Tag Archives: blessings

A Webster Song

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I was born long ago in the mountains out east

My spirit remains there today

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From Irish, Scot, and English blue blood,

Throw in a dab of Native American and German-Jew

Ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War from

The States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts

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Noah wrote a well-known dictionary, I declare

Daniel was quite the orator and statesman

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Old John was the first governor of Connecticut

That’s the wrap-up of the forefathers.

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Recent history brought in some Swiss ties

My kids are thoroughly peopled with strong genes

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An Irish blessing to you, and a good cuppa of English tea

A Scottish shortbread cookie and good German bratwurst

Delicious Swiss chocolate and strong Algonquin courage . . .

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But the important part. . .  I am blessed with God’s everlasting salvation and grace.

I AM A CHILD OF THE KING!

Shalom

NaPoWriMo   Day 22                             

 

© 2013 by Jeanne E Webster. All rights reserved

Okay, Daddy!

Boy Hiding Gift Behind His Back

© 2013 Jeanne E Webster.  All rights reserved

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“What do you have in your hands, little one?

What are you hiding there?”

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“Nothing, Daddy,” he said,

With a whisper and a prayer.

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“You’re looking ill at ease, little one.”

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“But I’m careful, Daddy.”

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“Open up and let me see;

Those things you don’t really need.”

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“I‘ll give them up one day, Daddy!”

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“Ah, but I want you to have a joyful life;

Give me all your toxic devices;

They’re not good for you.”

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“Give up those seeds of Selfishness

And that big ball of Pride;

Tricky Hypocrisy bid adieu

Let bones of Contention slide.”

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“Okay, Daddy, is that enough for now?”

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“Give me your pinch of Hatred

That pocket of Deceit and Envy,

The stinky black bag of Backbiting,

That shiny boasting coin called Me.”

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“How can I give up all these, Daddy?”

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“You must if you want the best

Of life that I have for you.

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“Let me have that snip of Lying

And biting Promise Breaking,

That sooty batch of Cruelty

And lots of Tricky Handshaking.

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“Your Judgment list of others

Is corrupt and so unclean;

Your rock of  Hardheartedness,

Will bring you down so mean.

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“Repent and ask forgiveness;

Give me your unclean baubles;

They only bring pain and suffering

Adding more and more big troubles.”

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“Unfilled hands should clutch things

Like Grace, Peace and Joy,

Salvation, Glory, and Honor

And Eternal Life employ.

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“I offer you Charity and Patience,

Remission of sins and Hope,

Mercy, Blessing and Humility,

And tons of Wisdom to cope.”

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“Okay, Daddy!”

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NaPoWriMo   Day 19

All and All is ALL

 

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©Jeanne E Webster

 

Job 1:13-22 KJV And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house and there came a messenger unto Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the asses were feeding beside them.  And the Sabeans fell upon them and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, “The fire of God is fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them; and I only am escaped to tell thee.”

While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, “The Chaldeans made out three bands and fell upon the camels and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

While he was yet speaking there came also another and said, “Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men and they are dead, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

Then Job arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped and said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return thither.  The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; and blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

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Just thinking…

What a blessed life we live.  Regard the comforts at our disposal:  homes, food, transportation, jobs, health, safety and more.  What would we do if one day, while we were yet speaking, yet breathing, yet eating, yet texting on our cell phones, yet watching our favorite TV shows…

A phone call, a knock at the door, a messenger comes, and… our whole world collapses. So sudden, so horrendous, so devastating… as did the world of Job’s.

We’d tear our clothes, pull out our hair and say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Or would we?  Would we have the grit within us to say this, much less believe it?  Or would our first words be, “Oh, my God, why me?!”

Folks, we could lose all that we have, in one day.  With the world situation as it is, with extreme weather patterns, with close proximity to living on the cusp of imminent dangers, all could be gone in a matter of minutes.  Ask survivors of the recent tornadoes that came through the south and Midwest, survivors of ravenous forest fires, mudslides, and floods scattered from the north to the south.  All is gone for these people.  They have to start over.  Like Job, most of them are, frankly, just thankful to be alive.

Yes, and we pray for them and beg God’s blessings upon their dire situations, to return to them some semblance of normalcy.  Even a scrap of an old photograph found under the pile of debris is treasured, and God is thanked profusely.

My thoughts are…why does it take horrific events to remind us of the truly wondrous gifts from God who delivers to us life and all that entails each and every single day?  Does God have to shout to get our attention?

Do you hear Him now?

I am going to try to be a much better listener.  Why?  My heart demands it.

Shalom

Rain and Sunshine

© Jeanne E Webster

I cried to you last night, Lord,
When I awoke with a fright
You sang to me a dulcet chord
And my fears anon took flight.

My spirit aroused with adoration
Your greatness sustained me, Lord
To fight battles of every occasion
Your might is my spirit’s sword.

You’re the joy of lithesome birds
Playfully pecking at bugs and seed
Gracefully into the air they herd
Oh, to follow them in secrecy.

The field is rife with weeds and clover
Plump honey bees fill their pockets
Sprinkling golden succor all over
Showing off their shiny lockets.

Storms overnight ravaged the view:
Marinated soil flaunts bubbly pools
Broken tree limbs, bird’s nests askew
Aborted feathered life slumped like ghouls

Split corn spikes, hacked tomato lumps
Bashful strawberries hidden from me
Brussel sprouts showed nary a bump,
Torn fans of elephant-eared broccoli.

Yet morning glories garnished with hearts
Stretched their ropes into the skies
Clinging, twisting in fits and starts
Formed a glorious, colorful sunrise.

Orange daylilies stretched out like fingers
The hibiscus displayed her dinner plates
Hummingbirds dined well as they lingered
Bleeding hearts thrust tiny orbed bait.

Rabbits have produced such a nice crop
Tiny fur balls hopping here and there
Moles and voles dine heartily; please stop!
My lovely green lawn is suddenly bare.

The arborvitae finally gave up the ghost
All dried up, painting a brown frown
The black pines appear as if in a roast
Beetle parasite time brought them down.

Home-made suet I hung on the pine tree
“Mrrupp,” says the red-bellied woodpecker,
Gorging on peanuts, he’s a real cutie
Also the hairy and downy woodpeckers.

Yellow finches sported vivid coats
Feasting on thistle seed in the feeder
Those darn blackbirds are hoggish blokes
I’ll send them off with my old repeater.

My two spaniels and I walk and admire
So many sights to explore around here
Crayfish chimneys dot the ditches of mire
What do they live on deep down in there?

Thank you for your provisions, Lord,
Natural ambiance offers such beauty
My rake and hoe with time to afford
Await the fruit of my labors and duty.

Dear One, You’ve truly blessed my path,
With one very pleasant enchanted day–
Top of the morning to you and your staff
Help me comfort others that come my way.

Humble Thanks

 

Rose bud in the rain

 © Jeanne E Webster

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Thank you for the memories,

The joys and wonders of life,

The blessing of divine glories…

What peace abundantly rife!

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You birthed me as a baby girl,

Swaddled up in my mother’s arms;

Tenderly kissed my golden curls

As I snuggled in her charms.

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Thanks for all my family and friends,

Thanks for pretty flowers and weeds.

Sunshine and rain brought amends

As You sought to establish Your seeds.

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Oh God, my sins no longer sting

They’re hung on the cross of Jesus.

He entered into my life to bring

A life so much more prestigious.

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Your truth appeased my doubting heart

I was healed by Your living waters.

Eternal life You did truly impart

To my lost spirit and many others.

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I peered inside my very soul;

Faithfully, You are present there.

See that loving spirit glow…

A sweet heavenly flare! Amen

(jew)

[This is a repeat.  Having trouble posting.  Please bear with me.  Thank you!]

Aged Paper–Old Thoughts

Aged Paper—Old Thoughts

©Jeanne E. Webster

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The older I get, the more I realize how capricious my thoughts have been.   At age 13 I was all grown up, ready for anything.  My parents didn’t agree.  Sweet sixteen arrived finally, and I was certain I was ready for the world.  I secretly became engaged to a sweet older fellow, and my parents hastily unengaged that event.  Thank God.   Somewhere along the way to 25, I married and had four children, which left me wondering if I really did know everything.  Forty-five was a huge leap of faith, blessing me with grandchildren and vamping me with a divorce and remarriage.   I sighed with contentment at age 65, figuring that, for sure, I knew what life was all about.  Wrong!  I have come to the conclusion at the ripe age of almost 70, that life constantly changes the rules of the game.  So don’t bother trying to learn all the nuances of it.  Live and love and be kind.  God has blessed you with life; isn’t that enough?

~shalom

Stingers

 

 

Matt.6:14“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

 

© 2010 Jeanne E. Webster

 

I am a sinner, Lord. Every day I begin with best intentions, but somehow they go astray.  This morning I woke asking you to guide me through the day, keep me from making mistakes repeatedly, and provide the needs of my family and friends. Thank you for all my yesterdays and the tons of blessings you have so graciously given me.  You are such a gentle Savior, Jesus.  I would love to look upon your face and into your eyes, as I know that that alone would revive this tired body and sagging spirit.  Yes, I know…in good time!

 

In the stillness of the day, I hear your voice, Lord, whispering words of wonderful peace and joy.  Sensing your presence, I draw closer to you.  Your peace and calm trickles over this spirit like a melting honeycomb; your sweetness relieves my pain.  My spirit is refreshed as I draw strength from your healing balm, and I am thankful for your mercy and love.  However, I need to confess a problem.

 

Sometimes I struggle to share your forgiveness with others as you have told me to do.  I tend to hold grudges, Lord. Pains inflicted by others stick into my spirit like wasp stingers.  They’re hard to pull out, even with a good pair of tweezers.  Sometimes I don’t get the whole stinger; it breaks off deep inside and festers into one big sore.  Before I know it, the sore needs more attention and is harder to heal than if I would have pulled it out cleanly.  That’s sin for you. 

 

You see, Lord, I’m like a child wanting to please, yet five minutes after being corrected from a “no-no”, I’m back to doing it again.  I’m sorry as can be but in the heat of the moment, memory fails me.  “Forgive others.”  Sinning comes on quickly, like an out of the blue moment.  I’m sorry, Lord. 

 

All is not lost though, Lord.  You have softened my hardened heart, and in time, I begin to see the true way to deal with stingers.  I can feel that truth deep in my soul and the goodness that oozes from it.  “Forgiveness is love.”   I hold on to those moments and they’re lasting a lot longer now.  They come automatically… sometimes.  Other times I have to talk with myself and deliberate which way to go.  Do I lose my cool and lash out at the offender, or do I sense anger building and quickly remove the stinger before it festers?  I’m learning, Lord.  Slowly…but surely. 

 

Suddenly Rubble

 

 

 

 

Psalm 42

 

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks,

So panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

While they continually say unto me, “Where is thy God?”

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me

For I had gone with the multitude.

I went with them to the house of God

With the voice of joy and praise,

With a multitude that kept holyday.” (KJV)

 

The hart has had a successful season.  Filled with ample sustenance, he has fulfilled his earthly purpose.  He has avoided the hunters, fought off the young bucks seeking to steal his harem, and propagated his seed throughout the herd.  Drained to the core from these arduous struggles, he seeks respite; winter looms on the horizon.  He pants for the cool, spring waters that once burst forth from the hillside brooks, finding instead scant, stagnant provisions.  Snorting into the air with a sullen spirit, he realizes that the time of refreshing is far off.

 We live prosperous lives, sated with food, shelter, and clothing, but at what a price.  Prosperity sprang a leak and faded away; the springs of youth dried up.  Strength fails, family and friends come and go, and our faith–our elusive hope in God—is now merely a fractured image.  Struggling with life’s issues, our physical and spiritual reserves depleted, we need the soul-refreshing waters that only God provides. 

 “Return our youth, our wealth, family and friends.  O God, even you have fled our sight!”  Clinging tightly to our yesterdays, our hearts are disquieted within us.   We need to fling off the fears that blind us; focus on the hope that is of God.  Expect to see Him who blesses us so abundantly.  He is the god of the living, not of the dead. While we draw breath, there is always hope.

 Memories (experiences) are a tool to remind us of God’s benevolence and surety.  We haven’t lost him or his blessings.  There’s more!  He brought us this far and will not abandon us in the shallows.  Go out into the depths.  Live for the moment, for it will soon pass.  Whether it brings praise or pain, wealth or health, food or fasting, family or friends– God is with us still.   

 Are you having a desert time?  Are you in the hour of your life when you desire more from the Giver of life?  That’s good!  “Nurture our souls, Lord, as we thirst after you!  May we pant after you as if our very lives depended upon it.”

 Perhaps that is the reason for desert times–the times of shallowness of spirit–the dreadful fear that haunts our souls.  With our tormented spirits, we scream, “I’ve lost you, God!  Where are you, Lord?” 

We’ve been too busy eating, drinking, and being merry. All too suddenly we look around the rubble of our lives and sense the Giver of life.  Has it been so long that we looked upon him that we no longer see him?  I wonder.