Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I STILL LOVE YOU SO


Lord...dare I speak your name? Dare I ?
All that I am betrays your Holiness
my eyes, my ears, my tongue
my thoughts, my will betrays
Lord...give me back the heart of my childhood
the eyes, the ears, the tongue of truth
where innocence was mine
through tender youth
Give back the joy of love to me
when it was all about you
and not about me
My first love, as your child in arms
Your Word made flesh
Your Word that charms
My spirit's tongue, did taste the wine
while at your table, I did dine
Songs of worship, songs of praise
songs I sang throughout the days
My eyes were fixed on none but You
My ears...your voice was all I knew
I longed to please your perfect will
My Lord, my God, I long so still
Your established law, which long before
the waves washed up on virgin shore
was set to keep a child like me
and give me faith, that I might see
Now that time has took it's toll
and all my doubts like billows roll
Your child again, I long to be
Where once I sat upon your knee
I heard you, clearly, lovingly say,
"I am the One and Only Way."
and I was so in love with You
and all you said, I knew was true
Now once again, before I die
and with this one and final sigh
I speak your name, that all may know
that I your child, still loves you so
................"JESUS"................................by Joy Lackey Sept. 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

AUTUMN'S ART GALLERY


Fall, the grandest
season of all !
Vivid colors from
the Master's palette
Living pictures of
technicolor and
stereophonic sound
Pungent and awesome,
subtle and soothing
Nature's artistry
the world it's gallery
A one man show
that shouldn't be missed
A seasonal spectacular
of glorious sights, smells and tastes
A bounty of fruits from the harvest
sculptures made without hands
What a splendid display!

Sunday, September 20, 2009


LORD...HOW SAFE
I FEEL IN YOUR
EMBRACE.
SHELTERED IN
THE ROBES OF
YOUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
IT IS ALWAYS
A QUIET, PEACEABLE
PLACE THERE.
WITH A STILLNESS, WHERE
I CAN COME TO KNOW YOU.
YOU ARE THE SATISFYING PORTION OF MY
LIFE...
THE LIGHT OF YOUR BEING, FLOODS
ME WITH GREAT JOY.
YOU ARE AS THE RISING SUN TO ME
THE LATTER RAIN.
MY UNFOLDING
MY INCREASE...
IN THE SHELTER OF YOUR LOVE.
JEL. Sept. 20, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

I MADE GOD SMILE !


COMMON ?

One small stone
from the beach of life.
Rolled from the depths
of tempestuous strife.

One common crystalline,
opaque and undone.
held in God's hand,
held up to the sun.

One tiny treasure,
it's worth a mystery.
But it made God smile
when he looked upon me.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

THE LIGHT IN DARK PLACES



LORD...THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S OBJECT LESSON...

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT AS ONE UNTIL JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO...

AND OF COARSE, AT A TIME WHEN IT'S QUIET...NO TV...HUBBIES IN BED, AND I CAN FEEL ALONE WITH YOU...

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE DOG OUT...

SHE HATES THE RAIN...THE WET GRASS...

STRANGE...HUBIE BROUGHT ME A FLASH LIGHT...

I'VE BEEN WALKING ANNIE FOR HOW LONG?

BUT TONIGHT HE THINKS I NEED A FLASH LIGHT...

OK.....

OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND OFF WE WENT...

BACK IN A FLASH...

DOWN WITH THE GARAGE DOOR...

LAID THE FLASH LIGHT DOWN TO WIPE ANNIE'S FEET...

LIGHTS OUT!...PITCH BLACK!

COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING...

PANIC...WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHT?

DID SOMEONE GET IN WHILE I WALKED ANNIE...

I COULDN'T MOVE...

AFRAID TO FEEL MY WAY...SOMEONE MIGHT BE THERE IN THE DARK...

"STEP FORWARD...YOU CAN SEE." (THAT STILL SMALL VOICE COMMANDED)

I CLOSED MY EYES IN THE DARK...REACHED OUT AND

SLOWLY FELT MY WAY ACCORDING TO AN INNER LIGHT,

LIGHT THAT ONLY FAITH CAN SEE...

LIGHT THAT FAITH CAN MOVE IN...

I CAN'T BELIEVE, THAT I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO TURN AROUND

AND FEEL FOR THE FLASH LIGHT THAT WAS RIGHT

THERE ON THE SHELF BESIDE ME...

I CAN JUST HEAR ONE OF MY GRAND-CHILDREN SAYING, "DUUUUUH"

THE FEAR REMAINED MY COMPANION,

UNTIL I FOUND MY WAY TO THE LIGHT SWITCH...

BUT I "HEARD YOUR VOICE LORD"...

I TRUSTED YOUR LOVE, AND IT CAST OUT FEAR...

LORD...NEVER STOP TEACHING ME

I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN..STRENGTHEN MY FAITH

HELP MY UNBELEIF...I'M NOT A CHILD...WHO HAS TO FEAR THE DARK.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT IN MY DARK PLACES .

I NEED NOT FEAR EVIL.

YOU WILL WALK WITH ME AND LEAD ME THROUGH...




Monday, September 14, 2009



LORD..THIS WORD PRICKED MY OWN HEART TODAY.


I HAVE FELT MY HEART BEGIN TO HARDEN...AND IT PRESSES OUT THE OIL OF GLADNESS IN MY SOUL...


IT IS A BURDEN I CANNOT CARRY BY MYSELF...HELP MY UNBELIEF.


PUT A NEW SONG IN MY HEART, SO THAT I CAN PRAISE YOU WITH GLADNESS AND THANKSGIVING...SO THAT I CAN TELL OF YOUR WONDERFUL MERCIES...WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE...


YOU SEE MY HEART...YOU KNOW WHY MY HEART IS SO HEAVY...


LEAD ME TO THE PATH OF THE LIVING ONES...RENEW MY STRENGTH OH LORD...


I AM FILLED WITH SORROW AND SHAME, AT THE STATE I AM IN...


I WILL WAIT, AND GIVE YOU A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE...


I SURRENDER ALL MY FEARS AND DOUBTS TO YOU...I COMMIT ALL THOSE THINGS I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER...TO YOU...


LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I...SO THAT I MAY BEHOLD THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS, FROM ALPHA TO OMEGA, AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME WITH FIRM FAITH AND CONSOLATION...


RELEASE ME FROM THIS GRIP OF DEATH...YOU ALONE ARE MY HOPE AND SALVATION...


HEAR MY HEART'S CRY LORD...I CANNOT BREATHE WITHOUT YOU.

Friday, September 11, 2009

BREATHE ON ME HOLY SPIRIT!


Blessed Holy Spirit, because of you we are comforted and confident in our spirits that we need not fear.
You make known the "Beloved of our souls" that we may trust in Him and take delight in Him.
You fill us with faith that believes, by revealing Christ in us...and it is this faith that fears not...for His love casts out all fear.
It is Love that abides in us...Love that is not contrary, condemning or untrustworthy...it is not accusing or belittling...
this One who became obedient unto death and loved us more than His own glory...
Because of Love...not as the world knows love...but because of His unmerited love...I have peace of mind...rest from worldly expectations, and especially those that I have been relentless in demanding from myself, only to fail again and again...
My mind is sound in Him...it is at rest...it has found trust in what He desires for my life and from me...
Faith...Hope...and Love
Thank you Holy Spirit for revealing His Love.
Thank you for letting me walk in You, and the Word that ever guides the Way, the Truth and the Life before me................Breathe on me Holy Spirit!

Thursday, September 10, 2009





Lord...as I look from the inside out...You reveal yourself from the inside out of me.


You are the one abiding presence of my life....my daily bread.


Your very Word speaks in me...encouraging me in all my ways.


I'm lost without you Lord.


Thank you...Praise you!...for your Holy presence living in me.


May I never keep your Love Gifts to myself...Let me see the needs of others, and share with them all that you have given to me...pressed down and running over.


As I look out at a world that is desperate for you...more than ever let me share your heart, and pray the prayer of interceding...with groanings that cannot be uttered...yes, the groanings of Holy Spirit...the groan of eternal Love saying,


"Come walk with me, talk with me, let us reason together...let Me tell you of Life and Love and Joy unspeakable and full of glory!"...
Let Love abide.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

SURPRISE !


LORD...My heart is so full this morning...you are so wonderful to know my heart...to let me know that you love me...and to always surprise me in Birthday Party ways!



I needed so badly for someone to just say, "I love you...you're special to me." Twice I had called my only daughter to tell her I loved her, and before I could say it...she asked me to forgive her because she was so busy, and that she would call right back...and she didn't.




I was grieving over this, this morning...hadn't even gotten dressed...didn't want to face another day without some kind of one on one with someone....Yep...the same ol pity party that I've been to before.



Lord, forgive me...again... I've looked beyond your ever-present love, and in my way said it wasn't enough...Oh Lord...it is enough...You are my one desire above all else...


The door bell rang...the dog barked uncontrollably...I'm hopping about trying to get my cloths on....thinking, "who could that possibly be, this early in the morning?""Just a minute please" I hollered.....Opening the door....there stood my lovely daughter, with a bed tray...flowers (scarlet violets) Hot organic coffee, in a silver carafe, pastries, and fresh cut fruit pieces...



"Hi Mom...I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed this morning."...It makes me cry to think of it even now...but even more...that sunshine bright smile that is perpetually hers...even when her heart is breaking...She is and has been one of God's priceless gifts to me....Tawni Rae....named after her daddy...(Leaping deer, sunshine)....You could write a book about her life, and Father God's Grace Covenant with her...I was speachless...blessed beyond measure...and ashamed at the same time...It was like a surprise birthday party...she made me feel so special...a vacation at an Old English cottage...tea and crumpets...a french garden...all the above...



She was used to teach me a life long lesson...and to surrender my needs to the realization that...always...the Lord is by my side...my One Great Love. And that Love will come...fellowship will come...if by faith I trust in life's wondrous surprises......THANK YOU LORD.

Sunday, September 6, 2009


One of the most challenging things for me as a Christian...is to not give in to Satan's accusations.

Always...always is he ever there to discredit, discourage or try to make me believe that my God dis- approves of what I do or say for Him.


If the enemy of our souls can convince us that we are non effective...faithless...powerless.....pretenders. Then he will have effectively cut off our faith and confidence in the "Life Source" and "Life Force" of our spiritual being. It will stifle and neutralize the witness of our testimony...and the power that is in the Word that is spoken through us.
"Today! I choose! to believe in the keeping power of God's Spirit Word. By his promise...by his shed
blood...by His faith...I am his. I am bought and paid for...and willingly his servant...in what he would have me say... in word or tongue...in deed and truth.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

THE APPLE OF HIS EYE


Lord...You are the brightness of the Father's glory...

"The Bright and Morning Star"

The express image of His person...

upholding all things by your power.

The power of Your Word is might...

It has purged me from my sins...

You sit at the right hand of the Father...

Interceding for all men.

"Begotten Son"...yes!...and first to be...

inheriting His name...

Worshiped by His angels...

His ministers of fiery flame.

The earth and heavens declare your glory...

In the beginning they were made...

the works of your hands only...

their foundations you have laid.

Lord...now in these last days, speak forth...

in the same Word of power and might...

let the glory of Your presence in me...

declare before men...in their sight...

That we are the works of your hands, my Lord...

Oh let us take earnest heed...

for we are your heirs of salvation...

the "first fruits" of your own seed.

The worlds and the heavens will pass away...

in this I am happy and blessed...

that you are "The Word" that dwells in me...

In You I will find Spirit's Rest.

Yesterday...today and forever...

in You I'm delivered from death.

Not the laying down of this body...

but the promise of eternal Rest.

The promise of my spirit's new life...

Delivered from every trial...

delivered from every strife.

"Blessed High Priest" of my calling...

help me hold steadfast within...

my confidence and my yearning...

till that day when I enter in...

through gates of Heaven's homeland...

where my mansion waits on high...

to cloth this spirit's body...

"The apple of Your eye."






Wednesday, September 2, 2009

GRACE COVENANT




Lord...All that I say...and all that I do...let it be through your covenant of grace to me.
Make all grace abound...so that all things at all times, will provide all that I need to abound in every good work.
You, yourself, have called me by grace...you restore my soul daily...you keep me as the apple of your eye...you make me strong, firm and steadfast...more than a conqueror...
You have declared unto me, "My grace is sufficient for you...my power is made perfect in your weakness."
Lord... let your power rest upon me by your grace...that I may shine the Light of your Truth in a dark and perishing generation...
This is my prayer...that your love will abound unto me more and more in knowledge of your wisdom, which rules in all righteousness from generation to generation in those who live to please you Lord...in faith, goodness, self-control, perseverance, and godliness...not as a work of the flesh...but the direct result of your Holy Spirit Word abiding in us by faith in your ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE COVENANT.