Growing Old

God keep my heart attuned to laughter

When youth is done.

When all the days are suddenly gray days
Coming after sun.

God keep me from bitterness and grieving

And self pity.

When life seems over, full of pain and cold,

A duty bound city.

Let my love and joy always be found in You

Searching not for youth.

But always reading from Your holy word

Daily gleanings of truth.

God remind me I am still within Your fold

My soul will not be sold.

God keep me always loving and believing

As I grow old.

Amen

Redeeming Christmas

Snarling traffic, faces are too.
Speeding cars, have lots to do.
Hand gesticulations, not so nice.
Parking spots, some not precise.
Busy clerks, with nary a smile.
Hurry on, don’t wait a while!
This is Christmas, push on through.
It is so busy, so much to do.
“Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Christmas lists, charge cards will do.
Otherwise returns are all up to you!
Buying extravagant, have the gold card?
Watching bank balance, so very hard!
Rich food we will bake, including a cake.
Forget the diets, we will all partake.
Think of weight later, get on the scale.
The shock is fattening, when we exhale!
“If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat.”

Flyers come in, more from the stores.
Thrilling pictures with all the “mores”
Sales galore, encouraging us to buy.
Pictures in colour, tempt the browsing eye.
How long before we stop and intercede?
We can together, put out a decree.
Christ is our Christmas, we can all agree!
“Not greedy for money but eager to serve others..”

John 13:34 & 35` :- “A New command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,
so must love on another. By this all men will know that you are my
you disciples, if you one another.”

Proverbs 23:21 - “For drunkards and gluttons become poor.”

Proverbs 25:21 - “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him
water to drink.”

I Peter 5: 2 - 3 - ”Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as
overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing as God
wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording
it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Serenity

Lord, I ask You to quieten my mind.
Removing all of the periphery noise.
Yours, O Lord, is the voice that I seek.
I close my eyes, and focus on breathing.
You, O Lord, are the air that I breathe.
I still my body, and I relax my hands.
You, O Lord are why I raise my hands.
I think on Your word, and I remember.
You, Lord bring needed words to mind.
I praise You, telling of Your goodness.
You, Lord have been gracious unto me.
May the goodness of others shine through.
That they might be an example unto me.
I thank You, Lord for all of my blessings.
You have blessed me far beyond measure.
Touch my heart with the needs of others.
That I might go from here to serve Thee.

Amen

‘SERENITY ~ NOW! Next time you feel like screaming say a little prayer. Researchers
at Ohio State University gave college students negative feedback and found those who prayed afterward let go of the grudge they had been holding. “Prayer makes us more likely to give people the benefit of the doubt.” says Professor Brad Bushman, co-author of the study.’

Wait

It is so hard for us to wait.
Even hard to pause and hesitate.
For we rush forth without a prayer
As if our Lord does not wait there.
Yet does His word not to us state
That we should pray and then wait?
For He will guide us in all things.
It is His joy and His help brings
Knowledge we are doing His will.
What peace we’ll have by being still!
If God sees our needs before we ask
His Spirit ready, eager for the task?
Is God’s “Pray without ceasing”
Instruction faith will be increasing?
Our faith will grow, He would know,
Throughout His word He tells us so.

Psalm 91:15 “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.”

Isaiah 65:24 “I will answer them before they call to me. While they are still talking about their needs I will go ahead and answer their prayers.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven.”

DO YOU WONDER IF YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

James 5:16 “The earnest prayers of a righteous person has great power and produce wonderful results.”

WAIT
“Trust and see that the Lord is good”

Music

I hear music when it is not there.
I listen and it becomes a prayer.
For where ‘ere Thy spirit resides
There the music in my soul abides.

I hear music lying down at night.
It doth settle me down aright.
For t’is the Spirit’s gentle way
I’m sure t’is calling me to pray.

I hear music and it sets me free.
For He paid a great price for me.
He sits upon my life’s throne,
Now I need never walk alone.

I hear music such a joyous sound.
It sets my feet upon solid ground.
I pray that it won’t ever silent be
For it reminds me to pray for thee.

Hope

How genuine is my faith if it cannot stand testing?
Testing by fire and not by the seat of my resting.
Is my faith more precious than gold that perishes?
Or do I find that with hardships it then vanishes?
Do I glory in tribulation or succumb to temptation?
Do I patiently wait on God what’ere the duration?
For tribulation we know produces perseverance.
The prayers without ceasing produce consistence.
If we can persevere God says we will have character.
And that longed for character will give us HOPE!

“Thank You for reminding me that You, Almighty God, are in charge, that trials are not pointless, and that eternal rewards await. But a little while and we will be with YOU!”

James 1:4, 1Peter 1: 6 - 7, Romans 5:3 - 4, Lamentations 3:26, Hebrews 10:34 - 36,
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17

~ Look them up and be blessed!

Living Strands

Living your life for Christ grows,
Daily dwelling upon His word.
Like strands reaching outward
Touching others with His love.
Sharing faith causes it to grow.
Grasp it to self and it withers.

Living your life for Christ grows.
What is within you surely shows.
Like strands reaching outward
They draw others towards Him.
They in turn want to tell others.
Soon a chorus of praise is raised.

Living your life for Christ grows.
Not a single cell it now multiplies.
Like strands reaching outward
That vital cell builds upon itself,
For God’s word will not return void
This has been His promise to us.


Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” King James Bible - (Exhortation to seek the Lord)

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword., it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” NIV