THE CRY GOD CAN'T DENY

God does not hide so that He can't be found;

He hides so that He can be found. In good times

we tend to seek Him too casually, as if we don't

really need His help.

It is in those moments that we begin to sense

His conspicuous absence from our day to day

routines and rituals. If we are wise, we begin

to cultivate our hunger anew. If we are foolish,

we grow hardened and accustomed

to the absence of His manifest presence,

as if it doesn't matter.

In the hard times, when we are helpless, lost

and feel totally unable to find Him in our pain;

when the only cry we can offer Him is an urgent

plea of desperation or a sharp cry of pain,

He comes suddenly in answer to the cry

He can't deny.

UNAFRAID

Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of What?
Afraid to see the Savior's face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart;
Darkness - light - O heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blest,
From service good to service best?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with death a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from that spot?
Afraid -- of that?
(E H Hamilton)

PHILOSOPHY

Laugh a little - Love a little
As you go your way!
Work a little - Play a little,
Do this everyday!

Give a little - Take a little,
Never mind a frown --
Make your smile a welcomed thing
All around the town!

Laugh a little - Love a little
Skies are always blue!
Every cloud has silver linings --
But it's up to you!
(Phillips)

DO NOT LET YOURSELF

WORRY when you are doing your best.
HURRY when success depends upon accuracy.
THINK evil of a friend until you have the facts.
BELIEVE a thing is impossible without trying it.
WASTE time on peevish and peeving matters.
IMAGINE that good intentions are a satisfying excuse.
HARBOR bitterness in your soul toward God and man,

A GARDEN IS A HOLY PLACE

A garden is a holy place
For springtime from the sod.
Are plants for every season
Wrought by the hands of God.
Fair daffodils and poppies,
No mortals fashioned these
Or placed a choir of songbirds
In budding springtime trees.
Tall hollyhocks and roses
That grace a summer day,
No mortal can take credit
For sending them my way,
Although we tend our gardens
God sends the sun and rain
Or there would be no orchids,
No golden fields of grain.
Our lives are like the seasons
Ever changing day by day
Bearing fruit to share with others
Before we fade away.
The earth is God's creation,
It's He who owns the land,
For every leaf and blade of grass
Was fashioned by His hands!
(Clay Harrison)

GIVE ME HARD TASKS

Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail;
Conflict, with courage that shall never die!
Better the hill-path, climbing toward the sky,
Than languid air and smooth
sward of the vale!

Better to dare the wild wrath of the gale
Than with furled sails in port forever lie!
Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail;
Conflict with courage that shall never die!

Not foe a light load fitting shoulders frail,
Not for an unearned victory I sigh;
Strong is the struggle that wins triumph high,
Not without loss the hero shall prevail;
Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail!
(Unknown)