Salvation’s Song

Posted on February 14, 2013 by dforchrist

This is another one I can hardly claim authorship of at all. The words came to me on the drive home from work. I was very grateful for voice recognition on my phone, as I dictated most of this on my phone before I even got home. It is a totally different rhythm and rhyme scheme than I have ever done before. It came to me via a still, small voice.

Childrens Music Camp logo

Graphic credit: SCBC

Salvation’s Song

When this world tries to get me down
Grind me down into the ground,
Where on earth can hope be found?
I turn eyes to the maker of
The heavens filled with stars above,
Who offers His eternal love,
The One who loves me as I am,
The sinless One, the spotless Lamb,
Ancient of Days, the great I Am.
I thank You, Lord, for giving me,
Your word, your grace, which sets me free.
Your child and heir I’ll always be.
I give my life to You alone,
I offer heart and blood and bone,
But this for sin could not atone.
Your blood was shed to cleanse each sin,
To bring me back from where I’ve been
And make me right with God again.
Your mercy, love and saving grace,
Your sacrifice to take my place
Removed my sins without a trace.
All I can say is, “Thank you so
For helping me to learn and grow.”
You’re all I need. Lord, this I know.

© 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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Trust Him

Posted on February 12, 2013 by dforchrist

I wrote this several years ago when a cousin died. I need to go back and look up the exact year. Rereading this, I realized that this works for more than just the death of a loved one. We walk by faith at all times, whether we understand where He’s leading us or not.

bible god quotes 700 Things happen for a reason

Trust Him

Although sometimes things happen that
We cannot understand
We always must remember that
We’re guided by God’s hand.
Some paths that he may lead us down
We’d just as soon not go,
But we must trust His reasons for
The pain He makes us know.
His methods can’t be understood
While we are here on earth.
We simply have to trust that He
Will lead us all from birth
Through life until we breathe our last
And join Him by the throne.
Until that day we travel blind,
By faith in Him alone.

© 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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Footprints

Posted on February 9, 2013 by dforchrist

Most people have seen the story about the Footprints in the Sand (Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson). I decided to retell it in rhyme. I added a little at the end, as well. So what do you think?

Footprints

Footprints

One night I had a dream I walked
A beach with soft, wet sand.
Beside me was my Savior as
We walked there, hand in hand.
Just like a giant movie screen
Stretched out across the sky,
I watched as all the many scenes
Of my life flashed right by.
I saw the games, the laughter and
The triumphs and the tears.
I felt again the joys of life,
The pain and many fears.
When we had reached the end I turned,
Wait! What is this I see?
One set of prints in places!?!
Well, that really troubled me.
“My Lord, You made a promise that
If I would follow You,
You’d always be there with me and
Would help me make it through.
But as I look, I see one print
In times when I was weak.”
His eyes were sad, His voice was soft,
When He began to speak.
“Where is your faith? You’ve felt my love,
My precious, precious child.”
Though I could see my charge hurt Him
His voice was soft and mild.
“You know my promise, that I said
I’d always stay with you.
And I would be your shield and strength
If you would just be true.
The times you look and see just one
Clear print there in the sand,
I carried you, for in those times
You were too weak to stand.”
Though this was just a dream I knew
His every word was true.
Remember, as He carried me
He’ll also carry you.
So in your life if you look back
At one print in the sand,
You’ll know it’s when He carried you
Because you could not stand.

©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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Big Problems

Posted on February 7, 2013 by dforchrist

Always remember that your biggest problems aren’t problems to God. He can handle anything.

I was listening to a podcast (can’t remember now which one, sorry) and they told a story about someone who had told her pastor that she didn’t “bother God” with little things, only big problems. His reply was to ask her what was a “big problem” to God! I have also seen a saying on Facebook, “Instead of staying up all night worrying, give your worries to God tonight. He’ll be up anyway.” These two were the inspiration for the following poem.

I want to thank my wonderfully patient husband for his help and critiques that helped me really improve this poem greatly. He never gets impatient (though I’m sure sometimes he mentally rolls his eyes) when he hears, “Listen to this and tell me what you think,” or “Listen now and see if this is better.” Thanks, Dave!

bible god quotes 607 Don’t worry about anything

Big Problems

“I shouldn’t bother God with this
It isn’t big enough.
I’ll save my prayers to ask for help
When things are really tough.”
If you’ve said this, or if you’ve feared
That this thought might be true,
I’m here to say that I don’t think
You’ve really thought it through.
Please tell me what is tough to God?
He made the stars and sun;
He made the earth and you and me.
Just think what He has done!
For the creator of the world,
It’s not too big or small.
For He can count the grains of sand
And knows when sparrows fall.
It’s all small stuff to God and yet
He truly cares for you.
Give all your cares—whatever size—
To God to see you through.
It’s not too small to God and so
Just place it in His hands.
Don’t let your cares be driven by
This broken world’s demands.
In anything that bothers you,
What really bothers God
Is that you keep it to yourself.
Your logic here is flawed.
If worries are a burden and
They hold you back today,
Then give them up to God tonight.
He’ll be up anyway.

©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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God’s Light

Posted on February 6, 2013 by dforchrist

I got this idea about how the closer we are to God, the more flawed we see ourselves in comparison. I started comparing it to light, like a sun/star that when dim and far away, doesn’t reveal much, but as it gets closer, it is brighter and you can see more. Star light compared to noonday sun. It seemed to me that the closer you get to Him, the more He reveals to you about yourself. This is like a two-edged sword and can sometimes make you want to shrink away, like Isaiah when he saw the glory of the Lord, but the warmth also draws you continually closer. So out of these ponderings, came this poem.

 

Photo credit: Jesus Dust

God’s Light

When you are standing far from God,
His light is like a star:
It doesn’t help dispel the dark
Or let you see too far.
It seems so insignificant;
How could it light your way?
It’s just a tiny dot of light;
Your world is dark and gray.
Yet as you walk up closer, you
Can see a bit more light.
His beams are now more like the moon:
Still dim but growing bright.
You start to see the things around;
Your world is larger now.
But they still look just so unreal
And colorless, somehow.
But if you’ll give your life to Christ
You’ll find the Son is bright.
Like morning peeking through the clouds,
He fills your world with light.
New wonders show up every day;
New colors all around:
Brown earth, red rose, green grass is seen
On what seemed barren ground.
And if you walk up closer still
God is the noonday sun.
You cannot look directly there;
It’s brightness you will shun.
It shows up all your hidden flaws;
Your faults are laid in view
You feel so naked and exposed.
You know He’s seeing you.
Yet still, you feel His warmth and love.
You see no shadows there.
There’s nothing dark or dirty left
When He has laid you bare.
Your world is brighter now by far
Than it has ever seemed.
It’s filled with color, love and hope,
With overflowing dreams.
You can’t contain the love and light,
Reflecting in your eyes.
It’s too much for you all alone
So big, it fills the skies.
I ask, How bright is God to you?
Does He light up your day?
If so, please share with everyone,
His love in every way.

© 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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Deuteronomy 29:29

Posted on February 4, 2013 by dforchrist

I wrote this a couple of years ago for a young woman who had been through several tragedies in a very short period. Today, I learned of another young woman who tried to end her life. I pray that God will speak to her and even more importantly, that she will listen. I pray these words will help someone else who might need to hear them because he or she is going through a rough time. Please turn to God.

Deuteronomy 29-29 alt

photo credit: ReflectionsInTheWord.org

Deuteronomy 29:29

(Deu 29:29 KJV)  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The secret things belong to God;
Not all has been revealed.
We have to stumble in the dark
With many things concealed.
At times like this, the only thing
That we can really do
Is try to find the Blessed Light
To help us make it through.
You’ve gone through dark and tortured times
You cannot understand
But if you trust that God sees all
And reach out for His hand
He’ll guide you safely through the dark.
In time, you’ll find the Light.
The morning sun will shine again;
You’ll see the end of night.

©2011 Denise McKenney

May God bless you and comfort you.

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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Nail-Scarred Hands

Posted on February 3, 2013 by dforchrist

Something to remember:

nail_scarred_hands_jpg

Nail-Scarred Hands

His hands and feet both bear the scars
Put on them for our sin.
His wounds allowed us peace with God;
We’re reconciled again.
Now He is back in heaven and
We are His hands and feet.
And we may also have some scars.
(Life isn’t safe or neat.)
The world may see us flawed and worn
(We’re sinners after all),
But it should never see us bowed.
With Christ’s strength we’ll stand tall.
We Christians are not perfect, but
We still must strive to show
That we are Jesus’ nail-scarred hands,
While through this world we go.

©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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139th Psalm

Posted on February 1, 2013 by dforchrist

This one came to me in the middle of the night. Insomnia usually doesn’t equal inspiration for me; it usually just causes incoherence. When God speaks, however, the words are clear and beautiful, even if I’m exhausted and muddle-headed. Enjoy this rhyming version of Psalm 139 He gave to me. (Note: I am not trying to say I am re-writing the Bible, just writing poems at times based on Bible verses. The real thing is much better.)

photo credit: Mission Venture Ministries

139th Psalm

Oh Lord, I know You’ve searched me and
You know me very well.
You know my standing, sitting, thoughts
Before a soul could tell.
You know the path I plan to take
And when I take my rest.
You are the One who knows my ways
And thoughts the very best.
I cannot speak a word that You
Don’t know before it sounds.
You are behind me and before.
Your hand is all around.
Such knowledge is too wonderful
For me to comprehend.
I cannot understand Your ways
Or where it all may end.
Where can I hide from You, O God,
Where can I try to flee?
If I ascend to heaven, Lord,
You’re there ahead of me.
If I should make my bed in hell,
Behold, You’re also there.
If I take wings of morning and
Dwell in the sea somewhere
Thy hand still leads me and I’m held
In Your unfailing hand.
If I ask darkness, “Hide me, now.”
Your light still fills the land.
The darkness shall not hide me for
The night shines bright as days.
The darkness and the light are just
Alike beneath your gaze.
For You alone have formed my parts
Within my mother’s womb.
I praise You for I’m so well-made:
A miracle in bloom.
Your works are marvelous, O God,
My soul knows this is true.
My substance was not hidden there
As I was made by You.
Some secret place, I know not where,
You found my every part,
And fashioned me as written:
Head, toes, arms and legs and heart!
How precious are Your thoughts toward me!
How great their number, too!
If I should try to count them out–
That’s something I can’t do!
They number more than grains of sand.
Whenever I awake,
You’re always there, and so, O God,
This is the prayer I make:
Please slay the wicked; make them leave
For they speak wickedly.
Those who misuse Your name, I hate!
They are my enemy.
Do I not hate these evil men
Who take Your name in vain?
O search me, God, and know my heart
To You, my thoughts are plain.
Please see if there’s a wicked way
That’s hidden deep in me
And lead me in Your righteousness.
Forever, let it be.
Amen

© 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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A BOTTLE OF ANGEL DUST

Posted on January 31, 2013 by dforchrist

Here’s an older poem I wrote some time ago. I put it with little bottles and sold them as craft items.

Magic Angel Dust Glass Bottle Necklace - White Glitter

Photo credit: etsy (This is not anything I am selling; I am only using the picture.)

A BOTTLE OF ANGEL DUST

A bottle filled with angel dust
Reminds you of this fact:
You’re never truly all alone,
Though friends you’ve felt you lacked.
God chose a special angel to
Be near you through each day,
And help you walk the proper path
If you should lose your way.
Your angel sprinkles dust around
To help guide you along,
And help you chose which path to take.
The dusty one is long
And difficult to follow, but
Its destination lies
In heaven where you’ll always see
Clear blue and cloudless skies.
This dust cannot be seen with eyes,
But only with the heart.
Just close your eyes and trust the Lord;
That faith will help you start.
So let this jar of angel dust
Help you when life’s storms hit.
The dusty road is difficult
But angels travel it.

©2000 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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Daily Prayer

Posted on January 31, 2013 by dforchrist

This is a rhyming version of the familiar Lord’s Prayer. See if it makes you think about the words and meanings of the original a little differently.

Daily Prayer

Daily Prayer

Oh, heavenly Father, King of Kings,
We lift our voice in prayer.
We worship You and thank You that
We’re in Your loving care.
We’re longing for Your reign to start
Your will to rule on earth.
Your just and righteous reign will give
Our weary hearts rebirth.
We thank You for provision and
Your Word as daily bread.
You give us food and scripture so
Our flesh and souls are fed.
Forgive us, Lord, for all our sins
And help us to forgive
Whoever may do wrong to us.
We can’t let grudges live.
And lead us, Lord, along the paths
Of righteousness with you,
Away from all temptation and
Away from evil, too.
Protect us from the evil one
Who wants to take our souls
And help us walk Your righteous path
And to fulfill Your goals.
For You have all authority,
And power to the end.
The glory all belongs to You.
We love you, God. Amen.

©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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