Someone Else's Faults

When judging someone else's faults,

let's stop and list our own.

Compare the notes with who we judge;

we'll see they're not alone.

It's easy to point out mistakes,

that someone else will do,

But as the saying goes, my friend;

"Walk a mile while in their shoes."

It's better to reach out a hand

to help someone in need,

than to stand and point a finger

at someone for a bad deed.

God could have done the same to us,

with His wrath, get everyone!

But instead He washed away our sins

with the blood of His own Son!

~ George A. Hellard Jr.



A Prayer of Thanksgiving

We thank Thee God for bird on wing,
For love of Thee which solace brings;
For tender moments of each day,
Which special be in their own way!

We thank Thee God for brother man,
Who is the heart of Thine own plan;
For wondrous creature great and small,
Oh Thou, the Author of us all!

We thank Thee God for moments sweet,
Such as the touch of baby's cheek;
A puppy's frantic wagging tail,
The beauty of a wind-swept sail!

We thank Thee God for time of prayer
In church or home where we prepare
To meet uncertainties of day,
When dark-rimmed clouds are swept away!

We thank Thee God for unearned grace,
The tender warmth of Thine embrace;
For wonders of Thy boundless love
Which brighter be than skies above!

~ Sancie Earman King

Give thanks
to the Lord,
for He is good,
His mercy endure forever.
1 Chr. 16:34

My Unfailing Friend



What a sweet and blessed feeling

When I wake up ev'ry day

Just to feel God's presence near me

Just to know He's there to stay.

Oh, I know I am not worthy

Of His tender love and care,

Still I have His precious promise

That He's with me ev'rywhere.

There will always be the shadows

And we can't escape the night,

Still I know He watches o'er me,

I am always in His sight;

Though the storms may rage around me

Still the Lord will help me stand,

There's a sweet and precious calmness

In the hollow of His hand.

~ Thomas D. Risk

Sometimes

Sometimes the days seem dreary

And weary seems the load,

Sometimes we meet with heartaches

As we travel on life's road.

Sometimes the skies seem darkened

As noonday turns to night,

Sometimes the load seems heavy

With future none too bright.

Sometimes our heart grows weary

With every passing day,

Sometimes a sickness makes us

Upon a bed to lay.

Sometimes does not seem pleasant

As we look upon the sad,

But sunshine follows shadows,

Then, sometime's not so bad.

Sometimes when day seems dreary,

Just remember you can pray.

Sometimes when heartaches gather,

Look to Jesus all the day.

Sometimes when skies seem darkened,

You can look unto the light.

Sometimes when loads seem heavy,

You are walking in Christ's sight.

Sometimes when heart grows weary,

He will understand and care.

Sometimes when sickness gathers,

You have love beyond compare.

Sometimes can be most pleasant

When we look to God above,

And sometimes makes you happy

If you'll look unto His love.

~ Charles G. Ramsey 

In the Garden of My Soul

 A tender heart with words unspoken

Glistening tears like rain-drops fall,

A heart so broken filled with sadness

Is the saddest fate of all.

But there's life beyond the mourning,

There is hope in a tossed storm sea,

There's an answer to each prayer

In our own Gethsemane.

So do your best and keep on trying

Though each mountain high with fear,

God will aid the brokenhearted,

He will dry up every tear.

Rest assured a new tomorrow

Will come through with a brighter hue,

Like the prism in each dew-drop

Making all the wrongs seem new.

~ Chris Zambernard

The Lord is close

to the brokenhearted...

Ps. 34:18

The Good Shepherd

 My Shepherd watches over me

He knows my every need.

Through verdant meadows, pastures green,

surely He doth lead.

All troubled thoughts He gently calms,

my soul He doth restore.

In paths of love and goodness

He guides me evermore.

Through dark the road

Thou art near.

Whither my way,

There's naught to fear,

Thy rod and Thy staff

Comfort me still.

In presence of my enemies

A table Thou dost fill.

With oil anointest Thou my head,

my cup runs goodly o'er.

And surely I shall leave Thy house,

Good Shepherd, nevermore.

~ Walter Kamens

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

Ps. 23:1

Spring Celebration

 When I see the golden glory

As the sun begins to rise

And the splendor of the heavens

In the far-off eastern skies -

When I hear the songbirds singing

As the night turns into day,

With fresh dewdrops for their drinking

From the blossoms when it's May -

When the breeze blows soft and gentle

With the scent of sweet perfume

And the hummingbirds are busy

Feasting fast upon the bloom -

Then, with songs and hymns and praises

To creation's Lord and King,

I, with birds and blooms and breezes,

Celebrate the lovely spring.

~ George R. Kossik

The flowers

appear on the earth;

the time of the Singing

of birds is come.

Song 2:12



Multiple Blessings

 Comfort in times of loneliness,

Blessings in times of sorrow,

Guidance in times of decisions

That we must face tomorrow.

Relief in times of suffering,

Courage in times of fear,

Protection in times of danger,

That may be lurking near.

Peace in a time of turmoil,

Strength in a time of temptation,

Forgiveness in a time of conviction,

Would bring to us such revelation.

Warning in times of indifference,

Deliverance in times we are weak;

Rest in the times we are weary,

These multiple blessings we seek.

Where can we find this guidance?

Why, from our Savior above,

Who always watches over us,

And fills our hearts with love.

~ Albert N. Theel

Roll Call

One day you'll bid me come to You,

Forget the earthly cares I knew,

I'll gather roses while I may

To offer You a sweet bouquet.

I'll teach my heart a song to sing

Proclaiming all the joy You bring

To those who kneel to You in prayer

And find Your presence always there.

I wanted You so close to me -

So much I had to learn from Thee -

By learning to love others, too,

Is what has brought me close to You.

Now I look back on all the years

Recall the laughter and the tears

And You were there along the way

To fill my cup for me each day.

~ Edna Fontaine

 Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps. 23:6

There is a Gift

There is peace; an inner peace
We cannot understand,
It permeates in a troubled heart
when God is in command.

There is joy; a marvelous joy,
To know we're not alone.
Because the Lord provides the light
into our dark unknown.

There is love; abundant love,
Unfathomed and it's free,
Because our debt for sin was paid
by Christ on Calvary.

There is hope; a blessed hope
Because of God's gerat love,
He's promised us, through His own Son,
A place prepared above.

There is a faith; a limitless faith,
And yet a grain or two
can move a mountain; heal the sick,
There's nothing it can't do.

These are the gifts; God's matchless gifts
That are so freely given,
Come and partake; experience
Your own sweet taste of heaven.

~ Margaret E. Taylor

Why Didn't I?

 If only I could take them back -

the times that I was silent,

though I cared.

Why was my "faith in action"

quite so slack

when others' joys and sorrows needed

to be shared?

There were phone calls that

I could have made,

letters that I might have sent,

countless times I could have prayed,

and precious moments I was given,

better spent.

Forgive me, Lord, for

what I haven't done;

help me become a better image

of Your Son.

Then I won't need to chide myself

and sigh,

"Why didn't I? Why didn't I?"

~ Barbara A. McDowell

Silences



A pouring rain makes melodies

Descending from the sky,

But oh, the quiet sunny days

When clouds move white and high.

The songbirds chirps in early dawn,

Each trills his notes in streams,

But oh, the hours when all is hushed,

And we may dream our dreams.

Some afternoons the trees in winds

Are like soft strummed guitars,

But oh, the stillness of the night

Where we can see the stars.

The rushing wavelets on a lake

Make music's loud release,

But oh, the times of waters calm,

When we may find our peace.

All nature's sounds are beautiful

In water, earth, and air,

But oh, the lovely silences

That call our hearts to prayer.

~ Jean Hogan Dudley

...a time to keep silence,

and a time to speak.

Eccl. 3:7

When I'm Afraid

Everytime I am afraid,

And shadows dim the way,

When peace seems to elude me,

Even when I pray,

When I am tired and weary,

Struggling through each task,

And I can find no answers,

To the questions that I ask.

Then, more than any other time,

I turn to You for aid,

Trusting You to set it aright,

The blunders I have made.

Knowing You will gather up 

The pieces from the floor,

Of disillusion, tarnished hopes,

And lovingly restore

Them to their former glory

Without a crack or seam,

And fill the night with peace so I

May close my eyes and dream.

For when I am afraid I know

It's weakness on my part,

Because through every trial I face,

I hold You in my heart.

Dear Lord, please take into account,

This love within my breast,

That burns for You, and know that it

Is all that I possess.

~ Grace E. Easley

Rest

 Lord - give the sun to warm me,

A shower, my soul, to cleanse.

A light breeze to cool - not stormy,

Those hurt - may I make amends.

May my heart and soul be humble

With Your graces, always blessed,

On the road to You, not stumble

Within Your love find rest.

~ James Joseph Huesgen