With Great Joy I Move
October 13, 2012
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With great joy I move
Not because where I go
But who is with me
On level ground I will stand
To the mountains I will go
To the valley I am sent
But never alone
I’ll not live in fear
Though evil is all around
I am confident
One thing I will seek
With my eyes fixed on beauty
A relationship of love
When the trouble comes
He keeps me safe with his peace
A song in my heart
I have seen the face of God
In the servant lives
Of those who have surrendered
Moses, David, and Peter
My confidence is in this
Each of these lives were broken
The light came through their failure
A love beyond words
God has been faithful
For generations it’s love
And, also, today
Looking back I can see it
Looking forward I claim it
Based on reflections from my own life,
Psalms 26-30; Proverbs 6; and
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
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70th Birthday
July 9, 2012
Who is this God, my Father
He is mighty in power
No limit to His insight
His understanding
He heals the brokenhearted
And He binds up the wounded
He knows the number of stars
Each of them by name
Listening and gentleness
Understanding your story
Then focusing on God’s story
You’ll find peace and hope
Come out of the pit
Open my eyes to what’s true
The unfailing love of God
Will be my delight
It’s where I place my hope
Lead me to those who are seeking
Each person is free to decide
But He will sustain the humble
I have chosen to listen
Focus on true love
I need wisdom & insight
I seek it with all my heart
I’ll define myself
By the one who gives me life
Who demonstrated His love
Faithful
January 10, 2011
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I will not let fear rob me
Of the joy of God’s presence
Because He is faithful
He will not abandon me
Be still and listen
Go, spend time alone with God
He will come and teach
He meets you with compassion
Will give you the gift of faith
I cried in desperation
Looking for a place of peace
I found Him waiting
It’s a mystery
I proclaim with all my heart
A love that has endured
For all generations
The revelation of truth
He knows you by name
It is written on His hands
Just look at His son
He understands where you are
“Do not be afraid” – Believe
© Terry S. Smith
January 5, 2011
Morning reflections after practicing the mystery of His presence and meditating on Psalm 16.
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Fountain of Life
October 24, 2010
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The fountain of life
Is for those who choose to hear
The One who gives life
Accept his unfailing love
Drink deeply from his presence
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Extravagant love
Demonstrated and given
Yours to accept
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Remember the story
Practice what he modeled here
Daily he drew near to God
And loved the wounded
Those who came to him seeking
Receiving his gentle touch
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It is in giving
That you receive his blessing
Trusting that he has given
All his love to you
You must practice perceiving
Hearing his voice in silence
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Renewed in mind
Accept that you are chosen
Beloved and holy
Then be clothed with compassion
Kindness and humility
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Forgive offenses
As you have been forgiven
And above all love
It holds all things together
Let God’s peace rule your heart now
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© Terry S. Smith
October 14, 2010
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Written after meditating on Colossians 3, John 15, and Proverbs 14. I am also reading Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer.
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burdens lifted
October 13, 2010
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How can God speak
If we are not listening
Stop the noise and hear
He brought thousands through
A painful great wilderness
He fed, clothed, and sheltered them
Disciplined and loved
Remember and consider
His faithfulness and mercy
There is more to the story
More information for you
More love than you can fathom
A living presence
He sets the lonely
In the family they need
He does the choosing
He leads the prisoners in song
He demonstrates that love
Find a good place of silence
Get alone and stop the noise
You comfort the wounded child
Take him/her to Jesus
For forty-nine years
Have I chosen to seek Him
The Spirit, my counselor
My friend and my guide
Have never let go of me
I felt discipline and love
It’s painful when I look back
To see how blind that I was
He carried me through the darkness
Abandoned; afraid
Today I sit in wonder
Focused and hungry to know
I choose to listen to God
Not the wounded child
My faith is in Him
The One who spoke and acted
With undying love
He daily bears my burden
A promise that I have seen
This promise has restored me
“I’ll never leave you”
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Depressed and oppressed
He comes in loving kindness
To lift the burden
My peace I will give to you
If you will only receive
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© Terry S. Smith
October 13, 2010
Meditations written after reflecting on Psalms 68; John 15; Colossians 3 and Matthew 11:28-30.
Dedicated to Rick and Terry Healy
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a place of peace
September 20, 2010
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You will feel better
When you choose a cheerful heart
It’s good medicine
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Circumstances will rob you
If you let them control you
Others make expectations
You must meet their needs
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How absurd is this
To make you responsible
To meet all their needs
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If you cover an offense
You promote genuine love
If the matter’s repeated
Separation comes
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A person of knowledge
Will measure words carefully
Stay even tempered
Understanding will guide you
A loving presence brings life
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I will hold my tongue
Pay attention to others
Listen carefully
I am choosing to respond
To love when misunderstood
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I will not react
This is the way of a fool
A way I have lived
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There’s a place of peace
That passes understanding
That’s bigger than death
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Christ has arisen
He offers each one his peace
Forgiveness and love
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Do not be afraid
There is no reason for fear
You’re beloved by God
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© Terry S. Smith
September 17, 2010
Meditations written after reading Proverbs 17 and John 15.
Indescribable peace
July 6, 2010
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I will help others
The way I was helped
My strength was wasted
Resulting in my “burn out”
I could not save my own life
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A love much larger than me
Intervened and came seeking
Indescribable peace
Anointed me with joy
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© Terry S. Smith
July 2, 2010
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a place of peace
May 4, 2010
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The rain keeps coming
My basement filled with water
Many things destroyed
I write from a place of peace
There is a storm raging outside
The one that is within is calm
A storm calmed by love
I’ve learned to be still
A training I’ve developed
In quiet, love speaks
Each person must stand alone
In their quest to find this peace
We can’t depend on others
For what we must do
Healthy connection
Comes when we honestly search
And face the dark side
The part of us we don’t like
Transform the dark with the light
Peace has many benefits
The spontaneous laughter
The ability to weep
Yes, feel your feelings
©Terry S. Smith
May 2, 2010
written during the Nashville flood
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A deep peace
January 30, 2010
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My ears attentive
To the sounds that bring hope
A sweet voice of love
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Light in the darkness
A candlelight of real joy
Given to seekers
High above circumstances
A genuine place to rest
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I’ll never give up
Seeking to bring hope to all
Who are desperate and lost
Tangled in the mess
In the human life struggle
Longing to find a deep peace
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That deep peace is here
Available for us all
Who want to know truth
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Truth is found in history
We can all learn from others
We can follow the journey
Of over-comers
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Wisdom is in the story
Listen closely to their words
Do not be too quick to judge
Read them in context
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I’ll not live in fear
In this day I will find joy
That found me searching
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© Terry S. Smith
January 28, 2010
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Discovery
January 11, 2010
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A steadfast spirit
I seek on this life journey
What does that look like?
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I think of kindness
And respect for others
Those nearest me
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I’ll look to refresh
Learn what it means to love them
Consider their needs
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I am in training
To learn a foreign language
The language of love
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Give respect to all
Because they are human beings
Just because they are
We all make a decision
What is the basis of love?
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How I will treat you
Will be determined by me
Not by how you treat me
I learned this from my teacher
Who modeled living in joy~
Love that is larger than life
Peace that is deeper than pain
Joy that is overflowing
A discovery
It’s outside the box
A treasure to be found
By those who are seeking
© Terry S. Smith
January 11, 2010
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Light
December 17, 2009
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Christmas season brings the lights
Lighting it up with hope, joy
Looking to give and receive
The Light of the world
Light within is the answer
Many walk in dark places
Confused and afraid of the night
Because they can’t see
There is a presence
Given to all who believe
A love without end
Where can I find peace?
The most important question
Asked when I was young
Wisdom is what I needed
Insight to find a new way
A longing for what is true
A way to find peace
© Terry S. Smith
December 16, 2008
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real peace & real joy
October 23, 2009
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Look at your expectations
Of yourself and of others
Look at someone whose healthy
Who lives in real joy
You find at the center
Love, and respect for oneself
A way to deal with failure
Your own and also others
The question I have
How do I help a person
See that they are loved
How do I live in real peace
With those who are close to me
I discovered forgiveness
A personal quest
© Terry S. Smith
written October 23, 2009
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Courage
October 12, 2009
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Life looks different
When you see through other’s eyes
A desire to understand
Is a must for one to grow
If things have been bad
If your hopes are not fulfilled
It’s easy to blame others
When you are at fault
It will take courage to look
Not spend your time accusing
Take responsibility
It’s a work of art
Desiring understanding
To want to know above all
What it takes to be loving
A desire to change
© Terry S. Smith
written October 10, 2009
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Life vision
October 3, 2009
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How I look at life is crucial
Because I do what I think
Actions will show my beliefs
Choose beliefs wisely
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How I view myself
Important to my journey
I must renew my mind
I do it daily
It takes bravery
To look at life’s stories
My own and others
I can criticize or love
I can forgive or condemn
I have a life vision
One that compels me
Love, joy, and peace
© Terry S. Smith
written February 26, 2009
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a treasure
August 20, 2009
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When I consider my story
Looking back at the choices
There is one that changed my life
I looked for real love
Yes, I found it real
A love that welcomed me in
We shared a deep common ground
The soil of our souls was joy
A treasure we both had found
A rich higher love
We now have years behind us
To give away to others
We are learning to follow
Freedom, joy and peace
It’s available to all
No one is excluded here
All it takes is one person
Listening for love
written February 14, 2009
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