What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

An Irish Rainbow Of Blessing

Red is for love of those we hold dear
Our kith and kin, both far and near.

Orange is for Irish wit and mirth
and the cleverest jokes o'er all the earth.

Yellow is for joy in simple pleasures
The heart's delights, the spirit's treasures.

Green stands for Erin, the shamrock land
It's customs and heritage, glorious and grand.

Violet's for heroes throughout history
The noble patriots of our history.

Blue is for loyalty to family and friends
and to the Lord, whose love never ends.

May God shower you with Rainbow Blessings
and grant you many, many years!


Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[Judy Harder]

May God Keep You



My Dear Friend
May God grant you many, many years to live;
For sure He must be knowing the earth has Angels
all too few and Heaven is overflowing.

And, until we meet again,
may God keep you in the hollow of His hand.


Happy Saint Patrick's Day !

[Judy Harder]

The Lord's Love


Love pours from my heart
Love streams from me to You
In response to the love You give
What else, Lord, can I but do?

For You, my God, are love
Beautiful, eternal and vast
Sweet to those who know You
The I AM, the First and Last

Joyfully my heart sings for You
Gratefully my lips sing of love
Thankfully I lift my arms in prayer
Rejoicing in my Father Above

Your love is deeper than oceans
Your love spans higher than the sky
You love extends beyond the universe
This love I receive but who am I?

Who am I, Lord, that You love me?
Who am I to receive such wondrous favor?
Your creation, Your handmaiden, I am
And Your sweet love I will always savor

Who am I that Christ should die for me?
Who am I that He should suffer so?
Undeserving yet beloved I am
Yes, this love His Cross does show

Kneeling at the foot of the Cross then
With my dear Lord at Calvary
The breadth, depth and height of Your love
In Your pierced feet and hands I see

Blood and water gushing forth
Cleanings the sins of all who believe
No greater gift of love can we ask
No sweeter love can we receive

And love pours from my heart
Love streams from me to You
In response to the love You give
What else, Lord, can I but do?

You died for me, my precious Lord
Yes, this is how much You love me so
For eternity I will love You, my God
May my life of Your love always show

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

You're Always On My Mind


As I bent to breathe the rose
I thought of you alone,
The fragrance overwhelmed me
The more of you I know.



My fingers fluttered on the petals
Soft, velvet like your heart,
Enfolding all around me
Affection you impart.



My gaze immersed in gentle hue
Pink, apricot and cream,
Mauve, fuschia, gold delight
You are in my dreams.



I touch the pretty bud
Encircling... the dance of us,
You are always on my mind,
Always in God's love.

~**~

Soft Whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems ©March 2012
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry From The Heart

Joy comes from the delight
of feeling deeply,
enjoying simply, hoping always,
thinking freely, giving much...
being loved.

[Judy Harder]

Spring Comes To The Mountains


In the mountains spring is beautiful,
the beauty all bursts forth
As soon as snow is gone,
new life is at the door.
In the mountains, we can see new life,
a prettiness to find,
We just gaze upon the fields
and there is life divine.



In the mountains we can watch the color,
the color's beautiful,
As soon as God's bright sunshine glows,
new color's ours to view.
Skies turn from grey to blue,
and heaven we can see,
God's marvel, power and glory,
where we all want to be.



In the mountains bulbs all spring alive,
Just like our bodies will,
When Jesus comes to take us,
and time is all fulfilled.
Yes, the mountains are a picture,
of death becoming life,
The winter's chill, becomes the spring
of everlasting life.

~**~

Soft Whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems ©Feb 2012
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry From The Heart

Our Lord has written the promise of
the resurrection, not in books
alone, but in every leaf
in spring-time.
~ Martin Luther ~

[Judy Harder]

Spring of God's Glory Sing



Sun rays of brilliance
Flowers of Spring
Glory, glory to God
All do sing

Grass shooting forth
Leaves budding green
Bursting with birth
The world to be seen



Perfume of flowers
Symphony of birds in sky
Proclaiming sovereignty
Of our Savior on High

Springtime speaks of Him
Springtime sings His song
Springtime reminds us
That with Him we belong



For on the third day
Christ arose from the grave
He endured the Cross
All mankind to save

Yes, He is Rebirth
He is eternal Spring
He is Renewal
Yea, Life everlasting



Glory, glory to God
Sings joyfully my soul
Glory, glory to You
Lord, You make me whole

As birds sing in the air
As flowers bloom bright
I rejoice in You, Lord
In Your radiant Light



Warmer than sunshine
Lovelier than blooms
Is Your love, my Lord
It embraces and consumes

Reborn in Spirit I am
Lord, by faith in You
Your Spirit lives in me
All things You make new



As the Winter cold
Freezes the earth
So too I die to myself
To experience rebirth

The frost of Winter in time
Yields flowers of Spring
In turn, death to our flesh
New life does bring



All to You, my Savior
All to You I humbly give
You are my very Meaning
You are the Reason I live

Fragrant sacrifice I offer
In all I say and do
Sweeter than the flower
I pray my life is to You



Glorious King on High
One who died for me
You are Joy to my spirit
Now and for eternity

So as perfume of flowers
And symphony of birds in sky
I proclaim the sovereignty
Of my Savior on High



As grass shooting forth
And leaves budding green
I rejoice in my rebirth
For the world to be seen

As sun rays of brilliance
As fragrant flowers of Spring
Glory, glory to You, God
My heart does joyfully sing

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

Sun rays of brilliance
Flowers of Spring
Glory, glory to God
All do sing
' Reflection by Caroline '

 

[Judy Harder]

Sweet Morning Dew


Morning dew
Kissing the earth
Glistening garment
Bespeaking rebirth

As morning dew
In the early hour
Are God's graces
And endless power



Yea, stretching wide
As blankets of dew
Are God's blessings
For me, for you

As coverings of snow
Broad and deep
Vast are the Promises
Our Lord does keep



As raindrops falling
Watering the ground
So is Living Water
Bubbling joy to abound

As Sunlight warming
Embracing the earth
The Light of the Lord
Brings spiritual rebirth



Sweet Lord Jesus
With me always do stay
Wherever You go
I shall follow each day

More vast than the dew
Far more deep than the snow
More refreshing than the rain
Is the love You do show



I am forever Yours, Lord
Yes, eternally Yours to keep
Nourished by Bread of Life
Revived by Living Water deep

Sing Your praises I shall
Yea, Lord, each day all the more
You are Everything to me
You are the One whom I adore



Stretching wide and long
As blankets of morning dew
Are Your blessings and mercy
Purest love I find in You

As the soft morning dew
In the dawn's early hour
Are Your glorious graces
And Your endless power



Yes, Lord, as morning dew
Kisses gently the earth
You kiss me with blessings
You are sweet love and rebirth

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Sing Your praises I shall,
Jesus, each day all the more;
You are Everything to me,
the One whom I adore."
' Reflection by Caroline '

[Judy Harder]

Lord, increase my faith
Each and every day
For one can please you only
By believing all You say

Cast out every doubt
To all darkness bring light
Let my focus be not on the seen
But on all that is beyond sight



May my eyes see always Heaven
My heart be set on treasures above
Believing and obeying Your Word
Yes, this is how I express my love

Faith is being sure what we hope for
And certain of what we do not see
Through faith we can move mountains
With it righteous in Your eyes we can be



For to all who receive Jesus Christ
To all who believe in His Holy Name
You give the right to be Your children
Your Family and ours, one and the same

Glorious, miraculous, precious is faith
It brings life eternal, blissful and true
Faith draws our hearts ever closer
To knowing and experiencing You



How can we gain this precious faith
Of which its worth is far more than gold?
By listening to Your Word, O LORD,
Established from the days of old

I will immerse myself in Your Word
Let Your Truth fill my heart and ears
For blessed is the one who understands
And practices the Word she hears



Praise You, LORD, my God and Father
I praise You for Your wondrous ways
You determined how to save Your children
Through faith You save from darkest days

Inspiring it is to know You, Almighty One
Blissful it is to unite my heart with Yours
May I share Your message of love and faith
To those of distant lands and shores



And may my faith be pleasing to You
May it prove to be full, pure and complete
For to know You, love You and serve You
Nothing on earth could be more sweet

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"You are my Everything, yes,
You are all things to me;
I offer everything I am, Lord,
as I am Yours for eternity."
' Reflection by Caroline '

[Judy Harder]

Fruit of the Spirit


Father, may I bear fruit
Fragrant and sweet for Thee
Eternal fruit of Thy Spirit
Yea, fruit to last for eternity

Fill me with joy, my Jesus
May my joy in Thee be complete
May its waters bubble forth
Vibrant, unceasing and sweet



Imbue me with peace, Eternal Prince
Peace enduring when winds do rage
Peace which reigns throughout storms
Heavenly peace adorning age to age

Strengthen me with forbearance
Grant that I am patient amidst trial
Master, may I endure all things
Singing Thy praises all the while



Kindness may I show, my King
Charitable and concerned for others
May I pour of myself for Thee and
Neighbors, strangers, sisters, brothers

Goodness may I embody, my God
Of wondrous virtue may my life sing
Etch Thy Word upon my heart
That glory to Thee I ever bring



Faithful may I be, my Father
Abiding in Thee and in Thy will
May I align always with Thy Word
Obeying gladly all I have heard

Gentle may I be, Lamb of God
Mild and pleasant to all I meet
May I exude the Visage of Christ
Whenever others I do greet



Self-controlled may I be, my Savior
For Thee may I subdue each thing
Taking captive thought, word, action
That does not glory to Thee bring

Love may I express, my Lord
Thou art love, and Thou art in me
To Thee I give all of myself
That filled with Thy love I may be



Yea, humble vessel am I, Beloved
An instrument wholly Thine
I long to ever remain in Thee
To abide in Thy Eternal Vine

In Thy Vine of Eternity
May I bear for Thee precious fruit
My life is Thine to live
Thou givest life, Thou art the root



Overjoyed I am, Eternal One
That for Thee eternal fruit I bear
I praise Thee from the depth of my heart
Thy promises with all I do share

My Father, may I bear fruit
Fragrant and sweet for Thee
Eternal fruit of Thy Spirit
Yea, fruit to last for eternity

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"May I bear fruit, fragrant and sweet, for Thee:
Eternal fruit of Thy Spirit,
yes, fruit for eternity."
' Reflection by Caroline '

[Judy Harder]

Our Lord, Our God
Is the Living Bread
Giving Life Eternal
As our Lord has said

All who can accept
All who do believe
All who embrace Christ
Are those who do receive



For the Spirit brings life
The flesh counts for naught
Thus we seek spiritual food
And redemption blood-bought

We go humbly to Christ
And hunger never again
We discover eternal treasure
And where it has long been



Manna in the desert
Is what our forefathers ate
Sweeter bread than this
Our God does now create

For man lives not
On bread alone
But on God's Word
And flesh which did atone



Thus we seek true Bread
In the One who for us died
We eat of His flesh
That in us He will abide

And we rejoice in the Gift
The Gift of faith and life
We guard always our hearts
Even in challenge and strife



For Christ lives in us
As in Him we do live
We believe in His Sacrifice
And Eternal Life He does give

Rejoice in the Gift
Celebrate Divine Love
Embrace precious Manna
Bestowed from Above



And seek always the Bread
Follow always the Way
Cling always to Christ
Eating each Word He did say

For it is His Word
That nourishes and feeds
Precious and powerful
Filling all of our needs



Yes, praise God Eternal
Praise the Son on High
Through the Eternal Manna
Christ is to us always nigh

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"I am Yours, Lord, eternally to keep -
nourished by Bread of Life,
revived by Living Water deep."
'Reflection by Caroline'