I don’t do things as good as I used to,
The days move different, the lines are blurred.
I don’t hear the whispers like once I could,
And faces fade more than they should.

I don’t see the world with the same clear light,
The colors dim, the print’s too tight.
My memory plays a game of hide,
And sometimes leaves me mystified.

I walk much slower than I did before,
And pause at every creaky floor.
I take more breaks and rest more often,
But in those pauses, my soul has softened.

I’m slower now at most everything
At tying shoes or answering rings.
But though my hands may tremble some,
My heart is steady, my race still run.

And that’s okay, I’m not dismayed,
For in the quiet, I’ve often prayed.
And found a peace I never knew—
I’m closer to God than I ever grew.

So let the years fall soft and slow,
There’s grace in letting the old ways go.
For though I don’t do all I used to do,
I’m held by love that’s ever true.

2Co 4:16  The outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

It doesn’t rain unless there’s a storm,
The sky must darken, the winds transform.
Yet in the turmoil, drops descend,
To cleanse, to heal, and hearts to mend.

The thunder rolls, the night may cry,
But grace falls gently from the sky.
For rain, though born in tempest’s roar,
Brings life to roots and strength to soar.

Showers of blessing, strangely disguised,
Come wrapped in trials we never prized.
Yet through the pain and bitter strife,
They pour down hope and nourish life.

And when the storm has passed us by,
A hush will settle on the sky.
The sun breaks through, the world made new—
And peace will come, serene and true.

So let the clouds roll overhead,
Let faith be stronger than our dread.
For after storms, God’s love is shown,
And we are never left alone.

Psa 30:5  weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The Down and Out and the Up and Out
Inspired by Dad’s Words

My dad always said, with a squint in his eye,
“There’s the down and out, and the up and out, guy.”
Some have no shelter, no shoes on their feet,
Worn by the world and lost on the street.

But others wear suits with a polished disguise,
Yet emptiness hides behind well-dressed lies.
They dine at fine tables, they travel in style,
But deep in their soul, they’ve been lost for a while.

One cries for bread, the other for peace,
Both bound by a hunger that will not cease.
For riches or rags, the truth still remains—
A heart without hope bears invisible chains.

So reach for the fallen, and lift up the proud,
Share light with the lowly and speak love out loud.
For whether you’re down or you’re climbing about,
We all need grace to find our way out.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

O Great Spirit in skies so wide,
Who walks with us, who walks beside,
Your voice is heard on winds that blow,
Your hands have shaped the earth below.

You paint the skies at break of day,
And guide the eagle on its way.
You give the deer its silent tread,
And mark the stars above our head.

Grant me wisdom, pure and true,
To see the world the way You do.
To walk in peace, to speak with grace,
To honor all in every place.

Let me not seek to rise above,
But serve with kindness, lead with love.
To heal the wrong, to make things right,
And walk with courage through the night.

When my last sunset paints the sky,
And soft winds call, and time draws nigh,
May I return to You once more,
To run with spirits gone before.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

As iron sharpens iron’s edge,
So grows the soul on wisdom’s ledge.
One heart to another, sparks may fly,
But truth is born when hearts don’t lie.

Through words that challenge, love that stands,
Through steady work of guiding hands,
We shape each other, side by side,
Refined by fire, not by pride.

Not every stroke is smooth or kind,
But strength is forged in heart and mind.
In friendship deep, in trials shared,
We grow more whole, more true, prepared.

So thank the ones who dare to stay,
Who speak the truth, then kneel and pray.
For in their love, we rise, we learn—
Like iron’s edge, it’s our turn to burn…

To burn away what keeps us small,
And help each other stand up tall.
For God designed us to be one—
Sharpened strong ‘til work is done.

Pro 27:17  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

      A Prayer of Faith

Dear God, I come with humbled heart,
A soul in need, a brand-new start.
I believe Your Son was sent for me,
To set me free, to make me see.

I ask forgiveness, full and true,
For every wrong, for all I do.
Wash me clean, make me whole,
Renew my spirit, claim my soul.

Come dwell within, O Lord, abide,
Walk beside me, be my guide.
With open heart, my life I give,
In Your great love, forever live.

Amen.

Rom 10:9  If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Pastor John Hagee
A Word for You
Difference in Night and Day

“Dear God, I believe Jesus is Your Son, and I ask for forgiveness of my sins. I invite you into my heart and life. Amen.”

Born of God, we stand so strong,
Through trials fierce, through nights so long.
The world may shake, the storms may rise,
Yet faith prevails beneath the skies.

No chain can hold, no fear remain,
For in His hands, we break the pain.
The battle fought, the race is run,
Yet in His name, the war is won.

Not by might, nor earthly gain,
But by our faith, through joy and pain.
For those in Christ shall stand secure,
His love unshaken, strong and pure.

So lift your eyes, let doubt depart,
For victory lives within the heart.
Who’s born of God shall stand above—
Overcome the world with faith and love!

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

1Jn 5:4  for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 

If you want to feel rich, don’t look at the gold,
Or the treasures and trinkets that hands can hold.
Count instead the gifts so true,
The love, the laughter, the skies so blue.

The warmth of a hug, a friend’s kind embrace,
The joy of a smile that time won’t erase.
The whispers of wind, the song of the sea,
The peace in your heart when your soul is set free.

The love of a child, the touch of a hand,
The faith that sustains when you don’t understand.
For wealth isn’t measured in diamonds or things,
But in moments of joy that a full heart brings.

For His Honor and Glory 
MarkWaldrop

1Ti 6:17  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.