Autumn Days

Autumn days are here

With splendid colors arrayed!

Ah, the feel in the air

Of a beautiful autumn day!

Hear the merry laughter

Of children piling leaves,

And gaze across the fields

As farmers bring in the sheaves.

Bushels of apples are being picked

to be made into cider so sweet;

Or how about a delicious pie?

M-m-m, yummy, what a treat!

I love to hear the honking

Of geese on a nearby pond.

Yes, autumn is a happy time;

We'll cherish memories fond!

The basement shelves are filled

For all our winter supply.

So we;ll say 'welcome autumn',

And to summer we'll say 'good-bye'! 

                                                       

                                                       by Rachel Plank

                                                       October 19, 2011

Yours

Yours

Lord, with my arms wide open

And my hands stretched out

I'm putting my hope in You,

And giving You my all....

From here on out.

Where You send, I'll go,

From China to New York,

Whether with rich or poor,

My trust is forever in You.

If it's through simple prayers,

Or saving tiny orphan girls,

Even when people scoff and scorn,

I'll still be serving You.

When life brings storms,

Your name is still to be praised

Because I know Your promise, 

And there will be a rainbow in the end.

My life is in Your hands,

And You are in my life.

I serve through Your name

And I love with Your heart

Because I am Yours.

Oh, Lord, I am Yours forever.

by Sveta Dunlap    Sept., 2012

Note:  I am so thankful to see God at work in our daughter, and I thank Sveta for sharing her heart through this poem.  The ultimate goal of Christian parents is that our children will love and serve Christ throughout their lives so that they bring honor and glory to God Almighty. 

'Tis the Bottom Rung

'Tis the bottom rung
   Where grace abounds
   Agape love surrounds
   Thy people all around -
      This world of sorrows,
      This world of joys.
I trust in Thee, O Lord.
I gird Thy mighty sword.
I learn to live Thy holy Word.

'Tis the bottom rung
   Where faith declares
   Christ's love calls us to share
   Share Christ's love everywhere -
      This world of sorrows,
      This world of joys.
We trust in Thee, O Lord.
We gird Thy mighty sword.
We learn to live Thy holy Word.

by Julie Dunlap  8-19-2012

Note:  I have been reading E. Stanley Jones' book Christian Maturity from which I wrote this song and the following idea. It is Christ Jesus who comes to us at the bottom rung of the ladder and lifts us up as we trust in Him.  In all other religions, people strive to reach God in various ways by climbing up to the top of the ladder. Even Christians often try to climb the ladder up to God, yet it is when we humble ourselves that God's grace is poured out abundantly and we experience agape love.  Upon receiving God's agape love, we are filled with gratitude and overflowing with God's love to share with those whom we live with and those we meet upon life's trail.

Dean's Prayer

Dad’s Prayer:

My Lord and my God,

I desire always and am here only to do your will.

I am what you’ve made me.

Thank you for your love

and the love of everyone you’ve given me.

By your freely given grace alone do I function.

Teach me Love, Humility and Compassion.

Forgive me my abundant sins.

Help me overcome temptation and though I miss the mark,

guide me back, help me climb,

lift me up into the outstreched arms of your supreme sacrifice.

Know I am striving to rest forever in your love,

and grant that my striving is emough.

Amen.

(Dean White)

Note:  Dean  crossed over to glory land on September 1st, and is at last free from the pain of cancer he battled for two years.  It was such a pleasure to get to know Dean over the past five years.  He stayed at our home in 2007 for two weeks, helping insulate our new house and helping build our porch.  Since then we had some contact and saw him a few times when we were out West.  He was an example of love in action and word, and I am so thankful our paths crossed. I am thankful that his family shared this prayer that Dean wrote, and may it be the prayer of my heart also.

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged Cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old Cross, where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged Cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, the old rugged Cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged Cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

In the old rugged Cross, stained with Blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For t'was on that old Cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged Cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

To the old rugged Cross I will ever be true.
Its shame and reproach gladly bear.
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged Cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

By George Bernard, 1873-1958

What a powerful hymn!  I learned this hymn last month and find it hard to stop singing once I get started on it.  Christ Jesus embraced humiliation and pain on the Cross for the love God has for each one of us.  We are called to pick up our cross daily, whatever pain it may bring, for the sake of sharing Christ's love with the people in our lives. I suggest that you sing this song from start to finish, and see what effect it has on your spirit.  God's blessings upon all of you who take the time to read this poetry blog.

Fix My Mind

Fix my mind on Thee, O Lord;
Fix my thoughts upon Thy Word.

   Father all glorious, Father all true,
   Father, Thou bring me life anew.

Fix my mind on Thee, O Lord;
Fix my thoughts upon Thy Word.

   Jesus Christ, Thou art grace and light.
   Jesus Christ, lead me through the night.

Fix my mind on Thee, O Lord;
Fix my thoughts upon Thy Word.

   Holy Spirit, en-kindle my spirit.
   Holy Spirit, convict me today.

Fix my mind on Thee, O Lord;
Fix my thoughts upon Thy Word.

   Help me to glory in my weakness;
   Help me to carry my cross today.

I will fix my mind on Thee, O Lord;
I will fix my thoughts upon Thy Word.

by Julie Dunlap   7-6-2012

I wrote this prayer/song as I was dealing with accepting my weaknesses, and recalling the Apostle Paul's words that if he were to boast, he would rather boast in his weaknesses.  It is when we are weak, then we are strong because only when we acknowledge our weakness will we rely on Christ to be our strength.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
God made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
God made them ev'ry one.

God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

by Cecil F. Alexander  1818-1895

My two youngest children and I were invited to go to the St. Louis zoo with a friend, and she taught us this song before we went with her to the zoo.  Our friend has two grand pianos, and she taught me this song so I was able to play along with her on the banjo.  Our tour of the St. Louis zoo was very memorable, the highlight being two elephants swimming and playing in the water.  These two elephants  kept dunking each other like little children at play.  The variety of  colors were spectacular, from bright pink flamingos to the crested cranes from East Africa, the striped zebras and okapis to the golden lion.  It was very fitting to sing this song before going to see so many of God's creatures and remember whose hand wrought such creativity.