God's Gift Of Love

Let love be planted far and wide,
Sown in hearts and multiplied...
Seeds of peace and lovingkindness
Healing woundedness and "blindness".

Of God's love let men inquire
And His salvation plan inspire.
For God so loved the world He gave
His precious Son, mankind to save.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Reason To Rejoice

Often we pray and then we must wait
To know of the plan that God would create.
His plans are bigger than we might expect,
Filled with His goodness our path to perfect.

Sometimes His answers are filled with new ease,
A whole new perspective with blessed expertise.
Waiting on God is a very wise choice.
His wisdom gives reason to sing and rejoice!

"Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."
Psalm 25:4-5 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Simplicity Wins

If clutter can't be organized
It probably should be thrown out!
For clutter seems to multiply,
And soon another pile will sprout!

This is true in where we live,
But sometimes it is how we think.
My mind some days has overload.
I really wish that pile would shrink.

If I'm not careful in my day,
Clutter seems to just sneak in.
Distracted focus is that thing
Which makes my day to be no-win.

Having space just feels so good,
And feeling peace gives me a lift.
When I am dealing with some clutter,
Simplicity is as a gift!

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Prayer Covering

As troubled times beset our nation
We can strengthen our foundation.
Prayer will keep our anchor strong
Intended freedoms to prolong.

Prayer can push the darkness back
And give us light where we have lack.
A prayer covering has much power...
So badly needed in this hour.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
II chronicles 7:14 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Quiet Place

Have you found that quiet place
Where you are sheltered from life's pace,
Set apart, when deep inside
With the Lord you can abide?

These are times to be pursued
When by the Lord you are endued
With precious "gold" you can embrace,
Heartfelt moments, rich in grace.

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.”
Psalm 145:18 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Safety In Him

Lord, we need to hear Your voice
So every day we make good choice.
We need to listen and to pray
And heed each precious word You say.

For You will guide us in our way
So we don't err or go astray.
When times are tense we must be wise
And Godly wisdom exercise.

Your ways always will be sure.
In You our lives will be secure.
How we need You every day
And every word You speak to weigh.

"Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels (especial) charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways (of obedience and service)."
Psalm 91:9-11 Amplified Bible

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Fixed Perspective

Fix your perspective on that which is good,
For worldly news is of chaos and noise.
God's goodness is greater than news which we hear.
In Him we have joy and peace as bright buoys.

Worldly weights cannot hold us down
When we choose to focus on God's light and love.
For we have dimension which sets us apart...
Blessings and healing and light from above.

"Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world."
I John 4:4 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

An Extra Mile

When we've finished work begun
We feel good that it is done.
But when we face "an extra mile"
We need some joy to help us smile.

The "extra mile" becomes a test,
A chance to do our very best,
Causing us to stretch and grow,
Learning things we didn't know.

The extra mile is then our friend,
Our perspective to amend.
Endurance it will surely teach
And help us bright new goals to reach.

"The hand of the diligent will rule..."
Proverbs 12:24 Amplified Bible

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Worthy Book

I want to be a worthy book
Where God will write and folks can look.
Pages filled with joy and praise
And inspirations all my days.

Fill my pages, Lord, I pray.
I wait on You, Your thoughts to weigh.
Let Your wisdom richly flow,
Encouragement in hearts to sow.

Fill my pages with Your light,
With cheeriness which will be bright.
Bring refreshment and delight.
In my book, Lord, write, write, write...

I am but an empty page
Unless with You I will engage.
In my book will be a story.
May its pages bring You glory.

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You (You only and altogether) do I wait (expectantly) all the day long."
Psalm 25:4-5 Amplified Bible

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Lightened Load

I see people carrying much,
Weights and burdens, debts and such.
It's wise to pare down "overload"
And try to live in simpler mode.

In prayer the Lord will help you find
Your balance and leave "weights" behind.
With fewer burdens you'll excel.
In all you do, you will do well.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Let Peace Rule

In our minds we tend to race,
But "racing mode" can wear us out.
If we’ll choose to savor peace.
Then we can make a turnabout.

When peace rules we are more relaxed.
By "racing" we're no longer taxed.
Prayer sheds a different light
On that which kept us so uptight.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...."
Colossians 3:15 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Linger Awhile

Each day opens with God's smile.
Come and linger for awhile.
Meet Him at the day's first light
To have a day that's truly bright.

Let His thoughts imprint your day.
Let them be a bright bouquet
With fragrance which you then can share.
In Him you'll have a new-fouind flair.

Each morn linger for awhile.
Let Him add His own sweet smile
To all you do along the way,
Throughout the hours of every day.

"The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee."
Numbers 6:25 KJV

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Clear Direction

In these times of stress and unknowns,
What is the best thing we can do?
Draw near to God and be found in prayer.
Follow His leading, His wisdom pursue.

He brings the insight we surely will need...
Perspective which sees through the shams of the day.
Only in Him will we clearly see
And navigate these times in the very best way.

"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."
Psalm 18:32 KJV

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Above The Ordinary

We often spend time doing
What is needless in our day.
But the Lord helps order happen
When we seek Him and we pray.

When we're freed from trivial things,
Our focus then will be more clear.
Confusion which we had
Will fade away and disappear.

As we rise above the norm
We'll see with opened eyes.
We'll have a lifestyle filled with insights
Which are truly wise.

"Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise - sensible, intelligent people; making the very most of the time - buying up each opportunity - because the days are evil."
Ephesians 5:15 Amplified bible

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Winter Thought

In the days of our winter we long for the spring
And all of the flowers it surely will bring.
But winter’s long season gives time out for thought...
For us to rejoice in the blessings God brought.

Each season will have its own special “tone”.
Winter is when new thoughts may be sown.
Let winter have its own special way.
Make it a time to worship and pray.

Let it become a time of discerning,
And, in the Lord, a time of much learning.
When winter is spent and her purpose has yawned,
We will be ready when spring days have dawned.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

© 2014 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Time Set Apart

Do you set some time apart
To let God speak into your heart?
What He shares will be as treasure,
Maybe more than you can measure.

He brings insight for each day.
He'll lead and guide you in your way.
The wisdom which He'll share with you
Will be as fresh as morning dew.

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."
Lamentations 3:25 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Help When Needed

Should problems arise and jar us awake
We need not fear or tremble and quake.
We can be stable, no matter the cause.
To our great God we bring much applause.

He is our covering, our joy and our peace.
He causes angst to fade and to cease.
In Him we're able to rise and be steady.
In Him we're made strong, able and ready.

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 124:8 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Faith-Inspired Beauty

When life presents its challenges
And sometimes intense storms may brew,
It is then strong faith in God
Is that which safely brings us through.

When overwhelming rains may fall
And winds too strong for us may blow
We are assured we're not alone.
In times of storm is when we grow.

When we have weathered through a storm
God's beauty in us starts to shine.
"Storms" will buff away rough edges
And new beauty will define.

If a challenge we should face,
It may uncover hidden gold.
Without the "storm" we may not know
How much of God's "wealth" we may hold.

"For truly I say to you, if you have faith (that is living) like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."
Matthew 17:20 Amplified Bible

© 2015 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Standing In Righteousness

Lord, how we need Your light and power
In this late and trying hour
As darkness raises up its head
To create fear and angst and dread.

We cry out with many prayers.
Help us to be strong torchbearers,
Proclaiming truth and righteousness,
Evil’s inroads to suppress.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Psalm 33:12 KJV

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf

An Open Door

The new year's door stands open wide,
Offering a new beginning.
Let its brightness spur you on,
New goals and victories to be winning.

Seek the Lord, of Him inquire,
Looking up and reaching higher.
He'll lead you to a bright new plane
With more joy than you can contain!

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

© 2016 Arlene Schwartzkopf