Change Me

Dear Lord change not Thy will in my life,
Or trial and sorrows to be;
Renew my faith and make me strong,
Change not Thy will, change me.

Though teardrops fall when trouble comes,
Like storms on a rolling sea;
Let Thy beacon guide my ship to port,
Change not the storm, change me.

When Thy Holy Word I don't understand
And Thy glory I cannot see;
Teach my eyes, give me sight and wisdom,
Change not Thy Word, change me.

If the fruit Thou hast given me to eat,
Taste bitter and sour, I plea;
Let not my will but Thine be done,
Change not the fruit, change me.

If sometime I murmur and grumble, dear Lord,
About the cross I carry for Thee;
Keep it firm on my shoulders, but hold my hand,
Change not the cross, change me.

If You change Thy ways to please me, dear Lord,
I would soon grow cold and turn from Thee;
That You may hear my prayers, dear Lord,
Change not Thy ways, change me.

There's a valley that I must cross,
Someday Thy face to see;
Lest I forget what power is Thine,
Change not the valley, change me.

~ Author Unknown ~

rain refresher

 

 

 

 

a cumbersome burden and heavy load
can seem like a rough, long, winding road

the sun beaming down and dust in your throat
stop with a frown tear off your coat

just when you think too great is the pain
look up to the sky and feel the spring rain

now over the hill down to the valley below
makes the rest of the journey look like a stone's throw

 

martha susan owen

 

 

 

Baby Jesus Prince of Peace

 

 

Baby Jesus Prince of Peace

The Prophet spoke in days of old. His Voice was strong. His words were bold. "Behold! A maiden shall give birth. Her Child, God's Son, shall rule the earth. "And we shall call Him Prince of Peace, For where He rules, all wars shall cease, And sin and death shall hold no fear. Behold! The time is coming near."

Along a dusty, winding road, A little donkey bears his load. Young Mary, great with Child, must ride, While patient Joseph plods beside. To Bethlehem they make their way. "We'll count you there," the rulers say. The sky grows dark. The day is gone, and still they travel, on and on. The road is cold. The road is long. It seems no place for a donkey song. But sing out, little donkey. Bray! The Prince of peace is on His way. At Bethlehem the inns are filled. Young Mary shivers, tired and chilled. But then a landlord, by God's grace, says, "you may use my stable-place. "And there as midnight moves to morn, The tiny Prince of peace is born. The quiet oxen see His birth, This Child God sent to rule the earth.

Sing, you oxen, large and slow. Songs of welcome rumble low. As He rests on Mary's arm, Your straw-sweet breath will keep Him warm. Young Mary smiles down at her Son, a helpless Babe, and yet the One the prophet long ago foretold in voice so strong, in words so bold. She thinks of when the angel came and told her of the Baby's name. Still smiling, she stands up to lay Her Jesus on the manger hay.Sing, young Mary! Sing with joy as you gaze at your newborn Boy. In God's great plan you've played your part. Now sing a glad song in your hearts.

The fields are dark. The fields are still. And sleepy shepherds drowse until God's glory shatters through the night. Then sleepy shepherds shake with fright. An angel speaks, "Oh, do not fear. I bring you joy. I bring you cheer. At Bethlehem near break of morn, The Savior of the world was born!" Stop your shaking, shepherds. Sing! This news changes everything. The Lamb of God has come to save. So stand up, shepherds. Sing! Be brave! The Angel says, "Now God designed a sign for you. The Babe you'll find in swaddling clothes on bed of hay. He's lying there this very day."

Then round the angel rank on rank of angels gather, all to thank and praise the Lord with holy mirth, Because He sent His Son to earth. Sing, you angels. Glory sing. Let all earth and heaven ring. Let your songs our songs increase. Glory, glory, good will, peace! And when the angel song is through, The shepherds know what they must do. At once to Bethlehem they run to find the Prince of peace, God's Son. Into the stable dark and small, They crowd, those shepherds, sheep and all. And Baby hand holds woolly fleece, the tiny, sleepy Prince of peace.

Sing a lullaby. Oh, sing! Let the little sheep bells ring. Gently now, you woolly sheep, Sing the Prince of peace to sleep. That little Prince, so humbly born, would someday die with cross and thorn, But, raised by God to life above, now rules the earth with peace and love. No earthly throne sets Him apart. Instead, He rules within each heart, and when we all our struggling cease, We feel His love. We know His peace.

Sing, you heavens! Sing, you earth! Sing about the Christmas birth. Sin and death and war shall cease. He's come, the tiny Prince of Peace.

Author Unknown

My wish for you this Christmas season is that you may know the peace that comes only from Our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ the Son! 

 

 

Glad or Mad - Happy or Sad

Happiness is an attitude.
We either make ourselves miserable,
or happy and strong.
The amount of work is the same.
Francesca Reigler

Good Morning to all.  So what attitude do you choose today?

Open your eyes and quietly observe.....you will see what you are looking for.  Are you focused on beauty?  There is beauty in the gray sky and leafless trees.  I see the shapes of the branches, feathery tanglements against the soft gray background.  I see wonderful nests for birds and squirrels hidden by leaves in the spring and summer.  And just look at all that mysterious mistletoe.  Any bright color just pops out and adds just enough to add to but not disturb the peaceful beauty of a lovely gray day.  Look for the bright red cardinals chirping at the feeders and the graceful flight of wings in the air.  Look for bright blue and orange of the bluebirds flitting from roof to ground and tree.  Red and orange berries on branches hanging over the fence.  Then the calming shades of grays and browns, greens and blues blending and mingling all around.  I look for beauty, I find it and happiness is awakened.  Have a beautiful day.  And Praise the Lord for this Day He Has Made.

Psalm 118:24 (New International Version)

 24 This is the day the LORD has made;
       let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Listen for Songs

Softly Singing

Listen closely you can hear,
A song so sweet upon your ear.
It’s in the trees and through the rain,
Softly singing a peaceful refrain.

Listen closely you may know
The sound of peaceful falling snow.
You must be still and quiet too,
Allow the song to come to you.

Listen closely you feel the joys
Of giggles from sweet girls and boys.
Laughter makes such a wonderful song
You find you want to sing along.

Listen closely the flowers grow
Their song the colors of the rainbow.
For colors make a song so bright,
I call this tune a song for sight.

Martha Susan Owen / 2008 March 21

Just Be
Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

 

Hey Buddy! I Like Pink!

Pink!

For Buddy the Elf, my favorite color is pink.  You know bright flamingo pink. 

Then there is the pretty medium pink of the beautiful Christmas poinsettia my sisters gave me. 

Oh and the glowing pink of the sunsets in the late sky across from my bedroom and living room windows.  Pink strawberry ice cream is pretty.  And the cherry pink salad my daughter loves.  There are pink geraniums and pink impatiens in spring. 

Did you ever notice the pretty pink glow in the cheeks of playful children?  I think I like that best!  Yes, even over flamingo feathers. 

So even in winter I find lots of pink

To color my days and nights as I think.

Days are not dreary when you choose to see 

The many small colors individually.

 

Hope you see lots of pink today!

Love, Meme

 

 

Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4

23 Guard your heart above all else,
  for it determines the course of your life.

24 Avoid all perverse talk;
  stay away from corrupt speech.

25 Look straight ahead,
  and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
  stay on the safe path.
27 Don't get sidetracked;
  keep your feet from following evil.

 

 

Praise From The Pit To The Rock!

  I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.  

 

  Psalm 40:1-3  

  The Revised Standard Version  

 

 

Good News

The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8-10

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.