6-29-10 Birthday Blessings

Dear Lord, thank You for so many things – I cannot name them all.

From peace and joy to rain and sun to our children large and small.

Thank you for America, for countless freedoms true,

For freedom from persecution so we are free to worship You.

We know there are so many, Lord, who suffer for their faith,

Facing death and torture, overcoming by Thy grace.

Hunger, beatings, prisons; some must endure such awful trouble…

But not here in America – we live in such a bubble.

Protected from persecution (for now anyway, that is)

(We don’t know what the future holds for those of us who are His.).

But in our cocoon of safety, let us not laze along, half asleep;

Help us share Your love with others who are lost in sin so deep.

Whether teaching our children at home, or the garbage man who comes,

The lady down at Kroger, give us Your love for each and every one.

Give us a heavy burden for their lost and dying soul;

Give us the chance to share with them how they can be made whole.

It seems so hard to do that, Lord; it doesn’t come with ease.

But this we want to do for You; it’s You we want to please.

I know You’ll give us words to speak, or maybe just a smile,

Or we can try to show Thy love by going that extra mile.

There are so many lost in sin – at times it hurts my heart.

I want to pray for every single one; sometimes I don’t know where to start.

You know who is on my list, Lord; call them right now, every one.

Take away their sleep at night until they receive Your Son.

Dear Lord, bless the missionaries who labor in faraway lands.

Bless Tim in our home today, right now, as he leads our own little band.

Be with us both each and every day as we do our best for Thee;

Help us diligently train our children for eternity.

Bless them each and every one, Lord; we love them all so much.

Help me make more time for hugs, and for a sweet gentle touch.

Soften my voice, I beg Thee Lord – take away ugly harshness and sting;

Fill me with Thy praise and joy so it touches everything.

Cover where I lack, Lord; help them overlook my faults,

So that they too want to serve Thee when they become adults.

So many times I fail thee Lord, for this I beg forgiveness;

Lift me up to higher ground, and help me to spread cheerfulness.

Thank You for my husband, Lord, a gem above all other men.

Thanks for a close loving relationship; I’m so undeserving of him.

But You gave him to me anyway, Lord; You brought us together in faith

So that we can walk this life as one, together to finish our race.

Thanks for each one of our children; they are so precious to us.

How we love them, every one, even when they fight, fret, and fuss.

Thank you for our homestead here, our cows, our chickens, our pets.

Sheds, barn, orchard, creek, and the view – how much better can it get?

Thank You for our wonderful home – a shelter from the world -

A place where we can take respite when satan’s darts are hurled.

Thanks for morning sunrise, for sunsets in the eve,

For peace and joy, hope and heaven, for all those who believe.

Thanks for eyes to see these things, for a tongue to praise Thy name,

For healthy bodies inside and out; for freedom from disease and pain.

So many have such sickness, Lord; so many are so ill.

Help all those who are so afflicted, that they can praise You still.

Thank You Lord for grandparents, for uncles, aunts, and cousins.

So many blessed times we’ve shared – we’ve memories by the dozens.

Our church family too is so precious, Lord; we love each and every one.

How sweet to think of meeting them in heaven, when our life here on earth is done.

Thank You MOST for SALVATION, for Jesus’ death on the cross.

Thank You for the resurrection, for hope when all seemed lost.

For boundless grace and mercy, for the Bible to freely read,

For the promise of life eternal, if only Thy word we heed.

There are many more things I could thank You for – You know the list doesn’t end;

So search me O God, and know my heart; be forever my closest Friend.

“Thank You” seems so inadequate – this I can clearly see -

So I’ll live my life completely sold out – sanctified unto Thee.

You loved me as a sinner, Lord; You called me from that hole

Of satan’s awful deception, and then You saved my soul.

You give me grace, joy, and mercy, to follow day by day,

And eyes to see, and words to tell of Your wonders along life’s way.

So – I will eschew all evil, put it far away.

I will walk humbly in obedience, every moment, every hour, every day.

I will give Thee all praise and honor, Lord, and read often in Thy Word;

But most of all, I’ll thank Thee for loving me, O Lord.

You are so pure and holy, so loving, gracious, kind.

The way, the truth, the light, the lamp, my comforter, my guide.

I’ll praise Thy name forever, Lord; I’ll praise Thee every day

With word, and song, and deed, and thought every step of the way.

“To God Be The Glory, great things he hath done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son;

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice.

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

and GIVE HIM THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!”