BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE

We all want happiness
and dread the thought of rain.
When the sun fails to shine,
we worry and complain.

We forget that God above
is infinitely wise,
and sometimes our ails
are blessings in disguise.

For if we're always happy
filled with sunshine and cheer,
our hearts would hold no mercy
for others who've shed tears.

So when trouble comes knocking
remember to stay strong.
Rainbows always follow the storm
and dark clouds never stay long.
~ Author Unknown

LIFE'S MIRROR

There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are pure and true,
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.

Give love, and love to your life will flow,
A strength in your utmost need,
Have faith, and a score of hearts will show
Their faith in your word and deed.

Give truth, and your gift will be paid in kind;
And honor will honor meet;
And a smile that is sweet will surely find
A smile that is just as sweet.

Give pity and sorrow to those who mourn,
You will gather in flowers again
The scattered seeds from your thoughts outborne
Though the sowing seemed but vain.

For life is the mirror of king and slave,
'Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.

M. Bridges

IT COULDN'T BE DONE

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

~ E. Guest ~

WHAT WILL YOU BE?

As I gazed up at the mountains,
I was awed by their majesty;
I bowed my head and asked myself,
"Why should He care for me?

I am not great like the mountains
that tower so high above,
What is there about me
that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind
that makes your tall trees sway,
I cannot sing sweetly like your birds;
will you love me anyway?

But most of all, I am simply me,
and often have cause to fear,
In spite of all my weaknesses,
do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears,
I wished He could hear me pray.
Then I felt His Spirit tell me,
"Child, look up, I have something to say."

"You are simply you, the spirit I love,
a part of my great plan.
I put you here to learn of life
and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me
than the loveliest mountain I made,
And your strength exceeds that of the wind's,
so do not be afraid."

"I love you not for what you are,
but for what I know you will be.
I am always beside you watching you grow,
you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it was true,
my Father had always been there.
Giving me comfort and blessings and love
and my own special talents to share.

So I do my best to make Him proud.
I am not afraid, for you see,
He loves me not for what I am,
but for what He knows I will be.
-Author Unknown--

HEALED AND WHOLE

One day I dug a little hole
and put my hurt inside
I thought that I could just forget
I'd put it there to hide.

But that little hurt began to grow
I covered it every day
I couldn't leave it and go on
It seemed the price I had to pay.

My joy was gone, my heart was sad
Pain was all I knew.
My wounded soul enveloped me
Loving seemed too hard to do.

One day, while standing by my hole
I cried to God above
And said, "If You are really there --
They say, You're a God of love!"

And just like that -- He was right there
And just put His arms around me
He wiped my tears, His hurting child
There was no safer place to be.

I told Him all about my hurt
I opened up my heart
He listened to each and every word
To every sordid part.

I dug down deep and got my hurt
I brushed the dirt away
And placed it in the Master's hand
And healing came that day.

He took the blackness of my soul
And set my spirit FREE!
Something beautiful began to grow
Where the hurt used to be.

And when I look at what has grown
Out of my tears and pain
I remember every day to give my hurts to Him
And never bury them again.

~ Author Unknown ~

The Dali Lama's Instructions for Life


Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Always follow the three Rs:

Respect for self,
Respect for others
Responsibility for all your actions.

Learn the rules so you break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone every day.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year go someplace you've never been.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

IF I HAD WINGS

If I had wings I would teach you to fly,
I'd teach you to love, I'd teach you to cry.

If I had wings I'd give you the moon,
I'd watch you grow-up far too soon.

If I had wings I'd teach you try,
to reach for the stars and strive for the sky.

If I had wings we'd never be apart,
I'd keep you with me, always in my heart.

If I had wings you'd never know pain,
I'd shelter you from the earth, the fire, and the rain.

But I'm not an Angel as you can see
and although I want to I may never be.

So all I can do is pray for these things,
these things that I would give you if only I had wings.
--Terrence Moore

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

You can know all the scriptures,
Have all the bibles you can reach,
But when push comes to shove
Do you practice what you preach?

Anyone can go to church
And collapse on the floor,
But when Judgment Day comes
Will you be at Heaven's door?

You can have the biggest of fits
And say the Holy ghost passed through,
But is that really reflected
In the things you do?

You can yell far and wide
Proclaiming your love for Christ,
But what have you given him
When for you He gave his life?

You can lecture others
About the wrong things they do,
But before you look at others
You need to look at you.

You can damn all the sinners
Tell them they're headed south,
But what have you done lately
Besides run your mouth?

You can call yourself a Christian
Spend all your days at church,
But while you are praising His name,
Have you been doing the Lord's work?

You can boast of good deeds
To show us the spirit is within
But why show it to us?
You should show it to Him!

You can memorize the bible
Know it from front to back,
But you don't use it to regulate others
Regulate how you act!

Take a good look at yourself
Not at what others do,
Because when He comes to get his children ...
Will He be coming for you too?
~ Author Unknown ~