Nurturing

It is easy to forget the importance 

Of nurturing individual relationships .

Jesus shows us a better way .

When he takes  a break from addressing 

The crowds 

To heal and interact with one man .

The Savior , God incarnate 

Come to save the world .

He fed the multitudes ,

But he also healed the man with leprosy 

And the man with the withered hand .

If Jesus had time and value in connecting 

With the seemingly forgotten individual 

Around him ,

We can do the same .

                                   I Love You All

                                   By Brock 

Little

When we are faithful 

With little we have ,

We demonstrate to God 

That we can be trusted 

Because we put our faith into action .

We show the world 

That this is better to have honest character 

Than to be dishonest ,

Whether we live in poverty 

Or possess riches .

Not only do we glorify God 

With our faithfulness,

But we share God’s love

With those we encounter .

              I Love You All

              By Brock

Life’s Challenges

Life can sometimes jostle us ,

Causing disorientation .

But we can take heart 

So we can receive  Christ Jesus 

As Lord ,

Continue to live our  life in him ,

Rooted and build up in him ,

Strengthen in the faith 

As we were taught and  overflowing 

With thankfulness 

With God  by our  side ,

We can flourish 

And face life’s challenges .

                   I Love You All

                   By Brock

Do You Worry

When I worry 

I start the old pattern 

Of worrying .

I try to recognize 

It and offer a prayer 

Then I take some deep breaths 

And wait for the peace from God 

To fill my heart and mind  .

While worrying closes me off 

Feeling connected with God’s love 

Opens me up 

To live my life joyously .

                   I Love You All

                   By Brock

Do You Agree

Do you agree ?

We do not always agree  

About how to follow Jesus either  . 

Facing complex issues together 

Calls for patience and humility  ,

Yet sadly sometimes 

We are not even civil  to each other .

That is sad 

As disciples our task 

Is not to judge or belittle ,

But to listen for the voice of God 

In our hearts 

And to love one another 

As Jesus taught us .

                     I Love You All

                     By Brock 

The Lord Hears

What love He has for us 

The Lord also hears our prays 

But even helps us pray .

When the words are a jumbled mess .

In our head ,

The Holy Spirit steps in 

To make sense of them 

And our Lord understands .

News Junkie

I am a news junkie .

Sometimes it seems to me 

That the news of today 

Is consuming us .

I remember that things 

On this earth 

Will pass away .

 However we must never forget 

The news 

That is above all other news .

The news is about Jesus 

And how he won our salvation

By His death and resurrection .

When we live by the news 

Of our salvation in Christ ,

We see how the Good News 

Of Christ’s Gospel is eternal .

                             I Love You Alk

                             By Brock

A Good Day

  

Today is a good day 

To ask ourselves 

Are we wordless 

Ministers of the Gospel ?

Can I continue to spread 

The good news 

Even if people 

Do not respond the way 

I expected ?

Can I journey 

In trust 

And let God 

Do the rest ?

        I Love You All

        By Brock

In Every Moment

In every moment ,

All is together 

As it needs to be 

For God’s purpose .

If you see

Things fall apart ,

The best thing 

To do is to go to church .

In what God has for us  in church ,

Especially in the story 

Of our salvation in church 

And in the gifts 

Of the Lord’s Supper ,

We find that all 

Is held together 

By God’s wisdom ,

Mercy, grace 

Love and power .

        I Love You All

        By Brock

An Illusion

I believe in Jesus .

I often reject this answer .

Thinking salvation must require 

Some effort , cleverness

Or skill on my part 

So I can prove my worthiness .

But this is an illusion .

We can not achieve 

Our own salvation .

Only God in the flesh

Can do that .

              I Love You All

              By Brock 

Waiting

It is easy to think 

Of a time of waiting 

As a time that is wasted .

But God like the farmer

Knows there is a time 

For everything .

As the empty field waits 

For the farmer ,

We can wait for God’s timing .

                       I Love You All

                       By Brock

Are You Honest

When people are honest  about their fears 

And their failings  ,

We can share in their journey 

To a depth that is possible 

If they present only the good part

Of their lives .

Vulnerabilities is bravery .

Authenticity is a connection .

I am immensely thankful 

That the Gospel writers captured 

The embarrassing failings 

Of the disciples 

As well as their successes .

In the Gospels we see the arguments  ,

Doubts denials and betrayals 

In these stories 

We can see ourselves .

                                     I Live You All

                                     By Brock 

I Am Imperfect

The Bible reminds us to live according 

To the false pretenses of the word ,

Where perfect looks are all to frequently 

Emphasized .

Rather , we are to focus 

On the internal gifts 

And graces and on the renewing 

Of our minds .

Jesus loved those with blemishes 

And those on the margins of  society .

Like wise , we can learn to love ourselves ,

Even though we are imperfect .

Do you love yourselves today ?

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock

A New Year

God gave us one day at a time 

No matter how much we plan for 

 Or fret about the future ,

We only have what God 

Has given us today 

Jesus reminds us 

That being anxious 

Over the future 

Does us no good .

We can not add a single hour 

To our life .

We worry about finances ,

Health loved ones 

And relationships .

But regardless what may be disturbing us ,

It is important to focus 

On God’s loving and almighty power .

We can rest in God 

And fix our eyes on the One 

Who made the world .

God has a great design for creation 

And God knows exactly 

Were you and I fit in .

                                  I Love You All 

                                  By Brock

Hand Holding

As a dad trying to model a life of faith 

To my daughter ,

I think about whose hand 

I am holding ,

On my hike through life ,

Am I holding the hand 

Of the old Adam ,

Who brought sin ,

Into this world ?

Or am I holding the hand 

Of the new Adam ,

Jesus Christ’s,

Who defeated sin 

And leads me through 

The steep and rough challenges 

Of this earthly life ?

                                I Love You All

                               By Brock

Small Kindness

Jesus wants his followers 

Always to look for opportunities 

To serve and pass his love forward  .

For the man who spent his money 

For a ladies groceries 

May not have been very much 

But to her it was significant .

Nothing can be called small kindness .

When we consider insignificant 

Might move someone from sadness

To hope .

As Christians we should understand 

That no matter how small the kindness 

We exhibit  ,

It can be magnified many times over 

By God to change someone’s life .

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock 

Jesus Knows

There is someone who knows 

More about me 

Then  know about me .

As both God and human ,

Jesus  knows our heartaches 

From the top to the bottom .

While Jesus walked this earth.

He experienced everything 

There is about being human .

As God Jesus can do everything 

To help us in every need .

Taking all our needs to Jesus 

Who made full atonement for us 

On the cross ,

Always fills our empty places 

As only God can fill them . 

Because He lives 

I can face tomorrow .

Because He lives

All fear is gone 

Because He lives

He holds the future 

Because He lives

I Can face tomorrow .

                       I Love You All

                       By Brock

To Seek Help

When we seek the help of other people 

Before we seek God’s help 

We lose sight of the central tenet 

Of our faith 

Christ is our salvation .

We need to pull all our Hope in God 

Because God is the ultimate source 

Of our rescue .

God knows every part of our lives ,

Understanding what we are going through,

And is ready to move us 

Toward the help we need .

When we prioritize our relationship with God,

We make room for God  

To act in our lives .

When Christ is first in our lives ,

We can sense God’s presence 

In every situation .

                              I Love You All

                               By Brock

The Good

How often do we point 

To the wrong source 

When things work out 

Crediting Lady Luck , 

Mother Nature

Or even our own abilities?

It is time to turn from our idols 

And turn to God ,

And only Him 

For the good in our lives .

                     I Love You All

                     By Brock

I Have Learned To Accept

I have learned that accepting 

Help

Is a way of acknowledging  

That I can not do it all by myself .

I need God and the help of others 

Around me .

Over the years 

I have seen God  come into my life 

As a friend’s warm hug .

God has met my needs

Through people I did not expect ,

Sometimes even comforting  me 

Through the kindness of a stranger .

God works in mysterious ways.

                                I Love You All

                                By Brock

Do Your Part

The peace of Christ 

Was never a promise 

Of smooth sailing 

Nor an excuse 

For complacency  .

We can not fix everything

But we are all called 

To do our part ,

Trusting that God can use our many 

Individual acts of fidelity

To move the world 

In the direction

He wills  .

                        I Love You All

                        By Brock

As I Trudged Up

As I trudged up the icy walk way

To my back door ,

I noticed a tiny speck of green .

It was tucked up against the side 

Of the house 

Where the snow had melted 

From the warmth of the foundation .

There growing out of the moist earth , 

Was the tiny tip of a snow drop 

A white flower that signals

The coming spring .

This was my sign of hope .

Just as God  had promised ,

New life was returning .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

Ask For Help

When I ask for help 

God revealed in me through Psalm 91 

What I needed most to rest in God’s 

Presence 

And trust in God’s love and Goodness .

I knew that this was possible 

Only through a deep and intimate 

Relationship with Jesus .

Gives me strength to go on  .

In prayer I pour out my heart to Jesus  .

In time I came to a place of peace 

And the tormenting questions lost

Their power over me. .

                                       I Love You All

                                       By Brock

Snow And Rain On The Tree

The condition of the tree 

Reminds me how we derive 

Our inner strength from our relationship

With God .

If the core of our union with God is decayed 

And unhealthy ,

Then we become weak 

And will not have the strength 

And resilience to handle 

The hard times of our lives .

But when we have a healthy bond 

With God ,

We can remain strong 

In times of struggle 

And prayer will keep 

Our spiritual 

Heart healthy 

So that we can endure any storm  .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock 

I Feel Trapped

When I feel trapped 

By my circumstances 

And certain that I do have enough ,

God can work miracles .’

That strengthens me to continue 

Using what little I have ,

Trusting that with God’s help

I will have enough strength 

Today and to move forward. .

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock 

I Think About The Time

I think about the time 

I tried to rely only on my own abilities 

Without turning to God for help .

But this way of living 

 Just makes me fall into deeper difficulties .

No matter how mature  

Or independent I think I am ,

Without wisdom and strength from  God 

My life would  be incomplete .

But deciding to follow God wholeheartedly 

Also means entrusting my life to God .

I do not rely on my own greatness anymore !

Instead I respond according 

To the perspective I receive from God’s

Word .

                                     I Love You All

                                     By Brock

Oh To Rush

I was sitting home 

And suddenly found myself thinking !

That the need for constant forward  progress 

Says a lot about our society 

And media that if we are not hustling 

We are wasting our time 

And being passed up by others .

Fortunately God does not measure  time 

And progress the same way .

God is the past , present and the future 

And while we abide in God 

Our time is not wasted 

Even if the world seemingly 

Pass us by .’

God’s plan for us will be fulfilled .

                               I Love You All

                               By Brock

Starving

When people are starving  anywhere 

In the world 

On Christmas Day or any day .

It is not because there is a lack 

Of food production .

It might be because a government 

Is not caring for its citizens 

Or because the delivery of food 

Is not possible .

We can think of the world’s problems 

In one word Sin .l

We can also think of a solution 

To the world’s problems in one word 

Repentance .

God is always calling us 

To turn to Him for all things .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock

Faith Is More

Faith is more than simply believing 

God exists .

It involves a personal relationship 

With God .

I trust that God loves us all ,

Forgives us and saves us all .

With this assurance 

In my heart ,

I take one day at a time 

And pray for good health and peace

For everyone 

And I await the final judgement 

With confidence 

Everyday of my life 

As I am praying .

                            I Love You All

                            By Brock

Faith Tells All

Faith tells us that our salvation in Christ 

Is secured

And in the assurance ,

We have joy that can come to us 

Even in the worst of. times

 To be sure 

This joy of having salvation

 Is not a handspring and cart wheel  

Type of joy , 

Which is good  

 Because I have never  been able to do either 

Rather , it is the joy of knowing that God 

Has our lives  presently and eternally 

In His care .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

We Need The Old And The Young

We need the wisdom of the experience 

And we need the energy 

And the idealism of the young .

Without the young around ,

We can become settled and cynical .‘without their elders 

Long view ,

Youthful idealism can veer off course .

In this moment in time , 

We see this truth ,

The beauty of the old and the young

Present together revealing 

Something that makes us whole .

The aged prophetess  recognizes 

God’s ancient wisdom 

And truth in the face 

Of the brand new Child .

                    I love You All

                    By Brock

Angels

Angels are always watching over us 

Muting the forces  ,

The devil would throw against us Christians .

God the Father has charged an angel

To watch over us all .

We have our tears 

And face difficult times ,

But we do know 

That angels stand between us 

And the devil’s  attempts 

To destroy our lives and our faith .

But what a comfort 

And a shot of confidence 

It gives us to know 

That we are guarded by angel .

Yes , I believe in angels 

Because I have some in heaven .

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock 

Victory

The most difficult problem to beat 

 Is the one you can not see .

Satan is trying to get you to believe  

That you are defeated  in every way 

And that you are lost forever .

But faith always wins and saves us  .

Jesus made sure of that when He died 

And rose defeating Satan  forever .

Problems do come  ,

Often on a regular basis ,

But faith says Satan 

Can never bring us down  ,

For faith always has us 

Looking up to Jesus ,

Who guides us through all things 

To victory .

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock 

God Gives Us Strength

God the father created me , 

Loves me 

And cares for me in every possible way .

Most important I can know for sure 

That in all times 

I exist as a person who is saved

By the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

From all that wants to harm me .

If we are wondering whether 

God will forgive a sin 

That we think is so shameful 

We can not be forgiven ,

Then that sun is forgiven 

If we are feeling we do not have enough 

Strength to face another day ,

Then God gives us the strength .

I know at any time  ,

I am doing more than okay 

When I am smiling 

And I am perfectly  okay .

                            I Love You All

                            By Brock

We Agree

We agree that we all belong 

To the kingdom of God .

God requires our accepting 

One another in love ,

Making every effort to keep 

The unity of the Spirit 

Through the bond of peace .

Let us agree not to let lesser 

Concerns  come between us 

But to keep our beliefs ,

Hearts and minds center 

On serving God not just Christmas

But every day .  

                                  I Love You All

                                   By Brock

Every Day

What new things could we discover  

About God not just about Christmas  

If we took the time each day to focus 

Solely on God .

What kind of meaningful relationship

Could we develop if we gave God 

Quality time .

We might actually get to know God 

Instead of just knowing about God .’

God loves us 

And wants a personal relationship 

With each of us .

Time spent in talking 

And listening to God 

As well as  read and study scripture 

Dawes  is closer every day .

                           I Love You All

                          By Brock

Do Not Be Afraid

Do not be afraid of dying .

You should be afraid 

Of not finishing your job 

You will always 

Have your memories 

Pressed against the pages 

Of your mind .

When you are doing your job 

There will be light 

Burning somewhere .

Remember you are standing 

On the edge of time 

So do not waste it .

Keep working . 

               I Love You All

               By Brock

Anticipate

Jesus always anticipated the needs 

Of those who needed his help .

Jesus did in fact have the power 

To calm that storm .

Jesus wants us to know 

That no matter what storm 

Arise in our life’s ,

If we trust him 

And do not lose faith ,

He will bring us calm and peace 

Even in the middle 

Of the storm .

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock