peace – Woodsmoke and Cardamom

Your Plan for Me

by Lucy M. Young

Dear Lord, what do You have in mind for me to do? What menial task, What act of love or sacrifice is in Your plan for me? I’m tired of the daily round of meaningless activities. I need a reason for existence, a goal to strive for. Give me, Lord, a dream, And strength to work toward its completion. It needn’t be a great earth-shattering project – Just help me feel my life is not in vain. If nothing else, Lord, let me be a good example of usefulness in spite of handicap, And cheerfulness despite whatever pain may fill my waking hours; Then when at night my body cries for rest, I pray that You may feel I’ve done my best Your purpose to fulfill; And then, Lord, grant me peaceful sleep And quiet happy dreams throughout the night.

Just for You

Just for you, my friend, the sun is shining;
Just for you no clouds are in the sky.
The springtime flowers bloom in all their glory;
Just for you the birds are flying high.

Just for you my prayers rise to the Father
For quick recovery from your long travail;
For peace of mind and happiness and confidence
That pain and sadness cannot long prevail.

Just for you the birds are singing sweetly;
Their happy songs, 'though old seem ever new;
They sing of hope and love, of faith and gladness,
And lift their hearts in glad song just for you.

Communion

by Lucy M. Young

When I entered the sanctuary
I was burdened with sadness and guilt;
I'd been angry, impatient, uncaring,
All day my resentment had built.

It was quiet and peaceful, soft-lighted.
I sat with my head bowed in shame.
I confessed my sins to my Saviour,
Asked forgiveness in His precious Name.

Then I prayed for love and compassion
Toward those who had crossed me that day.
"Forgive and forget," was His message,
"I'll walk with you all the way."

The table was set by the altar;
I approached it with reverence and prayer.
The bread and the cup sanctified me,
I felt safe and secure in His care.

I knew that my sins were forgiven;
Peace descended on me like a dove.
My burden of guilt had been lifted,
He had answered my prayers with His love.

Teach Us to Forgive

by Lucy M. Young

Lord, teach us to forgive
For only by forgiving can we ever hope
To be forgiven,
Or find the peace of mind and heart we need
To go on living.
Only if we're able to forgive
Can we truly love each other as You asked.

I thank you, Lord,
For helping me forgive a friend
Who hurt me deeply long ago.
For many wasted years I bore ill will and anger.
It festered in my mind
And grew to such proportions
That my entire life was tainted and controlled
By bitterness and cynicism.

Then one glad day You softly spoke to me
And I forgave my friend.
A cruel weight was lifted from my heart.
My soul was flooded with such peace and joy
The world looked beautiful to me again.
My mind and heart and soul were cleansed
And I was free once more
To live and love and serve.

I thank you, Lord, for teaching me forgiveness.

Because I Listened

by Lucy M. Young

I asked the Lord for help -
He didn't answer
I asked again and yet again
But still no answer
I thought He didn't hear me so I asked again more fervently
With tears and abject pleading -
nothing happened
"Can't you hear me, Lord?" I asked, "Or don't you care?"
Then I stopped my anxious flow of words
I stopped and walked alone into the nearby forest
Away from all the anger and turmoil of my day
It was so quiet there - I listened to the silence
I couldn't hear His voice, no words were spoken
I couldn't feel His touch or see His face
But I know that He was there because I felt such peace within me
His love surrounded me and soothed my troubled spirit
Because I stopped to listen I was refreshed and rested;
Because I listened, I could face whatever came my way
With courage and the strength He'd given me.

The Garden

Lucy M. Young

I went to the garden this morning
when the sky was rosy with dawn
Peace and serenity reigned supreme,
the shadows of night were all gone.

The birds were raising their happy songs
in joyous praise of the day;
A breeze brought the fragrance of flowers to me
from the meadow across the way.

I admired my neat row of vegetables
in their dew-spangled shades of green;
Awed by the fact that a few tiny seeds
could produce this exotic scene.

I agree with the person far wiser than I
Who cast pearls of wisdom abroad -
There is no place on earth like the garden at dawn
to make one feel closer to God.

A Message of Cheer

by Lucy M. Young

There's a light behind every shadow,
  In back of each cloud there's the sun;
God's in His Heaven above us
  Showering blessings on everyone.

There's a rainbow in every raindrop
  Sparkling jewels in every snowflake;
God's promise in every sunrise -
  A promise He'll never forsake.

Bright daylight follows night's darkness.
  Sweet release comes after pain;
A smile will replace a teardrop
  Just as sunshine follows rain.

So seek the Lord and His Mercy
  Trust the Master Plan sublime
And look for a better tomorrow
  Living one day at a time.



photo by David Brooke Martin on Unsplash

The Christmas Star

by Lucy M. Young

The Christmas star is shining in the East.
Its pure and radiant light has never ceased
To guide the faithful with its steady glow,
Just as it led the Wise Men long ago
To a lowly manger in a stable bare
Where lay the Christ Child with his mother fair.

Oh Christmas star, may your pure holy light
Fill every heart with peace and joy tonight;
And may your beams encompass all the earth
Remind all nations of the holy birth
Of the Babe who came that war and suffering cease;
And bring to all the world good will and peace.

May the Christmas star fill your hearts with love and joy today and always



photo by Frantzou Fleurine on Unsplash

Never Alone

by Lucy M. Young

Once I wandered alone and lonely,
 My heart was empty and cold;
There seemed to be nothing to live for,
 Nothing to which I could hold.

Then one day He spoke to me softly,
 I didn't hear Him at first;
But slowly and gently He entered my heart,
 My soul was no longer accursed

With emptiness, bitterness, sadness -
 They'd been driven out by His love.
I rejoiced in my new-found freedom
 Given me by my Father above.

Lord, I come to you now in thanksgiving
 For the many blessings you've given;
I am never alone, for I walk each day
 With my wonderful Father in Heaven.



photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash

A Prayer for the Homeless

by Lucy M. Young

When I awoke this morning, Lord,
And looked out at your beautiful world,
I thought of the other nations on earth
Whose banners of war are unfurled;
While here the morning songs of the birds
Brought music into my room;
And a softly whispering spring-time breeze
Held the scent of lilacs in bloom.

While I enjoyed the quiet peace
Of my little country home,
I thought of the homeless far and near
Who have been condemned to roam
In search of a place to call their own,
No matter how humble it be -
Just a tiny spot to make their home
From war and tyranny free.

Help them find it, Lord - a place of their own -
Secure and safe from fear.
Let them know the joy of freedom and peace,
The assurance that you are near.
Let them settle down with their families and friends,
Let their children romp in the sun;
May they never again know the terrors of war
Or hear the sound of a gun.

photo by Fares Hamouche on Unsplash