Category Archives: God

YOU RULE

From my book: Voices of Life

We listen to our voice, Satan’s voice, and God’s voice. Why should we listen to God’s voice? He is ruler over all!

YOU RULE

You rule, O God
O'er all the earth
No higher one
Over life and death.

For you are king
There is no other
To rule and reign
Yet you're my Father.

Your rule is just
In righteousness
To serve you Lord
Is life that's blessed.

THE OLD YEAR OUT; THE NEW YEAR IN

“Time marches on” as the old saying goes. Things never stay the same. As I think of the passing years with its joys and sorrows, I look forward not just to a new year, but the never-ending year God has for those who love Jesus Christ. And there, I will have no sorrows, only joy. I hope many others join me there.

ALL THINGS NEW

What was can never be again.
The landscape of the present day
is now the shadow on the wall
no matter how I bid it stay.

There's now no mother kiss to heal
my wounds, no father's arms to hold
me when I weep, no bouncing child
to keep my heart from growing cold.

My auburn strands of hair have turned
to gray. My skin, in years gone by,
so soft and smooth, now shows the lines
of years that passed just like a sigh.

If I could hold the reins of time
and from its endless journey free
the joy of moments past, then they
could always be a part of me.

Though not just joys, but sorrows too,
would never leave and never heal.
Perhaps what seems a glorious thought
would simply be a gross ordeal.

And yet inside of me, a part of me
yearns to never say goodbye
to mother, father, child, or friend,
as years are days that ceaseless fly.

The changing days are part of life
for blessings, sorrows, much or few,
until God stills the earthly clock,
and with one word makes all things new.

JUDAH

As I enter January, I think about my grandson Judah who ended his life on January 23, 2022. He was far too young; he would turn 19 that year. Even when someone seems whole and involved with God, there are times the darkness gets too heavy. I pray that no one feels there is no hope as they think this course would be better. I miss that young man, but I know his mama and daddy and his siblings miss him more. And I know that God brings comfort to our hearts as he catches our tears and mingles them with his own.

WHEN DID YOU DRY JUDAH’S TEARS

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he first looked in Your face?
When he felt Your warm, calm arms
When he felt Your mercy, grace?

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he knew there were no chains,
earth’s enticements now were gone?
Was that when you healed his pain?

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
Before the joy You had for him?
When he knew earth’s arms were loosed?
Gone was bondage to all sin?

Come and dry our tears of grief
from these pain that wounds our hearts
to Your joy because we know
Judah now lives in Your heart.

Darlene Estlow©2023

PRAY AND PRAISE

Christmas is a glorious time to step aside every so often and meditate on Jesus’s coming so many years ago and now how he has a center in my life. So I bring my needs to him, but also my praises for what he has and will do.

AS I PRAY

As I pray, I see your work
in others' lives and in my own.
So patiently I lift the needs
of those I love and of my own.

May you be praised in all our deeds
as we go forth in praising you,
living for your glory, Lord,
walking in your power, truth.

THE WORD WAS GOD

THE WORD WAS GOD

It was God who came that day
to live a life on earth.
No beginning, always God,
becoming man at birth.

It was God who left his throne
on high to wear our form,
coming down to give His peace
to quell sin's awful storm.


It was God who came to die
to spread on earth His light,
that we could walk with Him each day,
delivered from our plight.

May God give us the realization of what Christmas truly is.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

To me, Christmas is more than just birth of Christ. It is his whole sacrifice of coming from glory to human form and then, not just to die, but to rise and go back to glory having made payment for our sins.

God in Human Form

Christmas is more than just about a baby. It is about God who came as that baby but was God incarnate. He was God in human form.

GOD IN HUMAN FORM

Watch the angels winging earthward,
singing praises to a king,
giving message to some shepherds--
lowly shepherds watching sheep.
"He is born! The Christ is come!
Peace on earth! Good will to men!"
Now the shepherds go to worship
God who's come in human form.

Watch the star that beams from heaven
guiding wisemen to a king.
Long they travel searching, searching
for the one the prophets tell.
Gifts of gold and frankincense
and myrrh to give the one they seek.
Now he's found, they bow in worship
God who's come in human form.

Watch the people as they gather,
singing carols, giving gifts.
Do they hear the Christmas message
"Peace on earth! Good will to men"?

Are they searching for the one
shepherds worshipped, wisemen sought,
One who died but still is living,
God who came in human form?

FEARS AND TEARS

We have just celebrated Easter! Praise God for the Resurrection. Now through Jesus we have peace with God and can live in peace. He is near in our trials. When we hurt, He hurts with us. He is worthy of praise.”

I TALKED TO GOD
The other day I talked to God
while driving down the road.
He sat beside me on the seat
and listened as I drove.

With heavy heart, I told my tale
of trials in my way.
When all was said, I felt His hand
reach out to mine that day

He dried my tears and I saw His;
He walked my path with me.
He took the load that I had borne,
and traded it for peace.

(2018)