Life's Ultimate Goal

 

 It takes a lot of courage,

And great determination,

To overcome the obstacles

And reach a destination!

 

To be endowed with patience

Takes more than self-control;

It takes a lot of praying

When striving for that goal.

 

The road was never easy

To glory or to fame,

For in this world of strangers,

You are just another name!

 

You must expect to struggle,

And take it on the chin.

There always is a battle,

Before someone can win.

 

You must not cry or falter,

For once the game's begun

You have to keep on pitching;

Don't quit until you've won.

 

And once you taste the glory,

Don't rest on laurels pay!

For fame is not decisive -

It, too, can fade away!

 

An honor is God's blessing

Enriching heart and soul;

It's when you uplift others,

You've reached life's highest goal.

 

~ Gene Appleby

A Touch of Autumn

 

 

A touch of Autumn fills the air

with great expectations everywhere.

Hot summer days and humid nights

have given way to cool delights.

The frosted pumpkins in the glen

have children wearing silly grins.

Our harvest dreams have been fulfilled,

now dreams of Christmas have us thrilled.

The stars seem brighter than before

like fireflies at Heaven's door.

Silver moonlight and Autumn breeze

have transformed the golden trees

into chapels made of light

singing praises throughout the night.

A touch of Autumn fills the air

with thoughts that God is always there!

 

~ Clay Harrison

 

God Made An Autumn Day

 

God spoke to Mother Nature
One bright October day,
Then handed her a paint brush
And colors bright and gay,
Was then she formed a sunrise
To touch the leaves of gold,
And blended bits of scarlet
All beautiful and bold. 

At eventide, a sunset
Was added to it all,
The blue of sky - a gentle breeze
That bid the leaves to fall,
The magic of the hilltops
Each dream along the way,
God tucked away the summer
Then made an autumn day. 

~ Garnett Ann Schultz
 

I'd Like To Share My Dream

 I'd like to share my dream with you

and tell you what is best to do,

So, first before you start the day,

ask God for courage as you pray.

Whatsoever things are lovely,

live them in your heart,

Whatsoever things are honest

never let them part.

Do not turn away discouraged -

keep your eyes upon your dream,

Fight the things within you, even

hopeless they may seem,

Keep going in one direction

laughing at your fate,

Turning to the things you dreamed of,

on the track of something great!

Fill your heart with rainbows,

don't let clouds linger there,

For there's no time for sadness

when happiness fills the air.

We all can't climb the mountain

to that glorious height,

But we can go on ahead and upward

to the Guiding Light.

Don't worry about the yesterdays -

the winds have blown away,

Lift up your heart and sing again

for there's another day.

So, if you let me share my dream,

life will feel sublime,

For somewhere just beyond the clouds

the sun will always shine.

~ Doris K. Finck

I Know God's Love Is Everywhere

 I know God's love is everywhere,

In the beauty of the land,

It's as clean as the shell along the shore

After the waves have washed the sand.

It's a contented peace that you can feel

Just as twilight blankets the earth,

As fresh as the morning dew on the rose

When night to the dawn gives birth.

It's the gentle patter of the rain

After a long hot summer's day,

A radiant light that forever glows

When storm clouds roll our way.

It's as gold as the leaves when

they begin to change,

As brisk as an autumn morn,

As soft as the snowflakes that kiss your cheek

When a winter's day is born.

It sparkles as bright as jewels in the snow,

When the moon sheds its silvery light,

It outnumbers the stars in the heavens above

On a clear crisp winter's night.

For nature sings God's song of love,

In the beauty of the land,

We have only to listen with our hearts

To know God's love for man.

~ Debbie Hiber

In His Hand

 My Father sees inside my heart,

He knows my every need.

His plan for me He will reveal,

If on His Word I'll feed.

He spoke the universe in place;

He's Master of the sea.

When storms of life are raging,

I know He'll pilot me.

Why should I worry then, of fret?

For God, who gave His Son,

Holds all my moments in His hand

And giving them one by one.

~ Shirley W. Langley

In the shadow

of His hand

hath He hid me....

Is. 49:2

Spring's Arrival

 

 I didn't hear a bugle blow

When spring arrived today,

Nor did I hear the whole world shout

Along the springtide way.

Instead I heard the trilling sound

Of songbirds everywhere,

The gentle breezes, humming bees,

The wild geese in the air.

 

I didn't see a big fanfare

When spring came by our way,

Nor did I see a festive feast

To mark this gladsome day.

Instead I saw rebirth of life,

A world of blossoming;

Oh,  yes, I saw the power of God

In this first day of spring.

 

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

 

And he changeth

the times and

the seasons.

Daniel 2:21

The Love of a Child

 

There's nothing as lovely and nothing as true

As the love of a child in our care,

Nothing as sweet as the soft wistful eyes

Or the arms they so willingly share.

 

There's sweetness and joy such as none we have known,

There's tenderness, warmth and delight,

So wondrously rare is the mind of a child,

A portion of wisdom and light.

 

The love of a child is a treasure to keep,

Do nurture it day unto day,

This sweet little soul God has placed in your care

To guide it and show it the way.

 

It will blossom and bloom as the days shall unfold,

You will know that on you God has smiled,

For nothing's more precious or more to be sought

Than the heart and the love of a child.

 

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

 

"Amen, I say to you,

whoever does not accept the

Kingdom of God like a child

will not enter it."

Luke 18:17

Perennial Perfection

 

 Child, you're a flower,

Flourished from a seed

Nurtured, loved, protected

Perfect, yes indeed.

 

Child, you're a flower,

Skin of velvet rose,

Scent of fields of lilacs

Dainty hands and toes.

 

Child, you're a flower,

Finer by the day,

Growing strong and handsome

In your special way.

 

Child, you're a flower,

A gift of true delight

Heaven knows I'm thankful

Every day and night.

 

~ Janice Cortis Kasowski

 

"...Let the children

come to me and

do not prevent them;

for the Kingdom of God

belongs to such as these."

Luke 18:16

 



For All to Share

I thank God for the many things

He often sends my way,

The love and peace that I enjoy

Which often fill my day.

These lovely gifts He gives to me

But I must prove my worth,

If Paradise I hope to see

When I have left this earth.

Thus I must lend a helping hand

To those who are in need

And find the lost and floundering souls

Who need someone to lead -

Give freely of my time to those

Who sorrow and despair

And hold the hands of those in pain

And show them that I care.

The love and peace that I enjoy

Is there for all to share,

If you desire these gifts from God

Just go to Him in prayer.

~ Dolores Karides 

Use Me Lord

Use me Lord and let me serve

In every way I can.

Let me channel love and hope,

According to your plan.

Show me the way, lead me to where

There is a plea for help and care.

Then letme be the light, and emans

To be the answer to a prayer.

Use me Lord, give me the words

To comfort and console.

Then guide me with each step I take

To touch the heart of some dear soul.

For I have much that I can give

And I offer willingly

To be your vessel while I serve,

Dear Percious Lord, use me.

~ Patience Allison Hartbauer 



My God is in Control!

When worries seem to overcome,

And tension fills my soul,

My God is just a prayer away,

I know He's in control.

When burdens seem so hard to bear,

And triumphs seem so few,

That's when He takes my hand once more,

To lead me right on through.

God has a reason for each trial,

And as my lief unfolds,

He knows the things I can't explain,

And what my future holds.

O'er mountains or through valleys,

I have learned to be content,

I know He'll work things out to be

The way that they were meant.

May I be strengthened by each trial,

May I, His name extoll,

And never should I once forget,

That God is in control!

~ Carol McKenney

The Ministry of Kindness

 Lord, my ministry is kindness,

Loving thoughts and words and deeds,

I dedicate my life to You

To serve my neighbor's needs;

One may need loving assistance,

One, just a call t keep in touch,

And one may need a word of praise

That says, "I love you very much."

To one I'll give material gifts

To another, gifts divine

But to You, lord, I'll give myself

To be forever Thine.

~ Sister Mary Gemma Brunke, S.C.

...by love

serve one another.

Gala. 5:13

In the Arms of Jesus

In the holy arms of Jesus

There is  haven from our fears

And a refuge for the heartaches

That engulf a life in tears

For He loves us, with devotion,

Through all phases of our life -

Though we, oftentimes, deny Him

In our miseries of strife.

He is caring and forgiving

Of our frailties of heart

And the sins of human weakness

We commission and impart,

But His arms are always open -

To endear us in embrace-

When we pray to Him for refuge

and the comforts of His Grace.

~ Michael Dubina

The Season of the Roadside Stand

It's the season of the roadside stand,

And along the country roads

We see displayed the harvest yield

From seed which the tiller sowed.

There are golden ears of sweet corn,

Gourds of every size;

Beans, both green and yellow;

Potatoes, red and white.

There are solid heads of cabbage,

Some moss-curled parsley, green;

Tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins...

What a thankful autumn scene!

It's the season of the roadside stand;

How the merchants' faces beam

As they strive to please each buyer

Of this produce, freshly gleaned.

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

Thou crownest the year

with thy goodness;

and thy paths

drop fatness.

Ps. 65:11