What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

Thank You For Being Our Pastor

Today, we want to say thank you
For how you walk in truth
To share God's Word, salvation, life
That will each soul renew.

Thank you for the time you spend
The hours you gladly give,
Unfolding of God's perfect way
The only way to live.



Thank you for your shepherding,
Leading on the upward path,
For prayerful concern and visitation,
Caring from the heart.

Thank you for how you are fulfilling
The call of God you heard,
Sharing of the gift He gave
To bless us with His Word.



Thank you for your walk in Him
For trusting God each day,
Gleaning of the endless wisdom
For all The Lord would say.

Thank you for your hand of grace
Stretched forth with loving care,
We thank our God for you
As we lift you up in prayer.

~**~

Soft Whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems © 2008
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry From The Heart

Grace and peace to you from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy
because of your partnership in the gospel from
the first day until now, being confident of this,
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:2-6

[Judy Harder]

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
Whom on earth am I to fear?
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
To me the LORD is always near.

My heart leaps for joy,
And I will give thanks to Him in song;
Join me in praise, brothers and sisters,
For with the LORD we do belong.

Who is there like the LORD?
Is the LORD like anyone we know?
Surely none is like our God, our King,
Everlasting mercy He does show.

Nothing have we to fear,
Nothing should make our hearts cower;
The LORD is our stronghold and our rock,
Yea, His Name is a strong tower.

Goodness and mercy will follow me,
I shall dwell with Him forevermore;
The LORD is my rock and my strength,
I sing of the One I adore.

Who is like You, O LORD?
Are You like anyone I know?
None is like You, my God, my King,
Everlasting mercy You do show.

My heart leaps for joy,
I give thanks to You in song;
Now and forever I sing Your praise,
For with You, LORD, I belong.

You are my strength and my shield,
Nothing have I to fear;
My heart trusts in You, and I am helped,
Sweet is Your love beyond compare.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct. 2012
Purposeful Pathway

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will
give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 28:7

[Judy Harder]

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
~Genesis 1:1-2~





~Breath of Life~

Through the leaves it rustles,
Wind dances on my skin:
It whispers of love,
How life did begin.

The Lord God formed man
Of dust from the ground;
I hear of this truth
As wind whistles 'round.

God breathed into man
The breath of life;
Man became a living creature,
Then God gave him a wife.

God is the Source of life,
Adam and Eve He did create;
His breath of life within me
I now celebrate.

This life-giving breath
God shares with you, with me;
Let us praise our Creator
Now and for all eternity.

For what would we be
If it were not for God's love?
Surely we are nothing
Without grace from Above.

Though You formed man
Of dust from the ground,
To man Your tender mercies
Eternally abound.

How I love You, O Lord,
From You all life did begin.
I hear You in the wind,
I feel Your breath of life within.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct. 2012
Purposeful Pathway

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust
from the ground and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life,
and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7

[Judy Harder]

Sing praises to God, sing praises,
Sing praises to our King;
Brother and sister, come now,
Let our voices sing.

Make music unto the Lord,
The stringed harp gently play;
Dance with joy unto the Lord,
Sing His praises every day.

Clap the tambourine,
Play for God a rhythm sweet;
May your heart pulse with song,
Make music with dancing feet.

For great is our Lord, our God,
He is worthy of our praise;
Come one and come all,
To Him our hearts we raise.

Jesus, O Lord Jesus,
Your Name is our sweet song;
How can we contain our joy?
With Jesus we belong.

You hold us in pierced hands,
You guide us with pierced feet;
We cling to You, O Jesus,
We savor Your love sweet.

We make music unto You,
As we follow Your sacred way;
Your love paves a path for us,
We sing praises every day.

Sing praises to God, sing praises,
Yea, sing praises to our King;
Jesus, You are our hearts' song,
For You forever we shall sing.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Sept. 2012
Purposeful Pathway

Sing praises to God,
sing praises;
Sing praises to our King,
sing praises.
Psalm 47:6

[Judy Harder]

The Kingdom of God,
The Kingdom of Heaven is near;
How shall we describe it?
To what can we compare?

The Kingdom of Heaven
Is like a man who sowed seed;
So too God sows His Word
To fill every need.

Yet the soils can vary,
These many soils of the heart;
Some seed falls on the path,
Snatched up from the start.

Other seeds fall on rocky soil,
Far too shallow to grow;
And among the thorny briers
Other seeds did go.

Like a tiny mustard seed
Growing into a great tree,
Like yeast working through dough,
The Kingdom of Heaven will be.

So many a parable
Our Lord Jesus did share;
He who has ears,
Let him listen, let him hear.

For the Kingdom of God
Is upon us right now;
Let us labor for the Sower,
This we promise, we vow.

King of kings, reign in us,
Redeem us by Your grace;
Lo, the Kingdom of Heaven
Comes when Jesus we embrace.

~*~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct.2012
Purposeful Pathway

As you go, preach this message:
'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
Matthew 10:7

[Judy Harder]

Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

Columbus Day first became an
official state holiday in Colorado in 1906,
and became a federal holiday in 1937.

As in the mainland U.S., Columbus Day
is a legal holiday in the
U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

In the United States Virgin Islands,
the day is celebrated as
both Columbus Day and
"Puerto Rico Friendship Day."

~**~

God bless you!
Have a safe and Happy Columbus day!

~**~

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)

[Judy Harder]

The Autumn winds
Rustle through trees;
Leaves dance in the air,
Flying on the breeze.

Each leaf that falls
Displays its own dance;
God is perfect in His design,
Nothing left to chance.



One colorful leaf twirls,
Another leaf glides,
Another one spins,
One rocks to both sides.

Each dance is unique,
Each a marvel to my eyes;
So too are the dances
Of clouds in the skies.



Wonderfully unique
I am, and so are you;
Perfectly equipped we are
For what we must do.

As one leaf does twirl
And another does glide,
So too we dance differently,
Those who in Christ abide.



Come, let us rejoice,
With the leaves let us dance;
God designed us perfectly,
Nothing He left to chance.

And as Autumn winds
Rustle through trees,
Let us celebrate our differences,
For God we live to please.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct.2012
Purposeful Pathway

The body is a unit,
though it is made up of many parts;
and though all its parts are many,
they form one body.
So it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12

[Judy Harder]

Living Sacrifice   


The fresh morning air
Dances through trees;
I find myself before You,
Here on my knees.

The clouds move above me,
The sun warms my skin;
Myself I surrender
As the day does begin.



A living sacrifice,
Jesus, I am for You;
When I give You my all,
My life You renew.

Surrender to You
Is the sweetest sound;
Within sacrifice
Your richest graces abound.



Sweeter joy I know not
Than to be a sacrifice;
For You purchased me,
Your blood paid the price.

Jesus, how can I then
Give any less to You?
I offer my life always,
No less can I do.



As the morning unfolds,
As a new day does begin,
I marvel how You died
To cleanse me of sin.

And as fresh morning air
Dances through trees,
I sacrifice all to You, Lord,
Here on my knees.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct.2012
Purposeful Pathway

I appeal to you therefore,
brothers, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies
as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1

[Judy Harder]

In Your presence, O Lord,
I long to be;
In Your presence, O Lord,
Shine upon me.

Honor and majesty
Radiate ever from You;
Strength and joy
Reign in Your sanctuary too.



For Your presence is love,
Your presence is light,
Rich with joy and peace,
Strong with power and might.

Keep me in Your presence,
I am here to do Your will;
My heart is open for You,
With Your Spirit fill.



Surely I shall dwell
In Your presence all my days;
I shall sing Your praises
Now and always.

You are the Son,
Spectacular to my sight;
You embrace me with love,
Your warm me with light.



Dominion and power,
Glory, honor and majesty:
All are Yours, my Jesus,
For all eternity.

So in Your presence, O Lord,
I long to be;
Let Your presence, O Lord,
Forever reign in me.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct.2012
Purposeful Pathway

Glory and honor are in his presence;
strength and gladness are in his place.
Psalm 3:3

The hills melted like wax
at the presence of the LORD,
at the presence of the Lord
of the whole earth.
Psalm 97:5

[Judy Harder]

Draw Near to God


The sun shines in glory,
The trees clap in celebration;
My heart sings with joy
With all of creation.

Glory to God,
For His majesty we see;
The colors of nature
Reflect His love clearly.



The trees stretch to heaven,
The birds blissfully fly,
The flowers stand tall,
Looking up to the sky.

All of nature
Draws near to You, O Light;
We bask in Your sunshine,
Brilliant to our sight.



Embrace us with Your truth,
Surround us with Your peace;
Near to You we move,
All to You we now release.

The trees stretch to heaven,
The birds blissfully fly,
I lift my arms to You,
I praise the Most High.



Glory to You, O God
Your majesty I see;
May the colors of my heart
Reflect You radiantly.

I draw near to You,
You are my heart's celebration;
Yea, You are the Son shining,
The Light for all creation.

~**~

Caroline Gavin ©Oct.2012
Purposeful Pathway

Draw near to God,
and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts,
you double-minded.
James 4:8