Be Strong

Be strong!

We are not here to play,

to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do,

and loads to lift;

Shun not the struggle - face it;

'tis God's gift.

Be Strong!

Say not, "The days are evil.

Who's to blame?"

And fold the hands and acquiesce - 

oh shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely,

in God's name.

Be strong!

It matters not how deep intrenched

the wrong,

How hard the battle goes,

the day how long;

Faint not - fight on! To-morrow

comes to song.

~ Maltbie Davenport Babcock

God is Love

God is love; his mercy brightens

All the path in which we rove;

Bliss he wakes and woe he lightens;

God is wisdom, God is love.

Chance and change are busy ever;

Man decays, and ages move;

But his mercy waneth never;

God is wisdom, God is love.

E'en the hour that darkest seemeth,

Will his changeless goodness prove;

From the gloom his brightness streameth,

God is wisdom, God is love.

He with earthly cares entwineth

Hope and comfort from above;

Everywhere his glory shineth;

God is wisdom, God is love.

~ John Bowring

Love Is...

Love is... a tiny seed God planted in the mind;

It blossoms into flowers and makes a person kind.

Love is... compassionate - has hope for those who fall;

Love is the effective, most Christ-like way of all!

Love is... not resentful, it readily forgives;

It brings great happiness to those with whom it lives.

Love is... ever patient, it's found in trustful hearts;

It is most unselfish, the finest of all arts!

Love... like the sunshine - it shines on good and bad

It dissipates the darkness and makes the whole world glad!

Love is... the childlike way- secure in Father's care,

For God is almighty His love is everywhere!

His love is everywhere!

~ Sister Mary Gemma Brunke

The Larger Prayer

At first I prayed for Light:

Could I but see the way,

How gladly, swiftly would I walk

To everlasting day!

And next I prayed for Strength:

That I might tread the road

With firm, unfaltering feet, and win

The heaven's serene abode.

And then I asked for Faith:

Could I but trust my God,

I'd live enfolded in His peace,

Though foes were all abroad.

But now I pray for Love:

Deep love to God and man,

A living love that will not fail,

However dark His plan.

And Light and Strength and Faith

Are opening everywhere;

God only waited for me, till

I prayed the larger prayer.

~ Edna D. Cheney

God's Love

God's love is like an island

In life's ocean vast and wide -

A peaceful, quiet shelter

From the restless, rising tide...

God's love is like an anchor

When the angry billows roll-

A mooring in the storms of life,

A stronghold for the soul...

God's love is like a fortress

And we seek protection there

When the waves of tribulation

Seem to drown us in despair...

God's love is like a harbor

Where our souls can find sweet rest

From the struggle and the tension

Of life's fast and futile quest...

God's love is like a beacon

Burning bright with faith and prayer

And through the changing scenes of life

We can find a haven there!

~ Helen Steiner Rice

My Journey

I walked one day with Pleasure,

We sang a lilting song,

But, at our parting, not a measure

Remained to help my steps along.

I walked one day with Sorrow,

The journey sad, and long,

But the faith she had for tomorrow

Left me with a song!

I walked one day the road alone,

Or so I thought I did,

But soon God's love-light shone:

My sadness disappeared, and hid.

I know I'll never walk alone,

For I can hold His hand,

And, when my burden seems a stone,

On the Rock of Faith I'll stand!

~ W.R. Goodman

Hope

'Tis better to hope,

though clouds hang low,

And keep the eyes uplifted,

For the sweet blue sky

will soon peep through,

When the ominous clouds are rifted.

There was never a night

without a day

Or an evening without a morning,

And the  darkest hour,

as the proverb goes,

Is the hour before the dawning.

Petition in Faith

When your problems rise up

To bog and depress,

And your spirit gives way to despair;

When your mind is a vent

To a burden's intent,

And your lips can't give voice to a prayer -

Turn away from the thoughts

That cause you distress,

They hinder the self in repair;

Trust God to provice

What the heartstrings conide;

With assurance, you're still in His care.

~ Roxie Lusk Smith

Omnipotent

Somebody listens to every prayer,

When you are ill and burdened with care,

When your soul is bent with its weight of woe,

Tell it to Someone who loves you so.

Someone will tell you that He understands,

He'll hold your heart in His gentle hands,

Just like a child when the father's near,

With God at your side, there's nothing to fear.

When days are long and nights have no end,

When things go wrong, there's always one friend.

Just lift your eyes and you'll see Him there,

With His gentle smile as He hears your prayer.

~ Nick Kenny

Contrast

Doubt cries, "It is impossible!

You can't, you can't go on!"

Faith softly whispers, "Yes, you can.

Just trust in God. Be calm."

Doubt cries, "Look down! Your path is steep

And rough with stones and briar!"

Faith gently says, "I'll take your hand..

It's beautiful up higher."

Doubt has not one thing to give

But "going back" alone;

Faith has God, eternal life,

And heirship to a throne!

And so, on unseen eagle's wings,

These feet of clay are borne.

While faith within me sings and sings,

We rise above the storm!

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

Live By Faith and Not By Feelings

 

When everything is pleasant and bright
And the things we do turn out just right,
We feel without question that God is real,
For, when we are happy, how good we feel...
But when the tides turn and gone is the song
And misfortune comes and our plans go wrong,
Doubt creeps in and we start to wonder
And our thoughts about God are torn asunder-
For we feel deserted in time of deep stress,
Without God's presence to assure us and bless...
And it is then when our senses are reeling
We realize clearly it's Faith and not Feeling-
For it takes Great Faith to patiently wait,
Believing "God comes not too soon or too late."

~ Helen Steiner Rice

A Prayer for Faith

God, give me back the simple faith

that I so long have clung to,

My simple faith in peace and hope,

in loveliness and light -

Because without this faith of mine,

The rhythms I have sung to

Become as empty as the sky

upon a starless night.

God, let me feel that right is right,

that reason dwells with reason,

And let me feel that something grows

whenever there is rain -

And let me sense the splendid truth

that season follows season,

And let me dare to dream

that there is tenderness in pain.

God, give me back my simple faith

because my soul is straying

Away from all the little creeds

that I so long have known;

Oh, answer me while still I have

at least the strength for praying,

For if prayer dies from my heart

I will be quite alone.

~ Margaret E. Sangster

God's Promise

He never said the way would be
A straight and easy one for me.
He never meant that I should rest,
When work is what I do the best.
He never planned the best there is,
For me without my hand in His,
And never once did He ordain
I'd taste the joy but not the pain.

He never told me I would find
Contentment without peace of mind,
Nor did He issue a decree,
Compelling time to wait for me.
But He has promised life beyond
This fragile earth I walk upon,
And through the darkness of the night,
To be the Way, the Truth, the Light.

~ Grace E. Easley

Perfect Peace

O Lord, how happy we could be,

If we would put full trust in Thee -

If we from foolish fears would rest

And be assured that Thou above,

In perfect wisdom, grace, and love,

Art working for our best.

Lord, make these faithless hearts of ours

Good lessons learn from fields of flowers;

First, let our worries cease;

Then, like the flowers, let us be still

And leave all things to Thy good will

And so find perfect peace.

~ Marion Schoeberlein

Be Calm My Soul

Be calm my soul -

Tho' all around,

Nations may fall -

Thrones tumble down.

E'en in the midst

Of life's troubled sea -

Have faith in God,

And know He keeps thee.

Be calm my soul -

Be firm and stand fast!

He'll keep thee now -

He has in the past.

He rules the wind -

And calms the great sea;

Be calm my soul -

God will keep thee.

~ JoAnn Carlson

This Peace He Gives

I know not why my pathway leads

Through valleys rough and steep,

But this I know, while walking there

I've found communion sweet

With those I love, and, best of all,

With Him who climbed for me,

Beneath a heavy cross, the hill

That led to Calvary.

I know not why so many props

Have gently been removed,

But I do know through every loss

His arms unfailing proved.

I have no reason, none at all,

To doubt His precious Word;

Through all I love be swept away,

His voice would still be heard

Above the storm and, as I lift

My tear-filled eyes to Him,

The great Creator, Lord of all,

He whispers, "Peace," within.

So as I look beyond today,

I pray that I may share

This peace He gives with those who have

A greater cross to bear.

I know not now how long 'till be

Before He calls me home,

But this I know - beneath His wings

I'll never be alone!

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

Quietude

I love the hours of quietude

I spend on hilltops high,

To marvel at life's peacefulness

Beneath a bright blue sky,

Perhaps to spend an hour in thought

Sometimes a magic dream,

And listen to the sighing breeze

Within this wondrous scene.

Sometimes a special quietude

Beside life's restless sea,

To capture all the miracles

In quiet reverie,

The calm I feel within my soul

Such fascination rare,

Enchanted by the wonderment

I'm ever finding there.

All nature seems to fondly lend

A soft and tender touch,

The mystery of life so dear

That always means so much,

A country lane - a meadow vast -

One special interlude,

The happiness that is my own

In hours of quietude.

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

Blessings Counted...

...For sunshine, for quenching rain,

For relief of our pain.

...For green leaves on trees so tall.

For Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

...For midnight, for afternoon,

For starlight and for the moon.

...For laughter,

For children's smiles,

For walking with us across the miles.

...For tears of joy, for hearts that care.

For the ability to love,

For the ability to share.

For gentle guidance,

For constant love,

We owe our thanks to God above.

~ Marsha Smith Meigs

When you hearken

to the voice of the Lord, your God,

all these blessings will come upon you

and overwhelm you.

Deut. 28:2

A Full Day With God

Fill my days with sunshine bright,
With flowers in wondrous array -
Each in its own colorful hue
And all in a fragrant bouquet!
Fill my hours with moonlit skies,
With stars and the Milky Way -
With a peaceful sleep and rested mind
To help me greet the new day.
Fill my hours within each day
With joy and praise to Thee
For each and every blessing sent
From You, dear Lord, to me.
And may I use each minute, each second,
Throughout the entire day
To share Thy love and peace with those
I meet along the way!

~ Mary Chevalier

Guide me in Your truth and teach
me, for You are God my Savior. For
You I wait all the long day, because
of Your goodness, Lord.
Psalm 25:5

The Little Country Store

The oak trees grew around it,

Casting shapes of dappled shade,

And behind it ran a little brook

In which we used to wade.

Built of frame and shingles,

It was a humble store,

But it stocked all we needed,

And perhaps a little more.

It had a porch with railings

And kegs to sit upon,

A lazy, twirling ceiling fan,

A quaint, old-fashioned phone,

The glass jars on the counter

Gave one a tempting view

Of brightly colored candies

An ginger cookies, too.

The old icebox had plenty

Of orange soda pop.

There were balls and jacks for children

And kites and shiny tops.

The walls were lined with bolts of cloth

And matching spools of thread.

There were barrels of red apples

And the smell of homemade bread.

Folks had a way of visiting

Beneath its friendly roof.

You could learn who just got married

And which baby had a tooth.

And if it was companionship

That you were longing for,

It was never out of season

At the little country store.

~ Grace E. Easley

Moreover, you are to provide

yourself with all the food that is

to be eaten, and store it away,

that it may serve as provisions

for you and for them.

Genesis 6:21

Healing Grace

How gentle is that healing grace
That comes from "God knows where,"
When all the remedies of earth
Have failed to ease despair.
It is a miracle of love,
An act if sacred heart,
That touches us with healing grace
No human can impart.

We rise from off a bed of pain
With smiles - instead of tears -
And walk again without restraints
Or crippling aches and fears.
And no one can explain this cure
That comes from "God knows where"-
It's just a healing grace of love
That heals us in its care.

Yet there are those who will proclaim,
"It's just a cure of time,"
While Christian hearts declare such cures
As healing grace, divine.
The lame are seen to rise and walk
From only faith and prayer
And miracles are made to be
From only "God knows where."

~ Michael Dubina

Heal me, Lord, that I may be
healed; save me, that I may be
saved, for it is You whom I praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

And God Created Them All

The wonders of Nature are mighty,

The soul of man they enthrall.

The mountains, the trees, the waters...

And God created them all.

The wonders of Nature are holy,

To the spirit they call.

The wind, the stars, a rainbow...

And God created them all.

Give tanks for the wonders of Nature,

For miracles large and small.

The earth abounds with treasures...

And God created them all!

~ Eleanor Torchia

 A clean heart create for me,

God; renew in me a 

steadfast spirit.

Psalm 51:12

Gentle Lord and Savior

When the world seems set against us
And no matter what we do,
Nobody seems to understand
What we are going through...
When plans that seemed so perfect
Do not materialize,
And dust of all our worn-out hopes
Keeps getting in our eyes...

It's time to re-evaluate
The way which we have come,
And start to count our blessings,
Which are greater far than some.
To hand our burden over
To the One whom we can trust,
And our gentle Lord and Savior
Will carry it for us.

~ Grace E. Easley

The Three Visitors

 

They came one lonely Winter's eve
When I was at wit's end;
They came because I was alone,
In need of a good friend.
The first came dressed in glory
With a cast of holy light.
She met me as I knelt in prayer -
Faith met me there that night.

I uttered such a broken prayer
I knew it wasn't good,
But then a feeling swept through me,
I felt I understood.
The words were not important,
Just what was in my heart.
Hope became my friend that night -
I knew we'd never part.

Love was my third companion;
She filled me so inside.
She gave me back my self esteem,
Filled me with Godly pride.
The three now travel with me,
Helping me along life's way.
They are the gifts my Father gives
As I turn to Him each day.

~ Nancy Watson Dodrill

One of God's Best Secrets

The clouds like mighty trumpets

Blew in the Winter's first snow

And created an enchanting wonderland,

Making an architectural show.

The air was of purest white

That danced around in swirls

And made the ghostly-barren fields

A sea of giant, white furrows.

All of the thickened woodlands,

Once barren, naked, and brown,

Now glisten and sparkle with splendor

As the snowflakes drift around.

"Oh, let it snow!" cry the little ones.

It's a sight to see and feel.

It's one of God's best-kept secrets

That in the Winter He reveals.

~ Shirley Hile Powell

Adorn yourself with grandeur

and majesty, and array yourself

with glory and splendor.

Job 40:10

Compassionate People

Compassionate people,

Warm-hearted and true,

Who enrich lives of others

With nice things they do.

Compassionate people,

So precious but few,

Who know in a crisis

The right thing to do.

Compassionate people

Who find joy in giving

And put others first

In their process of living.

When I count my life's blessings

From beginning to end,

I thank God for you,

My compassionate friend.

~ Ruth Moloney Cowgill

My Grand Catherdral

I have a grand cathedral
For myself and God alone;
It has no stained-glass windows,
No gold, nor polished stone.
No incense sweet, nor candles,
No carpet for my knees,
Just fragrant grass beneath my feet
And the beauty of tall trees.
Eloquently this quiet world
Tells of the father's love.
In silence, all the stars speak out
From the darkened sky above.
Then gracefully they fade away,
Replaced with rosy light,
As emanating sunbeams
Whisk away the night.
How lovely is my Father's world
When morning breaks the skies,
And from my grand cathedral,
My morning prayers arise.

~ Gael Phaneuf

Do you know? Have you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the
Creator of the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 40:28

Autumn Reflection

The winds of Autumn softly blow.

They whisper, "Soon there will be snow."

The sun sets early, nights are long.

The morning birds have ceased their songs.

The trees ablaze with Autumn gold,

But, soon it will be turning cold.

This time of year, it's time to pause,

And count the blessings that are ours...

For all the bounty that we see,

Good harvest, and for family.

These blessings come from God above,

And through all these, He shows His love.

~ Mary Ann Jameson

Show us, Lord, Your love;
grant us Your salvation.
Psalm 85:8

God's Autumn Radiance

In joy I watch the woodland leaves
Adrift in jeweled jamborees;
Parading banners twist and fly
Into the shimmering morning-glory sky.

Rich colors whirl from treetops bare,
Their beauty burning windswept air.
In Autumn breeze, leaves tumble down -
Vermillion, bronze, and chestnut brown.

Scarlet apple trees with fruit bend down,
Glowing pear trees flaunt each golden crown,
Bright, bittersweet blooms with heads held high,
As milkweed parachutes fly by.

Dazzling maples in splendor along the lane
Wear frost-silvered halos once again.
Night echoes the whippoorwill's farewell call...
God's heavenly radiance spreads over all.

~ Elizabeth Weaver Winstead

Laughter Through the Tears

Friendship is a golden thread

That binds our hearts with love,

A bond that reaches to the stars

That twinkle high above.

Friends see the pain behind the smile

And come before we call

To walk with us that "extra mile"

And lift us when we fall.

Friends see beyond our failures

The person we can be,

And they never are too busy

To share a cup of tea.

Friends are the glue God gives us

To mend a broken heart,

The anodyne that sustains us

When our world falls apart.

Friendship is a precious thing
That lives beyond the years,
A looking glass that lets us see
The laughter through the tears.

~ Clay Harrison