What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

The Cross of Christ
Intersection of death with Life
Overlap of justice and mercy
Union of joy with strife

The Cross of Crucifixion
Beams vertical and horizontal meet
Divine mercy flowing downward
Scales of justice balancing sweet



The Cross of our Lord
Altar of Sacrifice lifted high
That all looking to Jesus Christ
May to the Father be nigh

The Cross of Calvary
An expression of highest Love
God dying for His creation
That man may be with Him above



The Cross of Jesus
Heavy, yet it He did embrace
Suffering condemnation and cruelty
To save from sin the human race

The Cross of Golgotha
Water and blood from Christ did flow
That all cleansed by His Sacrifice
Would divine love and mercy know



The cross of my life
Small when to my Lord's I compare
Sweet to share His suffering
With me eternal riches He does share

The cross, the divine intersection
May we embrace with grateful heart
For in the moment we accept it
Flow of God's graces do then start



The Cross of Christ
May it convict the heart and mind
For in repentance and transformation
Divine joy and peace we find

The Cross of my Lord
May it remind me continually
Of the unending, undying love
That my Savior has for me



Behold the Cross of Calvary
Expressing my Lord's Love
He died for me, His daughter
That I may be with Him above

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"The Cross so heavy
Christ did lovingly embrace,
suffering condemnation to save the human race
~ Reflection by Caroline ~

[Judy Harder]

February 18

No Longer Hungry, But Satisfied

"The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever." Psalm 22:26

Have you ever wondered why people stumble into pornography? Perhaps you even struggle in that area. It's because they are not feeding on Jesus. They are seeking satisfaction in the evil pleasures of this world, rather than the eternal promises of eternity.

Suppose you just finished a wonderful meal and somebody knocks on your front door. You answer it, and they hold forth a plate full of stale crumbs saying, "Take this. Eat." You would say, "No thank you, I don't need that. I'm already satisfied."

When you feast on the goodness of Jesus, you won't be down a dark alley eating tin cans with the devil's billy goats. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

[Judy Harder]

Vineyard of the Lord
Land delightful and divine
Sweet are the grapes therein
Precious is their wine

Wondrous, joyous, eternal
Beautiful, lovely and fine
Such is the sacred Vineyard
Yes, such is the chosen Vine



For Christ is the true Vine
His children in Him abide
Taste we do eternal Life
As we remain by His side

Lord, sweet is Life I know
The true Life I find in You
Grant that I remain forevermore
A branch in Your Vine true



Apart from You I lose life
Apart from You I have naught
Abide in me, then, and I in You
For I am Your daughter blood-bought

Your blood is the Wine we drink
It is the Drink of eternal life
You shed Your precious blood
That the Church may be Your Wife



Rejoice then we do in the Vineyard
Sing praises we do of the True Vine
Drink we do of the cup You give
Delight we do in Your Wine

So humbled I am by Your love
My heart quivers to think how vast
Pouring all of Yourself for me
You, my Lord, the First and Last



Tears of joy well in my eyes
My Master, my Creator, loves me so
Glorious to feel Your arms embrace
Wondrous to feel the love You show

Lord, I long to give You my all
To pour of myself as You did for me
For it is Your wine that delights
It is Your love that brings all to be



Let me then be always one with You
A branch of Your eternal Vine
Let me bide in You, and You in me
For I am Yours, and You are mine

How I love my Lord Jesus
My lips from praise I cannot refrain
Each day I delight in being with You
Each moment my joy I cannot contain



Dance I do in the Vineyard of the Lord
Rejoice I do in the land divine
For sweet are the grapes therein
Priceless and precious is their wine

Lord Jesus, sweet is Life I know
Lovely the true Life I find in You
Grant that I remain with You forevermore
A branch in Your Vine timeless and true

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Christ is the true Vine,
and in Him we abide;
We taste eternal Life
as we remain by His side."
~ Reflection by Caroline ~

[Judy Harder]

 

In Your Hands
Heavenly Father, my life is in Your hands.
Yesterday, today, and forever, I am safe and secure in You.
Lord, please help me to know that You are in control.
Help me to believe You are at work in my life right now,
even when I don't see it.
Help me to trust in what I do not see,
when what I see is so painful.
Please help me to know You are taking care of my needs.

Lord, thank You for listening to my cries for help.
Thank You for loving me so much.
Help me to believe You and the promises You have made.
Forgive me when I doubt You and Your love.
I believe, Lord. Forgive me for my unbelief.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Devotional excerpt by Jill Kelly, from her book Prayers of Hope for the Brokenhearted.




God Cares About Every Detail
God cares about every detail of your life...
He collects every tear in a bottle. (Psalm 56:
He numbers every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7)
He knows every hurt in your heart. (Psalm 34:18)

The Lord knows all you are going through.
He loves you, He cares for you,
and He will make sure not one detail is overlooked.

Thinking of You and Praying too

God cares, cares right down to the last detail.
James 5:11 The Message

Did God bring someone to mind that needs to know they are loved?

[Judy Harder]

Son Light

At times the day may seem
Gray and dreary so
My heart seems to sag
And my energy runs low

Suddenly I realize
How foolish I've been
To allow the externals
To seep within



Change my focus
I must now do
Shift it to the Eternal
To the Beautiful and the True

Light then pours
Into my world so gray
Hope suddenly streams
Into a once dreary day



Focus on Christ
And on His Love so pure
Think always of Him
And peace will endure

Sun will fill the days
Yes, each and every one
When we choose to see Light
From God's only begotten Son

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"You opened my eyes,
blind I was before I met You;
You share eternal wisdom
and reveal all that is True."
~Reflection by Caroline~

[Judy Harder]

~Loving You Lord Jesus~

This day of life o'erflows with love
God's blessing is on you and me
We're safe in Him, He's with us yet
There's so much more to see

His heart's our rest, His word's our life
He is the way of truth
Come praise His name, this very day
In Him, we're born anew



The joy is ours, that none can steal
No man, nor circumstance
For God's own hope renews our heart
And sets our soul to dance

God fill our days, with all He is
And everything we need
As all our moments overflow
His amazing love and peace

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

Lord, I come to You with prayer requests,
for I know You always know what's best.
The plans I make, I leave with You
that You may change them if You choose.
An answer from You means so much
for those who need Your healing touch.
For those who fear, please grant Your peace
- their faith in You to be complete.
And Lord, whate'er I do, where'er I go,
Your love to others help me show.
~Millie Torzilli~

[Judy Harder]

That I May Know Your Will


I didn't know quite what it was
But this I sought to know,
How Jesus could be all to me
So grief I'd overthrow.



I read a quote that struck me so
That struggles we will hoard,
In the seeking of a thing
Other than the Lord.



So, that is such a ponder
What then do I seek,
What of the self I nurture-
Would God in me defeat.



For if I might discover
The burden then may lift,
(Not the problem, but the burden)
Lord, grant wisdom as a gift.



For I am tired of this struggle
That has me tied in chains,
Tired of the agony
Of all I cannot ascertain.



There's much I need sustain
And from much I must abstain,
But not to hug my friends and family
Is the biggest heart felt pain.



Dear Lord, I pray reveal to me
What now I need to learn,
That I may trust Your heart
And of Your will discern.

Free my mind from torment
May the heartache cease,
May I feel Your love
That I may know Your peace.

~**~

Soft whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems ©Feb 2012
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry from the Heart

Let your condition be ever so extreme;
human friendship not meet the need,
earthly supplies fail,
sympathy removed, dark
despair enthroned grimly
and coldly upon your heart;
there yet is hope in God!
~ Octavius Winslow ~

[Judy Harder]

Fellowship with the Father
Wondrous and divine
Communion with the Creator
Yours and mine

Friendship with the Eternal
Sublime and sweet
Connection with Christ
Overjoyed to meet

Conversations with God
Powerful and of the heart
Dancing with the Divine
O, how great Thou art



Could all this be real?
Can these things be true?
Could God live in me,
My spirit to renew?

Yes, more real than life
More true than all I see
Is my connection with Christ
My friendship with Divinity

Inspiring awe and wonder
Comfort and joy embrace
For my Best Friend is the King
Through His mercy and grace



He walks with me each day
Yea, each moment by my side
He lives in my joyful heart
While in His heart I abide

So delightful is this fellowship
Lonely will I never be
The Creator loves me so
And Everything is He

Rejoice, my heart, in this truth
Sing praise to God on High
My Beloved is with me always
To His heart He keeps me nigh



I can sing then in adversity
I can thank God amidst trial
For He is with me in all things
His arm around me all the while

Deserving of this friendship
Never I am on my own
It is the blood of the Lamb
My sins which do atone

Pure, white and radiant
My Father sees these in me
Cleansed by Christ's blood
From sin He has set me free



An eternal crown waits for me
Heavenly treasures in store
So I sing of the joy of Jesus
Each passing day all the more

Brother and sister, let us sing
Let us rejoice in the Great I AM
Let us proclaim His wonders to all
Let us sing of the Precious Lamb

How amazing it is to know Him
How wondrous to feel Him near
How sweet to hold His hand
How beautiful His voice to hear



Eternally we shall live with Him
The New Jerusalem does await
My heart cannot contain its joy
My lips from sharing His story great

Yes, more real than life itself
More true than all we see
Is our connection with Christ
Our friendship with Divinity

He walks with us each day
Yea, each moment by our side
He lives in our joyful hearts
While in His heart we abide



Fellowship with the Father
So wondrous and divine
Communion with the Creator
Yes, yours and mine

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Truer than life, truer than all I see,
is my connection with Christ,
my friendship with Divinity.
'Reflection by Caroline'




 



   




















 

   






     


 



     

[Judy Harder]

Unto the Throne of Grace
Boldly my soul does go
Boundless mercy and love I find
The King of kings I know

Whither shall I ever go
Than here at my Master's feet?
Whither shall I find myself
Than wrapped in His mercies sweet?

Oh, wondrous joy
Yes, endless wonder do I find
No one more lovely than my Lord
No one more gentle, meek and kind

For the Creator of the universe
Bids that with Him I should be
How could He have, how would He have
Ever set His sights upon me?

Made of dust am I
A vapor, a mere breath but fleeting
How can I then account
For my Master's wondrous greeting?

His love, His glorious love
Yes, this is the answer to it all
His love is without limit
Ever my soul to enthrall

Sweet to be in my Savior's arms
Grant, Lord, that I grow closer to You
Sweet to drink of Your eternal love
Your Living Water refreshing and true

Approach then I the Throne of Grace
With heart humble and eyes of wonder
Heavenly love and mercies I find
Upon which my heart does ponder

Rejoice I do in my Lord
I give to Him all of me
You, Lord, are my Everything
You, Lord, are All I see

Praise You, Almighty Jehovah
Praise You, Son on High
Praise You, Spirit of God
My spirit and Yours are nigh

And unto the Throne of Grace
Boldly my soul does go
Boundless mercy and love I find
For the King of kings I know

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

To the Throne of Grace boldly my soul does go;
Boundless mercy and love I find,
the King of kings I know!"
'Reflection by Caroline'

[Judy Harder]

Worthy I am not to be here
Worthy not I to be at Your feet
Worthy not I to be with You
Worthy not my Master to greet

Wondrous You are, dear Lord
Wondrous are Your ways
Wondrous that You love me
Wondrous You love always

Worship I do with all my heart
Worship with psalms and song
Worship with arms lifted high
With You, O Lord, I belong



O, sweet melody fills my heart
A song of joy and praise
My Savior redeems and renews
To Him my heart I raise

The King of kings, the Almighty
He suffered a crown of thorns for me
The Shepherd Himself led as a Lamb
Sacrificing Himself for humanity

Precious Lord, what did You ponder
As they led You Calvary Way?
You embraced the Cross they gave
That I may be with You one day



Sweet Savior, what thoughts were Yours
When they pierced Your hands and feet?
You thought of the children You would save
In Heaven someday each one to meet

My God, my Master, what did You say
When You they did scourge and mock?
You asked Your Father to forgive them
As You longed to gather Your flock

Tremble with awe does my heart
Both humbled and amazed am I
My Savior thought lovingly of me
When Him they did crucify



The depth of Your love is unfathomable
Could indeed these truths be so?
Yes, my Savior's love transcends thought
He loves me more than I can know

Rejoice, my soul, in my Lord
Stand in awe of His eternal love
Enthrone my King in my heart
In glory He reigns Above

Lord, nothing I can give to You
Will come close to all You give me
Please accept the gift of myself
For I give all of myself to Thee



Love You more I do each day
Closer I long to be with You
I desire to know Your Ways
To cling to all that is True

Master, I kneel before You
Take all I have, all who I am
I pour of myself for You
As You did for me, Precious Lamb

Worthy I am not to be here
Worthy not I to be at Your feet
Worthy not I to be with You
Worthy not my Master to greet



Wondrous You are, dear Lord
Wondrous are Your ways
Wondrous that You love me
Wondrous You love always

Worship I do with all my heart
Worship with psalms and song
Worship with arms lifted high
With You, O Lord, I belong

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Trembling with awe, humbled and amazed am I:
My Savior thought lovingly of me
when Him they did crucify.
'Reflection by Caroline'