The Names of Our God

El - Strong God

Elohim - God (plural) of Creation

El Shaddai - All Sufficient God

El Elyon - Most High God

El Olam - Everlasting God

El Gibhor - Warrior God

Adonai - Lord

Yahweh - Self Existent One

Yahweh Jireh - The Lord Sees and Will Provide

Yahweh Rophe - The Lord Heals

Yahweh Nissi - The Lord My Banner

Yahweh M'Kaddesh - The Lord Who Sanctifies

Yahweh Shalom - The Lord Our Peace

Yahweh Elohim - Lord God

Yahweh Tisdkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness

Yahweh Shamah - The Lord is There

Yahweh Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts

Tsemach - The Branch

Jesus - Savior, Yahweh is Salvation

Yesha - Savior

(typing out this list literally brought tears to my eyes...what a Mighty, Loving, Caring, Amazing God we serve!!!)

God-Focused Prayer

"Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name" - this excerpt from the Lord's prayer illustrates what prayer should be - focused on God. Throughout this prayer given by Jesus, the 65 word (65 words in the English) prayer, God is focused on: "Hallowed by Thy, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever." (Matt. 6). When we pray throughout the day, or during a meal, or at church - is our prayer focused on God and how great He is, or does our prayer only reflect our needs, our hurts, our friends, and our upcoming trip, etc, etc?

Sadly enough, most times our prayer simply reflects our selfish desires and needs, and scarcely mentions the Lord, the One to Whom we are praying! Oh, but we do mention God in prayers..."Dear Heavenly Father.........in Jesus' name....". Yet, this is simply following a habit, a"spiritual routine" - do we really even think about those words, even if that's all the acknowledgment we give the Lord?

Prayer, as such with every aspect of our lives, needs to be God-focused! The focus should be on HIM, not us.

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

Everything for HIS Glory!

Isaiah 48:3-5, 9, 11
"I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." - God gave us the prophecies so it could be known that God alone brought them to be - so man could not attribute God's workings to idols or false gods. The prophecies were declared, so that God alone could receive the glory for His works! God holds His anger with patience for His own sake, not because we are special in any way.

1 Sam. 12:22
"For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." - God was pleased in making the Israelites His people. He would not forsake them for His name's sake.

Isaiah 63:12
"That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?" - God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites would praise His name!

These verses point out the fact that God does everything for His glory. He works things for His glory. Everything He does is for His glory.

Rom. 8:28 - God works everything for our good ultimately for His glory, so He receives glory and praise!

Habakkuk 2:14 - "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."

Numbers 14:21 - "But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD."

Philippians 2:9-11 - "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Isaiah 42:8 - "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

Psalm 72:19 - "And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen."

It has nothing to do with us, it has everything to do with Him. God works everything for His own glory...why should try to work any different? Don't live for your own glory, live for His glory!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Psalm 23:1-3 - "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

More Poems

That Song – by Eric Hall 06-09-09

Memories flood into my mind

Memories of all different kinds

Some I know, some I wish not

But these are the mem’ries that I’ve got

When I hear that song I see that door

To that room on the second floor

The room I was there all by myself

Seemingly set up on the shelf

I see me ride through town

Riding up hill and then down

I see my tears come down my cheek

As answers to uncertainty I seek

Memories flood into my mind

Memories of all different kinds

Some I know, some I wish not

But these are mem’ries that I’ve got

When I hear that song I see myself

My brother and I in our seat belts

Driving just us in the car

Not really going far

I see us talking, laughing too

About things done and things to do

I see our lives not really rushed

The brotherly love and the trust

Memories flood into my mind

Memories of all different kinds

Some I know, some I wish not

But these are mem’ries that I’ve got

When I hear that song I see

A young man thinking, that is me

I sit alone in the downstairs

My mind is going I don’t know where

We are here, my brother is there

I see my mom and father there

In that hospital somewhere else

I’m left, my siblings and my self

Memories flood into my mind

Memories of all different kinds

Some I know, some I wish not

But these are mem’ries that I’ve got

When I hear that song I see her there

This one girl that for her I used to care

But God had different plans for me

He changed both our life's plans you see

I see us there just us in love

Thinking that this was from above

But now we're parted; t'was for the best

In His plan just like all the rest

Memories flood into my mind

Memories of all different kinds

Some I know, some I wish not

But these are mem’ries that I’ve got

You Be the One – by Eric Hall (11-22-08)

I want you to be the one to capture my attention;

I want your gaze to be one that is my retention;

I want you to be the one who in I will confide;

I want you to be the one that I find by my side.

You are the one I want to be

The one who I always see,

And can say that you’re mine;

And I in turn am thine

You are the one I want to be

The one who always comes to me,

And I will go to you,

When I want to be there too.

I want your voice to be the one that I always hear;

I want your presence to be the one that I always feel near;

I want you to be the one who loves me wholly,

And I want you to be the one that I love fully.

You are the one I want to be

That one that means the world to me,

And can see you are there,

And that you truly care.

You are the one I want to be

The one that I love completely,

And know you love me;

Your love I can see.

I want your hand to be the one that I seek,

And the hand that lifts me when I am weak;

I want your love to uphold me consistent,

And my affection for you to be persistent.

You are the one I want to be;

You are the only one I see,

The only one I wish will be

Everything, and more, to me.

The Good Ole Days – by Eric Hall (11-19-08)

The “good old days” are long behind,

They’ve faded to the past;

But they still echo in my mind,

And there they’ll always last.

Memories of times gone by

Come every now and then;

That’s when I have to smile,

And thank God for all my friends.

Life or Death? – By Eric Hall (11-15-08)

The gun rests gently ‘gainst my head

And I know that in moments I could be dead

The tears run down my fearful face

As my heart builds upon it’s quickening pace

Thoughts of life run through my mind

Thoughts of every different kind

About joy, happiness, pain, and sorrow

About today, yesterday, and tomorrow

Of things I’ve done and wished I had

Of my siblings, and my mom and dad

Mem’ries of friends, both old and new

And memories of lost loved ones too

I never thought it’d end this way

I never thought I’d see this day

I had heard of this from the TV

I would never see this happ’ning to me

But then, the Bible flashes through

And verses that I once knew

And God’s love for me comes clear

Now, in this moment, standing here

I cry out loud for Him to save

I know that Him my sin forgave

I know that He alone is there

And know if no one else, He cares

The weapons lowers, as tears still run

I turn and I now see the gun

Then look toward heaven as I stand

And drop the pistol from my own hand

(Please note that I had no suicidal actions (or thoughts for that matter) in my life ever! Why I wrote this poem?….I have no idea…)

Poetry - by Eric Hall (11-08-08)

Keeping time
Making rhyme
It all can be such fun
But then again
Now and then
It seemingly can’t be done

Writing lines
Of different kinds
And making them as one
Clumping words
In tiny herds
As I said, can be fun

Hearing rhymes
Many times
Can give a little tickle
But making them
And shaping them
Can sometimes be a pickle

See just there
That can’t be fair
The last lines don’t quite rhyme
Though I suppose
It almost goes
I’ll maybe try harder next time

So there it be
Yes, poetry
Explained from my view
Yet Saying it
And displaying it
Is easier to say than to do

Dreams – by Eric Hall (11-08-08)

I’ve been to places very far

Whose names I do not know

I’m not even sure where they are

But I’ve been to them I know

I’ve seen things I’ve ne’er before

Laid eyes on in this world

But I’m sure they’re there, I’ve swore

Before me they unfurled

I’ve done things I ‘fore could not

Things impossible to me

These things I have not done a lot

Just now and then you see

All these question in my mind

Unanswered they may seem

However, all the answers I can find

Just look through all my dreams

Winter - by Eric Hall (11-08-08)

The snow falls,
The last geese call,
As to the south they pass;
The air chills,
The water stills,
And turns to icy glass.

The sun comes bright
And what a sight
The sun upon the trees
The ice-topped branch
A second glance
To take in what I see

The autumn fades
As in the glades
White powder tops the grass
All around
Upon the ground
Snow glistens as broken glass

The beauty shows
As it snows
And as the winter stays
Though it’s cold
Bleak I’m told
It’s beautiful anyway

Sleeping 101 – by Eric Hall (10-27-08)

I sit now in my final class, and I am getting sleepy
The professor talks about the paper, and I think it’s creepy
I look down at the text before me, and all becomes a blur
My mind is telling me to rest, and my body starts to concur

My head dips slightly, as I sit, and fight the coming nap
My friend beside me sees me now, and gives a little snap
I sit back up, and look once more, at the man who talks down front
But I find his topic boring – sorry, but I will be blunt

My head decides to tip once more, and rest comes on again
But again I’m thankful for the care of my next seat friend
He sees me drifting one more time, and gives a little nudge
I flinch, and feel a little pain, but I won’t hold a grudge

I focus now upon the prof as he continues to speak
Temptation to dream hits me again, and my defense is coming weak
I let me head bob yet again, and slowly start to fall
My friend takes out his phone, and my number tries to call

My phone goes off, and I bolt up, digging for my cell
I hope the teacher doesn’t hear, or whose phone cannot tell
I find it quick and turn if off, and I glance over at my friend
I’m thankful that he kept me up, but don't want that again

And yet again, I try to follow the slides the teacher uses
I try to convince myself I’m awake, but my body still refuses
My head flops down upon the desk, and makes a little thud
I catch a vague smirking sound, and know that it’s my bud

My mind drifts off to somewhere else, and I am now alone
I’m walking down a long, dirt road, or sitting now at home
Maybe I’m flying in a plane, or laying in the grass
My mind is anywhere by now, but it’s surely not in class

The Bible - boring? Think again!

So whoever says that the Bible is boring has not taken time to read it lately....

Hebrews 11:33-38: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

One might ask, but is all that really in the Bible? YES! The Bible is a history book, a mystery, a romance novel, an action thriller, a drama, and so much more - all between two covers! Who could ask for a more exciting book??

Prose

Another random excerpt...though this is the whole story...in one excerpt...

The black space marker blinks in silence, as he stares at the screen. His mind is running in so many directions, and yet going nowhere: both at the same time. He thinks, and thinks some more, but still comes up with a blank, white page, and a silently blinking space marker. The dream of writing something worth reading takes a nosedive and crashes into the whiteness on the screen. Thoughts of failure mix with attempts to discover a breakthrough in the search for a writable work, creating a bigger gap in his mind. Suddenly he realizes what is happening to him. The blank mind, the white page, the blinking space marker…these are all symptoms of a writer's nightmare! The one things that writer's fear…writer's block!

Summer '07

Stories in the Night's Darkness: Down the hall, into the night...

I walk down the hallway, turning off the lights as I get halfway down. The second half of the journey I make in the almost complete darkness. There is light yet from the adjoining hallway where I need to go. I get there in one piece (not that I expect otherwise) and make my way to the light switch in that hallway: again it sits in the middle. Next to the light switch are the double glass doors that I look out of as I pass. The darkness I create with the flip of the switch is lit by the security light outside streaming through the glass. I open the double metal doors that are now in front of me ending the second hallway. One more hallway to traverse and I will arrive at my room. I need sleep. Six hours is not nearly enough, though it is worth it seeing as I get to talk to my best friend every night. Making my way through the door, I stand at the end of the hallway, and gaze down it. My room sits about three quarters of the way down. The light switch is next to me on the wall. I put my hand to it and push it down. The lights go out and I now stand once again in almost complete darkness. I begin to make my way slowly down the dark passage, passing the other rooms that occupy the hallway. I stop. Gazing down at the other end of the hallway, I spy something unusual. Could it be a person? It appears to be so, the dark silhouette is illuminated by the security light outside the doors at the far end; the windows in the metal doors, the windows that only sit at the top half let in just enough light to enlighten the dark figure's contour. I think it’s a man: he wears a hat (like the type worn by Indiana Jones). I know because I can see it within his darkened outline. He just stands there, watching me slowly tread on the cold tile floors of this hall. I glance away from him for a second, looking into one of the dark rooms beside mine. As I reach for the door handle to my room (I get to it within seconds of when I began down the way), I peek back toward the man’s silhouette, and find yet another surprise. Where the man had stood, he is now gone, and in his place stands a small girl. Her head barely illuminated by the moonlight through the windows, and yet she is there - I can see her shadowy figure. She too just stands watching me silently. I debate with myself briefly about whether or not I should go speak to her, but sleep comes back to mind, and I slowly turn the handle of my room’s door. I slide the door open, and take one last glance to the end of the hall, where I see nothing but an empty space in front of closed doors. I smile to myself, wondering if the two figures were really ever there. I decide they were not, close the door, and climb into my bed. ‘Good night,’ I whisper to the darkness. ‘Good night,’ the darkness whispers back, ‘we’ll see you tomorrow.’

(note: the above story, though it seems random, is actually all true, except for the "darkness" replying. This actually happened to me almost every night when I was working down in North Carolina in the summer of 2007).

Stories in the Night’s Darkness: Hide and Seek with the Noises

The conversation being ended, I put the phone back on the receiver, closed the current windows on my screen, and shut down my computer. I was tired, and anxiously awaiting the softness of my pillow, the warmth of the blankets, the silence of the swiftly passing night. Making my way down the connected hallways, I finally get to the room. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I give it a turn – but am stopped by a noise from behind me. I turn, and look through the room across from my room, into the adjoining room beyond – the gymnasium (the building I was in used to be a school, and was transformed into a Bible curriculum company that used the gym for a warehouse). All was dark in these rooms. Using my imagination, though using it involuntarily, I suddenly believed that maybe someone has broke in to kill me (or something crazy like that). Ducking into my room – this I did quietly so as not to wake up my dad who had already been sleeping for a few hours – I located the aluminum bat in the corner behind the door, and my dad’s mag light on the dresser. Creeping across the hall, and through the room that sat there, I stealthily slipped into the gymnasium. The layout of the room, massive shelves that reached almost to the tall ceiling packed with heavy boxes, would give perfect cover for an intruder. Also, the balcony above my head would provide hiding places as well, as it was littered with boxes and things. Turning on the mag light, I began my search. I started with the main floor, planning to move to the balcony next. Small noises echoed around me, some obviously from outside, and others from somewhere in between – I couldn’t tell if they were outside, or in the room with me. Feeling the imminency of an attacker, I kept focus on the revelations of the flashlights beam. Peering through the gaps between boxes, and in between the shelves themselves, I could not find anything that looked like a person. There was no intruder on the main floor - that I was now sure of. Presently at the back of the room, farthest from the balcony, I turned and looked back towards it. Imagination kept spinning as the small noises continued to echo in my mind, and in the gym. Silently walking to one of the two staircases leading to the veranda (one sat at either end), I kept my eyes at the top as I ascended. My mind raced as I reached the top looking into the piles of boxes and books and miscellaneous materials. Almost done with my search of the balcony, I was about to give up, when I was halted by a terrible discovery. A door, which sat at the back wall of the balcony, was open. That would not have been unusual except that the door was always closed. I had been up on this balcony before (during the day), and that door was shut each time. I hesitated, sensing the danger that I was now facing. What if there was someone in there, what would I do? This question flooded my mind unceasingly as I inched toward the open door. Reaching it, I debated once more before going inside the doorway. Taking a silent deep breath, I poked my head inside the opening. Plunging the flashlight in, I scanned the small room that the door normally concealed. Suddenly, I made another discovery – the room was empty. Sighing with relief, I made my way back down the stairs to the gym’s main floor. I made one last sweep of the room with my light before turning to head to bed. I concluded that the noises I heard came from pesky critters on the gymnasium roof. However, if there was an intruder in the building, I wouldn’t be finding them tonight.

(yes, this is another true story...random, but true nonetheless...nights were interesting in that school turned Bible curriculum distribution company).

Favorite Quotes (movies, music, etc)

“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.”- Isaiah 33:22

"(The Bible) is not a record of world history as men would write it. It is a scared history. It is history from God's vantage point. It is the story behind history, for it gives the meaning to history." (Lawrence O. Richards / Gary J. Bredfeldt, Creative Bible Teaching, p. 48)

"Odd how much it hurts when a friend moves away - and leaves behind only silence." - Pam Brown (or, might I add, in some cases, when you move away from friends and find yourself moving into silence...)


Dr. Cameron: "Maybe House was wrong..."
Dr. House: "I hope that's not the end of the thought..."
(from the TV show House)

Complete in Thee

Complete in Thee! no work of mine
May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.

Refrain:
Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee! no more shall sin,
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee— each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Saviour! when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” - Dr. Seuss

“Shorth is better than length.” - Dr. Seuss

“You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.” - Dr. Seuss

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” - Dr. Seuss

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

"It's like finding a needle in a stack of needles." - Captain John Miller (Saving Private Ryan)

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde

“…this one thing I do…” - Philippians 3:13b

“And there we saw the giants…” - Numbers 13:33a

"Time's fun when you're having flies." - Kermit the Frog

"Pain causes us to make bad decisions; fear of pain is almost as bad a motivator." - Dr. House (from the TV show House)

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - ?

"Some people are like slinkies: they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs." - ?

"Leisure is a glorious opportunity and a subtle danger." - J. Oswald Sanders, (Spiritual Leadership. pg. 93)

"Our problem is not too little time, but making better use of the time we have. Each of us has as much time as anyone else." - J. Oswald Sanders, (Spiritual Leadership pg. 94)

"What we do in life echoes in eternity." - Maximus (Gladiator)

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." - Gandolf (Lord of the Rings)


Dr. Chase: You were right.
Dr. House: Now there went three wasted words."
(From the TV show House)

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment - that was it." - Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl)


I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

(Chorus)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

- My Savior, My God by Aaron Shust


"And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." - Gamaliel, Acts 5:38-39

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." - Eph. 3:20-21

Poems

Love – by Eric Hall (10-30-08)

(Based on 1 Corinthians 13)

Love is always patient;

Love is always kind;

Love is never envious

Nor seeks to boast of “mine”

Love is always acting right

Love is sacrificial

Love is slow to aggravate

Nor thinks quickly of evil

Love rejoices in the truth

Love can bears all things

Love is trusting, and so acts

And hopes in everything

Love endures till the end

Love will never fail

Love will be there in the calm

And there be also in the gale

Sunset - by Eric Hall (10-27-08)

The yellow, red, and orangish hue
As the sun slowly slips below;
The water that was once bright blue
Now fades to a golden yellow

The clouds all fluffy and white
Clearly visible they were
Now hide behind the fading light
And become a pillowy blur

The beauty of the mixing shades
Comes now into my view
The awesomeness of God conveyed
In the many mixes of the hue

The golden sun slowly blends
Into the horizon yonder
The painted skyline has no ends
And leaves me stuck in wonder

And as I think to take a shot
At capturing the sight;
A picture though surely will not
Portray this vision right

I Sit and Ponder – by Eric Hall (10-22-08)

I sit and ponder

Thinking

My thoughts wander

Sinking

Sinking into something

What?

I do not know

My thought drifts

Scattering

My heart shifts

Shattering

Shattering to shards

Why?

Because of the past

The shards now fall

Spreading

This most of all

Dreading

Dreading being broken

How?

By those that I love

A Hand reaches down

Healing

Turning back the frown

Revealing

Revealing Himself

Who?

The God of Heaven

A new feeling inside

Increasing

The hurts now subside

Ceasing

Ceasing to stab inside

When?

When He came to comfort

Now In His hands

Staying

To follow His plans

Praying

Praying for His will

Why?

So I know its right

I sit and ponder

Thinking

My thoughts wander

Sinking

Sinking into something

What?

Into His love divine

Prayer – by Eric Hall (10-18-08)

Though everything is falling apart

Be around me

Help me not to take it to heart

Surround me

Even though tears flow strong

Be near me

When I can not find a song

Cheer me

When things crash down around

Enfold me

When I stumble to the ground

Uphold me

When sadness floods my way

Brighten me

When I have lost my stay

Enlighten me

When all hope seems lost

Comfort me

When in the storm I’m tossed

Support me

And as I kneel to pray

Hear me

And when I’m unsure of Your way

Steer me

Morn – by Eric Hall (10-04-08)

The morning breaks,

And all life wakes

To the sound of gentle breeze;

The peeping birds,

The cattle herds,

And the buzzing of little bees.

The small stream flows,

The sunshine glows

Between the swaying trees

The critters scurry

The deer all hurry

To hide ‘fore someone sees

The grass sways

The dawn dew lays

Across the waking ground

The flowers bloom,

And midnight gloom

Is now nowhere to be found

More sounds appear

And I can hear

The thunders of the falls

The water crash

The ending splash

Oh, the beauty of it all

As I stand,

Seeing the hand

Of God before my eyes.

I think of He -

His love for me,

And have to question why?

In the Midst of a Storm - by Eric Hall (10-04-08)

The storms and winds bellow around

As I sit here on the sea;

I can’t see the land, the soft dry ground,

And the waves – ever higher they be.

I scramble in my little boat

To dump water with my pail;

I pray that I can stay afloat,

While out here in the gale.

I’m lost out in the stormy night -

I cannot find my way;

The rain gives limits to my sight,

So, I stop, and kneel to pray.

Then suddenly, through the night sky,

A bright light shines alone:

The lighthouse tower I then spy,

And it’s signaling my way home!

I turn my boat there on the sea

To head toward the safety of land.

I know that God is ever with me,

And I’m guided by His hand.

Talking to a Friend – by Eric Hall (09-25-08)

I don’t want this time to end -

This time talking to my friend.

But I know I can’t stop time:

No, that power isn’t mine.

So for now I’ll let time go,

For this one thing I know:

That time goes forward never back,

So time again I will not lack,

To talk to my friend once more,

As I did before.

Time for Thee - by Eric Hall (09-21-08)

Teach me, Lord to use my time,
Not for my benefit, but for Thine;
To use that time that you give to me
To do all that I can to give glory to Thee.

Help me to know how to wisely embrace
The time that I have even now in this place,
And not to squander any moments for me,
But rather use them to bring glory to Thee.

Our God - by Eric Hall (08-14-08)

God is a God Who works for our good

Even when His plans are not understood

God always works with His children in mind

And He works things only through His will and His time

God never moves, unless there’s a plan

He works far above the many thoughts of man

God’s always there, and He never does rest

And He can always be trusted to give you His best!

Letting Go- by Eric Hall (08-14-08)

Today I let go of my best friend

I never thought things would come to this end

No, it was not death they have gone away

My friend has left me another way

I don’t know why things are as they be

Even since this friend meant so much to me

But I know that God has a plan in it all

And by His strength I can stand tall

This time is hard and it is painful to bear it

But I know that God is with me to share it

Through tears of hurt, and sighs of despair

I know that God will always be there

I hope to see my best friend some day ahead

Though, I pray for God’s will, and not mine instead

My best friend I hope to see again some day

Because from my mind they won’t slip away

Forget-me-not by Eric Hall (08-04-08)

Forget me not today, and forget me not tomorrow

Forget me not in times of joy; remember me in sorrow

Forget me not when you are sad, and when you’re feeling down

Forget me not when you’re away – when you are out of town

Forget me not in times of doubt, when you are feeling blue

Forget me not when you are mad, and when you might want to

Forget me not no matter what; keep me in your mind

Forget me not when even at times to you I am unkind

Forget me not in every day, through and through and through

Forget me not because you see, I’ll never forget you!

No Matter What Happens - by Eric Hall (07-10-08)

No matter what tomorrow brings, God will still be there
No matter where life takes you, God is everywhere,
No matter how things are today, bringing joy or sorrow
Remember that God is with you today,
And He'll be there again tomorrow

Though the hard times seem are never ending
And nothing will be made anew;
Just remember that your life God is ever mending,
And every step He will be with you.

"God can bring encouragement" says one man to his friend
"No," replies the doubtful other, "this time just has no end!

"But God is with you in those times, those lengthy times of trial"

"But is he with me today, even now?" asks the second, the first giving a smile;

"Oh, yes," he answers his friend, "He is with you in your time of pain sorrow, and…

“He'll be there still tomorrow!"

Flowers? - by Eric Hall (11-23-07)

Roses are purple and violets are pink,

Oh, wait, no, they are yellow I think?

I don’t know a lot about flowers you see,

So if I get some things wrong, please forgive me.

Flowers are pretty they sure love to grow,

Just how tall they can get I’m not sure I know,

They can get four, five, six, seven feet in a day,

Though I’m not sure they tell it exactly that way.

Flowers come in all colors and fun shapes as well.

Sometimes the shape can be hard to tell;

There are round ones and square ones and oblong ones too

Oh dear, no that’s crazy, and I don’t think it’s true.

Well, I think that I’m done now, with this little rhyme

I think that I’ve wasted enough of your time.

Next time I think that I will take longer

To make my knowledge of the subject much stronger.