bestofwords12.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: "The Old Rugged Cross" by The Statler Brothers

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.

I Will Be Here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear,
I will be here.

If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand and have no fear,
'Cause I will be here.

I will be here when you feel like being quiet;
When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.
And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;
Through the winning, losing, and trying, we'll be together.
'Cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear,
I will be here.

As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetimes are made for years,
So I will be here.

I will be here, and you can cry on my shoulder;
When the mirror tells us we're older, I will hold you.
And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty,
And tell you all the things you are to me. I will be here.

I will be true to the promise I have made,
To you and to the One who gave you to me.

by Steven Curtis Chapman

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

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

Promise Yourself

Promise yourself that you'll always
remember what a special person you are.
Promise yourself that you'll hold on to your hopes
and reach out for your stars.
Promise yourself that you'll live with happiness
over the years and over the miles.
Promise yourself that you'll "remember when....."
And you'll always "look forward to......"
Promise yourself that you'll do the things you
have always wanted to do.
Promise yourself that you'll cherish your dreams
as treasures you have kept.
Promise yourself that you'll enjoy life day by day
and step by step.
Promise yourself a life of love and joy
and all your dreams come true.

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

Moving Mountains

Lord, a mountain's just before me
And I can't see my way through,
It's too steep to scale or climb it,
Tell me, Lord, what should I do?
I'm too weak to face that mountain,
I'm too scared to even try,
I can't hope to cross that mountain,
It's too wide, Lord, it's too high.

"Child, don't focus on the mountain, you will just become dismayed,
If you speak about the mountain you'll grow even more afraid;
In your heart know that I'm able, speak those things you want to be,
With your mouth, command the mountain: 'Be thou cast into the sea.'

"Speak My power, not your problems ~ you're the head and not the tail,
Without doubt, confess My favors ~ say you're strong when you feel frail.
Words are either curse or blessing ~ say you're fine when you are not,
With your lips speak into being what you want, not what you've got!

"For each word you speak contains the pow'r of either life or death,
Speak My Word and you'll discover that My Spirit gives it breath.
Every idle word that's spoken will be judged one day, and then
Your own words will justify you, or your words will you condemn!

"Tell the mountain: 'Be removed!' and do not doubt it in your heart,
Speak the words with faith and trust, My child ~ the mountain will depart!
You'll confess into existence things that aren't as though they be,
And your words will justify you, if you keep your eyes on Me!

Connie Hinnen Cook

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

"God made you to love Him, not to understand Him."
Voltaire

"Friends forever," she said.
"Friends forever," he said.
Eight years old and they made the vow to remain friends forever.

"I need some room," she said.
"I'll back away," he said.
Ten years old and they made the vow to give each other space.

"Does Tommy like me?" she asked.
Twelve years old and he made the vow to find out if Tommy liked her.

"He doesn't love me anymore," she said.
"He doesn't deserve you," he said.
Fourteen years old and he made the vow to love her forever.

"Nobody loves me," she said.
"I know someone who does," he said.
Sixteen years old and he made the vow to love her forever.

"I'm getting married," she said.
"I'll be there," he said.
Eighteen years old and he made the vow to forever hold his peace.

"I got divorced yesterday," she said.
"I'm here for you," he said.
Twenty years old and he made the vow to be there for her forever.

"Why doesn't anyone love me?" she asked.
"I have always loved you," he said.
Twenty-two years old and he made the vow to keep on loving her.

"I could never love you," she said.
"I could never stop," he said.
Twenty-four years old and he made the vow to never love again.

"I can never see you again," she said.
"I can never live again," he said.
Twenty-six years old and he made the vow to never live again.

"I'm sorry," she said.
Twenty-eight years old and he made the vow as he lay in an open casket.

Somewhere there is someone who dreams of your smile
Someone who finds your presence worthwhile
So when you are lonely remember this
That there is someone, somewhere, thinking of you

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

Our hope is based on a promise. God promised He would be "with us," not as an unseen ethereal force, but in the form of a person with a name: Jesus.

Prayer.....
Holy God and Loving Father, I consciously place my fears, worries, anxieties, and burdens in Your hands. I know that I have so little power to change the outcome of these events and I trust that You will work what is pleasing to You, and best for me, out of these situations. Forgive me for my anxious thoughts and for letting my own worry become an idol that robs You of my full trust. Strengthen and empower me to trust You more by the power and presence of Your Spirit.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Who has not marked even here the glory of God as seen in the great sunset?
Rivers of glory wind through meadows of gold.
Lakes of glory lie embedded in the evening sky.
Seas of glory lap eternal shores with their shimmering waves.
Mountains of glory rear themselves to the Heavens with cloud-capped summits tipped with the splendor of the dying day.
Earth too is flooded with the glory.
It falls in the dim aisles of great forests and illumines them with its splendor.
It dances among the wind tossed leaves.
It splotches the trunks of giant trees.
It bathes in light the upturned faces of those who
watch and worship as the climaxing splendor of earth, sea, and sky turns the heart to God Our Father who is Himself the glory of all creation and who deigns to give us, in the lavish, golden glory of the sunset the faint forth shadowing of the glory of the Father's House.
But if the earthy glory is such, what must be the glory of the Heavenly city?

People need people and friends need friends,
and we all need love, for a full life depends not on vast riches or great acclaim, not on success or on worldly fame, but just in knowing that someone cares and holds us close
in their thoughts and prayers.
For only the knowledge that we're understood
makes everyday living feel wonderfully good.
We rob ourselves of life's greatest need, and fail to heed
the outstretched hand reaching to find a kindred spirit
whose heart and mind are lonely and longing to somehow share
our joys and sorrows and to make us aware that life's completeness and richness depends
on the things we share with our loved ones and friends.

If we meet and you forget me, you have lost nothing.
But if you meet Jesus and forget Him, you have lost everything.

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.

Conversation With God

I asked God, "Why do you give me so many tribulations my Lord?" And He answered, "A diamond must have friction, to achieve perfection, a butterfly must be forced to break her cocoon to be able to fly and use her wings later on,
If I give you only laughter, your face will hurt from
laughing all the time, and your eyes will go dry, they will not know how to cry.
If I give you pain all the time, your heart will dry like a
forgotten rose, and break with time,
So because you need exercise in all parts I give you both,
laugh with abandon when you have joy, cry with understanding when you are in pain, but know you must have a balance in both.
There is no night without day, no moon without a sun.
Everything comes and goes like the ocean waves.
So learn to love the same when you are in happiness, or when you grieve.
Only then, you will learn to be a true human being."

I said Thank You God, Good night! Till tomorrow again."

Wonderfully Special

The Bible says that God is the Potter and I am the clay and I picture myself as a lump of dry clay. The Potter gently picks me up with His warm, strong hands. He adds drops of water, to make me flexible and easier to work with. Then, after I am of the correct texture, the Potter lifts me higher... higher... and then PLOP! He throws me down hard to remove all of my air bubbles and flaws. Next He puts me on the wheel and I turn and turn. He shapes me exactly as He wants me, pushing and molding me. Sometimes the pushing hurts, but I know that when He is finished, I will be a beautiful creation. All of this pain, this turning in circles, will be worth it! As the Potter pulls and stretches, I start to take on the shape He wants me to be. And when the Potter has me as He wants me, He places me in the kiln to be fired... "It's hot in here!"

Now my time in the kiln is done. "Hurry Potter, take me out of here!" But no, He knows if I cool too fast I'll crack. He knows what He is doing! Now it's time... the Potter reaches into the kiln and gently lifts me out. I'm solid, strong and stable. My walls are perfect and I have no flaws. The Potter uses a glaze to make me beautiful both inside and out. All that I have been through -- being thrown onto the table, the monotony of going round and round on the wheel, the force of His hands, the heat in the kiln -- has been worth it! The Potter has made something wonderfully special!

The Elders tell us of the other dimension, the Spirit World. Our spirit in our bodies does not die, it only looks that way to our eyes and our brains. Some of our ceremonies allow us to see into the Spirit World. Death is only part of a process of life. It shows the transition into the Spirit World. The Elders tell us this is a joyful life journey.

My Creator, help me to understand both the seen world and the unseen world.

The marvelous richness of human experience
would lose something of rewarding joy,
If there were no limitations to overcome.
The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful
if there were no dark valleys to traverse.

Helen Keller

There are only two ways to live your life;
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is.

May we never let the things we can't have,
or don't have, or shouldn't have,
spoil our enjoyment of the things
we do have and can have.
As we value our happiness let us not forget it,
for one of the greatest lessons in life
is learning to be happy without the things
we cannot or should not have.

Take time to smell the flowers,
And hear the birds sweet song;
Take time to watch a rippling stream,
And the coming of the dawn.
Take time to watch the bluebird
Flash his colors on the wing;
Take time to hear the crickets
In the evening as they sing.
Take time to see the rainbow
Stretch across the sky;
Take time to say I Love You
Before another day goes by.
Take time to watch the sunset
At the closing of the day,
And then take time to thank the Lord
As you kneel and pray.

Love is Like an Ocean

How can you explain a hurt,
That runs so far and deep inside?
You can laugh and smile,
But the crying doesn't subside?
To me, it's like the ocean,
Which seems so blue and clear.
But when you go down deep,
It's full of darkness and fear.
It seems like it goes on forever,
That the happiness would never end.
But then you reach the shore of reality,
That sometimes isn't a friend.
But after every ocean, there's a lake.
Which eventually runs into a stream.
So, I pray for you the pain will lessen,
And maybe soon it won't be so extreme.

Look around you, do you see a tree?
This is surely a gift of Thee.
Now look and see the flowers,
His labor is everlasting, consisting of many hours.
See the rain and hear the wind?
Ever wonder when His day begins?
There is so much beauty given to you and me,
So stop and think when you look around; think of Thee.
The smile and laugh of a small child, he can be
with you and make life worth while.
See the animals and hear the birds sing? Who else
would have the power to put feathers on a bird's wing?
Rejoice and be happy, as we have the change of seasons,
Without a God, what purpose would we have, What would be our reason?
It's so very easy to say, "He doesn't exist." But through
your eyes, you know this is a myth.
For surely you can see... "GOD DOES EXIST."

When was the last time you didn't request things from God and
simply thanked and praised Him? Why not use today as a day of
thanks and praise? Don't ask for anything, just praise and thank
the Father! Praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do! Thank Him for blessing you, saving you, and bringing you into His glory!
Let today be a day of thanks and praise.

Prayer:
You are worthy, Dear Father, of every word of praise my
imagination can find and every word of thanks my tongue can
pronounce. You are glorious, majestic, holy, mighty, and awesome.
You are patient, forgiving, sacrificial, loving, and tender. You
are more than I can imagine and closer than my very breath. Your greatness exhausts my vocabulary and Your generosity overwhelms my heart.
Please be glorified in my every thought, deed, and word.
In Jesus' name I praise You.
Amen.

This is our faith, our hope, our grace. That the Son of God has breathed us life! And as we have stood, and continue to stand, before His holiness, His gaze piercing our souls, revealing its nakedness while clothing us with His righteousness. This is our
glory!

Cause and Effect: an important concept in all of life. For every
cause there is a following effect: sometimes good and sometimes bad, but one always follows the other. Most things we do have some type of effect on someone else. We are not a total island unto ourselves.

In Eph. 8 & 9 (nlt), Paul has this to say: "God saved you by His
special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this, it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." You may do some wonderful work around your church, but that will not earn your salvation. Good works are the result of faith, not the way you achieve faith. Verse 8 is an ideal description of "Grace."

Jesus Christ died for us -- that's the cause. The effect depends on
what we do about that cause, so it can have a good or bad result.
It's one or the other, there is no in between. Let the cause of
Christ's death achieve the good result of your forgiveness...today.

Good Health Blessing

God fills our cup of life each day with gifts that make us strong,
He hears the prayers within our hearts and always rights each wrong.
God fills our cup of life each day and brings us to His door
To shine His gift of perfect health and fill our cups once more.
May the cup of God's blessing and His presence too
Bring the gift of good health to shine on you.

Patricia Ann Emme

Psa 18:1-3 nlt
I love You, LORD; You are my strength. The LORD
is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, for He saves me from my enemies.

Prayer: LORD, may You always be the foundation of my life, the source of my strength, the means of protection from that which would harm me, and the object of the thoughts and meditations of my heart. You are a stronghold and safe haven in times of trouble, and I trust You to maintain a strong hold on me! I love You, and You are indeed worthy to be praised!
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Don't say you're not important, It simply isn't true,
The fact that you were born, is proof, God has a plan for you.
The path may seem unclear right now, but one day you
will see, that all that came before, was truly meant to be.
God wrote the book that is your life, that's all you need to know.
Each day that you are living, was written long ago.
God only writes best sellers,
So be proud of who you are, Your character is important,
In this book you are the "Star."
Enjoy the novel as it reads. It will stand throughout the ages.
Savor each chapter as you go, taking time to turn the pages.

God's Bouquet

You must bloom where you are planted in the garden we call life,
And bring some special beauty to each corner where there's strife.
Perhaps you're but a dandelion, wishing you were a rose,
Yet in this place of growing things, you're the one God chose.
It's up to you to finish what the Good Lord has begun,
By growing just the way you should and face each day's new rising sun.
There's room for you, if you choose, to be in a glorious array,
Of beauty from God's garden, that He'll add to His bouquet.

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

Because He was tempted in all points as we, I have an advocate.
Because He was despised and rejected, I am loved.
Because His hands were pierced for me, I place my hands in His.
Because He wore a crown of thorns, I may wear a crown of righteousness.
Because He drank the bitter cup, I may taste Heaven's joy.
Because the darkness covered Him, I can see the Way.
Because He was falsely tried, I can know the Truth.
Because He died in my place, I can have Life.
Because He suffered for my sin, I can be Forgiven.
Because He came forth from the tomb, I have Immortality.

Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life. Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

This is from a 45-year old woman named Joy in Texas....

She writes......
Do's and Don'ts for dealing with a person with Arthritis

Don't assume because I look well that I feel well.
Many days I look great, but feel terrible.
Don't tell me you know how I feel.
No one knows how anyone else feels.
Two people with the same disease may feel totally different.
We all have varying thresholds of pain, and pain cannot be measured.
Don't tell me about your great-aunt Gertrude and her arthritis,
and how well she managed in spite of it. I am not your Aunt Gertrude, and I am doing my best.
Don't tell me "Well it could be worse".
Yes I know it could be, but I don't need to be reminded.
Don't decide what I am capable of doing. Arthritis doesn't affect the brain.
Allow me to decide what activities I can participate in.
There may be times I might make the wrong decision, and if I do, I'll know it soon enough.
Don't be upset that you cannot ease my pain.
It won't do any good for both of us to be miserable.
Don't ask me how I feel unless you really want to know.
You may hear a lot more that you are prepared to listen to.
Don't assume because I did a certain activity yesterday that
I can do it again today. Arthritis is ever changing.
Don't tell me about the latest fad "cure" .
I want to be cured more than anything and if there is a
legitimate cure out there, my doctor will let me know.
Do learn everything you can about this disease. The more you know,
the better equipped you will be to know what to expect.
Do realize that I am angry and frustrated with the disease, not with you.
Do let me know when you are available to help me when I do ask. I'll be grateful.
Do offer me lots of hugs and encouragement.
Do understand why I cancel plans at the last minute.
I never know from one day to the next how I am going to feel.
Arthritis is like that.
Do continue to invite me to all the activities.
Just because I am not able to ride along with the gang does
not mean that I can't meet you for the picnic at the end of the trail. Please let me decide!

This was really an eye opener to me.
I get so frustrated at people who judge me by my looks and not
by what I feel like. This disease is a really awful thing that no one should have to go through especially alone and scared.

Carry Me Through

Carry me through today, Lord,
With Your gentle wings from above.
Carry me through today, Lord.
Let me feel Your Love.
I shall not worry about tomorrow.
Yesterday is gone.
Just carry me through today, Lord
That's where I belong.
Through all my trials and troubles,
I know that You are there.
Sometimes it's hard to see You
Through each tear and care.
Carry me through today, Lord,
Don't let me slip away.
Tomorrow may be taken from me,
So carry me through today.

Margaret Wildflower

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing; while others judge us by what we have already done.

Life is no simple, straight expressway, but a maze through which
we must seek the right way--sometimes lonely and lost,
confused and conned by detours, but the Lord is interested in us
personally and He will direct the details of our lives.

The first thing to do is to trust. Literally the word trust means
to lean upon. It signifies that one is conscious of his weakness and want of knowledge and so leans upon the Lord for wisdom and strength.

The second thing to do is to pray. Talk to God. He's not too busy, He never tires of hearing from His children. As a matter of fact, He's waiting to rescue someone right now and get them on the right track, if they will only pray.

The third thing to do is to wait. To know God's way is the greatest knowledge, to find His way is the greatest discovery and to walk in His way is the greatest accomplishment, but it is only by waiting that His way is found. Although He seems to linger long,
He never comes too late."

Have You Lost Your Hearing?

Once there was a man who dared God to speak.
"Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God.
And I will follow.
Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God.
And I will fight.
Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God,
And I will listen."
And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea,
and waited for God to speak.
And God heard the man, so God answered.
He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church.
He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin.
He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.
And God waited for the man to respond.
And He waited...
And He waited...
And waited.
But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts;
bricks and not lives, seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing.
Finally he looked to God and asked, "Have you lost your power?"
And God looked at him and said, "Have you lost your hearing?"

(by Max Lucado in "A Gentle Thunder")

Often you've wondered why,
Tears come into your eyes,
And burdens seem to be
Much more than you can stand.
But God is standing near,
He see your falling tears.
Tears are a language, God understands.

When grief has left you low,
It causes tears to fall,
For things may not turn out
The way that you have planned.
But God won't forsake you now,
His promises are true.
Tears are a language, God understands.

God sees the tears,
Of a brokenhearted soul,
He sees the tears,
And hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with men,
And takes them by the hand.
Tears are a language, God understands.

Trouble does its best work when it drives us to God. The discovery that other people cannot or will not help us is not a disaster if, at the same time, it shows us that God both can and will help. That we are abandoned by others is not the last straw so much as the first step to the realization that God is our help and salvation. In the empty places in my life, devastated by broken promises and vacated by faithless companions,

Come, Holy Spirit, as Companion and Comforter. I will use my times of trouble to receive the help that only you can give.

With so much emphasis on what is forgotten in our later years, God is giving us an incentive to remember Him in all spheres of our lives, not just the bad times. Remember to remember God, it is a choice that brings great dividends.

Father Sky is gray as the new light appears
And the laughter of the birds is still
The clouds shed their tears and the land drinks of this Heavenly dew
Puddles replace the dust, irresistible temptations for little feet
Turning my face to the sky and feeling the gentleness of the mist
Washing away my cares, filling my heart with happiness
Lifting my spirits like the quenching of the crops
Raising my arms I turn to the four winds
And give thanks for this gentle…Summer Rain.

Let neither cold, hunger, nor pain, nor the fear of them, neither the bristling teeth of danger nor the very jaws of death itself, prevent you from doing a good deed.

May You Always Feel Loved

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours everyday of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched and those who have touched yours, are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter that is more important than its form.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another's judgments of your accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.

You sent me a brother or sister to pray
When trouble overtook me as I journeyed life's way
You sent me encouragement to keep pressing on
Through the darkness of night to look forward to dawn.
Then you sent me to someone who was deep in despair
So I could give what was given and share your love and your care.

Count Them One By One

Perhaps we have not counted all our blessings one by one;
Perhaps we have not bothered to remember whence they come;
And maybe we have taken just for granted all the things
That the Good Lord has created and the gifts that nature brings.
The autumn hills in glory robed, a golden field of grain,
A sunset's dazzling splendor or the Milky Way's great plain,
The starry sky's sublimity, the ocean's mighty power,
The wonder of creation in the petal of a flower.
And so if we have failed to show by work act or deed
That we are thankful unto Him who fills our daily need,
May this day show we're grateful when we add up all the sum
Of blessings we remember, as we count them one by one.

2 Tim. 4:8 (nlt): And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His glorious return.

Through Your Eyes

It is through your eyes you see the world.
I saw the gentle rain, you saw the storm.
I heard a cry in the dark, and you only heard a noise.
I saw the mountains in all their glory, you saw the miles you had to travel along the way.
I saw the snow as it gently fell upon the ground, you only saw the cold.
I see the sun peeking over the hills, you complained about the brightness.
I saw the children playing being carefree and happy, you heard the confusion.
I watch the leaves change and fall to the ground. you could only see the work that was ahead.
I saw a way to be happy with what I had, you looked at me as deprived and you wanted more.
I enjoyed a leisure walk in the sun, you were in a hurry and could not enjoy this.
Ah, yes it is through your eyes that you see the world!

by MPulsipher

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1Peter 4:8)

A moth, fluttering and flying,
Dazzled by the light of a candle
Hits the flame and dies
And I, drawn to the light of Christ
Drawn to the light of love
Throw myself into the flame
And die, yes die to self
Then from the flame of Christ
I rise to live a new life
A life living in the Light of Christ.

By D. J. Robinson

When I am lonely, I praise Him and He is here
When I am hurt, I praise Him and He soothes my soul
When I am sad, I praise Him and He comforts me
When I am sick, I praise Him and He heals me
When I have no funds, I praise Him and He provides my need
When I am weak, I praise Him and He gives me strength
When I am anxious, I praise Him and He gives me peace
When I am down, I praise Him and He lifts me up
When I have a heavy burden, I praise Him and He adorns me with His Garment of Praise.
There is a lot of power in praising and worshiping God.

I walk by faith
Amid a world
That doesn't appear as it really is.
I go
Here and there
Following an inner Voice of guiding
That tells me to ignore
What seem as obstacles
Or rewards
Outside.
And though
At times
My flesh may tremble
And question
My spirit
By Heaven's Grace
Ever clings to the strength that formed me
And saved me
That I may believe
And advance
Toward deeper and fuller peace abounding
And a Place
That from my heart I see
As Heaven.

Ray McAllister (24 March 2001)

Come, Lord Jesus, and abide in my heart. 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.

Our One Choice

All men and women are born, live suffer and die;
What distinguishes us one from another is our dreams,
Whether they be dreams about worldly or unworldly things,
and what we do to make them come about.
We do not choose to be born.
We do not choose our parents.
We do not choose our historical epoch, or the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing.
We do not, most of us, choose to die;
nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death.
But within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live.
If we truly realized how precious the "Gift" of life is,
we would not waste a moment trying to improve it.
If we really understood how precious we are to the
"Gift" of life we would not waste time trying to fix ourselves.
It's not about what we look like or what we have.
It's about taking what we have and doing as much as we
can with it.
It's about learning and growing.
When we are willing to learn what we don't know and use our experiences, our perfection will begin to show.

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

The Pathway of Pain

If my days were untroubled and my heart always light,
would I seek that fair land where there is no night?
If I never grew weary with the weight of my load,
would I search for God's peace at the end of the road?
If I never knew sickness and never felt pain,
would I search for a hand to help and sustain?
If I walked without sorrow and lived without loss,
would my soul seek solace at the foot of the cross?
If all I desired was mine day by day,
would I kneel before God and earnestly pray?
If God sent no winter to freeze me with fear,
would I yearn for the warmth of spring every year?
I ask myself these things and the answer is plain,
if my life were pleasure and I never knew pain
I'd seek God less often and need Him much less,
for God is sought more often in times of distress.
And no one knows God or sees Him as plain
as those who have met Him on the "Pathway of Pain."

The Ant And The Grasshopper

A mother of a 9 year old boy, Mark, received a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son's school.
"Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son's third grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you should know about it immediately."
Mothers seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to a phone call. "What now?" the mother wondered.

The teacher continued, "I have been teaching for many years and nothing like this has happened until now. This morning I was teaching a lesson on creative writing. And as I always do, I tell the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant works hard all summer and stores up plenty of food. But the grasshopper plays all summer and does no work.
Then winter comes. The grasshopper begins to starve because he has no food. So he hops to the ant's house and begins to beg. "Please Mr. Ant, you have much food please let me eat, too."
Now boys and girls your job is to write the ending to the story.

Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?"
"Well, yes, Mark, if you like, you may draw a picture. But first you must write the ending to the story."
The papers came in. As in all the years past, most of the students said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant and the grasshopper lived.
As always, a few children said, 'The ant said, "No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just enough food for myself." So the ant lived and the grasshopper died.
But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child, ever. He wrote,
"So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper; the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died."
And the picture?
At the bottom of the page, Mark had drawn three crosses. "He gave everything to us so that we might live; but Jesus died."

Betty King

The Strength Of A Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you.
The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good his buddies are with their kids.
The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home.
The strength of a man isn't in how hard he Hits.
It's in how tender he touches.
The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart...that lies within his chest.
The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be true to one woman.
The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

Matt. 11:28 (nlt), Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

(Psa 16:8-11) I have set the LORD always before me: because He
is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is
glad, and my glory rejoices, my flesh also shall rest in hope. For
You will not leave my soul in hell; neither will You suffer Your
Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Prayer: LORD, You have promised that as I make You and Your way of living my first priority, You will direct me in the best paths and decisions for my life. I will perceive and understand Your direction and I will not fall into error. Thank You for this assurance and for the joy that comes with trust in Your absolute and unfailing love.
Help me to keep You always as the first priority of my life.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have you ever felt like you were living in a parenthesis?
You feel locked in a measurement of time and, until God chooses to remove the ends of the parenthesis, you have to live in that vacuum.
Then you try to move the parenthesis, and it just keeps stretching out?
A time of trial and struggle can be brief or seemingly endless.
You can't go back and you can't jump ahead...
Until God kicks the ends out of your parenthesis, you have to handle today.
This doesn't mean you ignore or negate God's promises and instructions.
But you may have to settle for not being sure you understand what's going on, at least at the moment.
One thing that helps is not to deny you're in the process.
If you hurt, admit it.
When you're down and out, lift up your head and shout...I'm down and out!
That's the first step in handling your parenthesis.
The next step is to realize that whatever the problem is, it won't last forever.
One of my favorite scripture verses is, "And it came to pass..."
Just think, all this could have come to stay!

Pain has a "Passing Through" stage

Since every parenthesis has come to pass, you have to go through a "passing through" stage.
It's okay to admit you're suffering and hurting, and you might even be angry with God.
But then you go on to make the most of this particular time frame.
As the passage from James reminds us, it's a chance to grow.
So give it all you've got and see what you can learn from this pain.
All the promises of God are there, and they're real, and they're true.
But right now you're bleeding, you're raw and hurting, and you have to hang on to those promises even if they don't seem to work for you at the moment.
As you go through the pain, it will lessen.
The pain will flatten out and dilute itself, and then you can look back and realize how far you've come.
You can start living with the parenthesis behind you!

There may be occasional dips back into the pits, but you know you are getting out of that parenthetical period.

Every time you feel closed in, or like you are smothering in a tight little box with the lid nailed down, imagine you are stepping over that horrid little parenthesis.
You are going to get over this, and when you do climb over it and then look back, you will realize you've reached new gains and new values. You have completed a segment of growth as a person.

If any of God's prophets knew what it was like to go through a parenthesis, it had to be Jeremiah. In fact, you could say his entire life was one parenthesis after the other. And yet God told him,
"For I know the plans I have for you... they are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
(Jer. 29:11, AB)

Hope makes all the difference!

Resurrection

The gentle rain of springtime thaws winter's frozen ground
The refreshing rain arouses life to come forth without a sound.
The tulip and the daffodil, splendor veiled beneath the sod,
Await the promise of awakening to behold the face of God.
A hidden clock within the bulb awaits the perfect cue
To shout with fragrant blossoms "I am alive and new!"
Oh, but someone placed an ugly stone above the place to rise!
Then I saw that it had been removed by the gardener kind and wise.
In my heart I feel the tug like spring flowers to bloom again
I long to be fresh and pure and cleansed from every sin
I reach up toward My Creator this Resurrection Day
Forgiven, I will bloom again for the stone is rolled away!

By Pamela R. Blaine

Your Reward

No act of kindness, respect or consideration ever goes
unrewarded. Though others may not ever notice most of
the kind and considerate things you do, though your
respect may not be returned, still you have your reward.
Give quietly to life and you will make it better. Your
small and seemingly insignificant acts may not seem like much.
Yet they add together to make your world a more positive place.

Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Your kind words and deeds may not be appreciated when
they are offered. Nonetheless, they will have their impact.
Keep them up. The less they are appreciated,
the more they are needed. Take heart. You are making a
positive difference. You are making the world in which
you live a better place.

It takes real, deep and genuine strength to be kind. It takes confidence to be respectful and considerate. Spite, anger and thoughtlessness are evidence of weakness, and they serve as a constant drain on those who live with them.
Each moment you live with kindness, respect and
consideration you grow stronger and your world grows
more positive. What better reward could there possibly be?

Eccles. 11:6, Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let
not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

To have faith is to be sure of the things
we hope for; to be certain of the things we cannot see.
Where would we be without faith? Without hope, how could we live?
If we do not believe in ourselves and in the power of He who has given us life by giving up His Own.
How could we survive in a world so full of turmoil and unrest?

Faith is the very essence of our existence on this earth.
Faith in God
Faith in His Word
Faith in His Love for mankind.

Those who are lost in despair need look at hope.
Hope in the Love that He gives to make us strong.

Those who lack trust in His Word need listen to the beating of their own heart.
And know that His Love will protect.

One must strive to look into His own weaknesses.
For in weakness we are made strong.

Strong in Christ's Love
Strong in Trust
and Strong in Faith.

And before you are
Faith
Hope
and Love
And the Greatest of these is Love.
1 Cor 13

God be in my head and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes and in my looking.
God be in my mouth and in my speaking.
God be in my heart and in my thinking.

God is good, God is great, and I thank Him! My "Mission" is to go on with what I am doing in His name. So that is what I will do.

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