Quote by Henry Van Dyke

Is there anything that pleases you more than to be trusted,---- to have even a child look up into your face, and put out its hand to meet yours, and come to you confidently? By so much as God is better than you are, by so much more does he love to be trusted . . . There is a hand stretched out to you, --- a hand with a wound in the palm of it. Reach out the hand of your faith to clasp it, and cling to it, for without faith it is impossible to please God.

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is too short to waste

            In critic peep or cynic bark,

Quarrel or reprimand, ----

            ‘T’will soon he dark;

Up! mind thine own aim, and

            God speed the mark!

Quote by Basil Wilberforce

Remember, you cannot see both sides of the coin at once. When you are discouraged by the striving of the animal nature and utterly disgusted with yourself and hating yourself as wholly unregenerate, the noblest exercise of your mental faculty is to force yourself to turn over the coin of yourself, and think intensely into the other side. Say “But I am the Lord’s: His image is stamped on me. His life is in me; His eternal purpose is my perfection. My true ego is His Divine Spirit.”

Quote by Mrs. A.D.T. Whitney

There is no joy, --- there is no beauty, --- there is no glory of living, or of acting, --- no supreme moment you can picture in your dreams, that is not in your life, as God sees it, --- stirring in the intuition you have of it now, --- waiting for you in the glorious fulfillment that shall be There!

Story by Anonymous

At first I saw God as my observer,
    My judge, Keeping track of the things I did wrong.
So as to know whether I merited heaven of hell when I die.
    He was sort of like a president.
I recognized his picture when I saw it,
    But I really didn’t know Him.

But later on, when I met Christ,
    It seemed as though life were rather like a bike rider
But it was a tandem bike,
    And I noticed that Christ was in the back
Helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places
    But life has not been the same since.

When I was in control I knew the way, it was rather boring but predictable . . . .
    It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead He knew delightful long cuts,
    Up mountains, and through rocky places,
At breakneck speeds it was all I could do to hang on!
    Even though it looked like madness He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked:
    “Where are you taking me?”
He laughed and didn’t answer,
    And I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure and when I’d say “I’m scared”
    He would lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.
    They gave me gifts to take on my journey, My Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again
    He said, “Give the gifts away;
They’re extra baggage, too much weight.”
    So I did, to the people we met.
And I found that in giving I received,
    And still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life.
    I thought he’d wreck it.
But He knows bike secrets, knows how to bend to take sharp corners,
    Knows how to just clear high rocks,
Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
    And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places

And when I am sure I just cannot do it anymore,
    He just smiles and says . . . “Pedal.”

EPHESIANS: IN CHRIST OR HIS EQUIVALENT (KJV)

FAITHFUL IN HIM Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

BLESSED  Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

CHOSEN Eph. 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

ADOPTED Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

ACCEPTED Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

REDEEMED Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

WILL RECEIVED Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

CENTERED Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

INHERITANCE Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

GLORIFIED Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

SEALED Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

FAITH  Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

WISDOM Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

HOPE AND GLORY, INHERITANCE Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

POWER Eph 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

RAISED US UP Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

RICHES OF HIS GRACE Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Poem by James T. Fields - "The Captain's Daughter"

We were crowded in the cabin,
  Not a soul would dare to sleep, ---
It was midnight on the waters,
  And a storm was on the deep.

“Tis a fearful thing in winter
  To be shattered by the blast,
And to hear the rattling trumpet
  Thunder, “Cut away the mast!”

So we shuddered there in silence, ---
  For the stoutest held his breath,
While the hungry sea was roaring
  And the breakers talked with death.

As thus we sat in darkness,
  Each one busy with his prayers,
“We are lost!” the captain shouted,
  As he staggered down the stairs.

But his little daughter whispered,
  As she took his icy hand,
“Isn’t God upon the ocean,
  Just the same as on the land?”

Then we kissed the little maiden,
  And we spake in better cheer,
And we anchored safe in harbor
  When the morn was shining clear

Poem by Henry Van Dyke - America For Me

“Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings, ---
But now I think I’ve had enough of antiquated things.

    So it’s home again, and home again, America for me!
    My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,
    In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,
    Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air;
And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair;
And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome;
But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.

I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled;
I like the garden of Versailles, with flashing fountains filled;
But oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day
In the friendly Western woodland where Nature has her way!

I know that Europe’s wonderful, yet something seems to lack;
The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.
But the glory of the Present is to make the Future Free, ----
We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.

    Oh, it’s home again and home again, America for me!
    A want a ship that’s westward bound to plow the rolling sea,
    To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
    Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

Poem by Mary Dow Brine - "Somebody's Mother"

The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street, with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of “school let out,”
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her----
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
“I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong,
Then back again to his friends he went,
His strong heart happy and well content.
“She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,
For all she’s aged and poor and slow,
“And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
“If ever she’s poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away.”
And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was “God be kind to that noble boy,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy!”

Quote by Unknown - GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?
She stood at the bar of justice, a creature wan and wild,
In form too small for a woman, in feature too old for a child.
For a look so worn and pathetic was stamped on her pale, young face,
It seemed long years of suffering must have left that silent trace.

“Your name,” said the judge, as he eyed her, with kindly look, yet keen,
“Is _______” “Mary McGuire, if you please, sir.” “And you age?” “I’m now 15.”
“Well, Mary,” ----and then from a paper, he slowly and gravely read----
“You are charged here----I am sorry to say it ----with stealing 3 loaves of bread.”

"You look not like an offender, and I hope that you can show
This charge to be false. Now tell me, are you guilty of this or no?”
A passionate burse of weeping was at first her sole reply,
But she dried her tears in a moment, and looked in the judges’ eye.

“I will tell you just how it was sir; My father and mother are dead,
And my little brothers and sisters were hungry and asked me for bread.
At first I earned it for them, by working hard all day,
But somehow the times were hard, sir, and the work all fell away.”

“I could get no more employment; the weather was bitter and cold;
The young ones cried and shivered (Johnnie’s but four years old);
So what was I to do, sir? I am guilty, but do not condemn;
I took ----O! Was it stealing? ----The bread to give to them.”

Every man in the courtroom----gray beard and thoughtless youth----
Knew, as he looked upon her, that the prisoner was speaking the truth.
Out from their pockets came kerchiefs, and from their eyes sprung tears,
And out from old, faded wallets, treasures hoarded for years.

The judge’s face was a study, the strangest you ever saw,
As he cleared his throat and murmured something about the law.
For one so learned in such matters, so wise in dealing with men,
He seemed on a simple question sorely puzzled just then.

No one blamed him, or wondered when at last these words they heard,
“The sentence of this young prisoner is for the present deferred.”
And no one blamed him or wondered when he went to her and smiled,
And tenderly led from the courtroom, himself, the “Guilty” child.
                ----Author Unknown

(The above poem dates back to the Depression years in the 1930’s.)

Anecdote - "Fishin"

A group of pleasure-seekers went to a woodland stream to spend a day fishing. They had the best fishing outfits money could buy. Hours passed and they ha nothing to show for their efforts.
Nearby sat a poorly dressed youngster catching several fish. He had only a tree branch for a pole, a string for a line, a bent pin for a hook, worms and flies for bait.
The unsuccessful group finally asked the lad about his success. He said it in few words: “You fellers are fishin’ for fun, I’m fishin’ for fish!”
The fisher-boy’s answer has its lesson for all who would be fishers of men.

Musings - Bumper Sticker Theology

It’s hard to improve on bumper sticker theology, but sometimes it’s necessary. We saw one the other day that read: “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!” That’s a good line, but it should say “God said it --- and that settles it!” If God says it, it’s true whether anybody believes it or not.

Poem by Unknown - "Whose Delinquency?"

We read in the papers,
We hear on the air
Of killing and stealing
And crime everywhere.

We sign and we say
As we notice the trend.
“This young generation----
Where will it all end?”

But can we be sure
That it’s their fault alone?
That may be a part of it
Isn’t also our own?

Kids don’t make movies,
They don’t write the books,
That paint a gay picture
Of gangsters and crooks.

They don’t make the liquor,
They don’t run the bars,
They don’t make the laws
And they don’t buy cars.

They don‘t make the drugs
That addle the brain;
It’s all done by older folks,
Greedy for gain.

In far too many cases
We find this to be true,
The label “Delinquent”
Fits older folks, too.

Poem by Unknown - "Being Content"

As God leads, I am content,

            He will take care,

All things by His will are sent,

            That I must bear,

To Him I take my fear,

            My wishes, while I’m here,

The way will all seem clear,

            When I am “There”.

Quote from WORLD WITHOUT MEN

WORLD WITHOUT MEN  (from a 1911 collection)

Aunt Samantha was visiting at a house in Buffalo . She is an old maid and very devout, always concluding her prayers with a Gloria.

“Why does she say such funny things in her prayers?” said the little daughter of the house.

“Why, what does she say?” replied the fond mamma.

“I don’t remember all she says, but she always ends with ‘World without men, ah, me.’”

Anecdote - The Pit

A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out,

A SUBJECTIVE person came along and said:
    : I feel for you down there.’
An OBJECTIVE person came along and said:
    “It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”
A PHARISEE said:
    “Only bad people fall into a pit.”
A MATHEMATICIAN
    calculated how he fell into the pit.
A NEWS REPORTER
    wanted the exclusive story on his pit.
A FUNDAMENTALIST said:    
    “You deserve your pit.”
And I.R.S. man
    asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A SELF_PITYING person said:
    “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve see MY PIT!”
An OPTIMIST said:
    “Things could be worse.”
A PESSIMIST said:
    “Things will get worse!”
JESUS, seeing the man, took him by the hand and LIFTED HIM OUT of the pit.
    
            ---Source Unknown

Poem by Unknown - "God Will Do The Rest"

I asked the Lord to bless you
As I prayed for you today;
To guide you and protect you,
As you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true;
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.
So when the road you’re traveling on
Seems difficult at best,
Just remember I’m here praying
And GOD WILL DO THE REST

Anecdote - The Absent T's

I can’_ seem _o find _he _ime _o a _ _ end God’s house. _his means _ha_ I’m chea_ing God ou_ of my _ime, _alent and _reasure. I’ll probably regre_ i_ when I s_ and before Him. Pray _ha_ I’ll s_op being one of _he absen_”’s”

Poem by John F. Brand - "One Thing More Beautiful"

The little girl hated her freckles,
Of which she had quite a few.
And when someone would tease her,
She didn’t know what to do.

Grandma said, “They’re beautiful
I wanted some when I was small.
Now name me one thing that’s prettier,
Just name one thing, that’s all.”

The little girl quickly dried her tears,
And looking up into Grandma’s face,
She said just one word ---“Wrinkles”
And a smile did her tears replace.a

Poem by Unknown - "Thoughts of a Blood Donor"

I gave my blood.
    Christ gave His
I gave a pint;
    Christ gave ALL.
The needle is small and sharp,
    The nails were large and dull.
The table soft and relaxful,
    The cross rough and painful.
The nurses kind and gentle,
    The soldiers cruel and mean.
The crowd applauds my sacrifice,
    They that passed by reviled Him.
Mine is for O positive,
    His for positively all.
Mine at best will prolong life for a while,
    His, without doubt, can save FOREVER.

Poem by Unknown - "I Love You Lord, But"

I LOVE YOU LORD BUT
    Don’t count on me!

“I love Thy church, O God,
Her walls before thee stand.”
But please excuse my absence, Lord,
This bed is simply grand.

“A charge to keep I have
A God to glorify.”
But Lord expect no cash from me,
Thy glory comes too high.

“Am I a soldier of the Cross
A follower of the Lamb?”
Yes, though I seldom pray,
I still insist I am.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?”
No! Others, Lord should do their part,
But please don’t count on me.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below.”
Load my hymns of praise I bring,
Because it doesn’t cost to sing.

Quote from BY WAY OF APPLICATION by Chuck Swindoll

Our culture is constantly ending the message that big boys don’t cry; they are to be tough, not tender. The mistake our culture makes is seeing toughness and tenderness as mutually exclusive qualities. Two of history’s “manliest” men, David and Jesus, displayed moments of great tenderness. David weeps openly with Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:41 and repeatedly throughout the Psalms (6:6, 69:10). Jesus weeps over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and over the unrepentant city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). How often do you children see you being vulnerable and tender? If they don’t see those qualities in you, where will the learn them?

Poem by John F. Brand - "Close Kin"

The day was very chilly,
And the little girl’s coat was thin.
She stood at the bakery window,
And was longingly looking in.
A lady came by and invited her
Some cocoa and cookies to share.
“Are you God?” asked the little girl
Of the lady who seemed to care.
“No,” she said, “but I’m His child,”
And the little girl started to grin,
“Because you were so kind to me,
I was sure that you were some kin.”

Anecdote - Sinking Feeling:

“Thank God, I don’t have to go to the office today,” a man said

His wife said, “Don’t think you are going to play golf today and leave me to clean up the house.”

“Why, golf is the farthest thing from my mind,” he replied, between bites of toast, “and please pass me the putter.”

Poem by Unknown - "Morning Dawn"

The camel as the close of day,
Kneels down upon the sandy plain,
To have his burden lifted off,
And rest again

Then too, O Traveler, to thy knees
When daylight draweth to a close,
And let the Mater lift thy load,
And grant repose.

Else how wouldst thou tomorrow meet,
With all tomorrow’s work to do
If thou the burden all the night,
Dost carry through?

The camel kneels at break of day,
To have his guide replace the load,
Then rises up anew, to take
The desert road.

So, pilgrim, kneel at morning dawn,
That God may give thee daily care;
Assured that He no load too great,
Will make thee bear.

Anecdote - Grandma's Glasses

Grandma’s Glasses

    A little boy said to a playmate, “When I get older I want to wear glasses just like Grandma wears. She must have a special kind because she can see much more than most people.
    “She can see when folks are hungry or tired or sorry, and she can even see what’ll make them feel better. She can see how to fix a lot of things to have fun with, and she can see what a feller meant to do, even if he didn’t do it right. She can see when a feller is about to cry and she can see what to do to make him feel better.
    “I asked her one day how she could see so good, and she said it was the way she learned to look at things as she got older. So when I get older I want a pair of glasses just like Grandma’s so I can see good, too.”

Swedish Proverb

No one has so big a house that he does not need a good neighbor

    Guests should not forget to go home

He who buys what he doesn’t need steals from himself

    Don’t throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water

Being young is a fault which improves daily

    A life without love, a year without summer

Better to suffer for the truth than to be rewarded for a lie

Anecdote - A Silent Sermon

    Grandfather would tuck his Bible under his arm and walk through the small town he lived in to Sunday school and church services. For the last five years of his life he could not hear, and he never heard a word of any sermon, yet he continued to go.
    One day I asked him, “Grandpa, Why do you keep on going to Sunday school and church when you can’t hear a word that the preacher says?”
    ‘I keep on going?” he replied, “even if I don’t hear, because I want people to know whose side I’m on.”
    Do people know whose side you’re on? Do you want them to know? It is time for Christians to take a stand for Christ. We must be different from the world if we are to help it. Until we make it clear who it is we serve, no one will ever pay attention to us.
    An evaluation of some Christians’ lives would lead one to believe that God “really isn’t that big a deal.” Make sure the world knows whose side you’re on.
    “. . . as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Quotes from Dr. Henrietta C. Mears

Quotations from the Teacher

    Dr. Henrietta C. Mears, the Founder of Gospel Light Publications, had a personal file that covered over 30 years of teaching God’s Word. She was known affectionately as “Teacher” by those she personally taught and influenced. Some of her  thoughts, gathered here from her files, came from a mind thoroughly dedicated to Christ.  She said:

“If I had my life to live over again, I would just believe God.”

“Time cannot be saved, it can only be spent, and if not spent wisely and well, it is wasted.”

“Live the Gospel first! Tell about it afterward!”

“A man generally lives up to what is expected of him.”

“Not your responsibility, but your response to God’s ability counts.”

“Jesus lived that He might die, and died that we might live!”

“It is not what we think but what God says that is important!”

“How terrible it would be if God really gave us everything for which we asked.”

“Christ did not bear the cross --- He used it.”

“Some people grow under responsibility; others swell.”

“What you are is God’s gift to you. What you can become is your gift to Him.”

“If you haven’t learned to follow, you can’t lead.”

“Redemption was not an after-thought with God.” (Ephesians 1:4)”

“You teach a little bit by what you say. You teach most by what you are.”

“ The recognition of our duties is more important than the recognition of our rights.”

“A man who walks with God always gets to his destination.”

“I know not the way He leads me, but well do I know my Guide.”

            Thank You Teacher!

Anecdote - Finding What He Looked For

    Jim Smith went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note during the prelude, and he winced. He saw a teenager talking when everybody was supposed to be bowed in silent prayer. He felt like the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate and it made him boil. He cau7ght the preacher making a slip of the tongue five times in the sermon by actual count. As he slipped out thro’ the side door during the closing hymn, he mutter to himself, “Never again! What a bunch of clods and hypocrites!”

    Ron Jones went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist play and arrangement of “A Mighty Fortress” and he thrilled to the majesty of it. He heard a young girl take a moment in the service to speak her simple moving message of the difference her faith makes to her life. He was glad to see that his church was sharing in a special offering for the hungry of Nigeria. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday --- it answered a question that had bothered him for a long time. He thought, as he walked out the doors of the church, “How can a man come here and not feel the presence of God?”

    Both men went to the same church on the same Sunday morning. Each found what he was looking for. What will you be looking for this Sunday?

Excerpt from FRONT PORCH TALES by Phillip Gulley

Tasting Tears

    When my wife and I first married, we lived upstairs in an old house owned by a mortician who gave us a rent break every time I helped him bury someone.  Eventually, they tore the house down, since in America it’s easier to throw something away than to fix it.
    We moved into an old farmhouse with thousand-dollar heating bills and wraparound porches.  The house sat in the middle of five hundred acres of corn and beans.  Came with a barn, a chicken coop turned garage, and a smokehouse.  Since I don’t smoke, we put our bicycles there.  The house also came with a whole tribe of barn cats, one of whom slipped through the screen door, unpacked his cat suitcase, and set up housekeeping. We named him Whittier, after the Quaker poet, and trained him to hide every time the landlord came around checking for violations.
    Our neighbor had a cat named Cream Rinse.  How that name came into being is an entirely different story. Let me just say it made no difference to the cat who, like most cats, didn’t come when he was called anyway.  The cat I had as a child came when I called it, but only when I ran a can opener at the same time.  What’s more important to know is that Cream Rinse and Whittier were nearly identical in appearance, except for a small white spot on Whittier’s chin.
    We didn’t have any children at the time and considered Whittier our “baby.” So when I was lying in the bathtub one morning and heard my wife wail and gnash her teeth, I knew something had happened to Whittier. Sure enough, there had been a feline-auto encounter of the worst kind on the road in front of our house.  Being the one with the burial experience, it fell to me to entomb him out back underneath the walnut tree.  Except I didn’t have a shovel, so I had to borrow our neighbor’s at six o’clock in the morning, which woke her up.  Being the mother of Cream Rinse, she was most understanding.
    Three days later, I was sitting on the porch swing reading “Dear Abby” (Dear Abby, I have neighbors who borrow my lawn tools at all hours of the day. What should I do?), and Whittier jumped on my lap, white spot and all. Resurrection! Hallelujah! Turns out Whittier had gone to visit relations for a few days, and it was Cream Rinse I’d buried. Perhaps you’re wondering how I could have made such a mistake.  I will simply mention that when dealing with flattened feline, one doesn’t look too closely for identifying characteristics.
    Now came the hard part.  I had to tell my neighbor it was her cat who’d used up his nine lives.  And I had to do it without laughing, it being unwise to chuckle when giving death notices. I’d learned that from my old landlord. But certain aspect of this seemed so humorous, a chortle and a titter slipped right out.  Which confirmed her suspicion that I was an unfeeling clod?
    Turns out Cream Rinse had gotten his name from Saturday night baths. So they had a history, and she had some tears to shed.
    Been times I’ve wondered how others can be so happy when I’m so miserable.  Then other times I’ve wondered how I can smile when other folks are crying buckets.  And how little those tears mean to me sometimes.
    Of all the traits we need to cultivate, empathy is the toughest. That’s when somebody’s crying but someone else tastes tears.  Most of us don’t taste anyone’s tears but our own.  And we wonder why our souls dry up.
    So today I aspire toward empathy, for tasting tears other than my own. And I’m going to start with my neighbor, whom Jesus commanded me to love, whether she loans me their lawn tools or not.

Excerpts from SEA EDGE by W. Phillip Keller

Sunrise and Sunset

    Sunrise over the sea is this hour of early dawn when the shore lies stripped of all human life. The clash and clamor of all human intrusion is stilled. The feverish activity of modern man is absent.
    Peace pervades the realm of the sea, sky and shore.
    Slowly the eastern sky turns from gray to gold, to burning red. The low light casts the coast into sharp silhouettes. Headlands, hills, trees, rocks and birds along the beach stand sharp against the light, cast in brittle black.
    Every dawn breaks anew upon my soul with the promise that today can be cherished. It is a special treasure of time entrusted to me for the Master’s use.
    Gradually as the sun moves in grandeur across the sky, the hours of the day are flooded with light, warmed with pleasure. Then slowly as evening descends the burning orb of fire settle softly into the sea, as though settling down gently for the night.
    The brilliant banners of tattered clouds, tinged with intense red, rose and pulsing scarlet hues, remind us that the day is done, What has been done has been done!

    It must be hard indeed for skeptics, atheists and agnostics to view sunrises and sunsets. The splendor of their glory, that comes from our Father’s loving heart, are to the unbeliever nothing more than mere chemical and physical responses to external stimuli. No wonder their world is so bleak, their despair so deep, their future so forlorn.
    But for God’s child sunrise and sunset are very special. They are intense interludes of quiet communion with the living Christ. They are moments of majesty in which our Father displays His love and might. They are scenes of spiritual exaltation in which His glorious Spirit lifts us to wondrous heights of pure joy in His presence.

    So dawn follows darkness. Sunset follows day. Our short sojourn here is marked off in the steady rhythm of the seasons, tides, moons and sunsets. Each is a beautiful reminder----“O my father, You are nigh! Your glory fills the whole earth! All is well with my soul! In Your presence there is joy forevermore!”

                

Random Quotes

“I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.”
       ~ George Burns

“If I were two faced, would I be wearing this one?”
        ~ Abraham Lincoln

“I am not young enough to know everything”
        ~ Oscar Wilde

“I recently found out that my credit card was stolen but I decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than my wife.”
        ~ Anon

    
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of stairs.
“Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.
“The front row please,” she answered.
“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The pastor is really boring.”
“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired.
“No,” he said.
“I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
“Good,” he answered.

Poem by Unknown - "Thank God for You"

THANK GOD FOR YOU

Good friend of mine,
Seldom is friendship such as thine;
How very much I wish to be
As helpful as you’ve been to me. . .

Of many prayer guests, one thou art
On whom I ask God to impart
Rich blessings from His storeroom rare.
And grant to you His gracious care. . .

When I recall, from time to time,
How you inspired this heart of mine;
I find myself inclined to pray
God bless my friend this very day

So often at the throne of Grace
There comes a picture of your face;
And then instinctively, I pray
That God will guide you all the way. . .

Some day, I hope with you to stand
Before the throne, at God’s right hand,
And to say to you at journey’s end,
“Praise God you’ve been to me a friend---
THANK GOD FOR YOU”

Poem by Unknown - “The Most Beautiful Flower”

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,

For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,

A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,

With its petals all worn---not enough rain, or too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,

I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,

"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.

That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.

Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.

So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,

He held it mid-air without reason or plan.

It was then that I noticed for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one.

You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,

Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.

How did he know of my self-indulged plight?

Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.

And for all of those times I myself had been blind,

I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand...

About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

Poem by Unknown - "Where?"

There was a little boy,
On the week's first day,
Coming home from Sunday School
And wandering on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass
And found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod
And blew out all the filler.

A bird's nest in a tree above,
So wisely placed on high,
Was just another wonder
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his crooked course
And hailed him from the lawn.
He asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

"I've been to Sunday School," he said
As he turned a piece of sod,
And picking up a worm, he smiled,
"I've learned a lot from God!"

"That's a fine way," the neighbor said,
"For a boy to spend his time.
"Now if you can tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash the answer came,
The boy said without complaint,
"I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't!"

Poem by Mary Dow Brine - "Somebody's Mother"

The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street, with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of “school let out,”
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her---
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong’
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
“She’s somebody’s mother, you understand,
For all she’s aged and poor and slow.
“And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
“If ever she’s poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away.”
And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was “God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy!”