Friday, January 31, 2014

God's Will

 
I know
not by what
method rare,
But this I know:
God answers prayer.
I know
not if the blessing
sought will come in just
the guise I thought.
I leave my prayer
to Him alone
Whose will is wiser
than my own.
 
~ Eliza M. Hickok
 

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Per Pacem Ad Lucem

 
I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me
Aught of its load;
 
I do not ask that flowers should always spring          
Beneath my feet;
I know too well the poison and the sting
Of things too sweet.
 
For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead,
Lead me aright —       
Though strength should falter, and though
heart should bleed —
Through Peace to Light.
 
I do not ask, O Lord, that thou shouldst shed
Full radiance here;
Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread          
Without a fear.
 
I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see;
Better in darkness just to feel Thy Hand
And follow Thee.       
 
Joy is like restless day; but peace divine
Like quiet night:
Lead me, O Lord, — till perfect Day shall
shine,
Through Peace to Light.
 
~ Adelaide Anne Procter
 
 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Even As You And I

 
A frightened flower caught within
A raging storm bent down its head
It drooped in languishment, and I
Thought surely morn would find it dead.
But with the sun it raised its face,
Its petaled heart half torn with pain,
And do you know its fragrance was
So much the sweeter for the rain!
 
~ Esther Nilsson



Tuesday, January 28, 2014

All Things By Him

 
We're surrounded by so many things
Of wonder and of worth
Created by our King of Kings
A Heaven right here on earth.
 
And, as we look about
And view all things that be
His work in every earthly thing
Proof of eternity.
 
Take winter with its magic spell
A landscape clothed in white
Or the summer breeze we love so well
Whispering softly thru the night.
 
All things are here by His creation
Land, water and our birth
Our every sense His illustration
Of perfection here on earth.
 
The awesome marvel of it all
By our architect Supreme
This heaven created for one and all
Where life would be the theme.
 
We honor Him and offer thanks
For each blessing He bestowed
The teachings of His Savior Son
For all the only road.
 
~ Joseph G. Pearce


Monday, January 27, 2014

God is No Stranger

 
To me, God is no stranger,
I meet Him everywhere,
On a lovely path in the garden
Or a busy thoroughfare.

In the stars that appear in the heaven,
In the morning drops of dew;
In the floating clouds, a flowing stream
His spirit comes into view.

To me, God is no stranger
For whatever I may see
He whispers, "I am the Faith, the Light,
You, too, are a part of me."

    ~ Caroline S. Kotowicz
 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Take Time

 
Take time for prayer in the morning
Take time for prayer in the night
Take time for God and through the day
He'll see that things go right.
 
And if you should encounter
A few mishaps along your way
He'll surely give you strength and help
To get you through your day.
 
And then when evening befalls you
And you come to the end of the day
He'll still be there to hear your prayer
And listen to all you say.
 
You'll feel his hand of comfort
As you talk with Him once more
And thank Him for His loving care
And blessing by the score.
 
So take time for God in the morning
Take time for God at night
And talk with God, walk with God
He'll make your burden light
 
~ Florence Flett
 


Saturday, January 25, 2014

Trust

 
The way of life seems dark,
And, yet, within my heart I know,
Though I stumble and I might fall,
The light of Truth
Will guide me on my way,
If I but heed its call.
 
~ Laura Stahl

Friday, January 24, 2014

God's Extras

 
God could have made the sun to rise
Without such splendor in the skies;
He could have made the sun to set
Without a glory greater yet.

He could have made the corn to grow
Without the sunny, golden glow;
The fruit without those colors bright,
So pleasant to the taste and sight.

He could have made the ocean roll
WIthout such music for the soul --
The mighty anthem, loud and strong --
And birds without their clear, sweet song.

The God who fashioned flow'rs and trees,
Delights to give us things that please,
And all His handiwork so fair
His glory and His love declare.

Yes, He Who made the earth and skies
Gave "extras" for our ears and eyes,
And while my heart with rapture sings,
I thank Him for the "extra things."
 
~ Margaret K. Frazer
 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Show Me The Way

 
Show me how to carry, Lord,
This cross you've given me,
Help me never to forget
That day on Calvary.
 
You carried such a heavy cross.
And though three times You fell --
You got up and walked again
And carried Your cross well.
 
But being just a simple soul.
Without the strength you've known,
I'm not sure I can carry
This heavy cross alone.
 
So Lord, if You should see me
Stumble now and then --
Give me the strength and courage
To get up and walk again.
 
~ Doris A. Orth
 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Faith

 
Faith is the eye that sees God,
No matter how dark the day.
Faith is the hand that holds Him
On the steep and rugged way.
 
Faith is the heat rejoicing --
Accepting God's promise true.
Faith is the ear that listens,
To the voice that speaks to you.
 
Faith refuses to doubt him,
Though others are filled with fear,
Faith is believing the Word,
And knowing that God is near.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

I Am Only One

 
I AM only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because
I cannot do everything
I will not refuse
to do the something
that I can do.
 
~ Edward Everett Hale

Monday, January 20, 2014

Condemnation

 
Until you've walked  a second mile
In someone else's shoes,
Or stood an hour  in the heat
Of hurts you did not choose;
 Until your heart has felt the sting
Of criticizing tongue,
You cannot taste  the salty tears
A wounded soul has wrung.

Unless you've walked  a moon or more
Along a thorny road,
You cannot feel another's need
To know his trying load.
 
~ Roxie Lusk Smith
 

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Bountiful Blessing

 
May the greatest of gifts come and linger
With us and our loved ones today,
To bring us the sunshine of gladness
And banish all sadness away;
To guard all the ways of the future,
To light all the paths we have trod:
For the greatest of gifts and of treasures
Is the bountiful blessing of God.
 
~ Brian O'Higgins
 

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Two Roads

 
The road of life is the road we take
In our everyday thoughts and deeds,
A selfish road for them most of us
Made of our own joys and needs.
 
The road of prayer, on the other hand,
Is the rod we take at night
When we blindly grope for the Hand of God
And beg for His guiding light.
 
A mortal travels the saints' own road
On Heaven's great thoroughfare
When the road of his life is blended with
The wonderful Road of Prayer.
 
~ Nick Kenny

Friday, January 17, 2014

God Heals

 
For each and every aching heart
In this old world today
There is a cure -- one safe and sure:
Just this -- learn how to pray.
 
Pour out your aching heart to Him
Who understands and  cares;
He is the only one who knows,
The only one who shares.
 
God can -- and does -- heal broken hearts,
And gives us life anew;
He's ready -- waiting -- for your prayers;
He'll do it now - for you.
 
~ Sister Mary Lavinia Silvia

Thursday, January 16, 2014

At The Feet Of Love

 

Like Martha
reason is troubled
and complains
of many things;
like Mary
faith sits silent
and listens
at the feet of Love.
 
~ Edward A. Gloeggler
 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

But Didn't

 

Do you ever think at close of day
Of kindly words you meant to say -
But didn't?

Do you ever think when day is done
Of errands kind you could have run -
But didn't?
 
Do you ever think at daytime's leave
Of flowers gay you meant to give -
But didn't?

 Do you ever think when skies are red
Of hungry mouths you could have fed -
But didn't?

Do you ever think at dawn of night
Of letters kind you meant to write -
But didn't?

Friend, do you think at life's set of sun
You'll think of deeds you could have done -
But didn't?
 
~ Kathryn Thorne Bowsher
 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Small Steps


Do not despair that you cannot change
The world in a day or two---
Instead, just give your very best
In the little things you do.
Then you will find, in days to come,
When taken all together,
These little steps did change and make
The world a little better.

~ Thomas C. Gallagher
 

Monday, January 13, 2014

A New Day

 

Dusk falls... and I close my eyes
To wake to a bright new tomorrow.
Gone are... the labors of life, the
futility of strife, and the
lingering trauma of sorrow.
A new day of heavenly creation
Fresh with new hope, renewed faith
and good cheer, and the promise
of eternal salvation.
 
~ Dolores Karides
 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

By Faith Alone

 

When I recall the blessings
God has scattered all along my way,
The unexpected little joys
That form the fiber of each day,
When I remember lovely things
That turn the greyest skies to blue,
A ray of sunlight seems to fall
Among the hills I wander through.
 
When my fumbling fingers find,
Despite all wisdom and all wit,
That many of the pieces of
Life's puzzle do not seem to fit,
He has a way of sorting out
The interlocking shapes for me,
Until the pattern falls in place,
Aligned in perfect symmetry.
 
And so it is forevermore,
And I must trust His guiding hand,
His wondrous ways that reach beyond
All I can hope to understand.
The instances of faith restored,
Of hope renewed and love received,
Are all that is required for one
...Who has not seen and yet believed.
 
~ Grace E. Easley

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Lord Help Me Today


Lord help me today,
To give a cheery smile;
Lord help me today,
To go the second mile;
Lord help me today,
Not to seek worldly fame;
Lord help me today,
To praise Thy holy name.

Lord help me today,
To be a shining light;
Lord help me today,
To know the wrong from right;
 
Lord help me today,
In each and every way.
Lord help me today,
To seek you when I pray.
 
~ Ronald A. Bond
 

Friday, January 10, 2014

I Do Not Ask


I do not ask Thee Lord, to take away
the thorns that grow
along the path that I must walk alone
'ere Thee I know.
 
I do not ask Thee Lord, to lighten up
the load I bear;
nor make the weary road I daily tread
one bit more fair.
 
I do not ask Thee Lord, to comprehend
the present cross.
Give me but strength to bear it patiently
nor count the loss.
 
One thing I ask, O Lord, one thing alone:
Give me Thy Hand1
and when the darkness overshadows all,
with Thee I'll stand.
 
~ Denis Cavanaugh, S.D.B. 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Resolve


 
To strip the soul of all pretense,
To hold each day in reverence,
To keep the head and heart apace,
To make this world a worth-while place,
To share my bread with those in need,
To tolerate a neighbor's creed,
To keep a stride without a strut,
To make a home in manse or hut,
To have the grit to grin at loss,
To master life and be its boss!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

A Plea For Serenity

 
God, mold my spirit whole again,
And grant me peace of mind.
please calm my secret doubts and fears,
Then courage I will find
To face the ever-changing tide ---
Darkest night or dreary day,
Knowing that you're guiding e,
Always near me lest I stray.
 
~ Gorda Jeffcoat
 

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

No Prayer Goes Unheard

 
Often we pause and wonder
When we kneel down to pray ---
Can God really hear
The prayers that we say....
But if we keep praying
And talking to Him,
He'll brighten the soul
That was clouded and dim,
And as we continue
Our burden seems lighter,
Our sorrow is softened
And our outlook is brighter
For though we feel helpless
And alone when we start,
Our prayer is the key
That opens the heart,
And as our heart opens
The dear Lord comes in
And the prayer that we felt
We could never begin
Is so easy to say
For the Lord understands
And gives us new strength
By the touch of His hands.

~ Helen Steiner Rice
 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Lord Keep Me Going

 
Lord keep me going for another day,
And when this body languishes for rest,
Bring peaceful sleep throughout the quiet hours,
Unmarred by worries and by restlessness.
Lord keep me going when my back becomes
Too sore to bear the burden of it all,
When vision dims, and everywhere I turn,
It seems I only bump into a wall.

Lord keep me going when the way becomes
Overgrown with brambles and with weeds,
Turn not Thy face away, I ask for naught
Save Thou attend to my most meager needs.
And if sometimes I may be sad of heart,
I beg at least, dear Lord, keep it from showing.
I do not ask to walk upon the waves,
But for another day, Lord keep me going.
 
~ Grace E. Easley

Sunday, January 5, 2014

If Any Little Thought Of Ours

 
If any little thought of ours
Can make one life the stronger;
If any cheery smile of ours
Can make its brightness longer;
Then let us speak that thought today,
With tender eyes aglowing,
So God may grant some weary one
Shall reap from our glad sowing.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

There Is One Who Cares


There is One whom we can lean upon
In time of deep despair,
He knows our many heartaches,
He sees our every care.

There is One who sees each tear that falls
And feels each throbbing pain;
He longs to draw us close to Him
And revive our soul again.

Dear friend, this One I tell you of,
Sweet Jesus is His name;
No matter what besets the soul
He's always just the same.

So lean upon His strength today,
He'll bring you safely through.
For when the night seems the darkest
His love will rescue you.

~ Barbara Thompson Young

Friday, January 3, 2014

Candle Of Faith


Yesterday the day was dark
And washed with murky streams;
My heart was marked with fitful fare
That spattered on my dreams.
Yesterday revealed the past
And no one seemed to care;
The hours threaded it with woes
But healing labored there.
 
Today the candle of my  faith
Is held up high to shine;
In steady trust I forge a path
That time reveals as mine.
Today I let my spirit soar
To sing unending song,
And, if for mercy I must wait,
Lord, make me sweet and strong.
 
~ Roxie Lusk Smith
 
"In God I will praise His word,
in God, I have put my trust."
Psalm 56:4

Thursday, January 2, 2014

A Little Pool Of Quietness

 
A little pool of quietness
Abides within my heart;
A well of deep serenity,
Untroubled, set apart
From all the outer world's unrest,
Anxiety, and care;
And when I turn prayer's golden key
I find him waiting there.
 
A little pool of quietness Set deep within the Rock
Of Ages to withstand the stress,
The pressure, and the shock
Of these dark days in which we live,
No bomb, no gun can blast
This shelter of His love for me;
It will forever last.
 
~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

If We Could Just

 
If we could just for one moment see
Into the vastness of eternity,
Most of us would change our ways
To make the best of all our days.
 
Each thoughtless word, we so regret,
Those little hurts we can't forget
Would seem so small in retrospect
We'd have no  time to so reflect.
 
We'd know the source from which love springs,
We'd make the most of worthwhile things,
We'd see how best that we could be
Preparing for eternity.
 
~ Clarence Bertram Dennison