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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: "One Day At A Time" by: Jeannie Sealy

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.

One Day at a Time..........

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.
One day at a time to be patient and strong;
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.
One day at a time-but the day is long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitiful Christ, be thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.
Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or go back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.
One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

May all I say and all I think be in harmony with Thee,
God within me, God beyond me,
Maker of the Trees.

I Pledge Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag
My security through the years
And to the Nation for which it stands
Amid the soldiers' tears

For the red reminds me of the blood
And the sacrifices made
And One Nation UNDER God
The foundation for which it was laid.

Yes, we are a Nation, and since 1954
The words UNDER God have stood
It was written in 1892
God reigns here...and He should

We cannot take His name away
And from satan expect to refrain
Thank God we have a president
Who wants "Under God" to remain

For it is a constitutional right
That the freedom of speech is mine
Let's leave the name of God
In the pledge of allegiance 'til the end of time

I pledge allegiance to the flag
And let her banner fly
O'er all the land of America
Under God's bright sapphire skies.

By: Jene' Lind
February 20, 2003 - Copyright

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven…"

Ecclesiastes 3(nkjv)

The Lord gave me a word today about seasons as I walked a trail
alongside the river at the base of a mountain. The air was crisp and
cool and the leaves had fallen from the trees giving the landscape a
stark, barren look. Fall is giving way to winter here in the
mountains and the first snows have already come.
The Lord told me that fall is a season of dying. Fall begins when we
start to walk with Jesus. It is a time when the old self dies along
with all our old habits and thought patterns. Fall can also come at
other times in our lives. Sometimes, the Lord finds it necessary to
purge us of things that have entered our lives that are displeasing
to Him.
In contrast to the astonishing beauty that ushers in fall is the
inevitable starkness that follows. The trees are stripped of dead
leaves. In the same way, negative thought patterns and behavior fall
from us. Sometimes friends and associates are removed from us. But
remember, like the barren trees, although our lives may appear bleak,
our core, our spirit, our essential self is still alive.
Winter is a season of waiting and renewing. There is nothing whiter
than snow except the garments of our Lord's righteousness that He
cloaks us in. During this season, He protects and nurtures us in the
same way that the snow blankets the earth. Beneath this snowy
protection, we grow strong and allow the seeds of faith to germinate.
Winter is also a time of hibernation. It is a time to remove
ourselves from the world, get deep into the word while fasting and
praying. Under the blanket of His righteousness and protection, we
begin to grow in the things of the Lord in preparation for the next
season.
Spring bursts forth and is a time of new beginnings and revival. In
the spring of our lives, we are ready to manifest the new self that
God was working on during the winter of our lives. In the spring, we
begin to bud and flower. Like the birds, our spirit begins to sing of
God's goodness and mercy. We are new creations, ready to glorify
Jesus. The gifts of the spirit have had time to germinate and grow
within us, we have put aside the old man and with Jesus, we are ready
to be all that we were meant to be in His kingdom.
Summer comes and during that season in our lives we are in full
flower. Oh, what a glorious time the summer of our lives are! It is a
time when we bask in the glory of the risen Christ and we glow with
His Jesus light. During the summer of our lives, we walk in His
anointing and according to His will. We are in step with the master
because we hear His voice and obey Him. The summer of our lives
brings forth manifestations of power and miracles.
According to John 14:10; "the Father Who lives continually in Me does
His works, His own miracles, deeds of power." And, Jesus goes on to
say in verse 12: "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone
steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things
that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I
go to the Father." (Amplified)
That is the summer of our lives, when we do His works, His miracles
and deeds of power. Notice, that the Lord did not qualify who
the "he" is. His promises are for all who take up the cross and
believe. Therefore, this promise is not for all Christians but only
for those who have mountain-moving faith. Are you ready for God's
promises in the Bible? Then take up the cross and follow Him!

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are
exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you
have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the
freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each
and every one of you.

To My Children

When I spill some food on my nice clean dress
Or maybe forget to tie my shoes,
Please be patient and perhaps reminisce
About the many hours I spent with you,
When I taught you how to eat with care,
Plus tying laces and your numbers too,
Dressing yourself and combing your hair.
Those were precious hours spent with you,
So when I forget what I was about to say,
Just give me a minute.....or maybe two,
It probably wasn't important anyway,
And I would much rather listen just to you.
If I tell the story one more time,
And you know the ending through and through,
Please remember your first nursery rhyme
When I rehearsed it a hundred times with you.
When my legs are tired and it's hard to stand,
Or walk the steady path that I would like to do,
Please take me carefully by the hand,
And guide me now as I often did for you.

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

Psalm 121: I -7
Lift up my eyes to the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from
THE LORD,
the Maker of Heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over
you will not slumber; indeed…He who watches over
Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Dear Great Physician,
we thank you for the gift of healing
that lies within the body,
for the person who has health, has hope,
and the one who has hope has everything.
Lord, teach us that true and total healing
includes healing of the soul, of attitudes,
and of relationships.

Lord, we may be whole in body but sick
in soul and spirit. Help us to ask for your
touch of healing to establish a right
relationship with you, for from that source
other healings flow.

Gerrit Schut

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

He's Always There

We can't foresee the turning of the tide
When problems beset us and tears are cried.
Sometimes life deals from the bottom of the deck
Filling us with worry and leaving us a wreck.

The enemy seeks to devour and destroy,
Using deceptions to eliminate our joy.
While walking through the valley, our heads hung low,
The mountaintop seems so high, our footsteps so slow.

How many times have we traveled this road
To battle the frustrations of troubles bestowed?
Yet when we come to our darkest hour
God demonstrates His infinite power.

It doesn't matter how bad things might seem,
He always comes through, our faith to redeem.
God will not fail us in our times of pain.
He'll never forsake us, by our side He'll remain.

So when we find ourselves at a total loss
Or when the valley seems too wide to cross,
Just remember you're in His love and care,
Look over your shoulder, He's always there!

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

You certainly know that God loves you and cares about your needs, but
sometimes you really need some quick tangible relief. Maybe what you
need most right now is some wisdom from God to help you make right
decisions. Often, our woes can be because of wrong decisions we have
made in the past. Solving our problem may require some definitive
action on our part, and that's where God's counsel comes in -- look to
Him for wisdom. You can make a miracle happen with His encouragement
and guidance.

James 4:2 & 3 (nlt) sheds this light: "...the reason you don't have
what you want is that you don't ask God for it. And even when you do
ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong -- you want
only what will give you pleasure." Are we afraid to ask God for help?
Are our motives honest? Solving problems often involves some soul-
searching.

Whatever you do, you need courage.
Whatever course you decide upon,
there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.
There are always difficulties arising that tempt
you to believe your critics are right.
To map out a course of action and follow it to an end
requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.
Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

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

Freedom, morality, and the human dignity of the individual
consists precisely in this; that he does good not because he
is forced to do so, but because he freely conceives it, wants
it, and loves it."

Mikhail Bakunin {1814-76 Russian Revolutionist}

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

The most effective way to achieve right relations with any
living thing is to look for the best in it, and then help that
best into the fullest expression.

Allen J. Boone {American Author}

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

Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible
thing: no one is to blame!

Erica Jong {American Author}

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

Happiness is not in our circumstances,
but in ourselves.
It is not something we see, like a rainbow,
or feel, like the heat of a fire.
Happiness is something we are.

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

Just Another Day

Is it morning already? I rub my eyes and get up to ready myself for
just another day. It's just another day...I look out my window to see
the sun beaming down, caressing the Earth with its golden rays.
Above, white clouds float in the brilliant blue sky. I hear a cardinal
singing to his mate as he perches upon my back fence. And a bed
of crocus open their purple heads to the Heavens in joyful
thankfulness.

It's just another day. My small daughter bursts into the room, her
giggle ringing through the house as she hugs my neck tightly. Her
small hand fits into mine as she pulls me to the kitchen to show me
the card she has made. A stick figure with curly brown hair waves from
the paper and beneath it, written in purple crayon are the words, "I
love you, Mommy."

It's just another day as I stand quietly and watch a handicapped
child. He struggles to get his special walker over the curb, but it
won't budge. A well-meaning teacher offers assistance, but he brushes
her away.
With determination, he conquers the curb and is off to laugh and play
with his friends. I weep inside for his handicap, but I am inspired
by his courage. And I smile as I watch the children play, totally
accepting their friend for who he is, not judging him for what he
lacks.

It's just another day. My son proudly presents the report he did for
school.
He shares with me the hopes and dreams he holds for his future. His
curiosity and excitement are contagious as we unfold the limitless
possibilities that lay before him. I am encouraged that no dream is
beyond our reach if we want it bad enough.

It's just another day. My beloved wraps his arms around me and
surrounds me in love. I turn to look in the eyes that share my
innermost feelings. What a special friend I have. Someone who loves
me for who I am.
Someone to lean on when I feel down. Someone to share my happiness.
Someone to love.

Yes, it is just another day. A day to enjoy God's gracious beauty upon
this Earth. A day to kiss the cherub cheeks of my children, and share
in their hopes and dreams. A day to learn the value of determination
and hard work. A day to learn the value of judging mankind for the
quality he has, not what he has not. A day to learn the value of love.

Yes, it's just another day, I sigh. The stars dance in the velvet sky
as a full yellow moon smiles cheerfully down. The house is quiet and
still. The only sound is the soft even breathing of my spouse. I
recall the scripture:
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
(Psalm 118:24) And as I lay at the side of my soul mate I pray that
God will let me see "just another day"!

By Charlotte "Charlie" Volnek

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

When you can no longer think straight
stop thinking......Feel
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.
Mother Teresa

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

While There Is Time

While there is time, Lord, may I use it well,
'Tis gone in a moment, one never can tell
Which day is our last one, with so much to do,
All must be in order, when summoned by You.

While there is time, Lord, and life is my own,,
Let me bring gladness to someone alone.
Renew a small hope, rekindle a dream,
For shadows are never as dark as they seem.

While there is time, Lord, let me not waste
The chances you give me, I cannot replace.
Lend me Your wisdom, that I may learn
To give of myself, nor ask a return.

Let me be gentle, keep my words kind,
In spite of the worries, crossing my mind.
And when at long last, life's sun starts to set,
Let me have never a cause for regret.

Grace E. Easley

Ute Prayer

Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain.

Journey's End

I promised I would keep you and never let you go.

I promised that I'd be there and always see you through.

I promised I would dry your tears and take away the pain.

I promised I would bring you home when Father called your name.

Many more are waiting
to reach this Journey's End.
And everything I've said to you,
are the words I'll say to them . . . .

I promise I will keep you and never let you go.

I promise I will be there and always see you through.

I promise I will dry your tears and take away the pain.

And I promise I will bring you home when my Father calls your name.

Cheryl Taul.............May 9, 2001

. . . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you will be saved, and your house.
(Acts 16:31)

Renewal

The snowdrop and the crocus pierce the sod.
I hear the voice of gladness on the land;
A bluebird sings a hymn of joy to God.
I feel the pulsing earth beneath my hand.
I see the green of spring come back to hills
Long deep in snow, long deep in frost and snow;
How thus a good Creator yet fulfills
The promises of centuries ago.
"O Lord, how great Thy works," the psalmist sang,
"Praise Him for all the precious things of earth."
For something out of nothing never sprang;
There must be seed before there can be birth.
His ways are goodness, and His thoughts are deep
Who wakes the earth anew from winter sleep.

Edith Shaw Butler

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created:
and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psalm 104:30

There soon shall oppress this earth's ball
Darkness and chaos for all.
As God travels near
The wicked in fear
Beg the mountains, upon them to fall.

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

To the Artist He is the One Altogether Lovely.
To the Architect He is the Chief Corner Stone.
To the Baker He is the Living Bread.
To the Banker He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the Biologist He is the Life.
To the Builder He is the Sure Foundation.
To the Carpenter He is the Door.
To the Doctor He is the Great Physician.
To the Educator He is the Great Teacher.
To the Engineer He is the New and Living Way.
To the Florist He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
To the Geologist He is the Rock of Ages.
To the Horticulturist He is the True Vine.
To the Judge He is the Righteous Judge, Judge of All Men.
To the Jeweler He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To the Lawyer He is the Counselor, the Lawgiver, the Advocate.
To the Newspaper He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.
To the Oculist He is the Light of the Eyes.
To the Philanthropist He is the Unspeakable Gift.
To the Philosopher He is the Wisdom of God.
To the Preacher He is the Word of God.
To the Sculptor He is the Living Stone.
To the Servant He is the Good Master.
To the Statesman He is the Desire of All Nations.
To the Student He is the Incarnate Truth.
To the Theologian He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
To the Toiler He is the Giver of Rest.
To the Sinner He is the Lamb of God
that takes away the sins of the World.
To the Christian He is the Son of the Living God,
the Savior, the Redeemer and the Lord!

This Day

They say take a chance live life on the edge
Never look back look forward instead
Don't worry, be happy, to thine own self be true
Live life to the fullest, do what you must do
Live in the present. Let go of the past
Give it all you've got. Make the good times last
Stop and smell the roses. Give each person a smile
'Tis the first day of your life. So make it worthwhile
Yet, some of us hear this, and still wake up everyday
Wanting more out of life, but not paving the way
Until at last we are rattled. What if what they say should be true?
Today's just a present. That's been given to you
It can be gone in an instant it could be taken away
So, take good care not to miss out on what you could do with today.

Elizabeth Parillo

Life started out like a canvas
And God started painting on me.
But, I took the paint brush from Jesus
And painted what I wished to see.

The colors I painted kept running
And the objects were all out of size.
I had made a mess of my painting.
My way, now, seemed so unwise.

Ooooooo!

So, I brought my painting to Jesus,
All the colors -- all the pieces so wrong.
In the markets of earth, it was worthless.
But, His blood made my painting belong.

He worked with no condemnation,
Never mentioned the mess I had made.
Then, He dipped His brush in the rainbow
And He signed it, "The price has been paid."

When I gave the brush back to Jesus ...
When I gave the brush back to Him,
He started all over, life’s canvas to fill,
When I gave, to Jesus, the brush of my will.

Keep The Faith

I've cried to God as I've beheld the world wrapped up in fear
Of lack and death and war that looms to snatch lives held so dear
I said "My God! - Have you not heard? The news on TV?
Do you not know the shape we're in?
Do you not care for me?
I'm scared, Dear Jesus! -Help us! -Please
There's news of fear and war
And I'm afraid, Lord - I admit!
Of what might be in store."
"Peace, be still, My Child," He said
"And hear now what I say
For I have seen and heard the cries
Of those who, to Me, pray.
Keep your eyes upon Me now
Not what you hear or see
And, as you do, you'll keep My peace -
If your mind stays on Me!
It matters not what one mans says
Or even many more
For I am GOD, and I decide
Each day what lies in store.
I've told you there would be such times
When, of these things, you'd hear
I told you so you'd be Prepared
And Full Of Peace, not fear
For all these things Must be fulfilled
Yet My Word fails not
For I am still your hiding place
As all the fires rage hot.
You're hid beneath My shadow now
And you can rest in Me
Yes you can trust My Words of Love
To last eternally.
For I'm your Father, Counselor, Friend
Your alpha and your End
And if this was the world's last day
Be sure, for you, I'd send.
I've promised I'd save you place
If you would stay in Me
Stay pure and faithful, eyes on Me
And, victory, you'll see.
I can't tell you if it's the end
No human man can know
But I Can tell you, it is close,
So be Prepared To Go.
Each day I give you, reach in love
To save another soul
For snatching them from Me for Hell
Is truly satan's goal.
Occupy until I come
Live each day Full in Me
Just keep your eyes upon MY face
And know what I do see.
I see the world I see Your Life
And know, no matter What occurs
My love for you stands True.
I'm Alpha and Omega -GOD-
I'm King and Lord of All
I'll be right near to care for you
As, on My name, you call.
For I can change the hearts of Kings
And I their hearts, do try
And I'm the one who formed this world
And says when it shall die.
So Use this time to seek the lost
And tell them of My Love
That they, too, may be saved and live
With Me, again, above.
Don't listen to fears voice-hear Mine!
Then stand on what you've heard
Don't fear yours or the world's fate-
It's destined by My Word."

"Keep your eyes on Me dear ones and let Me wipe each tear
For I am GOD and In Control. So live in peace, not fear."

The Aaronic Blessing:

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make His face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
(Numbers 6:25-27)

Howard County Sheriff Jerry Marr got a disturbing call one
Saturday afternoon a few months ago.
His 6-year-old grandson Mikey had been hit by a car while fishing
with his dad. The father and son were near a bridge by the
Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car,
slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph.
Sheriff Marr had seen the results of accidents like his
and feared the worst.
When he got to Saint Joseph Hospital, he rushed through
the emergency room to find Mikey conscious
and in fairly good spirits.
Mikey, what happened?
Sheriff Marr asked. Mikey replied, Well, Papaw,
I was fishin' with Dad, and some lady runned me over,
I flew into a mud puddle, and broke my
fishin' pole and I didn't get to catch no fish!
As it turned out, the impact propelled Mikey about 500 feet,
over a few trees and an embankment and in the middle of a
mud puddle. His only injuries were to his right femur bone which
had broken in two places.
Mikey had surgery to place pins in his leg.
Otherwise, the boy is fine.

Since all the boy could talk about was that his fishing pole
was broken, the Sheriff went out to Wal-mart and bought him
a new one while he was in surgery so he could have
it when he came out. The next day the Sheriff sat with Mikey to
keep him company in the hospital. Mikey was enjoying his new
fishing pole and talked about when he could go fishing again
as he cast into the trash can.

When they were alone, Mikey, matter-of-factly, said,
"Papaw, did you know Jesus is real?"
"Well," the Sheriff replied, a little startled.
"Yes, Jesus is real to all who believe in Him and love
Him in their hearts."
"No," said Mikey. "I mean Jesus is REALLY real."
"What do you mean?" asked the Sheriff. "I know He's real 'cause
I saw Him," said Mikey, still casting into the trash can.
"You did?" said the Sheriff.
"Yep," said Mikey. "When that lady runned me over and broke
my fishing pole, Jesus caught me in His arms and laid me
down in the mud puddle."

Gives You Goose Bumps Doesn't It?

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

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

The sodden lump inside my chest,
Repeats a thankless task
How, I wonder, do I still breathe
Behind this listless mask?
The purpose that sustained my life
has fled and left me dry
The need for tears is still as strong
But, I no longer cry
The one who made me whole is gone
I can't believe it's true
Our love was for eternity
What's left for me to do?
I wander through the home we shared
It's treasures that we found
My ears now strain in every room
Hoping to catch a sound
That wakes me from this awful dream
And sets the world back right
The day seems long and endless, but...
Worse yet is the night
I cannot fall asleep in what
Once was our dear love nest
My mind seems to both come and go
From total lack of rest
Our children come to visit me
And bring with them their care
We sit and talk of days gone by
The memories we share
Their babies that are with us now
Crawl on the rug awhile
But then they turn to look at me
and flash a drooling smile
My missing Love has found a way
I just now realize
To send me love for all my days
Through our children's, children's eyes

Written By Iron Otter

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

The place of fools, and yet, is it foolish to love and be loved?
Only those who seek
gain or are selfish in their undertaking will not find true love.
It is a chamelion, a butterfly, a prism, a carousel, an angel, a song,
it's all these things. How wonderful to seek and acquire love.
We ask for guidance from on high and from fellow humans
it is wise to ask, when in doubt.
Wisdom comes from experience and knowledge.

My Last Request

Please don't say that I gave up, just say that I gave in.
Don't say I lost the battle, for it was God's war to lose or win.
Please don't say how good I was, but that I did my best.
Just say I tried to do what's right, to give the most I could, not do less.
Please don't give me wings or halos, that's for God to do.
I want no more than I deserve, no extras, just my due.
Please don't give me flowers, or talk in harsh tones.
Don't be concerned about me now, I'm well with God, I've made it home.
Don't talk about what could have been, it's over and it's done.
Just see to all my family's needs, the battle has been won.
When you draw a picture of me, don't draw me as a saint;
I've done some good, I've done some wrong, so use all your paint.
Not just the bright and light tones, use some gray and dark
In fact, don't put me down on canvas, paint me in your heart.
Don't just remember all the good times, but remember some bad.
For life is full of many things, some happy and some sad.
If you must do something, then I have one last request.
Forgive me for the wrongs I've done, and with the love that's left.
Thank God for my soul's resting.
Thank God I've been blessed.
Thank God for all who loved me.
Praise God who loved me best.

Did you come to journey's end
Gentle wise man
Do you hear spirits whisper in the winter wind
Cold chill fills you
Ancestors beckons
Promises of ecstasy, forever young
Anchored to this earth, wearisome
Mirth has left you
Youthful vigor gone
You grow tired and soon
You'll ride on fields and plane
That shine forever
You lived a full life
Loving to live and living to love
Now all is gone and you wish to go home
See the shinning path
It will lead you to heaven's door.

Maria© Anemone4me

Prayer of a Gardening Mother

Dear God, give me the strength to grow a garden.
Give me the perseverance to find a portion of dirt in my backyard
that's free from old popsicle sticks and sand toys, out of range
of the swing set, and not used as a tricycle parking lot or a soccer field.
Give me the courage to face the fact that the crate of bulbs that
took six weeks to be delivered and three hours of backbreaking
labor to plant, can be dug up in five minutes by a two-year-old
with a spoon.
Guide me through the backyard over plastic toys, irrigation systems
and wire mesh to unravel the dog from the watering hose for
the fifteenth time.
Help me to accept that everything in my garden is either
expensive, high maintenance or unpronounceable,
and the only thing that looks the same
as it did in the mail-order catalog is the dirt.
Grant me patience when my daughter waters all of the bulbs with
apple juice because "they look thirsty."
Give me the strength to remain
silent when my husband puts pans of beer throughout the
garden to get rid of the snails.
In your infinite wisdom, show me how to turn off the drip irrigation
system that has been on since sometime in mid-March.
Grant me serenity when my son presents me with a bouquet
of freshly pulled daffodils crammed into an old plastic sand bucket -
and the ability to smile when he tries to put them back.
Comfort me when all of the beer pans in the garden are empty -
and the dog is staggering around the backyard trying to do the
limbo with the low branches on the apple tree.
And if I ask too much, God, just give me the foresight to know that,
no matter what I do, by the end of summer the flowers
will be run over by plastic roller skates,
the gardening stakes will be used for goal posts,
and the fertile soil will, once again, be filled with old popsicle
sticks and sand toys - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

By Debbie Farmer

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

Thoughts From A Blood Donor's Table

I give my blood.
Christ gave His.

I give a pint.
He gave all
The needle is small, sharp.
The nails were large, dull.
The table soft, relaxful.
The Cross rough, painful.
The nurses kind, gentle.
The soldiers cruel, mean.
The crowd applauds my sacrifice.
"They that passed by reviled Him."
Mine is for O positive.
His for positively all.
Mine, at best, will prolong a life, for a while.
His, without doubt, can save all, forever.

Why do you ignore the growls of hunger
That come from within your soul?
Why do you escape every attempt
To be made whole?
You can't stay a baby forever.
You know you need to grow.
Just like you need food for the body.
You need food for the soul.
So feed your spirit with the Word of God.
Exercise your faith by really living it.
Walk with the LORD on a daily basis.
And if you get tired, just keep on doing it!
There will be times when you will fall.
But remember, when you are weak, then He is strong.
And in those tough times go to the LORD,
And He will provide comfort for your weary soul.

A Little Wisdom

A mirror is only as good as the reflection in it.
Worry enough to anticipate trouble but not so much as to
bring it about.
Look back to where you have been for a clue to where
you are going.
Melt the icy fingers of fear with the sunshine of hope.
Step by gentle step, you can overcome the greatest sorrow.
The sweetest grapes are picked from the vineyard of friendship.
Find something you truly believe in, and everything else
will have meaning as well.

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

This speaks for itself

Samuel Thompson wrote:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody
for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.
I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer
when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered
because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.
So what's the big deal?
It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts.
They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking Him
to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans
going home from the game.
"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America,
a country founded on Christian principles.

And we are in the Bible Belt.
According to our very own phone book,
Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.
So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to
hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.
And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.
What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized.
We're not going to pass the collection plate.
Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too
much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.
Go to the bathroom.
Visit the concession stand.
Call your lawyer.
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.
One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game
is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our
courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us
to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us
just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers
are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence
offends you, well..........just sue me. The silent majority has been
silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud
enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they
want. It is time the majority rules!

It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say
the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend
services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your
right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights
away .....we are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN! After all the
God you have the right to denounce is on our side!

God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...
God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest nation of all.....
God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray
and worship God...
May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and
we put God back as
the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up......In God WE Trust

You Must Recognize Your Freedom

You must recognize your freedom so that you can soar to
great heights spiritually. Otherwise, you are like a bird in a
cage, which, even though the door of the cage is wide open
and it is free to fly where it will, fails to recognize its freedom and
goes on fluttering about in its cage getting nowhere.

You can go through the whole of your
life like that bird, completely blind and in bondage, unless
you recognize that you are free and accept your freedom and
use it as it should be used, in the realms of the Spirit where
there are no limitations, boundaries and barriers to hold you
back. All human beings are free if only they would recognize
it and accept it.
That freedom is being held out
to you, but you have to accept it before you can use it.

Why not accept your freedom now, realizing that you
are bound to no one and nothing, and that you are capable of
doing anything you desire?

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

Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 and 7

Rewards of Service

The sweetest lives are those to duty wed,
whose deeds both great and small
Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread,
where love ennobles all.
The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells,
the Book of Life the slurring record tells.
Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes, after its own like working.
A child's kiss set on thy singing lips shall make thee glad;
A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;
A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;
Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense
of service which thou renderest.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Faith, Hope and Love really is the greatest gift of all.

Bits And Pieces Of Time

A second of the clock is ticking away,
never to be back again this day.
For now it will be forever lost,
never again, what was the cost.
What did you loose in that second?
Was it worth your time?
Did it really mean that much?
For that second again,
you will never touch.
So use your seconds wisely dear,
for never again will they appear,
For bits and pieces of time slowly drift away,
Never in your life again to stay.
So hold each one to your heart,
each precious second before you part.
Make your life the best today,
Before those seconds tick away.

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

When the ground drops from beneath your feet,
and there's nothing to hold you up,
it's time you let the Lord teach you how to fly.

The only difference between fate and destiny
is the angle from which an event is seen.

Ray McAllister

The Gift Of Prayer

The most precious gift you will ever receive;
Is prayer from someone who in Jesus believes.
It's not wrapped with ribbons or bows,
and few people hear and few people know.
But it's written in the chronicles of Heaven.
Each prayer muttered, is a special gift given.
And yes, I said a prayer for you tonight;
for you to be calmed from all your fright.
For healing, and you to learn of God and His ways,
and be able to look up at Him and give Him honor and praise.
I can't see your face and barely know who you are;
but I know one thing, each muttered prayer will go very far.
Oh my brothers and sisters in Christ;
each prayer you whisper is the greatest gift you will find.
It comes from the love of a pure heart;
that will last forever and never depart.
Someday we will all meet face to face;
we will be able to give such a warm embrace;
as the Kingdom of Heaven allows us to share;
in person what we can only do in prayer....
The most precious gift you will give; is a prayer,
a sweet smelling fragrance so others can live.
By laying down your life in such a simple way,
gives more to another than any gift will ever convey....
Oh prayer, no it does not have ribbons or bows;
it costs us our time, and our love that we show.

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

Swim through your temptations and troubles.
Run to the promises;
They are our Lord's branches hanging over the water
So that His children may take a grip of them.

Samuel Rutherford

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are moved by the alarming news and crisis our country is facing.
This, the greatest nation, founded in the belief that
"In God We Trust" and the "Land of the Free."
Please have mercy on those suffering, hurting and in fear, and
give wisdom and strength to those who are assisting.

May the forces of evil be broken by Your power and may
we humble before Thee, our strength and refuge.

Give wisdom to our President & our leaders and bring Your
comforting peace through the power of your Holy Spirit.

Help us here to reach to those who have been affected by this tragedy.

In the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. AMEN

We have taken many paths we would not have chosen, and
we have done many jobs we did not want to do.
We have carried burdens we did not want to carry and dealt
with impossible people we did not like.
It is strange that the road we did not want to take is the one
that brought us more quickly to the place we wanted to be.
At times, the way was hostile, but when we needed
a hand there was one. When we needed courage, it was there.
What we call problems and unjust circumstances have a way
of teaching us integrity and how to be peaceful. It makes
us wonder how many other rewards we have missed because
we resisted something that looked like too much responsibility.
I was going around the world with the clouds when
God spoke to my thought and told me to...be at peace with all.

COCHISE..............By: Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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

Give a Kind Word

Do you know a heart that hungers
For a word of love and cheer?
There are many such about us;
It may be that one is near.
Look around you. If you find it
Speak the word that's needed so,
And your own heart may be strengthened
By the help that you bestow.
Never think kind words are wasted,
Bread on waters cast are they,
And it may be we shall find them
Coming back to us, some day.
Coming back when sorely needed,
In a time of sore distress,
So, my friend, let's give them freely;
Gift and giver God will bless.

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.
Dare to be the best you can –
At all times, Dare to be!

The Apache Wedding Prayer

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

"I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter.
"John14:16

In his great book, Spiritual Breakthroughs,
Bruce Wilkinson writes:
"I made a dramatic breakthrough when I discovered that right
before every temptation, my emotions were distressed
(inwardly agitated) and that I was actually seeking for comfort.
That's when I remembered the promise,
"I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever" (John14:16).

Incredibly, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to be our
ever-present source of comfort.
I wondered what would happen if I specifically asked
Him to comfort me in the time of temptation.
I decided to try.

I prayed: "Dear Holy Spirit, I'm in desperate need of you.
I don't want to sin - please comfort me now."
At first nothing happened. How discouraged I felt.
But then I slowly became aware of something -
I felt comforted. I didn't know exactly when I was comforted,
I only knew that I was - that my soul felt soothed and no longer in pain.
When I turned back toward the temptation, it had miraculously
slithered back into the darkness, far away from my senses. I was free.

I've prayed to my Comforter many times since,
and I've discovered two immutable truths
(1) the Holy Spirit always - and I mean always - completes
His responsibility in my heart
(2) He always gives me His comfort within 3 minutes,
though I can never put my finger on the moment when He does.
I call this prayer for comfort my "3 minute temptation-buster".
Why don't you try it?"

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

Our focus is still the same...it has not changed.
Our focus is Jesus.

What the Lord requires of us has not changed.
He has called us to draw near to Him and know Him more.
This has not changed.
We are to "love our God with all our heart and all
our soul and all our mind."
This has not changed.
We are to "Love our neighbors as ourselves".
This has not changed.
He has called us to make disciples wherever we go.
This has not changed.
He has called us to be Intercessors for the World.
This has not changed.
He has called us to submit our lives to Him
so that He might live through us.
This has not changed.
What has changed are the circumstances in which
we see the deceiver, satan.
What has changed along with these circumstances is that it
is more evident to the world that this is a battle between good and evil.
What has changed is that this will bring many to question life...
to wonder about God...to return to God.
What has changed is the sense of urgency to share the
Good News of Jesus Christ.
We need to be prepared so that we can be instruments in
God's hand for His Glory.

How do we do that?

Pray always.
Read God's Word.
Open your eyes to those around you who need to hear about Jesus.
Do not forsake meeting together.

Two scriptures come to mind.

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Hebrews 3:13

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, ...
but let us encourage one another -- and all the
more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:23-25

There should be no scare tactics here.
We know the God, not only of the universe, but of Eternity.
Who is our enemy compared to Him?

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

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not
the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that
holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly on your home,
and the Great Spirit bless all who enter there.

The hand that I was dealt in life
Was violent, dark and sad
But I kept inside a faith in God
And thanked Him for what I had.
As the seas rushed in, I felt sometimes
That I'd sink into despair
But I knew somehow I'd make it through
As long as God was there.
To save myself from falling in
To the misery and pain
I 'd say a prayer to mighty God
And He'd help me to sustain.
Through all the pain and heaviness
Sometimes my faith would not endure
But I knew that God would heal the pain
That was the one thing that I was sure.
Through the years the hands got worse
But my faith was growing strong
And looking back I learned to see
The things that I'd done wrong.
I prayed to God with my heart this time
And He heard me loud and clear
He forgave me of my sins of old
And took away the fear.
I thank God for the bad and good
And for all He's done for me
In looking back at all the pain
The lessons now I see.
With faith and hope and love of God
You can make it through it all
Don't let the seas of pain and misery
Rob you of it all.
Keep faith and hope a day will come
When you too can look back and see
You played the hand the God has dealt
And got through it gracefully.

Linda LaMar

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

The following is a prayer that was given to me by a nun
here at Carney - Sister Paul

It is From: Come Walk Among The Stars

My Gift of life is a thing of transient beauty -- a thing of mystery --
and above all else a miracle -- it is a thing of beauty because
of the soul-- a mystery because it stretches between the invisible
yesterday and the unknown tomorrow -- a miracle because it is a
composite of countless other lives --
And as my life has been gently touched by other lives -- it follows
that I have touched theirs too -- one cannot always know the time
of greatest need -- perhaps this is as it should be -- perhaps it is
only for me to light one darkened corner of the path -- to place a
hand upon your shoulder as a symbol of my kinship and
my love -- perhaps I came this way -- as did you -- to fill some
special need -- but this is not always given to us to know --
Sometimes a single word will lift the spirit --
sometimes words are so inadequate ---
and sometimes it is destined that one must only listen --
sometimes a smile will bridge the empty darkness --
sometimes just the nearness is the answer --
From many lives I have gathered courage and strength --
I have learned humility and gentleness -- I am grateful --
And so you must understand that your life is not
of your own -- it has become a part of mine -- and so it
follows that my life does not belong to me
-- it is yours --

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

Draw me to You
O God
For I am too weak
Too sinful
To come to You myself.
Pull me to You
In that simple
Special way
That I may stand before You
Embrace You
And fall into Your Glory
Your Light
Your Love.
Carry me far
Where I may be held safe
Away from my worries
My labors
And all I will see
And know
Is You.
I make the choice
Guided by Your Spirit
To let You take control of me
And now I wait
Alone
For the sacred, silent summons
Of Your beauty.

Ray McAllister.....(16 March 2003)

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

The Christians with Chronic
Illness/Pain Site Ring

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