Pencil in His Hand: A Mother's Journal of Stories, Thoughts, and Poems.

  Poems, Photos and a Glimpse of my Garden Rest of soul and peace of mind are hard for you  and me to find: Until we rest our  hearts in God; strength will falter, days grow hard A new day to pray, to love and give, A new day to serve, to work and praise, A new day to soak in Your precious peace I wish I could go back to all the happy days: to hold on to those moments, and sing a song of praise. Love and kindness I would bring, and serve the Lord much more. I truly wish it could be done through an old and hidden door. But since I cannot go back, to those sweet and bygone days, I'll give to Jesus all my heart so He can change my un-nice ways *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** St John's creeper New growth. (Not sure whether they are flowers or veg.) Protecting my carrots Paprika Looks like a chilli A good showing of coriander and some other herb. Swiss chard doing nicely My books

  Hope Blooms Hope Blooms A Poetry Collection by Alison Lawrence. Introduction This collection is all about hope and healing. And yes, there is joy too. Even in the fire, hope can bloom if you let Jesus comfort you. There will be splashes of joy, and hope will never fade. *** Hope Blooms His peace and love will reign  where missiles brutal fell As Zion blooms again  and Jesus makes all well *** Garlands Garlands of bright sunshine decorate my gate: Gentle, happy faces, His love now radiate *** Hiding Place As troubles now surround us, the way before is clear: I know that You will hide us; there is no need to fear. For when the skies grow darker still: You'll draw us to Your side; Through the clouds we'll fly away: to Your sweet love we'll ride *** Pray! So many people need our prayers: They need to feel that someone cares They need to know Lord Jesus too, be healed and drawn, be made brand new I think of all the suffering ones, held hostage, hurt by men with guns Some are...

  Dear Readers, Just a quick note to let you know that I am using this time away from blogging to write, amongst other things. God willing, I will begin to post once more in early January. You can look forward to short stories, non-fiction, as well as poetry. I will also be posting Afrikaans and gardening content on my other blogs. So until then, may God bless and keep you. Wishing you a Jesus filled Christmas and New Year. Love, Alison

View River   A Few Poems Never Alone Even if I where a lonely cloud wandering I would never really be alone for Jesus is in my heart and always will be. I love Him, you know. Not with a perfect love; not the way I want to. But I truly do love Him. Even if I were a solitary star glowing faintly, I would not be all alone: for the Great I Am is always with me. Even though I am unworthy, so unworthy, He is with me and He loves me so: with a holy, pure, eternal love. A love which I am only beginning to grow in, slow, o, so slowly. So here I am, a human being, alone in my me-ness; alone in my uniqueness, yet never alone. I am misunderstood, yet Jesus understands. Forgotten, yet remembered by the Lord. Swimming in my struggles yet held close, so close by Him. So yes, I may appear a lonesome sight; a woman wandering in her own world, silent and solitary, wrapped in her thoughts. Thoughts which He knows. Following a path He walks with me in a world which suddenly seems a great deal less lon...

  Illustrated Inspirational Poems Dearest Readers, Here are a few poems from my poetry notebook. I hope you feel encouraged today. The world is so dark. Evil abounds. It is easy to feel discouraged and sad. How blessed we are to have Jesus! He is our joy. Do you know Him too? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand Are you searching? Would you like to know more about Jesus? You may find my testimony helpful. (Just scroll down a little.) Testimony John 3:1-8, 10-21 ESV [1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” [3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] J...

  Free flash fiction The Rosebush: Flash Fiction "I thought you might like something that will last a little longer." He smiled his quirky smile, and her eyes travelled first to the drooping flowers on the table, then to the plant in his arms. "We can keep this one on the patio. Red for love, you know." He winked and planted a kiss on her surprised  mouth. They made planting the rose bush their Saturday afternoon project. "Somehow, it reminds me of marriage." She spoke softly as she patted the soil. "There are the hard bits, like these thorns, but then there is the beauty." He drew her close as they knelt by the planter, the roses on the small bush almost completely covering the thorns. *** Snuggling I'm nestling in Thy Hand through storm, and wind, and drought: While nestling in Thy Hand, I wake and look about: then seeing Thou art here, I snuggle deeper still, and in Thy endless care, I cast my doubt and fear *** Patience Like still, sweet,...

  Go! No Time No time, no time no time at all Only today: so give Him your all *** How Beautiful the Feet See the lost people battered, hopeless, bruised feet of beauty, go! *** Calling Help me to see Lord help me to see the bruised and the broken  waiting for me to bring them the Gospel that saves and sets free *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand

  Fishing boat at the river Writing for the Lord ‭Colossians 3:23-24 ESV‬ [23] Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  https://bible.com/bible/59/col.3.23-24.ESV Dearest Readers, This post will contain my thoughts on writing, but this really applies to all we do. :) When I first started writing more seriously, I believe my heart was right. I truly wanted to encourage people and to share the Gospel through my writing. With much help from God, I wrote my heart out. I wrote with passion. For Him. There was really no thought of financial success. I did imagine possibly receiving a few donations, but that was all. I made the books available for free, but wasn't able to reach many people. After a while, I stopped writing. I was busy. It wasn't too long though, before I picked up my pen once more to write poetry, and later, short stories. At that...

Breathe Dying to self   Blue Berg river Slower Slow, slower, slower to a place where  thoughts can meet Slow, slower, slower 'til I'm sitting at Your feet *** Awhile back, I wrote a post about poetry writing which I never posted. I thought it would be good to re-visit that topic. When you write your own poems, you quickly become aware that poetry is not the favourite reading material of most people. Neither is it what most people write. I guess that's because there remain many misconceptions about poetry. Some people believe that poetry is too hard to read or understand, let alone write. I sympathize. Much poetry is pretty high-brow; the subject of university English lectures and dreaded by many students. Poetry however, cannot be put into a box. Yes, it can be written in a vague, mysterious, or unfathomable way. But it can also be simple, honest, and even plain and easy to relate to. Poetry can follow a certain form, style, or rhyme scheme. It can have perfect rhythm and c...

 Poems and a Mini Story Pretty posy Jungle Gym Life comes to meet us at the bars which seem to reach up to the stars And like a child, we look up high; count metal bars and strips of sky Anxiety holds us in its grip: we're scared to fall, to stumble, slip Then father points to lowest bar; says, don't look up; start where you are And  so in life, it is the best to trust in God, to take one step Pomegranate in our garden A new name Slowing Down We're slowing down enough today to come to the  park so the girls can play: up and down, and round and round; speeding up, yet slowing down A Short, yet Powerful Story This is a very short story. A story of countless lives cut short: Sudden. Tragic. Violent. And, it is a story about the God-Man who allowed His own life to be cut short; so that even in our most desperate times there may be hope. And life eternal. ******* Yet... Evil threatens to overwhelm: It threatens to  overwhelm It troubles our vision, and  invites doubt...

  Mr River: A Story and  Poems River inspiration for your day The girl stood on the river bank. She warmed her face by lifting it to the sun, then she cooled her feet in the delicious, twinkling water. She realized that the river could speak, so she asked it a question. "River, where were you born?" "Oh," smiled the river, "thank you for asking. I was born in the purple-blue mountains. I was just a little thing then." "And where have you travelled?" Asked the girl, her face a-light with curiosity. "I have rushed through the mountains, before meandering through the countryside and towns. I have seen many things along my way." "And now, Mr River? Where are you going now?" "Well, child, I am an old river now. I have grown, and I have become deeper and wider. I must pour all of my waters into the ocean. I cannot keep them to myself anymore." The girl trailed her hand through the small waves. "You are very generous, ...