A stately tree stood by the stream
Where sparkling waters flowed;
Her trunk was gnarled and badly scarred,
Her branches deeply bowed.
For many years she'd stayed the storms,
Withstood the windy blasts,
Her roots, sunk deep beneath the soil,
Tenaciously held fast.
At times she swayed so furiously
She thought her boughs would break;
The wind did heave her to and fro,
The ground did firmly shake.
Yet further down her roots did grow,
Her anchor firmly set,
She raised her branches to the sky
Her praises to beget.
For each new storm that came her way
Forced her to take strong hold,
And all the trials and stormy blasts
Caused her to grow fourfold.
For it's through life's tribulations
Our faith takes root and grows;
And when shaken by life's trials,
God's strength He then bestows.
So when the trials of life befall,
Remember this old tree;
And thank God for each storm that comes
Which serves to strengthen thee.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
MY DAILY PRAYER
With the rising of newborn sun,
Before my day has e’er begun,
I bow my head in quiet prayer
And feel Your presence with me there.
I pray that You will live through me,
That others will see Christ in me,
That they may feast on Living Bread
And by Your Word be richly fed.
Lord, through an act of kindness done
May it point others to Your Son;
When they’re in need, to just be there
To let them know how much You care.
Let everything I do and say
Bring glory to Your Name today
That someone who is lost in sin
Find forgiveness and peace within.
So, from my cup, Lord, let me pour
Every drop till there’s no more
To quench the thirst of some lost soul,
That they find You and be made whole.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
Before my day has e’er begun,
I bow my head in quiet prayer
And feel Your presence with me there.
I pray that You will live through me,
That others will see Christ in me,
That they may feast on Living Bread
And by Your Word be richly fed.
Lord, through an act of kindness done
May it point others to Your Son;
When they’re in need, to just be there
To let them know how much You care.
Let everything I do and say
Bring glory to Your Name today
That someone who is lost in sin
Find forgiveness and peace within.
So, from my cup, Lord, let me pour
Every drop till there’s no more
To quench the thirst of some lost soul,
That they find You and be made whole.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
THE WIDOW'S MITE
The widow reached into her jar,
For her last two coins to take,
For today she’d visit the temple,
And an offering she would make.
Though it was all the widow had
To supply her daily bread,
She trusted in her Father’s love;
By His hand she would be fed.
She’d gladly give her last two coins
And would sacrifice her all,
Though in contrast to what some would give,
Her offering seemed so small.
At the temple she caught the eye
Of Jesus as He smiled
When she offered God her two small coins
With faith of a little child.
Then Jesus drew His disciples near
And to them was heard to say,
“This widow gave more than the rest,
For she gave her all today.”
So when we give our very best,
Though small like the widow’s mite,
The Lord will bless us in return,
For it’s precious in His sight.
God has proven that He will bless
And supply our ev’ry need
When we give Him the best we have
With faith of a mustard seed.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
For her last two coins to take,
For today she’d visit the temple,
And an offering she would make.
Though it was all the widow had
To supply her daily bread,
She trusted in her Father’s love;
By His hand she would be fed.
She’d gladly give her last two coins
And would sacrifice her all,
Though in contrast to what some would give,
Her offering seemed so small.
At the temple she caught the eye
Of Jesus as He smiled
When she offered God her two small coins
With faith of a little child.
Then Jesus drew His disciples near
And to them was heard to say,
“This widow gave more than the rest,
For she gave her all today.”
So when we give our very best,
Though small like the widow’s mite,
The Lord will bless us in return,
For it’s precious in His sight.
God has proven that He will bless
And supply our ev’ry need
When we give Him the best we have
With faith of a mustard seed.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
WHAT CAN I DO?
My eyes were opened
And I could see
A lost world,
Lord, in need of Thee.
Vast multitudes
Seeking to find
Life's answers
And true peace of mind.
Souls stumbling
In dark of night,
Crying for
The want of light.
And so I asked,
"What can I do
To lead lost souls,
Lord, home to You?"
"While some can go
To share my Word,"
God said, "Just give
So My message is heard."
Many will go
To a distant land;
You'll partner with them
Hand in hand.
"Bring the full tithe
And watch as I
Your gift will take
And multiply.
"Just give your best,
Watch what I'll do,
Lost souls will find
My Son through you.
"My light will shine,
The blind will see
And find their Way
Back home to Me."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
And I could see
A lost world,
Lord, in need of Thee.
Vast multitudes
Seeking to find
Life's answers
And true peace of mind.
Souls stumbling
In dark of night,
Crying for
The want of light.
And so I asked,
"What can I do
To lead lost souls,
Lord, home to You?"
"While some can go
To share my Word,"
God said, "Just give
So My message is heard."
Many will go
To a distant land;
You'll partner with them
Hand in hand.
"Bring the full tithe
And watch as I
Your gift will take
And multiply.
"Just give your best,
Watch what I'll do,
Lost souls will find
My Son through you.
"My light will shine,
The blind will see
And find their Way
Back home to Me."
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
WE HONOR FREEDOM'S HEROES
We honor freedom's heroes
Who have served our country well,
For they represent true courage
And their lives a story tell.
For on the land and air and sea
Our soldiers serve proud and fair;
And wherever freedom's challenged,
You will find these heroes there.
Far distant lands and foreign soil
Bear deep footprints in the sod
Of our heroes who have ventured
To stand tall and proud for God.
They're a symbol of true valor,
And a monument of grace,
Steadfast they've preserved and fought,
Freedom's enemies to face.
They surrendered their own safety
In exchange for freedom's price;
They knew the debt was costly,
For their lives they'd sacrifice.
We owe these heroes gratitude,
For our freedom is not free.
Courageously they paid in full
Debt's price for our liberty.
Let's offer them our sincere praise,
For we'd never know today
The precious freedoms we enjoy
If they'd never paid our way.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
(Written in honor of my father, Clifford Johnson, a veteran who served in WWII and the Korean War.)
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
Who have served our country well,
For they represent true courage
And their lives a story tell.
For on the land and air and sea
Our soldiers serve proud and fair;
And wherever freedom's challenged,
You will find these heroes there.
Far distant lands and foreign soil
Bear deep footprints in the sod
Of our heroes who have ventured
To stand tall and proud for God.
They're a symbol of true valor,
And a monument of grace,
Steadfast they've preserved and fought,
Freedom's enemies to face.
They surrendered their own safety
In exchange for freedom's price;
They knew the debt was costly,
For their lives they'd sacrifice.
We owe these heroes gratitude,
For our freedom is not free.
Courageously they paid in full
Debt's price for our liberty.
Let's offer them our sincere praise,
For we'd never know today
The precious freedoms we enjoy
If they'd never paid our way.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
(Written in honor of my father, Clifford Johnson, a veteran who served in WWII and the Korean War.)
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?
What’s in your hand that God can use
To bring Him glory and praise?
When you offer it to the Lord
He’ll use it in special ways.
Moses offered a shepherd’s staff
God used to part the sea,
And when he struck the desert rock,
Water poured out freely.
Your hand may hold an instrument
That you can play and sing
A song of praise and worship
To glorify the King.
Or in your hand may rest a pen
That you can use to write
Words of great encouragement
To bring a friend God’s light.
Maybe you hold a piece of bread,
A cup of water, too.
When they’re offered to one in need,
God will bless through you.
Though you may look down at your hands
And nothing is found there,
When you lift them to the Lord,
He’ll hear and answer prayer.
You may think my gift’s too small,
But it matters not the size.
When God looks at your open hand,
Your gift He multiplies.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
To bring Him glory and praise?
When you offer it to the Lord
He’ll use it in special ways.
Moses offered a shepherd’s staff
God used to part the sea,
And when he struck the desert rock,
Water poured out freely.
Your hand may hold an instrument
That you can play and sing
A song of praise and worship
To glorify the King.
Or in your hand may rest a pen
That you can use to write
Words of great encouragement
To bring a friend God’s light.
Maybe you hold a piece of bread,
A cup of water, too.
When they’re offered to one in need,
God will bless through you.
Though you may look down at your hands
And nothing is found there,
When you lift them to the Lord,
He’ll hear and answer prayer.
You may think my gift’s too small,
But it matters not the size.
When God looks at your open hand,
Your gift He multiplies.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
THE MASTER WEAVER
I watched the Master Weaver sit
Before His loom one day
While weaving back and forth dark strands
Of black and ashen gray.
So steadfastly He wove the threads,
Gently placing every one;
I wondered what He had in mind
When His tapestry was done.
I could not see the pattern then
The Weaver had in mind,
But I knew when it was finished
It would have Divine design.
For this Weaver was an artist
Whose works stood on display,
Each one a masterpiece to see
For all who passed their way.
Something so very beautiful
From threads as dark as night,
A true heavenly creation
Emerged before my sight.
He said, “This is your life, My child,”
As I stood there in dismay,
Of how He used each darkened thread,
And I bowed my head to pray.
“Forgive me, Lord, for questioning
The trials of the night,
For now I see You had a plan
Concealed then from my sight.
God said, “I know My plans for you:
To prosper and to bless,
To give to you eternal hope
And a life of happiness.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
Before His loom one day
While weaving back and forth dark strands
Of black and ashen gray.
So steadfastly He wove the threads,
Gently placing every one;
I wondered what He had in mind
When His tapestry was done.
I could not see the pattern then
The Weaver had in mind,
But I knew when it was finished
It would have Divine design.
For this Weaver was an artist
Whose works stood on display,
Each one a masterpiece to see
For all who passed their way.
Something so very beautiful
From threads as dark as night,
A true heavenly creation
Emerged before my sight.
He said, “This is your life, My child,”
As I stood there in dismay,
Of how He used each darkened thread,
And I bowed my head to pray.
“Forgive me, Lord, for questioning
The trials of the night,
For now I see You had a plan
Concealed then from my sight.
God said, “I know My plans for you:
To prosper and to bless,
To give to you eternal hope
And a life of happiness.
Copyrighted by Linda J. Stevenson.
For permission to use, please contact: Ljstevenson1@juno.com
FAMILY MUSIC RESOURCES: www.MaryRiceHopkins.com
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