bestofwords27.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: "Circle Of Life" by The Walela's

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.

Each of us have a Circle Of Love.
Those in our family, our friends, our pets
and sometimes,
even our enemies become our loved ones.
That is our Circle Of Love.
We will keep them throughout Eternity.
Those that we must remove from our lives
(for one reason or another) are taken out of our Circle.
We will always have our Circle close to us even in heaven.
And so the Circle goes.
I heard a sermon about that once. My pastor went on to say
that we all have much work to do in heaven,
and those in our Circle will be involved in what we are to do,
and visa-versa.
No, we won't stand around holding hands and following
each other around! But we will always have our Circle
close by---with just a 'thought' they will be there.
Like Jesus.
Jesus had a Circle while He ministered on earth.
Both men and women were in His Circle.
One, named Judas, was taken out.....
And so the Circle goes.

written by Cheryl Taul

"A Change Of Heart"

It's the world we live in that made me feel that way.
Otherwise I wouldn't have thought for a moment about
sitting next to that beautiful young girl.

My recent trip to Kentucky ran smoothly except for a
near two hour delay in Pittsburgh. I must admit I have
never had a major problem while flying across this
great country. In fact, I believe this was the first
time I have ever experienced a delay that long.

But I always tell my travel agent that if ever I need
to be delayed let it be in Pittsburgh. They have the
greatest shops and restaurants to keep me busy for hours.

They finally announced boarding. Now I don't believe
for a moment that I'm the only person who goes through
this. From the moment I enter the plane I start scanning
ahead to see my seat. "Who's sitting next to me on this
flight?" I wonder. "Is there anyone in my seat already?"
That's happened a few times.
"Are there any screaming babies nearby?"

Flight time is precious time for me.
I sleep, write or read.
So screaming babies and frequent
bathroom people become a problem.

Today I get to sit next to a beautiful young girl who appears to be
about 12 years old. As I approach my seat she seems nervous,
perhaps a little apprehensive and I must say very disappointed.
You see walking in front of me was this handsome young male teenager.
I could see that sparkle in her eye dim as he walked by and I sat down.
I'll admit I was nervous and concerned. She was traveling alone and
I was one of those strangers her parents told her not to talk to.

"Hi! My name is Bob," I said.

"Hello!" she replied without giving her name.

Then we spent the next one hour and fifteen minutes not saying a word.
She was a typical kid. She never sat still for longer than five minutes.
Often times she reached into her carry on and pulled out what
appeared to be six brushes, four packs of gum and all the empty
wrappers, a bag filled with jaw breakers, a tube of rainbow
colored sugar crystals and three foot long licorice.

Oh, yes she also ate two bags of airplane peanuts. I gave her mine.
It wasn't until the last 15 minutes of the flight that I heard it.
That sweet-sounding Voice that said "Give her one of your books!"

"She's only 12," I argued. "She won't find my book interesting.
Do they even know how to read at 12?" I thought sarcastically.

But again and again I heard it repeat, "Give her one of your books!"
And so I opened one up, signed it and said, "I am a professional speaker
and author. I'd like to give you one of my books if you would permit me."

She giggle a bit and said yes followed by "Oh, thanks!"

I then began to explain the story.

"It's a fictional story based on actual events.
I changed the names but basically much of this is true.
My oldest son, Keith had cancer
and that's part of this book."

"Oh, I'm sorry", she said. "No need to be. He's doing
just fine, thank you. Where are you from?" I asked.

Then for the next ten minutes this young lady never stopped talking.
In fact, as we were leaving the plane she talked and walked backwards
down the aisle. Much of what she said was all a blur for me after
she said these words:
"Wow, I just saw the Hershey Medical Center mentioned in there.
Is that where your son went for his cancer treatments?" she asked.

I nodded "Yes."

"That's where I had my heart transplant,"
she said with a big bright smile.
Heart transplant.
This child had a heart transplant.
Then I took notice.
Right at the top of her pink t-shirt, just below her collar bone,
the beginnings of a scar peeked over her collar.
This vibrant young, beautiful girl had the heart of a donor.
Obviously a young donor who lived in a family who cared
enough to save another child's life.

She continued to share the details of her stay at Hershey.
I continued to listen in amazement. For the story she told was a
familiar one. She was the girl down the hall we all prayed for.
I never knew how things turned out for her until today.

They say some lives cross because they were meant to. This was
more than a chance meeting. I discovered that this child leaving
Pittsburgh to go home to Kentucky was a patient in the same hospital,
on the same miraculous floor, at the same time my son was there.
That little Voice inside of me kept telling me to give her
a copy of my book.
I argued.
The Voice won...as always.

The last words she said to me was..."My Mom always told me that
God was going to call me home but then
He had a "Change of Heart!" Do you get it?" Then she
giggled and laughed as she walked through the last
door into the arms of her loving family.

I got it. I heard the Voice say, "Now you know why!"
"I believe in you!"

--by Bob Perks
http://www.bobperks.com/Welcome.htm

House made of dawn...restore my feet to me...
Happily I recover...my interior becomes cool...As
it used to be..
I walk...In beauty..........it is finished.

"The Raven"

And the wings of the raven spread for one last time,
as they lifted him from the summit of creation.
And his eyes took vision beyond what he had ever seen,
as he soared to a height, where never he had been.
Strained was his endurance as the power of flight
brought him closer to his destination....
And the air did not hesitate to bring feathers stability,
as this last flight would return home this lost soul.
And as I witnessed his beauty, I saw him glide
into the rays of the sun...where forever, he disappeared from my life.

Greywolf630 ........ aka Rene...........June 16, 2002

When the storms of life come upon us ... and all of us will
experience them...we can rise above them by setting our minds
and our belief that it is not the burdens of life that
weigh us down, it is how we handle them

The Owl

Can you hear the call of the wise, old owl
Saying "who, who, who."
Can you hear him shout
With strength in the darkness
"Who, who, who."
He does not say what
Or when
Or why
Or how
But "who
Who
Who."
And ever it pulses
Like a song in your sorrow
A question of wisdom that gently asks
Who shall save you
Who is in control
Who is the Answer
And who will be faithful
And wait for His salvation?
Can you hear the wise, old owl
Saying "who
Who
Who is on the Lord's side
And who is like our God?"

Ray McAllister (17 June 2002)

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

by C. Alan Ames

Prayer is so simple
It is like quietly
Opening a door
And slipping into
The very presence of God.
There, in the stillness,
To listen for His voice,
Perhaps in petition
Or only to listen,
It matters not.
Just to be there,
In His presence,
Is prayer.

When we pray "Lord, Your way.....
Whatever you have for me....I'm Yours.
Just take me, open any door, lead me in any direction"
and you will be astounded at what God will do...and goodness,
does He ever inspire when we just give Him all the "What ifs,"

O, God, I want only Your will in my life.
Open the doors You have for me, and give me the courage
and faith to go through them

Gracious Father, even though I may feel defeated,
I know deep within that You can change that.
Break through the darkness of my hopelessness and
bring the sunshine of Your love into my life once more.
Then reveal to me the rainbow of hope that
You offer to me forevermore.
In Jesus' name, Amen

Remember

Every single day, I discover new ways to remember the
spiritual presence of life in me and in all people. Every single day,
I take time to reflect on the blessings -
in all their countless forms - that my life contains.
Every single day, I take my attention to that still,
quiet place within, where there is no distance, no time,
nothing but the eternal present moment.
For it is in this space that I am truly alive!

As the seasons turn, and the world wakes up to newness and
joy, I wake up too, and spread this consciousness of good
and more good wherever I go. Thank God for the ability to be
new again and again! And so it is.

Meh'kwe Awesus W'kazak
(Red Bear Claw)

Dear God, please grant that
I shall never waste my pain
But invest it wisely.
Let me be a "wounded healer"
To lend a helping hand
To those who are stumbling or
Have fallen along the way -- for
To fall without getting up,
To fail without learning,
To sin without overcoming,
To be hurt without forgiving,
To be discontent without improving,
To be crushed without becoming more caring,
To make mistakes without gaining wisdom,
To suffer without growing more sensitive
To the needs of others --
Makes of suffering a futile exercise,
A tragic loss, and of pain,
The greatest waste of all.

God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves
very complicated..........Ecclesiastes 7:29

What is life? It is the flash of
a firefly in the night... it is the
little shadow which runs across
the grass and loses itself in the Sunset.

Crowfoot

Sometimes what we are really looking for is right under our noses.
Today, I know that when I seek something out of desperation, I have
no idea what I really am looking for. Instead of trying to force things, I
need to be receptive and wait for the right time. I will be patient for
what I want to come to me.

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.

The "Stairway" rises "Heaven high"-
The "steps" are dark and steep,
In weariness we climb them
As we stumble, fall and weep...
And many times we falter
Along the "path of prayer"
Wondering if You hear us
And if You really care...
Oh, give us some assurance,
Restore our faith anew,
So we can keep on climbing
The "Stairs of Prayer" to You.
For we are weak and wavering,
Uncertain and unsure,
And only meeting You in prayer
Can help us to endure
All life's trials and troubles
Its sickness, pain and sorrow,
And give us strength and courage
To face and meet tomorrow!

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

Butt Prints in the Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream,
one set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
but mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
and I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord, they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
but you refused and made me wait."
"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
the walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."
"Because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."

Give Me Strength

Heavenly Father give me strength
To have patience and be kind,
Please guide me through this new day
And leave yesterday far behind

Give me serendipity
Besides for what I already know,
For we're never old enough to learn
Or blind enough to show

Give me strength to realize
This is not a perfect world,
For every stone that is placed for peace
Another will be hurled

Give me strength not to criticize
Or form opinions from idle talk,
Give me strength so I may turn
Away from it and walk

Heavenly Father give me strength
To be thankful for this day,
For when it's finished and almost over
I will lie down and gently say:
"Heavenly Father give me strength"

No greater love have they
Then sworn to oath upon their graves
Born to be in spirit of the other
Share love and sacrificed for their brother
Nothing can erase their essence
From vessels made
By hands worn raw by labor
Neither harbor evil or harm
Now they experience bliss
Loving and living Spirit mates
Unconditional, eternal, one,
Lovers who become part of the universe.

Maria©

The Will Of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now, but trust
and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best.

I cannot make the robin sing the songs for you and me
I cannot make the rainbow hue that in all of life we see
I cannot make the forest glade the rippling brook I hear
Nor can I put the sun up high nor control a tiny tear
I cannot make a golden leaf pasteled with colors bright
I cannot tell the stars to shine a glorious, wonderful sight
I cannot tell my heartstrings who or what to love
All these things I cannot do, come from The Lord above
Yes, My Friend, I do believe, for His gifts all say "I Care"
And since we cannot do these things
Thank God - "He" lets us share

On The Wings of a Prayer

Just close your eyes and open your heart,
And feel your worries and cares depart.
Just yield yourself to the Father above,
And let Him hold you secure in His love.
For life on earth grows more involved,
With endless problems that can't be solved,
But God only ask us to do our best,
Then He will take over and finish the rest...
So when you are tired, discouraged and blue,
There is always one door that is open to you,
And that is the door to The House of Prayer,
And you'll find God waiting to meet you there.
And The House of Prayer is no further away,
than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.
For the heart is a temple when God is there
As we place ourselves in his loving care.
And He hears every prayer and answers each one
When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done.
The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear
Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer.

We saw a gorgeous rainbow.
Have you ever wondered what causes them and
why they are such a perfect arch?
Think of the ink refill kits it would take to color one rainbow.
If you are fortunate to live in a smog free area,
you can gaze up into the starry night and gasp at the wonder of it all.
Try to imagine how anyone or thing but God
could have brought the vast universe into being.

Have you ever laughed inside as you observed a newborn animal
struggle to its wobbly feet and then said,
"Wow, isn't that neat."
In all these things I'm afraid we often take God for granted
and just assume it has always been this way.
God is the master designer behind all of it,
and so we need to pause from time to time just to enjoy it and say,
"Thank you, Lord."
The older I get, the more I realize how very thankful
I should be for every good thing I enjoy because God supplied it.

A very familiar and oft quoted verse is Phil. 4:19 (nlt)
"And this same God who takes care of me
will supply all of your needs from His glorious riches,
which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
That is a very comforting verse,
and yet it makes me feel guilty for all the times
I just assumed I deserved it -- but I didn't.
O Lord, make me constantly grateful.

Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!
Praise His holy name.
His anger lasts for a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go on all night,
but joy comes with the morning.
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning
and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to You
and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever!

(Psa 30:4,5,11,12 NLT)

Prayer:
LORD, help me remember that situations change,
especially when You are involved!
You can turn the most difficult situation into victory for me.
Help me to trust You regardless of
what I see or feel during difficult times.
I may have wept through the night,
but my morning is on its way!
I will rejoice and be joyful in You,
for You will not leave me or forsake me.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

It is written,
"Seekest thou great things for thyself?
Seek them not." (Jer. 45:5).

Beloved fellow believer,
let me tell you it is possible for you to be fragrant in this world.
Keep close to Christ, walk in happy communion with Him;
let your heart drink in His love and you will be fragrant to Him.
Could you conceive anything greater than that?
No eye may see you but His;
no ear hear you but His;
no heart appreciate your act or thought but His;
yet how precious. I can be fragrant to the Lord Jesus!
Nothing surely is so delightful to Him as to have you
and me walking with Himself.
If this is so we shall also surely come in contact
with some weary soul who needs refreshment.
We can speak of Jesus, and in such a way
that there will be a Christ likeness about us.

Trust God where you cannot trust Him.
Do not try to penetrate the cloud He brings over you;
rather look to the bow that is on it.
The mystery is God's; the promise is yours.

John MacDuff

Abundant Blessings

I watch the sun rise in an orange blaze,
Chasing away the early morning haze.
Admiring the splendor of the eastern sky,
Reminds me that God is always nearby.

He gave me a sunrise to start my day,
A gentle reminder to take time to pray.
For what a shame it would be not to begin,
Each beautiful day in quiet time with Him.

As I read His Word my soul is fed,
Filling my spirit for the day ahead.
His life changing words fill each page,
From parables to psalms of praise.

I quietly ponder each written passage,
My heart is joyful from the message;
He desires to supply my every need,
Always, in all things, all sufficient is He.

My mind cannot fully comprehend,
Love like His that has no end.
To Him my heart and soul belong,
I worship Him with words and song.

I thank Him that He safely kept...
All harm from me while I slept.
I thank Him that with the morning dew,
His grace and mercy are brand new.

I praise Him with gladness in my heart,
For His faithfulness that will never depart;
For His promises that never fail to be, Freely
fulfilled as His plan unfolds for me.

I commit to Him my steps for the day,
That He will lead me along the way.
I know that He will go before me,
To make a way that I may not see.

I ask Him to stay right by my side,
To protect me and to be my Guide.
If storm clouds gather unexpectedly,
I know His peace will envelope me.

Should this be the day my heartbeat ends,
I'll spend eternity with Jesus and friends.
Reunited with loved ones gone before,
All waiting to greet me on Heaven's shore.

Now the day is off to a wonderful start,
Peace in my spirit, joy in my heart.
My quiet time with the Lord is truly a treasure,
Of abundant blessings far beyond measure.

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

Joyful Times
At times I'm so discouraged with problems of the day
I fail to see the joyful things that are along the way
When troubles overwhelm me it's then my nerves may fray
That's when I need to take the time to simply sit and pray
Reflecting on God's many gifts
It makes me so aware
Of all the joy in little things around me everywhere!
I must try to remember though problems come my way
Not to miss the joyful things and the beauty of the day.

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

God's Rainbow

Rainbows appear after mighty storms,
when things look their very worst.
Just when the skies are darkest gray,
look for the rainbow first.
The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
that He will guide us through
all our troubles, no matter what their form.
When you feel battered by life's storms,
and you are filled with doubt and dismay,
just remember God's rainbow is coming,
it's only a prayer away.

May you always feel loved

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have
experienced give you the strength to walk through
life facing each new situation with optimism and courage.

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding
will always be there even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others
to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile,
be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate,
and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value
on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see the beauty and love
in the world around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
but each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard
may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.

May you see your future as one filled
with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine
your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgments
of your accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.

God knows my name and will never forget it.
That’s comforting.
The Bible is loaded with expressions concerning
the name of God and His importance.
Psalm 9:10 (nlt) says,
“Those who know Your name trust in You, for You,
O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for You.”
Maybe you are searching for peace with God today.
Romans 10:13 says “For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.” Make your call today -- right now.

(Luke 21:33-36 NIV) Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will never pass away.
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with
dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,
and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
For it will come upon all those who
live on the face of the whole earth.
Be always on the watch,
and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen,
and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Prayer:
LORD, there are many things that cry for my attention everyday.
Help me to keep them in their proper balance and perspective,
always maintaining my focus on You and remaining alert
and prayerful so that I will not be weighed down with
unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Thank You for Your unfailing word and promises to me,
that though all else fail, I can trust confidently that
Your word is the absolute rock upon which I can depend.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

Lord Jesus, I know that the seasons come and go in majestic sequence.
The earth rotates on its axis in a predetermined rhythm. No prayers
of mine could change any of this. I know that Your ways are not my
ways; Your timing is not my timing. But Lord, how do I, so earthbound,
come to terms with the pace of eternity?

Light of Love
Let Your Presence shine upon me.
Through earth's weary lands I roam.
Cast Your light of love down on me.
Jesus, lead me to Your Home.
Light of Love, Light of Love
Shine upon me, Light of Love.
Turn my heart to things Above.
Let me see You, Light of Love.

Let Your Presence shine within me
Blazing through my darkness deep.
Oh, what healing hope flows in me
Softly in Your care I sleep.
Light of Love, Light of Love
Shine within me, Light of Love.
Turn my heart to things Above.
Let me see You, Light of Love.

Let Your Presence shine around me
Drawing others to Your grace.
May the Light of Love that found me
Lead them Home to see Your Face.
Light of Love, Light of Love
Shine around me, Light of Love.
Turn their hearts to things Above.
Let them see You, Light of Love.
Ray McAllister.......(July 2002)

taken after (Exodus 34, Numbers 6:24-26: 27
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And what kind of habitation pleases God? What must our natures be
like before He can feel at home within us?
He asks nothing but a pure heart and a single mind.
He asks no rich paneling, no rugs from the Orient,
no art treasures from afar.
He desires but sincerity, transparency, humility, and love.
He will see to the rest.

Don't Waste Your Pain

Dear God, please grant that
I shall never waste my pain
But invest it wisely.
Let me be a "wounded healer"
To lend a helping hand
To those who are stumbling or
Have fallen along the way -- for
To fall without getting up,
To fail without learning,
To sin without overcoming,
To be hurt without forgiving,
To be discontent without improving,
To be crushed without becoming more caring,
To make mistakes without gaining wisdom,
To suffer without growing more sensitive
To the needs of others --
Makes of suffering a futile exercise,
A tragic loss, and of pain,
The greatest waste of all.

Jesus says.....
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.
In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you may also be where I am.
You know the way to the place where I am going."

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
If you really knew Me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him,
and have seen Him."

God's Rainbow

Rainbows appear after mighty storms, when things look their very worst.
Just when the skies are darkest gray, look for the rainbow first.
The rainbow is a sign of God's promise that He will guide us through
all
our troubles, no matter what their form.
When you feel battered by life's storms, and you are filled with
doubt and dismay, just remember God's rainbow is coming, it's only
a prayer away.

No one wants to be alone,
No matter what they say,
Yet they build their walls of silence,
Where they lock their pain away.
All the while, God is there,
Knocking upon the door...
Saying, Let me in, my wounded child,
and your heart will cry no more.
Bad things happen in our lives,
But God is not to blame...
His will is not to harm us
Or to bring us hurt and shame.
We live in a world that's fallen,
Where God's laws are not obeyed,
There are times when we will suffer,
But His love will never fade.
Its part of the world we live in
upon this earthly plain ...
the trials will be plenty,
But the sun will shine again.
Its not our place to question,
And no reason will be found...
Just trust God in the process-
let the walls come tumbling down.

"'For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with
their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed
are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth,
many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear
what you hear but did not hear it.'" Matthew 13:15-17 (NIV)

As the brook hides the footprints which are imprinted on its soft ooze, so are God's
footprints hidden. We cannot detect his great and wonderful secrets. He marches through
the ages with steps we cannot track.

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

"(The Lord) heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds..."
(Psalm 147: 3)

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

"A joyful heart is the health of the body,
but a depressed spirit dries up the bones."
(Proverbs 17: 22)

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

"A glad heart lights up the face,
but by mental anguish the spirit is broken...
Every day is miserable for the depressed,
but a lighthearted man has a continual feast."
(Proverbs 15: 13,15)

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

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance."
(James 1: 2-3)

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

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every
way, yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."
(Hebrews 4: 15-16)

Lord, in the quietness reach out and hold me.
Draw me gently into your peace.
And in the loving silence at your heart, attune my ears
to hear the sounds I never listen to.
The harmony that lies in you, the discords in the world
you've put me in. The laughter and the tears in other
people's lives.

Make me more sensitive to others' needs.
Sometimes, I hear the words that others speak, but fail to grasp
their meaning.
Help me to hear the worry hidden in a throwaway remark,
the fear wrapped in a joke, the insecurity behind unbending dogmatism.
Let me identify the cry for help so casually expressed.

Help me to listen more, and think, and think before
I speak, and then to think again.
And, Lord, teach me to hear sincerity in those who see
and say things in a different way.
Give me the grace not to condemn or criticize, but first to search for
common ground, and grasp the things that draw us all together,
not concentrate on what holds us apart.
Help me to take the richness of another's thought,
and hold it, precious as my own.
Above all, may I hear the gentle echoes of your love, reflected all
around me.
Give me the joy of listening to your voice, the quiet rustle as your
arms enfold me.

By Eddie Askew

There must be a beautiful morning somewhere.
A dawn lit by justice and judgment is fair.
A place where a helping hand is held out.
An ear that will listen stands poised and devout.
A place you can go when your heart needs attention.
A place where a spirit gets healing and mending.
A place where love's fire burns bright day and night,
and in from the cold you may warm by its light
There must be a brilliant evening somewhere.
Where the sun finally sets on pain and despair.
Where the coming of night is not filled with grief,
and comforting sleep brings you joyful relief.

A place where the sunset is apt to reflect
a day without malice, without disrespect.
A place where the only tears shed, are for joy,
and a heart is not battered and bounced like a toy.
There must be a wonderful day somewhere,
in a place filled with love and a great need to care.
A place where the burdens of conflict are lifted.
Where love is a skill and all lovers are gifted.
Where daily are spoken the words that support
and every mistake is not met with retort

A place where the land has not soaked up the blood.
Where honor and truth are not cast in the mud.
A place where the children are not left alone.
Where Sisters and Brothers may come to atone.
Where homeless and helpless don't cower in fright
Where the hearts and the minds of the world can unite.

So you set on a journey to seek out this land.
With compass and map and a vision so grand.
To find peace and comfort in a world that's so new.
Where waters are crystal and skies are so blue.
With showers that cleanse and winds that refresh.
Where the spirit is fed and not just the flesh.
But search as you may, what you'll find to be true.
That it cannot be found, until it's found within you.

Think freely
Practice patience
Smile often
Savor special moments
Make new friends
Rediscover old ones
Tell those that you love that you do
Feel deeply
Discard worry
Forget trouble
Forgive an enemy
Keep a promise
Take a chance
Try something new
Reach out
Have good ideas
Make some mistakes...Learn from them
Be crazy
Count your blessings
Observe miracles...make them happen
Pick some daisies...Share them
See a sunrise
Listen to the rain
Look for rainbows
Gaze at the stars
See beauty everywhere
Laugh heartily
Spread joy
Reminisce
Give
Trust
Give in
Slow down
Let someone in
Be soft sometimes
Hope
Grow
Work Hard
Be Wise
Try to understand
Cry when you need to
Trust life
Have Faith
Enjoy wonder
Comfort a friend
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

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

The Ant and the Contact Lens

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing.
Although she was scared to death, she went with her group
to a tremendous granite cliff.
In spite of her fear, she put on her gear, took a hold on the rope,
and started up the face of that rock.
Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather.
As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped
against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens.
Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet
below her and hundreds of feet above her.
Of course, she looked and looked, hoping the lens had landed
on the ledge, but it just wasn't there.
Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry.
She was desperate and began to get upset,
so she prayed to the Lord to help her find it.
When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her
clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found.
She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party,
waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff.
She looked out across range after range of mountains,
thinking of that Bible verse that says,
"The eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth."

She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains.
You know every stone and leaf,
and You know exactly where my contact lens is.

Please help me."

Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom.
At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting
up the face of the cliff.
One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys!
Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the
climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face
of the rock, carrying it!

Brenda told me her father was a cartoonist.
When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer,
and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant
lugging that contact lens with the words,
"Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing.
I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy.
But if this is what
You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would probably do some good to occasionally say,
"God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load.
I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy.

But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

(A True Story by Josh and Karen Zarandona)

God doesn't call the qualified.
He qualifies the called.

As I Bow My Head To Pray

I come to you everyday, and bow my head in prayer,
I ask that you'll forgive my sins, and show me that you care.
I ask that for my life, that yours will become mine,
As I bow my head in prayer, I'll ask this everytime.

I ask that you will bless my life, and help my mind to learn,
The things of God, and how to live, this my heart does yearn.
I promise to be faithful, and also to be true,
And everytime I bow my head, I will think of you.

Great Spirit, God, Creator of All
I welcome You into my heart, mind, body and soul.
There is always room for You here.
Grant me the wisdom to heed my inner voice, and the strength
to stay grounded while I sing my sacred song.
Guide me down my chosen path and give me the courage
to pursue what is available to me.
I am thankful for the lessons and grateful for my struggles;
I have not forgotten what has brought me to where I am today.
Open my heart to the healing wholeness of nature;
We are all related, and through this I will find serenity.
Great Spirit, God, Creator of All.......
Cleanse my spirit and wash my soul.
There is always room for You here.

"How Can I Not Believe?"
I cannot make the robin sing the songs for you and me
I cannot make the rainbow hue that in all of life we see
I cannot make the forest glade the rippling brook I hear
Nor can I put the sun up high nor control a tiny tear
I cannot make a golden leaf pasteled with colors bright
I cannot tell the stars to shine a glorious, wonderful sight
I cannot tell my heartstrings who or what to love
All these things I cannot do come from The Lord above
Yes, My Friend, I do believe for His gifts all say "I Care"
And since we cannot do these things
Thank God - "He" lets us share

Touch Me . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God's Word

To the weary pilgrim, I am a good staff.
To the one who sits in gloom, I am a glorious light.
To those who stoop beneath heavy burdens, I am sweet rest.
To him who has lost his way, I am a safe guide.
To those who have been hurt by sin, I am a healing balm.
To the discouraged, I whisper glad messages of hope.
To those who are distressed by the storms of life, I am an anchor.
To those who suffer in lonely solitude, I am a cool,
soft hand resting on a fevered brow.
O, child of man, to best defend me, just use me!

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

Psalm 78:11 (niv),
"They forgot what He had done,
the wonders He had shown them."
We forget how God lifted us in the past,
and sometimes we doubt that He can do it again.
He can! Give Him a chance.

The "Stairway" rises "Heaven high"- the "steps" are dark and steep.
In weariness we climb them as we stumble, fall and weep... and many times we falter
along the "path of prayer" wondering if You hear us and if You really care...
Oh, give us some assurance, restore our faith anew, so we can keep on climbing the
"Stairs of Prayer" to You - for we are weak and wavering, uncertain and unsure, and
only meeting You in prayer can help us to endure all life's trials and troubles its
sickness, pain and sorrow, and give us strength and courage to face and meet
tomorrow!.......

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.

"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 shady path that I would like to do,
Please take me carefully by the hand,
And guide me now as I often did for you.

The final heartbeat for the Christian
is not the mysterious conclusion
to a meaningless existence.
It is, rather,
the grand beginning to a life that will never end.

How Good It Feels

How good it feels to be alive, and to appreciate and enjoy life.
How good it feels to wake up every day, and to watch the little ones at play.
How good it feels to dream at night, and then wake up to beautiful sunlight.
How good it feels to have good friends, who will be with you until life's end.
How good it is to have the support of loved ones, and be able to go out and have fun.
How good it feels to hear, touch, smell, taste, and see, and live in a time in which we
can be whatever we want to be.
How good it feels to breathe in air and to be able to recognize my happiness and share

"He hath chosen us"

Herein is grace indeed.
What could there be in us that the Lord should choose us?
So far from being choice people in our own esteem,
we feel ourselves by nature to be the very reverse.
But if God has chosen us, then let our hearts
love Him, our lips extol Him, our hands serve Him,
our whole lives adore Him.

C.H. Spurgeon

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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