One Samar'tan made a diff'rence,
Just one single soul who cared,
Though rejected as an outcast,
With one suffering he shared.
He could've walked the other way
And ignored this one in need;
Instead he showed the man mercy
With no thought of selfish greed.
He stooped to clean and bind his wounds,
Applying some oil and wine,
Reflecting in his kindly act
A true touch of the Divine.
This one soul made a difference
And to prejudice was blind;
By his one gesture of kindness
He true brotherhood defined.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
INVISIBLE REALITY
Fear takes hold with clutching grasp
And strangles us with gloom;
We recoil and seek refuge
In our protective room.
Visible reality
Looms much too large to fight;
Then God appears and whispers,
"Walk by faith, not by sight!"
Invisible reality
Restores to us sweet peace;
Faith anoints fear's clutching grasp
And hastens its release.
Invisible reality
Opens blind eyes to see
Armies in great multitudes
Protecting you and me.
We must stand firm in our faith,
Confront the visible
With weapons of God's warfare
That are invincible.
Invisible reality
Assures we'll always stand
Surrounded and protected
By God's invis'ble hand.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
And strangles us with gloom;
We recoil and seek refuge
In our protective room.
Visible reality
Looms much too large to fight;
Then God appears and whispers,
"Walk by faith, not by sight!"
Invisible reality
Restores to us sweet peace;
Faith anoints fear's clutching grasp
And hastens its release.
Invisible reality
Opens blind eyes to see
Armies in great multitudes
Protecting you and me.
We must stand firm in our faith,
Confront the visible
With weapons of God's warfare
That are invincible.
Invisible reality
Assures we'll always stand
Surrounded and protected
By God's invis'ble hand.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
MAY I HAVE A THANKFUL HEART
It's so easy to be thankful
When our barns are brimming o'er,
When earth's harvest fills our tables,
Doting friends knock at our door.
It's so easy to be thankful
When our paths are bright and fair,
When we walk in perfect wholeness,
When we have enough to spare.
But how about the barren times
When thick darkness clouds our day--
Do we offer God thanksgiving
For the trials that come our way?
For our earthly tribulations
Are a blessing from God's hand,
And there are lessons to be learned
That adversities demand.
So may I have a thankful heart
That is full of grateful praise;
May I recognize that blessings
Come disguised in diff'rent ways.
"In every thing give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
When our barns are brimming o'er,
When earth's harvest fills our tables,
Doting friends knock at our door.
It's so easy to be thankful
When our paths are bright and fair,
When we walk in perfect wholeness,
When we have enough to spare.
But how about the barren times
When thick darkness clouds our day--
Do we offer God thanksgiving
For the trials that come our way?
For our earthly tribulations
Are a blessing from God's hand,
And there are lessons to be learned
That adversities demand.
So may I have a thankful heart
That is full of grateful praise;
May I recognize that blessings
Come disguised in diff'rent ways.
"In every thing give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
UNMERITED MERCY
While condemnation imprisons,
Mercy frees us by God's grace;
Outstretched, God's arms extend to us
Enfolding in Love's embrace.
It's God's unmerited mercy
Reaching His hand when we call,
That restores us to fellowship
Whenever we stumble and fall.
And God says that we must likewise
Let mercy extend a hand
To one who has also wronged us,
For this is God's just command.
For God has shown us what is good,
What's required of you and me;
We're to walk humbly with our God,
Act justly and love mercy.
"He has showed you, O Man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
Mercy frees us by God's grace;
Outstretched, God's arms extend to us
Enfolding in Love's embrace.
It's God's unmerited mercy
Reaching His hand when we call,
That restores us to fellowship
Whenever we stumble and fall.
And God says that we must likewise
Let mercy extend a hand
To one who has also wronged us,
For this is God's just command.
For God has shown us what is good,
What's required of you and me;
We're to walk humbly with our God,
Act justly and love mercy.
"He has showed you, O Man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
THROUGH THE FLOOD
I stood before the river wide,
I could not see the other side,
The waters surged from raging flood,
The shore was deep in rain-drenched mud.
Why God desired to lead me here,
His answer soon was very clear,
"I want you on the other side;
Trust me, dear child, I'll be your guide."
"But, Lord, the water's very deep,
The raging flood o'er me will sweep."
God said, "Just watch what I will do;
I'll part the waters just for you."
"I've never been this way before,
And I can't see the other shore."
God said, "Dear child, can you trust me?
Can you believe what you can't see?"
The Promise Land's awaiting you,
But there's a flood you must pass through.
I'll make a way on soft, dry sod
And prove to you that I am God.
Just one small step in faith I took,
And in amazement I did look
To see God dry the path before,
And clear the way to distant shore.
God then proceeded up ahead,
My anguished spirit quieted.
I thought this miracle was grand,
Through parted waters I could stand.
But as I crossed, just half-way through,
God said, "There's something you must do.
When you have reached the other side,
Place this huge rock where you'll abide."
"Let it forever remind you
Of what my pow'r through faith can do.
Though floods will come, you need not fear,
Your path ahead I will make clear."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
I could not see the other side,
The waters surged from raging flood,
The shore was deep in rain-drenched mud.
Why God desired to lead me here,
His answer soon was very clear,
"I want you on the other side;
Trust me, dear child, I'll be your guide."
"But, Lord, the water's very deep,
The raging flood o'er me will sweep."
God said, "Just watch what I will do;
I'll part the waters just for you."
"I've never been this way before,
And I can't see the other shore."
God said, "Dear child, can you trust me?
Can you believe what you can't see?"
The Promise Land's awaiting you,
But there's a flood you must pass through.
I'll make a way on soft, dry sod
And prove to you that I am God.
Just one small step in faith I took,
And in amazement I did look
To see God dry the path before,
And clear the way to distant shore.
God then proceeded up ahead,
My anguished spirit quieted.
I thought this miracle was grand,
Through parted waters I could stand.
But as I crossed, just half-way through,
God said, "There's something you must do.
When you have reached the other side,
Place this huge rock where you'll abide."
"Let it forever remind you
Of what my pow'r through faith can do.
Though floods will come, you need not fear,
Your path ahead I will make clear."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
ACCEPTANCE (Zacchaeus)
Zacchaeus hid among leaf-covered branch
Of the infamous syc'more tree,
Away from the judgmental eyes of man
But from where he could clearly see.
Imagine now just how Zacchaeus felt
When Jesus had passed by his way
And then looked him squarely in hopeful eye
And beckoned him down on that day.
No rebuke or scorn was ever spoken,
Such love like this man was untold;
In haste Zacchaeus repented of sin,
"All taken I'll return four-fold!"
Just Christ's mercy and grace, not rejection,
Full pardon that day he received;
Zacchaeus had at last found acceptance
From Jesus on whom he believed.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
Of the infamous syc'more tree,
Away from the judgmental eyes of man
But from where he could clearly see.
Imagine now just how Zacchaeus felt
When Jesus had passed by his way
And then looked him squarely in hopeful eye
And beckoned him down on that day.
No rebuke or scorn was ever spoken,
Such love like this man was untold;
In haste Zacchaeus repented of sin,
"All taken I'll return four-fold!"
Just Christ's mercy and grace, not rejection,
Full pardon that day he received;
Zacchaeus had at last found acceptance
From Jesus on whom he believed.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
ON MOUNTAINTOPS AND VALLEYS
I stood upon a mountaintop,
An awesome beauty viewed;
And gazed into the distant peaks
In glory rainbow-hued.
I stared in matchless wonderment,
No tongue or words could tell,
The artistry God's hand did paint
No, none could parallel.
But then I looked to valleys deep
As far as eye could see,
And said, "Dear God, I'd like to dwell
Right here, just You and me."
He said, "My child, it's time to go,
There's work that you must do."
I said, "Father, can't we stay here
And just enjoy the view?"
"The easy way is not the best,"
He said, "You'll never grow.
It's only through the valleys deep
My blessings you will know.
In valleys deep you'll learn to trust,
You'll learn to lean on Me,
You will find My strength sufficient
To meet your ev'ry need.
It is through the valley's shadows
That I will make you whole,
Not mountaintops but valleys deep
Where I restore your soul."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
An awesome beauty viewed;
And gazed into the distant peaks
In glory rainbow-hued.
I stared in matchless wonderment,
No tongue or words could tell,
The artistry God's hand did paint
No, none could parallel.
But then I looked to valleys deep
As far as eye could see,
And said, "Dear God, I'd like to dwell
Right here, just You and me."
He said, "My child, it's time to go,
There's work that you must do."
I said, "Father, can't we stay here
And just enjoy the view?"
"The easy way is not the best,"
He said, "You'll never grow.
It's only through the valleys deep
My blessings you will know.
In valleys deep you'll learn to trust,
You'll learn to lean on Me,
You will find My strength sufficient
To meet your ev'ry need.
It is through the valley's shadows
That I will make you whole,
Not mountaintops but valleys deep
Where I restore your soul."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
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