July 22, 2011 • 5:58 pm 0
The joy of the Lord
Is your strength today,
And it’s more beautiful
Than words can say,
The joy of the Lord,
Both day and night,
Shines through your life –
What a winsome sight.
The joy of Christ in you
Is lovely like a song,
Flowing like a river—
So calm, so deep, so strong.
Perry Tanksley
Filed under: Poetry
July 20, 2011 • 6:26 pm 0
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord’s, soon paralleling His consistently…
You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus’ are now walking precisely in His steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one..
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints.. They have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: ‘Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.’
‘That is correct.’
‘And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..’
‘Very good.. You have understood everything so far..’ When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.’
‘Precisely.’
‘So, Lord, was there a regression or something ? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.’
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
‘You didn’t know? It was then that we danced!’
Filed under: Poetry
June 22, 2011 • 5:40 pm 0
How to stay safe in the world today
But,
You will be pleased that only 001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!
And…Bible study is safe too.
The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.
So for Safety’s sake
Attend church, and
Study your Bible,
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!
Filed under: Poetry
June 22, 2011 • 5:34 pm 0
It’s all Right to Say,
“I Love You!”
by Clay Harrison
It’s all right to say, “I love you!”
To someone every day,
To obey our Lord’s commandment
In a real and vital way.
The world is filled with sorrows
That sometimes touch us all,
And to know that we are loved
Lifts us when we fall.
The heart can be a lonely place
When no one comes to call,
But when someone says, “I love you!”
We feel we’re ten feet tall!
Love’s the rainbow after the storm,
Roses on a Summer day,
A smile that lights a darkened room
And chases fears away.
Three little words can mean so much
And they’re not hard to say…
It’s all right to say, “I Love You!”
To someone every day!
Filed under: Poetry
June 22, 2011 • 9:56 am 0
Knowing that all those who “arrive” have to begin where they are I choose to begin now. At this moment, I will do something.
For too long, I have allowed fearful thoughts to dominate my life. Now I recognize fear as a misuse of the creative imagination that has been placed inside of me. In the past, I have allowed fear to shove all hope aside. No more! Fear no longer has power to stop me from doing what I know to be right and true. I am no longer afraid. I am courageous. Right now. I will do something.
The person who faces no hardships gains no strength. Though I do not look for hardship, I am grateful for its results, for I have grown mighty in soil mixed with troubles. My roots are now deep. My mind and heart have become powerful. A beautiful flower cannot be created without fertilizer. A dazzling gem cannot be polished without great friction. I have taken the fertilizer and the friction and am better because of it. Now it is time for me to do something.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I can do something right now. Never again will I allow what I cannot do to interfere with what I can. Circumstances are rulers of the weak. I am not weak. Neither discouragement nor despair will stop me form doing something and doing it now. I am strong-minded. I can make myself do something I would rather not do in order to get a result that I do want. I will do something. And I will do it now.
My life, which was once a question mark, is now a statement. Stormy seas do not scare me, for I am the calm of the storm. My past is behind me and my future is bright because I now know the secret of the present. I will do something and I will do it now.
Right now. I will do something for my family. Right now. I will do something for my friends. Right now. I will do something for those who do not even know my name. For my family, my friends, and the strangers of the world are valuable in my Creator’s sight. I will let them know that I recognize the fact by my actions. I now know that my smile, my words, and my attitude are actions. They are all under my control. I am prepared to run my race. I am ready to hit the mark. I will now do my part in restoring humanity to the pathway toward successful civilization.
I will do something. And I will do it right now.
Filed under: Poetry
June 13, 2011 • 3:48 pm 0
THE WEDDING PRAYER
by Max Lucado
Create in us a love, O Lord.
An eternal love …
Your love.
A love that forgives
any failure,
spans
any distance,
withstands
any tempest.
Create in us a love, O Lord.
A new love.
A fresh love.
A love with the tenderness
of a lamb,
the grandeur
of a mountain,
the strength
of a lion.
And make us one. Intimately one.
As you made a hundred colors into one sunset,
A thousand cedars into one forest,
and countless stars into one galaxy …
make our two hearts as
one,
Father, forever …
that you may be praised, Father,
forever.
Filed under: Poetry
February 18, 2011 • 7:49 pm 0
When I say I’m a Christian by Carol Wimmer
When I say, “I am Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I was lost!
That’s why I chose this way”
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble–
needing God to be my guide
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are all too visible
but God believes I’m worth it
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still fill the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name
When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved!
Filed under: Poetry
