Ours for Free

So many things in life are far
Beyond our meager means,
A long hoped for vacation,
Just for a change of scenes.
A penthouse with a terrace
That boasts a lovely view,
A cottage by the sea side,
. . . Just dreams for me and you.

And yet there is so much within
This world we can afford,
We all should welcome each new day,
And no one should be bored.
For while it's true we might not get
To see a foreign land,
Or sail across the ocean,
There's something just as grand,

And every bit as beautiful,
Within each passing day,
That only costs us something,
. . . If we let it slip away.
Very much within our reach,
And meant for us to share,
Once-in-a-lifetime moments,
Encountered everywhere.

A tender smile, a gentle touch,
Night wind through the trees,
Sunrise, sunset, autumn leaves,
What can compare with these?
Flowers by a raodside,
A treasured memory,
I think the very best in life,
Is what God gives for free.

         ~ Grace E. Easley

Heart Gifts

It's not the things that can be bought
   that are life's richest treasure,
It's just the little "heart gifts"
   that money cannot measure . . .

A cheerful smile, a friendly word,
   a sympathetic nod
Are priceless little treasures
   from the storehouse of our God . . .

They are the things that can't be bought
   with silver or with gold,
For thoughtfulness and kindness
   and love are never sold . . .

They are the priceless things in life
   for which no one can pay,
And the giver finds rich recompense
   in giving them away.

           ~ Helen Steiner Rice

Light Shining Out of Darkness

God moves in a mysterious way
   His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
   And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
   Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
   And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
   The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
   In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
   But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
   He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
   Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
   But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
   And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
   And He will make it plain.

             ~ William Cowper

When Winter Comes

When winter comes into our lives
    With its uncertain sound,
To strip us of our warmth and joy,
    Our petals on the ground,
We may be tempted to give up;
    To fold beneath life's storm.
We may be tempted to forsake
    The hope which keeps us warm.
But, we must learn to stand up tall;
    To always face the sun
And patiently await the day
    When winter's work is done.
For winter winds will cease to howl,
    The snows will melt away,
Then we shall see the beauty of
    Another summer's day.
And we will have renewed our strength
    When summer's wind first blows,
For God will whisper once again
    The promise of a rose.

                  ~ Glenda Fulton Davis

What I Live For

I live for those who love me,
    Whose hearts are kind and true;
For the Heaven that smiles above me,
    And awaits my spirit too;

For all human ties that bind me,
For the task by God assigned me,
For the bright hopes yet to find me,
    And the good that I can do.

I live to hold communion
    With all that is divine,
To feel there is a union
    'Twixt Nature's heart and mine;
To profit by affliction,
Reap truth from fields of fiction,
Grow wiser from conviction,
    And fulfill God's grand design.

I live for those who love me,
    For those who know me true;
For the heaven that smiles above me,
    And awaits my spirit too;
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the future in the distance,
    And the good that I can do.

              ~ G. Linnaeus Banks

Today's Scripture [2-1-13]

   And the men [angels] rose up from thence, and
looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with
them to bring them on the way.
   And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham
that thing which I do;
   Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a
great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the
earth shall be blessed in him?
   For I know him, that he will command his child-
ren and his household after him, and they shall
keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and
judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abra-
ham that which he hath spoken of him.
   And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is
very grievous;
   I will go down now, and see whether they have
done altogether according to the cry of it, which is
come unto me; and if not, I will know.
   And the men [angels] turned their faces from
thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham
stood yet before the LORD.
   And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou
also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
   Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the
city: wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place
for the fifty righteous that are therein?
   That be far from Thee to do after this manner,
to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the
righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from
Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
   And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty
righteous within the city, then I will spare all the
place for their sakes. . .
   Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty
righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack
of five? And He said, If I find there forty and five,
I will not destroy it. . .
   Peradventure there shall be forty found there.
And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
   And he said unto Him, Oh let not the Lord be
angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall
thirty be found there, And He said, I will not do it,
if I find thirty there. . .
   Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.
and He said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
   And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and
I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten
shall be found there. And He said, I will not de-
stroy it for ten's sake.
   And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had
left communing with Abraham: and Abraham re-
turned unto his place.

                       ~ Genesis 18:16-26, 28-33
  
  
  

The Perfect Song

One perfect song our hearts can sing,
   One air that's crystal-clear,
One melody of love sublime
   With charm for every ear.

One perfect song our tongues can frame
   Of goodness, deep and true,
Of seeking and of sacrifice,
   Of mercy, ever new.

O Christ, our singing is of Thee;
   To Thee our hearts belong;
Thou art that perfect melody
   Of life's triumphant song.

           ~ Marion Schoeberlein