What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

Song of Celebration


The song of a bird
The clapping of streams
The waving of leaves
The dance of sunbeams

Glorifying God
Each one, they do
Singing songs of praise
Of His Love ever true



But what dance do I make?
And what song do I sing?
Praise for my God
Does my song always bring?

Like the singing sparrow
And the flowing water
May my rhythm be of God's
As His grace-bought daughter



For the birds and the sun
And the streams and the trees
Exude God's Divine Nature
And so Him they do please

Lord, may my life
Sing sweetly to you
May it echo Your love
And the life you renew



Holy and humble
Kind and full of love
Let me reflect the Light
Of my Father Above

For then I'll sing with birds
And dance with leaves
Such is the life celebration
For each child who believes

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

Victory of Surrender

I offer You my heart
My mind, my soul
For only you, Lord
Can make me whole

Oh, that your Spirit
Would fill me always
Oh, that my lips
Sing forever your praise



May my every moment
My every thought and move
Bring You great delight
As You gladly approve

Yes, this is my prayer
Today and tomorrow
I give you my all
And release all my sorrow



For to let go of me
And to be filled with You
Is to experience Joy
With Peace and Love True

No victory more sweet
Has one ever known
Than to surrender to Christ
And be fully His own



Paradoxical that victory
And surrender are one
Yet such is the Truth
Of living one with the Son

So a fragrant offering
May my life ever be
A sweet sacrifice
May my days be to Thee



And love You more deeply
Each passing day
Experience You more fully
Yes, all this I pray

While I was a sinner still
Lord, You poured out Your All
You accepted the Cross
To save us all from the Fall



Blood poured from You that day
For humanity and its sin
A sacrifice beyond thought
That New Life would begin

So aromatic and sweet
May my life offering be
A humble gift to my Lord
Giving Him all of me

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

Psalm 91


I won't be afraid anymore
Of the terrors by night
Or the arrow that flies by day
And though a thousand may fall
At my side
And though ten thousand may fall
In Him I'll put all my trust



He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow
He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow



I will hide in Your wings always
Your angels stand by to keep me
In all my ways
And though a thousand may fall
At my side
I will say in Him I trust



He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow
He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow



And though a thousand may fall
At my side
And though ten thousand may fall
I will say of the Lord
That in Him I put all my trust



He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow
He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow



He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow
He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow



He who dwells in the secret place
Of the Most High
Shall abide in the shadow

\
~**~

Psalm 91,
music written by Lincoln Brewster
sung by Lincoln Brewster
directy licensed for internet public performance
on ALighthouse.com

"Dedicated to our gracious and merciful
Lord Jesus Christ
whom we worship and adore."

"Click to download" Scripture Psalm 91:1

"Click to download" Scripture Psalm 91:4

[Judy Harder]

Garden of The Heart


"And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin."
Matthew 6:28

Whispering winds
Speaking Your Word
In the breeze
Truth can be heard

For You created winds
You created the earth
The stars, the oceans
You caused their birth



Nature glorifies You
By keeping Your Way
The winds and the birds
Keep the commands You say

And what about me?
What about the life I live?
Do I glorify You
Adhering to laws You give?



May my heart ever be
One with Your Word
May my song be one
With the wind and bird

May I search Your Truth
May I follow Your Way
May I cling to Christ
All this I do pray



May my voice lift high
With my heart as I sing
It is the LORD who creates
And good gifts He does bring

The winds do not worry
The birds do not toil
The flowers do not struggle
Breaking forth from the soil



This life of ease
Of beauty and of peace
This is life we experience
When to You all we release

For the Life of Eden
Awaits us this moment now
Sweet fellowship with You
Children in Christ You allow



Walking closely with you
In the Garden each day
I experience Your Presence
As I sing and as I pray

My God is my Father
My best Friend too
He fills my heart with love
And reveals all that is true



I raise my arms then
And lift my voice in song
With the flowers and the birds
Yes, this is where I belong

We join to sing praises
To our God on High
His treasures He shares
And His heart to us is nigh



Yes, the whispering winds
Speak Your precious Word
And in the gentle breezes
Your Truth can be heard

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

 

[Judy Harder]

Lead me, Lord,
Wherever You do please
I long to bring You glory
To You all things I release

If You lead me to the mountain
I will follow with gladdened heart
If You lead me to the shores
I will rejoice from the very start



If You lead me in the valleys
To You, Lord, I will cling
If You bring me to dark waters
I will celebrate the Light You bring

Throughout my lifelong journey
I will heed Your voice each day
No path is of beauty and grace
Unless it is upon Your sacred Way



So lead me, my precious Lord
My life, each day, is fully Thine
Sweet to live for You, my Master
To abide in Your will divine

I will follow Your lead, Lord
Whithersoever You may go
It is You, only You, Jesus
Whom I long to know



I will follow You always
No matter where the path may lead
May I always be with You, Lord
For this I pray and plead

For, as a Lamb, You followed
The lead of Your Father Above
You submitted Yourself to His will
A Vessel of His Light and Love



You followed Him to the desert
You followed Him to Galilee
You followed Him to the temple
You followed Him to Gethsemane

Every word of Your Father
You embraced and did fulfill
You drank the cup He gave You
Submitting humbly to His will



As they nailed You to the Cross
You, Master, retained full power
Yet You accepted crucifixion
For it was the appointed hour

Sinless Lamb, pure and white
Sacrificed for all on Calvary
My soul quavers at the sight
For my Lord died for me



So You, my Master, I follow
I know not what else to do
You gave all of Yourself to me
I give all of myself to You

Lead me, beloved Lord,
Wherever You do please
I long to bring You glory
To You all things I release



Yes, lead me, my Jesus
My life, each day, is fully Thine
Sweet to live for You, my Master
To abide in Your will divine

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Sinless Lamb, pure and white, sacrificed on Calvary;
I quaver at the sight, for my Lord died for me."
Reflection by Caroline

[Judy Harder]

Love From Above

What is love?
This word we often hear?
Has its meaning been diluted,
Made cryptic and unclear?

Is it a feeling,
A warmth in the heart?
Is it a spark from which
A romance does start?

Or is love much more,
Does it transcend all these?
Is it sublime and sacred,
Bringing us to our knees?



Sublime, spiritual, sacred
Yes, love is all three
For God Himself is love
Love is the Trinity

Love is patient and kind
Selfless and humble too
Love pours of one's self
And aligns with all True

Look at Christ closely
And know love complete
He accepted the Cross
Pierced hands and feet



Love is giving one's all
Pouring of self for another
Great must our love be
For our Father, sister, brother

Yet to give of one's self
Does not empty the soul
For God fills those who love
With His love perfect and whole

Rejoice then, dear Christian
Praise your Father Above
Feelings are fleeting
But perfect and eternal is love



When all passes away
When this earth is no more
Faith, hope and love remain
And love the greatest to endure

Dear Father, fill our hearts
Make them with love overflow
Let us share this love with all
That You all may know

And love You more deeply
I will each passing day
To be more like Christ
This I earnestly pray



May I see and know love
May love I show and live
May love be my fragrance
The sweet aroma I give

And I will express love
This word we often hear
I will proclaim Truth
That love is evident and clear

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

Lenten Journey

Setting out upon a journey
A journey I joyfully embrace
A Lenten pathway before me
Adorned with love and grace

Forty days in the desert
Our Lord began His ministry
He fasted from all food
Tempted, yet sinless, is He

Wondrous gift, lovely path
Thank You, Lord, that I may tread
Pondering Your precious heart
Which for me generously bled

Humbled, falling to my knees
I marvel my Savior's love
To die for me and my sins
Is why He left His throne Above

Worthy I am not
Of Your love sublime and sweet
I crave Your wondrous Wine
Your Word I long to eat

Man lives not on bread alone
But on the Almighty's every word
Nourishing, renewing the soul
Precious truths, told and heard

Lord, please take my hand
Lead me wherever Thou desire
You are the joy of my spirit
You are in my heart a burning fire

Little I have to offer You
Nothing worthy of love You give
Take me, all of me, my Lord
My life is not mine, but Yours, to live

Precious Savior, Lamb of God
You loved me while I was still blind
To fathom the power of Your love
Transcends all thought of mind

So, in this Lenten journey
I vow to give all of myself to You
To be completely Yours, Master
Is to live life abundantly and true

On the Via Dolorosa
Lead me, beloved Lord, to see
How they treated You, my Master
On the way to Calvary

On the hill Golgotha
At the Cross may I stand
Weeping for You, sweet Lord
Pierced feet and pierced hand

At the Holy Sepulchre
The stone moved may I see
Resurrection triumphing over death
My Lord is Risen, to Him all Glory!

Lenten journey lovely
Pathway of contemplation
Lord, how much You suffered
That I may know salvation

Wondrous gift, lovely path
Thank You, Lord, that I may tread
Pondering Your precious heart
Which for me generously bled

In this Lenten journey and always
I vow to give all of myself to You
To be completely Yours, Lord Jesus
Is to live life abundantly and true

~**~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Lord, take my hand,
lead me wherever Thou desire;
You are the joy of my spirit,
my heart's burning fire.
'Reflection by Caroline'

[Judy Harder]

Glimpses of Heaven

Thank you, dear LORD,
For glimpses of Heaven you give
Those moments we connect
With future eternal bliss to live

A preview we see in
Towering snow-capped mountains
In foliage and flowers
In rushing waterfalls and fountains



And we hear Heaven's voice
In the sweet notes of a soprano
Vibrating with our souls
An experience of our tomorrow

Images of angels and glory
Rush to the mind
Immersed in endless love and joy
As we will one day find



The fragrance of flowers too
Conjure a sense of Elysium
Hinting of fields of glory
In Your Kingdom to come

Even the feel of soft silk
And the taste of delicacy
Heighten our awareness
Of the Beauty that will be



So many whispers
Of the World that does await
So many signs of Heaven
For us to contemplate

Let us savor those moments
Sweetly speaking of You
And praise You for Promises
Of our eternal Home true



These moments remind us
Of the life yet to unfold
One of unceasing joy
Of love and ecstasy untold

Yes, thank you, dear LORD,
For glimpses of Heaven you give
Those moments we connect
With future eternal bliss to live

~*~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

Let me always walk in Truth
Teach me, Lord, Your Way
The sum of Your Word is Truth
Guiding my journey each day

The world deceived sees truth
Relative to the opinions of each
Yet You prove that Truth is absolute
Its perfection to me You teach



Truth is constant, unchanging
It shifts not when the wind does blow
Truth is pure, righteous, eternal
Hearts transform when Truth they know

Christ Himself is the Truth
His Life embodied the Eternal Word
He lives in those who live in Truth
Those practicing what they heard



He brought His beloved children forth
By Truth in His perfect divine Will
That we may be born again in Spirit
And that all our needs He would fill

Though the Law came through Moses
Through Christ came Truth and Grace
His Message spreads across the world
A Gospel of salvation for the human race



Dear Lord, sanctify me in the Truth
Purify me in the Word You speak
May I grow ever more kind and loving
Ever more courageous, joyful and meek

For sweet is Your Word, my Father
Precious the Word that You give
Powerful in changing hearts and minds
That every soul may eternally live



I lift my heart to you, Eternal One
I sing my Father's praises all day long
How I love Him for leading me in Truth
So I share with all this glorious song

Seek the Truth, embrace its Beauty
Let it fill your heart, transform your mind
Eternal, Pure, Just, Loving and Living
So treasured is Truth when it we find



So may we walk always in Truth
May our Lord teach us His Way
For the sum of His Word is Truth
Guiding our journeys each day

*~~*

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

[Judy Harder]

The Honor of Humility


Humility: soft and gentle
Lowly, kind and meek
Exalting God and others
Never one's own to seek

Humility: lovely and true
Grounded and of the earth
Such defines "humilis"
Sweet ingredient for rebirth



Humility: cloak of saints
Beautiful robe of white
Humility comes before honor
Virtue precious in God's sight

Humble may my heart be
Meek, gentle and kind
Filled with Your Holy Spirit
Fully transformed in mind



Humble may my words be
Lifting God and others
Glorifying my Father
Blessings sisters and brothers

Humble may my actions be
In them God's work display
Letting go of myself
To fully embrace God's Way



Wisdom comes with humility
Pride is followed by disgrace
Embrace the humility flower
Blooming of fragrant grace

Our Lord, our God, our Creator
Humble more than anyone is He
Sacrificing Himself as the Lamb
That free of sin we may be



Sweet Savior, Precious Master
King of kings, yet humble too
My heart is humbled by Your love
Lord, I long to be one with You

A humble heart make for me
Cleanse with humility pure
Cloak me in radiant meekness
All things for You may I endure



For I live no longer for myself
I give my everything, my all, to You
Lowly may my heart ever be
Ever faithful, ever gracious, ever true

For You, Lord Jesus Christ, are my All
You, my dearly Beloved, define my life
Pure and humble I then don myself
With Your Church, Your betrothed Wife



May I be then humble and gentle
May I be lowly, kind and meek
May I exalt God and others
Never my own to seek

I vow to be lovely and true
Grounded and of the earth
I vow to embrace "humilis"
Sweet ingredient for rebirth



And I rejoice to wear the cloak of saints
Humility: beautiful robe of white
I rejoice in the humble King of all
For I am precious in His sight

~***~

© Caroline Gavin
carolinegavinre@aol.com

"Humble may my heart be,
meek, gentle and kind -
filled with
Your Holy Spirit
and fully transformed in mind."
~ Reflection by Caroline ~