Get Away from All of It

 

 Sometimes I surely think that I

Would like to get away

From all of it and be alone

And rest and think and pray.

 

I could relax and contemplate

The joys that I have had

And I could read some Scripture for

It  makes one's heart so glad.

 

'Twould also serve to brush away

The cobwebs from my mind,

'Twould help me to make light my load

And leave my cares behind.

 

In fact I think that ev'ryone

Should sometimes get away

From all of it and contemplate,

Relax and think and pray.

 

~ Luther Elvis Albright

 

Persevere in prayer,

and watch in

it with thanksgiving.

Col. 4:2
 

After the Winter, God Sends the Spring

 

 Springtime is a season

Of hope and joy and cheer.

There's beauty all around us

To see and touch and hear.

So, no matter how downhearted

And discouraged we may be,

New hope is born when we behold

Leaves on a budding tree,

Or when we see a timid flower

Push through the frozen sod

And open wide in glad surprise

Its petaled eyes to God,

For this is just God saying,

"Lift up your eyes to Me,

And the bleakness of your spirit,

Like the budding Springtime tree,

Will lose its wintry darkness

And your heavy heart will sing" -

For God never sends the Winter

Without the joy of Spring.

 

~ Helen Steiner Rice

The Great Commission

 

It's not hard to be a Christian

and fill a friendly pew

Where only friends surround you

and praise the things you do.

But God would have us share His word

with those who know Him not

On darkened streets and avenues

where sinners cast their lot.

 

Here dwell the non-believers,

and those who have not heard

That Jesus Christ still loves them

according to His word.

Here dwell the lost and lonely,

the homeless and the proud,

Who, like sheep, have gone astray

by following the crowd.

 

Here dwell the broken-hearted,

the abandoned and abused,

Who have seen the "Sunday Christians"

and walked away confused.

It's not hard to be a Christian

and fill a friendly pew,

But after the Benediction...

can Christ be found in you?

 

~ Clay Harrison

 

"Go ye therefore,

and teach all nations..."

Matt. 28:19

 

Then Jesus Approached

 

 The Jesus approached and said to them,

"All power in heaven and

on earth has been given to Me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."

 

Matt. 28:18-20

Admonition

 

Reach out your hand to those in need,

Say not, "I have no time to give,"

True joy is in the kindly deed,

And peace is in the love we live.

 

Be fond of virtue more than gold,

Let blessed truth be in your heart;

Onto the right path firmly hold

And vanquish evil from the start.

 

The God of Wisdom has a plan,

And to this plan all things are bound.

His gift of freedom is, for man,

The greatest treasure to be found.

 

We have this life in which to live

Our freedom choices day to day:

It's not to evil we should give

Our very souls and lives away!

 

~ George R. Kossik

The Little Horse Who Failed

 

 Once there was a little horse

who entered in a race,

but due to careless folly

it ended in disgrace.

 

This came about when he outran

the other on the track

so far, he wondered where they were

and took a quick glance back.

 

When he stopped, the second horse

the turf did swiftly spin,

and with his four hoofs flying,

beat him to the win.

 

So let this be a lesson:

run your race in your own time

and regarding competition,

never stop to look behind.

 

For we are individuals;

with ourselves we must compete,

and to concentrate on rivals

is to suffer sure defeat.

 

~ Don Beckman

Lack of Knowledge

 

 When I was young I wondered how

the sky could be so blue;

what kept the clouds from falling down,

why four was two times two?

 

I asked my elders why green leaves

should turn to browns and reds,

and they would often frown at me

or shake impatient heads

 

and say "when you are older, lad,

you'll understand such things,

and know the reason snow is white

and why a bird has wings."

 

Yet, I am older now and find

when children question me

that it is hard to answer them

and not speak foolishly.

 

For this is the truth: the questions asked

are quite profound and wise;

it only is in adult minds

the lack of knowledge lies!

 

~ John C. Bonser

I Offer Thanks



 

 I offer thanks for friends so dear,

For every word of joy and cheer,

The quiet moments I so love

And blue skies there so high above,

The special dreams that are my own

And every beauty I have known.

 

I offer thanks for Springtime days

And happiness on country ways,

The precious laughter of a child

And tiny violets growing wild,

The brook that murmurs as it flows,

The magic o a Junetime rose.

 

For sun and rain and gentle earth

The miracle of Spring' rebirth,

Each Autumn color bright and bold,

For snowflakes soft and Winter's cold,

The sea that rushes to its banks,

For God and love - I offer thanks.

 

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

 

Time for Change

 

When our hair has turned to silver

And our steps are slowed by years

We must change our style of living -

In some ways we don't endear;

Younger hands must do the planting,

Stronger hearts must run the race;

You and I must love, more dearly,

While we 'wait the Lord's embrace.

　It is time for little diversions,

From our ways of younger years,

Time to live with limitations

Greying years combined with fears;

Younger hands must cut the timber;

Stronger hearts must climb the hill,

You and I must dress, more warmly,

To endure each Winter's chill

We must, also, pray to Jesus

For the comforts of His love

To sustain us and endear us

For Eternity, above;

Younger hands must do the labors;

Stronger hearts must lead the chase;

You and I must love, more dearly,

While we 'wait the Lord's embrace.

~ Michael Dubina

Holy Is His Name

 

Through the many, many years

There are many smiles and tears;

Yet the smiles predominate

If we live for Jesus' sake.

Tho the years may heartaches bring;

Yet the heart shall surely sing;

If to Jesus we belong,

For His very name is song.

　

Saviour here me, as I pray,

That I dedicate each day

To Thy precious Holy Name;

Which is evermore the same!

 

~ Sancie Earman King

 

I Thank God for My Home

 

 When sunrise lights the morning skies

Over our village paradise

And roosters crow their "wake-up" call

For us to hear, both one and all,

I thank God for my home.

It's not a palace for a king;

It's just a country cottage, small,

But, oh, the joys it ever brings,

Joys nestled there within its walls.

Here family lives with God as guide;

Here love for one another reigns.

All things are taken in their stride;

Concern for each one never wanes.

The windowsills hold flowers, bright,

That shed a ray of welcome here

And beckon to the flowers outside,

The gardens with their floral cheer.

When sunup fills the earthen floor

And touches on each village door

And folks begin their work each day

I n their same good old-fashioned way,

I thank God for my home.

 

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

If Memories are Riches

 

 I'll always have my memories,

When I am old and gray,

And they at least are something

No one can take away.

I could not ask for greater wealth,

Because they are so dear

And I will never wish for more

As long as I am here.

For if they measure riches by

Memories here on earth,

I'll surely be a millionaire -

So great would be their worth.

 

~ Harold F. Mohn

Cabin of My Dreams

 

There is a cabin of my dreams

To which I often go,

Sometime amid the Autumn leaves

Or nestled in the snow.

It's close beside a crystal stream,

Wherein I often swim,

And there are deer who never mind

That I am watching them.

There is a cabin of my dreams,

Rustic, quaint and small,

And yet I feel when I am there

I surely have it all.

It has two ample windows

Through which the sunlight streams,

And when dusk falls, the honeysuckle

Drifts into my dreams.

There is no need to lock the door,

No one lives out this far,

And I do very well indeed

Without a bus or car.

I've spent some happy hours

On that bench beneath the trees,

My homemade bread is sweetened

With wild honey from the bees.

Because one cannot see it

Doesn't mean it isn't there,

It is my secret refuge

From a world so full of care.

Within its walls an atmosphere

Of true simplicity,

And we are one, who dwell within,

...My little dog and me.

~ Grace E. Easley

 

Time for God

 

At the end of the day when the world is still

And my thoughts can return to memory,

I like to relax by my windowsill

And watch the great river glide out to sea.

It ripples along in an easy way,

A the lights blink on shining streaks of gold,

Across sparkling water for sun's last ray -

Just a final gleam as the day grows old.

 

Serenity comes to my window seat..

It's peaceful and calm as I linger there.

This hour of rest has become my retreat;

A place for solace and freedom from care.

Each of us seeks out a place he can be

Closer to God and tranquility.

 

~ Marian Ford Park

Home and Hearth

 

Home and hearth, such sweet words,

I ponder in my muse,

For they tell of simple joys,

The ones I do most choose...

For home's a cheery haven

With hearth so red aglow,

Where cares are oft' unburdened

And peace is good to know...

The dearest place upon the earth,

A respite from the storm,

Where hearts are shaking kinship

And building memories warm...

Home and hearth, such sweet words,

They signify true rest,

Where life' simple pleasures

Are at their very best!

 

~ Virginia Borman Grimmer