Friday, February 23, 2024

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As I have mentioned in Why This Blog?, my children that have written poetry are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one. I've uploaded their poems, which glorify God, in separate posts on this blog for you to enjoy.

I've called this blog "Verses to the King," which is based on the words of the psalmist that say, "To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song. My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe." (Psa 45:1).  

God and His Creation
God Will Help Us
God Will Meet You There
God is in Control
God Without Beginning
God's Eternal Ways
God’s Grand Design
Creator We Love
The Answer
The Eyes of the Lord
Worth My Praise
You Are Faithful
The Glory of God
The River of Life
Great is His Faithfulness
All Creation Proclaims
Praise Him
From Him, Through Him, To Him
Feeling Your Love
Seashore
I Think of You

Jesus Christ
Jesus
Our Sympathizer
Saved Through Sacrifice
Royal Intervention
The Love Story
He Loved Us First
The Miracle Worker
My Letter to the King
Who is Judge?
Coronation in Jerusalem
Jesus is Risen
Out of His Love
The Man with the Master Plan
Praise for Our King
The Name of the Lord
The Rider
Jesus, My Lover
He Wants To Be Involved
You Fill Me Up
Our Intercessor
Good Shepherd
My Anchor
Lighthouse
Still the Same
The Fragrance of Holiness
Bettrothed

Sin and Eternal Destiny
Sin's Price
When I Cross the Line
My Grace Was There
The Spirit is willing
Bitter or Better
Die or Deny
Don’t Run from God
Don't Look Back
Love on Trial
The Hunter and the Hunted
The Sheep and the Goats
The Dazzling Wine of Deception

Personal Transformation
The Cost
At the Crossroads
Give Your Life to Jesus
A Pleasing Sacrifice
Cross Bearing
Wash Your Robes
Perfect for the King
Beauty Unfading
Preparation
Make Your Bride Ready
Vessel for the Master
Mirror of Christ
Compassion for the Lost
God-Given Rest
Greater Things Await

Life and Trials
Your Life
The Meaning of Life
Life's Basic Training
We Want to be Accepted
Finishing Strong
Strangers
Going Through the Valley
Nothing Will Separate
Smoldering Flame
Full of His Goodness
Overflowing Blessings
Blessings
A Thousand Little Gifts
Within His Will
Connected to the Vine
Fruit in Every Season 
I'll Follow You
Without Love
His Little Flower
Spared
Safe
Call of the Missionary
Take Two

Faith and Prayer
Open Line to God
Under the Tree
So Much More
Faith Should Not Depend on Feeling
Wait for the Lord
A.S.K.
I Learned to Fly
Like a Child
Use Your Talents
Swift to the Rescue
Garden of His Delight
The Sound of Your Voice

God's Word
Pearl in the Sand
My Daily Bread
Boldly Bring

Spiritual Warfare
Armed for War
Flaming Sword
Battle of the Mind

Marriage and Family
Beckoned
The Voiceless Innocents
The Noble Wife

End Times and Last Things
In These Last Days
America, Turn Back to God
Judgment of Babylon
The Midnight Hour
The Time is Near
Take Me Away
Marriage Feast
The Millennium
When I Get to Heaven
Beyond the Clouds
Reward of the Overcomer
Store Eternal Treasure
First Day in Heaven

Author's note You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 
___________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Why This Blog?

I have five children, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-three years old.  From time to time, they like to write poems, aside from the toddler, and some of their work is worth sharing.  The ones who wrote poems are ages seven, ten, twelve, and fourteen.  Well, this weekend, they all wrote some poems, and I asked the oldest to type them all up for a blog, so I could post them online for others to read.  I also asked her to write up the testimony she shared on Sunday with me about how this began this weekend.  Here's what she wrote:

This is how the story begins: Late Friday night in the middle of our family prayer meeting, I (Charity) had been praying. As I was, I asked God to give me the words to a poem I wanted to write about Daddy. And I trusted that he would grant my request.

Later that night, after our family prayer meeting had ended, I went to bed. As I lay on my pillow, four lines of verse simultaneously popped into my head, all of them rhyming perfectly and flowing. I could hardly believe it. But these were not words concerning Daddy. They were totally different.

When this happened, I really wished I had had a piece of paper and a pen handy, but since it was quite late, and because of the fact that I would have to go through special efforts to get my notebook, I decided to wait till morning to write down the lines. "Hopefully I’ll remember them," I thought.

The next morning, I woke up around 7:55AM. And I had a bad sore throat. But, it wasn’t really that big of a surprise, because I had felt it coming on the night before. So I climbed out of bed and went to get a drink of water. In the kitchen, as I drank, without even previously thinking about it, the four lines that had popped into my head last night did so once more. I was kind of surprised and decided that I would go and write them down, seeing as how I was wide awake and all. So I did.

Well, it turns out that I ended up writing several other lines of poetry just from those four lines. And before I knew it, I had composed a whole poem.

Later that same morning, I was in the bathroom washing up. By then, I had started to feel really run down, with sensitive skin, a horrible sore throat, of course, and other symptoms. I knew I was fighting off something bad. So I just prayed, “Lord, I thank you that you are going to heal me and that you are going to use this sickness for your glory.” I really trusted He would answer my prayer, although I was not sure in the least bit what He would do.

As the day wore on into the afternoon, I came down with a fever and a little nausea. My head was aching and I felt yucky. Every time I stood up, the room seemed to spin, and my head felt funny. At this point I knew that I was fighting off some nasty virus.

Surprisingly though, for the rest of that day, I continued to receive poems from the Lord. Not only that, but soon my brother, C.R. was writing poems, and then my sister Faith. Soon, my other sister, Hope. had written one as well. It was amazing! Apparently, God was answering my prayers! And this had been quite unexpected. Praise God! -- Charity, 14 years old
Therefore, based on that testimony from my daughter, I'm calling this blog "Verses to the King," which is based on the words of the psalmist that say, "To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song. My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe." (Psa 45:1)I've uploaded their poems in separate posts on this blog for you to enjoy (see links below). -- Len

Saved Through Sacrifice
Praise Him
Reward for the Overcomer
Don't Run from God
Make Your Bride Ready
The Time is Near
Preparation

Photo credit: Lilly photo taken from Flowers Information Blog

Author's note You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Friday, February 18, 2022

The Sound of Your Voice


Let my ears hear your voice,
The sound of your voice.
Let me quiet my soul,
And escape from the noise.

Some have heard what it sounds like—
Ageless and deep
Like the rush of a waterfall
Tender and meek.

It is whispered in sleep
When you have man’s attention.
Gilded in majesty,
Transcending dimensions.

Could it be that I hear You
In more ways than I thought?
Could the gentlest breeze
Bear a message from God?

A God, who though mighty
In power He be
Remains ever
Personal to me.

-- Charity Lacroix

Scriptures:
"For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it." (Job 33:14)

"And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?" (Job 26:14)

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." (1 Ki 19:11-13a)

Attribution notice: Image of "Precious" painting, copyright 2022 by Danny Hahlbohm, used by permission, all rights reserved. Inspiredart.store.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages thirteen through twenty-three. The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International . He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Swift to the Rescue


The moment you hear me—
My cry of distress—
You’re swift to the rescue,
Like a bird to her nest.

The very first whimper,
The smallest of cries
Instantly beckons You
Right to my side.

Your nature of love
And deepest compassion
Aroused to arise,
Protective in action.

I just barely begin
To voice my heart’s plea,
When all heaven is summoned
And no less, for the need.

-- Charity Lacroix

"Even before they call out to me, I will answer them. While they are still speaking, I will hear them."
(Isa 65:24 NIrV)

"Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words." (Dan 10:12 NASB)

"'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'" (Jer 33:3 NASB)

"Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." (Psa 103:13 NASB)

"The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  (Psa 116:5 NIV)

"Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me."  (Psa 31:2 NIV)

""I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. "In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them." (2Sa 22:4-15 NIV)

"He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry." (Jon 2:2 NIV)

Attribution notice: Wherever noted, Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Wherever noted, other quotations taken from the NASB, copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission.

Photo credit:

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages twelve through nineteen . The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International . He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Garden of His Delight


Unlock the golden gate
And make Your way
Into the garden of my heart.
None but You 
Possess the key
That gains You sacred access.
I hear Your gentle steps
Upon the rustling brush—
The rush of foxes chased away,
So we may have undisturbed communion—
Fellowship that drips with the sweetness
Of the honey of Your wisdom
That You impart to me. 
We walk together
Hand in hand
Through glistening dew.
The Spirit’s Wind
Envelops us,
Delights You with 
The fragrance of the flowers
Growing just for Your enjoyment.
Budding love has yielded fruit,
The Fruit of Love--
Obedience.
Endless pleasure greets You
In this golden, peaceful haven.
Petal-laden pathways,
Branches bursting blossoms,
A footbridge spanning bubbling brooks
Sparkling streams to dip our toes in.
Angelic aids have laid
A meal of heaven’s finest foods.
Beloved, let me hear
The secrets of Your heart
And know You
As I’m fully known. 

-- Charity Lacroix

"You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain." (Son 4:12 NIV)

"I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love." (Son 5:1 NIV)

"Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits." (Son 4:16 NIV)

Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission.

Image credit: The Bloom of Spring artwork on this post was created by my daughter, Charity Lacroix.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages thirteen through twenty-three. The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International . He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

First Day in Heaven

 

The bliss I feel—
My heart explodes—
To see His face.
My feet have felt the streets,
I’ve seen Incarnate Grace. 
I run abandoned toward Him,
Cast myself before the One
Who gave His life
To take away my sin.
The longing has been satisfied.
All crying, sighing
No more, forgotten like a dream. 

The patriarchs and saints of old,
Mighty martyrs, humble souls,
Polycarp and Abraham,
Peter, Paul, Stephen, Huss—
The ones who went before,
Who overcame,
Rejoice I made it. 
They glow with light,
Are fresh with youth.
I’m led through realms celestial 
Where God and man
Abide as one. 
Your Hand has led me into
Beulah Land.
No longer does there span
A distance.
I am home
At last. 
The old is past;
The new has come. 
This vibrancy
Is pulsing through my veins.
Insane sensations!
I’ve never felt this alive,
Like I had wings!

The mansion fashioned just for me
Reflects the care of God,
The King who lavishes His riches
And adds the custom touch.
Jesus said He’ll come and visit
Anytime I want!
We’ll sit together, side by side
In perfumed gardens.
My joy could not be greater!
We’ll dine 
As I share all that’s on my mind.
In the halls of heaven’s library,
Giant books of truth and wisdom
Wait for all to freely learn.
I want to read them all!
The secrets of the Kingdom
Have been given.

Choruses of praise resound
Within the courtroom,
The center of the universe.
The holiness of God pervades my soul;
I’m stirred right to my core.
My heart resounds with the worship.
I fall before His throne
As angels, saints, and cherubim call
“Holy, holy, holy!”
The music here transcends all other;
It’s from another realm!
All yearning, hope, and holy burning,
Dream and desire
Culminates here
In union with Eternal Fire. 

-- Charity Lacroix

"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"— the things God has prepared for those who love him—" (1Co 2:9 NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Heb 12:1-3 NIV)

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (Heb 12:22-24 NIV)

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Rev 22:1-5 NIV)

Attribution notice: Wherever noted, Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Wherever noted, other quotations taken from the NASB, copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission.

Photo credit: Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for commentary purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages twelve through nineteen . The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International . He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Betrothed


I gladly accepted the day You proposed. 
I’m wearing Your ring so that everyone knows
I belong to Another, my soul is betrothed
To the Man of my dreams, the King of all kings. 

Your kisses are sweet and yet quietly sudden. 
I love all Your kisses, can’t get enough of them!
How long till Your royal procession is summoned?
O, to lay eyes on You may be too much to bear. 

Your Bride is awakened, donned in her gown,
Breathlessly awaiting a whisper, a sound. 
The Day is upon her to lift off the ground.
What joy could be greater than marriage to Christ?

The ultimate wish of all women’s hearts
Is to marry a prince and not once be apart,
To be cherished and loved for the person we are. 
The One I will marry is matchless by far!

-- Charity Lacroix


"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." (2Co 11:2 NASB)

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2Co 1:21-22 NIV)

"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal 3:29 NIV)

"My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (Joh 14:2-3 NIV)

""Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev 19:7-8 NASB)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." (Eph 5:25-27 NASB)

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1Co 6:19-20 NASB)

Attribution notice: Wherever noted, Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Wherever noted, other quotations taken from the NASB, copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission.

Photo credit: Image by Charity Lacroix is taken from my children's blog, A Brush with Life,

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages twelve through nineteen . The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International . He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.