Em Kennedy's Blog

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2 KJV


Under the shadow of His wingsA refuge I have foundA place of comfort and reliefA firm foundation ever soundWhere I can run when I'm overwhelmed Where I can rest and find calmNo device of evil can touch me hereWhere I find His soul soothing balmHe who gives my life it's meaningWill forever be my guideMy comfort sweet, my safe retreatMy anchor strong, His mercy wideHis grace unending, His hand so strongEver there for me to grasp aholdWhen the raging sea of life tosses meHe's using it my heart to moldInto His likeness may I becomeFaithful until the end of my timeWith my hand in His I walk alongI find confidence in this friend of mine~Em Kennedy~Copyright 2024

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3 KJV

As a lamb I follow my Shepherd

Though at times the way seems hard

I am safe within His watch care

As I rest He standeth guard

When my soul doeth hunger strongly

For the filling bread of life

He is there to lead me onward

To a place that's free of strife

Where the still waters soothe and comfort

The thirsting soul who there partakes

And the pastures green and peaceful

Lie beneath the mountains near the lakes

Rest and comfort for the weary

Peace and joy there to the fill

Can be found within His presence

Where the soul is calm and still

Never fearing storms around me

Unless I wander from the fold

For I know He's ever near me

And my Shepherd is strong and bold

It is Him that gives me guidance

It is Him who meets my needs

I'm afraid to walk without Him

I can't find the way unless He leads

When I'm near Him I feel such comfort

And I know everything will be alright

For He is my strong defender

He's my guardian, He's my light

With my Shepherd ever near me

I can calmly walk along

Facing life, simply trusting

For I know He does no wrong

~Em Kennedy~

Copyright 2024

 The Man from Galilee

A cold and darkened Bethlehem 

amidst a sin oppressed world

Conquered by its enemies

serving them as lord

Within its lowest corners came

the baby small but great

The One for whom all Israel hoped

and did patiently await

A ray to lighten the darkest night

A whisper of hope echoed 

A warming light to shine so bright

in that stable abode

No cradle clean or clothes of silk

was this baby born to know

But humbly lay in a manager there

He came forgiveness to show

And to the lowest ones rang out

the news of Jesus' birth

With joyful song and praises rang

to celebrate with mirth

The angels spoke to the shepherd near

and they gladly went to see

This baby king of whom they spoke

Messiah, who would set men free

This tiny light that grew to shine

o'er all this sin-cursed earth

Was God in flesh, of virgin born

with such a lowly birth

God's plan unfurled, a Saviour sent 

to wash man's sin away

To bring new hope, joy, and peace

to whoever will come to Him today

Not as a baby born in a stall

but a Saviour Who came to die

The perfect sacrifice for sin

for mankind who in darkness lie

God's Son came to this earth

God's redemption plan for all men

His life He lived in sinlessness 

He died, was buried, and rose again

Trust Him today and let Him become

your hope, and joy, and peace

For without His help there is no hope

from sin to find release

The chains that have you bound today

He can break and set you free

This baby born in Bethlehem

This man from Galilee

~Em Kennedy~

Copyright 2023 

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 KJV 

No matter how heavy the loss,
Or how high the cost,
I serve Him without regret
Who my sin payment met

For Christ gave all for me,
So together with Him I'd be free
Now out of gratitude I give
My life for Him I'll live

There's no other love like this
I have Him, I am forever His
Pure and perfect, clean and true
My heart He has made anew

For He loves me not as a gain to Him
He loved me when I was bound in sin
But because of love He showed me grace
He picked me up and we did embrace

No matter what happens I'm in His arms
No matter how much evil this world alarms
I hide in Him, my soul is secure
This friend of friends, His love endures

I have no fear of losing Him like most
For it is He that holds me close
I cannot fall from His marvelous love
I cannot forfeit my new home above

For it was never a work of mine at all
It was all by faith I answered His tender call
He did the work, His hand is strong
I'm His forever, secure all along

I praise His name! I'm glad I'm His
My Friend of friends with love like this
I now have a family, a Father as well
I can come to the Father my petition to tell

Saying, Abba, Father my God and King
I am never a want for any good thing
He meets my needs, my desires fulfill
When they are prayerfully aligned with His will

I belong to Him what a glorious thought
What act of redemption so carefully wrought
His work is complete and I rest in His care
My friend and companion with whom life I share

And not only life, but eternity, too!
This wonderful fact is ever so true.
Never alone, and forever His
My joy is complete with a love like this!

~Em Kennedy~

Copyright 2023

When Jesus came the chains of sin were broken.The tempters voice is quieted when He is near
For He is strong and strengthens me through His presence
Through Him I win when I surrender to Him my fear

No bondage too strong, no past too scarred
No present too wrong,  no future to grim
For He is God and holds all of eternity
Forgiveness and new life I have in Him

What a trade I've made! One of victory!
For all I am is sinful and weak
But He hath chosen to stand in the gap
For me His wounds do speak

His life He gave, they took it not from Him
He layed it down out of love and mercy, still
His life He regained that glorious resurrection morn
New life to give to whoever will

Come accept His offer now, my friend,
For no better offer ever has or ever will stand
He offers forgiveness of sin and new life to you
He's reaching down, just clasp His hand

Give Him it all, the burdens you bear
Carry not one, for He is stronger and wiser, its true
He is the way, the truth, the life; no other way exists
Let your Maker have His way in you

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 KJV

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 KJV

 

The sun may shine, the day seem fair

The moments swiftly fly

But all is naught unless Christ I share

For He is the reason why

He is the One who makes the day

Into a peaceful, useful thing

For in His strength I find His way

Gives life its true meaning

Without Him I can but fail

For I was in sin conceived

But through His blood I can prevail

For His gift of salvation I've received

Now each day to Him I owe

For my life is His to lead

I want no more, for Him I know

And He meets my every need

~Em Kennedy~

Copyright 2023

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Mathew 12:28-30 KJV

When life around me whispers as the breeze amongst the trees

It catches my attention with its dreams of calmness and of ease
Like springtime after winter, no more need to brave the cold
Life will soon be so much better just keep on pushing and be bold

I may for a time get distracted from the one and only goal
To live a life for Jesus and to help some troubled soul
Its not that I dont want to serve Him but I seem so over spent 
By listening to life's demands instead of hearing the warning that He sent

And though I may mean well and have no intention of straying away
I may find myself at least absorbed in the chores of everyday
I may not take the time to talk to God some early morn
Or perhaps I forgot to read those sweet pages old and worn

But oh, the wooing when He bids me to Himself again
The drawing and relieving as the sunshine peaking through the rain 
He desires for me to spend time with Him, He makes me long His touch
To experience His power again as I have so often and so much

He is not like any other one, whose charm has faded fast
He loves me with an everlasting love, His goodness will always last
I find in Him a deep fulfillment, of hopes and dreams come true
A forgiveness of past wrongs and a life that's made anew

Why would I ever get distracted from pleasing Him each day?
When I have found such contentment following His way
I thank my God that some sweet day my desires will never more wander
When I forever after with Him will dwell in that fair home over yonder

~Em Kennedy~Copyright 2023

Isaiah 1:18 

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Walking through the snowy field, looking towards the woods

I shiver from the crisp cool air, and hide my hands inside my coat

The footprints that I leave behind are melting fast and good

While the wind is causing the tall grass to wave as if to gloat

Its saying, "I am beautiful, my Creator clothed me fine

A blanket of white so soft and fluffy, to grace my beauty so

What have you got to compare with mine?

Your plainness you clearly show

And look the trees with splendor tower

Above the field below

Their branches blanketed with the same majestic accent as me

Where is your bright and cheerful glow?

Why, you dont fit in with all this beauty you see."

But I have an answer to his slights and not a moment taken back

For in my heart there is something to compare

I once with sin was scarlet stained and life was bleak and black 

But Jesus washed my heart whiter than snow this with him I share

For this same Creator has made me too! And not at all by mistake.

Yes, I am small and hardly compare to the beauty I am surrounded by 

But I am precious in my Maker's eyes, a sacrifice He chose to make

He died on the cross my soul to save although I gave Him no reason why

Before I knew Him, He loved me so much that a plan He carried out, 

He knew what He must do

To be the sacrifice for sin, to die, and to rise again (right here I could shout!)

He washed my sins away with the blood He shed, my heart He made anew 

So yes, I can compare to nature about, but in a different way

He didnt die to save the trees, He didnt love the field

But He loved the human race enough to come to earth one day

To be the sacrifice for sin, to win the victory if to Him we yield 

~Em Kennedy~

"I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high." Psalm 7:17 KJV

 My heart doth rejoice

When His presence I feel

My tongue shall sing forth

For His blessings are real

He giveth me life and hope

My life I give back to Him

Whose blood paid my debt

And freed me from sin

I long to show Him more love 

Each and every day

I wish that I knew how

I simply yield to Him my way

Dear Lord, take my heart

My desires, my will

Bathe me in Your Spirit 

And my heart refill

So I can serve You more 

As I so long to do

Rid me of me

So others see You

~Em Kennedy~

Copyright 2023

 "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins." Psalm 7:9 KJV

The wicked openly express their thoughtsThey show their evil ways to allThey hide not but for to hurt or kill
Preying on the innocent; but one day they will fall

For God the recompenser sits upon His throne
He sees the hearts of men
He judges righteously and knows who is His own
One day He will punish their sin

But longsuffering He is and so full of love He offers salvation: His Son He sent
He does not find joy in sending someone to Hell
He'd much rather see each human repent

What love it must be that He has for us! That He would woo us to repentance patiently
For the sin of this world doeth grieve us who are saved
How much more must it grieve Him who is without sin purely

But Hallelujah what a glorious day When He takes my soul away
To Heaven's fair home free from sin and its harm
To spend eternity with Him alway

And He wishes you to come as well
But there is a price to pay
You cannot come with works of self
You cannot come with pride and say...

That on your own you earned its joys
For Heaven is not possible to earn on our own
His word declares that only one way existsThat is through faith in Jesus, humbly kneeling at His throne

Counting all of our righteousness as lossClinging only to His cross no other hope within
For the price He paid for us: His Blood He spilt
The grave He conquered to purchase our freedom from sin

Can you say you know this truth?
Have you His presence within?
Have you made this choice between self and Christ?
Have you died to self and sin?

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 KJV
~Em Kennedy ~Copyright 2022