Seize the Moment

 Seize the moment when it comes,

It may never come again.

Do not waste it or cause regret

As you look back to "when."

Seize the moment, make it count,

Rescue some soul today.

Let lonely souls know of God's love

Whene'er they come your way.

Don't pass up opportunities

That God may bring to you,

For everything is planned by Him

And His every word is true.

He has a plan for you, my friend,

Each moment of your day,

So seize these moments, use them well

To give His love away.

~Helen Gleason

Conduct yourselves wisely

toward outsiders, making

the most of the opportunity.

Colossians 4;5



Sunsets

 The constant crash of ocean waves,

A star-filled Autumn sky,

An eagle soaring through the air,

A sailboat drifting by...

The first snowfall of Winter,

A budding tree in Spring,

Raindrops on my window,

Birds that sweetly sing...

All these things I treasure,

Yet, I think the best

Of all God's rich creations

Are His glorious sunsets.

~ Mary Ann Jameson

Thank You, Lord

 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me

The courage to face each day,

The strength to carry me onward

And the vision to light my way.

My burdens are sometimes hard to bear,

But they may be a blessing by far,

For I've found a light inside of me

That burns like the brightest star.

 

~ Nancy Moran

 



I Am Thankful for the Trees

The morning arose in a whisper of gold,

So tranquil and peacefully fair;

Mesmerized I watched its grandeur unfold,

Then I thankfully murmured a prayer.

From my window I watched the sun rising,

Easing slowly up out of the east,

And I saw a red-breasted robin

Alight on the feeder to feast.

The trees seemed to shimmer with foliage,

Greening and bathing in dew,

And my garden was bursting with blossoms

In colors of every hue.

How often we all take for granted

The treasures that only God made,

With never a thought to be thankful

For flowers and trees that give shade.

But if these were all taken from us,

What a colorless world it would be;

Therefore, from now on I will thank Him

For each flower, robin, and tree.

~ Ruth Gillis

It became beautiful and stately in its

spread of foliage, for its roots were

turned toward abundant water.

Ezekiel 31:7

Troubled Heart

 When your heart is troubled

And no one seems to care,

Don't believe it for a moment,

For God is always there.

If trouble gets you down

And life does seem so bleak,

Lift your eyes to Heaven,

The face of God now seek.

In your soul you'll know Him

And peace will fill your heart,

If you believe in Him

And try to do your part.

He never will forsake you -

That's a promise He has made.

Lift your heart this very day,

Then watch your troubles fade.

~ Bernice Laux

Relieve the troubles of my heart;

bring me out of my distress.

Psalm 25:17



Take Time

 It only takes a moment

To make a day worthwhile,

To say a word in kindness,

To flash a friendly smile.

It only takes a moment

To watch a child at play,

To stop and smell the flowers

That bloom along your way.

It only takes a moment

To offer God a prayer,

To thank Him for His goodness,

To know you're in His care.

~ Beverly J. Anderson

As for me, when I came to you it was not

out of any favor on my part, but because

it was God's will. So continue to thank

Him every day; praise Him with song.

Tobit 12:18



My Little Country Home

 

It's often that I wander back

To visit or a while,

Back to my little country home

Where things were out of style.

 

There were no fancy linens

Or carpet on the floor,

No crystal chandelier that shined,

But we had love and more.

 

Our quilts were sewn by hand with care,

Each patch a lovely sight,

And kept us warm and comfortable

Upon a winter night.

 

I still can see a lamplight glow,

A Bible by our bed,

I still recall its sacred trust

And scripture Mother read.

 

Our home was just a humble house,

But we felt safe, secure,

And children all, both large and small,

Knew love and kindness pure.

 

Our home is still my castle and

My treasured memories,

And I can visit now and then -

My family waits for me.

 

~ Katherine Smith Matheney

 



Wings of Faith

 

I know a little secret
Of how to make faith grow -
Fold each hand and bend both knees
With your head bowed low.

Keep prayer in both heart and mind.
With God communicate.
Remember you must listen
And for an answer - wait!

Have God centered in your life,
Surrender to the King,
Yield your life to God on high...
Your faith will take to wing!

~ Carol Zileski

For through the Spirit,
by faith, we await the
hope of righteousness.
Galatians 5:5



The Blessings in a Smile

 

 A smile, it can do many things,

This I found is true.

It can say, "I really care,"

To someone who is blue.

 

It can bond to perfect strangers

As they pass along the way.

It can tell a weary soul,

"I send God's love your way."

 

It can touch a broken, hurting heart,

And bring it hope renewed.

You have this "gift" upon your face...

Today, use it for God's good.

 

~ Mary Ann Jameson

 



Miracles

 

I believe in miracles... I see them every day -
When barren trees don leaves once more,
When waves caress a sandy shore
And seasons slip away.

I believe in miracles... I hear them everywhere -
The murmur of the talking trees,
And bird song on the evening breeze,
A small child's bedtime prayers.

I believe in miracles... I smell their rare perfumes -
Apple blossoms, clover fields,
The heady scents a vineyard yields
On Autumn afternoons.

I believe in miracles... the flavors tantalize -
Sun-ripened fruit on tree or vine,
A farm-fresh egg, a vintage wine,
Warm-from-the-oven pies.

I believe in miracles... the touch of Summer rain -
And after rain the warmth of sun,
Contentment when the day is done
And I'm at home again.

I believe in miracles... the simple and the grand -
The strength God gives to face life's woes,
The blessings that He bestows
With such a caring hand.

~ Alice J. Christianson

Therefore I tell you, all that you
ask for in prayer, believe that you
will receive it and it shall be yours.
Mark 11:24
 

Walk My Garden

 

I've no olives in my garden,

Nor figs upon my trees,

But I offer sun and shadow,

Fragrant blossoms, gentle breeze.

 

And the heart can swell with gladness

And the mind can take its rest.

There's contentment in my garden

Where no man is put to test.

 

In my garden there's no weeping,

There's no sorrow, there's no pain.

Take my hand and I will lead You

Through a peaceful world again.

 

You have walked in many gardens -

In the desert, by the sea;

Come, accept my invitation...

Walk my garden, Lord, with me.

 

~ Ruth Malan Clingerman

 

For a sun and shield is the Lord God

bestowing all grace and glory. The

Lord withholds no good thing from

those who walk without reproach.

Psalm 84:12

 



River of Tears

 

There's a crystal river in Heaven

That catches each tear that's shed,

Then rushes past God's golden meadows

To His waterfall overhead.

This waterfall then forms a rainbow

Which covers our sky in a mist,

Then falls ever gently upon us...

A river of tears, Heaven-kissed.

 

~ Ruth E. McDaniel

 

Those who will sow in tears will

reap with cries of joy.

Psalm 126:5

 



Valley of Flowers

 Memories of the valley of flowers

Viewed from the grassy knoll

Never fail to move me

And bring pleasure to my soul.

I can still vision the beautiful flowers

Shimmering in sun's bright glow

And see the birds soaring over

The valley of flowers below.

I remember the field of clover

And the smell of it, fresh and fair.

Memories are planted deep in me

And my mind still wanders there.

There is no place more beautiful,

Where the trees are looming towers

That grow beside the rocky stream

In the valley of the flowers.

~ Shirley Hile Powell



Blossoms

 

 I watched the blossoms of the trees

In colorful array,

And swaying with a gentle breeze

They seemed to softly say...

 

"Each blossom that our God hath made

Does beautify the land,

And every lovely, pastel shade

Is painted by His hand."

 

I loved to watch them on that day,

But knew that suddenly --

At season's end they'd fade away,

But saddened I'd not be...

 

For blossoms shed -- they come and go,

And others then appear.

New peace, new life, God does bestow

Each season of the year.

 

~ Edna Massimilla

 

Our days are like the

grass; like flowers of

the field we blossom.

Psalm 103:15

 

Snowflakes

 

 Snowflakes swirling through the air

Descend to dress the landscape bare.

Floating gently to the ground,

They come to rest without a sound.

Streaming from a  laden sky,

Whirling bows go drifting by,

Counting rooftops, dusting lanes,

Dancing by the windowpane.

Falling snow of frosted lace

Accents the glow upon my face

And thrills a child's heart with delight

To bring "Old Frosty" back to life.

Born of Winter, tempest tossed,

Forming blankets laced with frost.

Moonbeams catch your crystals bright,

Creating magic in the night.

 

~ Annette Lightbourn