The Joy of The Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength today,
Not borrowed from man, not fading away.
When shadows grow long and hope feels thin,
His joy lifts my heart from deep within.

It’s joy in the morning, joy at night,
Joy in the battle, joy in the fight.
Not born of comfort or earthly cheer,
But anchored in truth: my God is near.

When tears may fall and burdens press,
His joy becomes peace, my righteousness.
It steadies my steps, my soul it sings
The joy of the Lord is my strength in all things.

Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)
“…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

For God’s Honor and Glory

MarkWaldrop

 He Still Dwells With Us

We no longer follow cloud by day,
Or fire that lights the desert way,
No pillar rising in the night
Yet God is near, not lost to sight.

Through Christ, His dwelling place is found
In humble hearts where faith abounds.
Not built with gold or tent or stone,
But lives He gladly calls His home.

When we walk close, in step, aligned,
His presence guards both heart and mind.
He goes before, He walks beside,
Our faithful guide, our sheltering light.

Still leading on, still strong, still true
The God of fire now lives in you. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV)
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

For God’s Honor and Glory

MarkWaldrop

         God is Love

Looking for Jesus seems a noble thing to do,
Yet search can turn to longing for what comforts you.
If seeking is for gain, for answers just your way,
He may feel just beyond you, slipping day by day.

You may chase every sign, every whispered clue,
And find what you are searching for keeps eluding you.
But when your heart is humble, and love is what you choose,
When you care for others as Jesus always would

You will not have to search for Him, nor call His name,
For He will come beside you, quietly the same.
In mercy lived, in kindness shown, in love that’s true and free,
You’ll find that all along… He was walking next to thee.

Jhn 14:21  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 

For God’s Glory and Honor

MarkWaldrop

Mama Always Said

Mama always said, There’s not enough time in the day for self-pity.
Life’s too short to sit in the shadows when God’s light is shining bright.
She’d lift my chin and tell me, Child, storms don’t last forever,
And even the longest night bows down to morning’s gentle light.

She taught me strength wrapped in tenderness,
Hope stitched into the hems of ordinary days.
“When the world feels heavy,” she’d whisper,
“Lift someone else—and watch how your own burdens rise away.”

She wasn’t one for complaining,
Not when faith was a door always left ajar.
She said every tear had a purpose,
And every scar held a story that could guide us like a star.

So now when trouble finds me,
And fear tries to settle in my bones,
I hear her voice—steady, certain—
Calling me back home.

Mama always said,
There’s not enough time in the day for self-pity.
And she was right—
For God fills every day with purpose,
And grace meets us
Right where strength begins. 

📖 Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

For God’s Honor and Glory

MarkWaldrop

Life Is Like the Last Round

Life is like the last round
before the final bell 
you’ve got to fight with all you have,
and give this world your yell.

When fear comes creeping in your mind
and tries to make you fall,
stand tall and swing with courage 
for God is in your corner through it all.

Each breath becomes a battle cry,
each step a stand of might;
the victory goes to those who rise
and choose to stay and fight.

So when the darkness presses in
and tries to break your will,
remember: even bruised and tired,
a champion’s heart beats still.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

MarkWaldrop

✨Mary, Did You Know✨

Mary, did you know that holy night,
A star would pierce the veil of night?
That shepherds’ songs and angels’ cries
Would echo through the starlit skies?

Did you know your gentle sigh
Would calm the Lord of earth and sky?
That lullabies beneath your breath
Would cradle Him who conquered death?

When tiny fingers gripped your own,
Did you feel the power of Heaven’s throne?
When you kissed His cheek so mild
Did you know you kissed God’s holy Child?

You held the One the prophets praised,
In your arms, the Ancient of Days.
The world grew still, creation awed,
As you embraced the face of God.

So hush now, stable, hold your peace
This moment births eternal peace.
The King of Kings in manger lay,
And love itself was born that day.

Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

For God’s Honor and Glory

MarkWaldrop

The Most Important Who Is You

In a world that shouts its orders
who to be and what to do
there’s a truth that softly whispers:
the most important Who is you.

Not the polished, perfect version,
not the one you push on through,
but the soul that keeps on trying
that’s the Who that’s brave and true.

When the noise becomes a mountain,
and the pressure builds anew,
just remember in the mirror:
the most important Who is you.

The Most Important You
MarkWaldrop