bestofwords04.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: "Daystar Shining" by Greater Vision

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.

Never Leave Behind Regrets

Too often we don't realize what we have until it is gone;
Too often we wait too late to say "I'm sorry - I was wrong."
Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones
we hold dearest to our hearts;
And we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart.
Far too many times we let unimportant things into our minds;
And then it's usually too late to see what made us blind.
So be sure that you let people know how much they mean to you;
Take that time to say the words before your time is through.
Be sure that you appreciate everything you've got'
And be thankful for the "Little Things
in Life" that mean a lot.
Growing old is a privilege denied to many...
Never leave behind regrets

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm
is approaching long before it breaks?
The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come.
When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will
pick it up and lift it above the storm.
While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm.
It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.
It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us -
and all of us will experience them -
we can rise above them by setting our minds
and our belief toward God.
The storms do not have to overcome us.
We can allow God's power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness,
tragedy, failure, and disappointment in our lives.
We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down,
it is how we handle them.

The Bible says,
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
Isaiah 40:31

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

Some people complain because there are thorns on roses,
while others praise thorns for having roses among them.

A person's true character is revealed by what he does
when no one is watching.

Although the tongue weighs very little, very few people
are able to hold it.

Falling down doesn't make you a failure, but staying down does.

Don't be afraid of pressure. Remember that pressure is
what turns a lump of coal into a diamond.

Even a woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he
uses his head.

The poorest of all men is not the man without a cent but
the man without a dream.

The only preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today.

People don't care how much you know until they know how
much you care.

Temper is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is
what keeps us there.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is
that little "extra."

The heart is the happiest when it beats for others.

One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that it
passes time by keeping its hands busy.

People don't injure their eyesight by looking at the
bright side of things!

LORD,
in all my dealings, transactions, and interactions with others,
I set my heart to be found honest and upright in everything.
I want others to be able to trust me in every situation,
regardless of circumstance.
Those workers in the temple may not have been
accountable to others, yet they were accountable to You.
So it is today, for nothing is hidden from You.
Thank You for Your great love and the trust
You have placed in me.
Help me to faithfully discharge the responsibilities
You have given me with wisdom, honesty, and discretion.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

How grateful I am to realize that the answer
to my prayer does not depend on me at all.
As I quietly abide in You and let Your life flow into me,
what freedom it is to know that the Father
does not see my threadbare patience
or insufficient trust,
rather only Your patience, Lord,
and Your confidence that the Father
has everything in hand.
In Your faith I thank You right now for a more
glorious answer to my prayer than I can imagine.
Amen.

Catherine Marshall

Don't Waste Your Pain

Dear God, please grant that I shall never waste my pain
but invest it wisely.
Let me be a "wounded healer"
To lend a helping hand to those who are
stumbling or have fallen along the way

For..........
To fall without getting up,
To fail without learning,
To sin without overcoming,
To be hurt without forgiving,
To be discontent without improving,
To be crushed without becoming more caring,
To make mistakes without gaining wisdom,
To suffer
without growing more sensitive to the needs of others --
Makes of suffering a futile exercise,
a tragic loss, and of pain,
The greatest waste of all.

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

God isn't far away; He surrounds you with His love.
It was He who opened your eyes this morning.
It is His strength that will carry you through this day,
and it is in His peace that your heart will find rest tonight.
God isn't far away. He is the light of this day.
He is the sky above you, the earth beneath you,
and the life of every living thing.
He is in every smile,
in every thought that gives you hope,
in every tear that waters your soul,
and in every moment you can't face alone.
He's the love on your loved one's face.
He's in the friends along the way...
in strangers you have yet to meet
and Blessings you have yet to receive.
He's in every good thing that touches you.
He is in every step you make and every breath you take.
He's not far away, for He is with you always

A Glimmer Of Light

A glimmer of light, when things look grim,
Just a reminder, we are watched over by Him,
A little hope where none appeared before,
Just to let us know, it's us He's watching out for,
Letting us know who is in control,
And who has been, since we surrendered our soul,
Proving our welfare is important to Him,
Since the day we opened our heart, and invited Him in,
Using us in a way, we never knew He could,
Making us into the new people He said He would,
Having us spread the word to one and all,
So others may hear and heed the call,
Allowing us to spread the salvation story,
Proving again, He deserves all the honor and glory,
A glimmer of light, to show us the way,
As we face life's trials day by day,
The way He intended us to go, since before our birth,
The way that would show us, we had some inner worth,
Yes, our Heavenly Father knew all along, what we were to do,
And He also has some plans especially for you,

Won't you ask God to show you the way,
By inviting Him into your heart today?
Invite Him in, and receive that same glimmer of light,
He'll start changing you from within, and make your life right,
A glimmer of light, in a world dark and grim,
A world that glows more brightly, since knowing Him.

Barbara Philbrook

Make My Heart A Garden

Make my heart a garden where You can walk
In the cool of the day; together we'll talk;
Tell me, Father, how I used to live
In a land of shadows, where I couldn't forgive.

How You broke each branch and lifeless they fell--
The sickness, the sin, the darkness of hell;
Like enemies scattered, like foes that fled
Past the foot of the cross, as my Jesus bled.

Breathe through my garden on the wings of the breeze;
Perfume my life as each leaf on the trees;
Let all that has life feel the kiss of the Son,
And the moon for all seasons mark that day is done.

Abba, Father, now speak of Your peace;
Pass all understanding, let joy increase.
Leave a rainbow cover forever to glow,
Consuming each flower of thought that I know.

Christ is in me! What mystery divine;
Praise to His Glory! Can all this be mine?
O Living Hope! Come, Spirit, like a dove;
Rest in my garden, my God of all Love.

Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden,
and they shall sorrow no more at all.

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful
desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest
everlasting life from the Spirit.
So don't get tired of doing what is good.
Don't get discouraged and give up,
for we will reap a harvest of blessing
at the appropriate time.

Prayer:
LORD, I want to "harvest" of my life to be good things
and not consequences of wrong doing.
I realize I can determine that "harvest" by my choices.
Help me to carefully examine my life today
and make the right choices,
and also trust in Your unfailing love
in those areas where I have failed.
There are times when it seems "harvest" is long in coming,
but even then I will trust You
for Your Word and Your Promises never fail.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

(Psa 59:16-17 NIV)
But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning
I will sing of Your love;
for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to You;
You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Just like the sails on a ship guide it through rough waters,
and keep it heading in the right direction despite great force.
So has your friendship helped me ride out the storms of life,
and keep me on the right course.

Challenged

Some say I am disabled, but you know that isn't true.
I simply have a challenge a little different from you.
My slight inconvenience, has taught me things they could not know.
Each obstacle is a victory, enabling me to grow.
I'm not really any different, I cry, I laugh, I snore.
I don't want to be treated as if I'm not a person anymore.
Out of good intentions, people are afraid to let me try.
But sometimes I have to fall, and sometimes I need to cry.
God gives me strength and dignity, and the courage to be all I can be.
For He doesn't see me as disabled, He just sees me as me.

Written by Leslie W. Ortega, a person with Multiple Sclerosis

The Prayer Offered In Faith

"Is any one of you in trouble?
He should pray....
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the LORD will raise him up." James 5:13-15)

"The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well."
What is faith?
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

My favorite definition is in the King James translation,
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."

Faith is taking your cares, concerns and worries
and placing them in the Hands of God.
No, we cannot see God, yet we know that He Is.

When the stresses of living with chronic illness and pain
become so great and pose so much distress upon our lives,
we may find ourselves alone.
We may feel that no one could possibly understand
what it is like to live our lives.
We may not understand why life and people
can be so cruel and heartless;
we may even feel abandoned and forsaken by God.

We may cry out,
"The LORD has forsaken me, the LORD has forgotten me."
(Isaiah 49:14).

In times like this, we must remember the words that Jesus spoke:
"'In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.'" (Matthew 16:33)

No, we are not bigger than our ailments;
but God is. In the midst of your pain and strife,
take your hope and place it before the throne of God.
Look up and hear Him speak to you:

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will never forget you!
See, I have you engraved on the Palms of My Hands;
your walls are ever before Me.'" (Isaiah 49:15,16)

Feel forsaken?
You are engraved on The "Palms of God's Hands!"
You matter!
Place your hope in the LORD God today. "...
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength."
(Isaiah 40:31)

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the LORD will raise (you) up. (James 5:15)

Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat
of human effort and a prayer that
God will be there to pull us out of the water

Who Will Trick-Or-Treat With Me?

The first year she was a pumpkin and donned an orange smock;
Her daddy took her trick-or-treating, though she had not yet learned to walk.
The next year she was a bunny, and on one leg she would hop,
While her left ear stood up straight, and the right one swing and flop.
Then a bride costume from Grandpa a long skirt and lacy blouse,
But she tripped over the train...so Daddy carried her to each house.
The 4th year brought us Lion King, and she roared both day and night
She was either "Simba" or "Nala" (I never could get that right)
The next year as she got dressed, she kept on asking why,
If she was "Super girl", why then could she not fly?
Her 6th year she was all in pink, protecting us from danger,
As she kicked and "Karate-chopped" the air as "Kimberly" the Power Ranger.
Then at seven, she wore a yellow gown beauty at the least...
Insisting that her sister by default, was the beast.
My heart knew the time would come, and this year our walk ends...
She said, "It's not cool for Mom to go, I want to walk with friends!"
So I figured out what I will say with one excuse or another,
In case she notices the ghost behind her walks a little bit like her mother!"
I still have Halloweens to come my little one's only three,
But what worries me is...when she grows up, who will trick-or-treat with me?

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

Help Me

Help me, Lord, for I have sinned,
I am not worthy of Your trust again,
Help me, though, to be true to You,
Because without You what would I do?
Help me be a light to the world,
As You teach me Your Holy Word,
Help me Lord, to return to the path,
Which You gave me, to walk in the past,
Help me Lord, I need new faith,
To help me through, each and every day,
Help me to spread Your goodness and mercy,
To each and every lost, wandering person,

Help me be a friend to the poor,
Enriching them by Your heavenly stores,
Help me Lord, by renewing my life,
Making me a banner of Your gospel light,

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

LORD, help me to look deep within,
and be honest and candid
about what I find there,
examining myself to know without doubt
where I stand in the faith of Christ Jesus.
I want to live by the power of God
and not by my own strength.
Thank You for making Your strength and power
available to me and help me to appropriate
it in every area of my life.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

My Grace is sufficient for you.
Accept My forgiveness.
When I forgive, I choose to forget.
Why should you keep recalling
what I have forgotten?
Stop living with feelings of guilt.
I have great things in store for you.

Receiving forgiveness will enable you
to offer yourself as a channel
of My forgiving love
to flow into the lives of others.
In so doing, you will live a life of joy and victory.

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

One day while thinking about my garden, God showed me how
I could think about my soul in a different way.
As a flower garden!
He said we could imagine that when we were baptized,
God gave us this beautiful garden (our baptized soul).
It is a beautiful garden with every kind of flower
that He envisions for us .
He is giving us this garden to tend to
and we are free to do
whatever we want with our garden.
When we die, we present to God our garden
that He first gave to us.
I thought about everything that it takes to make
a beautiful garden and how much deliberate effort it
takes to keep free of weeds and the flowers blooming.
A garden needs sunshine,
which I see is God and His love for us.
A garden needs water, which I see is the
life-giving grace that He freely gives to us.
In order to have strong and beautiful flowers and plants,
fertilizer is needed to feed and nourish the soil and the flowers.
In order for a garden to do well,
the soil needs to be tilled and broken up.
I see this as the struggles and problems we have in our life.
God lets things happen in our life in order to soften
and nourish the ground (our soul) so that the flowers
can have a perfect environment to grow.
By cooperating with the grace that God gives us
and being open to His will,
we are allowing the seeds that He has sown for us to grow.
Of course a garden has weeds that always seem to pop up.
Unless we keep control of these weeds they can overtake
our garden and choke out all the flowers that were thriving.
I see the weeds as the sin and vice that can be in our lives
and that can keep us from being more closely united to God.
We are free to ignore or pay attention to
OUR personal gift from God.
God planted the flowers and it's up to us
to nourish and tend our garden.
Finally I see that WE never planted the flowers
and the plants in our garden.
Our garden is perfectly suited for us
according to Gods eternal plan.
God planted the flowers and it's up to us
to nourish and tend our garden so that everything
God has planned for us can be,
and that at the end of our life
our garden will be most pleasing to our Lord.

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

Faithful is He Who Has Promise

Are you passing through a testing. Is your pillow wet with tears?
Do you wonder what's the reason, it seems God never hears?
Why it is you have no answer to your oft-repeated plea,
Why the Heaven still is leaden as you wait on bended knee?
Do you wonder as you suffer, whether God does understand,
And if so, why He ignores you, fails to hold you in His Hand?
Do black doubts creep in, assail you,
fears without, and fears within,
till your brave heart almost falters
and gives way to deadly sin?

All God's tests have a purpose, someday you will see the light.
All He asks is that you trust Him, walk by faith and not by sight.
Do not fear when doubts beset you, just remember....He is near;
He will never, never leave you, He will always, always hear.
Faithful is He who has promised, He will never let you fall,
Daily will the strength be given. Strength for each and strength for all.
He will gladly share pain with you, He will gladly give you peace.
Till your tired and weary body finds its blessed, glad release.
When the darkened veil is lifted, then, dear heart, you'll understand
Why it is you had to suffer, why you could not feel His hand
Giving strength when it was needed, giving power and peace within
Giving joy thru tears and trial, giving victory over sin.
So till then just keep on trusting, thru the sunshine and the rain,
Thru the tears and thru the heartaches, thru the smiles and thru the pain
Knowing that our Father watches, knowing daily strength He'll give,
Victory for each passing hour, this is life, so let us live!

John E. Zoller

As I watch My children on earth,
I look upon them with love, the love of their Father.
I want to share with them My love
and bring them to dwell with Me in My House of eternal joy.
All it takes for this to happen is an acceptance
of My love by My children.
Once they accept My love,
then they will come to know what true life is.

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view,
and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your
life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life
long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a
noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing
a friend, Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect
to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning,
give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see
no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.
Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little
more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

Tecumseh - Shawnee-(1768-1813)

Right now today, at this moment, it means
that you are saved from the agonized cry of
despair. I have seen all that has happened
in your life. I have seen every person who has
walked across your days.
I know.
I see
I listen
I AM.

Tomorrow is gone but you have today, this very moment. . .
for time fades quickly and one day you may wake up
your angel wings, ragged and torn

What God Has Promised

God has not promised skies always blue,
flower strewn pathways all our lives through.
God has not promised sun without rain,
joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised
strength for the day,
rest for the laborer,
light on the way.
grace for the trial,
help from above,
unfailing sympathy,
undying love.

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

Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday.
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there,
waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow
without first making the most of today.

Beginning today I will look in the mirror
and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone
I enjoy spending time with and someone
I would like to get to know better.

Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world
and I will unselfishly share this gift with others.
I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

Beginning today I will take a moment to step
off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which
hinder my quest for growth and self improvement.

Beginning today I will take life one day at a time,
one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,
my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before,
I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.

Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences -
I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself
nor anyone else; perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But, I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness
and I will do things that make me happy . . .
· admire the beautiful wonders of nature,
· listen to my favorite music,
. pet a kitten or a puppy,
· soak in a bubble bath.
Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning today I will learn something new;
I will try something different;
I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.

Beginning today — And everyday for the rest of my life

Dear God,
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the
sunset You made on Tuesday.

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 darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled 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.

St. Francis of Assisi

We resign into Your hands our sleeping bodies,
our cold hearths and open doors.
Give us to awaken with smiles,
give us to labor smiling.
As the sun returns in the east,
so let our patience be renewed with dawn;
as the sun lightens the world,
so let our loving kindness make bright
this house of our habitation.

Touch Me . . .

If I am your child . . . Please touch me.
Persist; find ways to meet my needs.
Your goodnight hug helps sweeten my dreams.
Your daytime touching tells me how you really feel.

If I am your teenager . . . Please touch me.
Don't think because I'm almost grown,
I don't need to know that you still care.
I need your loving arms; I need a tender voice.

If I am your friend . . . Please touch me.
Nothing lets me know you care like a warm embrace.
A healing touch when I'm depressed assures me I am loved,
And reassures me that I'm not alone.
Yours may be the only comforting touch I get.

If I am your life's partner . . . Please touch me.
You may think that your passion is enough,
But only your arms hold back my fears.
I need your tender reassuring touch, To remind me
I am loved just because I am me.

If I am your grown-up child . . . Please touch me.
Though I may have a family of my own to hold,
I still need Mommy's and Daddy's arms when I hurt.
As a parent the view is different; I appreciate you more.

If I am your aging parent . . . Please touch me.
Hold my hand, sit close to me, give me strength;
And warm my tired body with your nearness.
Although my skin is worn and wrinkled, It loves to be stroked
. . . Don't be afraid.

I Cor. 15:51,52 (niv): "...we will all be changed -- in a flash,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we will all be changed.

I Cor. 2:9 (niv): "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Live today in the joy of your expectations for your eternal future.

Acts 17:31 (niv): For He has set a day when
He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed.
He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.

When You Just Can't "Get Over It"

Pain........
Without a doubt,
pain acts as a common denominator between all of us.
Whether physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or financial,
we have all gone through agonizing moments.
Pain reminds me of being in a room with dim lights.
It takes a closer look to find some meaning in the world.
Although I have experienced pain in all of the above categories.
I have always had the attitude, "I'll get over it!"
I would usually see a ray of hope
in even some of the darker places.
Naturally, I carried this mentality into my relationships.
I believed people should have the "get over it" attitude too.
Interestingly, I found something different.
Before I tell you my discovery,
let me share with you some more of me.
I used to wonder how a person could replay
the same scenarios day after day for years on end.
Although I'd listen to the stories with a willing heart,
at times I wanted to scream my motto,
"Get over it!"
and then I wanted to exclaim,
"And move forward!"
I didn't dare.
Then I had my awakening!
I injured my feet on the job.
Not the best place to hurt for a person who loves sports.
After about my third surgery,
it looked like I would not be able to just "get over it!"
One morning when I took a shower,
I couldn't believe how much I ached just standing.
I missed the joy of water washing over me.
Even my Miss Piggy soap took a back seat to my pain.
I couldn't relish one of life's simplest pleasures
and I couldn't believe it! I only focused on my feet.
Nothing else in the world seemed to matter except for my discovery.
At that moment, I decided to acknowledge my pain
and the fact that at least for now my world seemed dimly lit;
a reminder of the people I have met.
What would be the fate for my feet? I didn't know.
However, I told myself the next time I came across
a person in pain I would see with different eyes.
I would help turn up the lights in a darkened world.

by Eileen Hegel.

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

This Too Will Pass Away

If I can endure for this minute, whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment may be ...
If I can remain calm and quiet with all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me when everyone else seems to doubt me ...
If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning and that "this will pass away, too!" ...
Then nothing in life can defeat me for as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening for I know God will break all the chains
That are binding me tight in "the darkness" and trying to fill me with fear ...
For there is "no night without dawning" and I know that "my morning" is near.

Helen Steiner Rice

My heart soars like the eagle
swift and high, my heart is with My God and I
embracing Him who takes care of me.
How beauteous the melody He shares
My spirit sings His praise with love and adoration,
I am far from earthly things, I feel Grace pouring down on me
I continue to raise my eyes to Thee
Blessings I receive will I treasure, now and forever
Amen.

Maria

The Splashes Of Life...A Sioux Indian Story

My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm
when I was about seven, and he told me
to throw a stone into the water.
He told me to watch the circles created by the stone.
Then he asked me to think of myself as that stone person.

You may create lots of splashes in your life
but the waves that come from those splashes
will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures, he said.

Remember that you are responsible
for what you put in your circle
and that circle will also touch many other circles.
You will need to live in a way that allows the good
that comes from your circle to send the peace
of that goodness to others.
The splash that comes from anger or jealousy
will send those feelings to other circles.
You are responsible for both.

That was the first time I realized each person
creates the inner peace or discord
that flows out into the world.
We cannot create world peace
if we are riddled with inner conflict,
hatred, doubt, or anger.
We radiate the feelings
and thoughts that we hold inside,
whether we speak them or not.
Whatever is splashing around inside of us
is spilling out into the world,
creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.

Remember the eternal wisdom:

Whatever You Focus On Expands

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

The Laws of Love

Your Law O Lord is as strong and stable
as all Your laws of nature.
As gravity works to pull me toward the center of the earth
Your grace and passion draw me to the core of Your heart.
As two objects never stand in the same place at the same time,
Your presence and sin can never abide at once within my soul.
And as all matter in the end tends to wander toward chaos.
Your healing and creating with as much force,
cause all to flow toward perfect order.
And so I may rest knowing that with the same certainty
I believe in the laws of science,
I can ask and believe in
Your ever-constant law of Providence.

When you look out it may be night.
When you look up its always light.
Never doubt in the valley,
what you found to be true on the mountain.
Dear Great Physician,
we thank You for the gift of healing
that lies within the body.
For the person who has health, has hope,
and the one who has hope has everything.
Lord, teach us that true and total healing includes healing
of the soul, of attitudes, and of relationships.
Lord, we may be whole in body but sick in soul and spirit.
Help us to ask for Your touch of healing to establish
a right relationship with You,
for from that source others healings flow.
God's answers are wiser than our prayers.
Prayer is an enduring, continuing, growing love relationship
with the great God of the Universe.
Overwhelming love invites a response.
Loving is the syntax of prayer.
Loving God in prayer, somehow
makes our spiritual selves more receptive to love.
We feel a power so vast
that we are actually transformed
and elevated to a higher, more fulfilled state of being.
We still cannot fathom the depths of the
God who is the source of life.
We cannot fully say His name or exhaust His meaning.
However, we can know His power and share His love.
As we do so, we make His name Holy.
This is what we mean when we pray,
"Hallowed be Thy name".

I Tried To Climb A Mountain Today

I tried to climb the mountain today.
As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed,
so I had to turn back.
I tried to climb the mountain today.
On my journey, darkness started to fall,
and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.
I was ready to climb the mountain today.
But it was so hot outside,
I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house
and rest up for tomorrow's attempt.
I was about to climb the mountain today.
But I had so many other things to do,
so instead of climbing the mountain
I took care of much more important tasks.
I washed my car, mowed the grass
and watched the big game.
Today the mountain will just have to wait.
I was going to climb the mountain today.
But as I stared at the mountain in it's majestic beauty,
I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top,
so I figured why even bother trying.
I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today;
until a friend came by and
asked me what I was up to lately.
I told him I was thinking about
climbing that mountain someday.
I went on and on about how
I was going to accomplish this task.
Finally, he said,
"I just got back from climbing the mountain."
For the longest time I told myself
I was trying to climb the mountain
but never made any progress.
I almost let the dream of making it to the top die.
I came up with every excuse of why
I could not make it up the mountain,
but never once did I give myself a reason why I could.
One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered,
I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream,
all my dreams will eventually die."
"The next morning, I started my climb." He continued,
"It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit.
But no matter what I faced,
I placed one foot in front of the other,
keeping a steady pace.
When the wind tried to blow me over the edge,
I kept walking.
When the voices inside my head screamed
"stop!"
I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight,
and I kept moving forward.
At times, I was ready to quit,
but I knew I had come too far.
Time and time again,
I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey.
I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!"
"I have to be going," my friend said.
"Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams.
By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?"
I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes,
and said.... "I have a mountain to climb"

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

Someone whispered "God, speak to me".
And a meadowlark sang.
But they did not hear.

So they yelled "God speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky.
But they did not listen.

They looked around and said "God let me see you".
And a star shone brightly.
But they did not notice.

And they shouted "God show me a miracle".
And a life was born.
But they did not know.

So, they cried out in despair
"Touch me God and let me know that You are here!"
Whereupon God reached down and touched them.
But they brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because
it isn't packaged the way you expect.

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

God never loved me in so sweet a way before.
'Tis He alone who can such blessings send.
And when His love would new expressions find,
He brought thee to me and He said--"Behold a friend"

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

The Old Lamplighter

I know what it’s like to wait in the dark,
to hover in silence alone.
I know what it’s like to lose all your faith,
to cower with dreams overthrown.
I know what it’s like to weep with despair,
to think that it’s no use to hope.
I know what it’s like to tremble in fear,
to feel at the end of your rope.
But I've learned there's a lamp up in Heaven
that illumines the blackest night,
and if you pray from the depths of your being,
it will burn with magnificent light.
For this Heavenly flame will be kindled
by the wonderful power of prayer,
and though you may think it’s not tended,
the Keeper of the flames always there.
I know that sometimes it seems hopeless,
you feel like you might as well quit,
but hang on with all you can muster,
believing the lamp will be lit.
Kneel down in the midst of your shadows
and pray for a light in the dark,
then look toward the sill of Heaven
and patiently wait for the spark.

Author.....Ruth Gillis

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

A smile of encouragement at the right moment
may act like sunlight on a closed-up flower;
it may be the turning point for a struggling life.

God's promises are not for those
who walk through life with
no obstacles,
but for those who overcome their obstacles.
Lord, I pray, not to overpower others,
but to overcome my own weaknesses
and strengthen my trust in You.

If you plant honesty, You will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, You will reap friends.
If you plant humility, You will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, You will reap victory.
If you plant consideration, You will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, You will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, You will reap reconciliation.
If you plant openness, You will reap intimacy.
If you plant patience, You will reap improvements.
If you plant faith, You will reap miracles
But If you plant dishonesty, You will reap distrust.
If you plant selfishness, You will reap loneliness
If you plant pride, You will reap destruction.
If you plant envy, You will reap trouble.
If you plant laziness, You will reap stagnation.
If you plant bitterness, You will reap isolation.
If you plant greed, You will reap loss.
If you plant gossip, You will reap enemies.
If you plant worries, You will reap wrinkles.
If you plant sin, You will reap guilt.

So be careful what you plant now,
It will determine what you will reap tomorrow

The seeds you now scatter,
Will make life worse or better.
Your life or the ones who will come after.
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits,
or you will pay for the choices you plant today.

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

LORD, help me to clearly see the harvest that is all around me.
The natural tendency is to attempt to avoid the
responsibility and make excuses.
Instead, help me to better understand that the opportunity
to win others for You is a great privilege.
It is something I can do for someone
that has everlasting consequences!

Thank You for this awesome opportunity.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

The Old Tire Swing

Never once, did I imagine, what a joy it would bring
When I hung an old tire, to make an old "Tire Swing".
All of my grandchildren, played with great delight,
From their first rising, on late into the night.
Their joy, displayed in laughter, and songs that they had learned.
Others waited, impatiently, asking, "When is it my turn?"
Then they'd climb upon it, and shout with boisterous glee.
How could I refuse their call, "Swing me, granddaddy, swing me !"
The tire cost me nothing. The rope was also free,
And God Our loving Father, provided a very special tree.
Those moments, I'll cherish forever, for the pleasures that they bring.
I hope that your grandchildren will have their "Old Tire Swing".

By Grady L. Duncan

Dreams

Dreams... What are they?
They are your soul talking to your heart...
leading you forward.
A dream...is the carrot that leads the pony forward . . .
knowing it can reach its goal.
A dream tugs at your inner vision...and you focus on it,
in your heart, and hold it there,
all the time knowing you're part of it.
A dream is the mirror that you walk into
and become one with it.
Dreams...they keep our spirit alive . . .
they move us forward in life...
with hope and wonder and promise.
Everyone has a dream.
Something special to them alone...
and this dream is filled with goodness,
and gladness for them and for others.
Remember to be a part of this dream of yours...
it is not out of you...
but a great part of you...held within you.
Dreams are the wings of the butterflies...
that carry the caterpillar forward.
Have you ever seen multiple butterflies...at the same time?
It is one of the most spectacular sights.
The strength and beauty cannot be described
as thousands of them take flight.
And as your dream joins with others...
the energies build...and your spirit flies free.
Dreams are as real to you, as wings are to a caterpillar,
it takes time for them to unfold.
Keep your dreams alive, nourish them with your love...
and know that they are yours...
that they are just developing so that
when you are ready to fly...that you will be carried by them.
Just remember if you believe strongly enough in your dreams,
one day soon they will come true..

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

"A good character is the best tombstone.
Those who loved you, and were helped by you,
will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered.
Carve your name on
hearts, and not on marble."

Psalm 39:12 (niv), "Hear my prayer, O Lord,
listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping..."

Is there no other way open, God,
except through sorrow, pain, and loss,
to stamp Christ's likeness on my soul.
No other way except the cross?
And then a voice stills my soul,
as it stilled the waves of Galilee

"Can'st thou not bear the furnace heat
if midst the flames I walk with thee?"
I bore the cross. I know its weight.
I drank the cup I hold for thee.
Can'st thou not follow where I lead?
I'll give thee strength."

Lean on Me."

Forgiveness is the perfume the trampled flower
casts back on the foot that crushed it

There were a thousand reasons for Samuel not to go.
First among them was Victoria.
She had still not recovered physically
from the delivery of their first child,
a boy they had named David.
Nor had she recovered emotionally from little David's death
just hours after he was born.
The strong, sturdy, handsome woman Samuel had married
was now gaunt and pale, and he feared that if he left her
he would never see her again.
Then there was the home they had built on the Illinois prairie.
True, it wasn't much of a home.
It was barely more than a cabin.
But they built it, log by excruciatingly heavy log,
with their own hands and sweat,
and they had furnished it with hand-made chairs,
a hand-me-down bed and love.
It was their first home, and it suited them –
solid, humble, functional.
Here they planned to raise crops and children,
and to live out their dream.
Together..........

But somewhere along the way their dream changed.
The great western frontier beckoned to them
with its promise of land, prosperity and peace.
The challenge was daunting,
but the possibilities were endless.
And so they made plans to move west soon
after their little one was born.
Samuel signed on as a hunter and guard
for a company of pioneers heading west.
Victoria would drive their wagon
and care for the baby at the same time.
It would be a long and difficult journey,
but they were young and confident,
and their dream lay before them.

But now . . . everything was different.
Their baby lay under a wooden marker
a stone's throw from the cabin.
Victoria could barely raise her head to take nourishment –
there was no way she could handle the team of oxen
they had obtained to pull the wagon.
And Samuel couldn't drive the wagon,
he had responsibilities to the company.
He had already taken money for the job,
that's how they had been able to afford the oxen
and the supplies they needed.

You have to go, Samuel, Victoria said softly.
He shook his head. No. I can't leave you. Not likethis.
She gave his hand a slight squeeze –
slight & was all the strength she had.
You've given these people your word, she said.
They're counting on you.
But that doesn't mean anything compared to . . .
Don't, she said. I know you better than that.
Your word of honor means everything to you.
It's one of the things I love about you,
and I won't have you breaking it on my account.

But Victoria . . .

Go, she said. Do your duty. Find a place for us,
and then you come back for me.
Reluctantly, Samuel did as Victoria instructed,
but not before kneeling to commit her to God's care and keeping.
As he rode away, he turned to look back at their cabin
and saw his wife, slumped against the doorway, waving feebly.
He carried that image in his mind across three months
and three thousand miles.
He fulfilled his duty to the wagon train
and received 100 acres of fertile land for his efforts.
He put in a few hearty crops,
and then he started back for Victoria.
He made the trip back to Illinois in half the time
it took them to go west.
It was only as he drew near their cabin that he hesitated.
He searched the horizon for signs of life.
At last he saw it,
a wisp of smoke curling from the cabin chimney.
He whipped his horse into a gallop.
Soon he saw the cabin in all its tiny glory,
and the figure of a woman in the doorway,
but instead of waving feebly as she had when last she saw him,
she gathered her skirts and ran full speed toward him,
watering the prairie with her tears
while giving new birth to a dream.

So tender is my love
None can touch the depth within
Placed with Him
My Lord, My God
I love Him more than life itself
My glorious and gracious
Lord!

Maria©

The Seasons Of the Soul

Why am I cast down and despondently sad
When I long to be happy and joyous and glad?
Why is my heart heavy with unfathomable weight
As I try to escape this soul-saddened state?
I ask myself often ..."What makes life this way,
Why is the song silenced in the heart that was gay?"
And then, with God's help it all becomes clear,
The "Soul" has its "Seasons" just the same as the year.
I, too, must pass through life's autumn of dying,
A desolate period of heart-hurt and crying.
Followed by winter in whose frostbitten hand
My heart is as frozen as the snow-covered land.
Yes, man too must pass through the seasons God sends,
Content in the knowledge that everything ends.
And, Oh! What a Blessing to know there are reasons
And to find that our soul must, too, have its seasons.

"Bounteous Seasons" and "Barren Ones," too.
Times for rejoicing and times to be blue.
But meeting these seasons of dark desolation
With strength that is born of anticipation
That comes from knowing that "autumn-time sadness"
Will surely be followed by a "Springtime of Gladness."

Helen Steiner Rice

The Spider's Web

A young soldier found himself in a terrible battle.
The enemy was soundly defeating this young man's platoon.
He and his comrades found themselves hastily
retreating from the battlefield in defeat,
running away in fear of their very lives.
The enemy gave chase.
This young man ran hard and fast, full of fear
and desperation, and soon found himself
cut off from his comrades in arms.
He eventually came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave.
Knowing the enemy was close behind,
and that he was exhausted from the chase,
he chose to hide there.
After he crawled in, he fell to his face in the darkness,
desperately crying to GOD to save him
and protect him from his enemies.
He also made a bargain with GOD,
one which I (and perhaps you too?) have made before.
He promised that if GOD saved him,
he would serve HIM for the remainder of his days.
When he looked up from his despairing plea for help,
he saw a spider beginning to weave its web
at the entrance to the cave.
As he watched the delicate threads being
slowly drawn across the mouth of the cave,
the young soldier pondered its irony.
He thought, I asked God for protection and deliverance,
and he sent me a spider instead.
How can a spider save me?
His heart was hardened,
knowing the enemy would soon discover
his hiding place and kill him.
And soon he did hear the sound of his enemies,
who were now scouring the area looking for those in hiding.
One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave's entrance.
As the young man crouched in the darkness,
hoping to surprise the enemy in a last-minute
desperate attempt to save his own life,
he felt his heart pounding wildly out of control.
As the enemy cautiously moved forward to enter the cave,
he came upon the spider's web,
which by now was completely strung across the opening.
He backed away and called out to a comrade,
There can't be anyone in here.
They would have had to break
this spider's web to enter the cave. Let's move on.
Years later, this young man,
who made good his promise by becoming a preacher
and evangelist, wrote about that ordeal.
What he observed, stands by me in time of trouble,
especially during those times when everything seems impossible.
He wrote:
Where GOD is, a spider's web is as a stone wall.
Where GOD is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web.

Remember: Whatever is going on in your life today,
no matter how great, no matter how small...
God most definitely is in control,
and He specializes in the impossible

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

(Prov 4:3-9 NIV) When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
He taught me and said,
Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will set a garland of grace on
your head and present you with a crown of splendor.

Prayer:
LORD, I choose to walk in wisdom in all that I do and say today.
Regardless of what it may seem to cost at the time,
help me to always make the wise choice in every decision of my life.
Though other options may seem more profitable
or favorable at the moment, the choice of wisdom
is always ultimately the best choice in any situation.
Thank You for increasing my wisdom as I grow
and increase in understanding of You
and Your way of doing things.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

I do not want to die. . .
until I have faithfully made the most of my talent
and cultivated the seed that was placed in me
until the last small twig has grown.

Oh, that You would Bless me indeed
and increase my territory.
That You would keep me from harm,
with Your hand upon me.
That You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain.

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