The Hand That I Was Dealt In Life

The hand that I was dealt in life

Was violent,dark and sad

But I kept inside a faith in God

And thanked him for what I had.

As the seas rushed in, I felt sometimes

That I'd sink into despair

But I knew somehow I'd make it through

As long as God was there.

To save myself from falling in

To the misery and pain

I 'd say a prayer to mighty God

And he'd help me to sustain.

Through all the pain and heaviness

Sometimes my faith would not endure

But I knew that God would heal the pain

That was the one thing that I was sure.

Through the years the hands got worse

But my faith was growing strong

And looking back I learned to see

The things that I'd done wrong.

I prayed to God with my heart this time

And he heard me loud and clear

He forgave me of my sins of old

And took away the fear.

I thank God for the bad and good

And for all he's done for me

In looking back at all the pain

The lessons now I see.

With faith and hope and love of God

You can make it through it all

Don't let the seas of pain and misery

Rob you of it all.

Keep faith and hope a day will come

When you too can look back and see

You played the hand the God has dealt

And got through it gracefully.


Copyright 2000

Linda LaMar

God's Holy Place

It's Sunday again and I'm on my way
To hear all the things that God has to say
My very own place where no-one can see
Each week I am there by my favorite tree

I watch everyone as they're walking in
With dresses of silk and suits for the men
I know they are blessed it shows on their face
They're happy to share God's holiest place

I wish I could go but I don't belong
I couldn't shame God with clothes that are wrong
As I wait to hear the pastor's sweet voice
These dark clouds appear I must make a choice
With thunder so loud and lightning all round
I run to the church through rain pouring down

I open the door so quiet and slow
I'll stay in the back so no-one will know
As I turn around the silence was there
Heads turned one by one they started to stare

The whispers I heard had hurt even more
Especially the one I heard by the door
"How dare she come in to this holy place
Her dress is just rags with dirt on her face"

I thought to myself "How cruel they can be"
As I watched each one just staring at me
I felt so ashamed my tears start to fall
I clung to my dress not moving at all

When I turned to leave I heard someone say
"Please join us my friend I've prayed for this day"
His hand covered mine as I turned to see
The pastor had tears in his eyes for me

He led me up to the very front row
And whispered "God's pleased you don't have to go"
The carpet was soft as clouds in the sky
I saw paintings of the angels that fly
Such colors of red bright silver and gold
Yes this really was a sight to behold

Unworthy I felt to be in this place
And then my eyes saw the pain on his face
A statue of Christ that stood very tall
Mistreated by man yet died for us all

Then I had noticed the dirt on his face
And rags that he wore in this holy place
I looked at my dress so ragged and torn
Yes this was the best that I could have worn

The pastor then smiled when he looked at me
He knew this was what I needed to see
His thought for the day when church was all through
"Judge Ye Not Your Brother For God Will Judge You"

In silence they left he said no good-byes
Then he came by me with tears in his eyes
He said he was glad for his answered prayer
I knew then he'd seen me sitting out there

Then on my old dress a white rose he laid
He made it all worth the price I had paid
He said, "Don't you know it's God you must please
What's deep in your heart is all that he sees"

He held my hand tight then wiped my last tear
He said "Please come back you are welcome here"
While walking back home cold rain on my face
So much like the eyes in "God's Holy Place"

I know now I'm rich yes he made me see
God even will Love a person like me

by Freda H. Babinski

A Poem For Each & Every Day

May you have...

Enough happiness to keep you sweet,
Enough trials to keep you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human,
Enough hope to keep you happy,
Enough failure to keep you humble,
Enough success to keep you eager,
Enough friends to give you comfort,
Enough wealth to meet your needs,
Enough enthusiasm to look forward,
Enough faith to banish depression,
Enough determination to make each day
better than yesterday!

What If That Were Me

What if that were me, wandering through the streets?
All I own upon my back, no home, no place to sleep.
Wouldn't I want someone, to help me find my way?
Wouldn't I want someone, to kneel with me and pray?

What if that were me, locked in that prison cell?
Feeling lost and lonely in my self-made hell.
Wouldn't I want someone, to show some sympathy?
Wouldn't I want someone to share God's grace with me?

What if that were me, Lord? What if that were me?
Show me how to be like You, to be Your hands and feet
Teach me how to show Your love to all in life I meet;
Remind me, Lord, to ask myself, "What if that were me?"

Copyright ©2000 Jan McIntosh

He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do
for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Matthew 25:45

Every Moments He Knows

Every moment He knows where I am,
Every moment He sees where I go,
Every moment His eyes are upon me;
My every moment my Father knows.

Every moment I'm kept by His grace,
Every moment His sweet mercy flows,
Every moment He surrounds me with love;
My every moment my Father knows.

Copyright ©1992 by Jan McIntosh

You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
(Psalm 139:2-3)

Emergency Numbers

When in sorrow	call John 14
When you are lonely or fearful	call Psalms 23
When you want to be fruitful	call John 15
When you want rest and peace	call Matt.11:28-30
When you have sinned	call Psalms 51
When you grow bitter and critical	call 1Cor.13
When you worry	call Matt.6:19-34
When you feel down and out	call Rom.8:31-39
When your prayers grow selfish	call Psalms 67
When you are in danger	call Psalms 91
When your faith needs stirring	call Hebrews 11
When God seems far away	call Psalms 139
When others fail you	call Psalms 27
When you leave home to labor or travel	call Psalms 121
When you want assurance	call Rom.8:1-30
For Paul's secret of happiness	call Col.3:12-17
For Paul's idea of Christianity	call 2 Cor.5:15-19
When the world seems bigger than God	call Psalms 70

How Do You Live Your Dash ?

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone.
From the beginning ……… to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
(1934-1998)

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth….
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars… the house… the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

(Author Unknown )