I Shall Not Live In Vain

A dear friend, a second father through my high school years and beyond, passed away on Sunday.  I will miss that grin he always had for me.  I love you, Roy!

If I can stop one Heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one Life the Aching
Or cool one Pain
Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again
I shall not live in Vain.

Emily Dickinson

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:23

My Prayer

I pray
Today
That God will bring you
Peace
Where there’s been pain
Harmony
Where there’s been discord
Love
Where there’s been loneliness

I pray
Today
That God will bring you
Solace
Where there’s been sorrow
Justice
Where there’s been inequality
Clarity
Where there’s been chaos

I pray
Today
That He will heal your human heart
and help you face tomorrow
With a renewed sense of
Courage
Strength
And wisdom.

Ted Hibbard

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:19-20

Keep Walking...

Here we stand together,
Dressed in our pain,
Covered with scars
From wounds we did not ask for
Or deserve.

So what now?

We can't go back and relive our lives.
We can't take back the innocence we lost
Or make the sadness we felt into happiness.

But we can go on from here,
So let us start.

Stretch out your hand to mine,
Close your eyes
And slowly let the pain slip away.
Let go of the sadness;
It belongs to yesterday,
And let's walk.

The earth is firm beneath our feet.
The sun is warm on our face.
Heavenly Father sees our struggle,
Smiles at our effort,
And sends us strength.

My friends, we can't stay, looking back,
Lest we falter.
We must face forward,
Eyes wide open,
And keep on walking.

Hold tight and don't let go;
You aren't walking alone,
And neither am I.

Barbara Aldrich

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1

I Am

I know not whence I came,
I know not whither I go
But the fact stands clear that I am here
In this world of pleasure and woe.
And out of the mist and murk,
Another truth shines plain.
It is in my power each day and hour
To add to its joy or its pain.

I know that the earth exists,
It is none of my business why.
I cannot find out what it's all about,
I would but waste time to try.
My life is a brief, brief thing,
I am here for a little space.
And while I stay I would like, if I may,
To brighten and better the place.

The trouble, I think, with us all
Is the lack of a high conceit.
If each man thought he was sent to this spot
To make it a bit more sweet,
How soon we could gladden the world,
How easily right all wrong.
If nobody shirked, and each one worked
To help his fellows along.

Cease wondering why you came--
Stop looking for faults and flaws.
Rise up to day in your pride and say,
"I am part of the First Great Cause!
However full the world
There is room for an earnest man.
It had need of me or I would not be,
I am here to strengthen the plan."
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah 29:11

I Asked God

I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No.
'It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.'

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
'Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.'

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
'Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.'

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
'I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.'

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
'Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.'

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
'You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.'

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
'I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.'

I asked God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
God said...
'Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.'

Author Unknown