Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

These Merciful Hedges

A Few Mornings Ago As I Met With The Lord

My Thoughts Gave Rise To Thanksgiving

For All The Pits That Appear In Daily Living

Seen And Unseen, Revealed and Hidden

My Feet Have Yet To Slip Into Some Dreadful Gorge

The More I Contemplated The More It Was Astounding

Of All The Tragedies That Mount Around Me

Hurricanes Blowing, Bombs Exploding, Bridges Collapsing,

Cars Wrecking, Mines Caving, Terrorists Killing

My Life's Only Invasion Has Been God's Flowing Mercy

As I Tried To Somehow Offer Him Grateful Praise

My Mind Began To Ponder Another Way

His Faithful Mercies Were New Again Today

Millions Of Evils And Harms Were Kept At Bay

Through All My Steps Of Ten Thousand Yesterdays

There Is No Merit Or Claim From Within Me

That Can Yield Or Provide A Sufficient Answer

As To Why His Graces Constantly Over Me Shower

And Every Day Buds With Another Blessed Flower

It All Points Back To God's Generous, Abundant Mercy

Just Examining One Life Is Evidence Enough

To Waken The Soul From Complacency's Slumber

But These Mercies Multiply Without Number

When I Consider My Entire Family's God-given Cover

And Realize The Enormity Of God's Vast Protecting Love

Now Sorrow Has Been Felt And Met With Prayer

As Death And Illness Have Occasionally Entered Our Homes

But Horrific Tragedy Has Not Risen Here

And Unexpected Evil Has Not Been Seen Anywhere

For God Has Shielded Us And Only Mercies Are Known

While Grace Has Lavished Our Hearts And Brought Salvation

We Dare Not To Us This Wonder Attribute

For Each Member Has Only His Sin To Contribute

So May We Fall To Our Knees, Sing Loud My Tribute,

And Offer Him Cheerful Worship For Such Extensive Protection

Let Us Not Take This Lightly And Neglect To Daily Praise Him

For At His Will These Mercies May Someday Lift

And Heartaches Flood And Days Grow Dim

And Tragedies Seek Our Faith To Sift

Let Us Resolve Now To Then Give Him Glory

For The Same Loving One Who Gives Also Lovingly Takes Away

Whether Life Is Full And Over-abundant In Blessing

Or Trials Push Us To Fearful, Faithless Ledges

May His Glory Bring Forth Our Lives As An Offering

And Each Day We Bless God Above For These Merciful Hedges

Wil Owens