Let Me Be A Giver

God, let me be a giver, and not one

Who only takes and takes unceasingly;

God, let me give, so that not just my own,

But others' lives as well, may richer be.

Let me give out whatever I may hold

Of what material things life may be heaping,

Let me give raiment, shelter, food, or gold

If these are, through Thy bounty, in my keeping.

But greater than such fleeting treasures, may

I give my faith and hope and cheerfulness,

Belief and dreams and joy and laughter gay

Some lonely soul to bless.

~ Mary Carolyn Davies

A Morning Prayer

Let me today do something that will take

A little sadness form the world's vast store,

And may I be so favored as to make

Of joy's too scanty sum a little more.

Let me not hurt, by any selfish deed

Or thoughtless word, the heart of foe or friend,

Nor would I pass unseeing worthy need,

Or sin by silence when I should defend.

However meager by my wordly wealth,

Let me give something that shall aid my kind -

A word of courage, or a thought of health

Dropped as I pass for troubled hearts to find.

Let me tonight look back across the span

Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say -

Because of some good act to beast or man -

"The world is better that I lived today."

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Meaning of Prayer

A breath of prayer in the morning

Means a day of blessing sure;

A breath of prayer in the evening

Means a night of rest secure;

A breath of prayer in our weakness

Means a clasp of a mighty hand;

A breath of prayer when we're lonely

Means Someone to understand;

A breath of prayer in our sorrows

Means comfort and peace and rest;

A breath of prayer in our doubtings

Assures us the Lord knows best;

A breath of prayer in rejoicing

Give joy and added delight,

For they that remember God's goodness

Go singing far into the night.

There's never a year nor a season

That prayer may not bless every hour,

And never a soul need be helpless

When liked with God's infinite power.

~ Frances McKinnon Morton

Prayer

I do not undertake to say

That literal answers come from Heaven,

But I know this - that when I pray,

A comfort, a support is given

That helps me rise o'er earthly things

As larks soar up on airy wings.

I do not stop to reason out

The why and how. I do not care,

Since I know this, that when I doubt,

Life seems a blackness of despair,

The world a tomb; and when I trust,

Sweet blossoms spring up in the dust.

Prayer has a sweet refining grace,

It educates the soul and heart.

It lends a luster to the face,

And by its elevating art

It gives the mind an inner-sight

That brings it near the Infinite.

From our gross selves it helps us rise

To something which we yet may be.

And so I ask not to be wise,

If thus my faith is lost to me.

Faith that with angels' voice and touch,

Says "Pray, for prayer availeth much."

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I Needed The Quiet

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.

Into the shadows where we could confide.

Away from the bustle where all day long

I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled

But gently, so gently, my cross He upheld

And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things

Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings

To heights never dreamed of when active and gay.

He loved me so greatly He drew me away.

I needed the quiet. No prison my bed,

But a beautiful valley of blessings instead

A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide.

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

Copyright 1944

Unity is Strength

One little prayer ascending

From a man bowed low in prayer

Can pierce the highest heavens

And bring down blessings rare.

Where two or three are gathered

(We have it on God's word)

There God is in the midst of them,

Their prayer is surely heard.

Then let us pray together

The greatest prayer, God's own -

Father, who art in heaven,

We cry in suppliant tone.

Forgive us all our trespasses,

Thy holy will be done,

They name we'll spread in every clime

Till all the fold is one.

Give us this day our daily bread,

Temptations keep at bay -

And strength will come with unity,

When all together pray.

~ Rev. Thomas Foy

"I Didn't Have Time"

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me

And heavier came each task;

"Why didn't God help me," I wondered.

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

My Evening Prayer

If I have wondered any soul to-day,

If I have caused one foot to go astray,

If I have walked in my own wilful way -

Good Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,

If I have turned aside from want or pain,

Lest I myself should suffer through the strain -

Good Lord, forgive!

If I have craved for joys that are not mine,
If I have let my way wayward heart repine,
Dwelling on things of earth, not things divine -
Good Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some part to hold -
Good Lord, forgive.

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
That which I know not, Father, teach Thou me -
Help me to live.

~ Charles H. Gabriel

Daily Prayers Are Heaven's Stairs

The "Stairway" rises "Heaven High" -

The "Steps" are dark and steep,

In weariness we climb them

As we stumble, fall and weep...

And many times we falter

Along the "path of prayer"

Wondering if you hear us

And if you really care...

Oh, give us some assurance,

Restore our faith anew,

So we can keep on climbing

The "Stairs of Prayer" to you -

For we are weak and wavering,

Uncertain and unsure,

And only meeting you in prayer

Can help us to endure

All life's trials and troubles

Its sickness, pain and sorrow,

And give us strength and courage

To face and meet tomorrow!

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Safe in His Care

Help me, Lord, to keep on trusting

Even when the way is bleak,

And my throat is sore from crying

And my voice can hardly speak.

Take away my pain and sorrow,

Let me feel Thy presence near;

Help me walk in sweet progression

Attended by Thy force: No fear

Of what is come before me,

No looking back at things that were -

Grant me grace to live each moment

With the things that be, assured.

If my human strength would falter

Under barbs and heavy load,

Come Thou here and ease my burden

Lest I totter down the road.

If my spirit wanes in trying,

And faint tenors take command,

Fire me, Lord, to keep on walking:

Guided, strengthened, by Thy hand.

~ Roxie Lusk Smith

Perfect Trust

Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust,

My loving God, in thee;

Unwavering faith, that never doubts

Thou choosest best for me!

Best, though my plans be all upset;

Best, though the way be rough;

Best, though my earthly store be scant;

In Thee I have enough.

Best, though my health and strength be gone;

Though weary days be mine,

Shut out from much that others have;

Not my will, Lord, but Thine!

Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust

That looks away from all;

That sees Thy hand in everything,

In great events or small!

Consolation

There is never a day so dreary
But God can make it bright,
And unto the soul that trusts Him,
He giveth songs in the night.
There is never a path so hidden,
But God can lead the way,
If we seek for the Spirit's guidance
And patiently wait and pray.

There is never a cross so heavy
But the nail-scarred hands are there
Outstretched in tender compassion
There is never a heart so broken,
But the loving Lord can heal,
The heart that was pierced on Calvary
Doth still for His loved ones feel.

There is never a life so darkened,
So hopeless and unblessed,
But may be filled with the light of God
And enter His promised rest.
There is never a sin or sorrow,
There is never a care or loss,
But that we may bring to Jesus
And leave at the foot of the cross.

Trust and Believe

Whatever our problems, troubles, and sorrows,

If we trust in the Lord,

there'll be brighter tomorrows.

For there's nothing too much

for the great God to do,

And all that He asks or expect from you

Is faith that's unshaken

by tribulations and tears

That keeps growing stronger

along with the years,

Content in the knowledge that God knows best

And that trouble and sorrow are only a test -

For without God's testing of our soul

It never would reach its ultimate goal..

So keep on believing, whatever betide you,

Knowing that God will be with you to guide you,

And all that He promised will be yours to receive

If you trust Him completely and always believe.

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Courage to Live

To those who have tried and seemingly have failed,

Reach out, dear Lord, and comfort them today;

For those whose hope has dimmed, whose faith has paled,

Lift up some lighted heavenly torch, I pray.

They are so frightened, Lord; reach out a hand.

They are so hurt and helpless; be their friend.

Baffled and blind, they do not understand -

They think this dark and tangled road the end.

Oh, touch to flame their hope that has burned low,

And strike with fire faith's ashes that are dead.

Let them walk proudly once again, and go

Seeking the sure and steadfast light ahead.

Help them to move among their fellow men

With courage to live, courage to try again.

~ Grace Noll Crowell

For Today

I do not ask the Lord, "why me?",
When troubles come my way
I only ask His presence here
With me, for just today.

Tomorrow I shall pray again
That He will lead me through,
And every moment I shall know
His love, His strength anew.

The weak are ever stumbling,
Please give me courage anew,
But just today I'm thankful
That You will see me through.

~ Betty Y. Baker