For weeks she stayed through rain and sun,
No flinch, no flight, no thought to run.
A mother’s vow, so still, so true
On my back patio, in full view.

She nested quiet, calm, and bold,
Through morning heat and evening cold.
A sentinel of feathered grace,
Guarding life in that small space.

And now—oh joy!—she lifts her wing,
To show the miracle she brings.
A tiny fluff with blinking eyes,
A breath of hope beneath blue skies.

No trumpet blared, no loud parade,
Just love in silence gently laid.
A story told without a word—
Of life renewed, and hearts assured.

So here they are—this gentle pair,
A gift from God, beyond compare.
A dove, her chick, beneath the eaves,
With faith that builds in quiet leaves.

“He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

       The First Step to Kindness

If you want to be a kinder soul,
Not just in part, but in the whole,
Start with something small, yet true
Like holding a door and letting one through.

It seems so simple, hardly grand,
No need for riches or a helping hand.
Just pause a moment, let them go
And plant a seed that kindness will grow.

For every door that you hold wide,
Breaks a bit of selfish pride.
And every smile you chance to see
Reflects the heart of empathy.

So let it start—this gentle wave,
With quiet acts that make you brave.
You never know what love may do
When kindness first walks in through you.

Eph 4:32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Mark C. Waldrop

I Cannot Boast
by Mark C. Waldrop

How could I boast of anything
I’ve ever seen or done?
Each breath I take, each step I make,
Is grace from Heaven’s Son.

How could I dare to claim as mine
The victories God has won?
The battle’s cry, the lifted sword,
Belonged to Christ alone.

Not in my strength, not by my hand,
Did mountains ever move—
But by His mercy guiding me,
And endless, patient love.

The praises that the world may sing,
They rightly should be His.
For I am but a vessel here
To show how great God is.

So let me live in grateful awe,
Not seeking worldly fame.
And may my every word and deed
Exalt His Holy Name.

1Co 1:31  so that, as it is written,  R23 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

  Only You Would Know

Now years have drawn like winter’s breath, your hair is touched with snow,
But here I am, a shadow still, where only you would know.
I do not walk the halls you roam, nor speak in voice or tone,
Yet in the quiet of your soul, I never feel alone.

You see me in the amber light, where memories softly glow,
In echoes of the love we shared, from long, long years ago.
I linger in your laughter’s edge, the stillness in your sigh,
A presence felt but never seen, beneath the endless sky.

No need for words, no need for form, no need for me to show—
You carry me within your heart, where only you would know.
Though time may blur what once was clear and shadows gently grow,
Love leaves behind a sacred trace… where only you would know.

Mark C. Waldrop

       Everyday Angels

They walk among us, quiet and true,
No wings to show, no grand to-do.
But hearts so wide, and eyes that see
The silent cries, the hidden plea.

They go beyond, no need to ask,
With willing hands for any task.
They notice pain we try to hide,
And rush to stand right by our side.

They don’t expect a word of praise,
They simply live in selfless ways.
A kindness given, pure and free,
A light for all the world to see.

They brighten lives with gentle grace,
A warm embrace in a crowded place.
A lifted weight, a softened tone—
Proof we are never quite alone.

And when they act, they plant a seed—
Of love, of hope, of every need.
For in their deeds, both big and small,
They show there’s good still left for all.

Everyday angels, heaven-sent,
To mend the world wherever it’s bent.
They give us HOPE in what they do
A better world… because they choose to.

For God's Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

      Honor Days of Old

If you don’t know where you came from,
You’re drifting in the tide
No compass in your pocket,
No guiding star to ride.

The roots beneath your story,
The ones you barely see,
Are anchors in the stormwinds,
They shape who you will be.

The faces in old photographs,
The names that echo still,
They whisper truths and lessons
That time alone can’t fill.

If you forget the journey,
The pain, the joy, the song,
You’ll chase a hollow future
And wonder what feels wrong.

So honor where you came from,
The soil that held your seed
For knowing past gives purpose
And shows which steps to heed.

Deu 32:7  Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. 

For God’s Glory and Honor
MarkWaldrop

Jesus first—our guiding light,
He leads us through the darkest night.
His love, our anchor, firm and true,
In all we are, in all we do.

Others next—our hearts extend,
To lift, to serve, to love, befriend.
A gentle word, a helping hand,
To build each other, strong we stand.

Yourself the last—but not unseen,
For joy will blossom, pure and clean.
When Christ and others take their place,
Your soul will shine with heaven’s grace.

True joy is found when love is shown
Not in ourselves, but Christ alone.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Philippians 2:3 (KJV)

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

     Walk Free in Faith
 
Step forth with courage, hats held high,
Your dreams like stars across the sky.
But heed this word as you depart:
Guard your mind and keep your heart.

The world will whisper, pull, and bind,
Entangling soul and thought and mind.
It tempts with gold, with praise, with fame,
Yet leaves you weary, chasing name.

The more you strive with anxious hand,
The tighter wraps the sinking sand.
The more you grasp with frantic breath,
The more it drags you close to death.

But pause—and rest—release control,
Let peace of God embrace your soul.
Relax your grip, the knots unwind,
His love brings freedom to the mind.

For Christ is near, both guide and sword,
To cut the cords and lift you toward
A life of purpose, pure and true—
Not bound by fear, but led by You.

So graduate, walk bold and wise,
With heaven’s hope before your eyes.
Rely on Him, not fleeting charms
And you will rest in shepherd arms.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
“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.”

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Where My Will Ends, His Will Begins

Where my will falters, weak and worn,
Beneath the weight of trials borne,
There in the silence, soft yet bright,
God’s will unfolds in perfect light.

Where my steps stumble, lost in doubt,
And fear would seek to shut me out,
His hand extends, so strong, so true,
Guiding me paths I never knew.

When dreams I held are torn apart,
And sorrow lingers in my heart,
I yield, I trust, I stand, I wait—
His purpose weaves a grander fate.

For where I end, He just begins,
To cleanse, to heal, to lift from sin.
His ways are higher, vast, unknown,
Yet in His grace, I am His own.

So let my will release control,
And let His love refine my soul.
For in surrender, life begins—
Where my will ends, His will begins.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Isa 55:8  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
Isa 55:9  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.