"Besides Still Waters. ( meditating on His word.)" by Peggy ann

I'll sit quietly
besides still waters,
and listen to your voice.
In the gentle breeze
blowing through the trees,
You whisper your songs of love.
What am I before you Lord?
( but a sinner so forlorn?)
If it weren't for your grace and love,
and the precious blood of your Son?
Where would I be?
How could I stand,
if not in your strength alone?
Oh Lord my God,
I'm on my knees
in reverence before thy throne!
Please grant unto me that quiet spirit,
as I patiently walk through life's gloom.
Lift me up, and let me sing of your goodness
Morning, night, or noon.
I will praise your name,
and tell the good news
of your amaizing power to save
any, who through obedience
to your word,
will be kept
by your unfailing grace.
Let me kneel at your feet
Dear Jesus,
as you talk to me
through your word.
Besides still waters
I hear your voice,
the gentlest,
I've ever heard.

"Clingster" by Keri Smith

You start to think that only surgery will work
That the sharp edges of the knife will finally free you
Oh the things that so easily beset us!
This one is strong
It comes back when you least expect it
When you thought you had finally conquered it
And what a struggle it is to suppress it!
There is no knocking with this thing, just brutish entry
And then your thoughts are held captive
The Yous struggle for supremacy
and you desperately try anything to get the invader off of you , out of you, away from you
The mental warfare is exhausting...disappointing...frustrating
Oh, to be able to live, think and be without the dreaded Clingster
All you want is to stay focused on what you had
To sustain the momentum
To finally step into that future which beckons so loudly
To partake of that magnificent world that you know is promised to you
And in the end, that is always what helps you, what propels you forward
The future that wants to be realized, pulls you away from the deathly embrace
and for a while, the true You, the better, dominates

"Circumstances" by Peggy Ann

Circumstances in life
are subject to change,
and nothing constant remains;
if today you have
white clouds and clear skies,
be aware
dark ones will soon come floating by.
Bringing with them uncertain events,
and yes, they may even be turbulent.
And so in your quest for peace of mind,
your spirit soars high
into the promises of the Divine
for strength and comfort to pass the time.
Very soon
the sun shines down
clearing away the rains of a storm.
With it, comes fluffy white clouds
and you smile;
thankful for the clearing away
and knowing full well
that dark ones will soon be floating by.
For circumstances in life
are subject to change.

"Towards The Light." by Peggy Ann

In this early hour
of the morning,
I awoke for the second time.
After tossing and turning,
too much on my mind.
I'll go to the kitchen
I thought,
but darkness enveloped the room.
Didn't want to disturb a soul,
now where did I put that broom?
As I stepped into the hallway,
I smiled at the sight.
So facing the front window,
I headed towards the the light!
Letting it be my direction,
through all of this gloom,
I'll find a safe corner,
on my knees I'll be soon!
To tell the Light of this world,
all the cares that I'm facing,
how I need His deliverance,
how my knees are shaking
under this heavy load,
that I'm tired of caring.
The darkness of the circumstance,
was truly clouding my sight,
so I decided this early morning,
to run straight
towards the Light!

"Entwined with Patience" by Keri Smith

Talking to you sometimes feels like
I am violently scrubbing my skin with Scotch-Brite
shuddering as the jagged green edges grate continuously over my tender skin
At other times, it is as if I were a
wounded dog, desperately limping for shelter
just about to get to the sanctuary, and then having you
kick me sharply in the gut, more than once,
and the extreme pain just never dissolves into numbness

You make me want to fight
You make me want to rage
You make me want to forget my love for humanity
To forget what I know, and strive to be
Which is a wise person, who is
quick to listen
slow to respond
ready to forgive

But, then I hold on to sanity
I realize who you are
and that having you control anything about me
especially my emotions
is absolute madness
I fight for control
I get angry and sin not
I put you in your place or
I let it slide
I forgive

Ultimately, I am not my own,
but called for a greater purpose
No one said it would be easy
but it is a must,
with unbelievable benefits

"High Places" by Alison John

I'm listening to the preacher go on about the kings
And I'm wondering why he would choose these things
Confusing as it all first seemed
Finding it hard to keep up with the team
Zechariah, Amaziah, Zedekiah
My head is spinning - My tongue is twisting
Where were Harry, Jack or Justin?
Determined to follow along in the class
Trying to understand these kings of the past
Omri, Zimri, Jeroboam
Ahab, Nadab, Rehoboam
Shallum ruled for a month - Manasseh for 55 years
Most ruled for the fame and never really cared
No longer a united kingdom - Divided by sinful actions
What can we learn from this devastation.
Then it hit me one evening when I wasn't expecting
(This happens a lot when you're really searching..)
While many were evil and angered God deeply
Others would follow him --- but not completely
How many of us do what is right from within
But do not tear down our 'High Places' of sin
We've come from the world where sin had us bound
Yet we refuse to tear those high places down
The old places, old people you use to go see
Don't fit with the Christian you're trying to be
It's no good if you're going through the holy paces
And insist on keeping your 'high places'
So tear them down - you have nothing to lose
Don't leave that opening for the devil to use

"Hush" by Peggyann

Hush little one,
and be at peace.
Lay your head in my arms,
don't be troubled.
I'm here, and I know
you're scared,
but it's ok.
I told you I'll never desert you,
so trust me
and be not afraid.
This disturbance
that you're experiencing,
that has threatened
the peace of your soul,
I'm seeing it.
I'm here with you.
Trust me,
it's just another
bump
in the road.

“This Can't Be True” by Daniel Bleau

This can't be true, is there really a place for me and you?
A place called heaven
There must be a mistake such a place like this is not intended for such
a magitt as I
This, this can't be true not with all the crimes and such trouble that
I've created this must not be true.........no!.........no!..........no!
Stop this none sense this can't be true its a lie
See I knew it would come back to me because I had just lied to grandma
so someone wrote the book called the "bible" as revenge to teach me a
lesson.
But this doesn't explain why science hasn’t been able to explain such
events that have taken place
But this just can't be true because this book has an explanation on
things past......and possibly things to come
This just can't be true because I feel so confused because I thought I
had it down packed
This book
The bible has changed my thinking and know its changing my life
Isn't that weird
I know understand how I qualify for heaven and its riches

"The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever " by Keri S. Smith

On the surface, an appropriate term would be "bleak"
Tension eats you and your lunch
You listen to the whispers of doubt
You don't exhale – the confidence bulldozers are revving their engines
Of course you return to pre-school antics: woe is me, not good enough, not my fault, victim
You search for release
An anchor to pull you way, way above this mess
It's the same source as always
Duh
He reminds you that if you crumble in hard times, then who were you really?
He's training you; He disciplines those He loves
Faith is about the unseen
Be encouraged and wait
He's never failed you yet

"The Cause" by Peggy ann

My weakness of faith in thee dear God,
is not for want of your words.
But the ever-so-often glancing away
at the horrible winds of a storm.

My faith in you suffered.
because I looked at the storm
that seemed bigger than I.
I soon forgot all you've done before,
and was sinking in fear and fright.

I picked up your word and read dear Lord,
it dispelled the fears deep inside;
renewed my hope and trust in you,
in your promises I'll ever abide.
Teresa Rose Marie.

"I Remembered." by Peggy Ann

Dear friend,
just recently
there was something
I was going through, and somehow
by the grace of God
I remembered you,
telling me of your experience,
and how you coped with it,
then I became confident,
full of hope that minute.
And not only that,
but because of a message
that I'd heard,
from one of God's spokesmen
on " What I Have Learned"
My heart burned within me,
my spirit became calm.
"I'll trust in Jesus,
and will not be alarmed!"
The burden was heavy,
but His grace made it light......
Dear friend,
it was your courage
I remembered
that night.

"What if?" by Shervon Alexander

What if
He
had
not
come?

What if
He’d left me
alone,
loveless,
hopeless?

What would I have done?
What could I have done?
Who would have saved
pathetic,
filthy,
worn
me?

cause I am worn.
23 years,
feels like 46,
wondering, worrying
am I right?
am I doing what I should?

Who would have said,
“Oh, she’s redeemable, let’s save her, love her, cherish her, bless her.”
Save her.

Save me!
My soul,
my life,
my love,
my hope,
my strength.

He has.
indescribably so,
makes the pores on my body rise,
like hearing Whitney do the national anthem,
like the sound of I love you from the one who holds my heart
like the feel of a genuine hug with a kiss in my hair,
like remembering The One, Our Father loves me,
regardless.
regardless
it gives me goose bumps.

He has saved me
and
I
am
thankful.

"This Quiet Place." by Peggy ann

I have come into
this quiet place.
It is here
that I reflect
upon my Savior's face,
trusting His guidance,
seeking His grace,
allowing His words
to whet my taste
for a greater understanding
of life.
It can be so crazy at times,
I don't always say
or do what's right.
Pain, care,and sadness
often rocks deep within
my soul.
I wish to save the world
and make things right,
but I can't.................
So I must do
what's right for me,
for my soul's sake.
So humbly and respectfully
I've come
into this quiet place.

"Too Truthful for this Lye" by Jamila Lyiscott

Jamila is too truthful for this lye
Go ahead and ask her
And she's not falling for the trick of a no-'lie'-relaxer
They just see 'barbaric' roots so they're trying to relax her

I can't keep falling for these lyes!
There's been too much bondage, too much self-hate, too much compromise

"He Used God's Name in Vain by Saying that He Loved Her" by Jamila Lyiscott

(Inspired by 1 John 4:16)

If God is Love
Then Love cannot be lust
It cannot simply be a good feeling
If God is Love
Then It must be eternal
It must be the most tangible intangibility
In a world where the intangible is rarely sought
If God is Love
It cannot be wavering, fickle, or in between
It cannot be unsure
It cannot be self-seeking
If we are Love
(I mean, really Love)
We ought to be transcendent
We have to be secure
If God is Love
Then It must be undefeatable
Powerful
With the ability to verbalize and materialize change
It must be able to mold the formless
and make formless the self-molded
If God is Love
Then It is sternly soothing
It is timeless and vigilant
It must be self-sacrificing and long-suffering
If God is Love
Then my mind must beat faster when I feel it
For the heart is fickle
If God is Love, and I am God, and Love is me
Then It, I, Him must be sure

"I Could Not Stand" by Teresa RoseMarie (Peggy)

Were it not for the hand of the Lord,
I could not stand.
Were it not for His lovingkindness and compassion,
My heart would melt within me,
and I would be consumed by my grief.

Were it not for the Master's guidance,
I would be blind.
Were it not for His tender words,
the beauty and warmth in hugs and smiles
would fade,
as I reach further into myself.

All praise, glory,and honor,
Were it not for the Wonderful Counselor,
Were it not for His glorious presence,
Were it not for the hand of the Lord,
I could not stand.

"Make His Praise Glorious" by Zoisha Salexia Case

Let’s yield our hearts to the king above
Let’s give him the chance to bless us with his love
If we close our eyes and open our hearts we will hear him speak and all our worries will depart
Don’t ask me how he does it, I don’t understand
Let’s just accept his healing and marvel at his powers so grand
He loves us all more than we can comprehend
So when we feel we need someone, he can be that true and faithful friend
God is the one who planted the roses on the earth
He is the one who blessed each of us before our birth
He made the green pastures so his animals could graze
It is also him we should thank for the beautiful sunset on which our eyes graze
How would we know when life is good if we never experience pain?
How could we recognize sunshine if we never saw rain?
What a mighty God, what stupendous power
He is there for us, every minute, every hour
Our life may not be easy, in fact it might be quite rough
But through it all Our God is always by our sides so let’s make his praise glorious

"Dear Friend" by Teresa Rose Marie (Peggy)

Dear friend,
I did listen
and decided to do
as you have said.
I sat down
with paper and pen
to count my blessings, instead
of moaning and groaning
and bathing in my complaints.
the most wonderful thing unfolded,
as I went along
and counted.
I felt so calm,
I had to smile,
and began to sing a song.
For I realized
how blessed I've been.
And that this
dark cloak of sadness
was something,
of which I was truly in need.
For each time I wore that robe,
I held on so close to God,
my heart and mind
were set in prayer,
and filled with His precious word.
He lifted me out,
and up so high
I was always able to cope.
My precious Savior
held my hand,
and led me
on the road of hope!
So I'm responding
to your letter dearest friend,
and giving you the same advice.
Dear friend,
take pen and paper,
and your blessings,
please begin to write!

(Untitled) by Darren Sands

I had a dream that I loved you like
mama's macaroni and cheese
like
warm rain
like
the first rays of sunlight that light up your face
on sunday morning
like
a hug from a long lost friend
like
how your fingers work when you braid
and like
blueberry butter.


and i like
the way
you are so cynical and passionate and delicate
about everything
all at once.
surely,
this comes easy to you.
and though I cannot understand it,
this love for you
was first expressed through Him in agony
on the cross

"Hate" by Jamila Lyiscott

What do these young black people hate about themselves so much?
It shouldn’t be what…it should be, why do they hate themselves?
Why do we foster this ignorant state?
Why do we proudly enslave ourselves in civil battles with self-induced hate?
Why do we depreciate ourselves with the inappreciation of fallen kings that lie in enslaven graves?
As the footprints of our forefathers collect dust on the roads they’ve paved
Little black girls don’t have fathers to call them beautiful
So now they fall for lies
Seeking beauty between their thighs
Found fulfillment of that paternal void in some loser’s eyes
Because he looks just like their daddy
Little black girls are getting with their daddies and being discarded
And it’s this metaphysical incest that has us functionally retarded
So the fall of the Black kingdom is simply being disregarded
As we hate

But this Hate
It did not originate in the bellies of our docking ships
This Hate
Was an electrical transcendence through the master’s mocking whips
It’s not the black plague, it’s the black Hate that resonates throughout my Hood
Fighting good
Saying these baby daddies would be these baby’s daddies if they weren’t baby daddies
But if they were Fathers
Its like this Hate is fighting harder
It has the Hood possessed
Lord save us! We’re lost in concrete woods and sending sparks up in distress
Red and blue S.O.S

And where is happiness?
It dangles off the fingertips of God in the form of crowns for Kings and Queens
But we don’t want that
We’d rather be self-inflicting fools harnessing anger like Hate fiends
So we Hate in this life without the thoughts to appreciate the One that reigns above it
We Hate
And Willie Lynch got us thinking that we love it
And even though I come from Bed Stuy
I’m here to tell you that I’m in this world, but I’m not of it
I’m here for change