O Lord, Seek Us

O Lord, seek us, find
     In Thy patient care;
By Thy love before, behind us,
     Round us everywhere:
Lest the god of this world blind us,
     Lest he speak us fair
Lest he forge a chain to bind us,
     Lest he bait a snare.
Turn not from us, call to mind us,
     Find, embrace us, bear;
Be Thy love before, behind us,
     Round us, everywhere.

by Christina Rossetti   1830-1894

Surrender

Lord, I lift my feeble hands;
I entrust my humble husband -
Placing him in Your loving care,
Lifting him up in constant prayer.
Take him with Your steady hands
As he travels into foreign lands.

Guide him as he teaches.
Bless the Word he preaches.
Sustain him in Your arms;
Protect him from all harm.
May my soul be still
As I trust Your Holy Will.

by Julie Dunlap   1-24-2012

Note: My husband is going to Tanzania to teach evangelists all of  this month and the first week of March.  May God bless his time away.

Prodigal Son

Come back, my precious son, come back.
My grieved heart sends forth deep sighs.
I call to you, my son, come back.
Get loose of the crafty enemy's lies.

I recall bright boyhood days.
You knew the love of our saving Lord.
Tricks and deceptions led you astray;
Dormant in your captive heart lies God's Word.

Your Father loves you deeply, my son,
Eager to take you in outspread arms.
His mercy follows after you, my precious son.
The blood of Jesus breaks Satan's deadly charms.

by Julie Dunlap    9-25-2000

Many years ago I wrote this poem for Caleb, and I praise the Lord that he came back to our Father's outstretched arms.  The angels in heaven rejoice and celebrate his return.

To Be Like Thee

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

     And wild and sweet

     The words repeat,

Of  'Peace on earth, good will to men!'

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

     Had rolled along

     The unbroken song,

Of  'Peace on earth, good will to men!"

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day---

     A voice, a chime,

     A chant sublime,

Of  'Peace on earth, good will to men!'

And in despair I bowed my head;

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

     'For hate is strong

     And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

     The wrong shall fail,

     The right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men!'

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow    1807-1882

This 'peace on earth, good will to men' comes to us as we trust God with our whole being.  This is a peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

'

Emmanuel

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Upon the earth, You came to dwell.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
You loved us so, our sin to quell.
To Thee we sing - Emmanuel.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Our God with us, our soul made well.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
We thank You, Lord, with Thee we dwell.
Praise to the King - Emmanuel.

by Julie Dunlap   12-24-2011

Balulalow

O my dear heart, young Jesus sweet,
Prepare thy cradle in my spirit,
And I shall rock thee in my heart
And never more from thee depart.

But I shall praise thee evermore
With songs sweet to thy glory;
The knees of my heart shall I bow,
And sing that right Balulalow!

By James, John, and Robert Wedderburn    1567