A Love Story

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.
As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.

He asked me "Do you love me?"

I answered,
"Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!"

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't; be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered,
"It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

Then the Lord said,
"If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"

How could I love something without being able to see it?
Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation.
So I answered, "It's hard to think of it, but I would still love you." The Lord then asked me,

"If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts.
I answered,
"It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word."

The Lord then asked,
"If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"

How could I praise without a voice?
Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul.
It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks.So I answered,
"Though I cou normal; color: navy">0ld not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name."

And the Lord asked,
"Do you really love Me?"

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly,
" Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!"
I thought I had answered well, but...

God asked,
"THEN WHY DO YOU SIN ?"

I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect."

"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?
WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?"

No answers. Only tears.

Lord continued:
Why only sing at fellowships and retreats?
Why seek Me only in times of worship?
Why ask things so selfishly?
Why ask things so unfaithfully?"

The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

"Why are you ashamed of Me?
Why are you not spreading the good news?
Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when offer My shoulder to cry on?
Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"

I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away.
I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away.
I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge.
I have spoken to you but your ears were closed.

I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away.
I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away.
I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all."
"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?"

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief.
I had no excuse. What could I say to this?
When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said,
"Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."
The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My Child." I asked,
"Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"

The Lord answered,
" Because you are My Creation. You are my Child. I will never abandon you.
When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you.
When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you.
I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever."

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold?
How could I have hurt God as I had done?
I asked God, "How much do You love me?"

The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

(unknown)

How Do I Love Thee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

Colors

Black and yellow, red and white,
All are precious in God's sight.
All the colors in the sky,
And every color in each eye.

We see the beauty all around,
Why not in all who walk on the ground?
For green is not better than red,
But together create beauty instead.

For every color in God's sight,
Was made and formed, each just right.
For God loves all, just hates our sin,
After all He's our next of kin.

When love is shown from one to another,
A multitude of sin it shall cover.
Each one was created equal in God's eye,
To love one another is the reason why.

So look upon each other with love,
For we all came from God above.

(taken from www.christianstories.com )

The Rose

Some say love, it is a river,
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor,
That leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless, aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you, it's soul the seed.

It's a heart afraid of breaking,
That never learns to dance;
It's the dream, afraid of waking,
That never takes the chance;

Its the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give;
And the soul, afraid of dying,
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely,
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong:

Just remember, in the winter,
Far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love
In the Spring, becomes the rose.

(thanks to Sunur)

Dreams All So True

The words we never spoke,
The words we never heard,
In hand and hand we stand
Did all that we could.

The dreams that seem so real,
The dreams that once came true,
I see myself in your eyes
They reflect the way I feel.

The memories of my wildest dreams,
The memories to be made,
For ever loving lasting life,
The fact it's you and me.

The friends we once became,
The friends we'll always stay,
All the loving that we shared
We can turn night into day.

The loving that we do so well,
The loving that is always there,
God, meant us to be
Lovers all so swell.

(by Katz Burton)

Thoughts For The Day

Love starts with a smile, develops with a kiss and ends with a tear.

'To love someone takes a lot of effort
To give up someone takes a lot of courage
Starting over is not that bad
At least you have learnt a lot to do it all over again'

'It takes a minute to have a crush on someone,
an hour to like someone and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.'

'The people who influence you...are people
who believe in you.'

'Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as they would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.'

'In Love, There Are No Boundaries
In Memories, Love Lives Forever'


"Time is precious as it is priceless.
Spend it wisely and the
memories it brings will be its own reward..."

"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow.
In that lies hope."

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched,
They must be felt with the heart...."

"Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart."

( thanks to lexsy )

Chance

There are times in life...When the person you will love,
For the rest of your life. Walks into your life.
Sometimes, just sometimes...You hurt that person,
You push them away. Not meaning to, but you do.
Because you do this... You lose that person,
They walk away.

At times... You are afraid, to go on, after this.
But what choice do you have?
All you can do... Is hope that one day,
If that person really was the one.
You will meet again.

And if, just by chance... You get that second chance,
Remember the past. Learn from your mistakes,
And never let them happen again.
And by doing this... You will find out,
That a lifetime of happiness awaits.
If kisses were water, I'd give u a sea,
If hugs were leaves, I'd give u a tree,
If spaces were love, I'd give eternity,
And if u are true and sincere to me,
I'll keep all my love just for thee.

And every morning when you open your eyes,
Tell yourself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every second is a gift from God.
You've got to dance like nobody's watching,
and love like it's never going to hurt.

People say true friends must always hold hands,
but true friends don't need to hold hands
because they know the other hand will always be there.

( thanks to lexsy )

Clarity

Feelings wash over me
Like a stream does a stone
Beauty in my eyes
My heart is your home

Space all around
Too much to bear
My hand caresses you
A mirage, only air

How can I stop
A mind of freewill
Longing for tenderness
Craving you still

At a loss for clarity
Making no sense
At a loss for purpose
Using no defense

When will I know
Sensation of touch
Silk and honey dreams
Your spirit is such

My hands are sculpting
Perfection from a dream
Can something be enhanced
Which my eyes have never seen


( thanks to Ken - great job.. friend..)

A Stone In The Sun

You have warmed my heart
Like a stone in the sun
And clouded my mind
Like a storm merely begun

If I could see the wind
Rather than it's effect
It would look like
Love pouring from your soul

If I could hear the emotion
That is held within your eyes
The sensation would endure
Until the day I die

I yearn to taste the ozone
That embraces your air
Experience the purity
A tempest, one so fair

In the depth of the storm
A sea of respite
My love is a rapture
Of euphoria and delight

Thanks to Ken (it's your second...thank you so much )

Give All The Love You Can

Give all the love you can,
Then give just a little bit more;
There's just no way of telling
What plans God has in store.

He may be using you
To speak a timely word
To someone who is hurting
And dearly needs the Lord.

And some kind deed you do
Might point someone to Him;
Just one small act of grace,
Might bring some lost soul in.

The power of love is mighty,
For love comes from the Lord;
So, give all the love you can,
Then give just a little bit more!

Copyright ©1999 by Jan McIntosh

Be Still..

Sometimes I ask the question, "My Lord, is this your will?"
It's then I hear you answer me, "My Precious Child...be still."
Sometimes I feel frustrated, cause I think I know what's best.
It's then I hear you say to me, "My Busy Child...just rest!"

Sometimes I feel so lonely and I think I'd like a mate.
Your still small voice gets oh so clear and says,
"My Child...please wait!"
"I know the plans I have for you, the wondrous things you'll see;

If you can just be patient, Child, and put your trust in me.
I've plans to draw you closer. I've plans to help you grow.
There's much I do you cannot see and much you do not know.
But know this, Child...I LOVE YOU.

You are Precious unto Me. Before I formed you in the womb,
I planned your destiny. I've something very special
I hope for you to learn.

The gifts I wish to give to you are gifts you cannot earn.
They come without a price tag, but not without a cost;
at Calvary, I gave My Son, so You would not be lost.

Rest Child, and do not grow weary of doing what is good.
I promise I'll come back for you just like I said I would.
Your name is written on my palm,
I never could forget;
Therefore, do not be discouraged when my answer is...
"Not Yet!"

~Author Unknown~