Patience is not simply the ability to wait–it’s “how” we behave while we’re waiting.
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. “
Joyce Meyer (born 1943) is an American Christian author and speaker.
Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie
Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery
Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early
Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly
This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay
Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day
With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales
Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails
Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite
Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights
Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now
Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows
Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then
Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben
About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home
Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam
Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now
Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow
Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun
Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done
Originally published August, 2020.
Answered prayer is the interchange of love between the Father and His child.
From 2 Chronicles 7:12-15: “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.'”
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African Christian pastor, writer, and teacher. He believed that Christians should always place a great emphasis on maintaining a rich, personal devotional life.
This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer. God’s peace!
Lives pretending to follow a Holy God
Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit
Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ
Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it
Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times
Behaving outside of our Father’s design
Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right
Only walking with Jesus, should lives align
Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest
Thirsty for true living water and care
This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace
Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers
Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation
Unifying voices throughout this nation
From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23: “So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
Originally published August, 2020.
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Bless the Lord’s name forever
Sing praises for Holy deeds
His greatness stands infinite
Loving us like tender reeds
Witness our Lord’s mighty acts
Share with each generation
His greatness lauds His goodness
Building our firm foundation
Recall love works from His hands
Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love
His greatness flows with mercy
Protecting us from above
Call on the Father this day
Pray to Him on humble knees
His greatness lighting the way
Watching over all He sees
From Psalm 145:17-18: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Originally published August, 2020.
If we are to discover the Lord’s best for our life, we must trust His way is better than our plans and desires.
From Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you.”
Singing
Worship hymns
Praising Father above
In His Holy name
Gathering
Gathering
Congregation’s joy
Honoring Father’s Word
Faith nourished with grace
Blessing
Blessing
One Body
Father’s welcoming place
Uniting voices with hope
Togetherness
From Psalm 107:1-2: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those He redeemed from trouble.”
Facing journey’s many troubles
Wilderness darkness creeping in
Praying to heavens high above
God’s unshaken love, faith’s linchpin
Praising God for enduring grace
Thirsty hunger, now quenched and fed
Sharing thanks for every sunrise
Faith nourished with His daily bread
Witnessing God’s benevolence
His wondrous works shall never end
Turning deserts into rivers
Faithful courage shall now defend
Breaking free from sin’s chains of gloom
Salvation descends from heavens
Shattering enemy’s falsehoods
Taste of freedom, blessed with leaven
Redeeming from journey’s troubles
God’s mercy delivers His light
Covering landscape with His peace
Darkness gives up her final fight
From Psalm 107:8-9: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind. For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.”
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Originally published July, 2020.
From Psalm 32:7: “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”
With faces toward the rising sun
Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness
Coming to the Cross, with repentance
Humbly laying our transgressions there
On our knees, breaking bread together
In remembrance, Jesus truly cares
Coming to the Cross, seeking its hope
With reverence, looking to our Lord
On our knees, drinking wine together
Singing with praise to His perfect chord
Coming to the Cross, stained with red blood
Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior
On our knees, praising God together
Walking with transforming behavior
With faces toward the rising sun
Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness
Big Sky Buckeye 