On Wings of Faith

Dare to dream bright, lofty dreams

With purposeful intent;

Dare to plan a noble course

To take and to augment.

Dare to strive to be your best

In everything you do,

To value truth and honesty

So they'll reflect on you.

Dare to soar to greater heights

On wings of faith and love,

Knowing that God's guiding light

Is shining from above.

~ Vi B. Chevalier

They that hope in the Lord will renew their

strength, they will soar as with eagles'

wings; they will run and not grow weary,

walk and not grow faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Falling Leaves

Down come the leaves, bright yellow and red,

Settling soon in a snug Winter bed,

Floating upon the wings of the breeze,

Twisting and turning with delicate ease.

I sit by my window, entranced by the sight,

And follow the course of beauty in flight,

To unite in array on grass that's still green -

No artist could paint a more beautiful scene.

~ Lester E. Bartholomew

Love Is All That Matters

Born in a poor, forsaken place,
I slept on the hardwood floor.
The windows held no shining pane
And the cold came trough my door.

My shoes were worn, my coat was thin,
My dress was ragged cotton,
My hair grew wild below my waist,
In a time almost forgotten.

A time our only wealth was love,
And family life, a treasure.
We fought to help each other live;
To give, our greatest pleasure.

A time now gone with passing days
That died for prosperous years,
And saw us go our separate ways,
Down a flowered path of tears.

If God should ask my heart's desire,
There's no blessing I'd love more
Than going home for one last night
To sleep on the hardwood floor!

~ Kate Watkins Furman

Water Skaters and Dragonflies

I watched the little skaters
Skating on the pond;
The little water skaters,
Frolicking, every one.
They'd skim across the water,
Then sometimes they'd glide.
On this midsummer noontide,
It was a thrilling sight.

Two dragonflies approached me,
Then circled 'round and 'round;
Their black reticulated wings
Ne'er seemed to make a sound.
O'er the pond my cares soon skimmed
Just like the water skaters;
Then like dragonflies in flight,
I "winged" home to my labor.

I basked in sweet serenity,
These moments at this spot,
Marveling at the wondrous sights
Created by our God.

~ Loise Pinkerton Fritz

Sing unto Him, sing psalms
unto Him, talk ye of all His
wondrous works.
1 Chronicles 16:9

Hearing Soft Wind

God sprinkles dewdrops on the grass
And polishes lakes clear as glass.
He spreads cool shade beneath the tree
As resting places for you and me.

He shapes our minds to enjoy such things,
Like hearing a soft wind as it sings.
He plants love-thoughts in our hearts
So that all our selfishness departs.

God closes the days with star-filled nights;
He hangs up the moon to serve us light.
He touches our pain and it slips away -
Always, He hears us when we pray.

~ Rosa Nelle Anderson

The Miles and Years

I look back o'er the miles and years
And see where I have been.
I see again the smiles and tears
As I think back to "then."

So often on the path I chose
My life was surely blessed,
But it was when God led the way
I did my very best.

For He can see the miles ahead
That bruise our weary feet;
He sees beyond our vision
All the obstacles we meet.

I look back o'er the miles and years,
But they are gone forever.
The lessons that I learned somehow
Are all that time can't sever.

I know I serve a changeless God,
So on my knees I pray,
If I am blessed with miles and years,
Please guide me all the way.

~ Gertrude B. McClain

You restore my strength. You
guide me along the right path for
the sake of Your name.
Psalm 23:3

Treasures Along the Seashore

Have you ever taken the time to notice
So many treasures along the shore -
Seashells which echo the rushing waves,
A gentle breeze and so much more?
The smell of the salty water
And sounds of the billowing tides,
The fog and misty ocean spray -
A seagull soaring nearby...
Walking barefoot on the sand -
Oops! A starfish slithers ashore.
Oft I wonder what other fascination creatures
Lie upon the ocean's rocky floor.
All these tiny miracles -
God created each and every one
To teach us of His goodness
And to revel His mighty love.

~ Linda C. Grazulis

Greater Than All Riches

What I have is precious,
A gift from God above,
A blessing sent from Heaven,
Wrapped tightly in God's love.

My family, they're safe harbor
From the storms that blow my way.
They comfort and they guide me,
And always for me pray.

My friends, my boon companions,
Who help me dry my tears,
Who share with me the love of God,
And help me persevere.

What blessed gifts from Heaven
Are my friends and family.
With grateful heart to You, dear Lord,
I give my thanks to Thee.

~ Mary Ann Jameson

His Gifts of Love

I will talk to all who will listen
To what I have to say,
In hopes my words will reach each heart
To guide and show the way.

I'll speak of His amazing grace,
Of His mercy and His love,
To let them know He's always there
As He watches from above.

He hears the prayer of a sinner
Who asks, with contrite heart,
To be freed of my transgressions,
And to make a brand-new start.

Soon the angel choirs will sing,
The trumpets will loudly sound,
For Jesus' love now fills my needs,
And new purpose I have found.

I'll now proclaim His mighty power,
Hear the Alleluias ring!
Then lift my hands to offer up
All the gifts His love will bring.

~ Angie Monnens

Answer when I call, my saving God.
In my troubles, You cleared a way;
show me favor, hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:2

God Is There

Hours turn into days,
Days turn into years.
Many roads we travel on,
Some with doubts and fears.
Though problems overwhelm us
And tensions fill our day,
There is someone to turn to,
Who will guide us on our way.

He's there in time of trouble,
He's there in deep duress.
You will find that God is near
And is always there to bless.

He's our light in the darkness,
A lamp unto our feet -
Our Lord is always there
To make our day complete.

~ Dorothy C. Deitz

Your word is a lamp for my
feet, a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

Never Doubt

Dear anxious one, head bowed in prayer,
Know that God is listening there.
He heeds the slightest prayer we pray;
It matters not if night or day.

He promises He'll meet our need,
But we must trust in Him to lead;
His path may not be the one you'd choose;
Your hand in His, you cannot lose.

God loves you and He'll see you through;
He gave His Son to die for you.
Oh weary one, heart burdened with care,
Never doubt the power of prayer.

~ Kay Hoffman

Wear a Smile

Wear a smile of happiness
As through this life you go.
It doesn't cost a penny,
Yet sets your heart aglow,
Will quickly chase the clouds of gloom,
Put rainbows in your sky,
It's filled with special goodness
And ever lights your eye.

Wear a smile at dawning,
Beginning each new day,
Creating paths of sunshine
Along each weary way.
And then as twilight beckons
With starshine from above,
Find the evening quiet,
Rich in hope and love.

Hear the happy laughter
Of children at their play,
Take their hands and guide them,
Help them find the way.
Bits of joy and sunshine
Make your life worthwhile.
You'll be rich in blessings
If you wear a smile.

~ Garnett Ann Schultz

No treasure greater than a
healthy body; no happiness,
than a joyful heart!
Sirach 30:16

My Every Day

The best part of my every day

Is when I'm going home.

I count the footsteps all the way

From places where I've roamed.

The evening sunset settles low

And takes my cares away;

Then I thank God for all He's done

To bless my every day.

I'm thankful to our God above

For the wondrous gifts He's given.

My every day's filled with His love

That makes my life worth livin'.

~ Gertrude Blau Byram

I Hear Thee Knocking

I hear Thee knocking at my door;
I need Thee, precious Lord.
I ask Thee, Master, to come in,
For Thou art e'er adored.

I hear Thee knocking at my door;
I know that Thou art there.
My life I place in Thy sweet hand;
Come listen to my prayer.

I hear Thee knocking at my door,
Dear Savior, Lord divine.
Please enter in and heal me, Lord,
And make me ever Thine.

~ Hope C. Oberhelman

Beauty

Beauty surrounds us,
If we take the time to look.
We can see it in the valleys
And in every rippling brook.

We can see it in graceful birds
Soaring high in a cloudless sky.
A frisky, brown squirrel
Racing to a leafy tree nearby.

We can see it in flower buds
Hiding their glorious array,
Waiting for the perfect moment
Their beauty to display.

We can see it in little children
Laughing happily with glee,
Peacefully napping or
Sitting on Granddad's knee.

Yes, beauty surrounds us,
As God meant it to be,
If we pause and look
And take the time to see.

~ Barbara Dickerson

Charm and beauty delight
the eye, but better than neither,
the flowers of the field.
Sirach 40:22