
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Life’s just a perpetual piecing together of broken bits.

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Life’s just a perpetual piecing together of broken bits.
From Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.'”

Coveting greed, money, power
Like Judas, actions tasting sour
God’s teachings, pushing them aside
Sowing seeds, giving up control
Loving money above all else
Trading Christ, reaping sin’s bankroll
Souls filling with love of money
Lusting for power, endless greed
Selling even our Savior Jesus
Cashing evil’s footprints, each deed
Life’s journey ending in ruins
Betraying Christ for power’s game
Walking with our selfish Judas
Missing out on Salvation’s claim
Lovers of ourselves, over Christ
Following evil’s empty voice
Draining life’s grace-empty wallets
Realizing now, God offers choice
Born into this world, with nothing
Taking nothing from planet earth
Living within self, contentment
Walking with Jesus, our rebirth

From 1 Timothy 6:9-10: “But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

Whenever you feel defeated, remember this: As believers, we have all the power needed to live as God desires, because He has given us His Holy Spirit.
From John 14:15-17: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you.”
From Psalm 31:1-2: “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

Life struggles with loneliness
Days without human contact
Isolation grows, lights go dim
Time without purpose, sidetracked
Scorned, rejected, forgotten
Christ also feels all alone
Where have His disciples gone?
Taunted, tortured, overthrown
Holy God always at work
Cries of loneliness, He heeds
Our needs, never glossed over
Spirit moves others to lead
Alone, never life’s last word
Visits from others arrive
Blessed comfort sealed with love
Sustaining light will survive
Darkest loneliness leaving
Empty hearts fill with courage
Father’s love touching each soul
His blessings shall encourage
God’s love remaining steadfast
At death’s cross, Christ not alone
Darkened, empty tomb proclaims
God’s triumph, faith’s cornerstone

From Psalm 31:14-16: “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”

Darkness comes by the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do as He likes with us–prepared to be separated from conscious blessings? Until Jesus Christ is Lord, we all have ends of our own to serve; our faith is real, but it is not permanent yet.
From John 16:32-33: “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”
Prayer and Scripture
Witnessing His promises—
God forever first

Always will be mine
Choosing righteous, not wicked—
God forever first

Patience shall reward
Life’s faithful obedience—
God forever first


Jesus wants to pray with us and to have us pray with Him, so that we may be confident and glad that God hears us.
From Psalm 147:12-15: “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He strengthens the bars of your gates; He blesses your children within you. He grants peace[a] within your borders; He fills you with the finest of wheat. He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.”

Oh, Brother!
Sometimes people look at me in a sort of puzzlin’ way
They just don’t appreciate my approach to each day
Through their eyes, I must be an utter red-neck
They fail to understand my life, not one lil’ speck
Some say I have an accent when speakin’
Darn if I know, I’m just talkin’ and seekin’
Before I digress too much further, let’s see
I live in America, lookin’ always to be free
My Daddy taught me the major differences in life
Between right and wrong, always love one’s wife
My Mommy shared her love of nature’s delights
Her bountiful garden, with colors always bright
Growin’ up in an awfully small, yet welcome place
Life remain’ balanced and gentle, a relaxin’ pace
Joinin’ the U.S. Navy at the earliest possible age
Livin’ on an aircraft carrier, like workin’ in a cage
Comin’ ashore to meet a lady for a date
Becomin’ my lovely wife and first mate
Receivin’ a degree with honors from Silage Tech
Not regrettin’ my time there, never wantin’ to fret
My best friends live and labor on farms and ranches
We hook-up on Saturday nights for fun-filled dances
Livin’ in the countryside, but drivin’ to my job in town
People say I’ve been too busy, never makin’ a sound
Can’t they see who’s followin’ me down the walk
Two lil’ youngins, brothers lovin’ to play and talk
My two boys, Pete and Re-Pete, makin’ me proud
Even when their horseplay gets a tiny bit too loud
Oh, Brother!


It’s a man’s sincerity and depth of vision that makes him a poet.
Silence is more eloquent than words.
From John 3:14-17: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Holy God of Abraham and Sarah
His Tree of Life blesses generations
Throughout Creation’s awesome certainty
Into Christ’s death, reborn as new nations
When rising with each new, precious morning
Blessed by our Father’s love, mercy, and grace
Witnessing His divine truth, now spoken
Passing on to each act and word we place
Walking as His body, the Son of Man
Sanctified through His sacrificial blood
Christ leads, encouraging all to follow
Life streaming to pristine sea, free of mud
Broken lives, breathing as imperfections
Life’s daily missteps, forever stumbling
Christ’s forgiveness showers each soul with love
Pardoning sinners, no longer tumbling
Grace-filled Holy Spirit moves within us
Offering necessary strength and hope
Fueling deep faith, God’s awesome certainty
Go forth, blessed and ready, walk life’s tightrope

Here is a special song, written by American composer, Marty Haugen, “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery.” This short tune is filled with inspiring verses.