Halloween

Posted on October 28, 2015 by dforchrist

I know not everyone will agree with this view. I’ve come to the inescapable conclusion that Halloween is evil. Is God upset that you dress your little girl as a princess and take her out to show her off to friends and family? Probably not. I try not to just ask if something questionable is permissible, but go a step farther and ask if it is pleasing to God. Is celebrating a holiday (which remember means holy day and is a wiccan high holy day) dedicated to evil pleasing to God? Definitely not! Can you celebrate Halloween without getting into the gory and evil stuff? Possibly. Is trying to straddle that line pleasing to God? I believe Jesus had something to say about pleasing two masters.

No, celebrating Halloween doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to hell. But does it bring you closer to God? That is the important question. As this world grows darker, I prefer to look to the light, not spread the darkness.

Halloween

Is Halloween just harmless fun?
A time for make believe?
Or something much more sinister,
Which should make Christians grieve?
You say that dressing young girls up
As princesses and such
Is just so sweet, it doesn’t have
To have macabre touch.
But Halloween is so much more
Than sweet costumes and fun.
It is a day (and night) of fear
And from which you should run!
It celebrates the darkness and
The evil in the world.
It flirts with witchcraft, Satan’s toy,
And keeps his flag unfurled.
The fear that just pervades the world
(The opposite of love)
Has no place in a life that points
To heaven up above.
It’s all the other things that go
Along with Halloween
That make it very dangerous,
A most ungodly scene.
Be careful if you celebrate
The things that God abhors.
There’s much more to this “holy day”
Than knocking on friends’ doors.
It’s honoring satanic rites,
No matter what you say,
So please be very careful how
You celebrate this day.

(C)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

My Testimony

Posted on October 8, 2015 by dforchrist

This is the true story of what happened to me at a ladies’ retreat I attended last month. Heather Mercer with Hope4Iraq was the main speaker.

My Testimony

I stood there in the audience,
My body wracked with pain.
I praised my Savior, though I felt,
My efforts were in vain.
I prayed He’d give me some relief
So I could concentrate,
On Him instead of just myself:
My sorry, pain-filled state.
I leaned against the chair in front
Until I couldn’t stand,
Then sank down on my seat and tried
To listen to the band.
The speaker stopped the music and
Said, “God said we should pray
For all the women here who long
For healing any way.
I know that there are many here
Who hurt and need God’s touch.
He told me we should not pass up,
The chance to heal so much.”
I hobbled to the front along
With several others there.
The ladies formed an open ring
And lifted us in prayer.
Though Heather started praying in
The corner far from me,
She moved around as if she sought
The proper place to be.
She laid her hand upon my back
And I could feel such love!
I knew it wasn’t just from her,
But coming from above.
And when the prayers were over and
I looked into her eyes,
I saw such love and caring, I
Began to realize
That I was in the presence of
The great and holy One.
Though I looked in a woman’s eyes,
I saw the Father’s Son!
She hugged me close and then I moved
To go back to my seat.
I knew that something special had
Occured on this retreat.
The music ended and I left
To go back to my dorm.
The night was clear and beautiful;
The air was sweet and warm.
With every step, the pain eased off
Until it all was gone.
My muscles no more tight with pain,
My features no more drawn.
I did not know, nor do I now,
For God has not revealed,
If this is just a respite or
If God has fully healed
And taken fibro pain away,
But this I know for sure:
His hand has taken all the pain.
For now, it’s like a cure.
If this is for a moment and
The pain, in time, returns,
I still will shout my testament
Until the whole world learns
That Jesus can do miracles!
True healing can be done.
Until my death, I will rely
On no one but the Son.

(c) 2015 Denise McKenney

Heather Mercer was the speaker at Horizon Indy Ladies’ Retreat 2015, Higher Grounds Conference Center, West Harrison, Indiana


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

For My Husband

Posted on October 4, 2015 by dforchrist

For My Husband

I want to lift my husband up
And pray for all of him:
His head and body and I want
To pray for every limb.
I pray he keeps his head held high,
His eyes raised up to You.
I pray his mind is clear; his ears
Hear what You want him to.
I pray his nose sniffs out the lies
The world will send his way.
I pray his lips speak only truth
And share Your Word each day.
I pray his shoulders only feel
The burden of Your yoke.
For it is light and easy and
Will never pinch or poke.
I pray his heart will be washed clean
And filled with just Your Word.
Let love for all just overflow;
Be seen and clearly heard.
I pray his arms stay open wide
For drawing others in
And welcoming and showing them
That safety lies within.
I pray his hands continue to
Have strong yet gentle touch.
Compassion shown can teach the world
About Your love so much.
I pray he has the stomach for
The road that lies ahead.
It’s not an easy path he walks
And sometimes faced with dread.
I pray his back is strong enough
To carry what he must,
And still stay straight and look to You,
Remembering You’re just.
I pray his knees bend readily
To You and only You.
I pray his legs will carry him
Where You will lead him to.
I pray his feet will stand quite firm
Upon the solid Rock,
But closely follow where You lead:
A Shepherd with His flock.
A heart-felt prayer from head to foot
To cover him with love
And ask that You send angels down–
Protection from above.
     I ask in Jesus’ Name,
     Amen.

© 2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Let Failure Rock Your World

Posted on July 26, 2015 by dforchrist

I heard a brief devotional on the radio the other day that talked about what a blessing failure could be, because unless we fail, we will never know how much we need to and can rely on God. I found that very profound. This is the result of thoughts from that devotional.

Let Failure Rock Your World

Sometimes when we hit bottom and
Have nothing left to give
We find that we have no strength left
And little will to live.
We’ve made mistakes we can’t undo;
We’ve failed time and again.
We’ve fought so bravely, still we lost
The battle with our sin.
But failure can bring victory.
It makes us realize
Our need for God and how His strength
Alone will make us rise.
It’s only in our weakness that
We learn how strong He is.
And when God’s strength flows over us
Reminding us we’re His,
So precious and so loved by both
The Father and the Son,
Empowered by the Spirit, then
In losing, we’ll have won!
So don’t despair when you have failed
Or hit a stumbling block.
Just hit your knees and use your prayers
To rest upon the Rock!

(c)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Satisfied

Posted on July 25, 2015 by dforchrist

Satisfied

Why do I go to empty wells
To satisfy my thirst?
I bypass Living Water and
Go other places first.
I turn to food or clothes or sex
Or turn the TV on
And lose myself in this sad world
‘Til hope is nearly gone.
But nothing feeds this hunger like
My Savior, Jesus Christ.
He was the perfect Lamb and for
My sin, was sacrificed.
His mercy and His saving grace
Are really all I need.
Remind me that it’s by Your love
Alone that I am freed.

(c)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The True Healer

Posted on July 23, 2015 by dforchrist

The True Healer

The latest doctor turned away.
“There’s nothing I can do.
I’ve tried my best to stop your blood,
But still it pours on through.”
Tears filled her eyes as her last hope
Walked out and closed the door.
She hit her knees and cried to God
As she knelt on the floor.
“I have no place that I can turn.
My money all is spent.
No doctor here can save me now.”
She felt abandonment.
She wondered for an instant if
God’s promise was a lie.
Words floated through her window as
A pair of men walked by.
“He healed the blind, the leper and
The lame with just a touch.
This Jesus has the power of God
That He can do so much!”
Now she had heard of Jesus, too,
How He could heal with ease.
She felt within her soul that He
Could heal her strange disease.
She knew she shouldn’t be in crowds
Because she was unclean,
But there was just no other way
This Jesus could be seen.
She washed her face and grabbed her cloak
And felt the greatest hope,
That Jesus was an answered prayer
When she could no more cope.
She found the crowds around the Man
And heard the desperate plea
For Him to save his little girl,
As she pushed close to see.
But Jesus started walking off
To go and see the child.
The woman couldn’t let him go.
Her fear became quite wild.
She forced her way into the crowd
And reached to touch his cloak.
She felt inside that’s all it’d take.
Her sickness would be broke.
As she, in faith,  touched just the hem,
And said a whispered prayer,
She felt strange warmth; knew she was healed
Before she met His stare.
She hadn’t noticed that He’d stopped
And turned to face the crowd.
“Who touched Me?” He demanded low,
And she just gasped out loud.
While others chided Him, she knew
That she was who He meant,
So, shaking deep inside, she pushed
A man aside and went
To kneel there in the dusty street
And softly to confess
Her story and how doctors all
Just added to the mess.
“I prayed for healing and God sent
Me here to ask of You.
Though You are not a doctor, I
Had heard what You could do.
I trusted God had sent me here
And knew that You could heal.
And when I touched Your garment, oh,
Such healing I could feel!”
The crowd could hear the fervency
In her impassioned plea.
And saw the smile on Jesus’ face,
“My daughter, you are free.
Your faith in God and trust in Me
Has worked to make you whole.
Now go your way and live the life
That your disease had stole.”
She stood a little taller and
She knew her life was new
And changed forever from that day
She learned that God is true.

(c)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Praise

Posted on June 27, 2015 by dforchrist

Praises from Psalm 112
Verses 7-8 really comforted me when I read this Psalm today (speaking of the righteous man):

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. ~ Psalm 112:7-8

My desire is for my enemies to know Jesus and cease to be my enemies.

Praise

Praise ye the Lord and lift Him high!
The man, I know, is blessed
Who fears the Lord and takes delight
In His commandments best.
His seed upon the earth shall grow,
The upright shall be blessed.
Great wealth and riches shall be his.
In righteousness,  he’ll rest.
Unto the upright, there is Light
That banishes the dark.
His graciousness abounds and his
Compassion burns, not sparks.
A good man shares his favor and
He lends unto the poor.
He guides with great discretion and
He knows the proper Door.
The world shall never move this man.
He shall not be afraid
Of evil tidings, for his heart
On Jesus Christ is stayed.
His heart has been established and
No fear of man, he knows.
He spreads his love to everyone
No matter where he goes.
The wicked see his honor and
The way the Lord exalts.
They see and grieve, then melt away,
As God, their evil, halts.

(c)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sow Good

Posted on June 9, 2015 by dforchrist

Sow Good

The Sower cast abundant seed
Around Him everywhere.
But some seed never had a chance:
Birds snatched it in the air.
And some seed fell on stony ground
And sprang to life so quick!
But when the sun shone hot and dry,
It shrank up like a stick.
Some sprouted and grew big and tall,
But then got choked by weeds.
It couldn’t seem to bear good fruit,
But struggled for its needs.
But then, at last, some of the seed
Found home in fertile soil.
It brought forth fruit abundantly
Without the need for toil.
So make sure that your heart is plowed,
And seed finds fertile ground
To let the Word take root and grow
And bear fruit all around.

(C) 2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | Leave a comment

Change in the Forecast

Posted on April 16, 2015 by dforchrist

I saw a Facebook post that said, “We ask God to change our situation without knowing if He put us in that situation to change us.” That really spoke to me and birthed this poem.

Change in the Forecast

Before I ask my mighty God
To change my circumstance,
I need to ask if it’s His plan
To give my heart a chance
To change, to soften up some way
And possibly to break,
To mold me into something new
And better for His sake.
This pressure that I’m feeling now
May be the Lord at work
To help me root out hidden sin
Wherever it may lurk.
So, Lord, please help me see Your will
And persevere in this.
I know no matter what Your plan
I do not want to miss
The lesson You may have for me
That’s hidden in this pain.
I know whatever I may lose
Will be Your kingdom’s gain.

(c)2015 Denise McKenney


Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted from WordPress for Android

Posted in Poem | 2 Comments

Two Years

Posted on April 14, 2015 by dforchrist

Two years ago today, God called my mom home.

Two Years

Two years ago, God called you home
And took you to His side.
Since then I know that I’ve lost count
Of all the tears I’ve cried.
I miss you so and yet, I know
That you are happy there.
And though you live in heaven now,
I know that you still care.
I still can feel the love you gave
Through all my growing years.
That love is still a healing balm
Applied, at times, through tears.
The hole that’s left inside my heart
Cannot be filled on earth.
For nothing can replace the love
Of she who gave me birth.
So still with tears, I have to say,
“My Lord, Thy will be done.
I miss my mom, but know she’s safe
In heaven with Your Son.”

©2015 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

Posted in Poem | 1 Comment