On Wings of Faith

Dare to dream bright, lofty dreams

With purposeful intent;

Dare to plan a noble course

To take and to augment.

Dare to strive to be your best

In everything you do,

To value truth and honesty

So they'll reflect on you.

Dare to soar to greater heights

On wings of faith and love,

Knowing that God's guiding light

Is shining from above.

~ Vi B. Chevalier

They that hope in the Lord will renew their

strength, they will soar as with eagles'

wings; they will run and not grow weary,

walk and not grow faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Falling Leaves

Down come the leaves, bright yellow and red,

Settling soon in a snug Winter bed,

Floating upon the wings of the breeze,

Twisting and turning with delicate ease.

I sit by my window, entranced by the sight,

And follow the course of beauty in flight,

To unite in array on grass that's still green -

No artist could paint a more beautiful scene.

~ Lester E. Bartholomew

Love Is All That Matters

Born in a poor, forsaken place,
I slept on the hardwood floor.
The windows held no shining pane
And the cold came trough my door.

My shoes were worn, my coat was thin,
My dress was ragged cotton,
My hair grew wild below my waist,
In a time almost forgotten.

A time our only wealth was love,
And family life, a treasure.
We fought to help each other live;
To give, our greatest pleasure.

A time now gone with passing days
That died for prosperous years,
And saw us go our separate ways,
Down a flowered path of tears.

If God should ask my heart's desire,
There's no blessing I'd love more
Than going home for one last night
To sleep on the hardwood floor!

~ Kate Watkins Furman

Water Skaters and Dragonflies

I watched the little skaters
Skating on the pond;
The little water skaters,
Frolicking, every one.
They'd skim across the water,
Then sometimes they'd glide.
On this midsummer noontide,
It was a thrilling sight.

Two dragonflies approached me,
Then circled 'round and 'round;
Their black reticulated wings
Ne'er seemed to make a sound.
O'er the pond my cares soon skimmed
Just like the water skaters;
Then like dragonflies in flight,
I "winged" home to my labor.

I basked in sweet serenity,
These moments at this spot,
Marveling at the wondrous sights
Created by our God.

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

Sing unto Him, sing psalms
unto Him, talk ye of all His
wondrous works.
1 Chronicles 16:9

Hearing Soft Wind

God sprinkles dewdrops on the grass
And polishes lakes clear as glass.
He spreads cool shade beneath the tree
As resting places for you and me.

He shapes our minds to enjoy such things,
Like hearing a soft wind as it sings.
He plants love-thoughts in our hearts
So that all our selfishness departs.

God closes the days with star-filled nights;
He hangs up the moon to serve us light.
He touches our pain and it slips away -
Always, He hears us when we pray.

~ Rosa Nelle Anderson

The Miles and Years

I look back o'er the miles and years
And see where I have been.
I see again the smiles and tears
As I think back to "then."

So often on the path I chose
My life was surely blessed,
But it was when God led the way
I did my very best.

For He can see the miles ahead
That bruise our weary feet;
He sees beyond our vision
All the obstacles we meet.

I look back o'er the miles and years,
But they are gone forever.
The lessons that I learned somehow
Are all that time can't sever.

I know I serve a changeless God,
So on my knees I pray,
If I am blessed with miles and years,
Please guide me all the way.

~ Gertrude B. McClain

You restore my strength. You
guide me along the right path for
the sake of Your name.
Psalm 23:3

Treasures Along the Seashore

Have you ever taken the time to notice
So many treasures along the shore -
Seashells which echo the rushing waves,
A gentle breeze and so much more?
The smell of the salty water
And sounds of the billowing tides,
The fog and misty ocean spray -
A seagull soaring nearby...
Walking barefoot on the sand -
Oops! A starfish slithers ashore.
Oft I wonder what other fascination creatures
Lie upon the ocean's rocky floor.
All these tiny miracles -
God created each and every one
To teach us of His goodness
And to revel His mighty love.

~ Linda C. Grazulis

Greater Than All Riches

What I have is precious,
A gift from God above,
A blessing sent from Heaven,
Wrapped tightly in God's love.

My family, they're safe harbor
From the storms that blow my way.
They comfort and they guide me,
And always for me pray.

My friends, my boon companions,
Who help me dry my tears,
Who share with me the love of God,
And help me persevere.

What blessed gifts from Heaven
Are my friends and family.
With grateful heart to You, dear Lord,
I give my thanks to Thee.

~ Mary Ann Jameson

His Gifts of Love

I will talk to all who will listen
To what I have to say,
In hopes my words will reach each heart
To guide and show the way.

I'll speak of His amazing grace,
Of His mercy and His love,
To let them know He's always there
As He watches from above.

He hears the prayer of a sinner
Who asks, with contrite heart,
To be freed of my transgressions,
And to make a brand-new start.

Soon the angel choirs will sing,
The trumpets will loudly sound,
For Jesus' love now fills my needs,
And new purpose I have found.

I'll now proclaim His mighty power,
Hear the Alleluias ring!
Then lift my hands to offer up
All the gifts His love will bring.

~ Angie Monnens

Answer when I call, my saving God.
In my troubles, You cleared a way;
show me favor, hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:2

God Is There

Hours turn into days,
Days turn into years.
Many roads we travel on,
Some with doubts and fears.
Though problems overwhelm us
And tensions fill our day,
There is someone to turn to,
Who will guide us on our way.

He's there in time of trouble,
He's there in deep duress.
You will find that God is near
And is always there to bless.

He's our light in the darkness,
A lamp unto our feet -
Our Lord is always there
To make our day complete.

~ Dorothy C. Deitz

Your word is a lamp for my
feet, a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

Never Doubt

Dear anxious one, head bowed in prayer,
Know that God is listening there.
He heeds the slightest prayer we pray;
It matters not if night or day.

He promises He'll meet our need,
But we must trust in Him to lead;
His path may not be the one you'd choose;
Your hand in His, you cannot lose.

God loves you and He'll see you through;
He gave His Son to die for you.
Oh weary one, heart burdened with care,
Never doubt the power of prayer.

~ Kay Hoffman

Wear a Smile

Wear a smile of happiness
As through this life you go.
It doesn't cost a penny,
Yet sets your heart aglow,
Will quickly chase the clouds of gloom,
Put rainbows in your sky,
It's filled with special goodness
And ever lights your eye.

Wear a smile at dawning,
Beginning each new day,
Creating paths of sunshine
Along each weary way.
And then as twilight beckons
With starshine from above,
Find the evening quiet,
Rich in hope and love.

Hear the happy laughter
Of children at their play,
Take their hands and guide them,
Help them find the way.
Bits of joy and sunshine
Make your life worthwhile.
You'll be rich in blessings
If you wear a smile.

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

No treasure greater than a
healthy body; no happiness,
than a joyful heart!
Sirach 30:16

My Every Day

The best part of my every day

Is when I'm going home.

I count the footsteps all the way

From places where I've roamed.

The evening sunset settles low

And takes my cares away;

Then I thank God for all He's done

To bless my every day.

I'm thankful to our God above

For the wondrous gifts He's given.

My every day's filled with His love

That makes my life worth livin'.

~ Gertrude Blau Byram

I Hear Thee Knocking

I hear Thee knocking at my door;
I need Thee, precious Lord.
I ask Thee, Master, to come in,
For Thou art e'er adored.

I hear Thee knocking at my door;
I know that Thou art there.
My life I place in Thy sweet hand;
Come listen to my prayer.

I hear Thee knocking at my door,
Dear Savior, Lord divine.
Please enter in and heal me, Lord,
And make me ever Thine.

~ Hope C. Oberhelman

Beauty

Beauty surrounds us,
If we take the time to look.
We can see it in the valleys
And in every rippling brook.

We can see it in graceful birds
Soaring high in a cloudless sky.
A frisky, brown squirrel
Racing to a leafy tree nearby.

We can see it in flower buds
Hiding their glorious array,
Waiting for the perfect moment
Their beauty to display.

We can see it in little children
Laughing happily with glee,
Peacefully napping or
Sitting on Granddad's knee.

Yes, beauty surrounds us,
As God meant it to be,
If we pause and look
And take the time to see.

~ Barbara Dickerson

Charm and beauty delight
the eye, but better than neither,
the flowers of the field.
Sirach 40:22

His Love Will Light the Way

His love will light the way
As we travel through this life.
His love will guide our path
Through days filed with toil and strife.
As we struggle through the valleys
Where our fears shut out the light,
His love will light the way
And will make our pathway bright.

His love will light the way
As the billows 'round us roll,
As the storms of life are raging
And we feel out of control.
When we put our faith in Him
And in His strength alone,
His love will light the way
And will lead us safely home.

~ Shirley W. Langley

God is light and in Him
is no darkness at all.
I John 1:5

A Breath of Spring

April bathes in the breath of Spring

And borrows a robin's song to sing.

She lilac-lines the lanes with care

And scatters tulips everywhere.

April emeralds fields and hills

And golds the garden with daffodils.

She wears a glistening dewdrop grown

With white-washed daisies for her crown.

April bathes in the breath of Spring,

Awakens every living thing;

Then fancy-free, she wends her way

Into the merry month of May.

~ Nora M. Bozeman

Sweet, Fragrant Spring

Sweet, fragrant Spring has come again,
Our Winter-weary hearts to win.
She flaunts her beauty, anxious to please,
Flings lilac perfume on April's breeze.

An artist with a special flare,
She fashions flowers wondrous fair,
Calls honeybees to come and sup
Sweet nectar from each dainty cup.

Butterflies, flowers, honeybees,
Robins singing in the trees;
Scenes of beauty we like to see
She sends "with love" to you and me.

I'm told her home's that golden shore,
That she will live forevermore,
But visit here for just a while
To bring each face a happy smile.

And we in awesome wonder see
How quick she makes the Winter flee,
For who can hold to thoughts of gray
When sweet, young Spring has come our way?

~ Kay Hoffman

Gift

For God so loved

The world, He gave

His only Son,

Our souls to save.

Pause now, dear ones.

Let us reflect

Upon the Christ;

Pay Him respect.

Quiet ourselves

To quell the din

Of daily stress;

Invite Him in.

Open the chambers

Of our heart,

Receive the love

He will impart.

Yes, there are problems

And unrest,

So many trials

To try and test

That challenge

The faith we know,

Threatening love

We want to show.

Pause and accept

His Gift... Release

Ourselves to know

His inner peace.

For God so loved

He gave His Son

To give His peace

And joy, dear one!

~ Anna Lee Edwards McAlpin

My House Is Just a Little House

My house is just a little house,
But God knows where I live.
Such blessings He bestows on me;
Abundantly He gives.
And oh, I love my little house!
It is so cozy-warm,
With God's angels watching o'er it
To keep me safe from harm.
I do praise God, yes, each mealtime
Because my table's spread;
I give to Him my gratitude
For gifts of daily bread.
The clock ticks away the hours,
I hear the cricket's song,
My heart is oh, so happy -
I praise God all day long.

Now I shall put the kettle on
And make a pot of tea;
I'll go and ask some neighbors in
To share it all with me.
I take joy in the little things
That come with each new day -
The sunshine, bird songs and rainbows -
And so I kneel to pray.
Such blessings He bestows on me;
Abundantly He gives.
My house is just a little house,
But God knows where I live.

~ Mary E. Herrington

As for me and my
household, we will
serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Winter Comes Calling

Winter knocked upon my door,

Bringing cold and snow galore.

She looked just like an Eskimo

In her hat of frosted snow.

She wore a cloak of ermine white

And silver-dusted trees at night.

She sparkled every field and stream

With diamonds from a bright moonbeam.

A masterpiece of art was she

Bedecked in show-white finery.

She displayed her silent charms

Then fell asleep in springtime's arms.

~ Nora M. Bozeman

From the North the splendor

comes, surrounding God's 

awesome majesty!

Job 37:22

When Skies Are Gray and Snowflakes Fall

Oh, how I miss the hummers now

That Winter's come to stay.

I hate to take their feeders down

And pack them all away.

My acrobatic feathered friends

Go south this time of year,

And as I watch them fly away

I wipe away a tear.

When skies are gray and snowflakes fall

Upon the barren trees,

My thoughts return to warmer days

With hummers on the breeze.

I know one day in sunny May

How happy I will be,

For my ruby-throated friends

Once more will visit me.

~ Clay Harrison

On Wings of Night

The stars appear on wings of night,

A golden moon is shining bright,

As little creatures of the day

Are still as twilight finds it way.

The birds at rest within the trees,

We marvel at the gentle breeze.

On wings of night, the shadows fall,

A dark descending over all,

A time of peace and quiet still,

A magic glow atop the hill.

It seems a gentle, fragile time,

A miracle that's yours and mine.

God ever smiles from there above,

'Tis then we know His wondrous love.

The busy day is cast aside,

A fairer beauty shall abide,

As darkness takes the place of light

And blessings come on wings of night.

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

Yours the day and Yours

the night; You set the moon

and sun in place.

Psalm 74:16

Be at Peace

Oh, worrisome spirit, be at peace,
For God is taking care of you.
He sees each trial and burden
And knows exactly what to do.

Release each problem to Him,
As you bow your head to pray,
Then, with assurance of His goodness,
March on to greet the day!

He sends angels to attend to you
When the way seems dark and drear,
And if the fires of pain assail,
Be at peace, God is near!

There's not a problem He can't handle,
So unlike you and me.
Oh, troubled soul, be at peace -
Reach out to Him and you will see!

~ Linda C. Grazulis

The God of peace be with
all of you. Amen.
Romans 15:33

My Wings

Lord, You put flight

Into my wings.

You are the reason

My heart sings.

You fill the longings

In my soul.

You bring the joy

That makes me whole.

You're all I need

My whole life through;

You give the strength

For all I do.

Each day to me,

New life You bring.

You are the wind

Beneath my wings.

~ Helen Gleason

Sweet Assurance

Life is like a storybook;
Each day a page unfolds.
We never know beforehand
What scenarios it holds.
But whatever be the drama,
Filled with bounty or with tares,
There's comfort and assurance
That our Father always cares.

~ Virginia Borman Grimmer

A State of Mind

Age is truly a state of mind,

A conscious attitude.

It's a matter of perception

That determines our mood.

Some see the glass half empty

And quickly they complain,

But others see the glass half full

And sing a sweet refrain.

Some are content to live in the past

And they learn nothing new,

While others give thanks for each new day

And do what they can do.

Some say, "I can't!" and never try

While others say, "Why not?"

The wise ones reap the blessings

That faith and prayer have wrought.

Youth cannot be recaptured

Once the years depart,

But it truly is our state of mind

That keeps us young at heart!

~ Clay Harrison

Autumn Requests

Dear Lord, my needs are very small..

So may I cite a few?

Give me a balmy Autumn day

And sky of cloudless blue.

Oh, let me feel the gentle rain

Fall softly on my face,

And sprinkle gold dust through the trees

And every hidden place.

Just let me see the wild geese fly

With rhythmic wins in flight;

I want to hear the crickets chirp

When day succumbs to night.

This is the season I love best...

When trees are all aflame,

Then Nature paints her masterpiece

To glorify Your name!

~ Gene Appleby

I will praise You with all my

heart, glorify Your name

forever, Lord my God.

Psalm 86:12

Pack Your Smile

Be prepared for the journey of life,
Mile after mile after mile.
Though the journey contains good and bad,
Remember to pack your smile.

Whether you're sailing on the deep, blue sea
Or sitting alone in the dark,
The Spirit can give you a smile for your face
And joy in the depths of your heart.

No matter what comes, no matter what goes,
Remember God's there all the while.
He loves you so and He's in control,
So remember to pack your smile.

~ Idella Pearl Edwards

First Give Thanks

To worry and fret

Is hardly the way

To tell God my needs

While I'm trying to pray.

When life gets real hard

And seems rather grim,

I know that it's best

If I focus on Him.

When I first give thanks,

My spirit will rise,

Then all of my problems

Seem smaller in size.

I shan't take for granted

The new morning light,

Nor the clouds, nor the wind,

Nor the eagle in flight.

With full appreciation,

I'll sing a new song,

As my hope and my faith

Will grow to be strong.

I will give thanks

Before I receive, 

For I know that God

Is caring for me.

~ Joyce Mary Ecochard

Indian Summer

Season of splendor that makes my heart sing

For the beauty the Indian Summer does bring,

Crimson and amber and gold leaves fall,

Of birds that chatter and winds that call.

It thrills me through with such delight,

Magic colors on an Autumn night,

Rustling leaves like lullabies

Respond to the warmth of Autumn skies.

Imbued with colors as Nature conceives

Messages of joy my heart receives.

The harvest moon reflects once more

The bountiful wealth of Autumn's store!

And sleeping blooms of Summer lie

And whisper to Autumn a faint good-bye.

The longing and zest of this season at last

Lingers awhile, then fades in the past.

Treasures of earth you will only find

In the Indian Summer that God designed!

~ Gene Appleby

I will delight and rejoice in

You; I will sing hymns to

Your name, Most High.

Psalm 9:3