bestofwords03.html

God is the final authority here, and I thank Him for you,
and allowing me to share with you in this way.
Lord, please continue to use me to do Thy Will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak and unsaved.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
May the Holy Spirit always continue to guide me.
I ask for your continued prayers, and please pray for each other

Bunny's Words © 1999-2004 All rights reserved

Gard61@aol.com

Song Playing is: "Beyond The Sky" by Fernando Ortega

Music is for evaluation purposes only.
If you like the music, please support the artists by purchasing the CD.

I absolutely do not receive any monetary gain for anything.
Everything I do is freely given, as it was freely received.

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, and to bask in the sun.
It is there for each and everyone of you.

A song of ascents.
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds His people
both now and forevermore.
(Psa 125:1-2 niv)

Prayer:

LORD, I am grateful that regardless of circumstances,
I am never alone. Even in those times when I may feel alone,
help me to confidently trust the promise
of Your unbroken companionship
and Your unchanging presence,
knowing that You are with me always.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

People may spurn your appeals,
reject your messages, and oppose your arguments,
but they are helpless against your prayers.

************************

God can mend a broken heart,
but we have to give Him all the pieces

I had a dream the other night, it came to me so clear.
I stood before the throne of God, afraid to come too near.
God said to me "I hear your prayers, there's answers you can't find.
I asked you here to talk to Me and help to ease your mind"
I said "Well yes God, I am disturbed about my special one.
That punishment is awfully harsh. Whatever have I done?"
God looked at me and shook His head and said "You've got it wrong.
I sent this special child to you because you are so strong"
"I searched and searched to try and find someone with love so rare.
A parent so unselfish they could give that special care.
I try and save my special gifts like those your speaking of
for special kinds of parents I call the chosen ones"
Of all the ones to choose from, I think this I have done.
A parent who deserves my best, an honor you have won.

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry,
two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is
Tomorrow with all its possible adversities,
its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance;
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise,
either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow,
for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day,
Today.
Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities
Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened
Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.

Prayer For Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be console, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.

"At the Foot of the Cross"

God provides for you a special place to cast the burdens of life,
A place to shed the heavy loads that cause you so much strife.
A place where death's defeated and sorrows are washed away,
A place that gives the promise of a new and glorious day.
A place that takes your worries and replaces them with hope;
A place that reduces the insurmountable to a size with which to cope.
A place where the impossible is accomplished everyday;
A place that's only reached by the prayers of faith you pray.
Cast your burdens at the place where Satan dares not go;
Cast them at the foot of the cross where the blood of Christ still flows.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
Now I know in part:
But then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Cor 13:12 (kjv)

A Prayer for Peace

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope in years to be,
Look down upon this troubled world
And see our need of Thee.
For in this age of unrest,
With violence all around,
We need Thy hand to lead us
To higher, safer ground.
Without Thy help and counsel
We are helpless to restore
Safety and security
In our hearts and homes once more.
And give us strength and courage
To be honorable and true
And to place our trust implicitly
In unseen things and You.
And keep us kind and humble
And fill our hearts with love,
Which in this selfish, greedy world
Man has so little of.
Forgive our transgressions
And help us find the way
To a better world for everyone
Where man walks in peace each day.

Helen Steiner Rice

Assurance

"In a world of fickle loyalties and unkept promises,
we can count on You, our "no matter what" God.
Like a roof,
You are over our heads, sheltering us.
Like the horizon,
Your life-changing power stretches beyond us,
and like water in the rivers, oceans,
and the essence of Life that flows through our veins,
You are within us.
Most of all, no matter what distracts and tempts us,
we know that, like fish in the sea, we are in You."

************************

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know Him.
Dear friends, now we are children of God,
and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is.
(1 John 3:1-2 niv)

LORD, Your love is so great and so vast!
When I was without hope of eternal life,
You made it possible for me to be Your child,
and heir to all that is Yours.
I eagerly await the day when I will see You,
for I will then be as You are.
Help me to more fully comprehend what this means
and appropriate its truth in every area of my life.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

You Can't Have The Rainbow Without Having The Rain

As you stand and look at the rainbow
And say it's the prettiest thing you have seen,
You always want to remember,
You can't have the rainbow, without having the rain.

In life you will have many hardships,
And many times suffer great pain,
It is then you need to remember,
You can't have the rainbow, without having the rain.

When you are discouraged and lonely,
and feel that all is in vain,
Remember, you can't have the rainbow,
without having the rain.

God gave you the rainbow as a promise,
He would never destroy all again,
The God that gave you the rainbow,
Is with you during the rain.

Yes, the God that gave you the rainbow,
Will be with you during the rain.

I Thank Him

I thank Him for morning light
That takes away the gloom,
For every breeze that cools the day,
And all the flowers that bloom.
For every friendship I have made,
For a love that I have shared,
For every kindness shown to me
That proved that someone cared.
My heart is filled with gratefulness
And I daily give Him praise
For all the blessings He bestows
In so many different ways.

For the Grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No"
to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives
in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--
the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
(Titus 2:11-13 niv)

Prayer:

LORD, help me to remember, in all that I say and do,
the ultimate goal, purpose, and destination of this life.
You are coming back again for those who are ready to meet You!
I want every area of my life to be wholly surrendered to You
and exemplify Your character and way of doing things,
fully prepared for the day of Your appearing.
Thank You for the hope of eternal life that
You have freely given me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Straying Lamb

The Shepherd loved His little lamb,
and gave it His tender care...
And followed it with His loving eyes
as it wandered here and there.
And as He sat by His grazing flock who
so meekly His voice obeyed,
He pondered sadly His little lamb
as again and again it strayed.

The little lamb had a loving heart,
and adored His Shepherd, true,
But would turn aside and seek his own way
as lambs will so often do.
With His gentle voice the Shepherd called,
to His loved and straying lamb,
Come back, little one, for you are not safe
unless you are where I am.
But still the lamb would soon forget,
and unthinkingly wander away,
and not really noticing what he did,
from the Shepherd's side would stray.
Until one day, the Shepherd kind,
took His rod in His gentle hand,
and what He then did seemed so cruel,
that the lamb could not understand.
For with one sharp and well-aimed blow,
down the rod so swiftly came,
that it broke the leg of the little lamb,
and left it crippled, and lame.
Then the little lamb, with a cry of pain,
fell down upon his knees...and looked up at his Shepherd,
as though to say, Won't you explain this, please?
Then he saw the love in the Shepherd's eyes,
as the tears ran down His face,
as He tenderly set the broken bone,
and bound it back in its place.

Now he was utterly helpless,
he could not even stand!
He must trust himself completely,
to his Shepherd's loving hand.
Then day by day, 'til the lamb was healed,
from the flock he was kept apart...
and carried about in the Shepherd's arms,
and cradled near to His heart.
And the Shepherd would whisper gentle words,
into his now listening ear...
thus he heard sweet words of love,
that the other sheep could not hear.
He felt the warmth of the Shepherd's arms,
and the beat of His faithful heart...
Until it came a blessing to seem,
by his weakness to be set apart.
Every need of the little lamb,
by his Shepherd so fully was met,
That through his brokenness he learned,
what he never again would forget.
And as the broken bone was healed,
and once more became whole and strong..
wherever the Shepherd's path would lead,
the lamb would follow along.
Thus at the Shepherd's side he walked,
so closely, day by day,
For once a lamb has a broken leg,
it will never again go astray.
For the cords of love had bound it so,
in its hour of weakness and need...
That it had no desire to wander away,
when once again it was freed.

Could it be you are broken today,
and you cannot understand,
The painful blow of the Shepherd's rod,
Nor believe it came from His hand?
He only seeks, by this painful thing,
for a time to call you apart...
To cradle you close in His loving arms,
And draw you near to His heart.
So look up into your Shepherd's eyes,
and earnestly seek His face..
And prove in the hour of your weakness and need,
The sufficiency of His grace.
For as you are borne in His loving arms,
And carried there, day by day...
He will bind you so close with,
the cords of His love, that never again will you stray!

My Hand in God's

Each morning when I wake I say,
"I place my hand in God's today;"
I know He'll walk close by my side
my every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
when paths are dark and I despair---
No need for me to understand
if I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed;
warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
and realize how much I'm blessed,
my thanks pour out to Him;
and then I place my hand in God's again.

Florence Scripps Kellogg

Finish each day and be done with it. . .
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it well and serenely."

************************

Put God First

The longer I live, the more I'm convinced that life is too
short to waste on things that don't matter. Why are we so
preoccupied with the lives of other people? What is it that
fills our hearts with rage and contempt when someone else
prospers? Is it really that important to keep up with those
in the fast lane of life?

One of the most brilliant passages in the Bible that
addresses this issue is found in Psalm 37. Fret not thyself
because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the
workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like
the grass, and wither like the green herb. Simply stated,
they are here today and gone tomorrow, because they have no
staying power. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou
dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed. Delight thyself
also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thy
heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He
shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:1-5)

************************

May God Bless You

May God Bless you with unspeakable joy, not only
in the world to come, but in this world also.
May your path be bright and full of light
everywhere you go.
May God tell darkness that it must flee at your command.
And, I pray your feet will never stumble out of God's plan.
May the desires of your heart come true,
and may you experience Peace in everything you do.
May Goodness, Kindness, and Mercy come your way.
And, may you gain Wisdom and grow everyday!

Jesus said in Matt 7:11 (nlt),
"If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts
to those who ask Him?" That promise should make us smile.
Note that He said "ask" -- not demand!
Do you have a list for God?
If so, I hope it isn't selfish and that you are
asking more for others than for yourself.
God supplies all our needs -- one day at a time.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" - Luke 1:37

Heaven is real!
Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us. John 14:1-3

"Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also."

Heaven is a better place than we are in now.
Heb 11:16 speaks of those who have gone
on before us and says,
"But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Heaven is described this way in the following verses.
Heaven is not a place of flesh and blood,
1 Corinthians 15:50.

The beauty of Heaven is indescribable,
1 Corinthians 2:9.

There will be no tears in Heaven,
Revelation 21:4.

Heaven is a place of rest,
Hebrews 4:9-11.

Heaven is a place of gain, far better than what we have now,
Philippians 1:21-23.

Heaven is a place of rest for those who are troubled,
2 Thes 1:7-9.

Heaven is for those who are faithful to the point of death,
Revelation 2:10.

Heaven is described as the resurrection of life,
John 5:28-29.

All those who have obeyed God will be in Heaven,
Hebrew 5:8-9.

************************

Mountain Dreamer Speaks

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain!
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with JOY, mine or your own;
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips
of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful,
be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself;
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when
it is not pretty everyday, and if you can source
your life on the edge of the lake and shout
to the silver of the full moon.
It doesn't interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center
of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or
with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
And if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Oriah, Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder

************************

Healing From Within

Healing is a process that comes from within,
and not from another human soul,
for the human condition is rife
with fault and subject to imperfection.
For healing to begin, we must first look inside our past,
to own what we have done, yet not expect others to do the same...
for we are a product of all that we have thought,
felt, and experienced and no one can have lived that also.
Healing comes from many things:
understanding and love a part indeed,
but sometimes understanding eludes us
for we have not first made peace with ourselves.
We search high and low, crossing mountains
and streams to find what we had within all the time -
the keys, waiting to be taken, the doors waiting to be unlocked.
Healing from the world of hurts is there in Truth,
in Love, and mostly in Forgiveness...
for these things protect us against all
things lesser in the irreversible book of life.
Truth that comes from an honest desire
to know ourselves and our Creator,
Love that comes from above and cannot
be tarnished by life, or wrongs, or failures...
Forgiveness that springs eternal from a
place that has no beginning... or end.

Most of all, healing comes from
an understanding of all of these things,
applying them to our heart and soul
in honesty and willingness to admit
that Someone forgave us first,
then doing the same... in the Spirit
that is perfection, and is there for the asking.
We are given the keys, to unlock the doors,
only if we find the time to pick them up.

I have a friend called Jesus, on Him I do depend,
He walks with me and talks to me, His mercy never ends.
Along my life's long journey, there has been sorrow and many trials,
but Jesus never left me alone, He went the extra miles.
Whenever I would fail to stand, He carried me on through,
All the fiery trials, the lonely nights He said "child I love you."
Jesus is my helper, He is my strength and shield,
He gave His life to save me, my life I freely yield.
If you want joy and you need peace just talk to Him today,
He will come into your heart and take your fears away.
He will stay with you until the end, He'll never leave your side,
He'll comfort you, He'll walk with you, on Him, you can depend.

by Teresa Martin

"My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
Psalm 62:1-2 (niv)

God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective...

An article in National Geographic several years ago
provided an interesting picture of God's wings.
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park,
forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to
assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes,
perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.
Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked
over the bird with a stick.
When he gently struck it,
three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.
The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster,
had carried her offspring to the base of the tree
and had gathered them under her wings,
instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.
She could have flown to safety
but had refused to abandon her babies.
Then the blaze had arrived
and the heat had scorched her small body,
the mother had remained steadfast.
Because she had been willing to die,
those under the cover of her wings would live.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge.
(Psalm 91:4)
Being loved this much
should make a difference in your life.

Remember the One who loves you,
and then be different because of it.

Exist

take me away from here
let me soar with you amongst the stars

farther than I ever need to go
stronger than I ever need to be
let the warmth of you engulf all that is

like the gentle storm that comes in
clouds covering our bodies
misting rain washes clean, fragrance of us left

let the storm ride deep in our being
let it strike the seed of life in which we dare to exist

Don't be afraid to cry.
It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.

Don Talayesva, HOPI

Human beings function from choice. We can
choose to stuff things, or we can choose to let
go of things. If we choose to stuff things, then
we will feel a heaviness, or sorrow, self pity or
fear. Sometimes we feel the need to cry. Some-
times we are taught it is not okay to cry.
The Creator designed the human being to cry.
Crying is a release. This release allows us to let go
of thoughts that are not helping us so we can
open to new thoughts that will help.
Crying is natural for women and men.

Grandfather, if I need to cry, let me realize
it's a natural process and help me to let go.

By Don Coyhis

On Prejudice

Let us all be more quick to praise than criticize
any effort set forth from one's goodness
that can be heard or seen at hand.
We are all products of the Great Spirit's makings
and we are only mortal man.
If you are looking for perfection in any man,
that you will never see,
for it is something that never was and never will be.
See not with your eyes alone,
but with your heart.
Help others when you possibly can,
and your new found friends will never part,
for the best exercise for your heart
is to bend down and lift up a friend,
and in beauty and harmony you will walk complete again.
Never be ashamed to show emotions or openly cry.
Only when your eyes are washed with tears
can you see clearly once again before you die.....

(Sundown) a Cherokee © 2002
R. Brent (All Rights Reserved)

************************

"Were You Colder Than This?"

It was Christmas Eve in Korea.
An expectant mother walked through the snow to the home
of a missionary friend where she knew she could find help.
A short way down the road from the mission house
was a deep gully spanned by a bridge.
As the young woman stumbled
forward, birth pains overcame her.
She realized she could go no farther.
She crawled under the bridge.

There alone between the trestles
she gave birth to a baby boy.
She had nothing with her except
the heavy padded clothes she was wearing.
One by one she removed the pieces of her clothing
and wrapped them around her tiny son - around and around,
like a cumbersome cocoon.
Then, finding a discarded piece of burlap,
she pulled it over herself, and lay exhausted beside her baby.

The next morning, a missionary drove across the bridge
in her Jeep to take a Christmas basket to a Korean family.
On the way back, as she neared the bridge,
the Jeep sputtered and died, out of gas.
Getting out of the Jeep she started to walk across the bridge,
and heard a faint cry beneath her.
She crawled under the bridge to investigate.
There she found the tiny baby, warm but hungry,
and the young mother frozen to death.

The missionary took the baby home and cared for him.
As the boy grew, he often asked his adopted mother
to tell him the story of how she had found him.
On Christmas Day, his 12th birthday,
he asked the missionary to take him to his mother's grave.

Once there he asked her to wait a distance away
while he went to pray.
The boy stood beside the grave with bowed head, weeping.
Then he began to disrobe.
As the astonished missionary watched,
the boy took off his warm clothing, piece by piece,
and laid it on his mother's grave.

Surely he won't take off all his clothing,
the missionary thought. He'll freeze!
But the boy stripped himself of everything,
putting all his warm clothing on the grave.
He knelt naked and shivering in the snow.
As the missionary went to him to help him dress again,
she heard him cry out to the mother he never knew:
"Were you colder than this for me, my mother?"
And he wept bitterly.

When Christ came,
He stripped himself of every royal garment
and entered into our world of hatred and cold indifference.
Why did He do it?
Because He saw centuries of broken lives needing a Savior.
And then He died of a broken heart.
What broke it?
The sin of human hearts.
The long history of men making slaves of other men.
Centuries of cruelty. Starvation and suffering.
The worship of false gods in temples made with hands.
War, bloodshed, crime,
and greed those things broke the heart of Christ.

But so did we.

Our coldness broke His heart, and now it freezes Him out.
We complacent Americans (and people of all nations)
who are saved, satisfied, and sitting.
We who pray,
"Give us compassion for a lost world,"
and then "sacrifice" a dollar for missions -
we with our elegant homes and brimming garbage cans -
we who have the money, knowledge,
and manpower to take the gospel to every creature,
and yet we don't.
We who say we love the lost,
and neglect to tell a lost neighbor about a loving Savior.

Jesus' love lies frozen between trestled lips
that ought to be warm to speak for Him.
Lord, we take off our garments of pride and self-righteousness,
glittering but transparently filthy rags that they are,
and lay them at Your feet.
In our naked need we cry,
"Were You colder than this because of us, Lord?"
And we weep, because we know You were.

We are moved to pray to Christ
because He is near and dear to us.

Look backward -- see Christ dying for you;
Look upward -- see Him pleading for
you at the Father's right hand;
Look inward -- see Him living in you;
Look forward -- see Him coming for you.

One More Mountain

God, is this just one more mountain I must climb?
Or is it my last?
I must confess, it looks so high.........
not sure if I can climb this one, this time.
I'm really afraid, but that is just between you and I.

I couldn't say that to anyone else.
I feel tears in my eyes, tears in my heart.
Looking back I've had so much.
I am thankful, and never fully appreciating.....
God, is this just one more mountain to climb?
Or is it my last?
Are you going to give me the strength and courage
I need to reach the top this time?
I've lived, I've cried, I've laughed, I've loved,
but I feel like I have so much more that I want to do in my life.
God, is this just one more mountain to climb?
Or is it my last?
Please I want so much to reach the peak again.
I want to float on my own special cloud again.
I've so much more laughter, so much more passion for life.
So much more love to give.
Please God, the tears are beginning to well up in me now.
Is this just one more mountain to climb?
Or is it my last?

Here I am Lord

Here I am Lord. Can You use me?
Can You use me to:
Tell someone about Your Love
Help a friend in need
Love someone unlovable
Laugh with someone
Cry with someone
Tell someone they are special
Read to a blind man
Feed a bird
Pray for a friend.
Watch a sunset with a child.

Lord let me be:
A beacon in a world of darkness
A pair of eyes for a blind man
A taxi for a neighbor
A meal for someone sick
An ear for someone troubled
A friend to the friendless
A sister to someone sisterless
A home for the homeless

Many promises were specific,
made to specific people.
However, there are plenty of promises to go around
including an abundance for you.
"Whoever acknowledges Me before men,
I will also acknowledge him before My Father in Heaven."
Like many promises, it carries with it a
responsibility -- in this case, the responsibility
is to not hide your faith or be ashamed of it.
Your challenge -- start searching for promises.
Matt.10:32 (niv),

************************

I Believe In Reaching Out

I believe in reaching out and touching from the heart.
I believe that if we touch, a gift we can impart.
I believe that if you cry your tears are not in vain.
And when you are sad and lonely, others know your pain.
I believe that when we laugh a sparkle starts to shine.
And I just know that spark will spread from
more hearts than just mine.
I believe that hidden in the quiet of the night,
there's magic moths and gypsies a fairy and a sprite.
I believe that if you dance the dances of your heart,
that greater happiness will find a brand new way to start.
I believe the gifts you have are there for you to share,
and when you give them from the heart,
the whole world knows you care.
I believe that if you give, even just to one,
that gift will grow in magnitude before the day is done.
I believe that comfort comes from giving part of me.
And if I share with others, there's more for all to see.
I believe that love is still the greatest gift of all
and when it's given from the heart
then not one of us will fall.

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love
and to work and to play, and to look at the stars..........

Kindness is a language the deaf can hear
and the blind can see......

The most bitter feelings can be sweetened
by the mention of them in prayer.....

Nature has perfections, in order to show
that she is the image of God;
and to show that she is only His image.

Close to my heart I fold each lovely thing the sweet day yields…
and not unhappily, but with calm impatience of the woods,
I wait....for leaf and blossom, when God gives us spring.
All those who love nature she loves in return,
and will richly reward, not perhaps with the good things
as they are commonly called, but with the best things of this world---
not with money and titles, but with bright and happy thoughts,
contentment and peace of mind.
The innocent moon, that does nothing but shine,
moves all the laboring surges of the world.
I must confess to a feeling of profound humility
in the presence of a universe which transcends
us at almost every point.
I feel like a child, who while playing by the seashore
has found a few bright colored shells and a few pebbles,
while the whole vast ocean of truth stretches out almost untouched
and unruffled before my eager fingers.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of autumn.

************************

If you wish your children to think deep thoughts,
to know the holiest emotions,
take them to the woods and hills,
and give them the freedom of the meadows
and the hills which purify those who walk on them.

Let me live a life that's free
From "The Things" that draw me close to Thee-
For how can I ever hope to heal
The wounds of others I do not feel -
If my eyes are dry and I never weep -
How do I know when the hurt is deep -
If my heart is cold and it never bleeds,
How can I tell what my brother needs -
For when my ears are deaf to the beggar's plea
And we close our eyes and refuse to see,
And we steel our hearts and harden our mind,
And we count it a weakness whenever we're kind,
We are no longer following The Father's Way
Or seeking His guidance from day to day -
For, without "crosses to carry" and "burdens to bear,"
We dance through a life that is frothy and fair,
And "chasing the rainbow" we have no desire
For "roads that are rough" and "realms that are higher"-
So spare me no heartache or sorrow, dear Lord,
For the heart that is hurt reaps the richest reward,
And God enters the heart that is broken with sorrow
As He opens the door to a brighter tomorrow
For only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies in another's eyes.

By: Helen Steiner Rice

Life is laid in the loom of time
To a pattern he does not see,
While the weavers work and the shuttles
Fly till the dawn of eternity.

Some shuttles are filled with silver threads
And some with threads of gold,
While often but the darker hues
Are all they may hold.

But the weaver watches with skillful eye
Each shuttle fly to and fro,
And sees the pattern so deftly wrought
As the loom moves sure and slow.

God surely planned the pattern;
Each thread, the dark and fair,
Is chosen by His master skill
And placed in the web with care.

He only knows its beauty,
And guides the shuttles which hold
The threads so unattractive,
As well as the threads of gold.

Not till each loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God reveal the pattern
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads were as needful
In the weavers skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned.

************************

There is an inspiration to be found in deep despair.
The heart in desperation will seek relief through prayer.
When all human aids have failed and life is darkest night,
The eyes of man, instinctively, will turn toward the light.
The soul of man cries out for help and finds that God is there --
There is an inspiration to be found in deep despair.

Lord, Are You There?

The sun came up this morning; I know You must be there.
I heard the cry of a newborn baby; I know You must be there.
I saw a rainbow in the sky; I know You must be there.
A sparrow flew overhead; I know You must be there.
I smell the scent of the roses; I know You must be there.
I still have my senses. I know You must be there.

So now what?

By faith, I live.

By faith, I obey.

By faith, I love.

By faith, I believe.

What comes next?

Why doesn't God intervene more?
Why doesn't he directly feed the hungry,
heal all the sick, and stop all wars?

If God really exists, at the least,
why doesn't he make himself more obvious?

People who ask such questions often assume that if God ever did
spectacularly reveal himself, all doubts would vanish.
Everyone would line up to believe in him.
Yes, all the world would believe if God intervened.

Free will would be no longer. Fear would take its place.
God wants us to love Him of our own free will,
not because we are afraid.

Revelations 3: 10-12 (NIV)
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently,
I will also keep you from the hour of trial
that is going to come upon the whole world
to test those who live on the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have,
so that no one will take your crown.
Him who overcomes I will make a
pillar in the temple of my God.
Never again will he leave it.
I will write on him the name of my God
and the name of the city of my God,
the new Jerusalem, which is coming
down out of heaven from my God;
and I will also write on him My new name.

Be still, and know I am God

Anything that we put our minds to --
We can do "one day at a time,"
for God will help us reach the summit
of every hill we have to climb.
He'll lift us up whenever we stumble
on this rocky road of life.
He'll bring us comfort, strength, and hope
in times of sorrow, pain, or strife.
And when we're lonely or depressed
He will send someone our way --
whose gentle voice and friendly smile
will brighten even the darkest day.
As long as God is in our lives,
"and I know this to be true,"
we can accomplish anything
that we set out to do!

Life holds so many priceless things
The falling rain--the wind that sings
Each star on a high--a big full moon
And sunbeams dancing in your room
The river as it rushes on
A sunset when day is gone
No wealth can buy a mountain tall
These priceless things belong to all
An autumn tree lends beauty rare
With leaves piled deep most everywhere
As nature wears a glowing smile
to make each day a day worthwhile
Could anything be quite as dear
As laughing children that we hear
The gift of friendship that is ours
The miracle of growing flowers
Each magic moment--treasured time
These priceless gifts are yours and mine...

************************

The Breaking Point

It is often when we are at our lowest point of frustration,
of utter desperation, that the Light shines the brightest into our lives.
The Light was always there, but our backs were turned away from it.
It may seem every door is closed,
not a friendly smile or helping hand can be found.
Not one understanding voice of kindness comes forth to comfort us.
When this happens, as it will to everyone,
it is the most intense flame of the Refiners fire we are experiencing.
God perfects what concerns it
and not one dark spot can remain in the vessel of the soul.
When we are ready, it is we ourselves,
who turn up the heat to expose and release
the final impediments to our enlightenment,
to our awakening to Truth.
And what we see is that nothing real can be threatened,
and nothing unreal exists.
What we have clung to and held as sacred to our existence,
no matter how beautiful it may have appeared,
was no more than smoke and mirrors.
We find ourselves naked,
alone, and yet one with all that is Love.
And we know, finally we know,
Thank God, we are free at last!

************************

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,
to confront only the essential facts of life,
and see if I could not learn what it had to teach,
and not when I come to die, discover that I had not lived.

by Henry David Thoreau

************************

In a small neglected garden, where flowers used to grow,
A weather beaten birdhouse shelters sparrows from the snow.
They greet the sun at dawning with sprightliness and song,
Cheerful, uncomplaining as the day is long.
In time of tribulation, whatever our lot might be,
Let God lift up the burden, from heartache set you free,
And like the little sparrow find solace and release,
With song and prayer at dawning, enfolded in God's peace.

Elsie Natalie Brady

Have you never heard or understood?
Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth?
He never grows faint or weary.
No one can measure the depths of His understanding.
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;
He offers strength to the weak.
Even youths will becomeexhausted,
and young men will give up.
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
(Isa 40:28-31 NLT)

Prayer:

LORD, thank you for your everlasting mercy and greatness!
You will always be there for me,
ready to under gird me and strengthen me
when I reach the point I feel I can go no further.
Thank You for Your unfailing love which is so vast and limitless,
beyond my understanding or comprehension.
Thank You for renewing my strength and giving me hope.

In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice;
my cry came before Him, into His ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook.
He parted the heavens and came down.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind.
Psalm 18:6-10

Conscience

I sat alone with my conscience,
in a place where time had ceased,
And we talked of my former living in the land
where the years increased;
and I felt I should have to answer the questions put to me,
and face the answers and questions through all eternity.

The ghosts of forgotten actions came floating before my sight,
And things I thought were dead things were alive with terrible might.
And visions of all my past life was an awful thing to face,
alone with my conscience sitting in that solemnly silent place.

And I thought of a far away warning,
of a sorrow that was to be mine,
in a land that was then the future,
but now is the present time.
And I thought of my former thinking
of the judgment day to be;
but sitting alone with my conscience
seemed judgment enough for me.

And I wondered if there was a future
to this land beyond the grave;
but no one gave me an answer,
and no one came to save.
Then I felt that the future was present,
and the present would never go by,
for it was but the thought of my past life
growing in eternity.

Then I woke from my timely dreaming,
and the voice passed away,
and I knew that the far-off seeming,
was a warning of yesterday;
And I pray that I may not forget it,
in this land before the grave,
that I may not cry in the future,
and no one comes to save.

And so I have learned a lesson,
which I ought to have known before,
and which, though I learned it dreaming,
I hope to forget no more.
So I sit alone with my conscience
in the place where the years increase,
and I try to remember the future
in the land where time will cease.

And I know of the future judgment,
how dreadful so ever it be,
That to sit alone with my conscience,
will be judgment enough for me.

By Charles William Stubbs

Lord, help me to appropriate Your wisdom in my life
today, in all that I do and say.
I want to reflect to others the love, consideration, care, mercy,
grace, and peace that You have extended
to me without cost or condition.
In Jesus' Name. Amen

Lord,

it brings me great peace to know that
You care about my life and future,
and that You have already made plans for my life.
I know Your plans for me are always for my good.
I thank You for the assurance that
You will always be available as I turn to You.
Help me to always seek You and
acknowledge You in everything that concerns my life.

When we forgive, we free ourselves from
the bitter ties that bind us to the one who hurt us.

Remind Me God

Dear God,
When I am lonely and,
Perhaps I feel despair.
Let not my ailing heart forget,
That You hear every prayer..
Remind me that no matter what,
I do or fail to do,
There still is hope for as long
As I have faith in You..
Let not my eyes be blinded by
Some folly I commit.
But help me to regret my wrong,
And to make up for it..
Inspire me to put my fears,
Upon a hidden shelf,
And in the future never to
Be sorry for myself.
Give me the restful sleep I need,
Before another dawn,
And bless me in the morning with
"The Courage To Go On."

In a field around the bend,
Twining in and out of fences,
Waving grandly in the wind.
Planted by a loving Master,
Tended by His gentle hand,
Pause awhile and see the beauty,
He has spread across the land.

Golden flowers bright with sunlight,
Growing four and five feet tall,
With their dark brown button centers,
Are the crown jewels of the Fall.

Never could an earthly artist,
Duplicate their vibrant hue,
Perfect in the smallest detail,
As they sparkle in the dew.

And my heart is filled with wonder,
That my lips cannot express,
And my eyes are wet with tears,
Because I feel such happiness.
And I know God lives within me,
In the beauty of it all,
In this bird's eye view of Heaven,
Down a country road, in Fall.

Author Grace E. Easley

Friend's Prayer

On my knees I ask You Lord
To listen to this prayer
People asking for Your help
Lord, they're out there everywhere.

The troubles that beset them
Are often times too much
Their burden is so heavy
Please Lord, they need Your touch.

So I ask for You to send them
Courage for each day
Strength enough to see them through
And Lord please...teach them how to pray.

charlotte anselmo

Reaching Out

Reaching out to those who are distressed,
Helping those who are hurting and depressed,
Reaching out and offering a helping hand,
Inviting others to partake of the salvation plan,

Reaching out just as someone once did for you,
This is part of God's plan, what He desires us to do,
Someone may be drowning in sorrow today,
Won't you reach out to relieve them in some way,

Someone is hungry and needs daily bread,
Won't you reach out so they can be fed,
Someone is lost and can't find their way,
Won't you reach out so they no longer stray,

Reaching out is not a difficult thing to do,
Our Heavenly Father gives the ability to you,
Reaching out is extending your hand,
Just as God did when He made the salvation plan,

When you took God's hand in your own,
The way home to Eternity is what you were shown,
Reaching out for other lost souls today,
Will get us all Home to be with God forever to stay.

Author Barbara Philbrook

(Psalm 145:1-3 KJV) David's Psalm of praise.

I will extol Thee, my God, the King;
I will Bless Thy name for ever and ever.
Every day will I praise Thee;
and I will extol your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.

Prayer:
LORD, I will praise You from my heart
and thank You for the great things You have done for me.
I want it to be an outflowing from deep within,
a natural component of our relationship,
and not just an exercise of duty.
You are so wonderful and awesome
that I could never express it all--
but I want to try!
Help me to not be distracted from our relationship
by the struggles and pressures life may sometimes exert.
I want to acknowledge my love for You everyday.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

How can anyone claim to be a Christian and yet be so
incredibly bitter? A bitter spirit is in direct opposition to the
teachings of the Bible. The two are diametrically opposed. So I repeat,
how can we claim to be a Christian and have such a bitter spirit? One
possibility is that it is only a claim and not a reality -- only God can
judge that.

Jesus' own words in Matt. 7:20-21 (niv): "Thus, by their fruit you will
recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the
Kingdom of Heaven."
I get the impression from God's Word that a true Christian should
demonstrate a spirit of inner joy and serenity -- a spirit that radiates
the character of our Lord. Wouldn't you rather associate with someone
who has a pleasant spirit than one who has a cantankerous spirit?
Then, we should inspect our own spirits and apply the Golden Rule.
Does that make sense?

Through each day the LORD
pours His unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing His songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

Prayer:
LORD, today, help me to be more aware of Your unfailing
and unconditional love that You have given
to me without reservation.
I do not ever want to take it for granted or treat it lightly.
You are more wonderful than words could ever express,
but even so, I offer my words to you as an offering of praise today.
I also want to express my love for,
and devotion to You in every way possible,
in song, praise, prayer, thanksgiving, and more.
Thank You for Your great unfailing love.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Some days you'll be sad. Take comfort in knowing that your sadness
is possible only because joy is also possible. It is painful and
yet it is beautiful that you're able to care so much. You'll get
through it.

Some days will be frustrating. Though you have the best of
intentions, though you make a genuine effort, the results fall
short of the mark. Learn from these days. Take a deep breath.
Know you're making progress even if it doesn't seem so.

Some days will be joyful. Treasure these days. Live them completely
and with no remorse. They are yours to live and to hold as well.
Fully experience them so that they will be with you always.

Take nothing for granted, for whenever you do
The "joy of enjoying" is lessened for you...
For we rob our own lives much more than we know
when we fail to respond or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours...
The warmth of the sun, the fragrance of flowers,
The beauty of twilight, the freshness of dawn,
The coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds so thoughtfully done,
The favor of friends and the love that someone
unselfishly gives us in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment and no words of praise...
Oh, great is our loss when we no longer find
A thankful response to things of this kind,
For the "Joy of Enjoying" and the "Fullness of Living"
Are found in the heart that is filled with "Thanksgiving".
by Helen Steiner Rice

I pledge my life

Recognizing I am no longer my own-
Belonging to God, who has called me to lead the world.

I pledge my character:

Understanding that it is the cornerstone of leadership-
I make God's Word the final authority-
Directing my motives and actions.

I pledge my service:

Realizing I am chosen by God-not by men-
I will give my life away to serve others.

To this end:

I will stand for the hurting, the hopeless, and the unloved.
I will say what others refuse to say.
I will reach the world without losing sight of the individual.
I will walk upright, speak the truth, and live above reproach.
I will not be ashamed to fall on my knees-
To cry out to God-
To shed tears for the dying-
To live a life worthy of a leader.
To stand up and lead my generation, that all may know,
Jesus Christ is alive.

Index	Ten	Twenty	Thirty
One	Eleven	Twenty-One	Remembering One
Two	Twelve	Twenty-Two	Remembering Two
Three	Thirteen	Twenty-Three	Remembering Three
Four	Fourteen	Twenty-Four	Animals One
Five	Fifteen	Twenty-Five	Animals Two
Six	Sixteen	Twenty-Six	Animals Three
Seven	Seventeen	Twenty-Seven	Heroes
Eight	Eighteen	Twenty-Eight	Holidays
Nine	Nineteen	Twenty-Nine

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	The Christians with Chronic Illness/Pain Site Ring
	This site is owned and maintained by Bunny