PRAISE AND WORSHIP POEMS

PRAISE AND WORSHIP POEMS

'MORNING-SONG PRAISE'

This morning, I saw tree branches

With lush leaves

Sweep skyward

‘Till it seemed as though

All in unison had been lifted

By the wind

In praise to Thee

Thank you, Lord

For the peace and quiet

Of your gentle Spirit

For the enormity of Your love

And for the joy of Your sweet presence

Thank You for Your voice that whispers, “Come unto Me.”

                                               © 2/2012 Carol Castagna

'WINTER STATEMENT'

                            

Ice-covered branches 
Drenched in frost
 Dripping in daybreak
  Presiding against a backdrop
 Of  Tchaikovsky's Waltz

I marvel at your Winter Statement, Lord

At Your Winter Statement
 Of Sight and of Sound 

And of the Great I Am!
             This morning, in humble gratitude             
              I Praise You! 

                                           Carol Castagna  © October, 2012

                                        

'NIGHT IN SPRING'

I'm here Lord, with You this starry night

Listening to the ocean roar

Watching white waves emerge, mammoth

Then quiet....

Flowing, as it were, toward the sand, to sleep

I'm surrounded by Your greatness, Lord

This vast sea before me

The moon wanting only to remain in this moment

The wind caressing me gently...

In awe, I stand before you

Creator of heaven and earth!

                                                                                    Carol Castagna © 2/2012

'LISTEN TO THE QUIET'

A poem of peace and God’s quiet assurance

Listen to the Quiet

I love this moment in time

Weeping willows dancing in sweet abandon

Against an azure sky

Tomorrow will wait

An oriole walks on the grass to my porch and chirps a song

Written just for me - This moment knows no sorrow

Raindrops glide down my face and

Hush speaks sleep to the pond

Listen to the sweet, sweet sound of silence –

  

No cares -  No Strife

Not here

During this moment of quiet splendor...

Only Jesus - only sunshine - only cool, cool water

 Sunshine and dew drops and peace....

At this moment in time...

Listen to the Quiet

He is everywhere.

                             Carol Castagna  ©2/2012

     'i asked, he answered'

                      Song lyrics of thanksgiving and praise            

.

I asked, He answered

I sought, I found

I knocked and the door

Opened wide for me

I asked, He answered

I sought, I found

His mercy is limitless

His faithfulness ever abounds

                                                  Carol Castagna  ©2/2012

John 4:14

…but whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst again; this water shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

'THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND' a poem by Myra Brooks Welch

                                                A Gem of Poetry in Dad's Old Book

This morning, I would like to share a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch.  I found it as a newspaper clipping in my Dad's very old copy of Poems That Touch the Heart by A.L. Alexander, a book filled with lovely poems...My Dad loved poetry.







The Touch of the Master's Hand
     by Myra Brooks Welch

"'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while.
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
"What am I bidden, good folk," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, "Two!"  "only two?"
"Two dollars and who'll make it three?"
Three dollars, once;  three dollars, twice;
Going for three!  And who'll make it three?"__. But no,
From the  room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward, and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old Violin,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer said,
"What am I bid for the old Violin?
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand and who'll make it three?"
Three thousand once; three thousand twice,
And going and gone," said he.
The people cheered but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
"What changed it's worth?"  Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand."



And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage, a glass of wine;
A game"___ and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand."












Every soul, whether the body is dressed in riches or rags, is precious in the eyes of the Lord.  Every willing soul  at the Master's command is made new and whole and forgiven of sin by "the touch of the Master's hand.." c.c.
                                                     
Thanks to Myra Brooks Welch for her beautiful words.

GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO US, OH LORD!

GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS, OH LORD."

Lamentations 3:  22,23 NKJV

"YOUR MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING"

WE LOVE YOU, LORD, FOR LOVING US!

'YOU REDEEM OUR LIVES FROM DESTRUCTION;

YOU CROWN US WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES'

PSALM 103:4 NKJV

Lamentations 3: 22,23,24 NKJV "It is through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed.  Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness.  The Lord is my portions says my soul.  Therefore I hope in Him."

Often, we think we are the faithful ones because~  perhaps, after being away from Him for a while, we return and begin to prayer again.  In actuality, the Lord is the Faithful One because He takes  the first step in the beginning by approaching and knocking at the door of our hearts, and stays and waits.  So, He has always been there, with us, waiting to hear from us.  The Lord is merciful to the soul who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3: 40.  "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.  Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven." 

Psalm 103: 14  "For He knows our frame  He remembers that we are made of dust". .

PRAYER:
We thank you for another day, Lord...for watching over us through the night.  Thank you that your mercies are from everlasting to everlasting.  Thank you for waiting for us to realize that your love is timeless.   Bring us to a point where we worship before you, confessing our shortcomings and asking for your mercy and compassion that is so freely given,  for the asking.  Bring us to that place where we can speak with you freely and eagerly wait for your response.  How comforting to know You are with us and will always be with us.

Hebrews 4: 15 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all point tempted as we are without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in the time of need."