Category Archives: Spiritual practices

The Cost of Good Health

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My body is aching
My mind is lost…
But I’ll get them back
No matter the cost.

‘Cause this isn’t something
I do by myself.
It’s the Power of God
Restoring my health!

And when I’m not sleeping,
I know what to do,
Reach deep in my heart
For the Spirit that soothes.

I know that the gifts
Of body and mind
Belong to me only
A limited time.

And so may I use them
To brighten each day
And let in the Spirit
Who shows me the way.

My body is aching
My mind is lost…
And I get them back
‘Cause God pays the cost!

—
It’s day 12 of NaPoWriMo. Apologies for missing yesterday. I lay down for 5 minutes at 8:00 p.m. And woke up at 1:00 a.m. for a short time. Clearly, I didn’t realize how much I needed sleep!

Related

Feed Your Body and Mind

Temple

Pour out Your Presence

Refreshing Rain

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A pattering, sprinkling drizzle at first,
Becoming a torrent, a downpour that burst
From clouds of the fluffiest, puffiest kind,
Restoring my body, renewing my mind;
My heart, an oasis, is blessed from above,
To blossom and grow in the rain of your love.

—
A Quadrille for NaPoWriMo day 10, in response to the “drizzle” prompt from Mish at
dVerse.

Love Is a Coconut

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If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.

Wishing all of you a blessed Palm Sunday, wherever you are! I must say, the closest this song comes to the occasion is a tropical theme, but a fun song anyway. 🙂

Instrument: Brio – Red Cedar Concert Ukulele

1. Love is a coconut
Wrapped in a shell so tough
Cracking it wide
There’s sweetness inside
Love is a coconut.

2. Love is a tidal wave
Enter it and be brave
Washing you clean
Of what you have been
Love is a tidal wave.

So give a little
To get a lot
It’s the best investment
That this world has got!

3. Love is a burning fire
Feeding a deep desire
Passion awakes
A beautiful change
Love is a burning fire.

4. Love is the breath of life
Keeping you day and night
Make it your own
When you’re building a home
‘Cause love is the breath of life.

So give a little
To get a lot
It’s the best investment
That this world has got!

5. Love is the voice that sings
Giving your heart its wings
Finding the words
Unspoken and heard
Love is the voice that sings.

Repeat 1.

Love is a coconut (Twice).

Related

Love – The Simplest of Songs

Love Is Born

Eternal Love

20 Reasons to Love: A Quadrille

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Growing wisdom
Understanding
Tenderness and seeing sides;

Soul-fulfilling
Heartfelt healing
Listening and open mind;

Encouragement
Appreciation
Caring, daring to confide;

Strength enduring
True protection
Softer hearts and wider minds;

Hope believing
All forgiving
Consolation, gentle guide.

Hold the torchlight
Higher, brighter
Never-ending flame, abide!

—
It’s NaPoWriMo day 7! As a Quadrille, this poem has 44 words, not including the title. It also contains 20 reasons to love, with 4 in each stanza except the last one. Don’t take my word for it–count them! ❤

Evening Blessing

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This is the day the Lord has made.*
So thank him when it’s done.
Though some things were right, and others went wrong,
Tomorrow’s another one.

This is the day the Lord has made.
Remember when it’s through,
The path was laid out, in spite of your doubts,
A route that is planned for you.

This is the day the Lord has made.
So breathe a grateful sigh.
No matter what passed, and future unfolds,
You’re getting a rest tonight!

*This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
–Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

—
NaPoWriMo day 6, and a blessed evening to you, any and every evening!

Hats off to Hats

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I wear a hat to remind me
That I’m not the top of the world.
I’m under a Power much greater than I;
My job is to let it unfurl.

I wear a hat to remind me
That people are more than we see.
The outside is only a mirror,
Reflecting a part of the deep.

I wear a hat to remind me
To think, to be quiet, to pray;
To seek and to find every moment in time
The best I can do, be and say.

I wear a hat to remind me
That I’m not the top of the world.
I’m under a Power much greater than I;
God, help me to let you unfurl!

—
It’s NaPoWriMo day 5… This poem is loosely based on the Biblical concept of head-covering for women. For me, it has its place.

Guard YourHeart

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If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
–Matthew 15:11, 15-18 (NKJV)

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
–Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)

Guard Your Heart – Lyrics

Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. The heart is a place where we hide things.
It uses the mouth to speak.
And sooner or later it’s going to tell
Every secret that we keep.
Refrain:

2. It isn’t the things that we’re eating
Or those we have heard and seen,
But all the hard feelings we push down inside
Are destroying you and me.
Refrain:

3. Be mindful of what you are saying,
The words that you think and speak,
For every word has the power to hurt
Or to plant a loving seed.
Refrain: (Twice)

The heart is a place where we hide things.

Refrain:
[So] hide, hide within you the word of life.
And guard, guard your heart in the peace of Christ.

Related

Heartsong

Heart-image

There Shall Your Heart Be

Airborne Quandary

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PSST…
Come closer…
Closer…
Don’t tell anyone…
I am full of hot air.
The less I speak,
the more I have.
What a quandary!
I won’t waste it
spreading gossip like the plague.
So I channel it
into balloons,
contaminating everyone
with colorful wishes!

—
My response to De’s “balloon” Quadrille prompt. Come join us, read, write, and comment at
dVerse,
where all are welcome!

There Shall Your Heart Be

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If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
–Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [emphasis added]
–Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

There Shall Your Heart Be – Lyrics

Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

A.
Whatsoever things are true,
Whatsoever things are honest,
Whatsoever things are just and pure,
Whatsoever lovely things,
If there’s any praise or virtue,
Whatsoever things of good report,
Think, think on these things.

Repeat A.

B.
[And] hide them in your heart
As treasure buried deep,
For where your treasure is,
There shall your heart also be.

Repeat A and B.

Repeat B.

There shall your heart also be. (2x).

Solar Power Song

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(The Sun Will Rise Again)

If you received this post by email, click the URL to hear this song.

Instrument: Brio – Red Cedar Concert Ukulele

1. God put the sun in the sky, high,
Dividing the day from the night light.
Darkness so deep doesn’t fly by,
But the sun will rise again.
Refrain:

2. When you don’t feel the love above,
All that you know is the push and shove.
Dark is the soul till the dawn comes,
When the sun will rise again.
Refrain:

3. Christ is the Son in the sky, high,
And shining in you as a light so bright.
Ask him to see with a sight, right,
That the sun will rise again.
Refrain:

‘Cause You will see the sun again,
No matter what and where you’ve ever been.
You know it can’t be hidden long,
So sing your solar power song!

Refrain:
You will see the sun again,
No matter what and where you’ve been.
You know it can’t be hidden long,
So sing your solar power song!