The Gift of Grace ~

Oh, to know the gift of grace,
not earned by any act or deed
but given to every soul for favor
to fill our deepest want and need.

Oh, to know the gift of grace,
not worthy by any way or means
just filthy rags, covered in scarlet sins
till His blood ~ washed us clean.

Oh, to know the gift of grace,
not deserving to be set free at all
His life became sins only ransom
love’s redemption, for man’s fall.

Oh, to know the gift of grace,
not justified to accept or to receive
Jesus came to give the guilty sinner
the gift of mercy, so they’d believe.

Oh, to know the gift of grace,
where evil no longer rules or reigns
to know His scarred and healing hands
have released sins ~ crippling chains.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ephesians 2:7-9
King James Version

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

Another . . . Senseless Tragedy!

Note:
A young boy wrote me, and asked me to write a poem
about his life in Chicago.  He explained to me what he
witnessed, saw, and lived . . . this is for all the children
who live through out this world in their daily nightmare.

Another senseless tragedy,
has hit Chicago’s South Side
another young victim’s life
has once more, been denied.

It could’ve been my brother,
my sister or my best friend
and every night I pray . . .
“Dear Lord, when will this end”

I’m only thirteen-years old,
but, I am always on the run
I never know when someone
is gonna point at me a gun.

Most kids who are my age,
don’t expect to live a full life
and getting shot to death
is a part of our daily strife.

Streets in my neighborhood,
aren’t safe for any one . . .
it doesn’t matter your age
or if you’re a daughter or a son.

I don’t know what to do,
but I am praying that you can
“Stop all this gang violence”
so I can grow up to be a man.

Another funeral at the church,
a “Homecoming” some people say
another parent’s grief-filled tears
God will have to wipe away!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Psalm 127:3-5
King James Version

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
so are children of the youth. Happy is the man
that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed,
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka