Choices

October 25, 2010

~
In silence I consider
All the choices I’m given
It comes down to two
I will trust God or trust man
Today I have made the choice
~
“I will not die but live”
The Psalmist speaks to my mind
I know now what God has done
Loving kindness came
I considered and believed
Accepted his love in my shame
~
A faithful lover
Is the God of the morning
One who comes at noon
Who sits with me during the day
At night I lie down in peace
~
He knows the trouble
He chose to be one of us
He will not leave me
Gives me the invitation
To come to him as I am
 ~ 
I will enter and give thanks
With all of my heart and soul
I thank you for your kindness
Gentleness and love
~ 
Where can I go to find you
I’m confused and all alone
“You need not go anywhere
I’m here, just ask me”
~
I found him to be 
Close as the blood in my veins
A mystery found
A love I long to give
To all my children’s children
~ 
© Terry S. Smith
Written October 24, 2010
Meditations from Proverbs 24; Psalm 118; John 15.
Dedicated to my daughter Elizabeth on her birthday.
~
Posted by Terry Sanford Smith
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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
~
Extravagant love
Demonstrated and given
Yours to accept
~
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
~
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
~
Renewed in mind
Accept that you are chosen
Beloved and holy
Then be clothed with compassion
Kindness and humility
~
Forgive offenses
As you have been forgiven
And above all love
It holds all things together
Let God’s peace rule your heart now
~
© Terry S. Smith
October 14, 2010
~
Written after meditating on Colossians 3, John 15, and Proverbs 14.  I am also reading Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer. 
~ 
Posted by Terry Sanford Smith
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Be still and listen

October 19, 2010

~

The Lord has made my way firm

He promised and he’s done it

I find joy every morning

No one can steal it

~

Growing up is hard

I know what it is to flounder

To not know my way

To want someone to hold me

To let me know I am loved

 ~

I lost my love ones

Ones who promised to be there

Human failure came

 ~

They were ill-equipped

To do what they promised

Then they were vulnerable

Guilty and shameful

They felt judged and condemned

No hope for recovery

 ~

A wave of sadness

Comes over me in dark times

My grief is overwhelming

Where can I find God

I feel broken and alone

I have no language to speak

 ~

I am looking for someone

Big enough to secure me

Someone able to love me

Just the way I am

~

Anxiety will hurt me

Keep me from seeing the truth

Create false reality

Put feelings in charge of me

Cause me to believe a lie

 ~

Be still and listen

You are larger than your pain

You are beloved and treasured

Focus and believe

Trust the One who gave his life

Rose from the dead and is near

 ~

No one person can fill me (you)

I found that it takes three

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Who delight in me (you)

 ~

They understand and can feel

Give you what you are needing

Listen and respond in love

With great compassion

 ~

© Terry S. Smith

October 17, 2010

Meditation written after reading Psalm 37.

Dedicated to my new friends in Virginia.

~

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burdens lifted

October 13, 2010

~
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”
~
Depressed and oppressed
He comes in loving kindness
To lift the burden
My peace I will give to you
If you will only receive
~
© 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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Living Free

October 1, 2010

~
I will look for what’s fair
I will not speak to quickly
I will listen for all concerned
I will not fear death
~
Pride has been my enemy
Hidden in my unconscious
It can breed self-righteousness
A snake in the grass
~
An angry man will destroy
A man of peace will bring life
To be angry is not wrong
How you speak can be
~
Patience with yourself
Will help you with compassion
The door way to life
You cannot give to others
What you cannot give yourself
~
Forgiveness – the miracle
The greatest that’s known to man
This is the hidden secret
The basis of love
~
Forgiving yourself
A most difficult challenge
The truth will free you
~
It’s like a fresh drink
That is received in the heat
A cool drink that refreshes
It’s living water
~
© Terry S. Smith
September 28, 2010
Meditations written after reading Proverbs 29 and John 15.
~
Posted by Terry Sanford Smith
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