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I Need Your Peace and Joy

Posted in Assurance, Dependence, Faith, Fears, General, God Thoughts, Poem, Problems, Remembering, tagged Assurance, Faith, Joy, Overcoming, Peace, Temptations, Trials, Troubles on September 6, 2021| Leave a Comment »

On this Labor Day, after chores were done and the moderate heat of afternoon had come, I decided to take a walk. Having focused too much on circumstances and societal ills recently, I was reminded by hymns and prayer and preaching of the Word and reading of the Scriptures and fellowship with brothers and sisters yesterday that I needed to once again renew my perspective in things that are “true, …honorable, …right, …pure, …lovely, …of good repute, …any excellence and …worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). As I began my walk, parts of my body aching, the sun heating*, and my thoughts melancholy, I told God that I wanted His peace and joy. In fact, I pleaded, “I need Your peace; I need Your joy.” As I thought about why, the following words began to come:

I need Your peace; I need Your joy
Though trials come and storms destroy
Forever on this hope depend
That I am Yours; You will defend**

This world with sorrows ever bent
To rob our joy to full extent
Broken relationships and plans
Beg for a healing from Your hand

Your purposes are hard to see
Sense of security can flee
I on this confidence rely
My soul will to You upward fly

My health and body will decay
Unless suddenly in a day
And some loved ones before me go
We saints ever with You, I know

So frequently with sin beset
With worries frequently I fret
Temptations against me array
Through Your Word and Spirit I pray

And by these means I overcome
And more like Jesus I become
More victory through You I win
And peace and joy in You begin

I am so apt to be drawn to the difficulties of any situation and must constantly place before my mind, my eyes, my ears, and my heart the eternal truths of God’s grace in salvation, past, present, and future. I am thankful that “He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:14) And even more so that “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) My hope, our hope, is in Him.

A writing note about the order of the verses. If you number the verses as seen, 1 – 6, the original order as written was 1,2,,3,5,6,4. I cannot decide if the beginning of peace and joy should be the end or if the order would better be 1,2,4,5,3,6 so that heaven is last. If you care to think about it, I would appreciate some feedback.

*for which I had come out for a “therapeutic sweat”

**”I am Yours whom You will defend” was how I originally wrote the line, and I think it may more clearly communicate the intent, but “That I am Yours; You will defend” seems to fit the meter and flow better.

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains

Archive for the ‘Poem’ Category

Knowing You better would be such joy Deep in my heart You would peace deploy Hope springing forth in the darkest hours Purity grow as the brightest flow’rs

But sinful passions too often rule Perverse* actions make of me a fool The Spirit is quenched by my poor choice I groan within and give grief a voice

I may God pursue with heart tender By His Spirit complete surrender Daily repent, always move toward Him Extra pursuits and wayward paths trim

Worship the Father with praise and praying Hear His Word through reading and preaching Devoted to the truth where’er it leads Truth more than life that for the lost pleads

By diligence know Him and find rest Even when I am put to the test Communing with my Father and Lord By His grace growing deeper and toward

Paisley and Plaid Complimentarily clad Two who became one Someone’s daughter and son

Opposites attract Differently act Conflicts not abstract Proceed with much tact

Love is a commitment A selfless deployment Not for the faint of heart Pray from the start

It is not all pain Nor expect constant strain There are many a joy Each other to enjoy

Loneliness at bay In your heart night and day Find the other’s delight In darkness be a light

Not good to be alone God made from Adam’s bone A helper and a friend Each other love, attend

A lifelong partnership On a common trip Where paisley and plaid A reason to be glad

When the burning desire to teach Is in its last throe Gone the desire to grow and reach Then it is time to go

Knowledge is sweet and learning is good But when drive is low To push another’s ought’s and should* Then it is time to go

Against all odds some came to make Understanding flow But when each step uphill you take Then it is time to go

Hard victories won, stories told Wisdom you did sow Delivery now stale and old Then it is time to go

To new pursuits of love and life Always change and grow Putting aside the stress and strife Then it is time to go

Now my long mission is complete What good did I sow? Confidence, ambivalence meet Farewell, it’s time to go

Teaching is a stressful job, but I liked the interaction with students. For many years I felt that it was a calling. I have no regrets about teaching and I have no regrets about ending this stage of my life. I look forward to what God has in store for me. Now to start a new adventure.

This poem is quite simple

Similar to a pimple

Which has really a short life

Full of passion and much strife

It causes a stir and pain

May nearly drive you insane

But soon will come to a head

Then burst, forgotten and dead

But note how it leaves a scar

The complexion ever mar

Cover it to make it small

Or accept me warts and all

Best to never have begun

From quarrels and strife you run

Better bring kindness and truth

Than discord and be uncouth

The truth I see behind my verse comes from Proverbs:

17:14 “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”

3:3 “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

26:17 “Like one who takes a dog by the ears is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.”

15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”

See also Proverbs 6:14,19; 10:12, 13:10, 16:28, 17:1,19; 18:6,18; 20:3, 22:10, 26:21, 28:25, 29:22, 30:33. Evidently, avoiding strife and those who promote it is a valuable consideration and pursuit.

Idellete be patient and kind Industrious and diligent Faithful and studious of mind For the Faith be vigilant

As your namesake be strong in faith Bearing up under trials and loss Trust always in what the Word saith Shunning worldly pursuits as dross

Be a Joy to all who know you For the Savior live all your life Point the many to life anew May you bring unity, not strife

May God give you joy in struggle Peace in sorrow, patience each day Responsibilities juggle With power unceasingly pray

With all these things may God bless you Lightness of heart to meet each day Toughness that will carry you through Desire always to God obey

“ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ” Philippians 4:8

Now upon a better theme I would dwell and pick up steam To revive my spirit so I thrive At deepest levels survive

Much I should be thankful for Life and family and much more Forgiven of sin and wickedness Comfort in trials and duress

Joyous life eternally Purposeful activity God’s dear presence to guide and to cheer Overcome temptation, fear

There are many smaller joys Some quite grand and some mere toys Experiences of sight and of sound Pleasant thoughts and some profound

So the sum of all we do Give God glory and be true In telling others of life in Him Enjoy His gifts, foremost Him

On the wall of the classroom in bold, beautiful font were the empowering words:

“turn your cants into cans and your dreams into plans”

In this life and on this path There is strife and sometimes wrath Difficulties small and great But nothing ever left to fate

We have dreams and we make plans Some have even help and fans All of your ambitions dear Wait for God’s directions clear

Paying forward, looking back Outward viewing, keep on track In your life reflect on how Before His will you may bow

The when difficulties come More than an unhappy sum Of trials and loss and joys ban They are part of His good plan

Before this most recent seasonable cold snap we had a strangely warm period. The appearance and feel was of a different season.

Knowledge is a tool box With tools for life within Add wisdom and discernment At difficulties grin

Knowledge is not a school box Housed totally within But truth and experience Not mere discussion, paper, pen

Knowledge can be a fool’s box All plushly lined within With arrogance and falsehood Leading astray to sin

Knowledge may be a cool box Understand workings within It is so satisfying To know how and why and when

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Knowing You better would be such joy
Deep in my heart You would peace deploy
Hope springing forth in the darkest hours
Purity grow as the brightest flow’rs

But sinful passions too often rule
Perverse* actions make of me a fool
The Spirit is quenched by my poor choice
I groan within and give grief a voice

I may God pursue with heart tender
By His Spirit complete surrender
Daily repent, always move toward Him
Extra pursuits and wayward paths trim

Worship the Father with praise and praying
Hear His Word through reading and preaching
Devoted to the truth where’er it leads
Truth more than life that for the lost pleads

By diligence know Him and find rest
Even when I am put to the test
Communing with my Father and Lord
By His grace growing deeper and toward

Paisley and Plaid
Complimentarily clad
Two who became one
Someone’s daughter and son

Opposites attract
Differently act
Conflicts not abstract
Proceed with much tact

Love is a commitment
A selfless deployment
Not for the faint of heart
Pray from the start

It is not all pain
Nor expect constant strain
There are many a joy
Each other to enjoy

Loneliness at bay
In your heart night and day
Find the other’s delight
In darkness be a light

Not good to be alone
God made from Adam’s bone
A helper and a friend
Each other love, attend

A lifelong partnership
On a common trip
Where paisley and plaid
A reason to be glad

When the burning desire to teach
Is in its last throe
Gone the desire to grow and reach
Then it is time to go

Knowledge is sweet and learning is good
But when drive is low
To push another’s ought’s and should*
Then it is time to go

Against all odds some came to make
Understanding flow
But when each step uphill you take
Then it is time to go

Hard victories won, stories told
Wisdom you did sow
Delivery now stale and old
Then it is time to go

To new pursuits of love and life
Always change and grow
Putting aside the stress and strife
Then it is time to go

Now my long mission is complete
What good did I sow?
Confidence, ambivalence meet
Farewell, it’s time to go

Idellete be patient and kind
Industrious and diligent
Faithful and studious of mind
For the Faith be vigilant

As your namesake be strong in faith
Bearing up under trials and loss
Trust always in what the Word saith
Shunning worldly pursuits as dross

Be a Joy to all who know you
For the Savior live all your life
Point the many to life anew
May you bring unity, not strife

May God give you joy in struggle
Peace in sorrow, patience each day
Responsibilities juggle
With power unceasingly pray

With all these things may God bless you
Lightness of heart to meet each day
Toughness that will carry you through
Desire always to God obey

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ” Philippians 4:8

Now upon a better theme
I would dwell and pick up steam
To revive my spirit so I thrive
At deepest levels survive

Much I should be thankful for
Life and family and much more
Forgiven of sin and wickedness
Comfort in trials and duress

Joyous life eternally
Purposeful activity
God’s dear presence to guide and to cheer
Overcome temptation, fear

There are many smaller joys
Some quite grand and some mere toys
Experiences of sight and of sound
Pleasant thoughts and some profound

So the sum of all we do
Give God glory and be true
In telling others of life in Him
Enjoy His gifts, foremost Him

In this life and on this path
There is strife and sometimes wrath
Difficulties small and great
But nothing ever left to fate

We have dreams and we make plans
Some have even help and fans
All of your ambitions dear
Wait for God’s directions clear

Paying forward, looking back
Outward viewing, keep on track
In your life reflect on how
Before His will you may bow

The when difficulties come
More than an unhappy sum
Of trials and loss and joys ban
They are part of His good plan

Knowledge is a tool box
With tools for life within
Add wisdom and discernment
At difficulties grin

Knowledge is not a school box
Housed totally within
But truth and experience
Not mere discussion, paper, pen

Knowledge can be a fool’s box
All plushly lined within
With arrogance and falsehood
Leading astray to sin

Knowledge may be a cool box
Understand workings within
It is so satisfying
To know how and why and when