To Hide

When we hide God's wisdom 

In our hearts  ,

His truth and love can pour in 

Into our conversation naturally .

We can be like walking Bibles

Sharing God's eternal hope 

Wherever we go .

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                            By Brock

                            Smiley

Limited

 

God is not limited 

To any mountain 

Or physical space 

He is present with us 

Every where .

The true pilgrimage 

We make each day 

Is to approach His throne 

As we boldly say

Our father He is there .

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He Is Powerful

God is powerful , beyond our reach 

Even starting .

Yet He is also full of love  ,

Always reaching  out to us  .

A God both powerful and loving 

This is what we need .

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                                 By Brock

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My Family

I could not have come this far 

In my trauma journey 

Without my family and friends 

And my faith in our loving God .

I have learned how resilient 

God has made us .

I have learned never 

To take life for granted .

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Contrast Of Hope

In a world that does not know 

How to deal with death and covid 

Even the smallest offering 

Of praise to our Creator 

Can become a shining 

Contrast of hope .

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Resting

 

Resting in Jesus 

Makes you a disciple

Of His .

It is the only way to improve 

Your picture .

Jesus said if you remain

In me and I in you  ,

You will bear much fruit 

Apart from me 

You can do nothing .

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Above All

God intentionally designed

The various aspects of our uniqueness 

Ethnicity . race and personality in heaven 

And we do not need to assimilate 

Our search for belonging .

We inherit every promise 

Secured in Christ ,

Whose name is above all names

Even on Christmas !

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Communion

Still today , whenever we take communion  ,

We honor His great , unflinching love .

Remembering the cost of our rescue 

And celebrating the gift of life 

His sacrifice produced .

How can it be that thou ,

My Lord died for me .

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Witnesses

Jesus wants all of us 

To be his witnesses .

He wants all of us to share 

The key to knowing Him 

And loving Him .

Let us take up that call .

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Twisted Words

Jesus has spoken about 

How his listeners 

Have twisted God's words

To justify revenge .

But then Jesus urges his followers 

To respond in a different way .

Even when we are treated in ways 

That we do not deserve ,

Jesus calls us to respond in love .

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Suffering

Suffering is a part of living 

In a fallen world 

It can happen for reasons 

We may never know .

But God has a purpose

For us that goes beyond 

The pain we endure .

Do not get discouraged by falling 

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Small Acts

Our small acts of love 

Can inspire others 

To join us in giving .

God can even rally supporters 

To serve alongside us .

As we rely on Him ,

We can live to serve 

And give Him the glory 

He deserves .

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Sealed Orders

God has a set of sealed orders

For each of us ,

Not only that we all know 

We are His beloved children 

But understand the unique ways 

We can serve Him .

Through our gifts and passions .

He will lead us as we trust 

And delight in Him .

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                             By Brock

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Refreshed

Refreshed with new vision  ,

We to can see God's 

Fresh direction 

In our lives.

May we look with new eyes 

To see His path .

Then with courage  ,

May we step onto new ground 

Bravely following Him .

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Recognize The Time

It takes courage 

And love to speak up

Against injustice .

Seeking God's help ,

However , we recognize 

The Time to speak is now .

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Money

Even if we do not have money ,

We do have time ,

Skills or a listening ear .

Let us ask God to show us 

How to creativity serve others 

For Jesus .

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                            Smiley

God Knows

God knows our future 

And has prepared us

For it by giving us the abilities 

And personalities 

That best suit our purpose and calling .

We may be different from those we admire ,

But we can not be who we are not .

We can accept , appreciate and celebrate 

Who we are as unique individuals ,

Intentionally made for God's purpose .

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                                      By Brock

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Fear Strikes

When fear strikes your grandchild 

Retaliate with reassurance 

Love and smiles and prayer .

Being a grandparent 

God applauds your smallest  accomplishments 

And underscore your talents and smiles 

At our child like faith .

Remember always tell your grandchild 

About the donkey ,

He always has a cross on his back 

And only the donkey has one .

The cross goes from his tail to between his ears 

And across his shoulder .

And it is a cross that God can make every time 

So everything will be Ok Smiley .

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                                                    By Brock

                                                    Smiley

 

Fulfillment

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment 

Of this promise ,

Bring the good news 

That true freedom is available 

To all people .

And one day in God's renewed 

And restored creation .

We all experience this freedom fully .

What indescribable joy 

It will be to frolic there .

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Circumstances

Seeming devastating circumstances

Can build my character .

As I rely on God to help me deal

With my pain ,

I am learning endurance the hard way .

Through Christ that will help me 

Find true joy in God .

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                                By Brock

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Go To God

As we go to God today ,

May we have the confidence 

Of His listening ear 

Spanning the history 

Of His people .

He hears our pleas .

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Confusion

In our confusion . darkness

And testing ,

We learn truths about ourselves

And about God .

And we may even find 

That our testing leads 

To a deeper trust in Him .

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The Narrow Way

The narrow way is not primarily 

A restraint on my life

Rather , it opens my life

To possibilities 

Of living more fully with Christ .

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Focusing

Focusing on daily opportunities 

Allows us to break down 

Our commitment to Christ 

Into smaller , more manageable pieces .

As we surrender each moment  ,

We find our whole life 

Conforming to God's plan

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                                        By Brock

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A Desperate Cry

Sometimes we find ourselves 

In bad situations ,

Jumping into things 

Without careful consideration 

Or proper planning .

We hope that everything 

Will sort itself out .

Often by the time 

We realize our errors ,

We have already 

Gotten to the point 

Of no return .

Remember , God does care for us 

According to God's unconditional 

Love and tender mercies .

No matter how bleak 

The situation ,

God is only a prayer away .

The eloquence of our prayers 

Does not matter ,

A desperate cry 

From a needy heart is enough 

To catch God's attention .

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Grandma Does

Grandma plays everything 

From cards to board games ,

To make believe with all of us for hours 

And act as if there is nothing 

Else she would rather do .

My grandma has ears 

That always listen 

And arms that hug and hold .

Her love never ends 

And her heart is made of gold .

I would do anything for grandma 

And she would do anything for me .

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                                 By Brock

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Oh To Comprehend

While we are not promised

Absolute understanding of everything 

Given to us in the Scripture ,

We can have confidence 

That by the Spirit 

We can comprehend everything 

Necessary for us to follow Jesus .

He will guide us into those vital truths .

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                                 By Brock

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I Know

I know I will miss being 

With my wife and family 

When I am not physically 

With them 

But I can take comfort in knowing 

That God is always with me ,

He will never forsake me ,

And will give me the strength 

I need 

To make it through 

Until I am with them soon .

You  all know me .

I will find something to eat !

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Thanksgiving

Be thankful for what you have .

Always make time for things  you want .

Be thankful for the people 

In your world ,

The people you see '

And talk to everyday ,

Be thankful for the memories 

That go through your head everyday even Thanksgiving .

Be thankful for those who listen to you 

Any time of day or night 

Even to those who do not talk back 

But they are always in your heart 

So always be thankful for them all

Not just on Thanksgiving 

But everyday always tell them 

You love them  .

Remember , no one is alone 

on Thanksgiving or any day .

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                   By Brock

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A Dark Time

If you are going through a dark time ,

Do not lose hope .

You will not be consumed

By what you face .

Keep up trusting in God's faithful love 

And provision for you .

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                                      By Brock

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Empty Spaces

Only Jesus can fill the empty spaces

In our hearts with life .

If you are feeling empty ,

Call out to Him today .

If you are experiencing 

Serious struggles ,

Seek out good counsel.

Christ alone provides life 

That is abundant and full

Life full of meaning 

Found in Him .

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                     By Brock

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Everything Will Pass

 

 Through example , teach your children 

And grandchildren oh everyone 

To talk to God anywhere anytime about anything 

Tell everyone no matter their age 

That nothing will trouble them 

And let nothing frighten them .

Always take one day at a time 

Because everything will pass

So let things go to God 

And pray .

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                       By Brock

                      Smiley

Stress And Strain

Stress and strain are never good 

For us  ,

But on this day they deliver

A powerful lesson .

The unlimited God is not 

Like you and me .

He accomplishes everything

He wishes .

In silence I pray .

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                       By Brock

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Good News

Hope , news would not have had 

Its full effect ,

If it had not been broadcasted .

It is our privilege 

As witnesses to God's goodness 

To look and listen for the whatevers

All around us 

And then share that good news 

With others that they may be encouraged .

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                                        By Brock

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In 100 Years

100 years from now 

It will not matter 

What kind of house 

I lived in ,

How much money I had

Or what kind of clothes I had

And were like .

But the world may be just 

A little better 

Because I was important in the life 

Of a child 

Because I called him Smiley .

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Talk To God

 

Troubled about how to express

Yourself to God ?

Not understanding what 

Or how to pray ?

Say what you can from the heart ,

The Spirit will understand 

And accomplish God's purpose .

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                           By Brock

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Small Things

God the source and giver of all love 

Could perfectly do anything for love .

I suspect that God delights 

In even our smallest acts of love .

I believe , Jesus commands 

Any display of love for Him .

Jesus accepted love 

No matter how it was shown .

Whether we give our love by praising God ,

Stopping to admire the creation 

Of what we see 

Or helping someone in need ,

We can offer all we have 

And all we are to God 

And graciously respect to those 

Who show us love in big or small ways .

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                                         By Brock

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Oh To Wait

I learned that through 

The prophet Isaiah ,

The Lord tells us that waiting all 

Can be a good thing .

Waiting upon the Lord shall renew 

Our strength.

Waiting upon the Lord has taught me 

That God is working while.

 I am waiting .

This perspective has opened my eyes 

To the many gifts my heavenly 

Father has given me since 

I learned to wait for gifts include renewed strength

And purpose for my life .

I know God works on a different time table 

Than my time .

If I am always open to waiting ,

I believe , God can bless and shape me 

Into the person He wants me to be .

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                                        By Brock

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Nov 11

Is the sun shining extra bright in your life today ?

Look around to see if there is torrential rain 

In someone else's world .

The blessing God has graciously 

Given you are multiplied when you freely 

Share them with others .

Being generous and open handed not closed hands 

Is a wonderful way to give hope to others 

And to remind hurting people that God loves them .

                                                      I Love You All

                                                      By Brock

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Believers

As believers in Jesus 

May God help us 

Not to spread falsehoods .

May he provide what we need 

To exhibit wisdom

And to make certain 

Our words are actually true .

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                       By Brock
                       Smiley

This Side

We will never know this side of heaven ,

But this much we do know 

When God sets us free to serve Him ,

He can turn even a messy past 

Into a message of hope and love .

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                                  By Brock

                                  Smiley

He Is Calling

Is God calling you to do something 

For Him ?

If so , remember all that God has done 

Through Jesus' death and resurrection .

He has given us the Holy Spirit 

To help and guide us 

And He will prepare us 

To answer His Call .

                    I Love You All

                    By Brock

                    Smiley

Nickname

What is your nickname ?

Are you OK with it ?

As though we might sometimes 

Be tempted 

To give ourselves bitter nicknames ,

Like failure or unloved .

Based on difficulties we have experienced 

On mistakes we have made  ,

Those names are not the end of our stories .

We can replace those labels 

With the name God has given each of us love ones 

And look for the way He is providing for us 

Even in the most challenging of times .

                                                      I Love You All

                                                      By Brock

                                                      Smiley

He Sees

No matter what kind of situation 

We find ourselves in .

God Sees 

And He is waiting for us 

To turn to Him .

When we do , our circumstances 

May not always change ,

But He is promised His peace 

In the midst of it all .

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                             By Brock

                             Smiley

Experts Say

Experts say that the human brain 

Can hold 2 billion bits of data  in a lifetime 

In my lifetime I have been called The Brain 

But at my age these days 

The only bits of data my brain holds 

Are scribbled on yellow sticky notes .

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                                        By Brock

                                        Smiley

To Surpass

No  matter how much 

Humans advance in knowledge ,

We all never surpass

Christ's all knowing status .

We will always need Him 

To bless our understanding 

And to teach us 

What is good and true .

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                       By Brock

                       Smiley

To Be Aware

When we become aware of the needs of others ,

Whether material or intangible ,

May God's grace be so powerful at work in us 

That we respond as they did ,

Willingly from our hearts 

To those in need .

This makes us vessels of God's grace 

As fellow believers in Jesus .

Remember , one in heart and mind .

                                   I Love You All     

                                   By Brock

                                   Smiley

Want To Be

We want to be popular .

To be honored ,

To live comfortable lives  .

But God calls us to go 

Where the disgrace is .

That is where we will find the vendor 

With Hansen's disease .

That is where we find people 

The world has rejected .

That is where we all find Jesus .

                            I Love You All

                           By Brock

                           Smiley

Joy

Joy is the serious business 

In heaven .

The path there , is paved with wisdom .

My grandma who lived to be in her 90s

Would agree .

She walked a wise ,

Joyful pace  to the King .

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                                   By Brock

                                   Smiley

He Will Come

We may not know 

Or understand everything in the Bible ,

But we do know Jesus is coming again .

He will keep His word .

He demolish sins ,

Right every wrong ,

Makes all things new 

And reign as our King 

Forever now ,

That is a great ending 

That leads to our new beginning .

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                               By Brock

                               Smiley

Practice

We all to often practice 

Such care only if family 

Members were or are good to us .

In other words ,

If they deserve it .

But  Paul offers up a more beautiful 

Reason to repay them .

Take care of them because 

This is pleasing to God .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

                               Smiley

Find It Hard

Do you sometimes find it hard 

To trust God to meet your needs ?

Why not take a walk in nature 

Or sit in the back yard with friends

And see what you see and what you hear .

Do not worry ,

Say what shall we eat ?

Or what shall we drink ?

Remember , your heavenly Father knows 

That you need all these things .

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                                              By Brock

                                              Smiley

He Knows

God knows us better

Than anyone else ever 

Can and still He loves us .

When we daily surrender 

Ourselves to Him 

And seek to know Him more fully ,

He can change our story 

For His glory .

He is the Author who is continuing 

To write it .

                         I Love You All

                         By Brock

                         Smiley

Time

Time is time right .

Time is the wisest 

Of all counselors .

Well grandparents 

Have plenty of time ,

Wisdom and advice .

All parents and grandchildren 

Should know all this 

Before it is to late .

This is my advice .

            I Love You All

            By Brock

            Smiley

Our Action

Our action demonstrate 

The genuineness of our faith .

Significantly those actions 

Can influence the faith choices 

Of others .

At this point , I would call the man 

Who helped his family dad 

For he is the spiritual father

The one who shows 

The love of Jesus .

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock

                           Smiley

The Needs

When we become aware 

Of the needs of others ,

Whether material or intangible ,

May God's grace be so powerful

At work in us that we respond 

As they did ,

Willingly giving from our hearts 

To those in need .

This makes us vessels of God's grace 

As fellow believer in Jesus .

                                         I Love You All

                                         By Brock

                                         Smiley

Our God

Our God is the master 

Of unanticipated mercies .

He is able to cause great good 

To spring up unexpectedly 

Out of the hard gravel 

Of life's most unfavorable 

Circumstances .

Today watch Him closely .

He may do it again today !

                    I Love You All

                    By Brock

                    Smiley

Never A Bar

 

Always take 1 day at a time .

Always find a quiet place 

To get away and clear your mind .

Do not be afraid of tomorrow .

Always act like you have cents .

Remember what you have been dealt .

May your thoughts always be true and loving .

May your words be pure and honorable .

You need to do good everyday .

Remember you can not do all these things 

In a bar .

I hope you know where you can and should go now ?

                                                      I Love You All

                                                      By Brock 

                                                      Smiley

Loved Ones

 

As we or our loved ones face injustice  ,

Opportunities to take revenge 

Offenders  may will come ?

Will we give in to these desires ?

Will we choose righteousness 

Over revenge .

                         I Love You All

                         By Brock

                         Smiley

My Grandchild

My grandchild does not care 

How I look or what I can not do .

When I greet him at the back door 

In rumpled clothes and wind blown hair .

I never thought I could fall in love again ,

Until my grandchild was born .

I have been accused of spoiling 

My grandchild .

I do not spoil .

I sooth when he is hurting 

There is a difference .

                      I Love You All

                      By Brock

                      Smiley

Like A River

The trouble aimed at something good 

Like justice for all .

Let justice row on like a river .

When we get into trouble ,

The goal is always goodness 

And healing .

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock 

                          Smiley

Fearing God

 

Instead of fearing God's discipline ,

May we learn to accept it .

When we hear God's voice of correction 

In our hearts or experience conviction 

When reading Scripture ,

May we thank God 

That He delights in us enough 

To lead us to what is better .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

                                 Smiley

First Step

God waits for us 

To take the first step 

Deeper into the waters .

Sometimes our challenges 

May be to hard to take on 

By ourselves ,

But God is by our side 

Wherever we go ,

We do not have to carry 

The weight alone ,

                 I Love You All

                 By Brock

                 Smiley

Waiting

Through God's grace ,we be long .

Our place in the kingdom 

To come is waiting for us ,

Just as Jesus said it would be .

I can think of nothing knowing 

Without a doubt 

That in God's kingdom ,

Both on earth and in heaven 

We do fit in .

                     I Love You All

                     By Brock

                     Smiley

My God

While life can feel overwhelming ,

I am reminded that none of my problems 

Is greater than my God .

God shows me that I have to stop saying ,

Why me ?

I should say 

Oh God , I have a big problem .

But I will say hi to my problem 

Because I have a big God .

                           I love You All

                           By Brock

                           Smiley

The Wooden Gun

I just want to go hunting in my van .

I will take my gun and go up north .

Where my dad and I and my uncles 

Would hunt for less than an hour .

I will just sit and cry tomorrow .

I will see all the pheasants 

In my memory .

Dad made me a wooden gun 

When I was small .

I never missed a pheasant 

With that gun .

We all would stop at the store 

And I would get a big Nutt Goody and pop .

I would listen to all the guys talk 

As the pheasants would fly by the outside door .

We had our limit of birds .

Oh the memory of my wooden gun 

And dad and my uncles and dad's friends .

                                              I Love You All

                                              By Brock

                                              Smiley

To Understand

Prayer is asking for understanding .

It is the means by which 

We comprehend what God is saying 

To us .

Prayer  focuses and unites 

Our fragmented hearts .

In the quiet place of prayer ,

God comforts , instructs 

And listen to us .

There we learn to love 

And worship Him .     

                   I Love You All

                   By Brock

                   Smiley

Take The Time

We can all take the time today 

To show kindness to someone 

In small ways .

By doing so we bring glory to God ,

Who notices and cares 

About the details in our lives .

                      I Love You All

                      By Brock

                      Smiley

The Season

God's work in us never wavers 

God's compassion ,

Wisdom ,

Love 

And forgiveness 

Are available to sustain us 

No matter the season .

                      I Love You All

                     By Brock

                     Smiley

Grandpa

I have unfeigned faith .

I am here for love and for fixing things .

After you were born

I craved my little Smiley 

More than I craved sweets .

I will teach Christian principles .

As a grandpa ,

Time is unlimited 

Even if my stamina 

And wallet are not .

I have staying power .

When Smiley comes over 

For a visit 

And begs to stay ,

I know Smiley's mother 

Will let him stay

Some night .

                I Love You All

                By Brock

                Smiley

She Talks To Me

While her body and mind were failing 

My mother continued her daily Spiritual practice .

Although she is gone ,

Her powerful witness of God's faithfulness

In every season of life

Will continue to speak to me 

And to many generations 

Of my family .

I am grateful for God's eternal promises .

                                          I Love You All

                                          By Brock

                                          Smiley

Darkness

Some of God's most valuable gifts 

Are revealed in the darkness .

God is always with us ,

Even the most painful experience 

Can contain a life changing treasure .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

                                 Smiley

Work Hard

I want my words 

To be pure and honorable .

I wear my heart outside my chest .

Sometimes when I make plans 

God will laugh .

I try not to keep records of wrongs .

I want my life to be simple!

I know it does not take talent 

To work hard 

So I will work with a smile 

No matter what people 

Think of me .

                    I Love You All

                    By Brock

                    Smiley

The Store

We can trust God 

And that we should praise 

God's glorious work 

In this world .

Working in a  store

Was not the job 

I was hoping for 

But I praise God 

For making away for me .

When God does something 

Incredible and delivers me 

Into a new season ,

I will praise God 

And share God's goodness

With everyone 

By calling everyone Smiley at work .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

                                 Smiley

Good By

Although the goodbyes were tough

I know they prepared me for my future .

Knowing that changes are part of God's 

Plan for me has made me grateful

And optimistic 

And I will get this stain off my brain .

God is with me 

Every step I take ,

Even when that step is in a new direction .

                                      I Love You All

                                      By Brock

                                      Smiley

 

To Restore

As I continue to meditate

I manage to recover 

And trust in God's power to restore .

Sometimes no one understand 

What I am going through ,

But I can rest assure 

That the Lord will stand by me always 

And gives me the strength I need .

                                   I Love You All

                                   By Brock

                                   Smiley

When It Falls

When life falls apart 

Sometimes the most comforting thing 

We can do is to lie on the floor 

And watch the lighting through the big window 

And to be reminded 

That the God who created 

The world is big enough 

And loving enough to take care of us too .

We may even start singing our favorite songs 

That tell of the might and greatness 

Of our God .

                                                   I Love You All

                                                   By Brock

                                                   Smiley

No Matter

No matter what the problem we face ,

We do not have to let them hold us back .

From spreading God's world .

God has great plans for us  ,

And we just have to listen to God .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock

                              Smiley

You Can

Throw away yesterday 

Today is what you have 

Tomorrow is not here 

So do what you can do today .

You can not compare 

Someones insides 

To someones outsides .

Remember , you can not fix

What you do not acknowledge 

Or recognize get it .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

                               Smiley

A Child

You are a child of God ,

And He rejoices in helping 

You pursue righteousness .

He loves it when you bring 

The light of his presence 

Wherever you go .

Remember , He loves you

And you can not do

Anything about it .

                      I Love You All

                      By Brock

                      Smiley

Go

When you go to mass rejoice .

Your Lord has come to dwell

With you ,

Not as a far off temple ,

But in your heart ,

             I Love You All

             By Brock 

             Smiley

Next Time

The next time I face adversity ,

I hope to remember this provision 

And quit my doubts .

Like the Israelites at Jericho ,

I want to praise God even before 

I see a breakthrough .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock 

                                 Smiley

The Canopy

When the meeting was over ,

We huddled together under

A canopy of umbrellas

And ventured out 

Into the stormy night.

We went out our separate ways ,

But we did pray as a group knitted us

Together 

With a common thread 

And in the middle of it all was Jesus  .

                                 I Love You All

                                By Brock

                                Smiley

The Army

God rescued His people 

From the invading armies .

He hears us 

When we cry 

Out to Him in distress .

Whatever your concern .

Whatever a relationship issue 

Or something threatening 

From the natural world .

Remember , lift  to God in prayer ,

Nothing is too hard for Him .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

                               Smiley

You May Not Care

We may not know anyone  who is facing death 

But we probably know someone 

Who could use our support .

Whose rights are trampled ?

Whose talents are dismissed ?

Whose voice is not heard ?

It may be risky to speak on someone's behalf ,

But it is so right in my eyes 

I may be a coach who never got paid !

But I will stand up for them 

As God guides me to do so 

This is what I had to say .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

                                 Smiley

My Grandma

I praise God for my grandchild .

He is the joy of my life .

I praise God for the lessons .

I learned from a loving grandma .

My grandma's lap 

Was the best place to be 

Whenever I was sad and upset .

She always said take one day at a time .

Grandma always said 

I just want the best for you .

What she did not realize 

Was that I always had the best .

I had her for a grandma .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

                               Smiley

Keep Looking

I keep looking up to God .

I always take a moment 

To thank the Lord 

For what He has already done

In my life

And for  what He is going to do .

I know that He hears my prayers .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

                               Smiley

Grandma

Grandma would brings flowers 

When your dog died 

And she would sit down beside me

And cry with me .

Grandma would always keep her pantry 

And refrigerator stocked just in case 

When I dropped by .

When I did not understand life ,

She would understand me

And she would listen .

When I was sad and discouraged

Grandma was there just for me .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock

                              Smiley

Obedience

Sometimes our choice is clear .

Though everyone around us implores 

Us to go along 

With prevailing opinion through our own reputation 

May be at risk .

May we never turn 

From our obedience to God .

Sometimes even at a great cost ,

All we can offer is a firm refusal and a prayer .

                                             I Love You All

                                             By Brock

                                             Smiley

Light

Find light in your daily life .

If you let yourself go ,

You will be easy to be found .

When you smile 

There will be no need for a tissue

Of lies .

What can your smile do ?

Happiness happens when you 

Give it away in the light .

Always open your eyes 

And your heart  and a smile 

To the light and goodness .

Rejoice and be glad 

For your reward 

Will be great in heaven .

                  I Love You All

                  By Brock

                  Smiley

Embrace And Restore

When we have hurt others 

Or taken for granted God's goodness

In our life ,

It is easy to assume we have forever

Marred the good gifts 

We have been given 

But when we humbly turn to Him 

We find His love is  always 

Reaching to embrace and restore us .

                                     I Love You All

                                     By Brock

                                     Smiley

The Conviction

The conviction of the Spirit 

And life experience ,

God continues to work 

In all human hearts 

To correct our misguided 

Perspective about others .

He helps us to see 

That God does not show favoritism .

                                    I Love You All

                                    By Brock

                                    Smiley

1-800-Grandma

For memories or 2 ,

For a laugh ,

If nothing is going well 

Call grandma .

Remember when a child 

Is born 

So are grandmothers .

When you need a prayer 

Call grandma .

Always remember 

A child has innocent faith .

Childlikeness is not immaturity 

It is wisdom .

I am calling grandma now

1-800-Grandma .

                           I Love You All

                           Brock

                           Smiley

The Experience

Few experiences mark us deeply 

As the separation we endure ,

But in Jesus we have hope pf being reunited ,

And in the midst of grief 

And loss we can find the comfort promise 

We need in that enduring promise .

                                           I Love You All

                                           By Brock

                                           Smiley

Listening

Learning requires listening .

The practical words from God 

In the Book of James 

Can only be accomplished 

If we are filled with God's 

Loving Spirit 

And choose to respect others .

Jesus is willing to help us 

Make changes in our hearts 

And attitudes .

Are we all open to listen and learn ?

                                     I Love You All

                                     By Brock

                                     Smiley

Pray For What

What a gift it would be to become a person

Who prays as passionately for others 

As we pray for lost treasures to be found .

What a privilege it is to celebrate 

When someone repents and surrender 

Their lives to Christ .

If we have placed our trust in Jesus ,

We can be thankful we have experienced 

Of being loved by someone 

Who never gave up 

Because He thought we were worth finding .

                                              I Love You All

                                              By Brock

                                              Smiley

After All These Years

We were protected by 2 oceans 

But not no longer not after all these years .

Remember , a man who steps in a river 

Never steps in the same place in the river twice .

Sometimes memories of you will sneak out of my eyes 

And row down my checks .

I know to understand everything 

Some things will just never make sense .

Remember , do not be afraid to try 

To make things better .

Remember , with memories and wisdom 

We all hope to have courage to know 

Ourselves and to help others 

After all these years .

                                      I Love You All

                                      By Brock

                                      Smiley

God Is Our Father

Because God is our Father  ,

We do not need to use many words

To move Him  .

Through prayer , we are talking with a Father 

Who loves and cares for us 

And made us His children through Jesus .

                                        I Love You All

                                        By Brock

                                        Smiley

God's Way

Always seek God's way 

When we honor God 

And His wisdom 

Remember , always keep 

God's words 

In the forefront of your mind .

You will receive the wisdom 

We need for all the matters 

We face in life ,

Each and every one of us .

                     I Love You All

                     By Brock

                     Smiley

Clouds

The sky may be clear sometimes

And sometimes the sky is full 

Of many sizes of clouds .

I believe every cloud up above 

Is someone's dream .

Some clouds help make music 

To some , love and peace to others .

Yet someone's dream may bring trouble 

So let us all pray for a beautiful day 

And dream every  time for a better 

World to come .

                                    I Love You All

                                    By Brock

                                    Smiley

Impatient

We are often impatient 

With everything 

From slow people 

To slow lane in traffic .

Yet , I believe God 

In His kindness says ,

Be still , breath in and out .

Go slow and remember 

That I am God , your refuge 

And strength ,

I am always here to help in trouble .

To do so is to know that God is God .

To do so is to trust .

To do so is to Live .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

                                   Smiley

The Tools

Oh the tools we need for guidance ?

The light of truth and assurance 

Of God's presence 

By His Holy Spirit  .

When we feel disoriented and lost  ,

God's faithful guidance 

Through His Spirit and loving presence 

Can comfort  and light our way I pray .

                                      I Love You All

                                      By Brock

                                      Smiley

The Bird

I checked on the bird out back 

Throughout the day .

Each time finding it alive 

But unmoved .

Then late in the evening it was gone .

I prayed it had survived .

Surely if I cared that much about the bird ,

God cares even more .

Imagine how much He cares for you and me .

                                                 I Love You All

                                                 By Brock

                                                 Smiley

All Human Beings

All human beings are fearfully

And wonderfully  made 

And those who follow Jesus 

Become children of God .

Once in despair 

We should be left with hope 

And find true identity 

And our purpose bigger 

Than this word can give .

                  I Love You All

                  By Brock

                  Smiley 

Self Censoring

Self censoring is a good idea for all of us .

Always take a good look at ourselves 

To find what is not right .

I know God knows me 

And he knows my heart .

Let us examine our ways 

And test them ,

And let us return to the Lord .

Everyone ought  to examine themselves .

Remember  , the Holy Spirit can help us 

Turn from any attitudes or actions 

That do not please God .

So before we head out into the world tomorrow ,

Let us stop and seek the Spirit's help .

In doing some self checking 

Let us return to the Lord 

In fellowship with Him .

                                       I Love You All

                                       By Brock

                                       Smiley

To Withdraw

In our faithful efforts to serve ,

It is good for us to remember 

That Jesus often withdrew  .

If this practice was important for Jesus ,

How much more so for us ?

May we regularly spend 

Time with our Father  ,

Who can fill us again 

To everflowing .

                         I Love You All

                         By Brock

                         Smiley

The Spirit

As the Spirit enables us 

To live in God's shalom ,

We learn to bring our needs 

And concerns to our heavenly Father .

This in turn brings us 

The peace of God , which transcends

All understanding .

Oh the peace that will guard  our hearts

And our minds in Christ Jesus .

                                            I Love You All

                                            By Brock

                                            Smiley

Hearing

It is more than hearing
That He cares for people  like us .
It is experiencing for ourselves
The promise of Christ
To make the wonder
Of His unseen presence
And Spirit real to us
Every stage of life .

                    I Love You All

                    By Brock

                    Smiley

Be Prepared

 

Our task is to be prepared

For life's tough test .

Oh to build a ministry ,

We need to study the Bible ,

Work and pray .

We need to create beautiful arts .

We need to master a skill 

Like to conquer a mountain ,

We need to secure our tools 

And build up our strength 

Then prepare that we are 

More than conquerors through Christ 

Strong love .

                                   I Love You All

                                   By Brock

                                   Smiley

Feeling Discouraged

   

Feeling discouraged about how you are?

Remember , this is not who you are .

If you have put your trust in Jesus 

Then you are in Jesus 

And His holiness drapes over you .

You are more beautiful than you can ever  imagine .

                                                         I Love You All

                                                         By Brock

                                                         Smiley

He Gives Us

 

God gives us His Spirit to help us grow 

Into a full understanding of who Hr is  .

He equips pastors and teachers 

To instruct and lead us toward maturity 

In our faith .

Just as certain characteristics 

And evidence of physical maturity  ,

Our unity as His body is evidence 

Of our spiritual growth .

                                    I Love You All

                                    By Brock

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I Love

   

I love calling someone Smiley

When they truly need a smile .

I love to sleep without dreams .

I love to hear a child's laugh .

I love to see a rainbow 

That has nothing to hide .

I love to throw away yesterday .

I love to sit outside 

And watch the world go by 

And also watch what moves so slow 

Yet so fast up in the sky .

I do not need to know

It all to show love .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock

                              Smiley

To Pursue

We should pursue righteousness ,

Godliness , faith , love , endurance 

And gentleness .

These traits grow in us 

As we pursue them 

And ask God to form them within us .

This is how we secure the deep satisfaction 

We seek with God .

                                                 I Love You All

                                                 By Brock

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To Rescue

His power helps all of us  

Who are in need .

He assist those of us 

Who are destined  

For ruin unless 

God arrives to save us .

Through our situation may be 

Dire or more impossible  

We can lift our eyes

And heart and watch 

For the One 

Who loves to rescue .

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True Selves

Until the day Jesus returns ,

We are being drawn towards

The future not the past .

By his work ,step by step ,

We can reflect 

On his image even more clearly .

We are not yet 

Who we are meant to be ,

But as we become more like Him ,

We become our true selves .

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                          By Brock

                          Smiley       

The Power

The power of God's Spirit 

That calls us out of spiritual darkness 

Into a great relationship with Him 

Can also transform our work or areas of service 

Into testimonies of our faith .

In whatever skill or passion God has gifted us ,

We can embrace added meaning and purpose in doing 

All of it in a manner that has the power to point people to Him .

                                                                        I Love You All

                                                                        By Brock

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We Need To Believe

May our faith remind us that God is for us ,

Not against us and that God cares for us 

Far more deeply than we can imagine .

When we cry out to God in Prayer 

God will rescue us 

From our deepest fear and despair .

With Him by our side always ,

We need to believe

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                                 By Brock

                                 Smiley

God Knows

Before we are fully formed ,

God knows our talents ,

Our God given gifts 

Are meant to be used to serve 

One another and to glorify God  .

Through the gift of music 

I am able to praise God 

And share my faith with others .

Thanks be to God for our gifts 

Like music , writing  , and listening 

To one another .

                                     I Love You All

                                     By Brock

                                     Smiley

Your Sins Are In The Ocean

When we are caught in feelings of shame 

And unworthiness ,

We can not serve God 

Without our whole hearts .

Instead we are restricted by our past .

If you feel stymied 

By the wrongs you have done ,

Ask God to help you fully believe 

In His gift of forgiveness 

And new life .

He will cast your sins into the ocean .

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                                By Brock

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Everywhere

Everywhere we look today 

We see people  in need 

Due to war , storms ,

And other hardships 

Although we can solve every problem ,

We can prayerfully consider 

What we can do to help in any situation 

Because God puts us all here to help 

One another .

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                                         By Brock

                                         Smiley

The Road

There have been those who have taken 

The wrong road spiritually and simply 

Wander aimlessly through life .

Many of us have taken the wrong road ,

But those roads 

Do not lead to a joyful destination 

Because they lead away from God .

As we travel such alluring roads ,

It may appear as though 

We know where we are going 

But our lives are often burden 

With uncertainty and anxiety 

Because we are disoriented 

Not even aware of our final destination 

So let us pray that everyone 

Is on the right road even on Friday the 13th !

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                                               By Brock

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Awe

May we always be amazed

And in awe at God's constant presence

And may we look for God with admiration 

And give thanks that God 

Is forever our watchful parent ,

No matter our age !

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                                 By Brock

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Trusting Him

Even in chaotic situations 

As I keep on trusting God 

I can feel God's hand on me 

By his leading , guiding , encouraging ,

 Providing for and protecting me .

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                                                    By Brock

                                                    Smiley       

To Be Dogged

We may be dogged by uncertainty 

Regarding what is right or wrong .

We may fear 

That the injustice done to us 

Or those we love will never be 

Made right .

But we can trust the God of justice 

To 1 day 

Either in this life 

Or the next 

Enact justice for us .

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock

                             Smiley

It Is OK

Sometimes it feels impossible 

To believe that the Lord 

Is good to those 

Whose hope is in Him ,

To the one who seek Him 

Especially when we do not see 

An end to our suffering .

But we can cry out to Him ,

Trust that He hears us ,

And that He will be faithful 

To see us through .

                          I Love You All

                          By Brock

                          Smiley