Category Archives: Spiritual practices

Life Is Too Short (Nana’s Song)

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In loving memory of Nana, who knew all about flowers–and about life.

Refrain:
[‘Cause] life is too short
Not to smell the wildflowers.
And it’s too short
Not to do a little dance.
Life is too short
Not to cherish every hour.
And it’s too short
Not to love when God gives you the chance.

1. Life is for the living,
No matter who you are.
So smell the fragrant flowers,
And let the living start.
Refrain:

2. Life is for the dancing,
Like breezes through the trees.
So dance a little rhythm,
And set your Spirit free.
Refrain:

3. Life is for the loving,
The greatest gift of all.
So open up your heart,
And never be afraid to fall.
Refrain:

Life is too short
Not to love when God gives you the chance.
Life is too short,
So love when God gives you the chance.

Related

God Is All There Is

Smilemaker

Dance!

Minute of Life

Minute of Life

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Today is but a window seen
By eyes so green-
Or sadly sore
From all they bore.

And yesterday? A window bare.
Do not despair.
We can’t return;
Don’t let it burn.

Tomorrow is a window bright!
Unfiltered Light
Ignites the way-
So seize the day!

—
Written for Frank’s intriguing
Minute Poem prompt
and Lillian’s thought-provoking
Window Poetics.

Related

Carpe Diem – Seize the Day

Trick Candle

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(Capo 1)

1. I got a funny candle.
You blow it out and then,
It comes to life, you blow it out,
And sparks play tricks again.
Refrain:

2. This candle is a lesson.
It’s so simple, true and pure.
We travel through the darkness
With light forevermore.
Refrain:

3. The darkness of this world,
It may seem to take our light.
But just when we’re despairing,
It blazes strong and bright.
Refrain: (Twice)

Refrain:
Thank God, thank God
That our light is a trick candle!
It sparks and sparks again
With every fire He helps us handle.
Thank God, thank God
That our light is a trick, trick candle!

Related

A Candle

Bring the Light

Light

Let there Be Light!

A Candle

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I wrote this song in about 2003. It was written on an electronic keyboard with synthetic instruments. Now here it is on acoustic guitar.

(Capo 3)

1. I have a flaming candle;
It is a special one.
The brightest light in darkness,
It’s there for everyone.
Refrain:

2. We share a special love,
And it is a candle too.
It waits and hopes and lasts long,
And it shines for me and you.
Refrain:

Repeat from beginning.
Refrain:

Refrain:
O love is the bright candle
That never burns away.
It shines throughout the world,
Through the night and through the day.

Rainbow Blues

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A song of opening awareness, expanding consciousness, and gratitude. Love is always with us! But to recognize it, we must be open to it. On guitar, with my right pinkie and ring finger feeling much better. 🙂

1. I remember my life without You (2x).
The raging storm and clouds of hopeless blue.

2. Through the darkness came a single ray of sun.
Through all that darkness came a single ray of sun.
Your strong and tender Presence gave me one.

3. And all Your Love came pouring down on me.
All Your Love just came pouring down on me.
You paint my heart a rainbow pure and sweet.

4. OOO the rainbow of Your Love is all I see.
That precious rainbow of Your Love is all I see.
And saddest blue, it’s got no place with me.

‘Cause that precious rainbow of Your Love is all I see.
And saddest blue, it’s got no place with me.

Related

You Bring Me Back

Tender Touch

Rainbow Blessing

Wake Up!

Blessing

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You bless me with your touch
that wakes me every day,
the whisper of your voice
I hear in gentle ways,
the blanket of your Spirit
embracing me so tight,
that I may be your blessing
from morning until night.

—
For Paul’s beautiful prompt asking for “ripples of blessings” at
dVerse.

Related

Simple Blessing

Blessing Prayer

Daily Blessing

Earth Blessing

Rainbow Blessing

Midnight Song – Reprise

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This was originally a
poem.
The last verse and ending line are new. Written as a Nocturn, or night song, it’s natural this would be set to music.

1. It’s midnight as the hours turn.
The clock is ticking; candles burn.
As I embrace the dark that churns,
It’s midnight as the hours turn.

2. It’s midnight as the world spins.
The time is passing; hear the din.
I reach for moonlight deep within;
It’s midnight as the world spins.

3. It’s midnight as the mind repairs.
The time is healing, easing cares.
I rest content to be in prayer;
It’s midnight as the mind repairs.

4. It’s midnight as the soul awakes.
Forget the clock of time and space.
As Spirit lights the dreamland scape,
It’s midnight as the soul awakes.

5. It’s midnight as the hours turn.
My life is ticking; fire burns.
As I embrace the dark and learn,
It’s midnight as the hours turn.

The darkest hours always turn.

Related

Nightfall

Evening Blessing

Starspun

A Puppet’s Gift

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for Freddy, Dominic,
and all ye of the holey, holy socks

A sock with holes can always start anew.
The wider world is waiting for your play.
There’s more to life than hiding in a shoe.

A puppet is the great escape for you.
So let it out to greet the shining day.
A sock with holes can always start anew.

You make the puppet from a piece of you,
The one that keeps the words you never say.
There’s more to life than hiding in a shoe.

You give the puppet purpose and a use
And help the lost in you to find its way.
A sock with holes can always start anew.

So let your socks and puppets pay their dues
And free you from the prison of your ways.
There’s more to life than hiding in a shoe.

Your peaceful puppets prosper as you do.
The world awaits your wisdom in a play.
A sock with holes can always start anew.
There’s more to life than hiding in a shoe.

—
A Villanelle for Franks MeetingTheBar at
dVerse.

Other Villanelles

Adopted

Breaking Free

The Father’s Child

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Today is Father’s Day in the United States. My prayer is that every man knows the Father of the Universe in some way, as the great Father-Creator He is. Enjoy a happy and blessed Father’s Day!

1. The Father sends each precious child
To do a work so great.
He wraps his love in flesh and blood
To bring us to his gate.
The happy, sad, the good and bad
Are nothing in his light.
The Father doesn’t make mistakes;
He sends each precious child.

2. The Father helps his children grow
From long before our birth.
He wraps his love in flesh and blood
To do his will on earth.
The happy, sad, the good and bad
Remind us so we know
The Father doesn’t make mistakes;
He helps his children grow.

3. The Father is alive and well
Each moment that we live.
He wraps his love in flesh and blood
Because we are a gift.
The happy, sad, the good and bad,
And don’t forget to tell
The Father doesn’t make mistakes;
In us, alive and well.

4. The Father sent you as his child
To do a work so great.
He wraps* his love in flesh and blood
To bring you to his gate.
The happy, sad, the good and bad,
Are nothing in his light.
The Father doesn’t make mistakes;
He sent you as his child.

The Father doesn’t make mistakes;
You are his precious child.
You are the Father’s child.

*In the recording I sang “wrapped.” Recording this once was enough, with 2 strumming fingers still wrapped (no pun intended!) together.

Related

Father in this World

God Bless this Human Mess

The Work He Performs in Me

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This is a testimony of God’s work! Concentration was in very short supply this week, and I have a full-blown Summer cold. On top of that, my right (strumming hand) pinkie is splinted, and the hand is very bruised. But God’s work is always completed, regardless of our outward circumstances. So no matter what you are going through, whether just this week or more ongoing, take heart! Be encouraged! And enjoy this song.

1. I painted by the numbers,
Picturing a picture of success.
I colored in the lines,
Thinking what I thought would be best.
But
Refrain:

2. I ordered from the menu,
Choosing only choices to be safe.
I checked the little boxes,
Just to score a score I could make.
But
Refrain:

3. I acted and pretended,
Speaking all my speeches from a page.
But God gives me a passion
And directs my direction on His stage.
‘Cause
Refrain: (Twice)

There is one thing that is sure,
It’s the Power of the Lord,
And the work He performs in me.

Refrain:
Good enough is not what I needed,
And predictible is not what I should be.
My fear of failure is defeated
By the one thing that is sure,
The Power of the Lord,
And the work He performs in me.

Related

Cutting Edge

The Truth We Tell