Monuments

An attachment for buildings I have never felt more

Though these are not just mere structures

They stand for what I believe and who I am 

They stand for what this nation was founded on and what it has been

They stand not just for men but for their creator 

Not just  "we the people" but “In God we Trust" for He is greater

He was the common strength in what these great men had 

He was there through the good and He was there through the bad

He strode beside them in the flawless times 

And bore their burdens in the difficult

Though all from different times 

I find their strongest bind

was found on their knees in prayer
for they knew no one could compare
And that He was the only one that could daily bear
Their burdens

                                   Written By Riley Henderson

America The Beautiful

On Thursday of last week my family and I embarked on a road trip across the country. We are in the process of traveling   from northern California to Albany New York. On the way we have seen some amazing sights. Just to name a few: Salt Lake City, The Salt flats, The Rockies, and Mt. Rushmore. We went to Mt. Rushmore on Saturday, where we discovered that it  was snowing in giant flakes, which could have proven to make traveling difficult. Though we were worried about that, and the fact that we wouldn’t be able to see the faces of our nations presidents, it turned out perfect. There was hardly anyone there, and the snow that fell softly all around us made the faces of our nation's heroes look magical in front of the grey sky. The snow was a special kind called sugar snow that was so soft and sweet that it melted on the tip of my tongue.  The faces etched flawlessly in the side of the mountain brought a thrill after hearing so much about them. The light in their eyes brought out the liveliness and character of these brave men who dedicated their lives to serving their country.
George Washington was the Father of his country served his men during the war, and during his presidency the people of the nation. He believed in God and that He loved us. He was quoted saying,  “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Thomas Jefferson was  responsible for the writing of the declaration of independence. He was a congressman, a vice president, and later on a president himself. He was quoted saying, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”
Abraham Lincoln was our sixteenth president. He abolished slavery and maintained that all men were created free and equal. He led the north to victory shortly before his assassination. He was a strong christian and was quoted saying, “The Bible is the best gift God has given to man, but for it we could not know right from wrong.”
Theodore Roosevelt was a christian and depended on the Bible for his decision making, He was quoted saying, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than any college education.”
All these men recognized all had sinned, that God is just and can’t live with sin, and that he loves us enough to send His son down to earth to die for our sin and be the perfect sacrificial lamb.
John 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who called on his glorious name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
 I thank God for these men who stood up for Him and chose to take the narrow, and sometimes hard road. Without Him working in them I am certain our country would not be what it is today.

This trip has been an amazing experience so far and I am so thrilled God gave us this  opportunity to see more of His beautiful creation.

In Memory of Marysa Nichols who is now Home

As death creeps up

The truth sinks in

We are momentarily blinded by this world.

We reach out for our Savior's hand

And beg Him to guide us through this forsaken land

We pray and ask the question why

some old live... and some young die

Why bad things happen to good people

Why some are vibrant and others feeble

We know God isn’t willing for any to die

He offers us all the gift of eternal life.

The truth is Jesus Christ cries when we cry.

After a time of mourning the Lord lifts up our head

Saying look up! see now I am not dead!

the loved ones and family that are mine, you will see again

In a place that I am preparing for you

I hope you will choose to live life with me too 

Only I know the hour, the time, and the place

The time will come when all will have to face 

A choice between the world and me

The love I have for you, you must see

All that will be in my kingdom forevermore

I am waiting, knocking, standing at the door

I only need an invitation 

I bring the promise of eternal life in

I love you and will carry you through the thick... and the thin.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

In memory of Marysa Nichols who went home.

                                                   

Riley Henderson       

I AM

Who is the Great I AM?
Some may say He is a judge who looks at everything we do as wrong. I disagree. Yes, I AM is a holy judge who can’t dwell with sin, but that is only a piece of Him. He is also the Atoning Sacrifice for sin, the Creator, the architect of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, He clothes each lilly, and breathes His strong breath of life into each of us.  I AM knew who you were before He created the foundations of the world. The Psalmist David said “You knit me together in my mother’s womb and I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” He knew your story and He was there. Through the heartache and joy I AM carried you, when you were lonely He walked beside you. When you were afraid, He was the Lion of Judah. When you wept, He wept. When you rejoiced He rejoiced. I AM knew each milestone in your life from your birth, to career, to family, to death and as John 1:12 says...
“Yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God.” In other words if you received Him He will be waiting to welcome you home at heavens gates.
I AM also can’t live with sin. Romans says 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” So you may ask “Where does that leave us? All of us have sinned no one is perfect, so what do we do?” The Bible has an answer for that. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life.”
So God loved us so much that he gave his son to live in this pig stye of a world, lead a perfect life and die at the end to free us? Yes, the Bible even says that “It pleased the Father to crush the Son.” It may sound cruel, but again the Great I AM was thinking of us. He was thinking of all the people that could now walk into heavens gates and say “I knew your Son and He said that through Him you would accept me as family.” (John 14:6) “Jesus answered I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” In Romans it says “The punishment for sin is death BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” The “but” in there is similar to the infomercial’s “But wait, theres more!” The verse continues to spell out God’s rescue plan. We got a get out of Jail free card from God, all we have to do is take it.

Pondering...

As I sit here pondering the question

What would life be like 

For those who don't have a hope a home or life

For those whose sorrows minus out their joy

For those who have no faith in that precious baby boy

They do not believe in the perfect Son of Man

Nor that He is living and active the Great I AM

I wonder to myself how they could not see

God's love for them so great even a sinner like me!

As I sit here pondering..

Written By Riley Henderson

Heroes

Those men who were so ready to fight 

Those souls so brave and true

Who stood held up their banner high

They fought for me and you

They paid the price by and by

To save Red White and Blue

I pray and pray every day their cause was not in vain

That their families hearts won't break 

For their souls God did take

So let us all take a stand 

And fight for our land

We must form a band 

And give them a hand

We must push ahead

For the cause isn't dead

God bless you America O' Land that I love

We are all in need of help from above.


Written By Riley Henderson

Redemption

Three crosses stand on a hill called the skull

A crowd gathers as the men moan and groan

The man in the middle suffers more than the rest

For a war of heartache rages deep within His chest

He knew this hour would come before he reached thirty-five

For this man came not to live, He came to die

A swell of emotion catches in his throat 

For He looks down to find men gambling for his cloak

This man longed for his father in heaven 

Who knew the truth of the charges He’d been given

He’d been given a mission from the birth

To die for all within the earth

So He could save the human race 

The Son of man would have to face 

The punishment for sin which we call death 

The lone thought of setting people free rang in his head

The crown made not of gold but thorns

Was for us so that people could be reborn

The way to Heaven can not be bought 

It can only be given as a gift of love 

You see this man was Jesus Christ the Son of God

Hebrews 9:22 

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all  unrighteousness.

John 1:12

Yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God.

Written by Riley Henderson