What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

Triumph in the Trial


Rest in Your arms, Lord,
Rest now I shall,
Rest in Your arms, Lord,
When the trials befall.

When rocky and steep
The path before me,
Your arms are outstretched
Lovingly I see.



You lift me up
In Your arms ever so strong;
You remind me with You
I forever belong.

Never will You forsake,
Never will You leave;
You are with me in joys
And when I do grieve.



What place more lovely
Than in Your arms here?
My once clouded path
Is now brilliant and clear.

Surely You are light,
Forever Truth does shine;
You are my eternal lamp,
My wondrous Way divine.



You shelter in the thunder
With Your arms ever so strong;
I rejoice that with You
I forever belong.

When rocky and steep
The path lies before me,
My Jesus, You reach to embrace
Lovingly I see.



So rest in Your arms, Lord,
Yea, rest now I shall;
You are my Joy of joys,
My Triumph when trials befall.

Caroline Gavin ©June 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

At Your feet I worship You,
Nothing, Lord, am I;
I think of Your love for me,
That You should choose to die.

How can this be, my Master?
How can You love me so?
Ingratitude and sinfulness
Surely my life did show.



Hard for my heart to bear
Is the vision of Your pain;
Such anguish You embrace
That eternal life I gain.

Thorns crown Your brow,
Blood trickles down Your cheek;
Agonized though You are,
You muster strength to speak.



Daughter, how I love you,
I long that you and I unite;
Dark though this day may be,
May it be always your light.

For herein may you see
The love I hold for you;
On this Cross may you see
My love eternal and true.



My Lifeblood I now pour
That life you shall claim;
Unite yourself with Me,
Our wills one and the same.

Your words pierce my heart,
For my sins are the nails;
Surely You are my Savior,
The King my soul hails.



Yea, Lord, I give myself
To You and to Your will;
Unite me to Your heart,
My soul Your Spirit fill.

I marvel Your love for me,
That You should choose to die;
I worship at Your feet, Jesus,
Forever Yours, Lord, am I.


~**


Caroline Gavin ©June 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

Beacon of light,
Shining gloriously,
Beacon of light,
For all the world to see.

Though oceans waves crash,
It stands strong on the hill;
Though winds do blow,
Its light shines still.

Yea, into the darkness,
Into the deep of night,
I see this Beacon,
Its marvelous light.

Circling its light,
Rays twirling about,
This lovely Lighthouse
I cannot live without.

For this Beacon is special,
Not but one on a shore;
This Lighthouse is eternal:
It is the Lord I adore.

Yea, Jesus is the Lighthouse,
He is the Beacon of my soul;
Jesus is the Lighthouse,
His light makes me whole.

His rays dance in my heart,
His truth guides my feet;
His light warms and embraces
With His love ever sweet.

Travel with Him always,
I vow this I shall do;
For only my Jesus
Shows me the way true.

He sheds light on my way,
He pours joy in my heart;
He kisses my forehead,
Vowing we shall never part.

Lighthouse so lovely,
Lighthouse so strong,
In Your light eternal
I do forever belong.

You shine in the darkness,
Into the deep of night;
You, my Beacon, shine
With marvelous light.

Though waves of life crash,
You stand strong on the hill;
Though winds of change blow,
Your light shines still.

Yea, Beacon of light,
You shine gloriously;
Jesus, You are the Lighthouse
For all the world to see.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©June 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

Light of the Lord


Sunlight streaming
Brilliant and warm
Dancing through trees
While shadows do form
Light and shadow
Darkness and day
Both contrast and divide
In a powerful way



For God is Light
He is radiant and pure
In His brilliant Truth
We can walk secure
In His Light may we be
In His Truth remain
In the warmth of Love
Living never in vain



Let the Son Light warm
Let it pour in your heart
Let its brilliance embrace
That from God you never part
You may walk in valleys
Of shadows of death
You will fear no evil
For Light sustains breath



As shadows are nothing
Forms without light
Shapes without substance
Dark as the night
Fear not then the shadows
Cower not in the trial
Cringe not in the darkness
Light remains all the while



For if Christ is within you
Light lives in your soul
It brings you Life eternal
It uplifts and makes whole
Celebrate then, Christian
Rejoice in the glorious Light
As the sun rises in the east
Praise God for the sight



See His Message in the beams
See His Word in the sunrays
See His Gospel in the sun
As its light speaks of His Ways
And let the Son Light warm
Let it pour in your heart
Let its brilliance embrace
That from God you never part

© Caroline Gavin
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

EVER MORE, Jesus


Ever more like You,
Lord, I pray to be.
Ever more like You -
Jesus, reign in me.

Ever more loving,
Ever more pure,
Ever more patient,
All things to endure.



Ever more radiant,
Ever more bright,
Ever more humble,
Abiding in Light.

Ever more generous,
Ever more strong,
Ever more surrendered,
For to You I belong.



Ever more joyful,
Ever more in love,
Ever more captivated
By my Beloved Above.

Ever more obedient,
Yea, even unto death,
Ever more breathing
For You every breath.



Ever more like Jesus,
Ever more like the Son,
Ever more like Christ,
God's Chosen One.

Ever more lovely,
Ever more true,
Ever more beautiful,
Ever more like You.



Ever Yours I am,
Ever I am my King's;
Ever I delight
In Life He brings.

Ever more like You,
I then pray to be.
Ever more like You -
My Jesus, reign in me.

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
Purposeful Pathway

"Ever more like You, Lord,
I pray to be; Ever more like You - yes,
Jesus, reign in me."
'Reflection by Carolin

[Judy Harder]

I travel this journey,
My Lord Jesus walking with me,
Alongside tides of life,
Nigh blue waters of the sea.

At times in these travels
My soul does delight;
As the seagulls 'round me,
I feel I can take flight.

The sand caresses my feet,
The waves lap along the shore,
And there beside me is Jesus,
The One whom I adore.

Yet at times this journey
Weakens my heart and soul;
I stumble, looking to the One
Who alone makes me whole.

The waves roar about me,
The winds rip through my hair;
How can I travel on
In these moments of despair?

It is then that my Jesus
Reaches out His gentle hand,
My daughter, do not worry,
For this is what I planned.

When the sea is calm,
When the sky shines blue,
Closely we walk together,
We journey, Me and you.

Yet when the storms rage,
When dark skies you see,
It is then, my precious daughter,
You are all the closer to Me.

For I carry you, beloved,
In My arms divinely strong;
Through the storms, My child,
In My arms You belong.

So rejoice in the blue skies
And in the skies of gray,
For I shall never leave you,
I am with you all the way.

Lo, look beneath you now,
Going this way I have planned,
You see now only one set
Of footprints in the sand.

Rest your head on My shoulder,
Cling to Me now tight;
All the more I shine for You
In the darkest of the night.

Yea, I see the tracing of Your feet,
In the sand along the shore,
I am in the arms of Jesus,
The One whom I adore.

In Your arms, my Beloved,
My soul surely does delight;
Even in the storms of life,
I feel I can take flight.

For, alongside the tides of life,
Nigh the waters of the sea,
Amidst the raging storms,
You, my Jesus, carry me.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©July 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

The Lighthouse

There's a Lighthouse on the hillside
And it over looks life's sea
When I'm tossed don't you know,
It sends out a light
A light that I might see

And the light that shines in darkness now
Will someday safely lead me home
I know If it wasn't for that old Lighthouse
I know my ship would sail no more

Everybody that lives around us
Well they all say, tear it down
They say the big ship why they
don't sail by this way anymore
It just aint no use to it standing around

Then my mind goes way out back
to that stormy night
Just in time I saw the light
Don't you know it was the light,
that old Lighthouse
It still stands there on the hill

And I thank God for the Lighthouse
I owe my life to Him
For Jesus is the Lighthouse
And from the rocks of sin
He has shown His light around me
That I could clearly see
If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me)
Where would this ship be?

And I thank God for the Lighthouse
I owe my life to Him
For Jesus is the Lighthouse
And from the rocks of sin
He has shown His light around me
That I could clearly see
If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me)
Where would this ship be?

Written by Ronnie Hinson
Ronnie said, God had orchestrated
while writing this song and God always
keeps me humble
Ronnie's brother, Kenny passed away in 1955
Kenny's Son, Weston and his family
"The Hinsons" still sing this song.
Sung by "The Hinsons" family.
Directly licensed
for internet public performance

[Judy Harder]

Praise the Lord,
O my soul,
Yea, praise the One
Who makes me whole.

Praise His Name
With love and adoration;
Praise His Name
With song and celebration.

Praise Him with joy,
Lift your heart to the sky;
Praise Him with gladness,
Sing to the Most High.

For Who is great like God?
Who is mighty like our King?
Who is amazing like Jesus
To Whom we now sing?

Bring out the instruments,
Lift up your voice,
Our Father loves us
And in Him we rejoice.

We shall dance with delight,
We shall sing with joy,
Every man and woman,
Every girl and boy.

Praise You, O Lord,
We praise You with our all;
Praise You, O Lord,
We follow when You call.

Whatever You desire,
We shall surely fulfill,
We long to please You,
To unite to Your will.

We long for Your presence,
We shall see Your face;
This truth we treasure,
This promise we embrace.

While in this life,
We shall sing Your praise;
We shall live for You,
Our hearts You amaze.

And when we see You
On that most glorious day,
Praise the Lord,
You will hear us say.

For Your praises we sing
Now and for all eternity;
Glory, glory to God,
You are Everything to me!

I praise You with joy,
I lift my heart to the sky;
I praise You with gladness,
I sing to You, the Most High.

I praise Your Name
With love and adoration;
I praise Your Name
With song and celebration.

I praise You, Eternal One
Who makes me whole;
Yea, praise the Lord forever,
O my soul!

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©July 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

Golden Stairway

Unfolding before me
In the midst of dream,
A stairway golden,
Its light does gleam.

Shining and sparkling,
Indeed it seems ablaze;
What is this stairway
Upon which I gaze?

Descending toward me
From the clouds above
Is my Lord Jesus,
Greeting me with love.

My daughter, He says,
Come and follow Me,
I shall show you
The staircase of eternity.

I reach out my hand,
My Lord lifts me with care;
He leads me on steps
To which none compare.

Yea, far lovelier are these
Than any I know;
Delighted am I to follow
Wherever my Lord does go.

Upward He and I move
Upon this staircase,
Each step adorned with love,
Ornamented with grace.

My child, He whispers,
We walk toward Heaven's gate;
In this glimpse of your Home
I ask you to celebrate.

Though this staircase is lovely,
Though angels you hear sing,
Far more lovely is Heaven,
The Home of your King.

A place I have prepared,
As I promised I would;
Remember, child, I am love,
I am all that is good.

When you find yourself weary,
When trials you know,
In your mind to this staircase
I ask you to go.

For I work all things
To your ultimate good;
I fulfill all things
As I promise I would.

I look at Him in awe,
He kisses my forehead tenderly;
Lord, I give myself to You,
I am Yours eternally.

Lovelier are You
Than this gleaming stairway;
Lovelier than the angels
Are the words You say.

I shall visit this place
Often in my days;
You are the thrill of my soul,
My heart You amaze.

The sweetest dream, Jesus,
Pales next to You;
Lead me, my Master,
In all I think, say and do.

I shall keep my eyes
Fixed on treasures above;
I enthrone You in my heart,
For You Yourself are love.

Shining and sparkling,
Is this golden staircase ablaze;
Yet far more radiant is Your face
Upon which I gaze.

Yea, upon this stairway golden,
The light of Jesus does gleam;
He is my passion, my fire,
My longing, my dream.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©July 2012
Purposeful Pathway

[Judy Harder]

Jesus Loves Me

Wide-eyed and gazing
Upon the stars of night,
I see before my eyes,
O, the loveliest sight.

My Lord, my sweet Lord,
Smiles upon me;
A more beautiful sight
My eyes will not see.

Who is lovelier than Him,
Jesus my King?
He is my All in all,
Indeed my Everything.

Precious child, He says,
I know it is Me you seek;
I am with you always,
More so when you are weak.

My strength is made perfect
In weakness you know,
So as a simple child
All the more may you grow.

For little children rely
Upon parents for all needs;
So too, remember it is I
Who provides and feeds.

How I love little children,
Daughter, and how I love you;
More like a child you are
In all you say, think and do.

Trust in Me completely,
Surrender to My will;
As a parent for his child,
All your needs I will fill.

He reaches out for me,
Lifting me in arms so strong;
My head rests on His shoulder,
Surely here I belong.

Precious Lord, I whisper,
My Daddy, My Best Friend,
My will is one with Yours,
My love for You will never end.

Forever Your child I am,
You love Your children so;
Ever more in love with You
I know I shall grow.

For all of my needs
You perfectly provide,
You are my Father, You are love,
You are my Eternal Guide.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©July 2012
Purposeful Pathway