I AM

~THROUGH THE STORMS~

~I did not know His love before, the way I know it now. I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.~

~I had it all, without a care, the "Self-sufficient" lie. My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.~

~I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace, I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.~

~But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled; The waves began to rock my ship, my anchor would not hold.~

~The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride. It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide.~

~I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead, And so I simply prayed to Him and bowed my weary head.~

~His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand. He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand."~

~So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain. I could not see the light of day or when the storm might wane.~

~Yet through the aches and endless tears, my faith began to grow. I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.~

~I saw God's love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too. For only when all self was gone could Jesus' love shine through.~

~It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered, "Why?" At times I thought, "I can't go on." I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.~

~But Jesus never left my side, He guided me each day. Through pain and strife, through fire and flood, He helped me all the way.~

~And now I see as never before how great His love can be. How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!~

~He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough. He only sent what I could bear, and then He cried, "Enough!"~

~He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease. He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.~

~I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong, I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.~

~Now I know more storms will come, but only for my good, For pain and tears have helped me grow as naught else ever could.~

~I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me; If in the storm I'll love Him more, that's where I want to be!~

~Author Unknown~

~A CHILD OF GOD~

~God Are you Real? The little child whispered,~

~God, "Speak to me" But the child did not hear.~

~So the child yelled "God, speak to me" And the thunder rolled across the sky But the child did not listen.~

~The child looked around and said, "God, let me see You" And a Star shone brightly But the child did not notice.~

~And the child shouted, "God, show me a miracle! " And a life was born But the child did not know.~

~So the Child cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here!"~

~Whereupon God reached down And touched the child. But the child brushed the Butterfly away and walked away unknowingly...~

~Anonymous~

~Listen carefully to God's voice... He is speaking to you daily in many different ways... Remember, God's ways are not our ways... And the way that we think God will speak to us may be entirely different from the way that God chooses to speak to us... Keep an open mind...~

~Author Unknown~

~ONE SOLITARY LIFE~

~Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop unil He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office.~

~He never owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He had no credentials but Himself.~

~While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.~

~His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying, and that was His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.~

~Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life.~

~by James A. Francis~

~TO BELIEVE~

~To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.~

~To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds To know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon.~

~To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, The innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.~

~To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us. When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.~

~To believe is to know we are not alone, That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.~

~To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.~

~If only we believe.~

~Author Unknown~

~HE'S EVERYWHERE~

~I know that He is everywhere I see His touch each day I feel His love surround me As I travel on my way.~

~Sometimes the road I travel Becomes a hill for me to climb But if I keep Him in my heart He'll help me every time.~

~My burden gets quite heavy At times throughout my life Down on my knees I ask for help And He lifts from me the strife.~

~I'm thankful that I have Him He's there for all who need Someone that they can lean on If you follow He shall lead.~

~ Author Charlotte Anselmo~

~SOMEBODY'S CHILD~

~I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game-a serious game. Two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing. I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same.~

   ~The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn't seem to care. They were having fun.~

   ~In the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal. The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you're five years old, because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them.~

   ~Team Two swarmed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The One goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them.~

~Team Two scored two goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac-shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late, they scored a third goal.~

   ~I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice, neat-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines.~

   ~After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use, he couldn't stop them. He didn't quit, but he became quite desperate, futility was written all over him. His father changed, too. He had been urging his son to try harder, yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay-to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling.~

~After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I've seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed it to the referee and then he cried. He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and put his fists to his eyes-and he cried the tears of the helpless and broken hearted.~

   ~When the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife clutched his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn't supposed to-the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes and all, he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I've never been so proud of a man in my life. He carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son."~

~"Daddy," the boy sobbed, "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me."       "Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. Go on now." It made a difference, I could tell it did. When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on-and you can't stop them, it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field and they scored two more times but it was okay.~

~I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage, I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being-and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees-sinful, convicted, helpless. And my Father, my Father rushes right out onto the field right in front of the whole crowd-the whole jeering, laughing world and He picks me up, and He hugs me and He says, "Child, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my child, and because I control the outcome of this game, declare you - The Winner."~

   ~"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10~

   ~Remember this story when you start to get discouraged in the daily struggles. May God pull you into His lap today and encourage your heart. "God sees us as what we can be, but loves us as we are...and HE loves us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way"~

~Author Unknown~

~SOMEBODY'S FOLLOWING~

~Somebody's always following Following in my track If I lead him out of the pathway Have I the skill to lead him back?~

~Watching where I was watchful Sleeping where I have slept Somebody's always following Stepping where I have stepped.~

~If my feet faint and falter Climbing up a difficult hill I shall leave devious footmarks That will serve my brother ill.~

~And down humilities valley Slipping where I have slipped Somebody's always following Stepping where I have stepped.~

~Faithful be I, or faithless Feeble or slow to see Always a someone weaker Is following after me.~

~Falling where I have fallen Creeping where I have crept Somebody's always following Stepping where I have stepped.~

~Loving the world and its pleasures Or turning away from sin Pressing toward the kingdom Seeking to enter in.~

~Oh, in the day that is coming He will refuse or accept Me and the somebody following Stepping where I have stepped.~

~Author Unknown~

~HE TRIED~

~Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He pulled a chair up to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister,spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into a bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar. There was a floury trail on the floor which his kitten promptly tracked through.~

~Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom & Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all in the oven or on the stove, & he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix & reached to push her away, knocking the eggs on the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white & sticky.~

~And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him & loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.~

~That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can't stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up & loves us & forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes," for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right. And then we'll be glad we tried.~

~Author Unknown~

~HE TOUCHED ME~