A Ready Heart

Lord, every day is fresh and new,
With chance to do some thing for You,
A brand new opportunity
To shine in our "community".

"Community" might mean "our street",
A stranger or a friend to greet,
Or maybe be the corner store
Or the one who lives next door.

"Community" might be at home
Where little children play and roam.
It might be in our own back yard,
Or places where we've not tried hard.

Every day we can make choice
Encouragement and cheer to voice.
We only need a ready heart
The love of Jesus to impart.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
Proverbs 25:11 KJV

© 2008 Arlene Schwartzkopf

True Wealth

There are so many who just live to "get",
And, in their "getting", they worry and fret.
Labor is good to meet daily need,
But "getting" and hoarding have symptoms of greed.

Wealth can be empty, and houses don't speak.
Money can't buy the joy which we seek.
True wealth is found in sharing and giving.
This is the secret to beautiful living.

All that we give our God will return
With much bigger blessings than we could earn.
He multiplies the work of our hands.
In Him we have wealth to meet life's demands.

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
II Corinthians 9:6-8 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Beautiful Canvas

Lord, what would you paint on the canvas of my day?
If my life could speak today, what would you have it say?
Help me to be patient as I wait for Your brush stroke.
Let me wear Your colors as a treasured, velvet cloak.

Would You paint me brightly, as a banner of good news?
Or add to me serenity in soft and gentle hues?
Maybe You would try new shades and make of me a blend
Of a rainbow's varied tints... Your beauty to extend.

I await Your brush strokes in the early dawn of day,
Anticipating artistry in fresh and new array.
Each day is a portrait, filled with flair and great finesse,
A painted, heavenly design, Your goodness to express.

"On thee do I wait all the day."
Psalm 25:5 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Be On Alert

Facade and deception are "slippery" as oil
And God's ordained plans will subtlely foil.
Facade is not truth and covers intent
To have it's own way, whatever it's "bent".
Deception is crafty and fools many folk
And blinds them to truth with it's charm and false cloak.

May scales fall from eyes and discernment increase,
Lest lies and deception our well-being fleece.
For God will ordain His very best plan
And by heart-felt prayer these evils will ban.
He hears our cries that truth will be spoken
And honors our prayers, lest we should be broken.

People who pray can break through this cloud
Which unthinking people have wrongly allowed.
Let all facts be known and righteousness sown.
Let us see through sham and our minds sharply hone
To rightly divide the "message" we hear.
God gives us answers, in Him truth is clear!

"His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Psalm 91:4 KJV

© 2008 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Squirrels Need Provision Too

We used to live in a home which was surrounded by large trees. As the trees increased in size the neighborhood squirrels could travel from the front to the back of our large lot without ever touching the ground. They just leaped from tree to tree.

Our neighbor had hickory nut trees (hickory nuts are a squirrel's favorite food), and we had a large oak tree with lots of acorns, so the squirrels were quite contented to live there.

One morning I heard my mom start shouting, and she was knocking hard on the window in her room. I rushed in there because I was afraid the glass might break, and I didn't want her to get hurt. Also, I wondered why she was upset. What I saw out the window was hilarious.

The day before Mom had mopped the floor, and afterwards she propped the mop up (string end up) against our persimmon tree to dry. A squirrel had discovered the string part. When I looked out the window I burst out laughing. This little critter had chewed off much string from the mop. Big fluffy wads of it stuck out of it's mouth on both sides. All I could see was two tiny eyes, barely peeking over the top of the fluff, peering back at us through the window.

At that point it didn't matter what had happened to the mop. This funny picture was worth the loss of part of the mop. The squirrel probably had the plushest nest in town!

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Our Faithful God

When we have needs, God is aware.
When we bow down, He hears our prayer.
He is so faithful and will not forget
Our heart-cry until all provision is met.

He is our Source... sufficiently able
To bring us supply when we are not stable.
He brings us answer when we "draw a blank".
For all that we have, it's Him we should thank.

We need not worry, nor ever should fret.
Our God is greater than all of our "debt".
If we will trust in His generous hand
Our gracious God will help us to stand.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Psalm 23:1 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Gladness In Him

The joy of the Lord
Brings smiles and gladness
To offset life's trials
And shield us from sadness.

His joy is our strength
Through thick and through thin,
For He gives us courage
And peace deep within.

We can rise up
From pain and despair
And conquer our challenges
By faith and prayer.

He is our sunshine
For times which are "gray".
He is our source
Of joy for each day.

"...For the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

© 2008 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Our Healing God

God's power to heal is sovereign and sure
When man has no answer or band-aid or cure.
We should not question what God is about.
What we should question is our own misdoubt.

God is our strength when we become frail,
So fear and mistrust are to no avail.
We must stand strong in faith to believe,
And ready His blessing and health to receive.

Resting and trusting in Him will bring peace.
As we rest in Him all tension will cease.
He is the fortress in which we may hide,
A shelter and covering in which to abide.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Open Doors - Closed Doors

If you are sincerely working to make something happen or to achieve a goal, and you don't seem to prosper or find your niche...

Do you have the mind of the Lord, and do you know His timing? Are your labors that which He would have you do? Perhaps He would lead you in another direction.

When our plans and labors are in line with that which God sees are good for us, then He will go before us and make our way straight, redeeming our time and leading us toward higher goals. His goals may be some which, without Him, we could never reach. We may not understand His leading or timing, but to just labor endlessly without knowing His will can cause us to miss precious opportunities which He would give.

If you do not know the Lord's direction or calling for your life, pray for Him to show you. He is gracious, and He is able to help you. If you feel that you have gotten off course at some point, then pray for the Lord to show you where your point of error was. Then go back to that point of error, and ask the Lord to help you correct your direction.

God opens doors in our behalf, but just as importantly, He closes doors, and in both cases we should be grateful. Our prosperity is in His hands.

"Teach me thy ways, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, becuase of mine enemies."
Psalm 27:11 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Greatness Of God

How does one fathom the greatness of God?
There is no ruler or standard or rod
Which ever could measure His size or His might,
Nor grasp of His wisdom or capture His light.

Yet He bows down to care for our needs,
Seeing our labors and noting our deeds,
Tenderly caring for every detail
Of all that concerns us when we have travail.

How does one measure the size of His love,
Poured out upon us from Heaven above?
What song can we sing or offering upraise
Which ever will bring a high-enough praise?

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."
Psalm 145:3 KJV

© 2008 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Procrastination's Error

She said that she would call her friend
To say, "I really care",
But didn't get around to it.
Procrastination's error!

Soon that friend was with the Lord
And didn't know she cared.
Sadly, there were many thoughts
And joys they could have shared.

The tendency to "wait awhile"
Can often cause upsets.
And good intentions left undone
Are followed by regrets.

Help us, Lord, to never fail
In doing what we should.
There is much more we can do,
... If we only would.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
Colossians 3:23 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

He Heard My Prayer

God heard my prayer, and He met my need...

My need was for a new pair of shoes. This might not seem like much of a need, but I wear special shoes, and when I don't have them it causes lots of problems in my hip. The pair I was wearing broke down on the inside and was no longer good.

I didn't have money for a new pair, but in faith I called the shoe store and asked them to hold a pair in my size, telling them I would come soon to get them. This situation needed a quick answer.

The girl who answered the phone said to me, "Oh, I forgot to call you. You won a drawing."

This startled me. I said, "What drawing?"

She answered, "Don't you remember? The last time you were in you signed up for a drawing, and you won. You have a new pair of shoes waiting for you."

It took a moment for me to realize what I was hearing. My reply was, "You mean I get a free pair of shoes?"

The beauty of what had happened was really impacting me. Obviously, God was in the mix here. I still don't recall that there was a drawing, but somehow He provided these shoes for me.

God is not limited in His ability to provide for us. When we love Him and serve Him He goes before us, preparing our way, providing for all our needs, and making a safe path for us.

I am so grateful for His lovingkindness.

"The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want."
Psalm 23:1 KJV

"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
Psalm 126:3 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Flower's Song

I have waited all year long
To see this summer sun.
When it's warm then I can bloom
And really have some fun!

I can brighten someone's day
And pour my fragrance 'round.
When it's nice and warm like this
My blossoms will abound.

I will scatter seeds about
And multiply my summer fun.
I will make the most of this...
I want my job to be well-done.

After this the winter comes
When I'll yawn and say "ho-hums".
But while I have this chance to bloom
I will spread my sweet perfume!

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Restoring Lost Pieces

Sometimes we are in a situation or relationship which is impacted in an unexpected or negative way. We may not see it coming, and the force of the impact shatters or scatters order and causes confusion. Momentarily we are left with a sense of inability to make repairs or even to re-connect all the pieces of the situation. It will seem that everything has been fragmented.

When serious fragmentation happens, time and space and healing are needed. This doesn’t mean that restoration cannot happen, but it is wisdom to "withdraw", to spend some quiet time with the Lord and let him gather up all the broken or lost pieces. Sometimes we just need to rest to be able to see more clearly. As we are strengthened in Him and regain our focus, then we can approach our situation with a fresh vigor and a careful eye. He helps us "catch our breath" again, to regain our footing and to move forward confidently.

Do NOT allow discouragement or self-pity to come in. These are spoilers which will only delay matters. We don’t need to panic, for the Lord knows about all the lost and broken pieces of our lives and is able to put them all back together!. He is full of compassion and able to heal, to strengthen and comfort, to bring joy and peace. We have an awesome God, and He is always by our side to help us.

"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
Psalm 13:5 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

To Our Nation's Leaders

Don't take apart what is well put together,
For "structures" well-built life's storm clouds will weather.
Boundaries written just should not be changed,
Nor laws which are proven now be re-arranged!

History has shown us a wise path to follow.
Today's new ideas are sometimes just "hollow",
Lacking in truth and shaky in stance.
We need God's wisdom to not act "on chance"!

Don't exchange strength for that which is flawed.
Let our constitution be honored and awed.
We need not change from what we have known.
God's truth is the base from which we have grown!

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..."
Psalm 33:12 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Prayer For Healing

Lord, let Your precious healing flow.
Wash and make us white as snow.
Take our aching and our pain.
Restore us and strong health ordain.

Keep us "fixed" as days go by.
Increase our faith as we draw nigh.
Lend to us Your mighty power
To overcome in trial's hour.

For we are able by Your might
To travel through the dark of night
And rise triumphant with the morn
As we on angels' wings are borne.

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust..."
Psalm 91:4 KJV

© 2008 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Green Pastures

When my thoughts are whirling 'round
And anxieties abound,
Your voice whispers, "Be at rest.
Don't get flustered, don't be stressed."

Deep within I feel Your peace.
Earthly weights and matters cease.
I am freed from "wear and tear"
As I'm in Your presence there.

I find treasure when I'm still.
There it is I know Your will.
You refresh my weary soul,
And by Your healing make me whole.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul...."
Psalm 23:1-3 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Healthy Heart

Sometimes hearts are filled with stones...
Little weights which cause deep groans,
Pebbles there of past offense
Or pain which took up residence.

Healthy hearts will freely "pump",
But "stony" hearts will start to slump.
Don't let stones and gravel form.
Let forgiveness be the norm.

Ask the Lord to help you know
If in your heart some pebbles show.
He can heal a stone-filled heart,
His love and joy and peace impart.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh."
Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Hidden

It is good to be hidden with God. For in that "hiding place" there is strength and development of character. Time spent there provides refreshing and learning.

When we leave that place, (to go to work or school or appointments), we are as missiles penetrating darkness. Having spent time there, we are not "average" citizens. We are instruments in God's hands.

When our time "out and about" is spent, always we should retreat back to the "hiding place" for restoration and for renewed balance.

The hiding place is the key. It makes the difference in who we are.

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Psalm 119:114 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Light In The Darkness

(A Prophecy)

The "light" may seem to be waning in the face of darkness, but the "light" (today's church... the saints) is hidden all across the land. The darkness may think it is winning, but the light will never go out. It will surface gloriously again and again. It cannot be contained. It bursts forth in radiance and warmth, in encouragement and inspiration, in strength and in power.

Always it will stand. Always it will speak truth. Always it will be found by those who train their eyes upon Jesus.

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light
shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
John 1:4-5 KJV

© 2009 Arlene Schwartzkopf