Walking By The River: Poems Of Hope, Faith, And Family

Dedication: To my family

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Author's note: The reason I titled this collection "Walking By The River," is due to the inspiration that being at the river brings.

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Little Flame

Little flame dancing -

Clouds gather hopeless and dark

Little light shine on

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Blessed Hope

Oh! Our blessed hope!

Our blessed hope eternal,

Blessed hope for now

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Blooms

Cheerfully waving

orange yellow blooms say:

come sit

and watch us dance

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Stop

Martha, oh, Martha,

so much worry and fretting.

Am I not enough?

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Good Company

God is in the garden,

and there He talks with me:

where purple, pink, and orange blooms,

and greens are waving free.

Yet even in the busy house,

His Presence is still there;

for I hear His precious voice,

and feel His loving care

***

Baby Announcement

You're having a baby?

Well, what exciting news!

I'll throw a massive party,

all themed in pastel hues.

Now that your career's on the go,

why not have it all?

You can balance on your birthing ball.

Well, he's two years old now,

and you're pregnant again?

Yes, why not have another?

Every little one should have

a sister or a brother.

I'll call the party planner,

we'll have a day at the spa.

How's your career?

I knew you'd go far.

What! You've quit your job!

And baby's only one?

How boring! Well it is your life,

but don't come moan at me.

Sister, are you kidding?

Baby number three?

Well, I guess three's the new two,

we could have a small do.

I hope you know what you're doing!

Your figure will go to the dogs,

And no more morning jogs.

What! Now it's baby number four?

Surely you don't want any more?

Where will you put it?

What will it eat?

Are you even aware of the price of meat?

Don't you use anything?

Don't you have a TV?

I must say this is terribly sudden.

I must dash to feed my ten cats.

I thought you were normal,

but now I'm not sure.

I guess this will be adieu.

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Baby

Chubby hands and rounded cheeks,

the soft and downy head,

eyes round and bright,

His mouth that loves to smile.

A perfect little being,

a gorgeous little man;

impossible that he could be

an accident, a chance -

how could anyone want to

kill him and lose out on this delight?

They do not know, You made him,

each little hand, each foot.

You formed his tiny body,

his healthy, beating heart;

but more important than all this;

the spirit that you gave:

You made it so that as he grows,

The Father's love he'll crave.

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Flower Pot

You are my flower pot:

because the nurse

called you that

when she dressed you

at the miracle of your birth.

You were a shining new bud.

You are still my flower pot:

A bright smiling vase

of yellow sunflowers

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Kitten

Please don't grow up too fast,

that's what I want to say

to my blue-eyed kitten who may be my last.

Yet, so delightful, those first

tottering steps

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Tiny House

I have a little house

with three rooms in a row:

from end to end a mere stone's throw.

Pop your head out the gate,

and see down the back:

feels like a train

chugging down the track

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Silent Sorry

Sometimes it is better

to bring a cup of tea

to the one who has hurt you:

to let the silence fold and settle.

To allow sorry to blossom in the quiet

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Stormy Weather

I am so thankful

for the rain and thunder

and the storms in my life.

For the gales, and the snow storms.

Yes, even for the typhoons and hurricanes.

A low pressure trough is on the screen even now.

Thank you Lord, I grow ever closer to You

as the weather closes in.

Ever closer to You.

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Far From Perfect

Thank You for the children You gave me:

they are far from perfect,

but neither am I.

Thank You for the husband You gifted me:

he didn't come with a manual,

and their are some quirky bits,

but I'm a bit weird myself.

And Lord, thank You for my

messed up set of circumstances:

Instead of fighting them,

I enfold them in Your joy

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Come Follow Me

Come follow Me, He said.

Mary has chosen the better way.

Leave all you have,

sell everything too,

for nothing must be

so important to you.

So, come follow Me,

and don't look back,

as you walk by My side,

great joy will be yours,

and things will not rule you again

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The Good Old Days?

An old magazine beckons me.

I carefully study each page,

hoping to find some wisdom;

some sage and sober advice.

But no, it is an ageing sister

to its modern, glossy siblings:

pushy adverts promise big,

and the shallowness of women

in their scanty costumes:

hair, nails, skin cream, and wrinkles,

the advert for Christian books

oddly out of tune

in a world of bee-hives and movie stars

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My All

My Jesus is my portion:

He is the All I need,

though I have but few possessions,

from worldly loves I'm freed

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Joy

Joy is never ending,

it flows from side to side,

and ever is increasing,

though sorrows joy may hide

This joy it comes from Jesus,

He gave it free of charge;

when on that day He freed us,

and dwelt within our hearts

So, call on Him to save you,

receive this joy today,

though trials may besiege you,

night will not conquer day

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Our Rock, Our Hope

To The Rock we cling,

we've been thrown in the sea:

the ship has sunk,

but our hope is in Thee

We cling, we rely, we trust.

Yes, we cling, we rely, we trust.

To what do you cling

as your ship goes down?

Do you cling to your treasures

or cling to your gold?

As you slowly begin to drown?

To The Rock we cling,

as the storm rages on,

our hope is in Jesus, we sing

We cling, we rely, we trust,

yes, we cling, we rely, we trust

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Like A Child

All I want to be

is like a child,

heart open wide,

trusting joyfully

in Your love;

nestled by Your side

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Another Land

I love to draw a peaceful scene,

of happy clouds and trees.

No pain is there,

nor any cares

to travel on the breeze.

Rolling hills and mountains tall,

across my scene,

no tears do fall.

I think I dream of Heaven

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Love

Knowing that I am loved and cherished,

carries me through the hours;

through the thankless tasks,

the drudgery of day to day,

I am lifted in arms of love

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The Solution

I've no idea how to solve this,

no idea at all.

No clue how to solve this:

we're up against a wall.

There is but one solution;

upon God we must call!

He is our only hope and help,

and He can solve it all

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Father

Father.

That's all I can say.

Father.

That's all I can pray.

Father,

It hurts too much.

Child,

He says,

Enfolds me in His Love

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A Little Child

A little child enjoys his day,

whilst trusting, loving, snuggling,

A little child has time to play,

whilst trusting, loving, snuggling,

A little child keeps cares away,

by trusting, loving, snuggling

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Strange Place

I find myself in a strange place today:

a place of uncertainty,

and many questions:

I feel so alone,

and yet,

God is with me,

and I must pray, pray, pray

if all the questions

will have their answers

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Happy Place

You are my happy place:

traveling, hospital, or home,

I'm never alone:

just You and I

in my happy place

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Peace?

Life is getting crazy,

the children growing lazy;

the house is such a mess;

you never get your rest.

Always someone needing help;

just turn your back,

they start to yelp!

Supper, cleaning, husband, weeds,

Bible, teaching, sowing seeds -

busy, busy, rushing round,

where, oh, where can peace be found?

Here I am dear child says He:

please, oh, please remember Me

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Confidence

He will do as He has said:

contentment

will find a home

inside my head.

My heart, my whole being

will rest in peace.

Day by day

in Your love I will stay,

taking one step at a time:

Your Precious Hand in mine

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Wrong

I am wrong again.

Wrong to gossip,

wrong to snap.

wrong to panic

and to flap.

So very wrong to pout and shout:

so wrong to let it all come out.

I am wrong, but You are right;

Your Word is truth, and it is light.

So, as I walk along the way,

may I say no to sin,

and always pray

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Blessed

How blessed are they

who lose

homes, family, livelihood

health and lives

because they bear

Your Name.

How blessed are we

when we give to them

of our abundance and say:

thank you

for so bravely

leading the way

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Trust

Trust and obey

implores the old song:

It's the only way.

So where do we stand today,

in a world that has gone so wrong?

Do we trust in

people, and doctors, and cash,

treating God's Word like trash?

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Courage

Lord, give me the courage

to reach out to scary people,

the rich white ones

with dark sunglasses,

designer dog,

and two mandatory

kids in tow:

the type who think they don't need You

with their SUV's,

holidays, and boats;

help me to remember

that they are people

created by You:

people who may die today

without knowing their Saviour.

How can they know Him,

if no one cares enough

to risk the arching of

manicured eyebrows,

the shaking of perfectly

groomed heads?

Lord, give me courage,

replace my fear with boldness,

for like Zaccheus,

these wealthy ones

are invited

to come in

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Choices

When I choose to love,

I am like a sunflower

smiling in a barren corner.

When I choose to cherish,

I am like a clump

of dancing daisies

in the weeds

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At The Mall

I went to the mall today,

Stood beside a bright display:

goodies, and trinkets,

and all things bright;

all sparkly and shiny

my senses delight

But a glass wall is before me

of want and lack,

nothing will be mine

on that glittering stack

No father Christmas will descend

with goodies and trinkets without end

Then softly, gently, I hear Your Voice,

My Jesus, You are the loveliest choice

All I need is in my heart,

and all earthly yearnings fast depart

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Only God

Only God can keep us from stress,

only God can sort out this mess.

Only God can answer our prayers,

Turn to Him

He's the One Who cares

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