Happy Birthday, Mammy Joy (a little early)

I am planning to be induced on December 13th, my late grandmother's birthday, but I wanted to post this poem I wrote earlier this year as well as the words to a song that was sung at her funeral and so reminds me of her. I loved her, she loved her family, and oh, she loved Jesus!

I Want to Love Jesus Like That

She opened her home to the one,
The one with no where to go.
She wanted to tell of her Jesus,
His forgiving love them to show.
Oh, I want to love Jesus like that.
I want to love Jesus like that.
Strangers she told of her Jesus.
Everyone needed to know
Of the Savior who gave His life up for us
So closer to Him we could grow.
Oh, I want to love Jesus like that.
I want to love Jesus like that.
She studied the word and she prayed,
Walked with her Jesus each day.
She knew of His love and forgiveness
And knew there would be a day,
A day when sin would be judged,
When we would stand before God,
And her love for the Savior made her tell
Tell others to turn toward God.
Oh, I want to love Jesus like that.
I want to love Jesus like that.
When her mind became ill and was failing,
She failed not to keep on telling
For Oh how she loved Jesus.
I want to love Jesus like that.

~My grandmother, Alice Joy Byrd truly loved Jesus. Her life testified to His love. I love and miss her and am inspired by her life to love Jesus more.~



I Bowed on My knees and Cried

I dreamed of a city called Glory,
So bright and so fair.
When I entered that gates I cried, "Holy"
The angels all met me there:
They carried me from mansion to mansion,
And oh the sites I saw.
But then I said, "I want to see Jesus,
For He's the One who died for all."

I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
I clapped my hands and sang,
"Glory, Glory to the Son of God."
and I sang,
"Glory, Glory to the Son of God."

As I entered the gates of that city,
My loved ones all knew me well.
They took me down the streets of Heaven;
The sights, too many to tell;
I saw Abraham, Jacob and Isaac,
I spoke with Mark and Timothy.
But then I said, "Timothy, I want to see Jesus,
For He's the One who died for me."

I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
I clapped my hands and sang,
"Glory, Glory to the Son of God."
and I sang
"Glory, Glory to the Son of God."

He is God, and There is No Other

He formed you for He is God.
He will help you for He is God.
Fear not, His chosen ones.
Proudly bear His name.
Apart from Him, there is no other.
All are false, all but poor substitutes.
No other God can know, understand, or see.
It is but a detestable thing to the true God.
He has made us; we are His servants.
He has forgiven us; redeemed us for Himself.
We must sing; we must shout.
Joy come forth for we are His redeemed.
He is Lord, creator, He alone.
His words are commands, and they come to pass.
We shall know He is Lord.
He calls us by name.
He is God, and there is no other.
He is the Lord; there is none like Him.
He brings light and brings darkness,
Prosperity and disaster are His to disperse.
Salvation is from Him alone.
Righteousness is His creation.
Who would dare to quarrel with the Maker?
We are worthless without Him who creates worth.
We are but the clay in His hands.
We are His to make, His to shape as He pleases.
He made the earth and all mankind.
He stretched out the heavens with His hands alone.
He is God, and there is no other.
He is the Lord; there is none like Him.
He speaks what is true.
His declarations are right.
He is God, and he is Savior.
No other compares for there is no other.
Salvation has come to those who turn to Him
For He is God; there is no other.
In Him alone are found righteousness and strength.
In Him alone will we be found righteous.
We are low; we are helpless.
Only He can come to our rescue.
He can carry and sustain us.
He has from our birth.
He is God, and there is no other.
He is the Lord; there is none like Him.
He will do what He pleases, what He has purposed.
His plans will be completed; He will bring them to pass.
Listen. Be not stubborn. Righteousness is coming near.
He will bring salvation; it is His to grant.

~Reflection on Isaiah 44-46~

Hold Me

What should I feel now?
I don’t even know.
Sorrow, shock, questions…
From here where do I go?
Oh, Lord, wrap me up tightly
In your warm embrace.
Hold me so closely
While my mind seems to race.
Give me your answers
In your perfect time,
But until then, Lord,
Hold me and all of mine.
Hold my dear family
Who sit in shock and denial.
Just blanket us in You.
Let us sit for a while.
This is so hard.
I don’t know what to think.
I don’t know what to feel.
Oh, just give me some peace.
I know that You will
Though it doesn’t make sense.
Use this, even this
It’s the lot that You’ve sent.
So I’ll rest in your sovereignty,
Rest in you plan
And know that its best
Though I don’t understand.
So hold me Lord Jesus.
Hold me just now.
And walk me through this journey.
As before You I bow.

~for Melissa~

Let Us Praise the Lord

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

He is God, holy and just.
He is God, great and mighty.
He is God, maker of heaven and earth.
He is God, creator of all creation.

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

He is Lord, author of salvation.
He is Lord, worthy of our service.
He is Lord, commander of His army.
He is Lord, high and lifted up.

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

He is Father, sovereign and just.
He is Father, caring and kind.
He is Father, full of mercy and of wrath.
He is Father, sender of His son.

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

He is Jesus, fully God and Man.
He is Jesus, sacrifice for sin.
He is Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
He is Jesus, servant, master, friend.

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

He is Spirit, Holy, Holy, Holy.
He is Spirit, counselor and teacher.
He is Spirit, interpreter of Scripture.
He is Spirit, confidant and guide.

Let us praise the Lord.
For He alone is worthy of praise.

Who Am I?

Who am I, O Lord, that You should bless me?
Who am I that You should know my name
And allow me to know Your name,
To call upon You at all times?
Who am I that I may enter into fellowship with You?
Who am I that I can call You friend,
A friend to the Most High?
Who am I to be called a child of God?
Who am I to be able to read Your word,
Oh, and to learn Your truth?
Who am I to be spoken to by God?
Who am I?

Oh, I am Your child,
And I am Your servant.
I am Your creation.
I am all Yours.
I am forever indebted to You.
You are the potter,
And I am the clay.
Oh, make me a vessel to be used by You
So that who I am is who You have called me to be.

Small Ones Taken Home

My mind has turned to children,
The very small ones in the womb,
How many, Lord, you take home
Before we wanted You to.
You see we wanted them to hold, Lord.
We loved them; we already did.
So many out there don’t, Lord.
They can’t see them as a gift.
But we did, Oh Father, we did.
We knew they’d be a blessing,
But You took them home so early
Before we wanted You to.
And how, Oh Lord, I know
You know better than I do.
Oh teach me, Lord, to see your plans
The way You’d have me to.
Please mend my broken heart
Who misses my dear child
You gave to me to hold on earth
If only in the womb.
Help me know that it’s okay
To miss, to love, to cry,
To know they’re in your hands now
Though I might not know just why.
Continue, Lord, to teach me
Your holy sovereignty,
To know You are creator,
And you truly do love me.
You also love these children.
You made them too I see,
And now they stand before You
And praise You mightily.
Oh, they can see Your glory.
They behold Your face,
And there will come a day
We’ll be together You to praise.
Oh, thank you for the hope You give
Life eternal after death.
May I praise You in the meantime
And rest in Your sweet grace.






(My Baby Hope at 10 weeks)

~After many recent thoughts of my loss and those around me.~

ABC Prayer

Awaken me from my slumber, O Lord.
Apathy has been my mat to sleep upon.
Arouse in me fervor and zeal for Your truth.
Align my thoughts with Your word.

Be ever near to me,
Before me to guide my every step.
Break up my impurities.
Bend me into submission to You.

Create in me desire to love only You.
Crush the flesh that longs for Your place.
Clean the filth that clings to my heart.
Clothe me with Your righteousness.

Dig out the stones that hinders my walk.
Draw me near to You that I may draw from You,
Deep from the water of life that you give.
Delight in me as I desire You more.

Every day, may I wake with a thirst,
Eager to walk with my hand within Yours.
Empty me of all desire but You.
Enter my thoughts and occupy them.

Fit my feet with the shoes to walk in Your way,
Following the precepts You’ve given to us.
Fill my mouth with the words You want me to say,
Furthering Your kingdom as You’ve called me to do.

Great is Your Word.
Glory is Yours.
Give praise to You, Father.
Great praise to Your Name.

~Upon studying Psalm 119~