Hymn Of Trust

 

 O Love Divine, that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear,
On Thee we cast each earth-born care,
We smile at pain while Thou art near!

Though long the weary way we tread,
And sorrow crown each lingering year,
No path we shun, no darkness dread,
Our hearts still whispering, Thou art near!

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,
And trembling faith is changed to fear,
The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf,
Shall softly tell us, Thou art near!

On Thee we fling our burdening woe,
O Love Divine, forever dear,
Content to suffer while we know,
Living and dying, Thou art near!

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

One Day At A Time

 

We worry about our tomorrows

Oft missing the joys of today

Troubled about what may happen

Yet tomorrow, may not come our way.

 

Life's pathway is ever uncertain

"Right now" is what's yours and mine..

The future is safe in God's keeping

We can live but one day at  time.

 

~ Gert Holaday

Lord Give Me A Song

 

Lord give me a song to lift y soul,

When muscles shrink and dreams grow old,

A melody whose words ring true,

In "this vale of tears" I'm walking through.

Lord give me a song that's made to share

With lonely people everywhere,

Joyous notes on wings that reach

Into the private lives of each.

 

Lord give me a song that gathers up

Life's sweetest memories in a cup,

Of gentle faces and a host

Of things now gone but never lost.

Lord give me a song to make my day

A better one in every way,

Fill it with thanks to You who bring

So much of which we ought to sing.

 

Lord give me a song when skies re grey,

And it looks like winter's here to stay,

When the rain runs down my window pane,

And it seems the sun won't shine again.

How well I can recall the saying,

That "he who sings is doubly praying",

My words might be too low to her,

But I know a song will reach Your ear.

 

Lord give me a song that never ends,

And as each silver note ascends,

Perhaps some stranger passing by,

Might gain new courage, such as I.

I did not ask for wealth and such,

For earthly goods don't matter much,

I only pray I may be given

A song, to sing me into Heaven.

 

~ Grace E. Easley

The Zest Of Life

 

Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul.
     Not hastening to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To youth and age, and travels on with cheer.
  So let the way wind up the hill or down,
     Through rough or smooth, the journey will be joy;
     Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
     I shall grow old, but never lose life's zest,,
     Because the road’s last turn will be the best.

 

~ Henry Van Dyke

His Guiding Hand

 

With outstretched hand, He leads me

Where deep blue waters flow,

When my footsteps tend to falter,

He shows the way to go.

 

Gently leading on a  journey

Which is yet unknown to me

For the paths is steep ad narrow

Difficult for me to see.

 

But I feel my faith grow stronger

And I see alight divine

As I smile and travel onward

With His strong hand holding mine.

 

~ Juanita R. Davis

Dear Lord

 

Dear Lord,

help me to live this day

quietly, easily;

 

To lean upon

Thy great strength

trustfully, restfully;

 

To wait

for the unfolding of Thy Will

patiently, serenely;

 

To meet others

peacefully, joyously;

 

To face tomorrow

confidently, courageously.

There is One

 

There is One, that like a shepherd

will defend our way,

And He looks with eyes of pity

on the sheep that stray;

From the mountains wild and lonely,

still He calls them to His fold,

He is full of grace and mercy ---

His love can ne'er be told.

 

There is One, that like a shepherd

will defend our way,

We shall see, adore and praise Him

thro' a long, bright day;

In the kingdom of the faithful

we shall lay our armor down,

And from Him, our Lord and Savior

receive a starry crown.

 

~ Fanny J. Crosby

Thy Will Be Done

 

I do not care

Where I may be

If I may be there,

Lord, for Thee.

 

I care not where

May feet may go

if they may go

for Thee, and so

I from

my grateful

glad

heart pray,

"Oh, gracious God

Let my feet trod

 

The winsome,

Cheerful

holy way."

 

~ Lorena Farmer Cowdrey

Faith And Purpose

 

However dark the day may seem

Or steep the path I plod

I have no fear because I know

I have my faith in God,

I know He will not leave me or

Forget me in my need

As long as I believe in Him

With every thought and deed.

I may be foolish now and then

And I may lose the way

But He is always at my side

Wherever I may stray.

His guiding grace reminds me of

The mercy He has shown

And in my deepest misery

I never feel alone.

I know my God is willing to

Forgive my every sin

As long as I have faith and I

Sincerely try to win.

~ James J. Metcalfe

All May Be One

 

Jesus prayed

that all may be one,

like His coat

woven without seam;

but men without love

divided remain,

like His garments

parted at the cross.

 

~ Edward A. Gloeggler

Gentle Jesus

Gentle Jesus listen closely
To the words that I would say,
'Tis with love that knows no limits,
That I come to Thee today.
For without You life is empty,
With no comfort any place,
I have naught save You to help me,
Do not turn away Thy face.

Gentle Jesus teach me patience,
Take away this foolish pride,
Grant I only be permitted,
To continue at Thy side.
Though my heart is sometimes weary,
And my eyes are filled with tears,
I have only but to tell Thee,
And my sorrow disappears.

Gentle Jesus, Lord and Master,
Deep within this human shell,
Lives a soul which Thou hast ransomed,
It would love Thee long and well.
You have felt as I am feeling,
Who could better understand,
Than the One who meekly listened,
To their "crucify the Man!"

~ Grace E. Easley

The Covert Of Thy Wings

 

I do not even ask, dear Lord,
That Thou should'st still the sea,
But that Thy strong unfailing love
with peace abide in me,

For well I know no storm would come
Could I not stand the test,
So let me lean with faith serene
Against Thy loving breast;
Willing thus to stand the storm
Though bruised by grief and pain,
Knowing that someday my loss
Will prove eternal gain.

For oh, I know no song-filled sky
Or days all bright and clear
Could ever cause my soul to cling
To Thee like this --- so near.
And had I been less tempest-tossed,
My heart could not have known
The utter sweetness just to trust
In Thee, and Thee alone!
And so I do not ask to fly
Above the storm and sing;
Just let me in the tempest feel
The covert of Thy wings!

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

My Soul And I

 

Know well, my soul, God's hand controls

Whate'er thou fearest;

Round Him in calmest music rolls

Whate'er thou hearest.

 

What to thee is shadow, to Him is day,

And the end He knoweth,

And not on a blind and aimless way

The spirit goeth.

 

Nothing before, nothing behind;

The steps of Faith

Fall on the seeming void, and find

The rock beneath.

 

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

A Song In My Heart

 

I was thinking of the heartaches
That I had held so fast
All the disappointments
That seemed to me so vast.

Nothing seemed to ease the pain
Of worry held so long
My heart was oh, so weary
And empty of its song.

I turned my eyes toward Heaven
And went to Him in prayer
I poured out all my troubles
And found contentment there.

I forgave all I remembered;
The things that had been done
I also asked forgiveness
For remembering every one.

I rose from prayer contented
I barely remembered the start
Of my troubled soul so weary
I had a song in my heart.

 ~ Virginia Laws

It's The Little Things

 

It's the little things

we do and say

That mean so much

as we go our way.

 

A kindly deed can lift a load

From weary shoulders on the road,

Or a gentle word,

like summer rain,

May soothe some heart

and banish pain.

 

What joy or sadness

often springs

From just the simple

little things!

 

~ Willa Hoey

Who Can Dare?

 

Who can watch the rising sun

Or see the wonders God has done,

Who can count them one by one

--- and say, There is no God.

 

Who, the orchard's gifts can share

Can taste the fruit that ripens there

Can watch it grow, and yet declare,

That God is dead.

 

Who can see the wonders done

By missionaries' efforts spun,

Or count the souls their works have won,

--- and claim, there is no God.

 

Who can look upon the grain

The clouds above that bring the rain,

To nourish crops on field and plain,

--- yet dares infer, that God is dead.

 

Who is so blind he cannot see

The wonders wrought in Galilee,

By Christ who came for all to see

--- and know, There is no God!

 

~ Ronald Eyrich

Comfort

 

Dear Lord, I am so comforted
in my great love for Thee.
My worries fall like petals 
and my faith burns deep in me.
The thankfulness within my heart, 
the comfort that I feel,
Will lighten every burden
as in prayer I humbly kneel.
So thankful I am, my dear Lord,
for each day set apart,
As gratefully my prayers I say,
with comfort in my heart.
So thankful, I am, my dear Lord,
I do believe in Thee,
Like Benediction Incense, Thy love
flows over me.

 

~ Charlotte Trevillyan Sheward

Listless Moments

 

Listless moments

spent in flight

Lost forever,

a fool's delight.

 

Lasting moments

Spent in prayer,

Saved forever

in heaven's care.

 

~ Bill Twomey

Charity

 

Do something today to bring gladness 
To someone whose pleasures are few,
Do something to drive off sadness ---
Or someone's dream 
to come true.

Find time for a neighborly greeting
And time to delight an old friend;
Remember, --- the years are fleeting 
And life's latest day will soon end!

Do something today that tomorrow
Will prove to be really worth while;
Help someone to conquer sorrow
And greet the new dawn with a smile ---

For only through kindness and giving
Of service and friendship and cheer,
We learn the pure joy of living
And find heaven's happiness here.

The Rose

 

A splendid rose stood

all alone,

Surrounded by a wall

of stone

Around the wall were

roses, too,

Still neither knew the

other grew.

 

So often we, like

flowers dwell

Too deep within our

human shell

And pass through life ---

"not understood" ---

Not making all the friends

we should.

 

~ Anthony J. Pettito

Wherever He May Guide Me

 

Wherever He may guide me,

No want shall turn me back;

My Shepherd is beside me,

And nothing can I lack.

His wisdom ever waketh,

His sight is never dim, ---

He knows the way He taketh,

And I will walk with Him.

 

~ A. L. Waring

O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee

 

O Master, let me walk with Thee

In lowly paths of service free;

Tell me Thy secret; help me bear

The strain of toil, the fret of care.

 

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee

In closer, dearer company,

In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

In trust that triumphs over wrong.

 

~ Washington Gladden

Discovery

 

Today I smiled, and all at once,
Things didn't look so bad.

Today I shared with someone else,
A bit of hope I had.
Today I sang a little song,
And felt my heart grow light,
And walked a happy little mile,
With not a cloud in sight.

Today I worked with what I had,
Nor longed for any more,
And what had seemed like only weeds,
Were flowers at my door.
Today I loved a little more,
Complained a little less,
And in the giving of myself,
Forgot my weariness.

 ~ Grace E. Easley

I Will Not Hurry

 

 I will not hurry through this day!

Lord, I will listen by the way,

To humming bees and singing birds,

To murmuring trees and friendly words;

And for the moments in between

Seek glimpses of Thy great Unseen.

 

I will not hurry through this day,

I will take time to think and pray;

I will look up into the sky,

Where fleecy clouds and swallows fly;

And somewhere in the day, maybe

I will catch whispers, Lord, from thee!

~ From I HAVE A STEWARDSHIP by Ralph Spaulding Cushman

Copyright 1967 by Maude E. Cushman

Used by permission of the publisher, Abingdon Press

Take Up Your Cross

 

Take up your cross and follow God
And He will lead the way,
To bring you hope and inner strength
To face each new born day.

Take up your cross and follow God
And cast aside your fear,
For when you need a helping hand
He always will be near.

Take up your cross and cast aside
Your gloom and dark despair,
For He will help to ease the pain
That in your heart you bear.

Take up your cross, be not afraid
However dark your plight,
For God will see you through the storm
And be your guiding light.

~ Harold F. Mohn

Morning Prayer

 

Help me use this day so wisely,

Lord,

That there will be no sad regret

When evening comes,

for hours misspent,

For work undone;

and let me not forget

Those things which seem

important now to me

Might dwindle in the light

of Thy eternity!

So if I've planned this day all wrong,

Please rearrange it,

Lord, and make it right;

Just let me glorify Thy name,

Put first things first,

I want Thy smile to-night!

 

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

Your Own Version

 

You are writing a Gospel,

A chapter each day,

By deeds that you do,

By words that you say.

 

Men read what you write,

Whether faithless or true;

Say, what is the Gospel

According to you?

 

~ Paul Gilbert

You Never Walk Alone

 

You never walk alone my friend
Though you may think you do,
For in your sorrow and despair
God always walks with you.
There is no hour, no passing day
He is not by your side,
And though unseen He is still there
To be your friend and guide.
Whene’er you think you walk alone
Reach out and you will find,
The hand of God to show the way
And bring you peace of mind.

 

~ Harold F. Mohn

My Task

 

 To love some one more dearly every day,
To help a wandering child to find its way,
To linger over a noble thought, and pray,
And smile when evening falls.
This is my task.

 

To follow truth as blind men long for light,
To do my best from dawn of day ‘till night,
To keep my heart fit for His holy sight,
And answer when He calls.
This is my task.

~ Maude Louise Ray

A Guide That Never Falters

 

There is a Guide that never falters,

Amidst the storms of doubt and fears ---

For He has walked the way before thee,

And He knows the path you see;

is feet have trod the rugged hillsides,

And the valleys of despair --

His life has paved the way to heaven,

Never fear, He'll guide you there;

His soul has tasted mortal anguish,

His eyes have felt the sting of tears,

He's a timely guide, a sympathetic Saviour,

So, trust to Him your future years.

 

~ Elizabeth E.S. Williams

Choice

 

Our lives are songs;

God writes the words

And we set them

to music at pleasure;

And the song grows glad,

or sweet or sad,

As we choose

to fashion the measure.

 

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox