Poetry: One Thing You Must Believe

Enjoy your life today.

Thanksgiving is on the way.

They come and go so soon.

Look at the Harvest Moon.

Take a peaceful walk.

To beautiful nature talk.

Holidays come and go.

They come so fast you know.

Find joy in little things.

A little bird that sings.

Wake up! Enjoy today.

Only good things say.

Don't wait another day.

Enjoy your life today.

Holidays come and go.

They come and go you know.

Your joy is not in them.

Or any other whim.

Take pleasure in today.

Though holidays are on the way.

The holiday it will leave.

One thing you must believe.

That joy comes from within.

It's always with you, then.

~ SJ Holland ~

I so look forward to the holidays, don't you? Seems like there's always something that we're waiting on to happen; so that we can be happy and experience joy and pleasure. It's so easy to forget about today when we're so wrapped up in tomorrow. Before we know it, that long-awaited event or holiday has come and gone. And then for a moment, the light seems to have gone out of our lives, and the joy with it.

 

Create things everyday in your life that give you that same kind of joy while you're anticipating an event, while you're waiting on any holiday to arrive. You can, because it does not come from without, but from within.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

(Psalm 51:12, KJV)

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

(Psalm 126:5, KJV)

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  

(Psalm 16:11, KJV)

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Image Credit: tlindenbaum

Scriptures From: Bible Study Tools

Poetry: It Matters To Me About You

My child, I know thy sorrows,

Thine every grief I share;

I know how thou art tested,

And, what is more-I care.

Think not I am indifferent

To what affecteth thee;

Thy weal and woe are matters

Of deep concern to Me.

But, child, I have a purpose

In all that I allow;

I ask thee then to trust Me,

Though all seems dark just now.

How often thou hast asked Me

To purge away thy dross!

But this refining process

Involves for thee-a cross.

There is no other pathway

If thou would'st really be

Conformed unto the image

Of Him Who died for thee.

Thou can'st not be like Jesus

Till self is crucified;

And as a daily process

The cross must be applied.

Just as the skillful gardener

Applies the pruning knife,

E'en so, I too would sever

The worthless from thy life.

I have but one sole object-

That thou should'st fruitful be!

And is it not thy longing

That I much fruit should see?

Then shrink not from the training

I needs must give to thee;

I know just how to make thee

What I would have thee be.

Remember that I love thee!

Think not I am unkind,

When trials come to prove thee,

And joy seems left behind.

'Tis but a little longer

Until I come again;

What now seems so mysterious

Will all be then made plain.

Take courage then; and fear not!

Press forward to the prize,

A crown of life awaits thee,

Glory before thee lies!

 

~ Alice C. Lefroy ~

 

 

Hold on. Don't give up. Tell God.

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Poem From: The Tract League, Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1390
Image Credit:  bcjordan

Poetry: If We Send No Ships Out None Will Come In

Life without purpose is barren indeed.
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed.
There can't be attainment, unless there's a goal.
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.

If we send no ships out, no ships will come in.
Unless there's a contest nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.

So whatever is wrong with your life today,
You'll find a solution if you kneel down to pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health.
Not just for honor and prestige and wealth.

But pray for a purpose, to make life worth living.
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For great is your pleasure and rich your reward,
When you make you life's purpose
The choice of the Lord.

(Author Unknown or possibly Helen Steiner Rice)

My Encouragement To You

Please send your ship out one more time. The answer to your prayer is around the corner.  If you just don't give up you will experience it. The Lord is working to bring your desire into the physical. Let your net down at the time and in the place at which the Lord tells you. Just do it one more time, according to the Lord's will.  It doesn't matter how many times you've tried before.  Just do it again. Your draught of fishes is within reach. Your ship is on its way. Your kite is getting ready to catch the wind.

Luke 5:4-6

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Image Credit: alwaysmnky

Poetry: Life Is A Miracle Don't Let It Slip Away

Looking up at a Winter sky.

We run across cutesy quotations, verse and poetry everyday.  Often our emailboxes are crammed with positive alerts and good news notes, many that we have subscribed to.

Sometimes our lives can seem overloaded with positive thinking suggestions and admonitions to look up, think upwardly, aspire upwards, be upwardly mobile.  I support and promote all of that.  I am a positive thinker and becoming more so, as I combat cynicism, discouragement and dejection.

I ran across this poem in my bulging quotations file.  I don't even remember from where it came.  There is no credit to who wrote this insight into selflessness.  When I read it, I was inspired by the simple suggestions to be present and positive in our lives.

Life is a miracle

Don't let it slip away,

Open your heart to others

Give of yourself each day.

See the beauty in everyone

Regardless of where they've been,

Some have a difficult journey

And really need a friend.

Share your gifts and talents

Listen with your heart.

Do the things you dream about

But don't have time to start.

Pick a bouquet of flowers

Show someone that you care,

Be gracious and forgiving

Life is never fair.

Hold on to your courage

You may need it down the road,

We all have a cross to bear

It could be a heavy load.

If you practice all these things

No matter where you roam,

You may find both sun and rain

But you'll never feel alone!

(anonymous)

Do the things you dream about but don't have time to start.  Make the time to do the things that you don't have time to do. Make the money to do the things that you can't afford.  Make the effort to do the things that you wish you felt like doing...Understand?

Dear Father: I pray that for each person who reads this post, that you will broaden his scope and widen her horizon. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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Image Credit: Artsy Craftery Design Studio

Me, Myself & God

I went walking this morning with my coffee mug in hand.  It was a gray, drizzling daybreak, and 53 degrees.  Then I came back and sat on the breezeway to read my Bible, and spend time with God.  I like having these morning devotions.  They help me start my day on a positive note.  I start out strengthened and inspired, better prepared for anything that may come along.

I am glad that I have faith in how God does things.  God's ways seem to be very crazy and unfair to many, with 911, Jeffrey Dahmer, Sandyhook, slavery and war.  Many wonder if there is even a God at all.  If there is, they muse, he is very non-compassionate, selfish and self-centered.  Not a loving God at all, but a monster.

Some feel that starting my day with God is no different than starting the day with Yoga, meditation, exercise or other life-enhancing practices.

As I drank my coffee, listened to the winter birds and squirrels, and observed the leaden sky, I thought, anything can happen today.  There could be a devastating event in my life today.  A great blessing could come into my life today.  

I took another sip of my smooth, sweet coffee, and got up to start my day.
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Image Credit: prettyinprint

Poetry: Look Up With Joy

Look up, dear friend,

Where eagles soar

With confidence and grace.

Look up beyond

The stormy skies

Each one of us must face.

Look up with faith

And still the doubts,

The fears and apprehension.

Look up and know

That God above

Knows all your good intentions.

Look up with joy,

With hope and trust,

Then strive to do your best

To make your life

A shining light-

And God will do the rest!

(Vi B. Chevalier, published by Salesian Missions)