Songs In The Night

One By One He Took Them From Me One by one He took them from me, All the things I valued most. Until I was empty-handed; Every glittering toy was lost. Then I walked earth's highway grieving, In my rags and poverty; 'Til I heard His voice inviting: Lift your empty hands to me. So I held my hands toward Heaven, And He filled them with a store Of His own transcendent riches, 'Til they could contain no more. Then at last I comprehended With my stupid mind and dull, That God could not pour out His riches Into hands already full. ~By William Cowper~ (I am unsure of the actual title of this poem.)

The Answers Why I asked the Lord one day why there were so many mountains in my life, So much grief and heartache, so much trouble and strife? I read His Word very carefully, looking for the answers why, And deep within my soul, I heard His Spirit reply. I am working all things out for your good; Removing the debris that shouldn't be there. There is so much damage that sin has done, There is so much I need to repair. There are works that I am doing - if you could only understand - I am fulfilling all My promises according to My Plan. The mountains are for reminding you of My goodness and My love, The weakness is to cause you to lean upon My arms above. Rest upon My provision, and trust that I will guide you along Life's way, And rejoice in My grace and mercy that will lead you safely Home one day. There's a work I am doing inside your very heart, So one day up in glory, My likeness to you I will impart; So don't fret about the things that you don't understand, Just ...

He Goes Before Dark is the sky! and veiled the unknown morrow! Dark is life's way, for night is not yet o'er; The longed-for glimpse I may not meanwhile borrow; But, this I know and trust, HE GOES BEFORE. Dangers are near! and fears my mind are shaking; Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store; But I am His - He knows the way I'm taking, More blessed even still - HE GOES BEFORE. Doubts cast their weird, unwelcome shadows o'er me, Doubts that life's best - life's choicest things are o'er; What but His Word can strengthen, can restore me, And this blest fact; that still HE GOES BEFORE. HE GOES BEFORE! Be this my consolation! He goes before! On this my heart would dwell! He goes before! This guarantees salvation! HE GOES BEFORE! And therefore all is well. J. Danson Smith (Taken from Streams In The Desert devotional)

My Hiding Place Lord, You are my hiding place through life's stormy gale; You are my fount of grace when my strength begins to fail. Chorus: Lord, You are my hiding place, Standing strong and sure, My refuge in the storms of life, A fortress that will endure. You are my hiding place though enemies surround; You fill my heart with Your peace - peace that always abounds. When my sins come back to haunt me and I need a hiding place, You shelter me under Your wings, and remove all of sin's trace. Lord, You are my hiding place – Whom shall I fear? Why should my soul be cast down When You are always near? You are my hiding place - You took in this lonely waif - In Jesus, I know I am secure, I know I'm forever safe. When the tempests come - their winds and waves crash over me, You are my hiding place - the only place I long to be. December 25th/02 Jerry Bouey Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah...

Call Back If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back­; 'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track; And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low, Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go. Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm; Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn; That when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill, He bore you up and held you where the very air was still. O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face; They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race; But there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim, And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him. But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry, And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky,­ If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back,­ 'Twill cheer my heart and help my fee...

Unfolding The Rose A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With...