The Captain´s Presence

Life´s seas may toss me all about,
And the billows may seem to overtake me.
The tempest may rage and fill my heart,
With dread, chaos, and unrelenting fears.
Alas, the Captain of my life stands nearby.

He patiently waits for me to reach out to Him.
He will not interfere, when I piously think that,
I can pilot my ship through the raging storms.
His sheltering arms is there to protect His child,
And He keeps them tightly around the ship.

Too many times, I wander and forget He is there.
Then, I become entangled with life´s worries and fears,
And neglect to reach out for the help found only in Him.
I forget to be quiet and listen to His still small voice.

There is comfort and peace in His mighty arms of love,
If I will just lean on Him, I will find strength to go on.
I must move over and allow Him to stand at the stern.
Then, He can speak peace into the raging storms in my mind.

There is no need for me to allow this ship to go under,
No need for me to worry and fret, for the Captain stands,
Ready, willing and able to pilot the ship through the night.
So teach me, Lord, to always remember that you are my pilot.

Terri W Brumbaugh © 2002

Take time mama, that is all i really need.
I know that you are so busy...
but a minute or two will do.
You have so much work to do,
and it never all gets done.
So, Mama, will just a minute really matter?

I know I ask alot of questions,
but you see, that is how I learn.
I love it when you bake cookies,
but just a kind word would do.
You look so very tired, Mama,
won't you slow down just a bit for me?

I try to do my best, but I know that isnt much.
I love to play outside with the other children,
and I know I should help you more,
but time just goes so fast each day.
Mama, will you give me a smile?
You are so very pretty when you smile.

I love you, so please don't ever go away!
Walk a little slower, Mama, I gotta show you this.
I know I should be brave like you always tell me too,
but would you hold my hand, just this once?
It hurts really, really bad, Mama,
and it makes me feel much better when you do.

Please, Mama, just a little time for me?
That is really all i need you know.
Can I crawl up on your lap, and will you tell me,
all about Jesus.... I love to hear you read about him.
Please take a minute Mama, to say you really love me.
Just a minute.... or two.... will do.

Terri Walker Brumbaugh
Copyright (1980)
All rights reserved

The road was long and dusty,
as He trod along that day.
The sun parched His throat;
drops of blood blinded His way.

The cross He bore on His shoulders,
grew heavier each step of the way.
In prostration He fell beneath its weight.
Pain racked His body but love led the way.

With cruelty the people mocked Him.
They spat bitter words full of hate not shame.
This sorely lashed upon His innocent heart.
To those wicked people He came.

They wanted no part of His Kingdom,
because through ignorance they had,
made their own self-righteous way.
This tore at His heart and made Him so sad.

Jesus endured horrible suffering and pain,
that no mortal could ever be able to know.
Physical torture; mental stress; forsaken of all.
He suffered all that His love to show.

He took all the wretched, putrid sins,
upon His own shoulders that day.
But you and I, not Him, should have been crucified.
The penalty was really ours to pay.

Yet without question, He took our place.
So we might have eternal life someday.
He did it all just for you and just for me.
And never a word of regret did He say.

Ours sins have been mercifuly covered,
by His precious life's blood.
We are free because He paid sin's debt.
His love and joy my on us He floods.

I am happy in Jesus and no tongue or pen,
could ever describe His great love.
that has been shed on my unworthy soul.
It is a mystery that only comes from above.

Terri Walker Brumbaugh (copyright 1984)
All rights reserved by author

In the silent stillness of the night,
As I lay upon my bed;
lonely and alone except for
my constant companions pain and fear,
I questioned if I would ever see,
The dawning of the next day´s light.

Just outside the perimeter of my bed,
Lurked a slithery dark figure;
waiting, taunting, and his icy fingers
were ever beckoning to me.
I tightly closed my eyes against him.
Then my bitter stinging tear were shed.

The yesterdays were gone; I longed for tomorrow.
I remembered faces of loved ones, those I hold dear.
Many voices and laughter of days of the far distant past,
flooded my mind as the tears constantly flowed.
Life is so fragile, so precious, so very short;
full of love, laughter, tears and our sorrows.

I felt unworthy of God´s miraculous loving touch,
so I hesitated to ask for more than just courage.
But that night an Angel of Mercy came into my room.
He was full of faith as he sat down by my bedside.
He anointed my head with oil and blessed me.
It was then that I felt the Master´s touch.

Jesus commanded the shadowy figure to leave.
He looked at the angel beside me and said,
“You have been my faithful and good messenger.
With My stripes she is now healed,
with My innocent blood she was bought.
Now My will, you both do preceive.”

With blessed assurance that Jesus still reigns,
I arise to meet each new day that He affords me.
I am ever so thankful for His amazing grace.
Hope and peace are my new companions now,
and I cherish His love and each new tomorrow,
my hand resting in His, walking the path that He ordains.

Terri Walker Brumbaugh
(copyright 1993) all rights reserved

I have a friend that is so dear,
He is always been so near,
To comfort me if I need cheer.
He gently guides me with each fear.

He helps me when I slip and fall,
And lifts my spirit with His call.
I have never found a dearer friend.

This friend gave His precious life for me.
So He could for sin my ransom be.
Every day He walks and talks with me,
And makes all my dark clouds flee.

As I start each day He holds my hand,
As He leads me to the promised land.
He gently guides each step I take,
And knows just what is best for my sake.

Soon I am going to my Heavenly home,
There I will meet Him and ever roam,
The paradise He has made on streets of gold.
I will dwell with Jesus and His wealth untold.

This friend of mine is Jesus Christ the Lord!
His love and mercy to you He will also afford.
If you will trust Him and truly obey,
 at His feet your yeilded life you must lay

Terri Walker Brumbaugh
(copyright 1982) all rights reserved

As I travel down life´s sometimes bumpy road,
I must wonder if I will gain or if I will lose.
It often seems I carry such a heavy load.
There are decisions to make and I must choose.

One day I am on a wonderful mountaintop,
The next day I am depressed and very low.
The pace is maddening and I wish it would stop.
I sigh, knowing that it is useless though.

Time after time I am prompted to think,
What makes life go on anyway?
It seems there must be some missing link,
Some say the God is the answer, or so they say.

Could it be that they are really right?
Is that why so many including me aimlessly drift?
Have I now without question seen the Light?
Perhaps it is true for the burdens have begun to lift.

If there is a way, God, then I ask in prayer, will you,
Take this shattered and tangle mess my life is in,
And make it something wonderful and pleasing to You?
Make me, Lord, completely selfless and free from sin.

Thank You, Lord, I feel so different and spotlessly clean.
I praise You for salvation and for saving my soul from Hell.
Help and protect me so I will always on You lean.
Give me wisdom now and courage so the world I may tell.

Now I know without a doubt if I will gain or lose,
Because Jesus in His grace has washed my sins all away.
With faith and love at last I repented and rightly chose,
The life He offers to all and now I will be with Him someday.
Terri Walker Brumbaugh (copyright 1984)

God's love cannot be measured or weighed.
It knows no bounds by miles or limitations,
by depth, width, length or a fourth dimension.
His love is all encompassing and real.

God's love demands so little in return.
It satisfies the hungry soul with His love.
It gives hope to a lost and dying world,
and everlasting life to all who will receive it.

His love offers hope and reason to the destitute.
It always encourages and uplifts the downtrodden.
It never ceases to give confidence and assurance.
We cannot define it, we need only to accept it.

We do not deserve His awesome love and mercy.
We cannot buy it or even earn it by our works.
It is His to give and He shares it so freely.
God's love never fails us but others always do.

God's love caused Him to sacrifice His Son,
For a sin-sick world in desperate need of a Savior.
Christ's love compelled Him to go to Calvary and die.
But I ask, where does your love for Him begin and end?

Terri Walker Brumbaugh (C) 2001

Whatever It Takes

Whatever it takes to someday see Jesus,
Whatever it takes I will do.
Mid heartache or in exhuberant joy,
I know that my Lord will see me through.

Whatever it takes to be like Jesus,
Whatever it takes I will do.
I will die to self and yield fully,
In all that He wants me to do.

Whatever it takes for the world to see,
Jesus in me, as I walk in His path, I will do.
I will surrender everything displeasing to Him,
And I will bring Him praise, honor and glory.

Whatever it takes to bring others to Jesus,
I will gladly do it with a humbled heart of love.
To my Lord and friend I must always be true.
Whatever He requires I will willingly do.

Whatever the cost I must pay, I will do it.
Whatever He asks of me, I will obey in love.
I long to see my blessed Lord one day face to face.
But my friend, what about you?

Whatever it takes to hear His approving words,
I will do with joy in my heart and a song on my lips.
To hear ‘Well Done´ will be sweet music indeed.
Surely, it will be worth it all when I see Jesus!

Whatever it takes, I know His grace will suffice.
The faith He has proferred me will carry me through,
Until one day, I stand before my Lord and King Jesus.
But my friend, where will your journey take you?

Terri Walker Brumbaugh © 2004