Every Good Gift

Every good gift

and every perfect present

comes from heaven.

James 1:17

Heartaches

 

God can lift the hurt you're feeling,

He can take away each care,

but, you must give Him your burden,

and that's only done through prayer.

 

God knows everything about you

from beginning to the end,

He can help you like no other,

He's your very dearest friend.

 

When you're weak He'll make you strong,

when you're sad He brings such peace,

when discouraged He's right with you,

then you feel a sweet release.

 

He'll walk with you through each valley

till the mountain you ascend,

and it's only through His comfort

that a broken heart can mend.

 

Don't allow your faith to falter,

don't give up, keep pressing on;

you can make it with the Lord's help,

after darkness comes the dawn.

 

~ Shirley McDonald

 

Flakes Of Snow

The flakes of snow are falling,

The flakes so fluffy-white;

They glisten o'er God's countryside,

It's beauty at its height.

 

They ermine-tip the branches

Of trees, now bleak and bare,

And oftentimes weigh them downward

As if they're bowed in prayer.

 

The flakes of snow are falling

On meadowlands and hills;

What a bright and placid scene

When days are winter-filled!

 

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz
 

In The Quiet

 

In the quiet of that hour

When alone with Christ I pray,

I find peace which passeth knowledge,

And His strength for all my day.

For I know He loves to listen

To the things that me distress,

And he patiently gives wisdom.

And His words. my heart to bless.

 

In the quiet of His presence,

There, my soul in rest does hide

From the evil that doth press me

In this world of sin, so wide.

'Tis while holding sweet communion

With my blessed Lord and King,

That I learn His ways ad purpose

Which to pass He'll surely bring.

 

In the quiet of communion,

When I find myself alone

With the Master and Redeemer,

I make all  my problems known.

There we meet and talk together,

As a friend would talk to friend;

And it gives a taste of heaven,

Where such times will never end.

 

~ Alma Hoellein

In Jesus' Name

 

When there is no one you can turn to -

No one who seems to care,

And your heart so full of sadness,

Seems more than you can bear -

When the winter seems to linger on

And no signs of Spring appear,

And your wishes, much like snowflakes,

Seem to drift and disappear -

Let not your heart be troubled,

Nor your mind be full of fear,

For the One Who gave His life and love

for you is always near.

All you have to do is ask Him

and His grace will see you through -

No matter how impossible

the problem seems to you.

 

~ C. Jane Hunt

Just Another Mountain, Lord?

 

"Just another mountain, Lord?

It seems I have climbed my share,

Yet always when I reach the top,

I find You waiting there.

 

I had dreamed of green pastures,

Peaceful valleys, rippling streams,

But there loomed ahead a mountain

That shattered all my dreams.

 

"Just another mountain, Lord?"

And He answered soft and low,

"I will walk in your footprints, child,

And watch you - stronger grow,"

 

~ Laura Baker Haynes

Mountains High

 

Awe the mountains lovely fair,

peace, contentment linger there,

sound of bird in harmony

sing so sweet their melody.

 

Listen closely to the sound

where all solace can be found,

as the branches high above

seem to sing a song of love.

 

Oh, to see the mountains high

as they seem to touch the sky

with the clouds so cottony

Drifting to their destiny.

 

Than You God for everything,

mountains high and birds that sing,

breezes as they softly blow;

mountains high and valleys low.

 

~ Katherine Smith Matheney

God Loveth Me

 

Sometimes I get to thinking

Of the way You care for me,

And I feel so very humble,

That such a thing could be.

For I'm only just a creature

That You fashioned out of cay,

But You're always making sure that I

Have all I need each day.

 

Sometimes when I am worried,

And I don't now what to do,

And things don't seem to work out,

I always run to You.

And what  thought were problems,

Vanish 'neath Your hand,

You take the time to listen,

And You always understand.

 

My dwelling may be humble,

But You share my small abode,

And when I feel I'm sinking,

You are left to lift the load.

And I count myself the luckiest,

That anyone can be,

Because I know beyond a doubt,

...My Savior loveth me!

 

~ Grace E.Easley

The Sun Rises... The Sun Sets

 

The sun rises, the sun sets,

And the hours between are all God-blest...

The dawn afresh with sparkling dew,

A time to start our lives anew...

And the sun rises, the sun sets.

 

The sun rises, the sun sets,

And the hours between are all God's best...

High non, when in the heavens we see

Peak brightness of infinity...

And the sun rises, the sun sets.

 

The sun rises, the sun sets,

And the hours between have gone to rest.

The morning dew's now evening haze,

A quiet time to give God praise...

And the sun rises, the sun sets.

 

~ Louise Pinkerton Fritz

Storm Clouds

 

I cannot say that I am glad when storm clouds come,

When days and nights are burdensome and long.

I like the peacefulness of sunny days

When life is bright and in my heart's a song.

 

And yet... I know the wisdom I have learned

Or any courage that my life displays

Was  never gained in golden sunlit hours

But rather grew from dark and stormy days.

 

I've felt God's presence closer 'mid the storm

As I relied on Him to guide my way

And through my trials found a stronger faith

Enabling me to better face each day.

 

And so, I would not ask God not to send

Those testings fashioned by is His loving hand

For all things work together for my good

And things once questioned... now I understand.

 

~ Beverly J. Anderson

A Light

 

When life seems nothing but hopeless,

And you think you can't bear the load,

Hang on, dear friend, trust and believe,

There's a light at the end of the road.

 

When  the sun never shines on your garden,

And darkness invades your abode,

Remember dear friend, God is with you,

There's alight at the end of the road.

 

Being mere mortals, we're frightened,

We can't see beyond our own pain,

We forget steel's forged in the fire,

And Christians are born out of pain.

 

For one who's been tried in that fire,

Who's been down that long lonesome road,

Please believe me my friend and remember,

There's a light at the end of the road.

A glorious, wonderful, heavenly light,

Awaits at the end of the road.

 

~ Karen Shaeffer

 

You are the children of light,

and of the day; we are not

of the night or of darkness

1 Thes. 5:5
 

His Sovereignty

 

How can one look into the sky,

marvel at how the birds can fly,

listen to the songs they sing

and not absorb the joy they bring.

 

Nor gaze into the celestial night,

where everything is placed just right,

and still have the slightest doubt

how this all came about?

 

How can one be filled with gloom

seeing the forbidding desert bloom

after the heavens choose to give

it the chance and will to live?

 

A gorgeous garnishment of flowers

brightens up a world of ours,

so how can one a skeptic be

surrounded by His sovereignty?

 

This earth that provides our living,

so unlike man, is so forgiving,

where His creations, when they are free,

live in orchestrated harmony.

 

~ Clarence Bertram Dennison

Lands of Memory

 

Sometimes our thoughts do wander back

To lands of memory -

To paths we walked with Mom and Dad

When we were young and free.

 

The woodbine twineth still along

Those winding barefoot trails;

The hickory and walnut trees

Gave nuts to fill our pails.

 

The paths we walked were carpeted

With moist leaves and cool moss;

To walk along them seemed to rid

Our souls of sin and dross.

 

For it was there that we could get

A glimpse of Him who made

It all for mankind to behold -

God's handiwork displayed.

 

~ Luther Elvis Albright

 

The Quest

 

I had wanted earthly things:

Wealth and love and fame,

Joy that only pleasure brings,

Life without a claim.

 

As a child, I sought afar -

Smooth the way, but deep the scar.

 

Had I known the sham of power

Youth would have remained

Ever fresh and pure in flower

And my heart unchained.

 

But renown was nowhere near,

Riches, false as pride.

Fading dimly year by year,

Dreams of splendor died.

 

Then a heart Your love implored,

Blessed with all Your mercies, Lord.

 

Love is mine - a free heart sings

When I speak Your Name.

You I sought in all these things -

Wealth and love and fame.

 

~ Maurice Bochicchio

To See Ourselves

 

God, help us to behold ourselves

Not by our brightest star

As we may seem to others now

But as we really are.

 

Help us to analyze our worth

With thinking that is sound

And so be certain that we keep

Our feet upon the ground.

 

And thereby never to forget

That all great deeds we do

And every claim we have to fame

Belong at last to you.

 

There is no problem on this earth

That we could ever face

Or any dream that could come true

Without your loving grace.

So help us, God, to serve You well

And draw a little nearer

As humbly we appraise ourselves

When we look in a mirror.

 

~ James Metcalf

Prayer for Forgiveness

Almighty and eternal God,

Omnipotent above,

We thank You for Your blessings

And gifts of greatest love.

We know we are not worthy

Of the love that You possess,

That strengthens us in sorrow

And brings us happiness.

We know that we are guilty

So many times anew,

And truly do not warrant

All that You give and do.

Forgive us for our faults and sins

That we may commit each day,

And open wide our eyes to see

The folly of our way.

~ Harold F. Mohn

Discover Your Golden Pathway

 

Discover your Golden Pathway

to peace of soul, heart and mind,

While you live by Christ's own message:

"Love God, nature and all mankind."

 

Discover your Golden Pathway

For your spiritual uplift;

Be grateful for every moment

As a token of God's gift.

 

Discover your Golden Pathway

While you play your earthly role -

And in good time you'll be reaching

Your true, golden sunlit goal.

 

Like the butterfly finds its nectar

After winging hour for hour,

You will find your infinite wisdom

With its silent divine power.

 

Discover your Golden Pathway,

Which leads to the Promised Land

Within yourself - where peace and joy

Are blessed by the touch of God's hand.

 

~ Dr. Bruno C. Schmidt

 

If I Could

 

If I could change one human trait

To add to joys of earth -

One single will of human kind

To crown each human birth -

I would endow each heart with love

To last to end of life

And never change or wane to woes

Or challenges of strife.

 

I would endow it with the strength

That grows with years of time

And nurtures all God's living things -

With love for every kind;

And each of us would live with love

From birth until life's end -

To share God's gift of life and earth,

As Christian hearts and friends.

 

~ Michael Dubina

 

Thou shalt love

thy neighbor

as thyself.

Mark 12:31

Seeds Of Comfort

Let God's love bud

within your heart and

bring sweet fragrant flowers,

then spread the seed to many

in their trying hour.

 

Spread the seed of kindness:

when someone seems uptight.

Spread the seed of cheer:

when things don't seem just right.

 

Spread the seed of joy;

when sorrow is around.]

Spread the seed of peace:

when strife seems to abound.

 

Spread God's Word to others

each day and every day,

Let His Seed of Comfort

bring flowers along their way.

 

~ Donna Bennett Howell

Bear ye one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
 

He'll Give You Sweet Sleep

 

At the setting of the sun

When the day's work has been done

And your body aches from the toil now past,

And so weary is your soul

From the burdens day has doled,

Go to God and for sweet rest so freely ask.

 

For he knows our earthly way,

What confronts us every day,

Since He tasted all these things while here on earth.

On His journey He grew tired,

Then He rested in the quiet

To continue in the pathway of His work.

 

So, when day has run its course

And you've finished all your chores,

And your heart is wearied from day's toil and care,

Rest your head and heart in peace,

He will give you sleep, sweet sleep,

If You'll only go to Him and ask in prayer.

 

~ Louise Pinkerton Fritz

The sleep of a labouring man
is sweet.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
 

Renovation

 

Light as a butterfly

Joyful as spring,

The sweetness of honey

An heir to the King.

A heart that is tender,

A porcelain glaze,

An abundance of kindness

A voice filled with praise.

Lord, I am asking,

If it will be Your will

Renovate, please, this temple

My cup overfill,

Restore the dull luster

With a luster that shines

Let the "gold soul" within me

Reveal the Divine,

For I know I am worthy

In Your eyes to be

A jewel in Your crown

For You first loved me.

And now in thanksgiving

For this opulent delight

Let the paradise bloom

From the love of Your light,

Continue forever.

Weave me in Your theme,

Then one day unveil me

For Lord I'm Your dream.

 

~ Chris Zambernard

A Quiet Place

 

Each man needs a quiet place,

Where in to meet God face to face,

A very private interlude,

In which no other may intrude.

There are things one cannot share

With another anywhere,

Feelings that the heart has known,

Only men for God alone.

 

Heartache often leaves a scar,

Being human as we are,

But in crowds one cannot find,

The illusive peace-of-mine.

There's a bit of hermit in

The most eloquent of men,

Who must lead the beaten track
To get their lost perceptive back.

 

And though it is very true,

"No man is an island," you
Must stop awhile and walk apart,

To hear the music of your heart.
Cast off the old distractions, find

God's love beyond the dawn of time,
And entering a quiet place,

...Speak to your Maker, face to face.

 

~ Grace E. Easley

Better Than Gold

The washer won't wash and the dryer won't dry;

the roof's sprung a leak and he grass is too high.

 

The paint's wearing thin; the car needs repair;

my dog ran away and I'm losing my hair.

I just lost my job and every bill's due,
and all of my friends keep asking, "What's new?

 

But I trust in the Lord and praise Him each day
for all of the good things that happen my way.

I've never been hungry, or naked or cold,

and blessings like this are better than gold.

The love of my wife is a treasure indeed;

the grace of my Savior supplies every need.

 

My children are jewels God placed in my crown,

and friends come around whenever I'm down.

Despite all my troubles, I'm rich as can be,
for better than gold are God's gifts to me!

 

~ Clay Harrison

 

In everything give thanks,

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thes. 5:18

 

Father, Let Me Hold Thy Hand

 

Father,

Let me hold Thy hand,

and like a child,

walk with Thee

down all my days,

secure in Thy Love

and strength.

 

~ St. Thomas à Kempis

 

Divine Guide

 

I know not the way I'm going,

But well do I know my Guide!

With a childlike faith I offer my hand

To the mighty Friend by my side.

And the only thing that I say to Him

As He takes it, is, "Hold it fast!

Suffer me not to lose the way,

And lead me Home at last."

 

~ Kae Carter Jaworski

His Love Will Pilot Me

 

Along Life's weary Highway

O'er a stormy wind-tossed sea,

I'll keep on going my way

For His love will pilot me.

 

Whether I'm at work or play

From temptation I'll be free

Along each lane and by-way

For His Love will pilot me.

 

His Love will pilot me

Thru' a long and dreary night,

As the lighthouse guards the sea

I am always in His sight.

 

When this journey here has ended

When at last my Soul is free,

I'll be with God's intended

For His Love will pilot me

 

~ Catherine MacDonald

He rebuked the wind
and the raging of the water,
and they ceased, and
there was calm.
Luke 8:24
 

Let's Let Our Light Shine

 "Ye are the light of the world," He said.

Oh may our light never grow dim;

but lovingly shine, with hearts all aglow,

yielded completely to Him!

Let us not be ashamed, wherever we go,

and hide its true message of love,

lest someone out there in the darkness be lost,

and fail to reach Heaven above.

 

Let's our light shine for Jesus today

that others may see and believe,

and glorify Him, Who is the great light,

though not by what we achieve;

but because of His spirit that constantly shines

through those who will follow His call.

So let us be faithful to let our light shine

for Him, Who is "all in all."

 

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

 

Let your light

shine before others,

that they may see

our good deeds and

glorify your

heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:16

He Watches Over Me

 

I can sense it in the sunrise;

I can feel it through the day;

I can see it in the blessings

That are graced upon my way --

It's the love and care of Jesus

That I sense and feel and see,

And it fills my heart with gladness

That he watches over me.

 

It's a majesty and splendor

That endears my life each day

And reminds me of my duty

To be Christian in my ways

But, I also feel the glory

Of  a greater  day to be,

As I wait to meet the Shepherd

Who is watching over me.

 

~ Michael Dubina

God Shares

 

Life is like a flowing river,

Turbulent at times it flows;

Many times it is so peaceful,

Rippling like a brook it goes.

 

When the skies in life seem cloudy,

And the sun no longer shines;

And your burdens are so heavy,

Giving up you felt at times.

 

Since your life is like a river,

Through wind or storm it will flow,

If you et the Great Creator

Guide your life through tempests blow.

 

As life's river keeps n flowing,

And the birds in heaven soar;

Through a glass we look not darkly,

When at last we reach the shore.

 

When on that endless shore we step,

We will see the sands of time;

We'll forget our earthly problems,

When we share God's Love Divine.

 

~ Charles A. Steinhart

Prelude To Autumn

 

The long, hot summer is fading away...

the wings of the morning are lavender-gray.

Blossoms of rose are no longer seen...

the maple and oak are no longer green.

 

The wind in the willows blows harder these days,

and acres of sheaves present quite a maze.

The scarecrow seems sad, all alone in the field,

but the harvest was blessed and gave a good yield.

 

The loons on the lake have all gone away

for these golden moments never can stay.

Everything changes, but nothing is new...

the prelude to autumn was long overdue.

 

Indian summer put on quite a show

then folded its tent in a blanket of snow.

The migrating birds have a will to obey...

the long, hot summer is fading away.

 

~ Clay Harrison

 



Sonnet To Creation

 

Between my home and autumn trees

I felt November's warning breeze,

The sky had gone from peach to plum,

My little world became quite numb

 

To all but God's omnipotence

That touched the cord of every sense;

I suddenly became aware

The earth and sky were mine to share

 

With all who passed this way before

My mind, like theirs, had seen a door,

Expanding to infinity

That urges us to feel and see

 

Creation in the common place

And touch God's holy, unseen grace.

 

~ Viney Endicott