Friday, July 31, 2015

In His Loving Arms

 
 Who can make a sunbeam
Sparkle in the sky,
Put a magic in the dawn,
Send a butterfly,
Singing birds in springtime,
Gentle April showers,
Lend a touch of fragrance
To the Junetime flowers?
Who can form a rainbow
When the storm is through,
Place a lovely cloudstep
In the skies of blue,
Build the highest mountain,
Form the wondrous sea,
The miracle of Autumn
Each colored leaf and tree?
Hold us, oh, so firmly
In His loving arms,
Forgive our each transgression,
Lend us angel charms,
Walk beside us always,
Patiently to trod,
Give us life unending...?
No one - only God.
 
~ Garnett Ann Schultz
 


Thursday, July 30, 2015

His Presence Within

 
 God never sends sorrow without joy,
Nor the sun without the rain.
He never gives us a cross too heavy
That we can't bear the pain.
 
He is always present within our hearts,
Whispering encouragement to you and me.
He lifts us up when we are down
And listens to our humble pleas.
 
Who else would have the patience
To listen to our complaints,
Yet hold us close to His gentle heart
And love us without restraint?
 
There is always another river to cross
And another mountain to climb.
If we but put our trust in Him,
We'll be filled with His love sublime.
 
His arms are always opened wide,
Waiting patiently to embrace
Troubled souls like you and me
And to fill us with His grace.
 
When despair and sadness come our way,
Just always remember this...
Tomorrow or another day soon
We'll be filled with happiness and bliss.
 
~ Shirley Hile Powell
 
You have made known to me
the paths of life; You will find me
with joy in Your presence.
Acts 2:28
 


Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Spring In My Heart

 
The grass will soon be turning green
And new leaves shall soon appear.
It's then I'll know within my heart
That Spring is nearly here.
My heart yearns for the colors
And the sweet fragrance that flowers bring.
The birds will be returning home
And the streams will once again sing.
The sun will no longer hide behind
The clouds of Winter's snow.
It will bring us warm and sunny days
As it highlights Spring's new show.
Thank You, God, for sending us
The season of Spring.
It's an offering of Your love for us
Through the beauty and pleasure it brings.
 
~ Shirley Hile Powell
 
It is good to give thanks to
the Lord, to sing praise to
Your name, Most High.
Psalm 92:2
 


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

At Heaven's Doorstep

 
 So many signs of Spring are here;
Hyacinths are dancing in the sun,
Daffodils are adorned in lacy, gold gowns,
Brooks murmur and sparkle as they run.
The skies ring forth joyous melodies;
Tree leaves burst forth as songbirds sing,
A feather floats down upon the breeze -
It's the robin's calling card of Spring!
Petaled faces are opening eyes to the sun
As the tulips flaunt their colors grand,
I marvel silently as such miracles occur;
At Heaven's doorstep, I must surely stand.
Wild violets push upward to the sun
And drink in the rays of sunlit hours.
God, who fashioned Eden's enchantment.
Created such lovely trees and flowers!
 
~ Barbara Cagle Ray


Monday, July 27, 2015

Spring Is

Happy 2nd Anniversary to this Blog!  :)


Spring is morning birdsong,
Crocus and daffodils,
Blossoms blowing in the breeze
and pies on windowsills.

Spring's a gentle warming
After Winter's thaw;
It's Nature's resurrection
That leaves us all in awe.

Spring is Nature's promise
Of hope and rebirth,
A time when God's angels
Redecorate the earth.

Spring's a time for planting
Tomatoes and corn,
A time for thanksgiving
Just because you're born.

Spring is morning sunshine
And afternoon delights
When Mother Nature celebrates
Her God-given rites.

~ Clay Harrison 


Sunday, July 26, 2015

God's Great Love (A Child's Prayer)


 Today I looked up to the sky
And watched the clouds go drifting by,
I thank You, God, for Your great love;
You made the sun and stars above,
The big round moon that shines so bright -
They light the way both day and night.
I thank You for the things we share
And for the beauty everywhere.

~ Pearl Jennings

Then the Lord looked
upon the earth, and filled
it with His blessings.
Sirach 16:27

Saturday, July 25, 2015

When I Grow Tired


 Sometimes when I grow tired and long to rest -
Wishing I could lay aside my load,
Feeling I have given life my best,
Smiled so that my heartache never showed -
I am sorely tempted to complain,
Especially when blood and bone grow weak,
But then I take a longer look again,
And my lot doesn't seem so cold or bleak.

For I have memories of lovely things,
Returning to me at a moment's call,
In dead of Winter there's a bird who sings
And morning glories climbing up a wall.
I have stored securely in my heart
The vision of a thousand Summer days,
So life and I just walk a bit apart
That I may hear the forest when it prays.

~ Grace E. Easley

At dawn let me hear of Your kindness,
for in You I trust. Show me the path I
should walk, for to You I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8

Friday, July 24, 2015

Because It Shows


 I do not doubt a minute
God is present every day.
Like fingerprints He leaves His mark
All along the way.
Moist dew He splashes on the grass,
Veils diamonds 'neath the snow,
Buffets soft clouds in the blue,
Sends gentle winds to blow.
Sweet scents He adds to falling rain,
Paints flowers in brilliant hues,
The babbling brooks and singing birds
Are fashioned by Him too.
Each view He styles is a masterpiece
For each and all to see.
After the rain, the rainbow glows,
God's promised prophecy.
The joy He tucks in every heart
Evinces as a smile.
I know that God is ever near
And loves me all the while.

~ Ruth Scarbrough


Thursday, July 23, 2015

Remember That God Cares



 When tempest-tossed and full of hurt
And life is hard to bear,
When nothing seems to satisfy,
Remember that God cares.

When you're fed up with life itself -
Yes, of the whole affair -
When feeling sad and unworthy,
Remember that God cares.

Reach out when it is hardest to,
When you want to give up.
For that's the time you need Him most,
When heartache fills your cup

He will not leave you comfortless,
We're promised in His word,
So don't hesitate to seek Him -
His help you are ensured.

And when the time comes once again
That sunshine fills your days,
Give thanks to Him who helped you through
And sent those golden rays.

~ Denise A. DeWald


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Snowfall


I love to watch the snowfall,
Its fragile flakes descend
Like downy feathers fluttering
Upon the Winter wind.
The breath of beauty's whisper
Is light upon the air,
Before my eyes the miracle
Of whiteness everywhere.

No hand can hope to rival
The Decorator's skill,
Beyond man's meager magic,
Each ermine-covered hill.
And as I make a homeward start,
I see God's footprints on my heart.

~ Grace E. Easley

Be strong and take heart, all
you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:25

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Outside My Door


Last night I heard the north wind blow;
It seemed to hum a tune -
Enchanting was its mournful sound
Above a silvery moon.
It's wintertime outside my door,
I love the seasons so,
When as the Master Painter calls
And paints the earth with snow.
The land He touches with His brush
Seems picturesque and pure,
He is the Artist of all time -
Of this I'm very sure.
He is the Artist of the night
That hung the silver moon.

~ Katherine Smith Matheney


Monday, July 20, 2015

To Winter

 
Winds that blow and falling snow,
Frost on every pane,
Touch of bliss, a snowflake's kiss
Winter once again.
Fallen leaves, naked trees,
Frozen creek and stream,
Quiet peace, joys increase,
Hearts now share a dream.
 
Every garden fast asleep
There beneath the snow,
Birds on wing await the Spring
When gentle breezes blow.
Little crocus dares to peek
Through the frozen ground,
Small an dear, lending cheer,
Yet making not a sound.
 
Nature shares her miracles
Throughout each magic day,
Untold charms, enfolding arms
Along tomorrow's way.
Home fires burning ever bright,
Hearts look ahead to Spring,
'Midst ice and snow, the cold winds blow
While Winter still is king.
 
~ Garnett Ann Schultz
 
I trust in Your faithfulness. Grant
my heart joy in Your help, that I
may sing of the Lord, "How good
our God has been to me!"
Psalm 13:6
 


Sunday, July 19, 2015

God's Love

 
 God's love is like the Winter sky
O sot translucent blue,
It's like a picture painted
In bright midsummer hue.
God's love is like a drop of rain
That falls upon my hand,
It's like my scruffy teddy bear,
My childhood's faithful friend.
God's love is like a burning light
That keeps me safe and sound,
It's like the wild geese at flight
That soar - strong and proud.
God's love is like a country inn,
Grape jelly on white toast -
Of all the different kinds of love,
His love I treasure most.
 
~ Elizabeth Lyulkin
 


Saturday, July 18, 2015

Thanksgiving

 
Bringing in the harvest,
Sweet gathering of fields,
Bowing heads and saying grace
For all that Nature yields.
Voices lift to praise Him,
Our Father high above,
Grateful for His blessings,
Joyful for His love.
 
~ Bea Lotz
 


Friday, July 17, 2015

When Autumn Days Are Here

 
 I count my blessings one by one
Whate'er the time of year,
And yet it seems I count them more
When Autumn days are here.
 
The nearby fields of ripened grain,
The harvest gathered in;
Rich bounty from the hand of God
To bless our land again.
 
I lift my eyes to Autumn hills
Of flaming red and gold;
A picture only God could paint,
So splendorous to behold.
 
The gentle hush upon the land,
Wild geese in southward flight,
The harvest moon hanging low,
A giant lantern bright.
 
I count my blessings one by one -
I'm thankful for them all -
And still it seems I count them more
When comes the season Fall.
 
~ Kay Hoffman
 


Thursday, July 16, 2015

Vagabond

 
 Today I'll leave known pathways
To wander as time wills.
Bright autumntime is beckoning
To climb her flaming hills.
 
A panoramic view unfolds
As far as eye can see.
The Master Artist's left His trace
On meadow, hill and tree.
 
Crisp Autumn breezes whisper
Of fresh pine forest air,
And lure me to climb higher
And leave behind all care.
 
'Mid hilltops' golden silence
Where mild fawn dip in streams,
A peace floods through my being...
My heart holds only dreams.
 
~ Beverly J. Anderson
 
May the Lord give might to
His people; may the Lord
bless His people with peace!
Psalm 29:11
 


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Like a Beacon

 
Softly glowing like a beacon
Through fall's gray and naked trees;
Golden poplars gently tremble
With each warm and whispering breeze.
 
Softly entering, Indian Summer
Swiftly moves cross the land,
Leaving magic where she touches,
Sprinkling gold on either hand.
 
~ Lola Neff Merritt
 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

October Interlude

 
Oh, the colors of October
Are coming into town;
Wild geese are winging southward,
The leaves are tumbling down.
Oh, the woodlands are al glowing
When Autumn comes to call;
Fall's handiwork is showing
In sunset's fiery ball.
Oh, the fields are full of pumpkins,
The skies are brilliant blue;
The hills are like a wonderland
Of red and golden hue.
Oh, the colors of October
Display a multitude
Of flaming, floating brilliancy
For Autumn's interlude.

~ Nora M. Bozeman



Monday, July 13, 2015

God's Recipe

 
 A cup of joy
And a dash of love
Will keep God's happiness
Flowing from above.
A pound of hope
With kindness packed beneath
Will keep your heart
Tender and sweet.
A barrel of patience
And a spoon of peace
Will calm your soul
And your wrath will cease.
A yard of gentleness
And a foot of grace
Will keep you traveling
At a steady pace.
When these ingredients
Are mixed together
We can sail right through
Life's stormy weather.
 
~ Wilma J. Williams
 
Bless the Lord, my soul; do not
forget all the gifts of God.
Psalm 103:2
 


Sunday, July 12, 2015

God's at the Table


 
 When the harvest has been gathered in
And the fields are stripped and bare,
It's time to relax beside the fire
In your favorite worn-out chair.
 
The jams and jellies taste so fine;
Fruit trees were bountiful this year.
The corn stalks were heavy-laden, too;
You even had enough to share!
 
Now comes the time for giving thanks
For the table that is overflowing.
The fields were fertile and you worked hard,
But God in Heaven did the growing!
 
~ Barbara Cagle Ray
 
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness...
Galatians 5:22
 

Saturday, July 11, 2015

To Win God's Grace


 Our hopes and dreams are in the prayers
We say to God each day,
And it is meant to be this way
Each time we choose to pray.
So we must pray with honest hearts
And live the Christian way
To win God's grace upon this earth
And on our Judgment Day.

For each of us there is a task
That God would have us do,
That will do honor to His name
And glory Jesus, too.
And we must find and do this task
Of love and Christian grace
To win His blessings on our dreams
And hopes that we embrace.

~ Michael Dubina


Friday, July 10, 2015

Birds

 
Birds move so deftly through the air,
And proudly spread celestial wings.
With forms and grade their bodies glide,
And no effort does it take, it seems.
 
Their songs can cheer the wistful heart
And make the saddest day seem fair,
And adorn the skies with such a joy,
That God saw fit to place them there.
 
~ Barbara Cagle Ray
 
Bless the Lord, all creatures,
everywhere in God's domain.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Psalm 103:22

Thursday, July 9, 2015

God's Great Power

 
 When God heralds the springtime
And greens all the grass,
Puts green leaves on bare boughs,
Grows bright flowers en masse,
Hides the darkness of Winter
Behind sunny skies,
We'll see God's great power,
Our God who's all-wise.
When God ushers in Summer
With bright-day bouquets,
With butterflies, songbirds,
And children at play,
With daisy-filled meadows
And wild Queen Anne's lace,
We'll see God's great power
In beauty Displayed.
When God opens the Fall door
To sights yet unseen:
The frost on the pumpkins,
The leaf-colored scenes...
The fields filled with bounty
To be harvested,
We'll see God's great power
As Autumn He set.
When God brings back the Winter
Before the year's close,
With snowflakes and snowdrifts
And harsh winds that blow,
With ice-covered streamlets
And icicles clear,
We'll know God's great power
Is present all year.
 
~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz
 
Be Thou exalted, Lord, in
Thine own strength; so will we
sing and praise Thy power.
Psalm 21:13

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Splendors of the Silver Sea


 These singing days of dawn and dew
By shattered ocean's sunlit blue,
The gray-white seagulls poised on high,
Dark shadows painted in the sky.

The gliding gulls in spiral flight
Skim trailing clouds of dappled light.
Sea air is brisk and the wind blows free,
Mist links as one the beach and me.

Wind wings soar in mystic might,
Eerie cries echo airborne delight,
I watch them fly 'neath starry skies above,
Singing praise to God for His constant care and love.

~ Elisabeth Weaver Winstead

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.
Daniel 3:80

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Of All the Gifts


 Of all the gifts I'd ask of Thee
In any troubled hour 'twould be
The gift of quietness of soul
That makes a weary heart feel whole.
Amid the storms to know Thy calm,
And feel Thy soothing, healing balm.
Blest quietness that comes from Thee,
And steadies me on rocky sea.
My cares are strivings then wilt find
Release through quietness of mind.
How canst I fear? For worries cease
When God, Thou sendeth me Thy peace.

~ Beverly J. Anderson

You rule the raging sea; You
still its swelling waves.
Psalm 89:10

Monday, July 6, 2015

Our Bouquet


Within each human being
Lies a seed to share and give.
We must cultivate affectionately
If we want the seed to live.

With faith we must go forward
As God extends His hand
And bid each one climb higher
To a most inviting land.

The new land is a promise
Of our Heaven here on earth
It's a dream within our being
Which will give our seeds new birth.

We must pass along our friendship,
Sow seeds of love, of trust, of faith.
We must cultivate our garden
And reduce to nil the hate.

We know there is a power
That can make our garden grow
And mold each tiny seed of love
To make our whole world glow.

Glow in brightness like the dewdrops,
Like a prayer robed in jewels,
Like a cloud with a silver lining
And our priceless gift to choose.

Like a meadowlark in springtime
And our prized designed bouquet -
If we tie it with love ribbons
It is ours to give away.

~ Chris Zambernard

So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Are There Hollyhocks in Heaven?


 Are there hollyhocks in Heaven
Ablaze in pastel hues?
Are there butterflies and hummingbirds
And pearls of morning dew?
Are there daffodils and roses
Dancing in the wind?
Are there apple trees and cherries
In orchards we may tend?
Are there fireflies in Heaven
Like diamonds born of light?
Are there moonbeams on magnolias
When the moon is full and bright?
Are there waterfalls and rainbows
Beyond the clouds somewhere,
And does springtime last forever
In God's celestial air?
These things are daily given
When day begins anew -
It's a sneak preview of Heaven
Unveiled for me and you!

~ Clay Harrison

Saturday, July 4, 2015

The Harmony of Nature


 All Nature works together
To bring about the Spring.
Frogs croak,crickets chirp,
Birds build nests and sing.

The showers fall so gently
To moisten well the earth.
The warm sun does its portion
To give the seeds their birth.

The bees and breeze spread pollen
To fertilize the seed.
All Nature seems so eager
To fill each other's need.

Each complements the other
To live in harmony.
For them it comes so natural -
So why, oh why, can't we?

~ Martha Mastin


Friday, July 3, 2015

Made by Your Own Touch

 
 Oh, Lord, the earth is so beautiful
When springtime comes around.
The magnificent, glorious colors
Are everywhere to be found.
 
The lilac bush and redbud trees
And dogwoods are all aglow.
The little stream that barely trickled
Is now a steady flow.
 
The birds serenade so sweetly,
They bring music to my ears.
The grass is alive and green.
I think a little of Heaven is near.
 
All of Nature comes alive in Spring,
Oh, what a gift from You.
I breathe the clear and fragrant air
And gaze at the sky of blue.
 
Thank You, God, for the springtime
That I love so very much.
I know that all of the beauty
Was made by Your own touch.
 
~ Shirley Hile Powell
 


Thursday, July 2, 2015

Sweet Perfume

 
 Sometimes I feel I'm sinking
Into sadness and despair,
No matter all the good I do,
The kindnesses and care.
I struggle to be happy,
To love, to laugh, to live,
To reach beyond the problems
And to others simply give.
Yet this sadness creeps upon me,
Surrounding me with gloom,
When all I really long for
Is the scent of sweet perfume.
The splendor of the flowers,
The grass so lush and green,
The sun and all its brightness,
The air so fresh and clean.
And though I'm feeling sad now,
I know the time will come
For sweet perfume, the flowers in bloom
And fields where I can run.
 
~ Gina Mazzullo Laurin
 
Our days are like the grass; like
flowers of the field we blossom.
Psalm 103:15
 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Little Feathered Friend

 
 Come, my little feathered friend,
The time is drawing nigh;
The last snowflake has melted;
There's a patch of blue on high.
 
Your birdhouse is spic-and-span
And freshly painted, too;
I now anxiously await
The welcome sight of you.
 
Winter days have ended,
But cheerless is the dawn;
Come, my little feathered friend,
And sing your happy song!
 
~ Kay Hoffman
 
...the birds of Heaven
nest; among the
branches they sing.
Psalm 104:12