POEMS

 FAITH

Lord, give me faith to live from day to day, With tranquil heart to do my simple part,  and with my hand in Thine, just go Thy way.

Lord, give me faith to trust, if not to know; with quiet mind in all things Thee to find, And childlike, go where Thou wouldst have me go.

Lord, give me faith to leave it all to Thee, The future is Thy gift, I would not lift The veil Thy love has hung twixt it and me.

By: John Oxenham

 MY GOD WAS THERE

In deepest grief my soul did faint, Beneath a load  I could not bear, The floods had dragged me to the deep, I did not know my God was there.

I heard His voice amid the gloom, He whispered softly in my ear, "Take thou My hand, oh child of faith" He held me close - He held me near.

He lifted me with gentle hands, He bore my sorrow in His heart. He took the load I could not bear, Oh, gracious God, how great Thou art.

He carried me upon the crest, His light and love surrounding me. He lifted me from dark despair, To peace, and joy, and liberty.

Oh, saddened heart with wounds that bleed, My God knows your every need. He will not fail you in this hour, If you'll but trust His mighty power.

By: Margaret Loyd Rockwood

 Unpin My Wings

Unpin my wings Lord that I may fly. I no longer want to hang motionless, Trapped in a time, a place of by gone days. Days of pain and anger, Left to sprout the suffocating vines of resentment.

Unpin my wings Lord that I may grow.  I have so much within me yet untapped, But the snare of resentment has pinned my wings, as a dead butterfly: Hanging suspended - never moving from that space in time.

Unpin my wings Lord that I may soar.  My wings, my very being yearns to feel your wind,  Lifting me to heights I dared not hope.  To feel the restraining pins of pain fall to the ground.  Allowing me to spread my beautiful wings and dance on your breeze, As you intended that I should.

Unpin my wings Lord that I may feel.  That I may feel your infinite love and peace, which surpasses all understanding. That I may feel your joy: Even when the world's disappointments float my way.  That I may feel your mercy and grace, which opens my heart allowing forgiveness to sing within my soul.

Unpin my wings Lord that I may share. Allow my wings to touch another, Bringing with them your loving touch. that they too may spread their wings and soar.

By: Sandy Wells

 A PRAYER FOR COURAGE

God, make me brave for life,

Oh, braver than this!

Let me straighten after the rain,

Shining and lovely again.

God, make me brave for life,

Much braver than this!

As the blown grass lifts let me rise

From sorrow with quiet eyes,

Knowing thy way is wise.

God, make me brave. Life brings

Such blinding things.

Help me to keep my sight,

Help me to see aright,

That out of the dark comes light.

                                                  Grace Noll Crowell