Joy and Pain
May 3, 2013
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:16-17
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
*I got the phrase “Twin Sisters” from a poem my wife Charlotte wrote years ago.
For my nephew Kirk, on his birthday
Desire of Your Heart
October 9, 2012
Proverbs 8; Psalms 36-40; Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Wisdom Available
October 4, 2012
To find the treasure
Ear – listen for wisdom
Eye – search with great intent
Heart – apply the understanding
~
Then you’ll understand
What it means to revere God
Gain knowledge of God
You’ll discover the wisdom
Embrace the insights
You’re my shield, O God
Your righteousness - my protector
I walk in your peace
Your promises restore me
Your Divine Power saves me
Psalm 7:10
I will trust in you
With all my heart I seek you
It’s you I believe
You have never forsaken
Those who seek with all their heart
Psalm 9: 9,10
Is there room for God
Pride can fill up the heart
Lust will poison it
Greed causes one to act out
These three things bring great destruction
God helps the fatherless ones
Breaks the arm of the wicked
The Lord is King forever
You rule with mercy
Proverbs 2; Psalms 6-10;
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Understanding is the Doorway
April 16, 2012
The fruit of the tree brings life
Deceitful words crush
The lips of the wise
Spread knowledge and bring real hope
Pursue righteousness
You will find how loved you are
What delight in you God has
A cheerful heart celebrates
Sees the beauty, finds the hope
She cannot be defeated
Love’s at the center
A man of understanding
Listens with great compassion
Seeks counsel for direction
Then obeys the Lord
His path will be straight
Find joy in giving true words
A timely reply
Her path leads upward
He’ll climb every mountain
Joy will lead the way
Courage, wisdom and compassion
Death itself will be destroyed
The Lord listens to prayers
Those who seek with all their heart
Revere the Lord above all
Joy will fill your heart
The Unseen Gift
May 2, 2011
Renew and Restore
September 24, 2010
~
Finding a clear path
To do what is right and just
Is the path I want
~
Get understanding
Make it your priority
Otherwise you’ll find yourself
Living in darkness
Not knowing which way to go
Filled with fear and judgment
~
Guard your mouth and tongue
You’ll avoid calamity
Be clear on what you focus
A secret to know
Whatever that focus is
Will only grow much larger *
~
Give thought to your ways
Your feelings can deceive you
Fear will rob your life
Bitterness is a cancer
That will spread through your body
~
Seek wisdom and clear insight
When desperate, come to God
One who loves without limit
Has power to rescue
~
Insight never comes
Before you choose who you’ll trust
You must use your mind
Decide who is trustworthy
Then have the courage to act
~
Anxiety kills
Is blinding and harmful
A doorway to death
~
“Do not be afraid”
Three hundred and sixty-five times
Spoken by your God
This is a voice of promise
That renews and restores life
~
© Terry S. Smith
September 21, 2010
Meditations written after reading Proverbs 21; John 15; Colossians 3. (* Inspired from the quote: “Whatever you focus upon, increases.” Andy Andrews The Noticer p.13.)
Refreshing drink
May 21, 2010
Written after meditating on Proverbs 21 and Psalms 101-103.
the secret to finding joy
March 8, 2010
growth
February 4, 2010
searching
September 2, 2009
~
Call out for insight
Cry out for understanding
Seek out the treasure
Knowledge is pleasant
Know what is appropriate
Use good discretion
Understanding will guard you
Wisdom will enter your heart
© Terry S. Smith
written September 2, 2009
~
sweetness to the soul
August 24, 2009
~
There is something sweet
A gift to all who will ask
It is called wisdom
It is sweetness to the soul
It connects knowledge with life
It gives timing and rhythm
To relationships
Another word for wisdom
Is “insight” into your soul
Understanding is the key
Respect for yourself
I cannot give to others
What I do not have in me
I will seek to gain knowledge
How to live in peace
When I look to other
To find that peace and resting
I find it always eludes
They are just like me
Each looking to get
Something they do not have
Looking for the other one
To give them that love
Both discover emptiness
Disillusioned and hurting
You do have a gift
A treasure that’s within you
Rise up and seek it
You must take courage
Find the fire that’s within you
Do not make friends with your pain
You decide to live
Be responsible for you
And give with no strings attached
You are bigger than your pain
It’s a mystery I know
I lived in desperation
Found peace in the pain
I have learned that honesty
With myself and all others
Gives a transparency and
Good conversation
These reflections came out of my response to ancient Proverbs 24. Over the years, I have found myself in “conversation” with King Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs.
“Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; and your hope will not be cut off.”
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
~
seek wisdom
July 9, 2009
~
Educate yourself
Your responsibility
To use your mind well
You can be real smart
And ignorant at the same time
Information helps
True information, that is
Every human can see
Given safety and good time
You’ll figure life out
There will come a time
In the life of all of us
You will know if you got it
Looking back you’ll see
The decisions that you made
Were right for you or wrong
So I hope you’ll look ahead
Seek wisdom with all your heart
Make insight your greatest goal
Sixty-seven years of life
I am still learning a lot
Surprised by the joy
