My Lighthouse: Devotions & Poetry

By Renee Pounds

Renee Pounds has experienced some of the darkest moments and some of the greatest blessings. She’s learned many of life’s most difficult lessons the hard way and she’s realized that in the moments she’s felt most alone, God was with her all along. Using writing as a therapeutic resource, she understands her words hold power and encouragement in others’ hearts and minds.

In My Lighthouse, Pounds offers a collection of lights God has shone on her as well as her uplifting messages. It provides insight into scriptures that guide us and lead us to a strength that allows us to endure and gives comfort during overwhelming trials.

The included poems and songs connect to the different lights with scriptural foundation as well as personal anecdotes and testimonies. My Lighthouse includes a reflection page so this book can be used as a personal interaction for your own thoughts or connection to each light. Pounds seeks to provide all with a renewed sense of belonging and unwavering hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664269620

Renee Pounds

Renee Pounds was born in Houston, Texas. She has raised a grown daughter and currently resides in North Mississippi.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Renee Pounds.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher

make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and

in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views

of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Renee Pounds

Scripture marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked CSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by

Permission HCSB ©1999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard

Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM

Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible,

English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry

of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the (NASB®) New American

Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman

Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6963-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6964-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6962-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911351

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/13/2022

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

—PSALM 119:105 (NASB)

To my Father God, who never gives up on me. The one who knows me like no one else does and loves me unconditionally though I don’t deserve it and could never earn it. I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunities God gives me to share with others the love, mercy, and grace He offers so richly every day. I pray that even one person may find peace and hope in these pages.

This book came to fruition because of the constant pursuit of God for my heart. I am so thankful that He never gave up on me and never let me give up on myself.

I am alive to write these words because of God’s unfailing love for me. His light guides my path. I pray that when people see me, read these words, or hear me speak, they will see God. I don’t pray for a change in my situation, in others, or to remove tribulations from me; instead, I pray that God equips me to handle the things I walk through and that my walk with Christ gives others hope and glorifies the name of Jesus.

To everyone reading this, I am a living testament to the unending mercy, unfailing love, and abundant grace God has for us all. I have lived through situations that the strength of God has brought me through to share the hope that exists when you seek God with all that is in you.

Know that you are loved. Know that you are cared for greatly and accepted fully, chosen, and forgiven and that God’s love is available to us all. Know that God knew you before you were formed and has created you with for a purpose.

I pray that you find encouragement in these devotions, poems, and the playlist of music that have been therapeutic for me. I pray that whatever burdens you will be relieved. I pray that your hurt is replaced with joy and that your worried and anxious heart is replaced with peace and serenity. I pray these words will be a light for you and that this light will guide you to seek God, find God, love God, and know God with your whole heart.

I pray that these words will help even one person feel the unwavering and unfailing love of our precious, matchless, good, and tender Father God.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Song: My Lighthouse—Rend Collective

Prayer For Women

Prayer For Men

Light of Love

Song: The God Who Stays—Matthew West

Poem: Your Love

Light of Restoration

Song: Shattered—Blanca

Poem: You Restore My Soul

Light of Perseverance

Song: It Is Well—Bethel

Poem: One More Step

Light of Strength

Song: Joy Of The Lord—Rend Collective

Poem: You Took It All

Light of Transformation

Song: Different—Micah Tyler

Poem: Metamorphosis

Light of Vision

Song: Mended—Matthew West

Poem: I Find You

Light of Joy

Song: Old Church Choir—Zach Williams

Poem: Mourning To Dancing

Light of A New Day

Song: I’m Still Here—Mandisa

Poem: Farewell, Old Me

Light of Belonging

Song: Splinters And Stones—Hillsong United

Poem: Yours

Light of Deliverance

Song: Rescue—Lauren Daigle

Poem: My Hiding Place

Light of Blessing

Song: Counting Every Blessing—Rend Collective

Poem: Wave After Wave

Light of Grace

Song: My Story—Big Daddy Weave Or Grace Wins—Matthew West

Poem: Your Story

Light of Praise

Song: Raise A Hallelujah—Bethel Music

Poem: My Praise

Light of Redemption

Song: Alive In You—Jesus Culture

Poem: The Breath Of Life

Light of Faith

Song: Into Faith I Go—Pat Barrett

Poem: Faith In The Fire

Light of Courage

Song: Fear Is A Liar—Zach Williams

Poem: Hello, Fear

Light of Choice

Song: I Have Decided—Elevation Worship

Poem: Chosen

Light of Hope

Song: I Have This Hope—Tenth Avenue North

Poem: My Hope Is In You

Light of Provision

Song: Shoulders—For King And Country, Or You Raise Me Up—Josh Groban

Poem: Where My Help Comes From

Light of Peace

Song: PEACE—Hillsong Young And Free, Or Surrounded—Michael W. Smith

Poem: The Promise Of Peace

Light of Promise

Song: Your Promises—Elevation Worship

Poem: Holding Onto Your Promises

Light of Who God Is

Song: Power To Redeem—Lauren Daigle, Or Way Maker—Sinach

Poem: It Is You

Light of Wisdom

Song: Your Presence Is Heaven—Darlene Zschech

Poem: Wisdom Of The Lord

Light of God’s Workmanship

Song: Unfinished—Mandisa

Poem: This Place

Light of Protection

Song: You Know My Name—Tasha Cobbs

Poem: Under Your Wings

Light of Gratitude

Song: Grateful—Elevation Worship

Poem: Thank You, Jesus

Light of Humility

Song: Come To The Table—Sidewalk Prophets

Poem: An Invitation To The Table

Light of Salvation

Song: Oh, The Blood—Selah

Poem: My Savior

Light of Victory

Song: My Victory—Crowder

Poem: It Is Like You

Light of Surrender

Song: Thy Will—Hillary Scott And The Scott Family, Or Wait On You—Maverick City Music

Poem: Your Way

Light of Identity

Song: Who You Say I Am—Hillsong Worship, And You Say—Lauren Daigle

Poem: You Make Me New

Light of Mercy

Song: What Mercy Did For Me—People & Songs

Poem: Your Mercy

Light of Healing

Song: Worth—Anthony Brown

Poem: In The Healing

References

Playlist

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my daughter, Aislyn. You are my love and my life. You are my joy, and every moment with you is a gift I treasure. You have taught me much more than I have ever taught you, baby girl. Thank you for encouraging me to write this book and not letting it stay just an idea. Thank you for your continuous love and support and for being not just my daughter but also my best friend. You are strong and courageous, and I am proud of the young woman you are and the reflection of God’s love that you walk in every day.

To my mom, Dottie. You are truly a woman of God, and I have witnessed His love and favor toward you time and time again. You are stronger than anyone I know, and I am so thankful that God blessed me with you as my mother. Your spirit is infectious, and everyone who comes in contact with you loves you. You are a prayer warrior to more people than you realize. You are a walking testimony of God’s love and your faith in all you encounter. I am especially grateful that we are on this amazing journey together and are serving God side by side. You are now, have always been, and will forever be the wind beneath my wings.

To my dad, Barry. You always encourage and lift me up. You always believe in me. You always see the potential in what is buried underneath this mess. You always speak words of positivity even when I am unable to see it. You never give up on this wretch, and I am thankful for your love, Daddy. I am now and will always be your girl.

To Marty, who is in heaven now, but her love for God and her commitment to studying His Word were always an inspiration for me. Her love for God sparked a fire in my soul to seek God and grow closer to Him. She took time to discuss the Bible with us as a family and stirred a yearning in me to learn more about God’s Word, and she taught me to listen for God’s voice and direction in my life.

To friends and family who encouraged me along this journey and a special thank-you to Joan Kelsie for taking the time to read through those first pages to help me with proofreading. Also, a special thank you to Alicia Todd, who took what appeared to me as an incomprehensible idea of writing this book and provided me with newfound confidence to step out in faith and do what I was too afraid to do before. She reminded me that if God was stirring it in my soul, it was meant for me to see it through. She has been a constant warrior in praying for me and my family along the way. I love you, girl.

There have been several amazing people, too many to mention, who have supported this process, prayed over me while I was studying God’s Word for this book, listened as I read parts of it out loud, and been a vital part of why I know God gave me the assignment to write this book because they are as excited to hold it in their hands as I am.

Together, we have