A Breath of Spring

April bathes in the breath of Spring

And borrows a robin's song to sing.

She lilac-lines the lanes with care

And scatters tulips everywhere.

April emeralds fields and hills

And golds the garden with daffodils.

She wears a glistening dewdrop grown

With white-washed daisies for her crown.

April bathes in the breath of Spring,

Awakens every living thing;

Then fancy-free, she wends her way

Into the merry month of May.

~ Nora M. Bozeman

Sweet, Fragrant Spring

Sweet, fragrant Spring has come again,
Our Winter-weary hearts to win.
She flaunts her beauty, anxious to please,
Flings lilac perfume on April's breeze.

An artist with a special flare,
She fashions flowers wondrous fair,
Calls honeybees to come and sup
Sweet nectar from each dainty cup.

Butterflies, flowers, honeybees,
Robins singing in the trees;
Scenes of beauty we like to see
She sends "with love" to you and me.

I'm told her home's that golden shore,
That she will live forevermore,
But visit here for just a while
To bring each face a happy smile.

And we in awesome wonder see
How quick she makes the Winter flee,
For who can hold to thoughts of gray
When sweet, young Spring has come our way?

~ Kay Hoffman

Gift

For God so loved

The world, He gave

His only Son,

Our souls to save.

Pause now, dear ones.

Let us reflect

Upon the Christ;

Pay Him respect.

Quiet ourselves

To quell the din

Of daily stress;

Invite Him in.

Open the chambers

Of our heart,

Receive the love

He will impart.

Yes, there are problems

And unrest,

So many trials

To try and test

That challenge

The faith we know,

Threatening love

We want to show.

Pause and accept

His Gift... Release

Ourselves to know

His inner peace.

For God so loved

He gave His Son

To give His peace

And joy, dear one!

~ Anna Lee Edwards McAlpin

My House Is Just a Little House

My house is just a little house,
But God knows where I live.
Such blessings He bestows on me;
Abundantly He gives.
And oh, I love my little house!
It is so cozy-warm,
With God's angels watching o'er it
To keep me safe from harm.
I do praise God, yes, each mealtime
Because my table's spread;
I give to Him my gratitude
For gifts of daily bread.
The clock ticks away the hours,
I hear the cricket's song,
My heart is oh, so happy -
I praise God all day long.

Now I shall put the kettle on
And make a pot of tea;
I'll go and ask some neighbors in
To share it all with me.
I take joy in the little things
That come with each new day -
The sunshine, bird songs and rainbows -
And so I kneel to pray.
Such blessings He bestows on me;
Abundantly He gives.
My house is just a little house,
But God knows where I live.

~ Mary E. Herrington

As for me and my
household, we will
serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Winter Comes Calling

Winter knocked upon my door,

Bringing cold and snow galore.

She looked just like an Eskimo

In her hat of frosted snow.

She wore a cloak of ermine white

And silver-dusted trees at night.

She sparkled every field and stream

With diamonds from a bright moonbeam.

A masterpiece of art was she

Bedecked in show-white finery.

She displayed her silent charms

Then fell asleep in springtime's arms.

~ Nora M. Bozeman

From the North the splendor

comes, surrounding God's 

awesome majesty!

Job 37:22

When Skies Are Gray and Snowflakes Fall

Oh, how I miss the hummers now

That Winter's come to stay.

I hate to take their feeders down

And pack them all away.

My acrobatic feathered friends

Go south this time of year,

And as I watch them fly away

I wipe away a tear.

When skies are gray and snowflakes fall

Upon the barren trees,

My thoughts return to warmer days

With hummers on the breeze.

I know one day in sunny May

How happy I will be,

For my ruby-throated friends

Once more will visit me.

~ Clay Harrison

On Wings of Night

The stars appear on wings of night,

A golden moon is shining bright,

As little creatures of the day

Are still as twilight finds it way.

The birds at rest within the trees,

We marvel at the gentle breeze.

On wings of night, the shadows fall,

A dark descending over all,

A time of peace and quiet still,

A magic glow atop the hill.

It seems a gentle, fragile time,

A miracle that's yours and mine.

God ever smiles from there above,

'Tis then we know His wondrous love.

The busy day is cast aside,

A fairer beauty shall abide,

As darkness takes the place of light

And blessings come on wings of night.

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

Yours the day and Yours

the night; You set the moon

and sun in place.

Psalm 74:16

Be at Peace

Oh, worrisome spirit, be at peace,
For God is taking care of you.
He sees each trial and burden
And knows exactly what to do.

Release each problem to Him,
As you bow your head to pray,
Then, with assurance of His goodness,
March on to greet the day!

He sends angels to attend to you
When the way seems dark and drear,
And if the fires of pain assail,
Be at peace, God is near!

There's not a problem He can't handle,
So unlike you and me.
Oh, troubled soul, be at peace -
Reach out to Him and you will see!

~ Linda C. Grazulis

The God of peace be with
all of you. Amen.
Romans 15:33

My Wings

Lord, You put flight

Into my wings.

You are the reason

My heart sings.

You fill the longings

In my soul.

You bring the joy

That makes me whole.

You're all I need

My whole life through;

You give the strength

For all I do.

Each day to me,

New life You bring.

You are the wind

Beneath my wings.

~ Helen Gleason

Sweet Assurance

Life is like a storybook;
Each day a page unfolds.
We never know beforehand
What scenarios it holds.
But whatever be the drama,
Filled with bounty or with tares,
There's comfort and assurance
That our Father always cares.

~ Virginia Borman Grimmer

A State of Mind

Age is truly a state of mind,

A conscious attitude.

It's a matter of perception

That determines our mood.

Some see the glass half empty

And quickly they complain,

But others see the glass half full

And sing a sweet refrain.

Some are content to live in the past

And they learn nothing new,

While others give thanks for each new day

And do what they can do.

Some say, "I can't!" and never try

While others say, "Why not?"

The wise ones reap the blessings

That faith and prayer have wrought.

Youth cannot be recaptured

Once the years depart,

But it truly is our state of mind

That keeps us young at heart!

~ Clay Harrison

Autumn Requests

Dear Lord, my needs are very small..

So may I cite a few?

Give me a balmy Autumn day

And sky of cloudless blue.

Oh, let me feel the gentle rain

Fall softly on my face,

And sprinkle gold dust through the trees

And every hidden place.

Just let me see the wild geese fly

With rhythmic wins in flight;

I want to hear the crickets chirp

When day succumbs to night.

This is the season I love best...

When trees are all aflame,

Then Nature paints her masterpiece

To glorify Your name!

~ Gene Appleby

I will praise You with all my

heart, glorify Your name

forever, Lord my God.

Psalm 86:12

Pack Your Smile

Be prepared for the journey of life,
Mile after mile after mile.
Though the journey contains good and bad,
Remember to pack your smile.

Whether you're sailing on the deep, blue sea
Or sitting alone in the dark,
The Spirit can give you a smile for your face
And joy in the depths of your heart.

No matter what comes, no matter what goes,
Remember God's there all the while.
He loves you so and He's in control,
So remember to pack your smile.

~ Idella Pearl Edwards

First Give Thanks

To worry and fret

Is hardly the way

To tell God my needs

While I'm trying to pray.

When life gets real hard

And seems rather grim,

I know that it's best

If I focus on Him.

When I first give thanks,

My spirit will rise,

Then all of my problems

Seem smaller in size.

I shan't take for granted

The new morning light,

Nor the clouds, nor the wind,

Nor the eagle in flight.

With full appreciation,

I'll sing a new song,

As my hope and my faith

Will grow to be strong.

I will give thanks

Before I receive, 

For I know that God

Is caring for me.

~ Joyce Mary Ecochard

Indian Summer

Season of splendor that makes my heart sing

For the beauty the Indian Summer does bring,

Crimson and amber and gold leaves fall,

Of birds that chatter and winds that call.

It thrills me through with such delight,

Magic colors on an Autumn night,

Rustling leaves like lullabies

Respond to the warmth of Autumn skies.

Imbued with colors as Nature conceives

Messages of joy my heart receives.

The harvest moon reflects once more

The bountiful wealth of Autumn's store!

And sleeping blooms of Summer lie

And whisper to Autumn a faint good-bye.

The longing and zest of this season at last

Lingers awhile, then fades in the past.

Treasures of earth you will only find

In the Indian Summer that God designed!

~ Gene Appleby

I will delight and rejoice in

You; I will sing hymns to

Your name, Most High.

Psalm 9:3