The Clasp of the Rose

Like the clasp of the fragrant rose
Jesus has me firmly held
As I open He releases His hold
But still stays to catch me when I fall

© 2014 Liana Wendy Howarth

image courtesy of http://www.all-free-download.com

I’ve Always Loved You

Can you feel the peace surround you
Knowing that the Saviour’s near
Whispers gently, I’ve always loved you
There is nothing for you to fear

So open wide your arms, receive Him
Do not listen to words of despair
He has promised, He will deliver
The Holy One will make aware

© 2014 Liana Wendy Howarth

image courtesy of http://www.all-free-download.com

I JUST CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE (A Song for When You Feel Like Giving Up)

I just can’t do this
I just can’t do this
Jesus, You have to help me through this
‘Cause I just can’t do this anymore

I wake up
The same as yesterday
Nothing ever changes
At least that’s what they say
I struggle through the day
Watch the world through this heart of clay
I am getting older
And this heart is getting colder
‘Cause love, it is compressed
And cannot have its say

I just can’t do this
I just can’t do this
Jesus, You have to help me through this
‘Cause I just can’t do this anymore

I wake up
The same as yesterday
Time, it keeps on ticking
And life, it’s out to play
As tears wash dreams and smiles away
I must before Your feet needs lay
I need You O I need You
Each breath draws me closer to
The One who is my life
The One who cleared the way

O I just can’t do this
But Jesus leads me through this
I just can’t do this
When I do it without Him
When I do it without Him

© 2014 Liana Wendy Howarth

The Sweet Face of You

I stand upon the sidelines
Of the Heart which bears no sin
I see myself so clearly
Because He’s let me in

He called me out of poverty
He called me out of pain
He called me and helped me
Answer Him
I’ve never been the same

His heart is filled with flowers
Of undeniable pure beauty
Their fragrance rises heavenwards
And lift each stain stamped GUILTY GUILTY

O Jesus You have brought me
To this rockpool of delight
Shone Your Sonlight upon my face
And now my clothes are white

I peer deep into eyes of Love
I peer deep into the unseen
Reflection upon reflection
Salvation where once sin was seen

O Jesus Jesus
The moonlight casts its moonbeams
Across the face of waters blue
Now my reality lives in dreams

And those dreams bear the sweet face of You

© 2014 Liana Wendy Howarth

The Hill of Grace

Forever adorned with love,
My Saviour’s grace shines light on me,
He, although desperately weary,
Climbed triumphant to Calvary.

The hill of grace ‘tis called,
This hill of cold death and shame,
And until the Lord appeared,
That death shone upon my name.

Though my heart be sometimes troubled,
I am told not to be afraid,
For when trial and temptation overwhelm,
I am sheltered in His shade.

To You be all the glory,
For Life has now been raised,
May my hands that helped to crucify,
Now lift in eternal praise.

© 2013 – present Liana Wendy Howarth

(in my e-book “Fragrance from the Spring”)

Does Anyone Know Why the Word ‘Surrender’ Does Not Appear in Many Versions including the KJV? … Hope I Worded That Right

‘Surrender’ is my ‘focus’ word this year … Oh how I need the Lord … so hard to surrender to being surrendered. To surrender to surrendering. Only the One who surrendered to the agony of the Cross can achieve this in my life.

I cannot believe that after all these years I have only just realized that the word ‘surrender’ does not appear in the KJV or many other versions. There is so much talk of surrendering our lives to the Lord … why isn’t it in some versions?

I welcome any thoughts or knowledge … any wisdom regarding this. Thank you.

* * * * * * *

Total Surrender

Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—”Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ’cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
http://utmost.org/total-surrender/

* * * * * * *

Below is one of my early poems … written 23/06/2002

SURRENDER
Why is it
That the stream is flowing
One way
In my body
But I know I’m travelling
The wrong way?
Like the salmon
I push on
In the other direction
And even though
God planned
The salmon’s path
I guess I think
I’m travelling my path
On my terms
When I want to
And I believed
That it didn’t matter which way
As long as I travelled one way
Along my chosen path
Except my path is fraught with turmoil
And God’s path is mixed with blessings.

Which way should I choose?
I must choose the right way
……. God’s way
And let Him guide my path His way.

Let me surrender like that salmon
And flow in peace, the right way
The only way
Swimming in God’s river of love.

© 2002/2013 Liana Wendy Howarth

Is It Just Me ???

Sometimes I believe that the Lord pens His love and answers to our prayers through us. Yes, they are for the comfort of others; but how many times have we (as poets/writers/bloggers etc) reread ‘our’ posts and been ministered unto at just the perfect moment? (and we read them as if someone else had written it for us!) … Or am I the only one who feels like this? God is so good and His mercies are new every day. Every day He paints a fresh rainbow upon all that He has given us and even though the tears may still fall, they are cleansed with the beautiful colours of heaven’s healing palette.

image courtesy of http://www.all-free-download.com

BROKEN WINGS (A Song … A Plea from the Heart)

When will the sky be blue again
When will my wings be free
From dreams swept away on silent tide
These broken wings called me

Lord I need Your power
I need You to lift me high
I need You to rescue a life depleted
Of a Saviour’s presence nigh

Lift me
O Lift me
Far into the yonder blue
Mend these broken wings with patience
May Love’s melody ring through and through

Higher Lord
Higher
On eagle’s wings may I soar
I cannot go much further Lord
Without the One whom I adore

© 2014 – present Liana Wendy Howarth

Nothing is Impossible … Nothing

Don’t ever think that nothing can be done to ease or heal a situation, a relationship, a sickness, a doubt, a broken heart, desperation, hopelessness, fear, anything that seems impossible to man.

Look up.

He loves you.

He gives peace that no man could ever give.

You need Him.

Desperately.

Don’t give in.

Don’t give up.

Cry out to Jesus.

He will rescue you.

He gave His life for you.

Please … Believe that there is always hope.

Surrender.

Let go.

Let the mighty river of mercy sweep you out of bondage.

May His grace (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) flood and deliver your hurts with His love.

Jesus loves you.

Let go.

Let God.

DON’T LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF ALLOWING YOUR LIFE, YOUR GIFTS (which in themselves are gifts from God) TO REACH UP AND BLOSSOM TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL … AND IF ANYTHING DOES PERCHANCE TRY AND BLOCK YOUR PATH, HE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY OUT OF OR AROUND THE TROUBLING CIRCUMSTANCE/S. HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOU IN YOUR WEAKNESS, HE WILL FILL YOU WITH HIS JOY. HE NEVER PROMISED THERE WOULDN’T BE PROBLEMS … BUT HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO BE IN THEM WITH YOU. JUST ASK. BELIEVE. RECIEVE.

Thank you Jesus for all You have done in our lives, all You are doing … all that You will do.

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 KJV

Rosie and the White Picket Fence

Wrapped around the white picket fence
Gorgeous blooms, they were heaven sent
And the greatest bloom in that sweet garden
Held its very fragrance hidden

Held it so very hidden because
Thorns from others stung and prod
And so dear Rosie, she did close
Her precious petals, concealed the pain

But as time grew older and colder
All around her began to shiver and shudder
All of their feelings had been left wide open
Gathering remnants of a love forsaken

And so with each newly broken heart
They bowed beneath the hurtful part
One by one as their very being broke
All that was left was Rosie and her heart awoke

Sometimes when you can’t go on
You are hiding strength on which to lean upon
Lean upon the picket fence
Yes, it makes for perfect sense
Like Rosie, heart compact, hidden
One day soon, released and bidden
So that when others all around you are openly in pain
You’ll have bountiful strength and love to share
And your beauty will finally open again!

© 2013 Liana Wendy Howarth

photo courtesy of http://www.all-free-download.com