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The Birth of a Book

Quiet Time Rhymes

August 6, 2020

After many requests for my poems in a book,
I pulled them together to see how they’d look.

It seemed overwhelming; I overcame fear.
I perused all the words that I’d written this year.

One hundred and forty-eight rhymes in five months,
Looking back, I’m amazed that this old dog still hunts.

Then I had to describe it and give it a name,
Quiet Time Rhymes is the book it became.

I added another line, shares a bit more.
Peace in Pandemic describes what’s in store.

Then on to the cover, provide some insight.
I found in my photos some birds in mid-flight.

I remembered the walk on the beach when they flew.
It brought back that morning, the peace that I knew.

Decide on the pricing, they asked the amount.
I set it at ten cents a rhyme if you count.

I wrote from my heart and I shared them with you.
You asked for a book, it is here, it’s brand new.

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Sharing from the Heart

On February 8th, I began writing a few lines of rhyme during my quiet time. It’s my way of journaling. I shared them with my wife, and she encouraged me to share them with others. 

I created this blog titled Quiet Time Rhyme to share all of my rhymes. I will continue to add more in the days to come. I pray they touch you during these often stressful times.

Heart Song

October 26, 2020

For You oh Lord I share my song.
I give You praise the whole day long.

I know Your love and my heart sings
The joy inside Your Spirit brings.

You gave me life. You set me free,
Unlocked the door, Lord You’re the key.

When days grow dark You are my light.
Your Holy Spirit gives me sight.

I pray my eyes are fixed on You.
Help me discern what’s pure and true.

I pray that I reflect Your Word
If this, my song, is one day heard.

I pray Your words from my heart flow,
Help others hear and come to know

The love that I have found in You,
And know Your joy in their heart too.

An Uphill Road

October 25, 2020

Sometimes life seems an uphill road
On which to push a heavy load.

So many slopes and hills to scale,
Sometimes through rain and wind and hail.

I’m grateful Lord you help me bear
The daily troubles that I share.

You’re there beside me every mile.
Sometimes I pause to rest a while,

Renew my strength to finish strong,
Refresh my heart to sing a song.

Without You Lord how would I cope?
You are my source of love and hope.

Lord help me give my all, my best.
And help me reach the top, the crest.

Upon You Lord I can depend
Until I reach my journey’s end.

Learning Endurance

October 24, 2020

Some weeks I am glad when they’ve come to an end,
Those weeks I got through with the prayers of a friend.

It’s those who surround me and lift me in prayer
Who help me remember God’s love and His care.

I’m reminded when weary of running the race,
There is good that can come from each day that I face

I’m learning endurance and trust in the Lord.
I’ll remember these times as the days my faith soared.

The Lord brings me peace in the midst of the storm.
His Spirit enables calm thoughts to take form.

He’s lead me through troubles and hardships before.
I know I can trust Him to do it once more.

The news reports chaos, and fighting, and strife.
I pray it won’t last for the rest of my life.

I pray that the hatred will come to an end.
Lord help us to love and to heal and to mend.

The Difficult Days

October 20, 2020

Some days are easy, a walk in the park,
While others are difficult, dreary, and dark.

Life sometimes brings pressure; I’m put to the test.
I trust in the Lord and I strive for my best.

Integrity, honesty, always my goal,
An integral part of what makes up my whole.

Endurance and patience are often required
To keep moving forward though weary and tired.

I trust God to guide me to help me stay strong,
To overcome hardship no matter how long.

Tomorrow’s a new day. The sun will still rise,
And once more the darkness will flee from the skies.

The season is changing, cool breezes return.
The colors are brilliant as all the leaves turn.

I pray that my autumn of life has a glow,
Reflections of Jesus, through me may He show.

Refreshing Words

October 19, 2020

Good morning Lord. It’s quiet, still.
I’m here again to seek Your will.

I ask You Lord to guide my pen,
To share what’s buried deep within.

The love You planted long ago,
I pray continues still to grow.

I pray that love finds fertile ground,
Its roots grow deep, may fruit abound.

My heart is nurtured by Your Word
By every verse I’ve read and heard,

Refreshing words of life that flow
For all who thirst and long to know.

I pray that others find that stream.
The water’s real. It’s not a dream.

I thank You Lord that I can share.
You’re in my heart. I know You care.

God’s in Control

October 18, 2020

Covid’s still with us. I’m still writing rhyme.
I never imagined the hundreds of lines.

Political partisans pull us apart,
Seems working together would be a good start.

There’ll always be troubles, that’s just part of life.
It’s hard to find peace in the midst of the strife.

I daily need time to be still with the Lord
To spend time in prayer and to hear from His Word.

That time before sunrise is precious to me.
The dawning of light that will help me to see.

God’s still in control and He’s still on the throne.
That needs to sink deep in my marrow and bone.

The sun will soon rise as I start a new day.
I feel joy as I share what my heart has to say.

The thousands of words that I’ve written I pray
Have brought some encouragement, helped in some way.

Maturity

October 16, 2020

What is maturity? How is it found?
It seems that I’m frequently plowing new ground.

When I honestly look at the things I should know,
I find that I still have a long way to go.

How deep is compassion inside of my heart?
Is empathy present? Does love play a part?

Integrity’s high on my list to attain.
It takes constant practice through good times and rain.

Is empathy part of my daily routine?
Can my love for others show through and be seen?

Maturity’s more than just age or gray hair,
Not found in possessions or clothes that I wear.

It’s growth on the inside that I value most.
I strive to make progress, by no means can boast.

I’ll never attain all that I want to be,
Until I’m with Jesus and His face I see.

Life’s Often a Mess

October 14, 2020

Life seldom seems easy, it’s often a mess,
Sometimes my own doing if I must confess.

Other times stuff just happens beyond my control,
“Hang on and survive it” becomes my main goal.

Some lessons came easy while others I fought.
I pray I apply all my journey has taught.

Overcoming the obstacles life throws my way
Builds my trust in God’s Spirit to lead me each day.

He’ll help me through tough times I know are in store.
Lead me down a new pathway I’ve not walked before.

Each day’s a new journey. Each path that I take
Comes full of surprises and choices to make.

Decisions can challenge, define who I am.
Have I learned enough yet? Can I pass life’s exam?

I pray as I read and I study God’s Word,
That His Spirit will guide me to live what I’ve heard.

Backroads of Life

October 10, 2020

Do you long for some days on your back in the sun,
To rest and relax, when you’re not on the run,

A time to reflect and release any worry,
A time to recharge when you’re not in a hurry?

The memories of childhood, the sun on my face,
Saw shapes in the clouds as I stared into space.

Appointments and schedules, our cell phone and text
Demand our attention, control what comes next.

Sometimes a vacation is more of the same
So many activities listed by name.

I’ve lived in the fast lane but now I’ve slowed down.
I cherish the backroads of life that I’ve found.

The sun on my cheeks and wind on my face,
Reflections of glory I see at this pace,

A peaceful serenity, time with the Lord,
Infused with His Spirit, refreshed and restored.

For Your Ears Only

October 8, 2020

To those who know and heed His voice,
Who follow Christ, who’ve made the choice,

This rhyme’s especially for you.
You’ll understand and know it’s true.

If that’s not you, perhaps you need
To stop right now, not hear, not read.

If you’ve found Christ don’t lose your joy.
Don’t let the world your soul annoy.

The Spirit of the Lord’s inside.
Don’t let that fear and doubt reside.

Resist the urge, be worry free.
God’s in control, not you or me.

We know this life is not the end.
We know on Christ we can depend.

Be still and let the Lord today
Restore your joy and have His way.