bestofwords17.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: "Lay Your Burden Down" by Chuck Girard

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.

Find joy in these selected verses from the wonderful Psalms:

"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening."

May a peaceful and quiet hammock in the stars rock your spirit to sleep as angels watch over you tonight. May you be healed, attuned and aligned for the higher energies of what is to come.
May the angels Bless your sleep and give you the feeling of a monarch butterfly that has emerged from its cocoon into the sunshine to stretch its wings, to fly, to explore, to feel, to experience, to discover, to soar, to know, to be free, to be supported in flight by the currents of light and life, to dance without limit.
May the angels wrap you in their warm healing waters and love, to bring your sleep refreshment, energy, joy, laughter, happiness, peace, to feel recharged and enlivened.
May they wrap their wings around you and bring you direction, guidance, and clarity.
May they show you the way through wide open new doors of light. May they lead you into celebration of your spirit and who you are. May they lead you through the new door
of light into new experiences and bliss - euphoria - excitement of the soul.
May your dreams bring revelations and hope, faith, love and joy.

As the butterfly, may you fly free into the new. May you receive the appreciation for the excellence that you are - a special being of love and of light. The angels know.
God knows.

Never believe you are alone, for you are not.
Never believe there is nothing after death, for there is.
Never believe you are not loved, for you are.
Without these beliefs life is empty, and without these beliefs there is no hope.
(Luke 1:45 - Blessed are you who believed.)

I offer to all people love and forgiveness, and the chance to become anew in Me
I offer to all people My hand to hold, as they walk through life.
I offer to all people an eternity with Me, of love in Heaven.
I am there for all people; none will be turned away, and none will be refused My eternal love in Heaven, if they ask in truth and repentance.

(Acts 2:21 - And it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.)
My Father in Heaven, how sweet it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your Child!
Especially when the skies of my soul are cloudy and my cross weighs more heavily,
I feel the need to repeat to You: Father, I believe in Your love for me!
Yes, I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life, and that I am Your child!
I believe that You love me with an infinite love!
I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my head without your permission!
I believe that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me.
I believe that, in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil.
I believe that, in Your infinite goodness, You make everything to the advantage of those who love You; even under the hands of those who strike me I kiss Your hand which heals!
I believe, but increase in me, faith, hope, and love!
Teach me always to see Your love as my guide in every event of my life.
Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother's arms.
Father, You know everything. You see everything, you know me better than I know myself;
You can do everything, and You love me!
My Father, since it is Your wish that we should always turn to You,
I come with confidence to ask You, together with Jesus and Mary to answer my prayers.
For this intention, and uniting myself to their Most Sacred Hearts,
I offer You all my prayers, my sacrifices and mortifications, all my actions, and greater faithfulness to my duties.
Give me the light, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Strengthen me in this Spirit, that I may never lose Him, never sadden Him and never allow Him to become weaker in me.
My Father, I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son! And You, Jesus, open Your
Heart and place in it my own, and, together with Mary's, offer it to our divine
Father!
Obtain for me the grace that I need!
Divine Father, call all men to Yourself. Let all the world proclaim Your Fatherly goodness and Your divine mercy!
Be a tender Father to me and protect me wherever I am, like the apple of Your eye.
Make me always a worthy person, have mercy on me!
Divine Father, sweet hope of our souls, may You be known, honored and loved by all men!
Divine Father, infinite goodness poured out on all peoples, may You be known, honored and loved by all men!
Divine Father, beneficent dew of humanity, may You be known, honored and loved by all men!

The Homeless Person

The parking lot filled rapidly on Sunday morning as members of the large church congregation filed into church. As usually happens in a church that size, each member had developed a certain comfort zone - a block of space within those four church walls that became theirs after the second or third sitting.
It was as much a part of their church experience as the recliner was to the television at home. Some of the older members had been sitting in the same row on the same side for several decades. A team of oxen could not have moved them to the opposite side of the church.
One morning a stranger stood at the edge of the parking lot near a dumpster. As families parked cars and piled out, they noticed him rummaging through the trash. "Oh no! I don't believe it," whispered a lady to her husband. "That's all we need -- a bunch of homeless people milling around here."

One worried little girl tugged on her dad's sleeve. "But Daddy..."
Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose baggy, outdated trousers and faded flannel shirt had dusted too many park benches.
"Don't stare at him, honey," he whispered, and hurried her inside.

Soft music filled the high-ceiling sanctuary as churchgoers settled into their usual spots. The choir sang an opening chorus, "In His presence there is comfort ... in His presence there is peace...".

Sunlight suddenly flooded the center aisle. The double doors swung open and the homeless man, sloppy and stooped, headed toward the front. "Oh no, it's him!"
somebody muttered.
"What does he think he's doing, anyway?" snapped an incredulous usher.

The stranger set his bagful of dumpster treasures on the very first pew, which had been upholstered in an expensive soft teal fabric just three months ago. The music stopped. And before anyone had a chance to react, he ambled up the stairs and stood behind the fine, handcrafted oak podium, where he faced a wide-eyed congregation.
The disheveled stranger spoke haltingly at first, in a low, clear voice. Unbuttoning and removing his top layer of clothing, he described Jesus, and the love He has for all people.
"Jesus possesses a sensitivity and love that far surpasses what any of us deserves."
Stepping out of the baggy old trousers, the stranger went on to describe a forgiveness that is available to each and everyone of us...without strings attached.

"Unconditionally He loves us.
Unconditionally He gave His very life for us.
Unconditionally and forever, we can have the peace and assurance that no matter who we are, where we've come from, or how badly we may have mistreated others or ourselves, there is hope."

"In Jesus, there is always hope."

"You see, my friends, it is never too late to change," the man continued.

"He is the Author of change, and the Provider of forgiveness. He came to bring new meaning to life."

Men and women squirmed as reality hit them like an electrical current. The stranger tugged at his knotted gray beard, and removed it.

"I'm here to tell you that we are loved with a love far beyond human understanding, a love that enables us to accept and love others in return." Then tenderly he added,
"Let's pray together."

That wise pastor - under the guise of a homeless "nobody" - did not preach a sermon that day, but every person left with plenty to think about.

During my life journey on this planet, I shall
start each day with these affirmations:

I am capable. I am worthwhile. I am beautiful. I am lovable.
I shall accept both my strengths and my weaknesses for they are me.
I shall never again believe the "lie" that if I make a mistake, I am a mistake.
My mistakes are the learning tools that I shall encounter on my life journey.
When I learn from my mistakes, I give them meaning.
When I give my mistakes meaning, I can begin to forgive myself, I can begin to heal.
I shall not use my mistakes as excuses to give up on me - my mistakes are not me.
I shall seek the wisdom to nurture my heart, mind, body, and soul
so that I may feel more centered
- providing an energy reserve that allows me to climb the mountains in my own life
- providing an energy reserve that allows me to love and support others who are climbing a different mountain - providing an energy reserve that allows time for friends, play, and celebration of life.
I shall allow myself to feel capable - so that I may seek excellence.
I shall allow myself to feel sadness - so that joy may return.
I shall allow myself to feel joy - so that I may be revitalized.
I shall allow myself to feel afraid - so that I may find courage.
I shall allow myself to feel alone - so that I may know me.
I shall allow myself to feel beautiful - so that I may feel free.
I shall allow myself to feel lovable - so that the loving may seek me.
I shall allow myself to feel pain - so that I may heal.
I shall allow myself to feel worthy - so that I may fulfill my purpose.
When I am centered, I see the perfection in the world, myself and others.
When I find the world to be imperfect, I will take responsibility for painting it that way.
I will look into the heart of a rose, or the eyes of a newborn baby
and again know perfection.
I take responsibility for creating my own life story through the choices I have made;
To blame others is to give away my personal power.
Who will I allow to write the next chapter of my life?
I shall seek the courage to believe in a God or Higher Power
who will laugh with me in the sunlight or cry with me in the darkness.
I shall make a small difference on this planet through the work I do -
When I leave I will have done my share.
I shall live, love, laugh, and learn on my journey.

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

The Word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the regions around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the Words of the prophet Isaiah.

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

Luke 3: 1-6

God likes His people to believe that there is nothing too hard for Him.... We are all the time limiting God's power by our own ideas. Let us get our eyes off one another and fix them upon God. There is nothing too hard for Him.

O' Great Spirit,

Whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak, I need Your strength and wisdom.
Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make My Hands respect the things You have made and my ears sharp to hear Your voice.
Make Me Wise so that I may understand the things You have taught my people.
Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy---myself.
Make Me Always Ready to come to You with clean hands and straight eyes.
So When Life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame.

If God wants you to do something,
He'll make it possible for you to do it,
but the grace He provides comes only with the task
and cannot be stockpiled beforehand.
We are dependent on Him from hour to hour,
and the greater our awareness of this fact,
the less likely we are to faint or fail in a crisis.

--Louis Cassels

Unfolding A Rose
A young spiritual student was walking through a garden with his
seasoned master. The young man was feeling a bit insecure about
what he thought God had in store for him to do with his life,
so he asked his headmaster for advice. The old wise man didn't
answer, but instead walked up to a nearby rosebush and handed the
young man a rosebud. He then instructed him to open it without
tearing off any petals. Although the young man couldn't understand
what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his life's purpose,
he respectfully proceeded to unfold the rose. It wasn't long
before he realized the impossibility of this task.
The wise master noticed the young man's inability to unfold the
rosebud without tearing the petals. He then took the rose from
the young man's hand, told him to have a seat on a rock, and
proceeded to recite the following poem to his obviously frustrated pupil:

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God's design
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I
God opens flowers so sweetly
But in my hands they die
If I cannot unfold a rosebud
This flower of God's design
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine
So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day
I will look to Him for guidance
Each step of this pilgrim's way
The pathway that lies before me
Only my heavenly Father knows
I'll trust in Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose

This is a wise reminder to let go of the need
to control each moment of your life.
Relax and watch your life divinely unfold.

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

"Today, my Great Spirit, let me remember to touch the earth.
Let me slow down and live just for today.
Let me be gentle, patient and kind."
May you walk in sunshine, always, with the Spirit

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

1. People look for two things. Hope and direction. Your life is your testimony of that hope and you would gladly point to the Source of that hope.

2. You can't walk another's walk so you can't really give them a set of directions. You can expose your path of seeking and how God touched you along the way.

3. Faith is usually fulfilled when we press on through the impossible with a promise and a prayer.

4. Avoid throwing a mental egg at the inconsiderate car honking in the lot at 6am; waking the tenants in the apartment complex. Instead, open up a channel to God and ask Him to reveal similar areas in your manner which wreak of selfishness.

5. Capture, enjoy and appreciate the right and the good. For this is from God and had better not be discounted. You will need it, because the flesh is always ready to complain.

6. Realize that struggle comes before breakthrough. Ambiguity, time-framed answers, growing difficulty, can all be ingredients. It is a common path from glory to glory. Know that your Lord will see you through. That the unsettledness of the moment is simply the backdrop for greater things.

7. Don't try to be greater than you are; be as great as He is. Who you honor is the key.

8. Life was not meant to not have problems. It is meant to grow through them.

9. Struggle check: "My yoke is easy and My burden light". In His will there is the strength of peace.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Col 3:1-4 NIV

Treasure each other in recognition that
we do not know how long we shall have each other....

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

The fruit of Silence is Prayer.
The fruit of Prayer is Faith.
The fruit of Faith is Love.
The fruit of Love is Service.
The fruit of Service is Peace.

The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes,
in our touch, in what we write, in what we say,
in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need.
That is the fullness of our heart expressing itself in many different ways.

God Gave Us

God gave us the seasons each with its own beauty and reason, each meant to bring us a blessing, a joy, and a feeling of love.
God gave us the sunshine, the rainbows, and the rain, the beauty and freedom of nature to teach us the wisdom of gentle acceptance.
God gave us miracles in our hearts and lives, little things that happen to remind us we're alive
Most of all, God gave us friends to teach us about love
and guide us through this world, always available to help us forward towards a greater understanding and a greater sharing and giving of love.

In The Shadow

In 1967 while taking a class in photography at the University of Cincinnati, I became acquainted with a young man named Charles Murray who also was a student at the school and training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. Charles was very patient with me as I would speak to him for hours about Jesus Christ and how He had saved me. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any kind of church, so all that I had to tell him was a fascination to him. He even began to ask questions about forgiveness of sin.

Finally the day came that I put a question to him. I asked if he realized his own need of a Redeemer and if he was ready to trust Christ as his own Savior. I saw his countenance fall and the guilt in his face. But his reply was a strong "no."

In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he was avoiding me, until I got a phone call and it was Charles. He wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some verses that I had given him about salvation. I gave him the reference to several passages and asked if I could meet with him. He declined my offer and thanked me for the scripture. I could tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did not know where he was or how to help him.

Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special privileges at the University pool facilities. Sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area.

Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive. At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind.

He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. It was the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him. He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air.

Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. As Charles looked down from his platform he saw an empty pool which had been drained for repairs. He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross had stopped him from disaster.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (kjv)

A strong person works out everyday to keep their body in shape...but a person of strength kneels in prayer to keep their soul in shape...
A strong person isn't afraid of anything...but a person of strength shows courage in the midst of their fear...
A strong person won't let anyone get the best of them...but a person of strength gives the best of themselves to everyone...
A strong person walks sure footedly...but a person of strength knows God will catch them when they fall...
A strong person wears the look of confidence on their face...
but a person of strength wears grace...
A strong person has faith that they are strong enough for the journey...but a person of strength has faith that it is in the journey that they will become strong.

Celebrate that you are ALIVE.
That although you were beaten, you are still here.
That you feel. That the breeze carried the perfume of spring.
That the sunset was mauve and golden umber.
That the rose broke through at last and bloomed.
That you cried.
That you were remembered.
That you remember.
That the wind carried a message of hope.
That you love.
That you once loved.
That all music and art were intended just for you.
That you were right.
That you forgave.
That it rained and the rain forgave all of us.
That you are human, after all.

When our days on this earth come to an end
And our eyes close for one last time,
"Our Angels come to take us home"

Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect.
We take what we get and are thankful it's no worse than it is.

What we obtain too cheaply we esteem too lightly;
it is dearness only that gives everything its value.

Believe there is always one unexpected moment in life when a door opens to let the future in. Somewhere, someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer.

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

Closed Doors

We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If He didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door.
God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and you walk right into your blessing.
The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising Him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble); we get upset because we judge by the appearances.
You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could You have done this to me?"
We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?
If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school.
If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).
One time, a person had a bank they had been in business with for many years tell them "No!" to a $10,000 loan. The Lord put in their spirit to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest rate than the first bank was offering.
We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places.

The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the right" ...sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.

God Bless You Always!

This Will Make You Think

A friend's dad was driving through an intersection
one day and his little four-year-old
son was in the car with him.

The car door flew open, and the little boy rolled out of
the vehicle right into the middle of traffic coming four ways.
The last thing the father saw was a set of car wheels
just about on top of his son, moving extremely fast.
All he knew to do was cry, "JESUS, STOP THE CAR!"

As soon as he could bring his car to a stop, he jumped
out and ran to his son, who, miraculously, was perfectly all right.

But the man driving the car that had almost hit
the child was absolutely hysterical.
The father went over to him and started trying to comfort him.
"Man, don't be upset!" he said. "My son is all right,
he's okay! Don't be concerned about it. Just thank God you were able to stop." "You don't understand!" the man
responded. "I never touched my brakes!"

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

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

Maria©

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

Whispering Wind

As I walk in the moonlight with the darkness cloaked around me,
I hear the sounds of the night.
The crickets chirping, the restlessness of the night creatures,
but the most distinct sound is the whispering of the wind.
As I hear the wind call to me, I stop and listen.
Wind tells me little secrets I need to know.
Soothed by the soft calm sounds being spoken in my ear,
I feel more relaxed and calm.
When I thought wind was finished I began
walking again and there was wind whispering to me again.
I stopped to listen and the soft, gentle
caress of the wind touching my face,
Gently blowing my hair and creating a feeling of warmth and love.
A love like no other is about me.
I thank the Creator for this love.
For I know that there are times when the wind,
can be quite cruel, unforgiving and harsh; just as the words between people can be.

When speaking to one another, please think of their hearts,
and how it would feel to have these harsh unforgiving words spoken to you.
Just as the wind is a part of life, so are you and your brothers and sisters of Mother Earth.
Pray to the Creator to help you speak kinder and gentler words to one another.
And to whisper words of encouragement, love, and kindness, just like the warm, soft caress's of the whispering wind.

Aho........Shadow Dawn........Nov 2002

Not What You Want But What God Wills

Do you want what you want when you want it? Do you pray and expect a reply?
And when it's not instantly answered, do you feel that God passed you by?
Well, prayers that are prayed in this manner are really not prayers at all,
For you can't go to God in a hurry and expect Him to answer your call.
Prayers are not meant for obtaining what we selfishly wish to acquire,
For God in His wisdom refuses the things that we wrongly desire.
And don't pray for freedom from trouble or pray that life's trials pass you by,
Instead pray for strength and for courage to meet life's dark hours and not cry,
That God was not there when you called Him and He turned a deaf ear to your prayer
And just when you needed Him most of all He left you alone in despair.
Wake up! You are missing completely the reason and purpose of prayer,
Which is really to keep us contented that God holds us safe in His care.
And God only answers our pleadings when He knows that our wants fill a need,
And whenever our will becomes His will there is no prayer that God does not heed.

Helen Steiner Rice

A Time

There's a time for reaching out grasping the air around you and caressing it
There's a time for counting all the uncounted stars and saving their light
There's a time for resolving your innermost fears and being joyous
There's a time when eagles soar, when nature knows best true friendship never ends, and time places it thru a test
There's a time for releasing everything inside and saying I love you or goodbye

by LiLwolfette...........all rights reserved©2002

As long as the snow falls softly on the earth, may the Great Spirit warm your lodge and fill your heart with peace.

Stones Of Remembrance

When you look back at your life and ponder every hindrance,
The times that seemed so dark to you are stones of remembrance,
Everytime you called on Him and fell upon your knees,
God spent time alone with you and calmed your stormy seas.
He longs for you to call on Him to fill you with assurance,
Without these times when you felt lost, you would not know endurance,
It is during times like this when despair is what you feel,
That you are really being changed upon the Potter's Wheel.
He cannot take a lump of clay and change it into gold,
Without the times of neediness when it's His Hand you hold,
Through each new trial of life you face when you are feeling blue,
This is when He draws you close and shows His Heart to you.
There's times in life when we face things we cannot understand,
But this is when God works in you, and teaches you His plan.
He changes us from inside out and watches from above,
As He pours His Spirit into us and teaches us His love.
Hold these memories dear to you and ponder in your heart,
What did you learn from God that helped you do your part?
As you are broken like the clay, He can start anew,
And give to you a heart like His that's clean and pure and true.
For everytime you think about things that seemed to be so gray,
He came and held you close to Him and promised He would stay,
Be glad for every stone you have, they're really not a hindrance,
But precious times alone with God to cherish as remembrance.

You are not separate from creation anymore than your thoughts are separate from you.
You are not the reality that is behind the world; but the reality that is in it and I am in the world with you.
In all your Life
Wherever you are
Wherever you go!
Wherever you look:
You can see me in the moon and in the stars that shine out of the darkness.
You can feel me in the breeze that kisses your cheek.
You can hear me in the flowing waters that refresh....and renew.
I'm with you now in the ever changing present that is true eternity.
Closer than your heartbeat
Closer than the thought that springs to mind:
So find me now
Touch me now
Feel me now
And love me now
Wherever you are
And we will wait together on the earth in beauty

Carrying The Cross

There are many ways to carry a cross and I think I've tried them all.
First I tried grasping it by the crossbar and lifting it high over my head.
Everyone could see my burdens and all were impressed by my strength and my courage.
But before long I fell under its weight and my admiring friends became jeering foes.
Next I tried dragging it behind me. Friends were quick to wipe my brow.
But after awhile, my back became bent and I wept far too often.
And my friends soon deserted me for lack of a smile.
Then I thought Oh I know! I'll push it along.
New friends cheered me on, they thought I was great.
But the cross before me blocked all of my view. The final result?
I pushed everyone out of my life.
Finally one day, in desperation I cried. "LORD, what do I do?
The burden's too heavy and the journey too long."
In resignation I fell down on my knees and looked up towards Heaven and said, "LORD it's all Yours! I can't do it alone."
Then He came down beside me and dropped to His
knees, and He lifted my burden with the greatest of ease.
He adjusted the cross, and ever so gently, settled half on my shoulders and half upon His. His half was much bigger than mine I noticed.
Then He said with a smile, as He looked into my eyes,
"Come, let's take this thing home."
And that my friend, is how I discovered that the best way to carry a cross, is with your knees on the ground and your eyes looking up.

The Praying Hands

The "Praying Hands" are much, much more than just a work of art,
They are the "soul's creations" of a deeply thankful heart
They are a priceless masterpiece that love alone could paint,
And they reveal the selflessness of an unheralded saint
These hands so scarred and toil worn, tell the story of a man
Who sacrificed his talent in accordance with God's plan
For in God's plan are many things man cannot understand,
But we must trust God's judgment and be guided by His Hand
Sometimes He asks us to give up our dreams of happiness,
Sometimes we must forego our hopes of fortune and success
Not all of us can triumph or rise to heights of fame,
And many times What Should Be Ours, goes to another name
But he who makes a sacrifice, so another may succeed,
Is indeed a true disciple of our blessed Savior's creed
For when we "give ourselves away" in sacrifice and love,
We are "laying up rich treasures" in God's Kingdom up above
And hidden in gnarled, toil worn hands is the truest Art of Living,
Achieved alone by those who've learned the "Victory of Giving"
For any sacrifice on earth, made in the Dear Lord's name
Assures the giver of a place in Heaven's Hall of Fame
And who can say with certainty Where the Greatest Talent Lies,
Or Who Will Be the Greatest In Our Heavenly Father's Eyes!

Helen Steiner Rice

My Friend I Salute You

I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you which have not got; but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it you can take. No Heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today.
Take Heaven!
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in the present little instant.
Take peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach, is joy.
There is radiance and glory in the darkness; could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look.
And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

Fra Glovanne......Written in the year 1513

Life Is Worth Living
When you feel so alone and empty, and life seems hopeless and vain,
Your problems are too much to handle, and your teardrops are falling like rain.
You wish there was someone to help you, but you don't want to bother your friends,
And you don't want to burden your family, so you struggle with whatever life sends.
If you lift your eyes up toward Heaven and you seek God's goodness and grace,
He'd remove the sorrow you carry, send contentment and peace in its place.
He'd give you joy and assurance: there's no limit to His giving,
When you seek God and you find Him, then your life will be worth living.

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God because He is my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "what could I do? You never did let go."

No matter what your problem (situation) is, turn it over to God.
All of your battles He is able to fight.

Have a blessed day.

Remember, nothing is going to happen today that God can't handle.
Check it out!! Read Matthew 6:25-34

Be Blessed and Encourage Others.

God Lights My Way

The Almighty God, is everything to me.
When I need a friend, He is there to hold me.
When I need a miracle in my life, He is "the way maker!"
God is omniscient; He knows all.
Because He is perfect in knowledge He knows what is best for me.
When I am unsure which way to go, I can confidently trust Him to lead and guide me. When I yield to Him, He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or think!"

God is omnipotent; He possesses all power.
I can trust Him to perform that He has, in His Word, promised to do.
My God can do all things, nothing is impossible with Him!
When I am going through a trial or a "season" in the valley, God is right with me. Often in the darkest hours of my life, I experience the love of God the most.
When my tears overflow, He whispers gently, "Hold on, my child, joy comes in the morning."
He strengthens and encourages me in the storms of life and incites me to cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for me."
God has promised to "provide all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
I can trust Him to give me daily those things I have need of.
Because God is our peace, I can have joy and peace even in the midst of my storm. He tells me in John 14:27 that He has given me His peace.
Isaiah 26:3 says: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee."
Trusting Him enables me to have complete and total peace of mind.
Deuteronomy 33:27 says: "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
He is my protection, my defense. I can run into His arms and rest in His care. I can "abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
God is, the God that heals. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
He said in His Word, "I am the God that healeth thee." I have experienced His healing power, and I give Him honor and praise.
God is a loving God. By His very nature, He takes pleasure in bestowing blessings upon His obedient children.
"Every good and perfect gift is from the Father above, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
He says if I "delight myself in Him, He will even give me the desire of my heart!"
He satisfies my thirsty soul, and fills my hungry soul with good.
Psalms 139:17 says: "How precious are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!"
How very comforting to know that God has precious (rare and valuable) thoughts unto me!
I can trust Him for He cares for me, and He is totally worthy of my trust!

God Is!!!

Your decision for Jesus Christ is reasonable, rational and workable.
It not only is workable, it encourages you to live within the laws of God.
God’s laws are reasonable and rational because they provide a better way of life for us.
His laws are not designed to punish us but rather to promote a lifestyle that improves the quality of our life.
We read this in Deut. 32:3 & 4 (nlt), “I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God. He is the Rock; His work is perfect.
Everything He does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is.”
Following that kind of God is reasonable, rational and workable.
Question is -- will we follow?

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

The National Mental Health Committee reported a few years ago: Half of all the people in America's hospital beds are constant worriers.

Mental distress can lead to migraine headaches, arthritis, heart trouble, cystitis, colitis, backaches, ulcers, depression, digestive disorders and yes, even death. Add to that list the mental fatigue of nights without sleep and days without peace, then we get a glimpse of the havoc worry plays in destroying the quality and quantity of life.

Worry is, and always will be, a fatal disease of the heart, for its beginning signals the end of faith. Worry intrudes on God's compassionate ability to provide. When we allow our problems to overshadow God's promises, we unknowingly, doom ourselves to a defeat that was never part of God's eternal plans. Release the regrets of yesterday, refuse the fears of
tomorrow and receive instead, the peace of today.

Yes, my friend, simply let go and let God handle your worries.
Live this, and be eternally blessed.

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Our past is neither an accident nor a mistake.
We have been where we needed to be, with the necessary people.
We can embrace our history, with its pain, its imperfections, its mistakes, even its tragedies. It is uniquely ours; it was intended just for us.
Today, we are right where we need to be.
Our present circumstances are exactly as they need to be, for now!

Parable Of The Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.
Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.
And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

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

As I crossed the threshold of Heaven, a radiant angel met me at the gate.
He told me that before I could enter, I must take heed, and wait.
He grasped me firmly by the hand, and led me into a room.
I never saw such deep sadness, I never saw such gloom.
There before me, an elderly woman stood, with a tiny cup in her little hand, she hadn't any money, and had lost her husband, her home, and her land.
A man was sitting in a corner, a blank expression upon his face, his children had abandoned him, and the loneliness, was more than he could take.
A child with cuts and bruises, was crying, clutching a ragged old teddy bear, beaten by a drunken father, who didn't know anymore, how to care.
A young woman with a baby, was sobbing silently, deserted by a husband, who needed drugs to fill his needs.
A man was rocking back and forth, his mind in deep despair, blaming himself, for things he'd done, memories, too painful, to bear.
A prisoner sitting in a lonely cell, no calls, no word from home, never had he felt so forsaken, never, so all alone.

The Angel led me back to the gate, and with a knowing smile, said, "Are you really all that tired? Or, do you think you can walk an extra mile?"
I turned, and walked away from him, my heart just would not let me stay. I knew there were many others, just like these, who needed me, to stand, and pray.

John 10: 14.15
I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, as the Father knows me. And my sheep know me, as I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep.

Do not run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you have been, but also where you are going.
Life is not a race, but a journey
to be savored each step of the way.

The Hand Of Jesus

He does not lead me year by year, nor even day by day,
But step by step my path unfolds; my Lord directs my way.
Tomorrow's plans I do not know, I only know this minute;
But He will say, "This is the way, by faith now walk ye in it."
And I am glad that it is so; today's enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes His Grace shall far exceed its care.
What need to worry then, or fret? The God that gave His Son
Holds all my moments in His hand and gives them one by one.

Burdens

Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair
I bundle all my troubles up and go to God in prayer...
I tell Him I am heartsick and lost and lonely, too.
That my mind is deeply burdened and I don't know what to do...
But I know He stilled the tempest and calmed the angry sea
And I humbly ask if in His love He'll do the same for me...
And then I just keep quiet and think only thoughts of peace
And if I abide in stillness my 'restless murmurings' cease.

Rev. 21:4, And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky.

Crazy Horse

When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earth, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man

Chased-by-Bears (1843-1915) .........Santee-Yanktonai Sioux

Treat the earth well,
It was not given to you by your parents,
It was loaned to you by your children.

Indian Proverb

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

All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree,
the man, the air, shares its spirit with all the life it supports.

Chief Seattle

Cherokee Blessing
May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly on your home,
And the Great Spirit bless all who enter there.
May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows,
And may the rainbow always touch your shoulder.

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

Cherokee Prayer
Oh Great spirit,
grant that I may never find fault
with my neighbor until I have walked
the trail of life in his moccasins.

Indian Blessing
Let us walk softly on the Earth with all living beings great and small remembering as we go, that one God, kind and wise created all.

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

And so we know and rely on the LOVE God has for us....
God is LOVE! Whoever lives in LOVE, lives in God and
God in him. (1 John 4:16 niv)

The GREATEST "Token of Affection" that you can receive
is from the "One" who has an
everlasting LOVE for you. God so loved YOU...that He
gave YOU His only Son, to die for you, that you may
have eternal life though Him.
The Bible is the Greatest LOVE story in the world. It
is filled with the LOVE of a Father, who understands
and cares for us, unconditionally. It reminds us,
that when we fail, He is just to forgive us. It shows
us that despite the problems in our life, There is a
LOVE that we can depend on.
I realize that the pain today in our lives, cuts
deeply. Sometimes we feel alone and abandoned, like
no one understands or cares for us. Depression and
frustration can cloud our perception of the beauty of
God's Love for us. We have to hold on to the promise
of "His" Love for us, when things are bad....and
remember that there is one who walks with us and will
never forsake us.
My prayer today is that you feel the presence of the
Lord surround you. That the warmth of God's Love will
lift you...That the pain you feel, will fade, as you
reach for God's Love letter to you (BIBLE)..and
open yourself to the unconditional Love of a Father
who is waiting to help and guide you.

Remember Today: You Are So Loved!

I Come Alone

As I drew in my first breath of life being born into this world that day so long ago
I come alone

As a small child saying "good night" prayers, under the watchful eyes of my Mother kneeling there beside my bed
I come alone

Through my adolescent years as I grew and I learned
When things went wrong it was to You I turned
I come alone

When in my teens and my eyes were opened fully realizing I needed You in my life guiding and directing, I knelt and asked for "forgiveness" surrendering my heart
I come alone

Through my times of sorrow through my times of pain and I felt so lost and alone
When the storms were all about again I knelt down on my knees
I come alone

When the burdens in life seem heavy and my path seems so unclear. For answers to my problems I need to feel You near
So once again I kneel to pray calling out Your name
I come alone

Though I've been blessed with a loving family and many wonderful, caring friends. Their concern and kind words mean much, ultimately, it is to You I turn in my darkest hours whispering, please Lord help me, show me the way
I come alone

When my time on this earth is through when I'm coming home to You
I want to have no regrets I want to be settled in my heart
I don't want to look back I want my eyes fixed on You
I come alone

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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