Hand in Hand

I’m on a guided journey,

Through this most delightful land.

I need no compass, chart or map— 

God leads me by the hand. –Gordon Thomas

Trust in Him

As a sailor

trusts a beacon

in unfamiliar waters

trust in the Lord.

He will bring you through fathomless seas

filled with billowing waves,

through rocky beds and narrow inlets

until you anchor once more

safely in His port.

--Alice Joyce Davidson

Courage

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." …You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

--Eleanor Roosevelt

What to Pray For

I asked for bread and got a stone;

I used the stone to grind the grain

That made the flour to form the bread

That I could not obtain.

Instead of asking Him to give

The things for which we pray,

All that we need to ask from God

Is this: show us the way.

--James A. Bowman

I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

  –Edward Everett Hale


 

A Smile

A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made right by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

--Author Unknown

Be Strong

Be strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;

Shun not the struggle—face it; ‘tis God’s gift.

Be strong!

Say not, "The days are evil. Who’s to blame?"

And fold the hands and acquiesce—oh shame!

Be strong!

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not—fight on!

Tomorrow comes the song.

--Maltbie Davenport Babcock


 

There’s a Reason

For every pain that we must bear,

For every burden, every care,

There’s a reason

For every grief that bows the head,

For every teardrop that is shed,

There’s a reason.

For every hurt, for every plight.

For every lonely pain-racked night,

There’s a reason.

But if we trust God as we should,

It all will work out for our good.

He knows the reason.

"…We know that for those who love God all

things work together unto good…" (Romans 8:28)

The Sense of a Goose

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone—and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed in the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally---and this is important—when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

--Author Unknown

Nine Things That Love Does

Love suffers long. –1 Cor. 13:4

Love rejoices in truth. –1 Cor. 13:6

Love bears all things. –1 Cor. 13:7

Love believes all things. –1 Cor. 13:7

Love hopes all things. –1 Cor. 13:7

Love endures all things. –1 Cor. 13:7

Love abides now. –1 Cor. 13:13

Love covers a multitude of sins. –1 Peter 4:8

Perfect love casts out fear. –1 John 4:18

God’s Love

We can only see a little of the ocean,

A few miles distant from the rocky shore;

But out there—beyond

beyond our eyes’ horizon,

There’s more—there’s more.

We can only see a little of God’s love—

A few rich treasures from His mighty store;

But out there—beyond,

beyond our eyes’ horizon,

There’s more—there’s more!

--Anonymous

Small Steps

Do not despair, that you cannot change

The world in a day or two.

Instead, just give your very best

In the little things you do.

Then you will find in days to come

When taken all together,

These little steps did change and make

The world a little better.

--Thomas C. Gallagher

Handy Little Chart

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"	God says: All things are possible	(Luke 18:27) But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
You say: "I'm too tired"	God says: I will give you rest	(Matthew 11:28-30) 28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
You say: "Nobody really loves me"	God says: I love you	(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
You say: "I can't go on"	God says: My grace is sufficient	(2 Corinthians 12:9) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Psalm 91:15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.)
You say: "I can't figure things out"	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5- 6) 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
You say: "I can't do it"	God says: You can do all things	(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
You say: "I'm not able"	God says: I am able	(2 Corinthians 9:8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
You say: "It's not worth it"	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 ) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
You say: "I can't forgive myself"	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Romans 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
You say: "I can't manage"	God says: I will supply all your needs	(Philippians 4:19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
You say: "I'm afraid"	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	(2 Timothy 1:7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(1 Peter 5:7) . . . casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
You say: "I don't have enough faith"	God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith	(Romans 12:3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
You say: "I'm not smart enough"	God says: I give you wisdom	(1 Corinthians 1:30) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
You say: "I feel all alone"	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5) He Himself has said; “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”