In Troubled Times

This is a time to be focused in prayer.
The "news" isn't good, but do not despair.
Media causes our hearts to have fear,
But Jesus will give us His peace and good cheer.

His is the GOOD NEWS on which we depend.
Our "shaky" footings His joy will transcend.
We are not meant to withdraw in terror
But rise up with faith and offer much prayer.

He is our strength in times of great need.
He has the answers... our footsteps to lead.
"Caught up" with Him we're able to stand
And bring inspiration, whate'er the demand.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
Psalm 46:1-3 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

With My Song I Will Praise Him

Let worship rise from the depth of my being
And be a sweet savor to my Lord and King.
Let adoration well up and burst forth
And cause a new song of praises to ring.

Let every footstep I take on my "walk"
Be pleasing to Jesus and answer His call.
Let me receive the light of His Word
And find strength in Him for things great and small.

He is my joy, inspiration and friend.
Let all my actions bring praise to His name.
He's my encouragement in all I do.
Let me His honor and glory proclaim.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth: and with my song will I praise him."
Psalm 28:7 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

As An Eagle

Lord, help me to soar as with wings of an eagle,
Graceful and strong, majestic and regal,
Mastering climbs into heavenly height
By wisdom and prayer and well-practiced flight.

I'll glide in wind currents and soar in the sky,
Discerning Your Wind with an eagle's keen eye,
Rising above all earth's bindings and woes,
Studying carefully where Your Wind blows.

"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

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Much-Blessed

This is the day the Lord has made.
I will look up and not be afraid.
Gladness and joy will rule in my heart.
I will rejoice in Him from the start!

He is my strength... He orders my day.
He helps me each thing to carefully weigh.
He is my peace in all that I do
And helps me to have a bright overview.

I can go forth with calmness and poise,
Evading the enemy's conflicts and "noise".
He is my joy... in Him I will rest.
As I walk with Him my days are much-blessed.

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."
Psalm 5:3 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Drumbeats

What drumbeat are you hearing?
What song within you rings?
Is the rhythm which you hear
A beat which joy and laughter brings?

Choose your "drummers" carefully.
Don't listen to a woeful song.
Marching to a worldly beat
Could cause your footsteps to go wrong.

Listen for the heart of God
And hear the sound of His own drum,
Calling all to faith in Him,
Inviting all to hear and come.

"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God."
Psalm 84:2 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Springtime

My calendar tells me it is spring,
But showers are dampening everything!
Flowers droop and bow their heads,
And pools are in my flower beds.

All through March the rains have "squalled"
As pretty weather has been stalled.
My trees, like cotton candy spun,
Are more than ready for some sun!

Fluff and fragrance in the air
Are spring's bright signals to prepare,
For sunny days must follow soon
As springtime sings her happy tune.

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Life's Best Key

The will of man is life's best key.
When tuned to God, how blessed is he!
All his footsteps will be right.
His life's pathway will be bright.

When he yields his will to learn,
Wisdom's merits he will earn.
God will guide through ev'ry "test"
And give him of His very best.

If man's will should turn away
Soon his path will go astray.
God has given him the key.
A yielded will will set him free.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good. and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Raindrops

There's sunshine in life's raindrops, reflecting Jesus' love,
A Heavenly refreshing which is promise from above.
His "rain" will wash away your tears
Till sunshine once again appears.
Cherish every raindrop as a symbol of His love.

A raindrop on a petal or a leaf which has been dry
Becomes much-needed moisture and the leaf will satisfy.
The leaf wll turn it's face to God
And gently in His wind will nod.
Heaven's raindrops bring new life... the leaf to beautify.

So raindrops are a special gift when we are worn and weary
To wash us and again to make us sparkle and be cheery.
Do not question, "Why this rain?"
For hidden in the rain is gain.
Raindrops filled with Jesus' light will change what has been dreary.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Salvation's Grace

Jesus... No one knows the pain You felt
Or shared Your weeping as You knelt.
In Your walk You were alone
For our shortcomings to atone.

When we think we know, O Lord,
Sometimes we take up a sword
And further wound You by our pride.
Our sins were much for which You died.

Sometimes when WE stand alone
We have small glimpse of pain You've known.
It is then we realize
Your sufferings... the depth and size...

So much deeper, so much bigger
Than our thoughts and minds can figure.
You gave all and took our place
That we might know Salvations's grace.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation..."
Psalm 27:1 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

God's Reflection

Do we make room for the Word in our hearts?
Is God's Holy Word in all, or just parts?
Where'er the word rests becomes as a fountain
Of riches and glory from God's holy mountain.

Deep in our hearts, when His Word is stored,
God's wisdom and teaching are richly outpoured.
Discernment is greater, perception is clearer.
Our lives reflect His Word as a mirror.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Colossians 3:16 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

God Still Rules

God is God, and He still rules.
Those who don't believe are fools.
Men who through their pride wield power
Before God's might will shrink and cower.

Though they speak with flossy tongue,
In God's sight all their words are dung.
God discerns the hearts of men
And knows their every wicked yen.

He will turn their words to dust,
For He is righteous, pure and just.
All shall bow before His power.
How much we need Him in this hour.

"The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."
Psalm 11:4 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Freedom In Christ

If you're caught in patterns which are from the past,
Step out of the shadows which may have been cast.
Christ brings us light so we may be free
And blossom into the "flowers" we should be...

Filled with His fragrance and radiant with life,
With no former trace of weakness or strife.
We will gain strength and grow in rich soil,
Covered in grace against enemy foil.

No matter our memories or where we are from,
The Lord's wondrous love our fear will o'ercome.
When no longer bound, but in His embrace,
We then can "blossom" with beauty and grace.

"If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
John 8:16 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Inspired Music

The sounds of Heaven will be rich... inviting to the ear.
No discordant melodies or sounds there will we hear.
Waves of Heaven's harmonies will echo to and fro,
Glorious and beautiful beyond what we now know.

Let us offer harmonies with beauty as we praise.
Let us sing refrains of worth in worship which we raise...
Pleasing to a holy God and glorious in sound,
Music birthed from Heaven's doors, heart-stirring and profound.

"Praise ye the Lord; for it is good to sing praises unto
our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely."
Psalm 147:1 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Looking Up

We can choose to "look up" or choose to stay down.
It's better to smile than to wear a sad frown.
As we reach up all our cares fall away
And we gain bright focus to govern our day.

God is our strength through each day and each hour,
A faithful companion, a shield, a safe tower.
We have good reason to always look up...
To learn God's perspective on what's in our "cup".

For He has a plan and keeps track of detail.
The size of our challenge will then start to pale.
And we can move forward with joy in our day,
Assured of His covering and care... come what may.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
Proverbs 18:10 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Coverings

God sees through the "coverings" we use to hide our sin.
We may fool ourselves, but with God this is "no-win".
We cannot pretend we have no problems or no flaws.
If we think we're faultless, then it's really time to pause...

God is holy, God is just, and full of great compassion,
Willing to extend His grace, our flawed lives to refashion.
When we shed our "coverings" and lay down all our pride,
He gives us HIS covering in which we may abide.

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
I Peter 1:15-16 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Golden Words

Pondering the things of God
And all the many paths I've trod
Makes me want to know Him more...
And learn what He might have in store.

His guiding voice is as pure gold...
Wealth of wisdom yet untold.
When He speaks I turn my ear
With excitement then to hear.

Knowing He will speak to me
Spurs me on to closer be,
List'ning for each golden word
And treasuring each word I've heard.

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

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Greater Is He

Deception offers ugly wares,
Packaged in appealing wrap.
It reaches out in myriad ways
Unwary souls to gain and trap.

Oftentimes if we are seeking
Something new and fresh and bright,
This ugly pest is just there waiting
To distract us with it's "light".

Deception tries to sow it's seeds
And offer us alternative,
To draw us off God's chosen path
And blur our thoughts on how to live.

But God is so much greater and
Is able to fulfill our joy
When we keep our eyes on Him
And all His principles employ.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James 4:7 KJV

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
I John 4:4 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Procrastination

Procrastination is a drag!
It sends up a bright, red flag.
Delaying things can bring high cost.
Important timing can get lost.

Issues dealt with in prompt manner
Wear a bright and smiling banner,
Bringing order, easing stress,
Making complications less.

Doing things on time is good,
Addressing issues as we should.
Procrastination "waits awhile",
But promptness wears a happy smile!

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

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Anchored On The Rock

When things around us falter
And our way of life might alter,
Are we able to adjust
And to lean on God in trust?

In Him we will be stable.
It is He Who makes us able
To be strong, should problems come,
And not waver or succumb.

Though we may be shaken
Our foundation won't be taken.
When we're anchored on The Rock
We're secure when trials knock.

"And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour..."
II Samuel 22:2-3 KJV

© 2011 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Spring's Bright Beauty

Crocus blooms and daffodils
Are welcome signs of spring's bright frills.
Then fluffy-petaled, flow'ring trees
Present their fragrant potpourris.

Spring turns everything to flowers
As plants and shrubs become as bowers.
Spring seems bent on blessing us
As she makes her pretty "fuss".

Thank You, Lord, for all this beauty
As spring fulfills her annual duty.
When she opes her pretty door
She brings to us new hope and more.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."
Psalm 103:1 KJV

© 2010 Arlene Schwartzkopf