Raise your child right
and later on they won't bite.
Raise them wrong
and you'll regret it your whole life long.
Who they turn out to be
has a lot to do with you,   you see.
No, we can't blame everything on the parents
but this much is apparent -
We can instill discipline, dignity and integrity in a child,
or we can just let them run wild.
We can raise them on a diet of God's Word
or we can just let them run with the herd.
I know that sometimes you do all you can
and your child still chooses rebellion
but even then -
Do spiritual warfare over your child,
fight the good fight of faith.
Beat back the darkness trying to claim their soul.
Don't allow demonic toys, books, movies or TV shows.
The results can be dramatic, I know,
But after all is said and done,
sometimes you have to let the prodigal son
go his own way,
never giving up the hope
he'll turn back one day
to the path he should be on.
Believe for your child no matter what they've done...

It's midwinter.
It appears as if death has come to each tree in this wilderness.
It's cold enough to freeze my breath.
The trees appear to be lifeless
but I know appearances can be misleading,
for the outer shell is merely concealing
the life that still flows within.
These trees aren't dead but hibernating.
A bruised reed you will not break.
A wounded soul you will not forsake.
Though we appear to be devoid of grace and mercy,
yet still we are not abandoned,
still we are not forsook.
The day will come - take a second look,
when we'll bloom again, when we'll come alive
to all that Christ won - for us a great prize,
for him a soul now healthy and wise...

For my beautiful wife, Sheryl -

Fireflies and evening skies
The setting sun seen in your eyes
Gently, the night wraps her cloak
around us as we pause to soak
the evening's calm and solitude.
It's nice just being with you.

The stars come out, one by two
slyly winking as if to prove
Even the stars like flirting with you.
Sometimes it's good this thought to absorb -
there's life beyond this shining blue orb.
Our bodies will one day rise and soar
where our hearts have pioneered before
But for now it is enough
that you are near and I have your touch.
That last breath, yes that last one too,
are sweeter because I am with you.

The lake beyond our sloping lawn
has settled into a restful calm.
Nature's soothing symphony
is carried to us on this nightly breeze.
No words are spoken, none are needed.
Knowledge passes unimpeded.
With but a touch, a look,
our love trancends
beyond the realm of human ken.
I'm as content as I am with paper and pen....

I'm like a seed pushing it's way up through the soil
The seed is my soul, the soil is my flesh (ly ways)
I'm fighting, I'm pushing, I'm the struggling one
trying to reach the Son.

And I won't quit, I won't be foiled
till I've broken through this stubborn soil
Till I breathe the air of freedom
till I feel the Son's light
I'll never cease to fight.

But without the water of your Word
I can't keep growing, I can't mature
I can't win this battle fierce
my topsoil I cannot pierce
Except with the sword of the Spirit.

Yet once I've broken through
I must keep reaching towards You
High
so high,
yet visible to every human eye
I must go on
to become strong
And when I've become attuned
to your voice, your will
I must be pruned,           still

The True Christmas Tree

Every Christmas,   every year
our hearts are filled with cheer.
We love the season,  we love the day
we love to eat, drink and be merry.
Turkey, egg nog, lights all aglow,
stockings hung, soon to bestow
our youngest faces with smiles galore
at the wondrous gifts they'll soon explore!

But in our house, I must confess
what brings us the most happiness
is the Tree.
But the tree we set up in plain sight
in our house is the cross of Christ!
It's the only tree
that is worthy
to be revered in our life.
And the only gift under this tree that's worth finding
and unwrapping and receiving
Is the blood that Jesus shed that cleanses us
and redeems us by which we're believing
we'll live endlessly -
This is our True Christmas Tree
with which we celebrate joyfully!