When God looks down,
on us He sees . . .
the work of His Son
and not our sleaze.

He sees beyond,
our sinful lusts
for He sees His Son
in whom He trusts.

For God gave His Son,
the gift of life . . .
for He knew with sin
we’d always have strife.

He sees the grace,
of a dying Savior
mixed with His mercy
pity and favor.

When God looks down,
at every one
He sees our worth
through His Son!

~~~~~~

Song of Solomon 4:7

“Thou art all fair,
my love;
there is no spot
in thee.”

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

God brought into my life,
pain unimaginable
heartache so deep
it was unfathomable.

But, through it I found,
the meaning of steadfast
and onto my joy
I’ve learned to holdfast.

God brought into my life,
sorrow unthinkable
suffering so vast
it was unmeasurable

But, though it I discovered,
the surpassing of peace
and now I understand
why it will never cease.

God brought into my life,
pain unbearable
and now my faith in Him . . .
is indestructible!

~~~~~~~

Psalm 18:1

“I will love thee,
O Lord, my strength.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

You may have heard of many forts across the United States of America, but very few of you may not have heard of Fort Monroe.  Known as ‘Freedoms Fortress’ and the largest stone fort in America, it is a historic military fort built on a peninsula with the Chesapeake Bay on the east side and Hampton Roads to the south.  It was designed to protect the entryway of the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads waterways during the early years of the nation.  It was also used during the American Civil War.  Today, Fort Monroe has been deactivated as a military installation, and there are restoration efforts to preserve the fort to its original state.  Although much of the fort is not open to the public for tours, the Casemate Museum, which is operated by the Fort Monroe Authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is where you can see the…

Lines of defense on Okinawa. Top Japanese officers were in the bottom line of bunkers.

Colonel Hiromishi Yahara was third in command of the Japanese defenses on Okinawa. Read all about his story below.

It was Colonel Hiromishi Yahara who designed and implemented the jiykusen, or the yard-by-yard battle of attrition that cost the American forces so many casualties in the three-month battle, and he was the highest ranking officer to survive the battle and make it back to Tokyo. Before the overall commander on the island, Lt. Gen. Mitsuru Ushijima, committed ritual suicide in the battle’s final days, he instructed Yahara to escape to Tokyo to make a final report to the emperor.

Yahara was captured by the Americans, which bothered him immensely—to be captured or to surrender was considered a disgrace to one’s family—but eventually he did return to Japan.  In 1973, Yahara still felt strongly that…

A heart open,
to God’s searchings
is a heart ready
for His teachings.

It’s a heart willing,
for God to make known
His plans and purposes
the way to be shown.

A heart open,
is one that will pray
it doesn’t matter
if it’s night or day.

It’s a heart knowing,
God’s will is the best
if it wants to have
true peace and rest.

A heart open,
to God’s eternal good
is a heart working for Jesus
just as it should!

~~~~~~~~

Jeremiah 17:10

“I the Lord search the heart,
I try the reins, even to give
every man according to his ways,
and according to the fruit
of his doings.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka