Courage to Live

To those who have tried and seemingly have failed,

Reach out, dear Lord, and comfort them today;

For those whose hope has dimmed, whose faith has paled,

Lift up some lighted heavenly torch, I pray.

They are so frightened, Lord; reach out a hand.

They are so hurt and helpless; be their friend.

Baffled and blind, they do not understand -

They think this dark and tangled road the end.

Oh, touch to flame their hope that has burned low,

And strike with fire faith's ashes that are dead.

Let them walk proudly once again, and go

Seeking the sure and steadfast light ahead.

Help them to move among their fellow men

With courage to live, courage to try again.

~ Grace Noll Crowell

For Today

I do not ask the Lord, "why me?",
When troubles come my way
I only ask His presence here
With me, for just today.

Tomorrow I shall pray again
That He will lead me through,
And every moment I shall know
His love, His strength anew.

The weak are ever stumbling,
Please give me courage anew,
But just today I'm thankful
That You will see me through.

~ Betty Y. Baker

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

Walk With Me

 

Walk with me, Oh Lord I pray.

Give me strength throughoutthe day.

Take my problmes big and small,

Lift me when I tend to fall.

 

Walk with me, Oh Lord I pray.

Prompt me what to do and say.

Let me feel you always there.

Lift me when I feel despair.

 

~ Helen Parker

Keep Going

There's no skill in easy sailing

When the skies are clear and blue.

There's no joy in merely doing

Things that anyone can do.

But there's a great satisfaction,

That is mighty sweet to take

When you reach a destination

That you said you couldn't make.

The Bend In The Road

 

When we feel we have nothing left to give

And we are sure that the "song has ended" ---

When our day seems over and the shadows fall

And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength

To valiantly keep on trying,

Where can we find the hand that will dry

The tears that the heart is crying ---

There’s but one place to go and that is to God

And dropping all pretense and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint

And gain strength with Him at our side ---

And together we stand at life’s crossroads

And view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision

And He tells us it’s only a bend ---

For the road goes on and is smoother,

And the "pause in the song" is a "rest,"

And the part that’s unsung and unfinished

Is the sweetest and richest and best ---

So rest and relax and grow stronger,

Let go and let God share your load,

Your work is not finished or ended,

You’ve just come to "a bend in the road ."

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Press Onward

 

Keep a brave spirit, and never despair;

Hope brings you messages through the keen air ---

Good is victorious --- God everywhere.

 

Grand are the battles which you have to fight,

Be not downhearted, but valiant for right;

Hope, and press forward, your face to the light.

I Will Not Quit!

 

 

I will not quit until the battle’s won;
I will not quit until I hear the words, "well done!"
Though rough be the way, and hard be the fight,
I will not quit the conflict and right!
There’s much to be gained, true choices to make.…
Lord, show me the path --- just the right one to take!

 

~ Roxie Lusk Smith

My Kingdom

 



I do not ask for any crown
But that which all may win;
Nor try to conquer any world
Except the one within.
Be Thou my guide until I find
Led by a tender hand,
The happy kingdom in myself
And dare to take command.

~ Louisa May Alcott,

1831-1888

What I Need

 

I need a strength to keep me true

And straight in everything I do;

I need a power to keep me strong

When I am tempted to do wrong;

I need a grace to keep me pure

when passion tries its deadly lure;

I need a love to keep me sweet

When hardness and mistrust meet;

I need an arm to be my stay

 When dare with trouble grows my day;

And naught in each can these afford,

But all is found in Christ my Lord.

~ Theodore Horton

Give Me The Courage

 



Give me the courage, Lord, to sail

my boat out from the shore

I'd rather know the ocean's gale

and hear the tempest's roar

Than anchor safely in some bay

because fear conquered me,

Let craft less daring inland stay...

be mine the pathless sea.

 

~ Joseph Morris

Have Courage

 

Have courage

for the great sorrows of life

and patience for the small ones.

And when you have finished

your daily task,

go to sleep in peace

God is awake.