Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thour Abide in me.

Hold then Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, Abide in me.

-Henry Francis Lyte

Can You Say?

Can you say in parting with the day

that’s slipping fast,

That you helped a single person of the

many you have passed?

Is a single life rejoicing over what you

did or said?

Does someone whose hopes were fading,

now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day or lose it, was

it well or poorly spent?

Did you leave a trend of kindness, or a

scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber, do you

think that God would say-

You have made the world much better

for the life you’ve saved today?

                  -Salesian Missions

Come Home

God looked around his garden

and found an empty space.

He looked down upon the earth

and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you

and lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful

for he only takes the best.

He knows that you were in pain.

He knew that you would never

be well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,

and the hills were hard to climb;

so he closed your weary eyelids

and whispered, "Peace be thine."

Dear Lord

Lord, as we look back upon the years

We see a life so full, we need not shed tears

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Friend was he

Now given to you, its where he should be.

 

His memory lives on through the people he touched

He made us smile and laugh and we loved him very much

He’ll be with us always like the breeze on a summer day

We’ll think of him when we see little children play

 

We celebrate his life and what he has given to us

He was honest, hardworking, honorable and just

Take him in and love him with all your heart

Knowing your love, makes it easier to part.

 

Karen McIntosh Allen

Every blade in the field

Every leaf in the forest

Lays down its life in its season

As beautifully as

it was taken up.

 

Henry David Thoreau

Footprints in the Sand

One night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes from my life. In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand--one set belonging to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my

life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my surprise, I noticed that at many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints. And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest time in my life. I asked the Lord, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why you left my side when I needed you most" The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never leave you in your time of trial. When you see only one set of footprints, that was when I carried you."

God took the strength of a mountain

The majesty of a tree.

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea.

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night.

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight.

Then God combined these qualities,

There was nothing more to add.

His masterpiece was now complete,

He lovingly called it, Dad.

 

God saw she was getting tired,

and the cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around her,

and whispered, "Come with me".

With tearful eyes we watched

her fade away.

Although we loved her dearly,

we could not make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

hard working hands to rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

Isaiah41:10

In Loving Memory

 

 

God knew that you were suffering,

That the hills were hard to climb,

So He gently closed your eyelids,

And whispered "Peace be thine".

In tears we watched you sinking,

We watched you fade away.

Our hearts were nearly broken,

You fought so hard to stay.

But when we saw you sleeping,

So peaceful, free from pain,

We could not wish you back,

To suffer that again.

It broke our hearts to see you go,

But you did not go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

And they follow me;

and I give them eternal life,

and they shall never perish,

and no one shall snatch them

out of my hand. John 10: 27 & 28

MISS ME, BUT LET ME GO

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul that’s free?

Miss me little -

BUT NOT TOO LONG

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

MISS ME - BUT LET ME GO

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It’s all a part of the Master’s plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

MISS ME - BUT LET ME GO.

PARENT’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them to me. Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me. May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power. Let me not tempt my child to lie or steal. And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness. Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. And when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. May I ever be mindful that my children are children and I should not expect of them the judgments of adults. Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and to make decisions. Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm. Make me fair and just and kind. And fit me, O Lord, to be loved and respected and imitated by my children.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all under-standing, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-8

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

 

Proverbs 31:10-12,28,30,25

Why should I feel discouraged

why should the shadows come

Why should my heart be lonely

and long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion

my constant friend is He

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches me.

The Time Is Now

If you are ever going to love me ,love me now!

While I can know the sweet and tender feelings which from true affection flow.

Love me now while I am living. Do not wait until I’m gone and then have it chiseled in marble. Sweet words on ice cold stone.

If you have tender thoughts of me, please tell me now.

If you wait until I am sleeping never to awaken, there will be death between us and I won’t hear you then.

So if you love, even a little bit, let me know it while I am living so I can treasure it.

To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up

that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to

refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Wife and Mother

 

An Excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her.

And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She extends her hand to the poor:

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom.

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her:

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the Lord,

She shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

 

"The gift of God is eternal life"

ROMANS 6:23

The lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He Leadeth me beside the still waters: He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake… yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over… Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited…

It cannot cripple love,

It cannot shatter hope,

It cannot corrode faith,

It cannot eat away peace,

It cannot destroy confidence,

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot shut out our memories

It cannot silence courage,

It cannot invade the soul,

It cannot reduce eternal life,

It cannot quench the spirit,

It cannot lessen the power of the

RESURRECTION

                          Author Unknown

Cherish The Treasure

I cherish the treasure

The treasure of your

Lifelong companion

I give myself to you

God has enabled me

To walk with you faithfully

And cherish the treasure

The Treasure of you

As I obey the Spirit’s voice

And seek to do His will

I then can see the wisdom of His plan

For as He works His will in me

I then can love you selflessly

And by His grace, can pledge my love to you

This sacred vow I make to you

Does not contain an "if"

Though I’m aware that trials lie ahead

I will love you and pray with you

And through it all, I will stay with you

Our home will be a refuge of unconditional love

Comfort

Another leaf has fallen,

Another soul has gone

But still we have God’s promises

In every robin’s song,

For He is in His Heaven

And though He takes away

He always leaves to mortals

The bright sun’s kindly ray.

He leaves the fragrant blossoms

And lovely forests, green,

And gives us new found comfort

When we on Him will lean.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am a diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush;

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.

-Anonymous

Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God,

Wherever flames may rage

Give me the strength to save some life

Whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child

Before it is too late

Or save an older person from

The horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert

And to hear the weakest shout

And quickly and efficiently

To put that fire out.

I want to fill my calling

And give the best in me

To guard my every neighbor

And protect his property.

And if, according to Your will,

I have to lose my life

Please bless with Your protecting hand

My children and my wife.

God hath not promised

Skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways

All our lives through;

God hath not promised

Sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow,

Peace without pain.

 

But God hath promised

Strength for the day,

Rest for the labor,

Light for the way,

Grace for the trials,

Help from above,

Unfailing sympathy

Undying love.

God saw he was getting tired,

and the cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around him,

and whispered, "Come with me".

With tearful eyes we watched

him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly,

we could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

hard working hands to rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women

and blessed is the fruit of you womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God,

pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death. Amen

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me,

I took His hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh , a kiss.

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much.

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now. He set me free.

Author Unknown

For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

 

 

My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

And they follow me;

and I give them eternal life,

and they shall never perish,

and no one shall snatch them

out of my hand.

John 10: 27 & 28

Leaf after leaf

flower after flower

some in the dawn of day

some in the after hour.

Alive they flourish,

and alive they fall

and the earth that sustained them

receives them all.

Suffer the little children to

come unto me, and forbid

them not: for of such is the

kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, who-

soever, shall not receive the

kingdom of God as a little

child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his

arms, put his hands upon them,

and blessed them.

Mark 10:14-16

 

 

For to me to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.

 

Philippians 1: 21

PRAYER OF THE WOODS

"I am the Heat of your Hearth on the cold winter nights. The Friendly Shade screening you from the summer sun and my Fruits are refreshing Draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on."

"I am the Beam that holds your house, the Board on which you lie, and the Timber that builds your boat."

"I am the Handle of your hoe, the Door of your homestead, the Wood of your cradle, and the Shell of your coffin."

"I am the Bread of your kindness and the Flower of beauty."

"Ye who pass by listen to my prayer harm me not."

The Sheaf of Wheat

The sheaf of Wheat is a symbol of the

Christian faith. The seeds of faith are sown in the human personality and grow into the mature faith of the Christian man or woman. The sown seed must lose its life in order that it may develop and grow and multiply. So, symbolically, a sheaf of wheat is used by Christians to mark the passing of a fellow Christian. We believe death is not the end but the beginning of life eternal. The mature grain in this sheaf is the direct symbol of the Resurrection -- the life beyond the grave, the fulfillment of the Promises of Jesus Christ

Taps

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lake, from the hill

From the sky.

 

All is well, safely rest,

God is nigh.

 

Thanks and praise for our days

Neath the sun, neath the stars,

Neath the sky.

 

As we go, this we know,

God is nigh.

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

 

Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)