The Circle written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Standing, ready to fight

Teeth clenched. Jaws tight.

While the accused whimpers in fear,

Knowing pain and death is very near.

The circle closes in.....

Upon the judged one lost in sin.

Rocks ready----weapons of death,

To torture till the final breath.

Hearts pounding.

Accusations resounding....

Condemned by man and here to die.

Tears of the lost, beg and cry.

The accusers circling, ready and waiting...

Blood thirsty rocks hesitating....

Circling like animals around the kill

Thirsting for blood to spill.

Sweat glistening in anticipation

Tears pouring in desperation.

Feet stirring clouds of dust

Hearts filled with disgust.

The accused curled on the ground

Desperate pleading with every sound....

 

Where are you, in this circle of death ??

Holding the rock ?...Or taking your final breath ??

Where are you ?

What are you about to do?

Hurl rocks with a blood thirsty cry?

....Or are you the one about to die ?

 

What have we all become ??

To Satan's lie have we succumb ??

Drop your rocks and walk away !!

Fall to your knees and pray.

If you're on the ground.....stand !

This is not what God planned.

Get up, and sin no more.

Walk through tomorrow's door.

God's people don't belong in the circle !!

....Not casting rock and stone

Or cowering all alone.........

How Sweet the Sound by Vaneta Andrews

At the dentist … Are you kidding me?

I’ve never really been too nervous about going to the dentist. However after one painful visit I became apprehensive. At my next visit I decided to pray before going in. I also quote scripture and sing (to myself of course) worship and praise songs while in the chair. I don’t pick the scripture or songs. I just let the Spirit work.

My last visit had an ironic twist. The song the Spirit gave me … Amazing Grace how sweet the sound and that’s where it stopped. I just kept repeating that line over and over. I’m surprised Dr. Dill couldn’t hear me laughing it was just so comical. I mean, come on, we all know it is not a sweet sound at the dentist. But God once again provided just what I needed at the time, as He always does.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

So yes, I guess the dentist can have a sweet sound if God is with you! So take Him with you every where you go you never know when you just might need Him!

Are you Hungry? by Theresa Zuber

I recently read this line in a prayer “Give me a hunger to get into Your word and let Your word get into me.” Although I know that I need to be in His Word daily, I forget that I can pray for him to help me have that hunger. It seems silly, but life gets SO busy – so filled with commitments, activities, work, etc. It’s easy to forget what should be my priority. Yet somehow, I never forget to eat 3 meals a day. My hunger tells me it’s time. Am I ignoring the hunger pangs for time his Word? Am I noticing the “deficiency” when my steady diet is missing such a necessary ingredient?

I’ve recently been trying to memorize scripture. I’m convinced that hiding His word in our hearts is important. However, I’m coming to the conclusion that these “snacks” from the Bible are not enough to sustain me! They are an anchor in a storm, a guide for my life, a comfort and a hope, but they can’t be my steady diet. I hope that you will join me in praying that God will give me a hunger to get into His Word and that His word will get into me!

Your Pain by Julie Short

Today
Suddenly
I was
Able to
Feel
Your pain.

I was so lost
For so long
In my own
Pain

That I couldn’t
Even see
Yours.

I am sickened by
Your burden
Willing to use
All my wishes
To wipe your
Pain away.

It was at that moment
I realized
Why you had to walk away.
You felt my pain.

I want to be there
For you
To
Pray with you
And for you

And let you know
That God doesn’t
Leave us
And He makes
ALL things
Beautiful
In His time.

May you know God more this New Year by Julie Short

A New Year. Ugh, another year to struggle and hurt. Another year without Kyra.

I don’t make New Years resolutions. I just try to be farther along my walk with God than I was the year before. Last New Years it was close. I struggled the whole year and then at the end of the year I took a leap. This year I feel like I journeyed far until around October and then I sat down and cried.

As this New Year approached I felt led to read Ephesians again. I read the first two chapters. This time as I read I saw something that I hadn’t really grasped before. Paul wrote such beautiful, passionate, encouraging words to others. He wanted them to know God more. Paul was in prison. I don’t know about you but if I were in prison I would be writing asking people to pray for me. But instead Paul said, “Wow! You are growing in your faith. Keep growing in the Lord. In fact, I am praying for you that you may know God more.”

There comes a time in grief where you need to re-invest in life. No one can tell another person when that time has come. But, hopefully we will listen to God and hear Him calling us on. My hope for this year is that I will spend more time praying for you to know God more, than I do praying for myself.

What a way to start a new year. Paul is a perfect example, as he sat in prison he prayed that others would know God more. What is your prayer for the New Year?

Read Ephesians 1:1-23 (Below are verses 11-19)
11In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

The Frog Pond by Donna (Ensign) Woods

As I sit by the frog pond to meditate and pray,

A dog barks from somewhere far away.

The distant timber line stands tall and proud,

A protective fortress, a woodland shroud.

Tree tops filled with feathered delight,

Announcing a new day, from the still of the night.

A multitude of birds, each with their own song.

Singing peace, the whole day long.

A nearby tree reflected in the aqua mirror...

I thank God for the calming peace I feel here.

The water on the pond, so still and serene,

Framed by dew covered grass, so soft and green.

A bull frog croaks his morning song,

At the little frog pond...where nothing is wrong.

The water bugs dance to the frog's serenade.

All is at peace in the frog pond parade.

Playful fish create ripples that go round and round,

Silent and gentle, without making a sound.

Above the water, dragonflies dance to and fro,

With no worries and no place to go.

Cattails and wildflowers awaiting their winter's rest.

To awaken next Spring in their splendid best.

The little frog pond, a simplistic delight,

I find refreshing peace, in God's creative might.

Here, I find renewed hope for today,

As I listen to God, and thankfully pray.

Wisdom to Know by Donna Ensign Woods

As I listen to God, and humbly pray,
In the stillness of each day...

I ask for WISDOM to be mine,
Captured in blowing sands of time.

I pray for WISDOM...so I will know,
Just where it is He wants me to go.

When to lead...and when to follow
When to reap...and when to sow

WISDOM for uncertain trials
Trudging through uncharted miles.

Praying for WISDOM as I work and play,
So I won't stumble and fall away.

WISDOM to take His hand...
No matter what He has planned.

WISDOM to run life's race...
Always seeking my Saviors face.

Bless me Lord as I grow...
Give me WISDOM to listen and to know.

Fear by Joyce Schafer

What are my fears?

Snakes—as a young girl I remember the chickens making lots of noise and going out to check on them. I also remember stepping on a snake (barefoot.)

Rats—as a young farm wife, I remember a feed room that every time I opened the door a rat would run across the floor. It got to be a routine. Open the door, watch the rat run across the floor, fill feed buckets, and pray that the rat had no friends.

Deer—as an older farm partner (notice how the name changed as my abilities grew,) I remember walking down a field road to get a grain truck only to have deer run out of the corn field. Let me tell you! Deer are really, really big and really, really fast when they are right in front of you.

Skunks—I have never personally encountered these but I have smelled dogs that have. I have no desire to smell like that ever in my lifetime.

These are some of my visible fears but my worse fears are those you cannot see:

Cancer—I have had cancer and have watched my sister and my mother die of cancer. I really fear going through this again or going through this with a loved one.

COPD and Asthma—Not being able to breathe is a big fear. Not being able to do what I want to do is also a big fear.

Accidents—I know the fear of a car going in circles on an icy road and another car backing into my car on a dry road (double fear since a small grandson was in the back seat.)

So how do I deal with these fears when my husband is running late, when the kids are driving on bad roads, the grandkids are sick or I’m waiting on biopsy results?A friend gave me this verse. Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”

I wish I could say I don’t worry and I don’t fear but I would be lying. I can say I do pray and I do believe that God will take care of my loved ones and me.