Birds He Gave Wings

 

Birds He gave wings

To soar to the sky;

Man He gave thoughts

To attain heaven's heights.

 

~ Louise Pinkerton Fritz

The Beauty of a Snowflake

In the beauty of a snowflake,

Falling softly on the land,

Is the mystery and the miracle

Of God's great, creative hand,

For what better answers are there

To prove His Holy Being

That the wonders all around us

That are ours just for the seeing!

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Used with permission of

The Helen Steiner Rice Foundation

Cincinnati, OH 45202



Times of Stillness

 When the rush of life o'ertakes me,

And my soul quiet seeks,

When my mind is full of pressures

That pursue me through the week,

I have a little haven

Where I find my heart's content,

And the quiet that surrounds me there

Is truly heaven sent.

For we all need times of stillness;

To relax and just unwind,

And let go of small resentments

That clutter up our minds.

So, I seek the soothing quiet,

To my haven, safe I trod,

And alone there in silence,

I feel very close to God!

~ Jean E. Moore



Earth Song LXI

When winter-winds blow harsh and cold

with wild and angry cries

and sweep the withered autumn leaves

into storm-clouded skies

and drifted snow lies high and deep

across each frozen field,

anticipation of the spring

becomes our strength and shield.

As bitterness of blizzard's breath

is lost in budding trees,

the healing in love's gentleness

will ease life's agonies:

like sunlight arching through the mists

that hide the meadow's flowers,

the promises in hope and faith

are rainbows in dark hours.

~ Eugene G.E. Botelho



Reflections

Reflections in the water

Are staring back at me...

They seem to have some questions...

"Do you like what you see?"

"Are you a better person

Than you were yesterday?

Is any heart the lighter

Because you passed His way?"

It seems the Master speaketh

And unto me did say...

"Don't wait until tomorrow,

You only have today."

I searched my soul in silence

And quietly did pray,

"Help me be Your reflection

Today... and every day."

~ Ann Matthews



The Harbor

There's a harbor where dream boats are anchored

And, oh, what a bright spot it is!

It's clear as a bell that is ringing

And there's nary a sprinkling of mist.

It's far from the world and its burdens,

Far from the world and its cares;

So calm and serene is this setting

And each has a boat anchored there.

There's a harbor where dreamboats are anchored

And there in this setting, serene,

Each one looks ahead down life's waters

In hope of fulfilling a dream.

The heart is this harbor for dream boats,

And while they are anchored there,

Let us ask God for help and for guidance

As we for our journeys prepare.

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

I will instruct thee and

teach thee in the way which

thou shalt go: I will guide thee

with mine eye.

Psalm 32:8



He Stands by Me

 

He stands by me in trouble

And times of great distress,

He helps me face each problem

That causes me duress.

He strengthens and sustains me

In times that I feel fear.

He is my inspiration

And fills my heart with cheer.

He comforts and consoles me

In moments of despair.

He makes my life far brighter

By helping in it share.

Whenever I may need a friend

I know that I will find,

That God is always standing by

To bring me peace of mind.

 

~ Harold F. Mohn

 

 

Gray Days

 

The graying comes the last of fall

The wind upon a wing,

'Tis when the birds take flight... most all

A parting song they sing.

 

Thro' the gray and stormy days

Please God... help me recall,

The beauty that was stored in me

The good things most of all.

 

And Father... help me not to dwell

In the days of gloom and gray,

To let a love within me swell

And to thank You... as I pray.

 

~ James Joseph Huesgen

 

 

 

The Silence of the Lambs

How dark the night of doubts and fears

as seen through sorrows' bitter tears

when morning seems light years away

and we crave the warmth and light of day.

How sad the heart that lonely beats

like heavy footsteps on empty streets

when no one seems to know your name,

and every day is just the same.

How sweet the voice of someone dear,

the loving touch of someone near

who takes your hand and leads the way

until you see the light of day.

How fond the memories we share

of those God sends to love and care,

for when hearts beat like fighting rams...

we seek the silence of the lambs.

~ Clay Harrison

Knowing

It's knowing You are always there

 Through each hurt and little care,

That keeps me on an even  keel

When daily woes my calm could steal.

It's knowing, whether night or day,

Close to home or far away,

That You support my hopes and reams,

Or at least, that's how it seems.

It's knowing you're my dearest friend

In your vigil without end,

Guiding me o'er troubled seas

With a strong and steady breeze.

It's knowing that You'll always be

In heart and soul, close tome,

Until You guide me to that shore

Where pain and worries are no more.

~ Catherine Janssen Irwin

 



Not Alone

 

How oft, at times, I stand alone,

 At least it seems that way to me,

And yet I know whate'er the odds

That's not the way it ought to be.

 

For high above this pale of life,

And close beside my daily walk,

I know of One who's ever nigh

To hear when I to Him talk.

 

I never need to feel alone

On crowded streets, or desert isle,

For God is there, - true friend who pleads

With loving eyes and a cheery smile.

 

His ways are not obtrusive ways,

And yet outside our heart's closed gates

He offers all that life can give,

As patiently outside He waits.

 

~ Harvey M. King

 

Every Tree is Like an Altar

 

Every tree is like an altar,

Built to say a little prayer,

They make a church in woods and parks,

They seem to say God's everywhere.

 

Standing like pencils in the world

They look up to the sky each day.

And somehow you feel their great strength 

Knowing God is not far away.

 

Trees with  hundred years in them

Will be my friend eternally,

I'm so thankful to God that He

Gave me a church in every tree.

 

~ Marion Schoeberlein

 

 

God's Creatures

 

A smile upon a small child's face,

A cat with kittens in a sheltered place,

A small dog waiting for a bone -

None of these I call my own.

 

A honeybee sips at a flower,

A small bird twitters by the hour,

They're all God's creatures - not my own,

Just loaned to us, we're not alone.

 

~ Helen Miller DeVore

 



We Shall Steer Safely

 

We shall steer safely

through every storm,

so long as our heart is right,

our intention fervent,

our courage steadfast,

and our trust fixed on God.

 

~St. Francis de Sales

 

Song of the Sea

 

There is a song that beckons me

To shore, where all is wide and free;
Where meets the awesome sea with sky

Which soothes the souls of such as I!

Tho' ocean is a noisome thing

If we but listen, it will sing;
In such a lulling winsome way

To little children while at play.

I wonder, as joys I see

If Jesus, while on Galilee;
Could witness seagulls in their flight

Which is a soul-uplifting sight!

For we should never once forget

 The God who fashions even yet;
All wonders of the sea and shore

That we might praise Him evermore!

 

~ Sancie Earman King