25th Psalm

Posted on April 7, 2013 by dforchrist

Here’s another psalm I rewrote in rhyme. I used more of the King James English in this one than normal. How do you like it?

image: wallpaper4God.com

25th Psalm

To Thee, O Lord, I lift my soul;
O God, I trust in Thee.
Please do not let me be ashamed
Nor foes win over me.
Let none that wait on You feel shame;
But those which may transgress
Without a cause, O Lord, let them
Abundant shame possess.
Show me Thy paths, O gracious Lord,
Teach me to walk Thy ways.
And lead me in Thy truth, for I
On Thee wait all the days.
Teach me, for Thou art mighty God
Of my salvation true.
Remember, Lord, Thy mercies great
For I depend on You.
Forget my sins made in my youth;
Be merciful, I plead.
Thy goodness and thy righteousness,
The sinner, they will lead.
The meek will He guide properly;
The meek will learn His way.
The Lord’s paths lead to mercy and
To Truth each single day.
I’ll keep His covenants and keep
His testimonies true.
For Thy name’s sake, O Sovereign Lord,
Forgive the things I do
For mine iniquity is great.
What man does fear Thee, Lord?
Please teach him of Thy way and choose
His path and his reward.
His soul shall dwell at ease with you;
His seed shall have the earth
The secret of the Lord is with
Them who in fear is birthed.
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord
He plucks me from the net.
Turn Thee unto me, mercy show
For I am desolate.
The troubles of my heart enlarge;
O save me from distress.
See mine affliction and my pain
Forgive me, I confess.
Mine enemies are many and
They hate me and are cruel.
O keep my soul, deliver me
From every hating fool.
O do not let me be ashamed;
I put my trust in Thee.
I wait on Thee with uprightness
And with integrity.
Redeem Israel, O God, You know
He waits for You alone.
Redeem him out of trouble.
Don’t You hear his pleading groan?

© 2013 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

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Jesus in Disguise

Posted on April 2, 2013 by dforchrist

There was a song on the radio that had a couple of phrases that caught my attention, that I really liked and couldn’t get out of my head although I didn’t care as much for the rest of the words. This is written as though it were a song, but it has no tune. Any one interested in writing a tune to it, please let me know. This title is originally from a quote from Mother Theresa, I believe. Someone had asked her how she managed to do what she did with all those sick, dirty people and she had replied that she just saw them all as Jesus in disguise. I just love that picture!

Everyone you meet is Jesus in disguise

Jesus in Disguise

Verse 1:
He lives beneath a bridge but as
I look into his eyes
I do not see a homeless man
But Jesus in disguise.
The prisoner on death row sits,
An object to despise.
But if we look more closely we’ll
See Jesus in disguise.
A prostitute whose life is filled
With loveless sex and lies
Is just another person who
Is Jesus in disguise.
A child alone and hurting, who
With silent, anguished cries,
Calls out to you for comfort;
He is Jesus in disguise
A Christian who has lost his way,
Is lost in compromise,
Needs you to gently help restore.
He’s Jesus in disguise.

Chorus:
You searched for a mighty king
To wear a golden crown.
Too busy looking up for Him
You never did look down.
You searched but didn’t recognize
And walked right by Your King
You didn’t see past His disguise.
You never saw a thing.

Verse 2:
He takes the form of folk today
We may not recognize
Though dirty, humbled, bowed by sin,
They’re Jesus in disguise.
So help the poor, down-trodden, weak,
And try to realize
When you are helping them, you’re helping
Jesus in disguise.
For Jesus said,  Whoever helps
The least of these to rise
Does so for me; He’s telling us
They’re Jesus in disguise.
So don’t just walk past others.
If you look, to your surprise,
You’ll find that people all around
Are Jesus in disguise.
But one day we will see them all
As we meet in the skies.
And we’ll be there with Jesus who
Is no more in disguise.

Chorus:
You searched for a mighty king
To wear a golden crown.
Too busy looking up for Him
You never did look down.
You searched but didn’t recognize
And walked right by Your King
You didn’t see past His disguise.
You never saw a thing.
© 2012 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

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Give Your Pain To Him

Posted on March 28, 2013 by dforchrist

This is one I wrote several years ago, but it’s a message I need right now. I pray it will help you as well.

Image courtesy: http://www.inspirationalmatters.com

Give Your Pain To Him

Although sometimes things happen that
We just can’t understand,
Please try to just remember that
We’re always in God’s hand.
It isn’t easy giving up
Our sorrow and our pain,
We may feel it’s impossible
For any peace to gain,
But God can do such miracles
And if we’ll trust in Him,
We’ll find that hope is possible;
The future’s not so grim.
So have faith in the Master’s plan.
He’ll give the help you need,
And if you’ll give your trust to Him,
From this pain you’ll be freed.

©1999 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

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Journey With Jesus

Posted on March 23, 2013 by dforchrist

Sorry for the delay in posting. The flu got me and hubby down and we’re still fighting it. This is one I started before getting sick and finished it today. Seems good timing.

journey with jesus 2

Image courtesy: TexasBaptists.org

Journey with Jesus

We walked the long Emmaus Road
Dejected, in dispair.
We didn’t know what we should do;
We didn’t even care.
The One we’d thought to follow had
Died on a wooden cross.
And now we felt so all alone:
Completely at a loss.
A stranger came along beside
And asked us for the news.
“Have you not heard what happened to
The greatest of the Jews?
They hung Him on a Roman cross.
We stood and watched Him die.
And now we’re lost; without a King
And wondering just why.
We’d thought He was the One to help
Us throw of Rome’s harsh rule.
They hung Him high upon a cross
A shameful death, so cruel.
How can You not know what took place
These three sad days ago?
They lifted Him up on a cross
And laid us very low.”
The stranger spoke of Moses and
How he had lifted up
The serpent in the desert
To relieve God’s wrath-filled cup.
He pointed out Isaiah’s words
And Micah’s prophecy.
He opened up the Scripture there
To Cleopas and me.
We didn’t know who this man was
Until He broke the bread.
And then we saw our Master there
With scars where He had bled.
He disappeared! We hurried back
To share the wondrous news
That Jesus was alive and well
With all our fellow Jews.
Do you know He’s alive today?
He died and rose again
To give us peace with Father God
And wipe away our sin.
Will you walk the Emmaus Road
And listen to Him speak?
All other roads lead to despair.
They all are grim and bleak.
Just follow Him and you will find
Such peace and blessing there.
If you can’t find Him on the road,
Just bow your knees in prayer.
He’ll listen to your every need;
He’ll guide you on the path
That takes you on to heaven and
Away from God’s great wrath.

© 2013 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

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Life’s Storms

Posted on March 12, 2013 by dforchrist

I really like that saying I’ve seen around, “Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.” That’s the seed for this poem.

Stormy Seas Evgeni Dinev

 

Image courtesy Evgeni Dinev/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Life’s Storms

Today, my world is filled peace.
I do not feel the storm,
Though it may rage outside my heart,
Inside, I’m safe and warm.
The Lord is stilling fiercest winds
And tempests that may blow.
He is my peace, my place of rest
No matter where I go.
Sometimes, God stills the raging storm
And calms the roiling sea;
At other times, He lets it storm
And puts the calm in me.
You, too, can have this sense of peace
Though storms of life get wild.
For sometimes God will calm the storm;
Sometimes, His precious child.
It doesn’t matter which He does
You still can find the peace.
If you will let Him, God will make
The storm or panic cease.
Just hide yourself in Jesus, where
No worries can invade,
And fear caused by the roughest storm
Will surely, quickly fade.

© 2013 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

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Did They Know?

Posted on March 10, 2013 by dforchrist

Yesterday, I said I wasn’t all that happy with the poem I had posted because it wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind. I’d heard the song, Mary Did You Know? and wanted to expand that question beyond Mary: Did others at the time know? And do we, today, really know? After yesterday’s post, I kept thinking about it, but it still wouldn’t be what I wanted it to be, though I could no longer remember what exactly was “wrong” with it. After I went to bed and finished praying, God gave me the poem I’d tried to write several months ago. This is more like what I’d had in mind then.

image courtesy artur84 / freedigitalphotos.net

Did They Know?

Did the innkeeper know the babe
Who in that stall was born
Was actually the Son of God
Who came to earth that morn?
Did playmates of the toddler know
Or could they understand
That little boy would one day heal
Both Jew and gentile lands?
Did rabbis who taught Scripture in
The temple daily there
Know He was who they raised hands to
In worship and in prayer?
Did men in town know more than wood
And furniture, He made,
That by His hands foundations of
The universe were laid?
Did guests who drank the special wine
Know they had all been blessed
By God’s Son at the wedding feast
And that His gift was best?
Did those who ate the loaves and fish
That Jesus did provide
Know they had seen a miracle
Upon that mountainside?
Did those who watched Him walk across
The stormy water know
The Son of God could calm the storm
And cause the winds to slow?
Did those who watched the pigs run off
The cliff into thin air
Know He’d made demons flee from one
Who then gave thanks in prayer?
Did those who yelled out, “Crucify!”
From deep within the crowd
Know that they’d soon regret their choice,
Their hearts no longer proud?
Did those who saw the risen Lord
And found the empty tomb
Know that they couldn’t hide from Him
Inside a barred, locked room?
Do we today know He is God,
Creator, Savior, Friend,
And that He won’t forsake us but
Stay with us till the end?

© 2013 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

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Do We See?

Posted on March 9, 2013 by dforchrist

This has kind of a “Mary, Did You Know” flavor to it. It was the inspiration, but I wanted to do something a little different. This did come out different, though not quite as I had wanted. It’s hard for me to judge accurately how good/bad something is when it isn’t what I wanted, but after a bit of time, I think I like it.

Image courtesy digidreamgrafix / freedigitalphotos.net

Do We See?

A tiny, helpless baby boy
Or mighty God on high?
The angels’ voices blended with
His mother’s lullaby.
The shepherds gathered ‘round the babe
And marvelled at the sight.
But how much did they understand
Of what went on that night?
Did they know that this Baby Boy
Was God’s true, living Son?
Did they know in a few short years
He’d cry out, “It is done!”
Did any of the people there
Know that He’d bleed and die
Upon a rough cross made of wood?
How many heard his cry,
“Father, please forgive them for
They know not what they do,”
As He died on that wooden cross
To save them and us, too?
Did teachers of the Torah know
They taught the Author there?
Did they not see their God with them
Or did they just not care?
His brothers just could not believe
He was the Holy One.
Until He died and rose again
To show He was God’s Son.
I have to ask myself, do I
Know who He really is?
And can I say that my whole heart
Is, first and foremost, His?
I read the psalms and scriptures and
I pray to Him each day,
To learn to see Him as He is
And learn to walk His way.
I do not want to be so blind
That I can fail to see
My Lord and King, Redeemer, God,
Or what He’s done for me.

© 2012 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

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Why Read It?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by dforchrist

Sorry for the dearth of posts this month. I’ve been fighting a migraine that will not quit. By God’s grace, it backs off enough to let me do what I need to do…but little more than that. So today, you get an older poem.

A couple of years ago, I was reading my Bible in the break room at work and was asked a question that totally floored me and I didn’t even know how to answer. This was my response…penned a bit later, of course.

Image courtesy Iamnee / Freedigitalphotos.net

Why Read It?

“Why do you read the Bible?”
Someone said to me one day.
“I’m sure you’ve read it all before;
You know what it will say.”
I just stared back in disbelief .
Why would I read the Word?
Truly, I could not believe
The question I’d just heard.
“Why do you eat?” I almost said.
“Why do you breathe the air?”
I find things I need to live
Inside the covers there.
I find God’s love and mercy and
Some hope for better times.
I find such strength and comfort
Always buried in the lines.
“For God so loved the world He gave
His one and only Son.”
And that is how the battle for
My soul was finally won.
How could I not desire to read
Such words of love each day?
I love to read about the Life,
The Truth, the only Way.
You must have never read the Word
To ask me such a thing.
I recommend you try it out;
It makes the soul to sing.
Try John or Psalms or Job or else
Read Proverbs and I’d say
That you’ll gain so much from the task
You’ll read it every day.

©2011

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

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God Has Plans

Posted on February 28, 2013 by dforchrist

I got several verses coming together in my head and felt the need to put them together in a poem. I’m not sure I did it justice, as it seems a little disjointed to me, but then, I know where the thoughts intersected, so I see that in my parts as more distinct than others usually do. Please let me know if there are parts that don’t flow smoothly.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Image credit: Re-Ver(sing) Verses

God Has Plans

We are the workmanship of God
Created in His Son
To do good works that God has planned
That, by us, should be done.
He has great plans for those He’s called
For purposes He knows.
He knows just what the end will be
For works He will propose.
His thoughts toward us are all of peace;
He has no evil schemes.
The wondrous things that He’s prepared
Are far beyond man’s dreams.
So you should not feel any fear
In trusting in His name.
He’ll keep you safely in His care.
That is why Jesus came.
His sacrifice upon the cross
To bear the sins of all
Is just one of the means God used
To counteract the Fall.
He has plans for your future if
You’ll offer Him your trust.
Just place your life in His strong hands
His aims are pure and just.
With Christ all things are possible.
If we’ll just put away
Our selfish pride and follow God
He’ll lead us in His way.
He has new mercies every morn
For those who come to Him.
Without His love and grace toward us
Eternity looks grim.

© 2013 Denise McKenney

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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

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Satan’s Playbook

Posted on February 25, 2013 by dforchrist

"For we are not unaware of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Image courtesy of KROMKRATHOG / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Satan’s Playbook

Now Satan has a playbook that
He uses on us all.
His one objective is to see
A Christian trip and fall.
He twists the truth and uses lies
To make us doubt God’s love
And blind us so we cannot see
God’s light shine from above.
He tells us we’re unworthy, so
God really doesn’t care.
And He won’t hear a thing we say
When we kneel down in prayer.
He tells us that we’ve gone too far
To ever make it back.
He spends his time reminding us
Of all the things we lack.
He tries to stir up envy and
He will appeal to greed.
He’ll foster desperation, saying
God won’t meet our need.
He’ll twist God’s words with questions:
Did God really, truly say…?
If God’s word isn’t in our hearts
Then Satan wins today.
He’ll sow confusion and mistrust
In promises God gave
And even God’s ability
Through Jesus’ blood to save.
He’ll make it seem that he will win
And God (and we) will lose.
He’ll try to make us turn from God
Or tell us not to choose.
He’ll get us to procrastinate
By telling us there’s time
And we can choose God later
Once we’re cleaned of sin’s dark grime.
He stokes our pride and tells us that
We really don’t need God.
He takes us off the narrow road
To his way, bent and broad.
We must protect ourselves from him
And thwart his every scheme.
Don’t listen to the devil, just
Remember, God’s supreme.

©2013 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

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