Teach Me to Trust

 Teach me to trust when there is cause to fear,

When trials come and tempests sore appear;

Help me to know that Thou, O God, art near--

Teach me to trust, Teach me to trust.

Teach me to trust when skies are shining bright,

Or when I grope alone in sorrow's night;

Thy love provides whatever's best and right--

Teach me to trust, teach me to trust.

Teach me to trust 'mid all life's tangled ways,

In all its disappointments and delays;

Give me a song-- a sacrifice of praise!

Teach me to trust, Teach me to trust.

Teach me to trust when weary, worn and frail,

When sickness, pain and other ills assail;

Thy grace sustains, Thy promise will not fail--

Teach me to trust, Teach me to trust.

~John W. Peterson

One Step at a Time

 The New Year begins a new journey,

One step at a time we may see;

But looking to Jesus for guidance,

The way will be opened for thee.

One step at a time, simply trusting

The One who is holding thy hand,

The One who with infinite wisdom,

Each step of thy pathway has planned.

The Shepherd has marked out thy pathway,

The end from beginning He knows;

But light He will give “As thou goest” -

One step at a time Jesus shows.

One step, but one step is sufficient, -

Faith trusts in the Father above,

Who worketh all things for our blessing,

Whose dealings are ever in love.

Faith rests in the One who is guiding,

And trusts Him who goeth before;

Whose love cheers and brightens the journey,

Whose presence gives joy evermore.

(I'm not sure who wrote this. I got it from here)

Faithful Is He ...

 Faithful Is He Who Has Promised  

Are you passing through a testing.

Is your pillow wet with tears?

Do you wonder what the reason,

Why it seems God never hears?

Why it is you have no answer

To your oft, repeated plea,

Why the heaven still is leaden

As you wait on bended knee?

 

Do you wonder as you suffer,

Whether God does understand,

And if so, why He ignores you,

Fails to hold you in His Hand?

Do black doubts creep in, assail you,

Fears without--and fears within,

Till your brave heart almost falters

And gives way to deadly sin?

 

All God's testings have a purpose,

Someday you will see the light.

All He asks is that you trust Him,

Walk by faith and not by sight.

Do not fear when doubts beset you,

Just remember - He is near;

He will never, never leave you,

He will always, always hear.

 

Faithful is He who has promised,

He will never let you fall,

Daily will the strength be given

Strength for each and strength for all.

He will gladly share pain with you,

He will gladly give you peace.

Till your tired and weary body

Finds its blessed, glad release.

 

When the darkened veil is lifted,

Then, dear heart, you'll understand

Why it is you had to suffer,

Why you could not feel His hand

Giving strength when it was needed,

Giving power and peace within

Giving joy thru tears and trial,

Giving victory over sin.

So till then just keep on trusting,

Thru the sunshine and the rain. 

~Annie Johnson Flint~

He's Helping Me Now

 He's Helping Me Now

He's helping me now--this moment,

Though I may not see it or hear,

Perhaps by a friend far distant,

Perhaps by a stranger near,

Perhaps by a spoken message

Perhaps by the printed word;

In ways that I know and know not

I have the help of the Lord.

He's keeping me now--this moment,

However I need it most,

Perhaps by a single angel,

Perhaps by a mighty host,

Perhaps by the chain that frets me,

Or the walls that shut me in;

In ways that I know or know not

He keeps me from harm and sin.

He's guiding me now--this moment,

In pathways easy or hard,

Perhaps by a door wide open,

Perhaps by a door fast barred,

Perhaps by a joy withholden

Perhaps by a gladness given;

In ways that I know and know not,

He's leading me up to heaven.

He's using me now--this moment,

And whether I go or stand,

Perhaps by a plan accomplished

Perhaps when he stays my hand,

Perhaps by a word in season

Perhaps by a silent prayer;

In ways that I know and know not,

His labor of love I share.

~Annie Johnson Flint

God Knows Best

 Our Father knows what's best for us,

So why should we complain--

We always want the sunshine,

But He knows there must be rain--

We love the sound of laughter

And the merriment of cheer,

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear...

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow,

He tests us, not to punish us,

But to help us meet TOMORROW...

For growing trees are strengthened

When they withstand the storm,

And the sharp cut of the chisel

Gives the marble grace and form...

God never hurts us needlessly,

And He never wastes our pain,

For every loss He sends to us

Is followed by rich gain...

And when we count the blessings

That God had so freely sent,

We will find no cause for murmuring

And no time to lament...

For Our Father loves His children,

And to Him all things are plain,

So He never sends us PLEASURE

When the SOUL'S DEEP NEED IS PAIN...

So whenever we are troubled,

And when everything goes wrong,

It is just God working in us

To make OUR SPIRIT STRONG.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

Diamonds

This season of life is very busy for me with 4 little children, and doesn't leave much time, energy or inspiration for blogging. So for now, I would like to post poetry, devotions etc. that I posted back when I first started this blog.

Diamonds are only chunks of coal

That stuck to their job, you see;

If they'd petered out, as most of us do,

Where would the diamonds be?

It isn't the fact of making a start,

It's the sticking that counts, I'll say,

It's the fellow that knows not the meaning of fall,

but hammers and hammers away.

Whenever you think you've come to the end,

And you're beaten as bad can be,

Remember that diamonds are chunks of coal,

That stuck to their jobs, you see.

 Virginia Call

What Has God Promised?

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 all trials,

Help from above,

Unfailing sympathy,

Undying love.

~Annie Johnson Flint~

Christ's Choice for Me

One lesson I've learned growing up, is that God's plan for our lives is usually a lot different from what we would choose! But I'm so glad God knows what's best for us. This poem sums it up!

 

I would have chosen a sunlit path,

All strewn with roses fair,

With never a cloud to darken my way--

Nor a shade of anxious care.

 

But He chose for me a better way--

Not sunshine or roses sweet

But clouds o'er head and thorns below

That cut and hurt my feet.

I have deep joys of another kind;

My Rose of Sharon is He:

And as for sunshine—His lovely face

Is perfect sunshine to me.

 

I would have chosen my life to be

Active, tireless and strong;

A constant, ceaseless working for Him,

Amid the needy throng.

 

But He chose for me a better lot--

A life of frequent pain,

Of strength withheld when 'twas needed most,

Amid loss instead of gain.

He gave me work of another kind,

Far, far above my thought,

The work of interceding with Him

For the souls that he had bought.

 

'Tis far, far better to let Him choose

The way that we should take,

If only we thus leave our life with Him,

He will guide without mistake.

We, in our blindness would never choose

A pathway dark and rough,

And so we should never find in Him

“The God who is enough”;

 

In disappointment, trouble, and pain,

We turn to the Changeless One,

And prove how faithful, loving and wise

Is God's beloved Son.

 

Catherine S. Miller

Grumble Family

 There's a family nobody likes to meet;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street
In the city of Never-Are-Satisfied,
The River of Discontent beside.

They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
And whether their station be high or humble,
They are all known by the name of Grumble.

The weather is always too hot or cold;
Summer and winter alike they scold.
Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun;
In fact, their growling is never done.
And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt
They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!

But the queerest thing is that not one of the same
Can be brought to acknowledge his family name;
For never a Grumbler will own that he
Is connected with it at all, you see.

The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
And before he dreams of the terrible jumble
He's adopted into the family of Grumble.

And so it were wisest to keep our feet
From wandering into Complaining Street;
And never to growl, whatever we do,
Lest we be mistaken for Grumblers, too.

Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
And then, be our station high or humble,
We'll never belong to the family of Grumble!
~Anonymous~

Give of Your Best to the Master

by Howard B. Grose

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave.
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart.
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave.
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love.
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save.
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

 

 

The Friend Who Just Stands by

When trouble comes your soul to try

You love the friend who just stands by.

Perhaps there's nothing he can do;

The thing is strictly up to you, 

For there are troubles all your own,

And paths the soul must tread alone;

Times when love can't smooth the road,

Nor friendship lift the heavy load.

 

But just to feel you have a friend,

Who will stand by until the end;

Whose sympathy through all endures,

Whose warm handclasp is always yours,

It helps somehow to pull you through

Although there's nothing he can do;

And so with fervent heart we cry,

"God bless the friend who just stands by."

The Ugliness of Sin

Sin is such an ugly thing--

Oh, the guilt and shame it brings.
It might seem like fun at first--
But in the end it really hurts.
Our sin nailed Jesus to a cross;
The pleasure of sin isn't worth the high cost.
Sin can give you dreadful scars--
Your testimony it will mar.
Sin sends people off to jail;
Sin makes people suffer in Hell.
Sin ruins families—tears marriages apart,
It leaves behind many with a broken heart.
Sin leaves babies with no fathers they know,
Oh, sin causes so much sorrow.
God gave us rules because of His love--
He doesn't want our life to be so rough.
If only we'd listen before it's too late,
If sin we'd only learn to hate.
Sin is such an ugly thing--
Just look at all the trouble it brings.

Count It Done

A father wrote to his son,
Who was faraway from home;
“I have sent you a beautiful gift,
It may be delayed, but ‘twill come;

It is what you have wanted most,
And have asked for many days;”
And before the child received the gift
He voiced his thanks and praise.

Our Father saith unto us:
“Your need shall be supplied;
Ask and receive that your joy be filled,
And My joy in you abide.”

Shall we wait to thank till we see
The answer to every prayer?
Forbear to praise till we feel
The lifted pressure of care?

Nay, let us trust His word
And know that the thing is done,
For His promise is just as sure
As a father’s to his son.

Annie Johnson Flint

Girls Wanted

Where are the girls

Who want to live right,

Who seek God's help

The Devil to fight?

Where are the girls

Who want to stay pure,

Who run a mile

From the Devil's lure?

Where are the girls

Who take time to pray,

Who know how to walk

With God each day?

Where are the girls

Who love to read

God's precious Word

And then take heed?

Where are the girls

Who are modestly dressed?

Most girls around

Don't seem to care less.

Such girls are few,

Such girls are rare--

Who care more for character

Than their clothes or their hair.

God, give us girls

Who live for You--

Not just on Sunday

But the whole week through.

Emily van Rijn

Rebekah's Willingness to Follow God

And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:55-58

Rebekah was willing to leave her home and family and go with a stranger to another country to marry another stranger! Why on earth would she be willing to do such a thing?

She could see that God was behind it all. That made all the difference! God was calling her to go.

In verse 50, Laban and Bethuel said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD.

It was obvious that Rebekah was an answer to the servant's prayer. But Rebekah still had a choice. Wilt thou go with this man?

Rebekah was willing to follow God.

Are you willing to go wherever God calls you? If God calls you to leave your home and family to be a missionary in a foreign country, are you willing?

I was willing to be a missionary. It was my dream to spend my entire life overseas as a full time missionary. I was more than willing to go. But you know what? I wasn't willing to stay in my own country!

I had to learn to be willing to go wherever God wants me to go—whether it's to go or to stay. What matters is that I live my whole life completely dedicated to Him.

I've summed it all up in a poem.

Willing to Go, Willing to Stay

I'm willing to go, I'm willing to stay

LORD, I am willing Your call to obey.

Whether You want me here or there---

LORD, I will follow You anywhere.

I'm willing to go across the sea

And tell of the One who died for me.

If You will have me go far away

Please give me the grace Your will to obey.

I'm willing to stay if You will choose

In my own town my life to use.

There are people in every single place

That need to hear of Your amazing grace.

I'm willing to go, I'm willing to stay---

LORD, I will follow You all the way.

It matters not whether I go or stay

But that I live for You every day.

~E.R.van Rijn

God's Orchestra

The great Composer writes the theme
And gives us each a part to play;
To some a sweet and flowing air,
Smooth and unbroken all the way;

They pour their full heart's gladness out
In notes of joy and service blent;
But some He gives long bars of "rests,"
With idle voice and instrument.

He who directs the singing spheres,
The music of the morning stars,
Needs, for His full creation's hymn,
The quiet of the soundless bars.

Be silent unto God, my soul,
If this the score He writes for thee,
And "hold the rest," play no false note
To mar His perfect harmony.

Yet be thou watchful for thy turn,
Strike on the instant, true and clear,
Lest from the grand, melodious whole
Thy note be missing to His ear.

Annie Johnson Flint

Laugh it Off

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."   Proverbs 17:22

Are you worsted in a fight?

Are you cheated of your right?

Laugh it off.
Don't make tragedies of trifles,

Don't shoot butterflies with rifles--

Laugh it off.

Does your work get into kinks?

Are you near all sorts of brinks?

Laugh it off.

If it's sanity you're after,

There's no recipe like laughter--

Laugh it off.

Christmas in Your Heart

Jesus came to earth and laid aside His princely crown.
Came to his creation, yet a room could not be found.
At this special time of year the call is heard anew.
Will you hear His pleading voice? Let Christ born in you.

Christmas in your Heart.
Make it Christmas in your heart.
Open wide the door and let Jesus in your heart.
As the Saviour knocks today.
Will you coldly turn away?
This Christmas Make it Christmas in your heart.

You may sing the carols that exalt the baby’s name
But when Jesus calls to you, the answer is still the same.
There’s no room for Jesus he is crowded out again.
Will you open wide your heart and let the Saviour in?
-Ron Hamilton

A Light For Thee

 

The Lord has said, "Go ye...", and how I gladly will;

Even to the end of the world, He'll be with me still.    (Mt. 28:19-20)
How great a harvest, O, how white; but labourers are few;
What an honour is mine, O Lord--a labourer for You.   (Lk. 10:2)
Send me forth with precious seed, even in tears to sow;
Sowing seeds of Jesus Christ, to reap one day in joy, I know.   (Ps. 126:5-6)
The life I live is Thine; a living sacrifice for You,
By all of Thy good mercies, my reasonable service which I must do.   (Rom. 12:1)
The world and all it's sinful offers, I push it all away,
Transform me to do Thy will, and very near Thee stay.    (Rom 12:2)
Thou camest to bear my sins in Thine own body on the tree,
I'm dead to sin; alive to righteousness, for Thou hast healed me.   (1 Pet. 2:24)
Help me lay aside the weight of sin; in this race with patience run,
Looking unto Jesus my Saviour, until my life is done.    (Heb. 12:1-2)
Lord, shine Thy glorious light brightly through me,
That men would glorify Thy name, when it is Christ in me that they they see.    (Mt. 5:16)

    ~by Lisa Colliehole
       (Waitara, NZ)

Behind the Scenes

 

So often we're concerned about

The world who's watching to see if we're real.

To see that we're not hypocrites - that we don't just do as we feel.

But what's the point of showing them.

Is it not all in vain?

If when we're at home with family.

We don't act the same.

Behind the scenes.. who are you?

Behind the scenes.. what do you do?

Does your family know a different you,

Than all the other people do?

Is your Christian life - just a public show?

Would you really want everyone to know

What goes on - behind the scenes?

There are many many people observing you.

Watching very closely. How you act and what you do.

But most importantly , there is a God, although we may not see.

He's watching your private life.... is He pleased?
How can you expect to win the lost.

And tell others they must live right,

When if we were to see inside your heart.

We'd be filled with shock and fright.

Let us then be on guard.

Let us then be pure and true.

Let us go on to please our Saviour.

By what we say and do.

May we love the LORD our God

With all our heart and mind

And love our neighbour [including family] as ourself.

With a love that's pure and kind.

~by Laura Lauridsen~