bestofwords05.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: "Hear My Song Lord" by The Gaither Vocal Band

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.

A Perfect Mistake

Mother's father worked as a carpenter.
On this particular day, he was building some crates for the
clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China.
On his way home,
he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses,
but they were gone.
When he mentally replayed his earlier actions,
he realized what happened;
the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed
and fallen into one of the crates,
which he had nailed shut.
His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height
and Grandpa had six children.
He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning.
He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair.
It's not fair, he told God as he drove home in frustration.
I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to
Your work, and now this.

Several months later, the director of the orphanage
was on furlough in the United States.
He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China,
so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's
small church in Chicago.
The missionary began by thanking the people
for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage.
But most of all, he said, I must thank you
for the glasses you sent last year.
You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage,
destroying everything, including my glasses.
I was desperate.
Even if I had the money,
there was simply no way of replacing those glasses.
Along with not being able to see well,
I experienced headaches everyday,
so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this.
Then your crates arrived.
When my staff removed the covers,
they found a pair of glasses lying on top.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in.
Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued:
Folks, when I tried on the glasses,
it was as though they had been custom-made just for me!
I want to thank you for being a part of that.
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses.
But the missionary surely must have
confused their church with another, they thought.
There were no glasses on their list of
items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back,
with tears streaming down his face,
an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter
had used him in an extraordinary way.

by Cheryl Walterman Stewart

Monday - Wash Day, Lord,
help me to wash away all my selfishness and vanity,
so I may serve You with perfect humility through the week ahead.

Tuesday - Ironing Day,
Dear Lord, help me to iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice
I have collected through the years
so that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday -
Mending Day, O God, help me to mend my ways
so I will not set a bad example for others.

Thursday - Cleaning Day,
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday - Shopping Day,
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase
eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love.

Saturday - Cooking Day,
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love
and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday - The Lord's Day, O God,
I have prepared my house for You.
Please come into my heart as my honored guest so I may
spend the day and the rest of my life in Your presence.

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

Don't Be Fooled By Me.

Don't be fooled by the face I wear.
For I wear a mask, I wear a thousand masks,
masks that I am afraid to take off,
and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that is second nature with me,
but don't be fooled, for God's sake don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me,
within me as well as without, that confidence is my name
and coolness my game, that the water's calm
and I'm in command, and that I need no one.
But don't believe me, please.

My surface may seem smooth, but my surface is my mask,
my ever-wary, ever-concealing mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion,
in fear, in aloneness.
But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness
and fear being exposed.
That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant, sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend, to shield
me from the glance that knows.
But such a glance is precisely my salvation.
My only salvation, and I know it.
That is if it is followed by acceptance,
if it is followed by love.
It's the only thing that liberates me,
from myself, from my own self-built prison walls,
from barriers that I so painstakingly erect.

It's the only thing that will assure me
of what I can't assure myself,
that I'm really worth something.
But I don't tell you this.
I don't dare. I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me,
that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep down I'm nothing,
that I'm just no good,
and that you will see this and reject me.
So I play the game, my desperate pretending game,
with a facade of assurance without, and a trembling child within.

And so begins the parade of masks,
and my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that is really nothing.
And nothing of what is everything,
of what is crying within me.
So when I'm going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I'm saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying,
what I'd like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say, but what I can't say.
I dislike hiding. Honestly. I dislike the superficial game I'm
playing, the superficial, phony game. I'd really like to be genuine
and spontaneous, and me, but you've got to help me.

You've got to hold out your hand
even when that's the last thing I seem to want, or need.
Only you can wipe away from my eyes
the blank stare of the breathing dead.
Only you can call me into aliveness.
Each time you're kind, and gentle, and encouraging,
each time you try to understand because you really care,
my heart begins to grow wings, very feeble wings, but wings.
With your sensitivity and empathy,
and your power of understanding, you can breathe life into me.
I want you to know that.

I want you to know how important you are to me,
how you can be a co-creator of the person
that is me if you choose to.
Please choose to.
You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble.
You alone can release me from my shadow world
of panic and uncertainty, from my lonely prison.
So do not pass me by. It will not be easy for you.
A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach me, the blinder I strike back.
I fight against the very thing that I cry out for.
But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls,
and in this lies my hope .......my only hope.

Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands,
but with gentle hands, for a child is very sensitive.
Who am I you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well.
For I am every man and I am every woman you meet.

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

I had on new clothes, new sneaks on my feet.
I was there for class on time,
went to the back and took my seat.
Yeah, I'm moving up, I'm already grown.
Soon I'll be graduating, and out on my own.
I talked to some of my friends, we were all having fun.
Said some things I shouldn't have said,
did stuff I shouldn't have done.
I knew I was different. I felt God touch my heart,
I knew I should set a standard, but then I'd be set apart.
Walking to the bus, I was not looking for strength.
I heard the car tires screeching, but now it's too late.
I'm standing in this room, and I can see the Heavenly gate.
Oh no! I never prayed. I thought I had time to get it straight.
An angel walked to me, He had a book in his hand.
I knew it was the Book of Life, when would this dream end?
I told him my name, and he began to look.
Then he looked at me sadly and said,
your name is not in this book.
Angel, this is a dream, no, I can't be dead!
He closed the book and turned away, He whispered -
You cannot proceed ahead.
No...no this can't be real, Angel, you can't turn me away.
Let me talk to God, maybe He'll let me stay.
He led me to the gate, Jesus came to me.
He did not let me in but said, Beloved what is your need?
Jesus, I cried, please, don't cast me away from You.
Tears ran down His face as He said,
you knew what you needed to do.
Lord, please I'm young, I never thought I would die.
I thought I'd have plenty of time, death caught me by surprise.
Lord, I went to church, please Jesus, I believe.
He said You would not accept Me,
My love You would not receive.
Lord, there were too many hypocrites, they weren't being true.
He took a step back and asked,
what does that have to do with you?
Lord, my family claimed to be saved, they weren't real.
You know. He said, I died for you, now I have to go.
I fell to my knees crying to Him, Lord,
I planned to be real tomorrow.
I couldn't, make Him understand,
I had never felt such sorrow.
Then it hit me hard, I said, Lord, where will I go?
He looked into my eyes and said, My child you already know.
Please Jesus, I begged, the place is so hot.
It seemed to trouble and grieve Him, He whispered,

Depart From Me, I Know You Not.

Lord, You're supposed to be love,
how can You send me to damnation?
He replied, with your mouth you said you loved Me,
but each day you rejected My salvation.
With that in an instant, day turned into night.
I never knew such torture could be, now too late,
I know the Bible is right.
If I can tell you anything, Hell has no age.
It is a place of torture, separated from God and full of rage.
You know, I thought it was funny, a joke,
but this one thing is true.

If you never accept Jesus Christ,

Hell Is Waiting For You!
So please, ask Him into your heart.

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

I Want To Tell You Lies

I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don't want to tell it like it is.....I want to tell them lies.

You didn't put their seat belts on,
you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn't ...but in a way, you did.
You pound your fists into my chest, you're hurting so inside
I want to say you'll be ok......I want to tell you lies.

You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will.....I want to tell you lies.

I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
If you'd maintained that smoke alarm,
your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you they're all dead........
I want to tell you lies.

I want to say she'll be ok, you didn't take her life.
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink too much,
you thought that you could drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were......
I want to tell you lies.

You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fallen from there?
You thought she couldn't climb.
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't want to say she's paralyzed........I want to tell you lies.

I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain
Because he thought that it'd be cool to try to beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he'll forget........I want to tell him lies.

You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun.
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six..........
I want to tell you lies.

He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone.
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive.
But I don't want to tell you that.........I want to tell you lies.

The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn,
and we couldn't get them out of there
before the whole thing burned.
Did they suffer?
Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive
But I don't want to say those words........
I want to tell you lies.

But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes............
I have to tell you lies.

Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs,
Paramedics, Emergency Flight Crews and all
Civil Servants who deal with the tragedies of life and death.
The saddest of all, being those that could have been prevented.
Wear your seat belts.
Keep poisons, flammables, fireworks,
etc. out of reach of children.
Keep your smoke alarm in operating order,
if you don't have one, get one.
Never, ever drive if you've been drinking.
Never leave your toddler unattended.
Teens, be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights,
posted limits, warnings and signals at RR crossings.
Keep your guns locked and out of reach, buy a trigger guard.

Am I preaching? Am I nagging?
I guess I am just telling it like it is.......
Or I could just tell you a lie.

And the next time you hear a siren in the distance,
don't just say a prayer for the victims and their families.
Say a prayer for the people that face these tragedies everyday
and do the best they can to save someone that is loved.
We never see the tears of these brave men and women,
but God does.

(c) 1998 Copyrighted to Kalvere.
Please do not reproduce or distribute in any form
without author's permission. Kalvere is from Minnesota,
and welcomes any comments at the following email address:
Kal The Rebel @ aol.com

Used with permission. If you see this poem anywhere
without the author's name and copyright information,
it is being used without the author's knowledge or consent.

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

I have held many things in my hands,
and I have lost them all.
But whatever I have placed in God's Hands,
that I still possess.

Attention

I stand at attention.
My mind ready to do what is commanded.
I wait, knowing there must be something required,
expected of me. I look here and there,
reaching out as if to grasp an assignment forgotten,
an order I must hear or a project
not quite perfectly executed.
And then I hear You say
"At ease."
At ease!
At ease
You call for me to rest, to stop and simply be me.
What You made me to be.
At ease
To experience life, to revel in the beauty You create
and that I ignore as I spend energy for You
whether or not there's something to spend it on.
And at ease
To be still and let You be the center of my heart,
the center of my love, the center of my attention,
and in such quiet our spirits embrace.

Ray McAllister (18 October 2002)

I was hoping I could have a moment of Your time.
I know You must be busy watching over all the world,
but, perhaps You can hear my prayer.
Yes, You hear me, don't You?
You see, my love,
The one You will be bringing home to You soon,
is still needed here.
But, You already knew that didn't You,
because You are the one that led him to me.
Now Lord, I know better then to question
Your plans for me, but, I'm kinda stuck on this one.
My love for You, God, tells me,
that his place at Your side, will be a better one.
And that, if it is Your Will, for me to stay, then, so be it.
Thy Will Be Done, yes, I remember.
So, I was hoping, in Your miraculous merciful power,
You could create a place,
where he and I can remain together.
Someplace between Heaven and earth, maybe?
Somewhere, I can still feel his arms around me.
Somewhere, I can still hear his whispers and his laugh.

Somewhere I can love him forever.
I was thinking, maybe we could borrow
one of the other planets out there, close to You.
So what do You think?

Love always, Tear Filled One

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

Dear Tear Filled:
Yes, I do hear you pray, I feel you cry, and I am with you.
The day will come, when you'll need not hurt for this.
You must trust in Me.
I have been at your side from the day you were born,
and I love you.
Yes, you, and your Love, crossed paths at My hand,
And Yes, I did have reasons for that.
They too, will be revealed in time.
Trust me, even in your pain, even in your sorrow,
and I will show you, the direction you need to take now.
I have considered your proposal for a special place
between Heaven and Earth, for love to remain.
But, you see, Child, this place already exists.
I always knew such a place would be necessary
for My children on earth.
So, I created it, with love, and gave it to each of you,
on the day you were born.
You have carried it with you all your life,
and I am there too.
That place is called ...Your Heart

Your Loving Father...................GOD

We have this moment today...
yesterday has come and gone...
tomorrow may never come...

Some things you keep.
Like warm coats and bald husbands.
They're good for you, reliable, and practical, and so sublime,
that to throw them away would make the garbage man a thief.
So you hang on, because something old is sometimes better than
something new, and what you know is often better than a stranger.
These are my thoughts....they make me sound old, old and tame,
and dull at a time when everybody else is risky and racy
and flashing all that's new and improved in their lives.
New spouses, new careers, new thighs, new lips.
The world is dizzy with trade-ins.
I could keep track, but I don't think I want to.
I grew up in the fifties with practical parents -
a mother who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it,
then reused it.
A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed
than buying new ones.
They weren't poor, my parents, they were just satisfied.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused.
Their best friends lived barely a wave away.
I can see them now, Fifties couples in Bermuda shorts and
Ban Lon sweaters, lawnmower in one hand, tools in the other.
The tools were for fixing things - a curtain rod, the kitchen radio,
screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things you keep.
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing.....
I wanted just once to be wasteful.
Waste meant affluence.
Throwing things away meant there'd always be more.
But then my father died, and on that clear autumn night,
in the chill of the hospital room,
I was struck with the pain of learning
that sometimes there isn't any more.
Sometimes what you care about most gets
all used up and goes away, never to return.

So, while you have it, it's best to love it and care for it,
and fix it when it's broken, and heal it when it's sick.
That's true for marriage. And old cars. and children with bad
report cards. And dogs with bad hips.
You keep them because they're worth it,
because you're worth it.
Some things you keep..................

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

When you are having problems
and feel there's no help around.
First take one step forward, to get to higher ground.
If you think that God doesn't hear you then
that is really a shame
Not only does He hear every prayer you say;
but He knows you, by your name.
It does not matter just where you are
when you call upon the Lord.
He will be listening with a well-tuned ear
and will understand every word.
Be ready to listen to what He says,
as He tells you what to do.
For that will be your instructions,
because the rest will be up to you.
You should thank Him for His kindness,
Because He was standing by, and not as you thought;
He had turned away, and would never, hear your cry.
Even though you have made so many mistakes,
He will not hold you to blame.
For now, you are fully forgiven, and remember,
He knows your name.

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

There must be a beautiful morning somewhere
A dawn lit by justice and judgment is fair
A place where a helping hand is held out
An ear that will listen stands poised and devout
A place you can go when your heart needs attending
A place where a spirit gets healing and mending
A place where love's fire burns bright day and night
And in from the cold you may warm by its light
There must be a brilliant evening somewhere
Where the sun finally sets on pain and despair
Where the coming of night is not filled with grief
And comforting sleep brings you joyful relief
A place where the sunset is apt to reflect
A day without malice, without disrespect
A place where the only tears shed, are for joy
And a heart is not battered and bounced like a toy
There must be a wonderful day somewhere
In a place filled with love and a great need to care
A place where the burdens of conflict are lifted
Where love is a skill and all lovers are gifted
Where daily are spoken the words that support
And every mistake is not met with retort
A place where the land has not soaked up the blood
Where honor and truth are not cast in the mud
A place where the children are not left alone
Where sisters and brothers may come to atone
Where homeless and helpless don't cower in fright
Where the hearts and the minds of the world can unite
So you set on a journey to seek out this land
With compass and map and a vision so grand
To find peace and comfort in a world that's so new
Where waters are crystal and skies are so blue
With showers that cleanse and winds that refresh
Where the spirit is fed and not just the flesh
But search as you may, what you'll find to be true
That it cannot be found, until it's found within you.

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

I asked the Lord to Bless you as I prayed for you today,
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way....
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on
Seems difficult at best,
Just remember I'm here praying
And God will do the rest.

Grace, Mercy And Peace Are With Us

"Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love."
(2 Jn 1:3 NIV)

"Grace, mercy and peace" are then with us because
"God the Father and Jesus Christ" are "with us in truth and
love." Our own truth and our own efforts to love will always
fail, but when we put our trust in Jesus we will not be
disappointed. The Holy Spirit is eager to help you comprehend
God's love for you. Talk to Him. God has joined you in your
circumstances with a love that is passionate and everlasting.
He will reveal Himself to you in ways that are real and
personal. Watch for His grace, mercy and peace as you get
to know the God of truth and love.

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of
you shall agree on earth as touching anything that
they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My
Father which is in Heaven.

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

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and
pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
The LORD will protect him and preserve his life.
He will bless him in the land and
not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
and restore him from his bed of illness.

Prayer:
LORD, I desire to sow good things into the lives of others,
knowing that I will reap good things from You in return.
Help me to learn to have greater compassion for others,
even as You have compassion for me without limit.
I choose to freely give to others the unconditional love,
mercy, and grace that You have freely given to me.
I am grateful that You care for me so deeply and that
everything that concerns my life is important to You.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

Delight yourself in the LORD
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Prayer:
LORD, there are times when I feel compelled to justify
or defend myself and my actions before other people.
Help me instead to trust in You,
depending on You completely.
In due time, You will prove the truth of my cause
and my actions before others in ways
I could never accomplish by myself.
Help me to grow closer to You
and become more like You,
so that even the things I think about
and desire will become more like You.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

I am free from want for
My God shall supply all my needs according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Phil:4:19

I am free from fear for
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind." 2Tim1:7

I am free from doubt for
"God hath dealt to every man
the measure of faith." Rom. 12:3

I am free from weakness,
"the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?" Ps.27:1

I am free from the power of satan
"because greater is He that is in you,
than he that is in the world." 1Jn.4:4

I am free from defeat
"Now thanks be unto God,
which always causes us to triumph in Christ." 2Cor.2:14

I am free from ignorance,
"for Christ Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God." 1Cor.1:30

I am free from sin
"for the blood of Jesus Christ
cleansed me from all sin." 1Jn.1:7

I am free from worry
"for I am to cast all my cares upon Him." 1Pet.5:7

I am free from bondage
"for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2Cor.3:17

I am free from condemnation,
"for there is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:1

May your day be blessed.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back
May the sunshine beat warmly upon your face.
May the rain fall softly upon all that you plant.
And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Slow Me Down, Lord

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace.
Give me, amidst the day's confusion, the calmness of the
everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of singing streams
that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking "minute vacations"...slowing
down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend,
to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me of the fable of the hare and the
tortoise...that the race is not always to the swift;
that there is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak
and know that it grew slowly and well.
Inspire me to send my own roots
down deep into the soil of life's endearing values...
that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Slow me down, Lord!

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

Be Still And Know That, I am GOD!

I cannot stress enough how wonderful this is.
It is so simple, yet we make it so difficult.
Take the time to make a difference in your life.
And, believe me, this will. Simply empty
yourself of all that is around you and be still
before Him, He will show up and you will
Never be the same again.

(Psa 40:1-3 nlt) I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be astounded.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to wait patiently for Your deliverance
and solution in difficult circumstances.
You are always faithful to meet my needs
when I bring them to You, for so You have promised.
I set my heart to trust You and I will rest confidently in faith
that You will do all You have promised.
Thank You for Your unlimited faithfulness.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

Somewhere, Someday

Somewhere past the rainbow awaits a mansion, a home for me
When someday my name is called, it is Heaven that I will see
Somewhere above the clouds in a glow of beautiful light
Awaits many loved ones that I think of every night
Someday to be in God's arms, I will know that peace and love
That each and everyone of them are receiving up above
Someday in this beautiful place, I will rejoice and I will sing
Embracing His love for eternity in all that Heaven brings
Somewhere, Someday, my soul will find its way
At His feet I will Thank Him, as I bow before Him in praise

Hold On

From jungle gyms, to monkey bars, to tilt a whirls, and bumper cars,
Advice is given, for us to take, hold on tight, for Heaven's sake,
Warned always, to tighten my grip, tighter, still child, you don't want to slip,
To hang on for dear life, that's the way that I know, and now Jesus, My Savior, bids me let go,
White knuckled resistance, has me holding on tighter, buckling beneath burdens, that never grow lighter,
I must cling to all things, be as strong as I can, to loosen my grip, makes me less of a man,
His voice again, "Child please try to understand, your life fits best, in My nail pierced hand,
Your pain will subside, your confusion will cease, if the hold on your life, you would only release,
Lord, I'm releasing, but still am quite wary, do You promise to catch me, and from there to carry,
It hurts to hold on, so let go I must, a new theme for my life, in Jesus I trust.

Oh, Lord, I cannot pray anymore...
Unless I first offer thanksgiving, praise and glory for Your Blessings.
Unless I think of others' needs before my own.
Unless I embrace each joy from You.
Unless I serve and obey You.
Unless I remain silent and listen for Your Word.
Unless I practice humility.
Unless I show compassion.

A Quiet Place In The Heart

Keep a quiet little place where only you can go,
A place securely set aside to think, to breathe to grow...
Don't think that you'll be lonely there, for God is close beside you;
His messages will all come through to comfort and to guide you.
Life's burdens grow much lighter for all those who've set apart
A quiet place for God to dwell at peace within the heart.

So stands the Menorah
Stately
Defiant
Against all who'd seek to destroy it.
It shines
Free and strong
Blazing with the light of liberty
And grace
To drive away the darkness
With love.
And ever it reminds us
Of those who gave everything
For this dream of deliverance
And the Messiah
Who'd be born
As a brave and tender
Light of the world
To draw us all
To shine glad
Alive
Free.

Ray McAllister

The Rim

I come here to explore....to take my solace from the world
to put back what has been used up from the weariness of the day.
I know each step...each view it is all so familiar...and yet,
each time I see it...it is so new.
Slowly...I feel my breathing quiet...I sense my pace slowing...
and I begin to wonder...in the racing of my mind...
where I fit in all of this...when I gaze upon The Rim.

My mind slows...the solace steps in...and frantic moments cease.
Slowly...ever so slowly...the quiet pervades all...and there is
peace. I walk along the paths...I gaze at the shades of blue of
the sky...and wonder...how do I survive the week without this
place and time.
It is known to me...from times past...that we are as one with
that which we partake...the sky...the trees...the wildlife
around us...the water and I am at peace.
Knowing that I am part of this, drives away the insanity of the
world. I come here often...to fill my soul...and to wonder...
to wait...anticipate to drink of the beauty...
and to get caught up in the rapture of The Rim

In This Day

In this day I choose living
not just for the sake of passing time.
I choose to take advantage of the milliseconds
between my breath and my sigh.

In this day I will grasp hold of the moments
I lost so many times before,
as words rolled off my tongue,
penetrating the ears and hearts of those
whom I wanted to hurt and did.

In this day I will make up for time lost
by living between my thoughts and my action.
I will live up to my potential,
which through God's Grace is unlimited.

In this day I will help someone else find the greatest gift of all.
While we spend our lives in pursuit of success and happiness,
we have all that we will ever need from the moment
of conception until our last breath.

In this day I will acknowledge that
I am a magnificent creation capable
of the greatest accomplishments.
I am one of a kind.
Never before in the history of human existence
and never again will there be another me.

I have a purpose, a mission and with that
a responsibility to fulfill those goals.
The key to success is in "knowing" and "believing"
that I can, then purposefully taking action.
The "knowing" is the small voice
you hear deep within that gives direction.
It sparks the dreams and softens
the indignant blows that life throws at us.
It is the spirit of our being connected to the Great Power.
It never goes away although many spend
a lifetime trying to block it out.
"Believing" comes once we have accepted
that self-esteem is not an ego trip but a
verification that you are a living miracle created by God.

Although we are all capable of grand accomplishments
that can change the world, we all succeed at various levels
none less important than the next.
Some listen intently to the Voice and act upon those beliefs.
Others cautiously follow taking life step by step.
Even those who do not heed the call serve a purpose.
They often serve as the best friend, the parent, the neighbor
who ignites the spark in others bound for greater goals.

In this day I will celebrate as if it was my birthday
and 24 hours was my gift.
I will treasure the sunrise and save the light
in my hand for darkened days.
I will fill my lungs to capacity with the sweet smell of life
and consume the colors that surround me like a meal fit for a king.
I will taste the reds and yellows of the flowers
and bathe in the blues and greens of the sky and grass.
At the end of the day in the darkest hours,
my soul will light the way to rest in the satisfaction
of knowing I did not waste a morsel.
Then in my last day on this earth
I will leave filled with joy to a better place knowing
that I have served my purpose and completed my mission.
I will leave behind my energy that will disperse
into every rock and tree and molecule.
I will not wither to the ground as failure and serve as a pathway.
I will rise with the sun to bring joy forever
to those who will dream after me.
I am important. I am successful. I am God's creation.
I am alive!

In this day... taken from "The Flight of a Lifetime!"
a book by Robert C. Perks.....Copyright 1997
Bob Perks.........Bob@bobperks.com
All stories are copyrighted.
You are free to forward this message to anyone
as long as the entire message is sent.
No portion of this message maybe copied.

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

Beauty & Love

"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked.
When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved
the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped.
The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.

The baby had been born without ears.
Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect.
It was only his appearance that was marred.
When he rushed home from school one day
and flung himself into his mother's arms,
she sighed, knowing that his life was
to be a succession of heartbreaks.

He blurted out the tragedy.
"A boy, a big boy. . . called me a freak."
He grew up, handsome for his misfortune.
A favorite with his fellow students,
he might have been class president, but for that.
He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.

"But you might mingle with other young people,"
his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
The boy's father had a session with the family physician.
Could nothing be done?

"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears,
if they could be procured" the doctor decided.
Whereupon the search began for a person
who would make such a sacrifice for a young man.

Two years went by.
Then, "You are going to the hospital, son.
Mother and I have someone
who will donate the ears you need.
But it's a secret" said the father.

The operation was a brilliant success,
and a new person emerged.
His talents blossomed into genius,
and school and college became a series of triumphs.
Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.

"But I must know!" He urged his father.
"Who gave so much for me?
I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father,
"but the agreement was that you are not to know . . .
not yet."

The years kept their profound secret,
but the day did come. . . one of the darkest days
that ever pass through a son.
He stood with his father over his mother's casket.

Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand
and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal. . .
that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,"
he whispered gently, "
and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they"?

Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance,
but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that
can be seen, but what that cannot be seen.
Real love lies not in what is done and known,
but in what that is done but not known.

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

I thought myself to be doing everything as best
as I could, and nothing seemed to be going well. I
never doubted the existence of God; perhaps even worse
I doubted that my pleas would be heard.
I started crying and thought to myself, "If there are
no answers, and God chooses to remain silent when we
beg for understanding, what a cruel and pointless thing
life is." I prayed," If You hear me God, please do not
remain silent."
It was raining outside. I went out in my clothes with
nothing to cover me and sat on my porch as the rain
soaked through my clothes. I noticed that next to me
there was a plant that I had given my mother after a
difficult period in her life. The plant had been dying
slowly for weeks. It was a beautiful brilliant mini
rosebush when I brought it home. The leaves and the
blossoms had fallen off and it had been browning for weeks.
But now after the first storm of the season, the
browning plant was growing green again and tiny
rosebuds were blooming. I realized, like the rose,
faith needs nourishment. If God did not forget the
dying rose, surely I wouldn't be forgotten.
At that moment a burst of rain came from the clouds and
the streets filled with pouring rain.

My Oath To You

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.
When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried.....I will give you hope.
When you are confused.....I will help you cope.
And when you are lost.....And can't see the light, I shall be your
beacon.....Shining ever so bright!
This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?.....Because you're my friend.

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

To everything there is a season
and a time to every purpose under the Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her by crying all night long.
When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.
You thanked her by running away when she called.
When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.
You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.
When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons
You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.
When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.
When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"
When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by throwing it through the next door neighbor's window.
When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.
When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.
When you were 10 years old she drove you all day,
from soccer to gymnastic to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her by jumping out of the car
and never looking back.
When you were 11 years old,
she took you and your friends to the movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.
When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.
When you were 13, she suggested a haircut.
You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.
When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.
When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.
You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.
When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.
You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.
When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her by being on the phone all night.
When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.
When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition,
drove you to campus carried your bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye
outside the dorm so you wouldn't be
embarrassed in front of your friends.
When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business."
When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."
When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.
When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.
When you were 24, she met your fiancé and asked about your plans for the future.
You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!"
When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding,
and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you.
You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.
When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby.
You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now."
When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday.
You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."
When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.
You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died.
And everything you never did came crashing down
like thunder on your heart.

If she's still around,
never forget to love her more than ever.....
and if she's not,
remember unconditional love and pass it on....

Please everyone....if you have the chance....
take it....you only have it once

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 in the Lord everyday.
Please send this Blessing to those you care about. It may be
Just what they need to hear, at just the right time

Philippians 2:10-11 (niv)

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in Heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the Glory of God the Father

Sometimes the Lord calms the storms in our lives.
Sometimes He lets the storms rage,
and He calms His Child instead.

Lean against a tree; dream your world of dreams.
Work hard at what you like to do; try to overcome all obstacles.
Laugh at your mistakes; praise yourself for learning from them.
Pick some flowers; appreciate the beauty of nature.
Say hello to strangers; enjoy the people you know.
Don't be afraid to show your emotions, laughing
And crying make you feel better.
Love your friends and family with your entire being,
They are the most important part of your life.
Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day.
Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams.
Always remember life is better than it seems.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3

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

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:10

I Asked God

I asked God to send me His friends...
He sent you.
I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, "No. It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up."
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, "No. His spirit is whole,
his body is only temporary."
I asked God to grant me patience. God said,
"No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is earned."
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, "No. I give you Blessings.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said,
"No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to Me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, "No. You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful."
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, "No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things."
I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said....Ahhhh, finally! ! ! you have the idea."

So I guess a bit of suffering and enduring is good,
and then there is the asking of God,
but He is not at our service....
we are at His service.
In all things we have to do our part.
GOD does the impossible,
but what we can do, He won't do.

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

Stronger Tomorrow

You can hide things about yourself from just about
anyone, but you can't really hide them from
yourself. You know what you're up to, and that's
important. Because the person you are to become
tomorrow is always watching the person you are today.

How can you live this day so that your future self
will find strength and inspiration? What can you
do that will make the person you'll be tomorrow
proud to have been the person you are today?

You know who you are right now, you know what
you're doing, what your motivations are, what kind
of attitude you maintain. You know and control the
real you. Let the person you are today push you
forward, positively into the future. Soon you'll
look back on today, and what you see can either
give you strength or bring you regret. Choose your
actions so that what you do today will truly make
you stronger tomorrow.

All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face

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

God's Will Is No Secret

If only I knew the exact will of God for my life, I'd do it.
Ever said that? Or felt it? Following God's lead -
what is commonly called "discovering God's will"
often is written off as virtually impossible.
It's not as difficult as we make it.

God's will comes in three ways:

1- God's ultimate will is to know and love God,
to become more like Christ,
to serve with your gifts and abilities,
and to tell others about Christ.

2- God's moral will has to do with
how you should think and believe,
what you should value and honor
and from that, how you should live.
People often skip right past this in trying to figure
out what God wants you to do in a given situation,
looking for signs -
when God's moral will is already speaking
to what you should or should not do.
Instead of giving you a detailed road map,
He gives you something more along the lines of a compass.

3- God's specific will, never will contradict God's moral will
for your life, so if those two are in conflict, you have
misread God's specific will.
God doesn't want this to be a guessing game.
He wants to guide you and
have you recognize His leadership.

The Lord says to His people,...
(you) will be led by one who loves (you) (Is. 49:8).
You can be released from the fear that God's will is a
deep, dark mystery that you may never be able understand.

How to hear a word from God:

1- God speaks through His written Word.
The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration
from God and is useful to teach us what is true
and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
It straightens us out and helps us do what is right.
It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point
(2 Tim. 3:16-17).

2- God speaks through prayer.
Prayer is not simply talking at God:
it is a conversation with God.
He tends to speak through a still small voice
that you can sense in your spirit.
Prayer focuses your thoughts on God
and helps you come in tune with all that He is
and all that He might want to say to you.
I pray...and wait for what He'll say and do (Ps. 130:6).

What do you do when you are trying to
discern God's will for your life,
and nothing seems to come to you
through the Bible or through prayer?

In indirect ways God can make His will known:

1- Circumstances. God can work through circumstances,
open and close doors, create opportunities,
then place it all in your path in order to direct
your steps or confirm a particular direction.
Praying a prayer like, God, please, as best I
know, this is the path I am to take.
If it's not, close the door, or send me a red flag
that will help me know that I'm off course,
is quite different than setting up some kind of
experiment or test where He is supposed to jump
up in a box and perform through circumstances.
Like, God, if you want me to do this, have the
phone ring...NOW!
Make sure that circumstances are not just coincidence.

2- Common sense. Run through a mental checklist
of pros and cons and strengths and weaknesses,
and see what comes out on top.
God gave us common sense - to use.
Caution: Your reasoning is not always objective
and is limited in how far it can direct you in regard
to God's perfect will for your life.

3- Counsel. Advice from godly people is
seldom sought - but highly regarded in the Bible.
The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice (Prov. 12:15).
Others can be objective and can share wisdom
from their own experiences and knowledge.

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