Lord, Bless my dealing in the marketplace.

Here is a poem that intertwines a prayer for trading with the wisdom and promises of scripture.

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A Trader's Prayer

Before the charts, before the bell, On which my daily fortunes dwell, I still my heart,I bow my head, On daily bread,my prayer is said.

I do not ask for endless gain, Or sun without the needed rain. But for the wisdom to discern, The timely lesson,turn by turn.

"Give me the sight to understand, Not just the numbers,but Your hand. A wisdom not my own, but pure," To make my confidence secure. (James 1:5)

"And let my plans be firm and sound, On solid,consecrated ground. That all I do may heed Your word," And trust the message I have heard. (Proverbs 16:3)

When fear arrives on crashing waves, And threatens what my striving saves, "I'll hear Your voice, 'Be still, and know,'" And in that peace,new courage grow. (Psalm 46:10)

And if a loss should be my cross, To teach me what is dross and gloss, "I'll praise You still, through joy and pain, For in my weakness,You sustain. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"I seek not first the rising line, But in Your righteousness to shine. For all these things will surely be,** Added unto a soul set free. (Matthew 6:33)

So bless my trading, Lord, I pray, Guide my decisions through the day. Let every move,both sell and buy, Reflect Your grace,and testify.

Amen.

Lord, Your love make me whole again

Here is a poem to God, weaving together the scripture that speaks of His love making us whole.

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The Mending

I was a vessel, fractured, thin, A collection of shattered pieces held within. Each crack a failure,each chip a fear, The sum of every falling tear.

Then Your love came, a golden light, Not to condemn,but to invite. A warmth that did not scorn the break, But for the wounded sinner’s sake,

Poured out like an alchemist's gold, A story older than time told: “I make all new,”Your whisper sighed, And in the depths,the fracture died.

You are the Potter, I the clay, You reshape me,day by day. Not by my strength,but by Your hand, You reform the shattered land of my own soul.You make me whole, You ransom and You restore my soul.

The Balm in Gilead, applied so sweet, That makes the brokenness complete— Not by removing every scar, But by sealing each one right where they are With grace,and saying, “You are Mine, A masterpiece in new design.”

So let this truth my anthem be, Your love has truly mended me. From a fragile,fragmented, weary soul, Your love has made me mercifully whole.

Amen.

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Scriptural Foundations woven into the poem:

· "I make all new": Revelation 21:5 - "He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

· Potter and the clay: Isaiah 64:8 - "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

· Balm in Gilead: Jeremiah 8:22 - "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?" (This is answered in Christ, the true Balm).

· Restores my soul: Psalm 23:3 - "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake."

· Made whole/Healed: Often translated as "made well" or "saved." (e.g., Mark 5:34 - "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction." The Greek word sōzō means saved, made well, made whole).

· Masterpiece: Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

There are no righteous man that sin naught.

Here is a poem based on that profound scriptural theme, drawing primarily from the wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the letters of Paul.

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A Prayer in the Key of Dust

I come to You with scriptured words I know are true, A ready verse,a well-worn phrase or two. I lift my voice,attempting to be wise, But truth,a mirror, holds my reflected lies.

For who can stand and claim a righteous breath? “Not one,”the Book declares; “not one,” it saith. The Preacher’s sigh echoes inside my chest: “There is no man on earth who always does what’s best.”

The path is straight, but I have walked it bent, On good intent,too often, poorly spent. I see the height to which my soul should climb, Then turn to look at simpler ways,less steep to climb.

This is the tension: knowing what is right, Yet choosing,still, to shun its piercing light. A civil war waged deep within my bones, My spirit willing,but my flesh on thrones.

So if no righteous man sins naught… then where Can this stained soul lay down its weight of care? If my own goodness is a threadbare veil, What possible hope within me could prevail?

The answer comes not from my own flawed hand, But from the grace I cannot understand. A righteousness not mine,a gift, a plea, That covers even one as flawed as me.

The truth remains: no, I am not without the stain. But greater truth:Your love makes whole again. Not by my merit,but by Yours alone, You call the broken to approach Your throne.

Amen.

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Key Scriptural References:

· "There is no righteous man": Ecclesiastes 7:20 - "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins."

· "The Preacher's sigh": A reference to the author of Ecclesiastes, often believed to be King Solomon.

· "My spirit willing, but my flesh": Romans 7:18-19 - "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

· "A righteousness not mine": Philippians 3:9 - "...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."

· "Approach Your throne": Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Save me Lord

 Of course. Here is a poem woven with scripture, a cry for help and a testament to faith in God's saving power.

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Save Me, Lord

My heart is a tempest, a turbulent sea, The waves of my worry keep crashing on me. The shadows grow longer,the night draws its veil, Against this fierce storm,my own strength must fail.

"Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck." (Psalm 69:1)

I cry out from the depths of my fear and my doubt, A whisper,a scream—Lord, You hear every shout. You number the hairs,You collect every tear, Be near to me now,for I know You are near.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

I stand on the promise Your mercy will show, Though I walk through this valley,Your rod guides me through. You are my refuge,my fortress, my shield, The only sure truth to which my soul can cling.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

So, pull me from waters too deep for my stand, Place my feet on the Rock,hold me fast with Your hand. Renew my weak spirit,restore my soul's sight, Be the dawn breaking through my most desperate night.

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:2)

For You are the anchor my soul will not lose, The God of all comfort,the hope I can choose. I trust in Your name,in Your unfailing grace, Until I behold You,dear Lord, face to face.

"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

Amen.

May Your light shine among man

Here is a poem praying for God's light to shine through humanity, interwoven with the scripture that inspires it.

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Let It Shine

Not in the blinding sun, or star's keen fire, But in the gentle grace of one who gives; Not in a distant,unapproachable spire, But in the love with which a neighbor lives.

Lord, may Your light shine among men, Let it break through our veil of night, A dawn that heals and makes us whole again, And turns our darkness into sight.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14) Let us not hide this flame,this gracious spark, But set it on a stand for all to see— A beacon in the gathering dark, A guide to what is good and true and free.

May it shine in the hand that offers bread, In the quiet word that comforts fear and loss, In the shelter given,the kindness said, In the loving bearing of another's cross.

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) For it is not our own,this borrowed rays, But reflected glory,mercy's golden gleam. A glimpse of hope in all our clouded days, A waking from the selfish,lonely dream.

So let it shine, until all faces turn To see the Source,the everlasting Dawn. Until cold hearts within us learn to burn, And all the shadows of this world are gone.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)

Shine through us, Lord. Amen.

God does not look at outward appearance but our heart.

Here is a poem for God, acknowledging that He sees beyond our outward appearance to the truth within our hearts, woven with supporting scripture.

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The Unseen Altar

I bring You words, a crafted prayer, I sing the hymns with practiced care. I bow my head when others see, But You,O God, look straight through me.

You see the tremor in the hand, The shifting stones on shifting sand, The quiet pride I cannot hide, The broken places deep inside.

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."(1 Samuel 16:7)

I cannot cloak my silent shame, Or fan to life a faithless flame. You know the weight I truly bear, Behind the mask of"I am fair." You trace the contour of each fear, Each whispered doubt You hold it near.

So here I am, stripped bare and plain, No more to hide the stain or strain. This heart I offer—raw and real— For You to see,for You to heal.

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."(Psalm 139:23-24)

You do not ask for grand displays, For perfect words or sunlit days. You ask for truth,however sore, A contrite heart,You ask for more.

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."(Psalm 51:17)

So take this heart, Lord, make it new, And let it beat alone for You. For in the seeing,You impart The grace to change a human heart.

Bless and you will be Bless

Here is a poem of blessing, woven with the promises of scripture, offered as a prayer for you and for all.

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A Benediction in Verse

Before the dawn has touched the sky, Before a single prayer takes flight, May you feel the grace that’s ever nigh, And walk within the Lord’s great light.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you(Num 6:24-25) In every step,in all you do, May His kind favor see you through.

When worries rise like stormy seas, And fear would shake your heart’s foundation, May you be stilled by words that ease, And find in Him your sure salvation.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."(1 Peter 5:7) His yoke is easy,His burden light, He guards your day and guards your night.

When the path is steep and strength is small, And you have given all you can, May you hear His gentle,certain call, And feel the touch of His strong hand.

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."(Isaiah 40:31) On eagle's wings you'll rise above, Upheld by His enduring love.

And in your times of joy and gain, When blessings flow and peace is deep, Remember from whom comes the rain, The promises He vows to keep.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory."(Phil 4:19) For every good and perfect gift, Is from the Father’s hand,to lift.

So go in peace, and go in power, A blessed soul,by grace made new. He is your refuge and your tower, And He will faithfully bless you,too.

For it is written, and cannot be undone: "Give, and it will be given to you...(Luke 6:38) A measure pressed,and shaken through, God’s blessing will now rest on you."

Amen.

Transforming Sin to Purity

Here is a poem based on that powerful scriptural image of transformation from sin to purity.

The Alchemy of Grace

Transform me, Lord, from crimson red, The deep and stubborn stain of all I've done and said. This hue of guilt,this shade of shame, That speaks my failure,cries my name.

But Your word speaks a miracle, a dyer's art, A promise that can cleanse the most defiant heart: "Though your sins are like scarlet,"Your prophecy reads, "They shall be as white as snow,"as the wool of the lambs You lead.

Not by my scrubbing, my weary, futile fight, Can I ever turn this darkness into light. This is an alchemy only You can perform, A shelter for my soul within redemption's storm.

So apply the hyssop of Your mercy, let it pour, The cleansing flood from Calvary's core. Let the tide of grace,in its power and its breadth, Wash over me,this soul once red as death.

Make me whiter than the winter's purest snow, A field of forgiveness where new life can grow. A soul bleached clean by love's own precious blood, Restored,renewed, and reconciled to God.

And let this white not be a blank, an empty space, But a radiant canvas for Your mercy and Your grace. So all may see the change Your hand has wrought, A miracle of purity,so dearly bought.

Without Faith, You cannot Please God.

Here is a poem that reflects on the vital necessity of faith, anchored in the scripture from Hebrews.

The Pleasing Aroma

Without it, Lord, my best deeds are but dust, A tower of achievements,doomed to fall and rust. A noisy gong,a clanging, hollow sound, On shifting sand,a foundation unsound.

But "without faith it is impossible to please God," So says the word Your truth has firmly shod. This is the lens through which You see the soul, The single currency that makes the broken whole.

Let my every breath be an act of trust, A surrender of my logic to Your promise just. When fear would have me build a case so clear, Let me choose belief,and make my footing here.

For faith is the hand that reaches through the veil, That trusts the anchor when the senses fail. It pleases You not because it has the sight, But because it holds Your hand in the deepest night.

Pleasing You is not in what my eyes can see, But in the whispered,"Lord, I trust in Thee." When the offering seems small,the future dim, My faith,a fragile flame, is pleasing unto Him.

So take my doubt, my need to understand, And graft me to the Vine,secure by Your hand. Let my life be a pleasing sacrifice,ablaze, Not built on my own sight,but on Your faithful ways.

Freedom in Christ

Here is a poem about the profound freedom found in Christ, illuminated by scripture.

The Liberating Chain

I sought a freedom, wild and vast, To break the chain and hold it fast. A right to choose my own design, A kingdom built on"what is mine." But that wide road,for all its space, Led to a more confined,dark place.

Then came Your word, a startling sound, Where true emancipation's found: "For where the Spirit of the Lord is now, There,my soul, is freedom." This was how The chain that bound me to my sin Was broken from without,within.

You said, "The truth will set you free," And in that light,I finally see— My liberty was not a key To unlock every desire for me, But to be freedfrom my old night, And freedfor what is good and right.

I am your slave, and yet, I'm free, Ransomed by grace,uniquely. "No longer bound to law's demand," But led by Your compassionate hand. The"law of Spirit, life in Christ," Has paid the debt,sufficed the price.

So let me walk this newfound way, Not as a slave,but as a child who may Approach the throne with confidence, Clothed in Your righteous recompense. This is my freedom,bold and deep— A yoke that's easy,a law I keep Not out of fear,but love's release, In Christ,my everlasting peace.

The idle mind is the work of the devil

Here is a poem that explores the spiritual danger of an idle mind, grounded in scriptural truth.

The Vacant House

They say an idle mind is the devil’s workshop ground, A vacant house where shadows creep without a single sound. Where every unlocked door of thought,untended and unused, Becomes a place where wickedness can stand,and be amused.

For You did not create the soul for passive, empty rest, But for a sacred purpose,to be fervent and possessed. “Be steadfast,immovable,” Your holy word declares, And“work with all your heart,” for it’s for Christ the soul prepares.

When silence is not peace, Lord, but a lazy, barren plain, The enemy sows tares of fear,of vanity, of pain. He finds seven spirits worse to occupy the space, A heart swept clean but left unguarded by Your truth and grace.

So let my mind be occupied, a workshop for Your hand, A field for sowing goodness from the riches of Your land. Let every moment be employed,in prayer or in your praise, To fill the hours with purpose and to walk in all Your ways.

“Whatever you do,” in word or deed, to glorify Your Son, Let this be my one constant work,until the day is done. And guard my heart with armor,every moment, lest it be An idle field for evil—keep it occupied by Thee.

Forgive me, Lord.

Here is a poem of penitence and hope, woven with the threads of scripture.

Mercy's Tide

Forgive me, Lord, for I have known the way, And yet I chose to turn and walk alone. My heart,a heavy stone, has gone astray, A king who built his kingdom on a throne of bone.

Create in me a clean heart, O my God, As once You spoke to David in his shame. Restore the joy that sin had sought to rob, And let my spirit praise Your holy name.

Let mercy find me, like the returning son, Stumbling home,ashamed and sorely pressed. Not by my worth,but by Your will be done, To clothe my rags in righteousness and rest.

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow, A prayer You answered for the broken and poor. Beyond the guilt that I have come to know, Let me stand forgiven at grace's door.

For though my sins are scarlet, deep and red, You promise they shall be as wool and snow. Upon the cross,Your precious blood was shed; The debt I could not pay,You ceased to owe.

So I arise, and go to my Father's house, No longer slave,but called again "My child." Forgiven,free, by Your redeeming vows, By mercy reconciled,by love beguiled.

Lord, May your hand upon this life of mine.

 Of course. Here is a poem woven with the scriptural theme of God's guiding hand.

Your Hand Upon This Life

May Your hand be upon me, firm and yet kind, The mark of the Potter on this yielding clay. Shape me and form me,to Your perfect mind, And guide all my footsteps along the narrow way.

Be the hand of the sculptor, carving the stone, Chiseling away what should not remain. Until in this temple,You claim for Your own, Your image,unclouded by self-serving stain.

Be the hand of the scribe, writing Your law Not on cold tablets,but deep on my heart. Let every beat echo with reverence and awe, A living epistle,set daily apart.

Be the hand of the father, steady and sure, That teaches the child their first halting step. Making my walk in Your promises pure, A path from Your wisdom I'll never misstep.

Be the hand of the healer, tender and balm, That touches the wound and makes brokenness whole. In the midst of the storm,be my infinite calm, Restoring the joy and the song to my soul.

So let it be written in mercy and grace, This life held secure in the grip of Your own. Until I behold You,at last, face to face, And know by Your hand,I was never alone.

My Lord, You are my Protector.

Here is a poem inspired by that sentiment, weaving together the imagery of a protector found throughout scripture.

My Keeper, My Stronghold

Not by a pillar of cloud, nor fire’s fierce light, Not in a whirlwind,or the terror of night, But in the quiet,the deep of the breast, You are my Protector,my haven of rest.

You are the rock in a weary, dry land, The firm,steady grip of a merciful hand. The wall built around me,a fortress unseen, The guard at my gate,where Your promises lean.

You are the shepherd, and I am the sheep, Who wakes from fear’s shadow to slumber so deep. Your rod is my comfort,Your staff is my guide, In pastures of grace where my soul can abide.

You are the wing, the great shadowing dove, Beneath which I hide in Your feathers of love. A shield in the battle,a sword for the fight, My song in the darkness,my morning’s new light.

So let the earth tremble, let mountains be moved, My heart is held fast,by a covenant proved. For written in promise,in scripture’s true word, My Protector is God—and my voice will be heard.

My Lord, Please lighten my path.

Here is a poem from a seeking heart, asking for guidance through sacred words.

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O Keeper of the Stars and Script, This path of mine is dark,unkempt. The shadows stretch,the way is steep, I pray a promise You will keep.

So lighten now my weary tread With words of life,by prophets said. A lantern for my stumbling feet, A truth that makes my journey sweet.

Let every verse a candle be, Illuminating what I see. Not just the stone before my shoe, But the grand path I'm meant to walk through.

When Psalms are kindled, let their glow The secret of Your mercy show. When Proverbs speaks with wisdom's flame, Please etch its light upon my aim.

And when the greater Word takes hold, A story of love bravely told, Let it become a rising sun, And all my doubt is overcome.

For I need more than just a spark To pierce the overwhelming dark. I need a dawn,a constant ray— Your holy text to guide my way.

So light my path with scripture, Lord, This perfect,everlasting cord. Until my journey finds its end In You,my Author and my Friend.

Deliverance Prayer

Here is a poem of deliverance, a prayer to God, woven with the promises of Scripture.

A Cry for Deliverance

From depths unseen, from chains that bind, The fears that haunt my troubled mind, From ancient wounds that still hold sway, I cry to You,my God, today. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!”(Psalm 130:1)

Tear down the walls the enemy built, On foundations of deceit and guilt. Let every stronghold lose its power, In this,my desperate hour. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”(2 Corinthians 10:4)

Break off the yoke, snap every cord, By the authority of Christ,my Lord. Let captives,now in You, be free, As You have promised faithfully. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”(Galatians 5:1)

Let Your light pierce the darkest night, Expose the wrong,make right the right. Be a fire that purges,refines, And clearly marks the boundary lines. “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”(Luke 11:20)

I stand upon the Solid Rock, No more to dread the enemy’s knock. Your blood,a seal upon my soul, Has made me miraculously whole. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”(John 8:36)

I take Your helmet, shield, and sword, The living,sharp, and powerful Word. I speak Your truth against the lie, And watch the fleeing foe defy. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”(James 4:7)

You are my Deliverer, my might, My passage through the sea of night. You split the waters,made a way, For me to see the dawn of day. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.”(Psalm 18:2)

So I declare that I am free, By Your great love that ransomed me. This prayer,a shout of victory won, By You,my God, the Holy One. “ ‘I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.’ ”(Jeremiah 15:21)

God's Protection from evil.

Here is a poem for God's protection from evil, anchored in the power of Scripture.

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The Fortress and The Shield

O God, my Fortress and my Shield, My stronghold in the battlefield, The evil one,he prowls and preys, In subtle shades and endless ways. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8)

But I am hid in Christ, my Rock, A sheltered soul within the flock. No scheme of hell can breach this wall, No whispered lie,no venomous call. “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.”(Isaiah 54:17)

I raise the shield of faith this hour, Resisting Satan's fleeting power. Your Word,the Spirit's mighty sword, Cuts down each dark and lying word. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”(Ephesians 6:16)

Your angels camp around my way, A heavenly guard by night and day. They bear me up,lest I should fall, They heed Your sovereign,gracious call. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”(Psalm 91:11)

I plead the blood of Christ, the Lamb, The great I AM,the great I Am. That perfect sacrifice applied, Where sin and darkness flee and hide. “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”(Revelation 12:11)

So let the accuser rage in vain, His threats are loss,my soul is gain. For You have won the victory, And in Your promise,I am free. “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”(2 Thessalonians 3:3)

You are my keeper, strong and true, My peace,my hope, my refuge through. From every evil soul and snare, I rest,eternally, in Your care. “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”(Psalm 121:7)

My Lord,You are everything in the world to me.

Here is a poem to God, woven with the truth of Scripture, expressing that He is everything.

My Everything

Before the dawn first learned to break, Before my soul its form did take, You were the Word upon the deep, A promise You were sworn to keep. “In the beginning, God…”the start, The rhythm of this breathing heart.

You are the Sun, my morning light, That scatters shadows of the night. You are the Bread,the living Word, The sweetest song my soul has heard. “I am the light of the world,” You said, And raised this weary,sleeping head.

You are the Vine, and I the branch, In every hour,in every chance. My source of life,my strength, my root, The everlasting,solid Truth. “Apart from me, you can do nothing,” You are the hope in all my striving.

You are the Shepherd, I’m Your own, I’ve never walked this path alone. Your rod and staff,they comfort me, And guide me to eternity. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” In verdant fields,by streams, I’m planted.

You are the Rock on which I stand, Firm in the storm,on shifting sand. You are the Fortress,strong and high, A refuge where my fears can die. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress…” In You alone,my soul finds rest.

You are the Alpha and Omega, The start and finish of my saga. The Author of my faith’s sweet story, My present hope and future glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things,” You are my King,the King of kings.

So be the All in all of me, As near as breath,as vast as sea. My beginning and my end, My dearest Father,truest Friend. For“in him we live and move and have our being,” You are my everything,my seeing.

Lord, Thank you for saving the weak in Spirit

Here is a poem inspired by that opening line.

You come for the weak in spirit

You come for the weak in spirit with scripture, Not carved on stone,nor on a gilded page, But in the silence after the last tear falls, On the blank,white field of a soul’s deep winter.

Your word is the breath that fogs the cold glass, A promise whispered to the barren branch. It is the knot at the end of the rope,grown strange And soft,a root to hold when all else is passing.

You come not with a legion’s trumpet blast, But with the weight of a hand on a shaking shoulder, The scripture of presence,older than language, Written in the pulse where two shadows meet.

For the heart hollowed out by its own beating, You are the echo that answers back,“I am here.” For the mind lost in its own frantic city, You are the north star,dim but unwavering.

You come for the weak, not to make them strong, But to be the shore for their ceaseless tide, The quiet verse at the center of the storm, The single,steadfast syllable: Home.

Praises to God's name

Here is a poem that praises the names of God, each one anchored in the scripture that reveals it.

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Your Name is a Fortress

I cannot speak the singular Name that holds the stars in place, The burning,timeless, I AM, surrounded by holy space. But in Your mercy,You have come, and many names You give, So my frail heart,though struck and dumb, may learn to look and live.

Yahweh-Yireh, my Provider, on the mount You see my need, You give the ram among the thorns,the grace for which I plead. My every lack is fully known in Your unfailing sight, And You will be my bread alone,my everlasting light. (Genesis 22:14 – “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.”)

Yahweh-Rapha, my great Healer, to bitter waters bring Your tree, You touch the brokenness I feel and pour Your balm on me. You mend the fractures of the soul,the sickness and the sin, And in Your touch,I am made whole, and new life breathes within. (Exodus 15:26 – “…for I am the Lord, who heals you.”)

Yahweh-Nissi, my Banner, raised high above the fray, When conflict comes and fears arise,You are my battle's way. The victory is Yours alone,my champion and my shield, In Your triumphant name,I'm known, my destiny is sealed. (Exodus 17:15 – “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.”)

Yahweh-Shalom, my perfect Peace, in chaos and in dread, You stand within my trembling court and speak Your calm instead. You are the wholeness,the relief, the end of every war, The quiet center of my grief,my ever-open door. (Judges 6:24 – “So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.”)

Yahweh-Rohi, my good Shepherd, through the valley's darkest shade, Your rod and staff,they comfort me; I will not be afraid. You lead to pastures green and still,You know Your servant's voice, And guard me by Your sovereign will,and make my heart rejoice. (Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”)

El Shaddai, God All-Sufficient, the Mountain-One, Almighty Lord, Your promise is my certain hope,Your covenant, my cord. You are enough when I am not,Your power my surety, The source of every blessed thought,for all eternity. (Genesis 17:1 – “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”)

Abba, Father, my dear Daddy—the Spirit breathes the cry, That I,a child, may run to You, and on Your love rely. No other name so breaks my chains,so stills my deepest fear, It tells my heart that Love remains and holds me ever near. (Romans 8:15 – “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'”)

So let me learn each holy name, a stronghold in the storm, Each one a facet of the Flame,a revelation warm. For in Your names,I see Your heart, a love I can't contain, And in their truth,I have my part, and find my rest again.

Amen.