesis 1
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 14, 2008
All rights reserved.

My Mind I Yield to You

O Lord, my mind I yield to You
Your bidding to obey.
May I take captive ev’ry thought
That seeks to go astray.
May lingering thoughts be thoughts of You
And not of falsehoods, sin.
That I replace each wayward thought
With truth, this war to win.
O Lord, from sinful thoughts I flee
And lift my voice in praise.
I will renew my heart and mind
While seeking, Lord, Your face.

Based on II Corinthians 10:3-5
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 13, 2008
All rights reserved.

I Will Guide Thee with Mine Eye

In times of struggle, deep distress
I – Your Everlasting Rest.
The death arrows shall not come nigh –
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

In times of hurt, stinging pain
Your bleeding heart I will sustain.
I count each tear that you may cry –
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

In times of questions, decisions knock.
I – Your Everlasting Rock.
When you wonder “when?” or “why?” –
I will guide thee with Mine eye.


Based on Psalm 32:8
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 12, 2008
All rights reserved.

Thou art my Rest

Thou art my rest, within Thee I hide
I will trust Thee to lead me and guide.
Thou knowest me – how wonderfully grand
To know that Thou holdest me in Thy strong hand;
No person can sever me from Thy great love.
This is my rest: my Father above.

Based on Psalm 132:14
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 11, 2008
All rights reserved.

Alas for the Day

Alas for the day!
The day of the Lord
The coming day is at hand
Christians speak.
In one accord
And warn your home and land.

Alas for the day!
Capture each minute.
Warn all you can of their sin
A second passed.
Loose it or win it?
Our Savoir is coming again.


Based on Joel 1:15
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 10, 2008
All rights reserved.

Four Men

“Lo, I see four men
In the midst of the fire,”
Said King Nebuchadnezer
As he perspired.
“Four men, not three;
What think ye of this?
I think that their God,
The true God He is.
Come hither Shadrach
Step out of the flames.
Meshach, Abedego,
I praise your God’s name.
I make a decree
My kingdom, hear my word:
‘The God of these men;
This God is the Lord.’”


Based on Daniel 3
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 9, 2008
All rights reserved.

Thou Knowest What is in the Dark

Thou knowest what is in the dark
Unknown in known to Thee.
Thus I will trust that you will do
The very best for me.
For Lord, the unknown lies ahead
The path is dark and gray.
I know not what the future holds
Within the coming days.
But this I know: Thou knowest all
The dark is glorious light.
So I will follow, grasp Thy hand
And walk by faith, not sight.


Based on Daniel 2:22
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 8, 2008
All rights reserved.

The Lord Upholdeth Me

Though I fall, still I shall stand;
The Lord upholdeth me
By His strong arm and by His hand;
The Lord upholdeth me.
I shall not fear the dark of night,
The dangers of the battle fight,
For on this I’ve fixed my sight:
The Lord upholdeth me.


Based on Psalm 37:24
Copyright Miriam Rainwater, April 7, 2008
All rights reserved.