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.

Love On Trial

Take up your cross,

Walk in My ways
Give me your will and surrender.
Are you reluctant to do what I say?
You told Me you love Me, remember?

Forsake sinful pleasures,
Abandon the dross
And do not ignore when I call.
If you hold back because you’d face loss,
Then you really don’t love Me at all.

-- Charity, girl, age 18

Scriptural Basis:

""If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Joh 14:15)

“Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.” (Joh 14:23-24)

“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” (2Jn 1:6)

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through fourteen. 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."  The "All Hail" painting © 2012 is by Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.  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.

Overflowing Blessings

If you carefully follow the Lord,

The Lord will be sure to reward.

You’ll be blessed everywhere that you go.

Your blessings will soon overflow.

All the fruit of your womb God will bless,

Your livestock more than you could guess.

Surely He’ll bless everything that you eat.

His blessing will cover you just like a sheet.

You’ll be blessed when you’re in and when you're out,

His blessing will follow you all about.

When your enemies come against you,

They’ll flee like nobody else would do.

God’s blessing will be on your barns;

He’ll bless all you do with your arms.

He’ll make you, His people, holy,

If you walk in His ways only.

Then all peoples on earth will see

God has called by name you and me.

Though many will ask you to lend,

Their money you yourself will not spend.

You will be the head and not the tail,

For God’s good promises never fail.

So don’t stray from what He commands.

‘Cause you know you’ll be in His hands.

-- Hope Lacroix, age 12

Adapted from Deuteronomy 2:1-12, which begins with the following verses:

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NIV, 1984)

More devotional blogs by our daughter, Hope Lacroix at "Words of Hope."

 More of our children's poems:

America, Turn Back to God
Creator We Love
Use Your Talents
The Sheep and the Goats
You Are Faithful
All Creation Proclaims
When I Cross the Line
The Cost

Attribution notice: Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through fourteen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I invite you to read my article, Is Obedience Optional? 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 also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."  The image of  the cornucopia is from Jessica R. Patch's blog called What's In Your Basket? A Cornucopia: Horn of Plenty.   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.