Faith of a Child
Turlock

How do I hold on to truths I can’t see
When there’s no proof to show
And people make fun of me

Your promises are all the same
Glorious, beautiful, hard to wait for
And I can’t have one without faith
Each one requires stepping out
Through a door open to a pitch, black world
Where there’s nothing to be sure of
Only You

I must step out on Your word and hold it tight
Those who laugh will one day want You, too
Do I please me, them or You

I don’t want to feel the unknown with just a toe anymore
I’ll jump through the black
Knowing You’re there, bidding me, “Come.”

The Purpose
Rosy Melgarejo
Turlock

There is a vision that most people desire to see, but
never even get a simple glance.
Most people are distracted by what happens in their
daily lives, such as working, cooking, cleaning, and
taking care of precious treasure such as family.
This vision gets lost within the commotion of
society's demands, classifications, and stresses.
We become caught up in the imperfections of life,
while 85% of our time should be spent empowering our
greater qualities; we spend more time giving a
spotlight to our flaws.
Nipping there, tucking here, counseling hours upon
hours to empower the greater me. But who is me?
When I've lost that vision that so many wish they
held, but dislike the responsibilities that are
acquired with such empowering knowledge.
Only the strong survive?
More like only the willing survive.
There are answers to all questions and questions to
all answers.
So what is the purpose?
How do I detach myself from this cookie cutter world
that only spews out replicas of what happened
yesterday?
By doing what was never done today, catching a glimpse
of that vision and understanding that unless I believe
no one will follow.
That unless I live beyond my personal wants and
desires I will not mold this generation to be anymore
than what it already is.
And understanding that beyond me lays the greater
purpose.
To live and die bringing honor to where honor is due.
So I set forth under one focus, one purpose, and one
vision:
To do what's greater to mold tomorrow to forgive past
transgressions and love the opportunities of today.
But most importantly detaching, myself the only a way
man did it whom 2,000 years later his name is still
known and living it out daily.

Christmas Warmth
Shelby Sequeira

Families await
The Christmas cheer
The sound of music,
They long to hear.

Laughter, a smile
The season of joy
Spread across the face
Of each girl and boy.

The presents wrapped
Underneath the tree
A present for you
Two presents for me.

Smell the cookies
Taste the sweet
The warmth of Christmas
Will never be beat.

Psalm 139 (my version)
By Tina Urrutia (Turlock)

In the driest place
And in the river, both
You are there
In the time I need You most
Also, when I seek you least
There You are
On the notes of highest praise
And in my quietest despair
You are there

When I’m standing on Your Word
When I’m leaning on You
You’re not just my support
You’re my air

In the lowest, prideful hour
Or when I’m clothed in humility
You stand with me
You seek me out
You surround me