NOW

Enjoy today
This NOW in time
The track you are on
May be narrow
Long
Very entangled
Overgrown
But
Live in the present
Keep walking on
Look about
For very near
There are things to delight
Excite
Thrill
If you only take time
To appreciate
People
Places
Little things
Perfumes of flowers
Butterfly wings
That fill each moment
NOW.

When the track ends
Surrounded by friends
All the ups and downs
Twists and turns
Will have enriched
Refined
Enhanced your life
And looking back
You will say
God blessed my way
And now I can see
What happened to me
Was all meant to be
For my good.

Romans 8:29

Ruth Jessup

Secret Garden

You’ve walked the way
He asked you to
You’ve followed the path
He chose
But now is the time
To sit
To rest
And in repose
To think of Him
To sit
To wait
To contemplate
The wonder of His love.

Now
For a while
He’s hemmed you in
Behind
Before
He wants you to sit
By the fast-closed door
To meditate
To see the flowers
So very many hues
Perfumes
Each one
A precious thought
Of Him.

So
Don’t rush on
Hurry by
Just be content
To let Him search
Your thoughts
Your heart
And in His time
He’ll take you through
The door with Him
In the Everlasting Way.

Psalm 139

Ruth Jessup

Paths of Righteousness

The way of truth
Once rugged
Rough
Is now much smoother
Level.
Summer has come
The flowers bloom
Lavender wafts
It’s sweet perfume
Across my path.

Beyond the arch
Where roses spread
And shed petals
Underfoot
Is the tower – strong
Rampart – secure
Name of the Lord
To whom I run
And am safe.

Psalm 23:3
Isaiah 26:7
Proverbs 18:10

Ruth Jessup

The Fragrant Path

Once more the path before you lies
This time not grey but blue the skies
As you obey the Lord will guide
He’s promised He’ll be at your side
Always.

He’s watching your progress day by day
Keep travelling steadily along His way
But should you sometime go astray
Don’t worry God’s only a whisper away
Return.

The path He has promised is fragrant too
With His loving kindness and His truth
So don’t be impatient the Lord will act
His plan for you will soon become fact
Be glad.

If you’re delighted with the Lord
Then He has promised in His word
You will receive desires of your heart
Just trust and rest He’ll do His part
For you.

Psalm 25:10; 32:8; 37

Ruth Jessup

Path of Life

When the path is easy or awful, tough
I have more than I need; not enough
I accept in life the smooth with the rough
The gentle caresses; unforeseen blows
Enjoy the highs; cope with the lows
Encountering every situation
With confidence, assurance; not consternation
Knowing in whom I put my trust
Always.
When the way before me is always bending
I stumble along – can’t see the ending
Lose all sense of any direction
Through failures; fears; limitations
Struggling along through mud, dirt, dust
I am learning in all things that I can trust
Christ, the one who makes me strong
Keeps me content as I walk along
His way.

Philippians 4:12 & 13

Ruth Jessup

Path to the Future

When shadows fall across my path
I’ll keep going forward to where the light shines
The dismal, dark moments will quickly pass
And the warmth of the sunshine will soon be mine
If I keep looking up, disregarding the ruts
The well-meaning people with their ifs and buts
The end’s in my sight, the future is bright
And God has promised that it will be so
So I’ll travel today with my eyes on tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34

Ruth Jessup

Second Chance

Please God take my pain
Turn it into purpose
Help me to let go of the past
Lead me and guide me
Along a new path
A path of hope and renewed joy
A confident walk with you
Into the future.

Ruth Jessup