A Decade of Praise

By G Helen Bolton

Celebrate the beauty of Gods love and greatness in this inspiring compilation of lyrical praises by G. Helen Bolton in A Decade of Praise. Written along her spiritual journey with God, these lyrical praises are exceptionally touching and motivating revealing feelings of love, hope, trust, faith, gratitude, and exaltation. Find comfort and security in these scripture-based praises and acknowledge that life is awesome with God. Join G. Helen Bolton as she encourages everyone to strengthen his or her spiritual journey and live Gods way in this one of a kind book. Let these praises inspire you.

Book Review>

My friend Helen Bolton, who was a Port Arthur ISD teacher for three decades before retiring and moving to Brady, has written a book that is truly A Decade of Praise. Filled prolifically with her daily thoughts and prayers expressed in simple rhyme schemes, A Decade of Praise presents all the situations in which we find ourselves and reveals how one can face them squarely with the help and asked-for presence of God.

She writes graphically about both the highs and lows of life, constantly praising God for the help she finds in meditation, prayer and scripture. Her words serve as a spiritual guide that will help us see ourselves and evaluate the path we are taking toward a meaningful and purposeful life.

Each of her hundreds of prayers is referenced with verses from the Bible, ranging from The Potter and the Clay, (Isaiah 64:8) to The Darkest Night (John 17:11), and everything in-between. A favorite of this writer is Heal Our Land, based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Helen taught students from fifth grade through college in settings as diverse as American schools overseas to Texas youth correctional facilities during her long teaching career. She published 10 collections of poetry and designed greeting cards.

A Decade of Praise is published by Xlibris, and is available from Xlibris, amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.

--By Janet Cline

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 25, 2009
• ISBN: 9781450098328

G Helen Bolton

I was an educator for almost thirty years. I have taught Teaching Mathematics to Elementary School Teachers, Algebra I, Fundamentals of Math, Algebra II, Math 5, Math 6, Language Arts 6, Social Studies 6, Reading 6, Language Arts 7, Geometry, Mathematics of Money, Computer Math, Calculus, COBOL, and Business Basic and FORTRAN. I have taught students from grade 5 through college juniors. I also taught mathematics for almost two years at the Ron Jackson State Correctional Facility Unit I in Brownwood. The math teachers who worked with me in Port Arthur cannot say that I forgot how to teach after being an administrator for fifteen years. When I was in Abu Dhabi, I realized that I have a gift for teaching. I always had a creative streak. I do not know how many lessons I have written over the years, but I do know that I have written over four hundred poems. I started writing poetry when I was teaching Sunday school at First Christian Church, Port Arthur, Texas. I made the poems and meditations into bookmarks that related to what we were studying. I wrote and self-published ten collections of poetry. I created greeting cards and sent them to people on the prayer list. I also wrote prayers for the people that I worked with and people who asked me to pray for them. I shared mini-collections with the women at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility where I was a volunteer minister for seven years. We retired and moved to Rochelle, TX in 2005 where we built a log home, planted a pecan grove, and raise goats. We belong to Rochelle Baptist Church where I am an active member of the choir and Women’s Missionary Union. I hope these prayers, meditations, and poems comfort you as much as they have comforted me.

Book preview

Contents

View from the Mountaintop

Mountains

Watch What You Say!

A Good Work

Daily

Good Seed

A Simple Task

The Sea

From the Mountains

In the Proper Perspective

Faith

Faith, a Noun?

Faith Versus Fear

No Fear Here!

What Is There to Fear?

Laboring to Enter into that Rest

Faith Works

What Faith Is and Is Not

Lighten Your Load

Made Right

Thanksgiving

‘Thanksliving’

More Thanksgiving

Thoughts for Your Day

Your Thoughts: Your Life

Prayer

Prayer Time

Precious Minutes

Together with You

The First Step

Our Confidence

The Garden

Finding the Right Words to Pray

Broken Hearts

Answered Prayers

Our Quiet Time

When I Do Not Know How to Pray

More than Enough

In Agreement

Time Out

Sweet Rest

No Matter What!

The Power of Prayer

God Unlimited

To Know You More

Once Again

Lessons Learned during

the Victory Celebration

Rejoice and Be Glad

Good Morning, Lord

Gratitude

The Prince of Peace

Holding Hands

Our Father’s House

My Dad

Enough Time to Say Grace

Looking Forward

Gone

Right Here!

Well Done

The Latter Rain

The Potter and the Clay

A True Ring

A Little Oil

In Remembrance

The Apple of His Eye

Hello, Jesus Loves You!

The Apple of My Eye

On His Mind

The Father’s Lullaby

The Inner Child

Forever

A Forever Friend

My Heart’s Throne

All

Lord, It’s Me Again

Forgiveness

Three Times

Words of Encouragement

My Strength

Silence

Spring Cleaning

Good Fruit

My Confidence

Your Heart’s Treasure

My Heart Strings

My God

Sweet Victory

Regrets

Hope to Carry On

Hope for the Hopeless

So Many Questions

Even Though

Restored

Patience: God’s Gift

Keep in Touch

Resting Comfortably

True Love

The Invitation

RSVP

A Note of Thanks

Give Thanks

The Truth

The Whole Truth

Safe in My Father’s Arms

ASK

All Day

Becoming One

Our Peace

In His Name

My Father’s Love

Our Father’s Eyes

I Wonder

Help me, Daddy!

Our Daddy

Father’s Lessons

The Family Resemblance

Marked

Just Like Dad

The Bible: God’s Living Will and Testament

The Family Business

Without Reservation

A Higher Plane above Our Pain

Justice with Mercy

The Gift of a Smile

A Crown of Glory

A Frown or a Crown?

My Friend

My Friend: Your Daughter

Lord of the Harvest

Daddy’s Little Girl

Across the Miles

Reflections

Good Cheer

Intercession

True Intercession

The Eyes of Faith

Changing Roles

For My Sister

In the Doctor’s Office

My Bread and My Water

Patiently Waiting

Nothing But Bread and Water

For a Little Babe

Hallowed Halls

For Parents

For Principals

For Secretaries

For Students

For the Support Staff

For Teachers

Teaching

For Volunteers

For Deb

Bill’s Psalm

God’s Diagnosis

Sent from God

Gerry’s Psalm

George’s Psalm

Kathy’s Psalm

Lolly’s Psalm

Mary’s Psalm

Mimi’s Psalm

Sarah’s Psalm

Katrina’s Wake

Rita’s Wrath

On September 11, 2001

Each Step of the Way

Another Chance

A Mother’s Psalm

Welcome Back!

Again

Take Joy

The Joy of the Lord

For the Joy

Hope

Hope Revisited

Our Hope

Everlasting Hope

Father Knows Best

Free-At Last

No Hold on Me

The Difference

On Isaiah 43:2

Like Sheep

Close Watch

My Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

On Eagle’s Wings

The Wings of the Morning

In the Still of the Morning

Intimate Friends

Contented

Always Near

Rain

More than Bread

Wheat

The Feast at the Family Table

The Family Table

For the Bread and the Cup

The Alpha and the Omega

The Author and Finisher

In the Story

In the Light

Come Out into the Deep

Out of Touch

Cherished Moments

The Promise of the Night

The New Covenant

Holding on

True North

More

Only One Step Away

A Ray of Sunshine

Healing and Restoration

Restoration

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

Return and Rest

Thy Will

For Grace to Run the Race

Vigilance

The Door to My Heart

Transformation

Amazed

Insight

Preparation

The Doors to Your Heart

Be on Guard

Bless Me Indeed!

Twice Blessed

My Prayer to You

Heal Our Land

Send the Rain

The Lord Reigns

Hand in Hand

To Will and To Do

From Glory to Glory

Forgive Me

With Joyful Song

In Full Measure

Come to Me

In Awe

No Other Gods

Time to Think

Confirmation

Then and Now

An Interpretation

Lessons Learned

Words of Comfort

Love and Obey

Obey

My Commitment

Gratitude

My Cup of Joy

You Knew

Your Grace

Grace

Life’s Tapestry

Joined at the Heart

Never Fear

One Day at a Time

Asleep on My Father’s Lap

Safe and Sound

Knowing You

Who You Are to Me

My Captain

King of Glory

Perfect Peace

An All-Time Low

Heart and Soul

Weighed Down?

Daughter

Shalom

Immanuel and Me

My Dearest Friend

Sweet Fragrance

Love Songs (Daddy’s Psalm)

Hosanna to the King

Unconditional Love

Limitless Love

God is Love

Thunderstorms

Summer Rain

Rainbows

Rest Assured

Rest and Be Blest

Reactions

At Heaven’s Gate

At My Rope’s End

There’s Hope

A Door of Hope

So Tired

Renewed

Encore

Victory in Jesus

For the Master

Remember the Christ!

The Journey to the Cross

Ever Ready

God’s Armor

Be Good!

Remember Me

When Life’s Not Fair

The Victory

The Darkest Night

Lord of All

Sabbath Rest

Peace of Mind

The Ambiance of the Wine

While Waiting

Working or Resting

Mary and Martha

God’s Word

At Jesus’s Feet

Forsaken, But not Forgotten

The Suffering Servant

In the Garden

Mending Relationships

Let the Blood Flow

The Living Water

Glorious

Listen

Reema: Your Living Word

The Living Word

The Pleasure of His Company

Number One

What to Say

Water

Prisoners of Hope

On Calvary

Made New

Who Are You Going to Listen to?

Abba, Father

Abiding Love

The Liar and the Fire

Purifying Salt

Revisiting Psalm 27

Magnify the Lord

In Your Remembrance

Limiting God

‘A Word in Due Season . . .’

‘How Sweet It Is!’

At the Gate

During the Silence

A Great Day

Together

Time for Mercy and Grace

Homecoming

On Father’s Day

For My Mother

Mothers

The Reason

On Christmas

On New Year’s Eve

Across Time

Revisiting an Irish Blessing

On Easter Morning

On Thanksgiving Day

The Three Are One

Each New Day

Grace, An Uneven Exchange

Divine Substitution

Restitution

His Bride

Holy Ground

The Secret Place

Time Management

Lost Keys

Beneath the Cross

Finding Joy in the Journey

Along the Way

Reflections of His Grace

Free Indeed

A Song in the Night

A Gift

Enjoy the Harvest

The Future Harvest

The Right Choice for Your Voice

Roots

Growing in God’s Garden

Spiritual Exercise

Balance

Perspective

For Taking Time Today

The Present

Take the Time

God’s Friendship Quilt

Friends . . .

You Cared

Encouraging Words

The Written Word

The First Ray of Morning Light

The Bond of Friendship

A Work of Heart

No Wonder

Right Before My Eyes

Satisfaction

Wisdom

On the Job

Praising God from the Mountaintop

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the people who have befriended me, inspired me to write, and encouraged me to publish my work. There have been too many to mention them by name, but they know who they are. My name is on their prayer list, and theirs is on mine.

I could not have written this volume without their prayers and support. I would not be the person that I am today without the lessons they taught me and the prayers they prayed for me. I dedicate this work to them and thank my God for the privilege of knowing them.

One person that I must mention by name is my husband, Alvin Charles. He has truly been my helpmeet. Without him, I do not know where I would be or what I would be doing.

View from the Mountaintop

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Father God, I am standing at the base of this mountain. I cannot find the path carved in the rock by Your Word so long ago. I know I am too weak to climb this mountain alone, but I know Your strength is made perfect in weakness. I know I can reach the mountain summit with You as my guide. When the path is dark, Your Word lights the way. When the night is cold, the fire of Your Spirit warms me and draws me closer to Your side. When I am tired and weary, I rest my head on Your shoulder. You soothe my brow as You give me Your sweet sleep.

Climbing this mountain with You by my side shouldering the weight of my load, I know that we are more than able to scale these lofty heights. You guide me each step of the way. When the slope is too steep for me, I see Your hand reaching down to me. I lift my hand to You, and You firmly grasp it lifting me higher from glory to glory. You make my feet surefooted as the mountain deer as together we climb the high places.

The mountain summit is mine for You have given me the victory. I say to this mountain, By the Grace of God your heights no longer loom over me. You have lost your power over me, and my ears are deaf to your taunts and cries. I only hear the voice of my Savior saying,

Isn’t the view from the mountain top glorious? I knew you would make it to the top, because you are now and ever more shall be one with the Father, Spirit and Me. Amen!

References: Mark 11:22-24; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalms 100, 119:105; Matthew 11:28-30, 26:41; John 1:12-14, 10:14, 17:20-21; Romans 8:9, 26, 28, 32; Habakkuk 3:19; Joshua 1:3; Luke 10:19; Galatians 3:3, 5:22-25; 1 John 4:18, 19; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:7, 12; 1 Corinthians 13; Colossians 4:6; Hebrews 13:15; Acts 17:25; Ephesians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18

Mountains

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Moving mountains was easier once I realized that I see by faith, not just what’s before my eyes. It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed, which my Faithful Father gives daily to all who believe.

Before I move a mountain, I remember to ask, Why was this mountain placed in my path? If the mountain is there for strategic defense, I thank the good Lord and use common sense. Sometimes climbing the mountain is the way to go because the challenges we face test my faith and help me grow. Besides, the view from the summit is awesome to see. When I cast the mountain into the sea, I praise my Creator and together we sail over the mountain joyfully.

When Jesus admonished, You shall have what you say, He was just being honest. So I must remember to speak in faith, not in fear every day throughout the year.

References: Mark 11: 22-25; Hebrews 4:2, 9, 12, 16

Watch What You Say!

My Lord, Set a watch over my lips. Guard them night and day. Keep the door to my heart, I pray. Remember, Words spoken in faith will come to pass, so choose to magnify what you want to last. When you prophesy, do not speak in agreement with Satan’s lies. Remind God of His promises one by one, and the victory will surely be won. Let God be God, be patient, and stop stewing. He knows what He is doing. Enter into God’s Sabbath rest. Study to pass every test and You will surely be blest with nothing save the very best.

References: Psalm 141:3; Isaiah 43:26; John 1:1, 2; 2 Timothy 2:15

A Good Work

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Father, set a guard over my tongue. Keep the doors to my heart. Sift my words like wheat so You will agree with the words that I speak. May the seeds that I sow bear witness of the God I know. Help me plant good seed in truth and deed, for we cannot walk together unless we agree.

Please, work within me to do of Your good pleasure. Fill me with sufficient measure so I can always be a child that You treasure. Thank you for giving me a job to do and for giving me the grace to complete it too.

References: Hebrews 13:20-21; Colossians 3:23; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; Amos 3:3

Daily

Father God, I gave You my past. You gave me hope that will last. I give You my today. You hold my hand each step of the way. I will give You my tomorrow each day as it comes. You will complete the work You have begun until the return of Your Son.

Reference: Philippians 1:6

Good Seed

Help me separate the wheat from the chaff to only speak good seed that will last. Grant that the seeds I sow will bear witness of the God I know.

References: Matthew 13:23; Revelation 12:10-11; Luke 22:31

A Simple Task

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When I asked, Why did You say, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, You will say to this mountain be cast into the sea, and You shall have what You say?’ Why did You have to make the statement so difficult to even imagine?

You replied, Come, let us reason together. If the mountain is in the sea, it’s under the water where it can be washed by the Word and cleansed by the Spirit. You do not have to climb a mountain that is under water. You can just get in a boat to sail over it. I even provide the Wind for the sails. I stated the facts simply. Do you not see! How much easier could it be?

I should have known better than to think You would give us an impossible task. Forgive me for having to ask, but thank You for explaining. I understand at last. Where You are concerned, the impossible is a simple task. You are able to do more than I can even imagine. You just ask us to look at things from Your perspective and to follow Your directives.

References: Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:22-23; Ephesians 3:20-21; 5:26; Isaiah 43:26; 55:10-11

The Sea

Remember, Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When I cast the mountain into the sea, I am also giving it to Thee. The mountain is immersed in and surrounded by water, cleansed by Your Spirit and washed by Your Word. I am acknowledging that everything, including this mountain, is under God’s control and in His dominion.

The sea speaks of the purifying salt of the covenant. It reminds me that God always keeps His promises. Everything is falling into place. Thanks to Your amazing grace. As always, Your Word points us in the right direction. The sea even provides us with divine protection.

You are my Hightower, my Refuge, and my Sure Defense. Forgive me for trying to use common sense, instead of relying on Your wisdom from above and trusting in my Father’s love. Yes, You were clearly giving us a viable solution by helping us state a sure and true resolution.

References: 1 Peter 5: 6-7; Leviticus 2:13; Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 5:26

From the Mountains

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The comment was made that nothing grows above the tree line; the most growth occurs down in the valley. But there are things to be learned from the mountains. The view from the mountaintop helps you see things from an entirely different perspective. Some things that seemed important down in the valley become insignificant, and some things that did not seem important become priorities when viewed from the mountaintop.

You see, not only is the view exhilarating and breathtaking, but the majesty of the mountains puts you in awe of your Creator. Knowing that He created such beauty for your eyes to behold shows more love than your heart can hold. You feel His power and His love,