A TIME COMING

                                                 There is a time coming
                                            When the sky shall be clear
                                            And the air shall be pure
                                            And the fields shall be fertile
                                            And the rivers shall be clean
                                            And the streets shall glisten
                                            And the forests shall show forth
                                            The glory of the Lord
                                            And the land
                                            Our land
                                            God's land
                                            Shall be redeemed
                                            There is a time coming
                                            When the lamb and the lion
                                            Shall lie down together
                                            Without any ire
                                            When husbands shall love their wives
                                            And wives shall love their husbands
                                            And no child shall ever be mistreated
                                            And the family shall grow
                                            In the nurture and admonition of the Lord
                                            And our cities and towns shall shine brightly
                                            With the glory of the Lord
                                            And there shall be
                                            In the hearts of everyone
                                            Peace and joy      
                                            And love unfeigned
                                            And all the earth
                                            With all its inhabitants
                                            Shall be redeemed 
                                            By the blood of the Lamb
     

                      

                           

                                          
                                           

                          
                              


 


 


 

                                            


                            
                                             

 

                                       
                                            

 

                                                                                                    
                                              I ARISE TODAY

                                            I arise today
                                            With paper and pen                                    
                                            To write of daffodils
                                            Seen in the glen
                                            To write of the birds
                                            High in the sky
                                            Mornings at seven
                                            And a baby's soft cry

                                            I arise today
                                            With paper and pen
                                            To write of heroes I've known 
                                            Both women and men
                                            Who go about their tasks
                                            From day to day
                                            With a song in their hearts
                                            Changing work into play

                                            I arise today
                                            With paper and pen
                                            With encouraging words
                                            And an unabashed grin
                                            With an optimist's heart
                                            And a spirit grown tall
                                            Ready for the challenges
                                            That beckon us all
                                                                      
                                            I arise today                                                                                                                    With paper and pen
                                                                         Wishing the best                                                                                                               For foe or for friend                                            
                                                      
                                            Wishing you sunbeams
                                            And stardust too
                                            May God in his heaven
                                            Smile upon you

                                                                         
                                                                     

                                                                                                                

                           




                   
                                                                                                         

                                                                                    

                                              

                                                                                   
                                    WINTER CAME DOWN                                                                                        
                                       Winter came down
                                       to our home last night
                                       pirouetting in
                                       on silvery toed slippers
                                       of snow
                                       And we, 
                                       we were children
                                       once again

                                                            
                                                        GREAT NEED     

                                                    O Lord, I am blind
                                          And cannot see
                                          Please have pity 
                                          On a wretch like me
                                    
                                          O Lord, I am deaf
                                          And cannot hear
                                          The gentle words
                                          Of thy Spirit, clear
            
                                          O Lord, I am mute
                                          And cannot speak
                                          Of where I've been
                                          Or of whom I seek

                                          O Lord, I am lame
                                          And cannot run
                                          Away from the crowd
                                          To meet thy son

                                          O, Lord, this day
                                          I have great need 
                                          Of thee 
                                          Great need indeed
                                       

                                                                              
                                                                   AN AUTUMN FELLOW               

                                                       Once again, the leaves begin to turn
                                            Rainbow colors of orange, red and yellow
                                            As we exuberantly extol to all
                                            Advantages of being an autumn fellow

                                            We can hear our neighbors saying
                                            He was a fallen man
                                            Had no time for summer
                                            Or playing in the sand

                                            But, give him a pile of leaves
                                            And watch that rascal go
                                            He was wont to play a bit
                                            In the autumn evening glow

                                            Now, if its time for true confessions
                                            Then, by golly we'll now confess
                                            Of all the seasons of the year
                                            'Tis the fall time we love best

        

                                                                           
                                                                            ALONG THE BEACH


                                        As we walk a long the beach of life 
                                        And see the myriad grains of sand
                                        That query of old returns to mind
                                        What is man, O Lord, what is man?

                                        Are we like a hapless starfish
                                        Just tossed upon the shore
                                        Our fate determined by a whim
                                        Or is there something more?

                                        Before our tide runs out, O Lord
                                        Before our days are spent
                                        Help us see we're here by choice
                                        That we've been heaven sent
                                        
                                        Come ashore and show us, Lord
                                        Just what we're meant to be
                                        Teach us of a kinship rare
                                        Of our relationship to thee

                                        As we place our sinking footsteps
                                        In the soft, soft sands of time
                                        Teach us of thy graciousness
                                        And of thy love sublime
o edit.  

                                                                        ALIVE AND RUNNING
                                        
                                      We are alive and running, Lord
                                      As thy glory lights our path
                                      Thy Spirit makes us fancy free
                                      And calms our fiercest wrath

                                      At times we've felt so lonely
                                      With burdens at our back
                                      But we know you're running with us, Lord
                                      As we speed around the track

                                      We may not run our measured course
                                      As others would wish us to
                                      But, we have learned this simple lesson
                                      Our race is up to you

                                                               We are alive and running, Lord
                                      We are bound to have a good time
                                      With Thee as our coach and pacer
                                      Our race shall be sublime

                                                                     
                                
                               ALL SHALL BE WELL

　                              When He whispers
                                 Listen

                                 When He calls
                                 Come
                                 
                                 When He pardons
                                 Praise

                                 When He commands
                                 Obey

                                 When He conquers
                                 Rejoice  

                                 When He leads
                                 Follow
      
                                 When He inspires
                                 Testify

                                 Then all shall be well
                                 Within thy home