STAR OF HOPE

Looking out the window,

This morning while at prayer,

I saw the dark night paling,

Dawn hinted she was there.

The starry hosts had vanished,

Just one lone star shone bright,

Unperturbed was she to be,

The only one in sight.

The pearl grey sky now tinted,

The wispy clouds grew bright,

My little star of hope refused,

To leave and bid goodnight.

Twinkling with great merriment,

She shone with all her might,

But as the sky grew brighter,

It dimmed her little light.

The secret that she taught me,

At Morning Prayer today,

Is hope can keep from dimming,

If faith will light the way.

-Myra D’Souza/10 March 2018

YOU HELD ME UP

YOU HELD ME UP 

Psalm 94:18

No sooner did I say, “My foot is slipping,”

As endless stress and worry filled my cup,

When troubles overwhelmed and doubts assailed me,

Your mercy and your kindness held me up.

Even when I hid from You and failed You,

Even when I squandered grace divine,

Even when in folly I refused You,

Tenderly You whispered, “You are Mine.”

You lavished me with life in all its fullness,

You answered every prayer I ever prayed,

Bestowing on me favor upon favor,

Even though I faltered and I strayed.

My faith’s enlivened by Your Holy Spirit,

Kindling in my soul love’s fiery flame,

For every promise made find its fulfillment,

Each time I pray in Your all-hallowed Name.

Myra D’Souza 06 April 2017

HIDDEN IN HIM

Sweep me up in Your arms O Lord,
Cradle me close to Your breast,
My soul will find refuge and harbor,
For in You is perfect rest.

I wrestle daily with sin O Lord,
I strive to resist its allure,
But if I should fall Beloved, recall,
Your Cross vanquished its power.

Cover me with Your mantle O Lord,
Snuggled close to Your heart,
Satan won’t dare assail and ensnare,
With intent to tear us apart.

Safely sheltered in You O Lord,
Hid ‘neath the wings of Your care,
I can acquire the strength I desire,
As long as I tarry there.

Myra D’Souza / 16^th March 2011

I AM NOT ALONE

I will walk with You my Lord,

No matter where you lead me,

I will stay by You my Lord,

No matter where we go.

Though the road is dark as night,

And narrow is the pathway,

With my hand in Yours I know  -

I never am alone.

My life has had its share of pain,

I’ve tasted joy and sorrow,

Death has strode in boldly,

As it claimed with  wanton force.

How often I have drowned in tears,

But in my darkest hours,

Unfailingly my Lord I've known -

I am not alone.

Recently the gloom of night,

Enshrouded me in shadow,

Agonizing grief and loss,

Overpowered my soul.

Vanquished for a while I lost,

Awareness of Your power,

Forgetting for a while that I -

Never am alone.

Every time I feel bereft,

And sorrowing I falter,

You deign to stoop from heaven,

Embracing me once more,

How wonderful it is to know,

That in my darkest hours,

You reassure me once again -

I am not alone.

Myra D’Souza / 6 January 2011

TOSSING IN THE WIND - Jesus Asleep in the Boat

The dark clouds look forbidding,
As they fill a sullen sky,
The keening winds are wailing,
The waves are riding high.

The angry sea is frothing,
Tossing up my boat,
I’m hunkered down and wondering,
How long I’ll stay afloat.

I clench my knuckles grimly,
Head pressing on my knees,
My heart is pounding in my chest,
The rain begins to freeze.

I hear the sound of breathing,
I thought I was alone,
Crawling down the galley,
Cold, sore, wet to the bone.

I find the Master sleeping.,
His hand under His head,
Lying on a pillow,
His cloak around Him spread.

I smile and drawing closer,
I snuggle at His feet,
And though the storm is raging,
I too fall asleep.

In a dazzling flash of lightening,
I am suddenly aware,
That despite the raging storms,
God is always there.

Myra D’Souza/4th August 2009

THE JOY OF GOD Psalm 30:11

The Lord has turned my mourning into dancing,
The Lord has turned my sorrow into joy,
The Lord has turned my moaning into laughter,
And every anxious doubt He has destroyed

Each time I call on Him my Jesus answers,
When I’m contrite He heals my wounded soul,
The burden of my sins my Lord has vanquished,
Now hope and peace and joy are in control.

The Breath of God blows gently o’er my being,
A Wind that moves my spirit to adore,
Bowing low in worship I implore Him,
To grant that I may love Him ever more.

Through grace He makes my heart a living temple,
Where the Triune Godhead can abide,
I’m free to be whatever God commands me,
As long as Jesus Christ in me resides.

Myra D’Souza / 1st June 2009

SURE KNOWLEDGE

The way is dark,
The night is long,
I stumble with my cross,
No hope is left,
I am bereft,
Fear shrouds my heavy heart.

I search for inner strength
To cope,
With my anxiety,
But finding only doubt
Condemn,
My human frailty.

Blow on heavy blow
Is rained,
Each leaves behind a scar
As cruel, foolish,

Little men,
Wield their puny power.

Though long the road
And narrow,
And weary is my soul,
I know my Jesus walks with me,
I know,
I’m not alone.



Myra D’Souza / 7.5.09

Our Eternal King

 

 Alleluia! Christ the King!
Hosannas to You Lord I sing,
Prostrate before You I adore,
Priest, Prophet, King my soul’s allure.

While the storm around me raged
I said, my God come to my aid
Unworthy though I knew I was
I cried to You like Bartimaeus

You answered me each time I called,
You said,  "You’re mine and I’m Your God."
You held me in Your warm embrace,
My soul You filled with wondrous grace,

Your Word refreshed my soul like dew,
Your faithful love my hope renewed,
How best express this joy of mine?
My life is Yours my King divine

Myra D’souza / 24.06.2008

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Weighed down with endless burdens,
My body racked in pain,
On days like this I’m tempted to
Believe that life’s in vain.

My heart is very weary,
It’s hard to wear a smile,
I make-believe that all is well
Though I feel crushed inside.

It seems at every corner
A snare is laid to trap,
Whatever crumbs of happiness
May fall into my lap.

I’m often tempted to believe
A curse hangs over me,
Making everything I touch
A calamity.

Yet, having faith is knowing
When all the chips are down,
That God will set my sorrows
Like jewels in a crown.

So despite my aching body
I chase away the frowns,
I know my God who loves me
Will turn my life around.

Myra D’souza
18.9.2000

LET’S PRETEND

It matters not which god you bend
The knee to when you pray,
That is what the Christian
Who has left the Church will say.

Fret not if you’re Catholic
Whose knowledge never grew,
Beyond the Catechism taught
To you at Sunday school.

It matters not what you believe
As long as you’re content,
Who cares about the truth,
As long as you feel good my friend.

Who cares about the verity
That Christ has set you free,
Who wants to see our Saviour writhe
And bleed in agony.

So go ahead and choose a god
Continue to pretend,
He never paid the price that saved
Your life, my ransomed friend.

Myra D’souza 15.10.2000

EASY PREY

What is truth asked Pilate
Then turned and walked away,
He wasn’t interested
In what Jesus had to say.

Truth stood in perfect silence
Saying not a word.
For nothing can be said to those,
Who refuse to hear.

We’re strangers to the truth,
And so we swallow up the lies,
Fed by wolves who come to us,
Clothed in sheep’s disguise.

They seek to steal and plunder,
Murder and destroy,
And sowing weeds among the seeds,
Deceive with cunning ploy.

Our ignorance abysmal,
We fall without much fight
We make such easy pickings
Satan dances in delight.

We are God’s chosen people,
Royal, holy, set apart,
But being loosely grounded,
Fall prey to wily art.

MYRA D’SOUZA/5.6.00

MORE LIKE HIM

Father, with my hand in Yours,
I know I cannot fail,
With You my Lord beside me,
No evil can prevail.

The storms rage all around me,
They rock my little boat,
I cling on to Your promise,
That You’ll keep me afloat.

Sometimes the load gets heavy,
And more than I can bear,
Thank You for sending angels,
To let me know You care.

In the crucible of suffering,
Each painful victory won,
Helps to melt and mould me,
In the image of Your Son

MYRA D’SOUZA
18/8/99

HELP ME LORD TODAY

Help me Lord to let Your love
Shine through me today,
May all the work I undertake
Give praise to You I pray.

Help me Lord so I can be
A friend to all I meet,
Giving all the very love,
From You I have received.

Help me Lord to realise
A cold reserve could hide,
A heart weighed down with sorrow
And misery inside.

Lord if I should quarrel,
May I be first to smile,
Reaching out in friendship,
And prompt to reconcile.

Help me Lord to sanctify
Each moment of the day,
Adoring, loving, praising You,
In all I do and say.

Myra D’souza/10.2.1999

WITH JESUS

When I abide in Jesus
And He abides in me
I am all that He is
Beauty, truth and purity.
I am love and goodness
Peace and righteousness.
Because He is my Brother,
I call His Father, Daddy God.

But apart from Jesus
I keep falling into sin.
I fail in all the virtues
And I am filled with guilt.
I am mean and wretched
Pride rears its ugly head.
Without Him all is dark within,
And I am miserable.

When I abide in Jesus
I look just like Him,
The radiance of His presence
Changes my countenance.
I share my Lord’s divinity,
The sunshine of my smile,
Is but a sweet reflection
Of the One who reigns inside.

Myra D’souza / 17.6.98

THE STRANGER

The other day while walking
Along old memory lane,
I saw someone in filthy rags,
I couldn’t place her name.
She looked like someone I had known,
Someone out of the past,
She looked so worn and joyless,
She looked so very sad.

I looked again and recognised,
Who this person was,
She was none other than myself,
Before I’d found my God.
I look into the mirror now,
And what change I see.
For I have hope in Jesus,
My Saviour lives in me.

I have peace and happiness,
Such joy I’ve never known,
I have Love that satisfies,
The longings of my soul.
How sad she was that stranger,
I met out of my past,
So full of sin and misery,
So sorrowful and lost.

I’m glad I met that stranger,
My old and sinful self,
For now I know without Him,
My life is meaningless.
Now I walk with Jesus,
My loving God and King,
In Christ I am made perfect
And that’s why my soul sings.

MYRA D’SOUZA
18.2.1998

SO WHAT!!!!

“What is the worst that can happen”, I say
As I stare down my fears right in the face,
Carelessly shrugging I thumb my nose,
And look with disdain at each of my woes.

So what if the devil is rocking my boat,
The water is seeping, I’m barely afloat,
Who cares if the storm is gathering pace,
Who cares if the winds shriek as they race.

It seems every imp out of hades is here,
To weaken my faith and drown me in fear,
“The Master’s asleep”, they mock and they wink,
“He cares not a bit if you perish and sink”.

“Shoo you old creeps”, I say with a grin,
“There is no way I will ever give in,
You can do nothing to weaken my faith,
My Master will help me asleep or awake”.

The imps scowling at me shriek and stomp out,
The Master awakes at the sound of their shouts,
He opens His eyes and smiles tenderly,
Who cares if the storm is raging round me.


Myra D’souza/12.10.98

HEAVEN IS MY HOME

If home is where the heart is,
I don’t belong to earth.
My eyes are fixed on heaven
I’ve been a pilgrim since birth.

Things of earth can’t hold me,
I walk by faith not sight.
I belong to heaven,
And Jesus is my delight.

It is to Jesus that I cling,
He is the pearl I prize,
I'm a citizen of heaven,
That’s where my treasure lies.

I pray that God accomplishes,
All He desires in me.
My once clenched fist I open,
To all His plans for me.

In the heavenly Kingdom,
Is a place prepared for me,
Won at an astounding price,
By Christ on Calvary.

Things of earth can't hold me,
I walk by faith not sight.
Yes, I belong to heaven,
And Jesus is my delight.


Myra D’Souza / 15.11.98

GO TO JESUS

If you’re looking for an answer,
To the problems in your life,
Go to Jesus with your burdens,
Let His touch calm every strife.

If the road you walk is narrow,
And you feel you’re all alone,
There’s no light beyond the tunnel,
Your heart feels cold as stone.

Take the fears that now engulf you,
To the One who calmed the storm,
Let the Master gently take you,
Straight into His loving arms.

Jesus is God’s perfect answer,
To the problems that you face,
“Seek ye first the Father’s kingdom”,
Is the one demand He makes.

If you seek the Lord in silence,
You will find the Prince of Peace,
He will satisfy each longing,
He will give your heart sweet ease.


Myra D’souza/12.10.98

ALL OR NOTHING

I see you sitting on the fence,
Reflecting if you will,
give yourself to Jesus,
Who for you His blood did spill.

You want to be like Jesus,
But you’re afraid and weak,
You think that He will make demands,
You think you cannot meet.

You come to Jesus daily,
With a litany of woes,
But not a word of praise to Him,
Through Whom all blessings flow.

He says, “Ask, you’ll be given,
Seek and you will find,
Knock and I will open wide,
The door for I am kind.”

Seek first to put God’s Kingdom,
Before all  you desire,
And He will grant you everything,
Your earthly life requires.

You see, there are no options,
For He will have no part,
Of a divided conscience,
Or a lukewarm heart.

We’re called to go the distance
Up the hill to calvary
In laying down our life we gain
Eternal victory.

Myra D’souza/20.5.1998

MY SOUL CLINGS TO YOU

Lord, I know without You
I’d be hopelessly forlorn.
I need to lean on You dear Lord,
Your strength to draw upon.

Because You love perfection Lord,
Help me be perfect too,
In all I say and do my Lord,
Help me be just like You.

In every situation Lord,
May my soul cling to You.
Stretch forth and take my hand
That I my failing faith renew.

I cling to You O Lord my God
And pray You hold on too,
For I could lose my soul if I
Should lose my grip on You.
……

My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me. (Ps 63:8)
Myra D'Souza / 14.12.97