In Your Holy Arms (2009)

When problems begin rolling in, you implore us not to wonder
But, "wherefore" questions begin to roar like fear inducing thunder
Striving to surrender to faith the "how comes" and the "whys"
As the weight of the cross grows oppressive and tears fill up the eyes

Human nature overcomes, we find ourselves inside
Contemplating reasons behind the frightening ride
For many burdens in this life you ask us to endure
When we see our children sick we ask you for a cure

So, our inability to see eternal makes us want to know
If for our children we want peace why with you it isn't so
Turning to the Scriptures left we know our feelings lie
For love you are and ever will be and pain does make you sigh

Hence, when our burdens weigh us down, the ride has gotten eerie
In Your Holy arms You wrap your children who've grown weary
The bigger picture we can't see, the Love we turn away from
Thus, continue rapping on our hearts until our queries mum

Bewilderment

Sing in the morning, cry in the afternoon, sing again at night
Highs and lows all day long, it is a vicious fight
Confused as to the hows and whys, the wondering all day long
Why so high, why so low; bright, bleak beat to the song

Bleak and bright all at once, you may be asking your mind
It's true, I know not how, but rush of emotions betide
So confusion sets in to the one that must master, emotions beyond control
For if you can suffer external bewilderment, imagine my internal soul

Grain of Rice (2009)

Our faith is like a grain of rice, a single grain alone
But, when we add another one, our faith begins to grow
Jesus tells us when there's more than one gathered in His name
Our prayers are heard, our praises claimed, our belief likely to remain

Although, we're asked to go alone and pray to not reward in pride
We're also asked to build a church and gather numerous inside
A grain of rice all alone, will not a hearty meal make
But gather grains from all around will fill the stomach's ache

It is the same with Christians that gather all around
Alone in faith they will find their return to the solitary town
All alone they'll begin to think Jesus is not there
Together they should find stark protection from Satan's lair

Blissful, distressing, tumultuous times, the truth remains the same
Without the Lord by your side, you'll find yourself ashamed
For through the Lord we do the things that are pleasing to our Father
Without the Lord to walk with us, our efforts we should not bother

And it is only with the Church, that you remain in faith
It's the strength in faith the Church supplies, you'll receive His Holy Grace
We are called not to walk solitary, for we are bound to fail
In His Holy Book we're told, together our faith won't pale

Of course, your faith is personal, the Lord walks by your side
But, without brothers, sisters to support, you'll find a tougher ride
So, gather many grains of rice, and fill a hefty bowl
Allow the meal to satiate and redeem your newly born soul

Son-in-Law

(This requires some background. This poem is the comic relief that I promised. My father read my one of those "Dear Abby", "Ann Landers" type articles...I think he said it was "Dear Amy". The question was from a fifty year old man, with a wife and two children. His father-in-law had himself retired at the age of fifty, sold a lucrative business and enjoyed the high life. The in-laws ran into some financial difficulty and asked each of their children to send them 300 dollars per month. The now fifty year old son-in-law, was needless to say, not too thrilled. He questioned whether he should force his wife to go back to work(and threw in some digs about her over-spending as well). The original article was much more humorous than I am able to give you, but here was my take...)

Golf resorts, cars and boats
Retirement fund depleted
Great enjoyment from fifty on
But, now my son-in-law feels cheated

I sent a letter to my children
Asking for monthly funds
The reply from my daughter's husband
Had my good mood come undone

Why should I give up my porche
My country club and gym
I have the right to live it up
Don't know what's bothering him

He works to pay for my grandkids
To live it up as well
But, lousy husband to my daughter
She must feel she's in hell

She called me crying, all upset
He demands she goes to work
Just to pay for his in-laws
Oh man, what a slimy jerk

He seems to not understand
Responsibility he has
I raised a beauty for him to wed
What nerve to treat us bad

If I had to do it all again
I'd refuse my daughter's hand
And find a rich, naive lad
To become my little girl's man

A Simple Prayer (2009)

Lord, give your protection, send it down to me
Keep my mind from crumbling and bless my family

Lord, give your love, wrap me in your arms
Take away my pain, my anxious state of alarm

Lord, give your wisdom, help me to discern
Grasping meaning in Your Word, helping me to learn

Lord, give your peace, beyond my imagination
Peace so deep that I will feel no need for explanation

Lord, give your salvation, cleanse me of my sin
Take my life forever more, change I must begin

Lord, take my prayers, listen to my pleas
Help me trust in you, more often on my knees

Lord, take my worries, lift my mind on high
Rid me of the evil thoughts, from this day til I die

Lord, take my worship, take all I have to give
Help me know that you alone are reason I must live

Lord, take my faith, the faith I have in Christ
My saving faith that confirms my blessed eternal life

Lord, take my confession, forgive me all my wrongs
When the time is Yours, bring me home to angels' songs

The Gentle Breeze (2009)

Wind so strong we're shaken, shadows upon the earth
We feel we're being tested, we feel that we've been cursed
Dark clouds have come rolling in, tension on the rise
We're caught off guard, resentful of the unpleasant surprise

We hurry to bow down, hastening out of the rain
But seldom do we hit our knees in faith relieving pain
Soaked and scared, tired, wet, we hide beneath the tree
Head is down to protect;so, truth we cannot see

Thunder roaring, lightning bolts, refusing the disguise
Some will see with shadowed sight, dark clouds mark their eyes
Silent time to take it in and you will find the source
Take off the shades, look up, find the beauty in the force

Perception is a choice, so take another look
God has given you the answers in His Holy Book
Bowing down for shelter is unlike worship on your knees
For those upon their knees in faith, will feel a gentle breeze

Ho Hum (2009)

A crowded brain where thoughts are few
What does it mean, impart a clue
For thoughts to circle and crowd your mind
But, they mean nothing, not mean or kind

It's as if it's all just noise
Clanging, clattering, big band toys
Squeezing pain, constant jumble
Left vs. right in a rough and tumble

A fight that no one side has won
Long fighting that hasn't just begun
It comes and goes throughout the day
As minutes and hours drift away

No one else will understand
They'll say kind things and shake your hand
They'll say that time will make it gone
But peace you long for and there's none

Peace from the words that make no sense
Peace from the noise that makes you tense
You pray and count and wait and see
If life will ever become easy

Cause it's hard as hell to sit and wait
To see if craziness abates
It's difficult when you need to be
A mom, a wife, a friend to thee

It becomes impossible to live in peace
You beg God for some mind release
You preach that you should just accept
But, in reality your needs aren't met

Confusion takes control of you
It's seen in everything you do
So, good to no one you've become
And life ticks on ho hum ho hum