WHEN A WOMAN PRAYS
All through the ages
There have been women who prayed,
And oftentimes
The hand of death has been stayed.
Many a willful youth
With an inclination to stray
Returned because
His mother continued to pray.
A woman's prayer
When true and sincere
Brings the power
Of God to those she holds dear.
The Scripture
Records how the answer came
When a woman
In faith called on His Holy Name.
We can feel
His hallowed Presence hovering there
As a woman lifts her heart
To the Lord in sincere prayer.
TENDERLY HOLD US CLOSE
Shall I pray to the Father, asking that He
Spare the life of this grandchild so precious to me?
O Lord, give me wisdom is my earnest plea.
Tenderly hold us close, dear Lord,
Tenderly hold us close!
My children are requesting that I should pray
Asking God to heal their baby today.
Oh, what shall I do and what shall I say?
Tenderly hold us close, dear Lord,
Tenderly hold us close!
I know that we are continually in God's care,
And I know there is always an answer to prayer.
But should I request the "when" and the "where"?
Tenderly hold us close, dear Lord,
Tenderly hold us close!
I'm not wise enough to know what is best,
That we in this hour will be most blest.
Gracious Lord, give us strength to meet the test.
Tenderly hold us close, dear Lord,
Tenderly hold us close!
WORSHIPING GOD
Worshiping God is loving God,
Showing love in any way that we can
Loving Him with our heart, our mind, and our soul
Just as the Scriptures command.
When we worship with all of our being,
We are aware that the Lord is there,
Whether we bow in adoration before Him
Or lift holy hands in prayer.
It matters not the position
Nor how we express what we feel.
When we show our true love and devotion
It is then that our worship is real.
GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS
There is never a prayer that God doesn't answer.
We are the ones who fail to reply;
For God has already prepared the answer
And is just waiting for our feeble cry.
He does not always answer directly
With a definite "Yes" or "No";
He may merely remind us of some other problem
Or of some truths that we need to know.
When things don't happen as we had expected,
We do not see that the answer is there.
In our human blindness and selfish unkindness
We think God didn't answer our prayer.
God in His wisdom may give a command;
He may tell us some task to do.
Then we are bewildered and can't understand,
For we see no connection between the two.
But if we faithfully follow the Spirit's leading
And are ever so prompt to obey,
We will find when we do the duty God gave us
That we have the answer to our problem that day.
FAITH IS A BRIDGE
Faith is a bridge, stalwart and strong,
Over the river of doubt.
He who walks every day on the bridge highway
Can put all his fears to rout.
It is best not to gaze at the river below
Or to lean too far over the side,
For if we fall into doubt and cannot swim out
We will be carried along with the tide.
The more we travel this bridge of faith
Te less we notice the water below,
Till we become unaware that the river is there
As onward and upward we go.
WHEN I ASKED FOR A TALENT
I complained that I had no talent.
Then God sent sorrow to me.
While His loving arms gave me comfort,
I was able, at last, to see
That I now could bring comfort to others-
A talent I had acquired!
To my sorrowing friend I knew what to say;
With experience my words were inspired.
I asked God to give me more talents,
And I was given a cup of pain.
Into my life that been all sunshine
Came endless days of rain.
I asked the Lord why it happened to me
Why must I suffer so?
He told me to bear it bravely
And my heart with understanding would grow.
Once I had scorn for the fallen-
For the derelicts along the way.
I readily judged the parents at fault
If children went astray.
When I asked for a talent of wisdom
That I might be a blessing to someone I need,
One dear to my heart brought shame and disgrace
And made my heart to bleed.
Very soon, I discovered, that heartache
Like the sorrow and the pain given me
Had become a most useful talent-
A talent of true sympathy.
I can now rejoice in my sufferings,
For burdens bring blessings I know.
I have read many times in the Scriptures
How troubles have helped talents to grow.
SEND ME WHAT I NEED
I'll not suggest what You should send
For I cannot see the final end;
Just send me what I need.
I humbly bow before You now, asking to be blest.
Send what will be the best for me, for only You know best.
If I am weak and falter, give me strength to stand the test.
Send me what I need, O Lord, send me what I need.
Sometimes I may ask amiss,
Wishing ease, or fame, or bliss.
Lord, send me what I need.
If I need disappointment to keep my ego in control,
If I need pain and suffering for the welfare of my soul,
Lord, lead me on, until at last I reach that final goal.
Send me what I need, O Lord, send me what I need.
Forgive me when I fail to see
That everyday You are blessing me
And sending what I need.
I know each day along the way my needs are satisfied,
That the love I share with others is always multiplied,
And with abundant blessings I never fail to be supplied.
Thank you Lord for sending me daily what I need.
NEGLECTED FRUIT
The spiritual fruits are love, joy, and peace.
Our need for these virtues seems never to cease.
There is another fruit which is often left out-
The value of patience we don't talk about.
To practice patience is difficult to do.
We get in a hurry, we "fret" and we "stew".
When we take our burdens to the Lord in prayer
We sometimes forget to leave them there.
God's answer to prayer never comes too late,
But we may lack the patience to trust and to wait.
In our feverish haste we so soon forget
That an all-wise God is watching us yet.
O dear friend, have faith and you will know
That God in His mercy is never too slow.
The answer, like a lamp at the right time lit,
Will brighten our path if we wait for it.
GOD CALLED ME TO TEACH
I knew it beyond a doubt; the Lord had called me.
There was something special that He wished me to be.
In my own little mind I was certain that I knew
Just the very service He would have me do.
Like many another in this modern day
I wanted to be a missionary and live far away.
But things didn't work out the way I had planned.
I became ill and crippled; I could not understand.
Surely God would heal me and I could still go,
But time was scurrying by, it seemed God was so slow.
Maybe God was not kind as I'd thought Him to be,
Else why did all this trouble happen to me?
The more I thought it over and tried to figure it out,
The more I was tempted to rebel and to doubt.
It was then that I realized that my faith was gone,
And I felt helpless and alone with no God to lean on.
At long last I finally began to see
It was to teach in Sunday School that God was calling me.
So I got busy and began to prepare
With much Bible study, meditation, and prayer.
I took a study course with many books to read;
I soon found it was satisfying my own personal need.
My hungry soul was fed. I was happy once more,
And my faith was stronger than ever before.
I was given a class of young girls to teach-
Hungry young souls that I could reach.
Great peace and joy just flooded my soul.
I was now a missionary; I had reached my goal.
There is no higher calling, no work more sublime,
For Sunday School teaching is service full time.
I must keep busy at doing God's work,
In my Master's service I dare not shirk.
For more than forty years I've continued to teach,
And many are the souls I've been able to reach.
The great Commission is fulfilled indeed
When we teach the Bible wherever there is need.
WHY I GO TO CHURCH
I can worship God in my own home
Where I read my Bible each day.
I like to be alone with the Lord
My sincere prayers to say.
But when it comes to praising god,
My voice is never up to par.
To praise Him as the Bible commands
I must be where others are
Singing praises to the Lord.
Jesus loves me-even sinners like me-
With the greatest love that has ever been known.
I must praise Him with all of my heart
For the wonderful love He has shown.
He is indeed the Lily of the Valley;
His the only Bright and Morning Star.
To rightly praise my blessed Saviour
I must be where people are
Singing praises to the Lord.
One feeble voice is not enough
To sing praises to the King of Kings.
It takes an entire congregation
And is best where everyone sings.
It is fine to relax on Sundays
Or to travel somewhere in the car.
But I go to church Sunday mornings
To be where other Christians are
Singing praises to the Lord.
Some people look forward to heaven
For reasons that to me seem very queer,
To have golden streets and a mansion
In that city that will be crystal clear.
I am sure it will be a beautiful place,
But I am more eager by far
Just to worship my Lord and Saviour
Where the multitude of worshipers are
Singing praises to the Lord.
THE OFFERING I BRING
What suitable sacrifice can I bring
As a worthy offering to my Lord and King?
I must give of myself, give a part of me;
Only then can my offering a true sacrifice be.
I will bring to the Lord my very best-
That which cost me something, for that is the test.
When I bring an offering of money today,
It isn't "cold cash" as some would say,
For my time, my effort, and energy
Have gone into these earnings that come to me.
My money isn't just worldly pelf.
As I give it, I am giving a part of myself.
I will give of my time, for every day
As I think of others I remember to pray.
I give of my time to help others in need.
Even a cheery word can be sowing good seed.
So my time as an offering I will bring,
For time is truly a priceless thing.
A treasured gift I must certainly bring
Is that of thanksgiving unto my King.
For God, Himself, has asked that we
Ever and always should thankful be.
Praise and thanksgiving, the Psalmist has said,
Is a worthy sacrifice. These words we have read.
When I come before Him with my offering today,
My money and my time at His feet I will lay,
And my voice in thanksgiving I will ever raise.
My heart is filled with songs of praise.
These are the gifts that I would bring.
As an offering to my Lord and King.
I HAVE LEARNED TO BE GRATEFUL
I have learned to be grateful, even for pain,
For each bit of suffering has brought me some gain.
It makes me akin to others who know
The secret-the sorrows help blessings to grow.
After the pain there comes sweet release,
Nothing else can equal that feeling of peace.
Had I not known pain, I'd not know the relief-
The infinite joy beyond all belief.
God tenderly watches as I'm "tried as by fire."
He knows how much heat it should require
To burn out the dross from the gold in my soul
Till I willingly allow Him to have full control.
The sweetest blessings from His bountiful store
God sends to those who suffer and more.
So I shall be grateful even for pain,
For each bit of suffering has brought me some gain.
I DO NOT FEAR
I truly have nothing to worry about;
There is nothing to cause me alarm.
I do not fear, although dangers are near;
I know I am protected from harm.
The dear blessed Saviour, so tender and true,
Watches over me every day.
He is my guide whatever betide,
And He leads me each step of the way.
I know that the Lord has a wonderful plan,
Something special He's intended for me.
I shall seek His holy will, that plan to fulfill,
That I may be what He wants me to be.
Even though my old body is racked with pain
And my days left on earth may be few,
Each precious hour I'll rejoice in His power.
I can even serve Him by encouraging you.
THE MODERN PHARISEE
How shocking it is that youth go wrong!
That the inclination to sin is so strong!
The many temptations never came my way
That seem to lure the youth of today.
In the proper path I desired to abide;
I scorned any thought of stepping aside.
One day I read Romans twelve and three
The full meaning of that scripture came to me.
I cried to the Lord, "Have mercy, please!"
As in remorse, I fell on my knees.
I am the sinner for whom Christ died.
In the light of God's Word, my sin is pride!
TWO LITTLE WORMS
Two caterpillars in the garden one day
Were discussing the future in a serious way.
Said one caterpillar, "I must spin me a cocoon,
For the time of my departure will be very soon."
"Pugh," scoffed the other, "I just don't believe;
Those stories of butterflies are just to deceive."
"I will make no cocoon, I haven't the time to spare.
I am content with life as I find it here."
"But what will you do when the cold winds blow?
It is better to believe even though we don't know."
"Nonsense," said the foolish worm, "You bother me.
Why worry about cold that may never be?"
So he made no cocoon, and the cold winter's chill
Froze him to death as cold winds will.
The other caterpillar was safe from harm
In the cocoon he had made-he was cozy and warm.
When he awakened on a warm day in spring
He had become a butterfly with a colorful wing.
JUST IMAGINE!
Man can send voices and pictures through the air.
He can pick up sound waves from everywhere.
Just imagine what God can do.
He could replay the scenes of my whole life through.
If all were to be shown on a giant screen,
Every act of my life by all to be seen,
Could I step out when they called my name
Or would I cringe in terror or hid in shame?
I make my own record of all my deeds,
To replay the sound waves is all that God needs.
My every word is recorded there.
Every word I have said could be picked up from the air.
Nothing is impossible for God to do.
It is a sobering thought-and frightening too.
I wonder if God will do it that way
When He judges me on that great Judgement Day?
I KNOW IT IS TRUE
I don't understand it, yet I know it is true,
The Creator of the universe is in me and in you.
When I pray to Him, I lift my hands in prayer,
Not that I think He is someplace up there,
But because He is so much greater than I-
So wonderful, so powerful, so exhalted and high.
I lift up my heart and my hands in praise
For the blessings He gives me all of my days.
I praise Him for dwelling in each of our hearts,
That His Holy Spirit to us He imparts.
Why the great God of the universe should love us so
I cannot understand, but it is true, I know.
READ THE PSALMS
With a little imagination
In any situation
We can find a verse from Psalms that will apply.
We should ever praise the Lord;
Praise Him both in deed and word.
In the book of Psalms we find some reasons why.
When we feel the inclination
For some prayer and meditation,
Reading Psalms makes worship vital and sincere.
If we find a favorite Psalm and read
The very words that fill our need,
We can feel the Presence of the Lord is ever near.
In the Lord we do rejoice.
We honor Him with heart and voice
Because we know He always hears us when we call.
In many Psalms we find a prayer.
The Psalms assure us of His care
And the promise that He watches over all.
ON THE FORTIETH PSALM
I waited for the Lord and he heard my plea.
When I had patiently waited, He answered me.
He brought me up out of the miry clay
And sent me rejoicing on my way.
He set my feet on the solid ground.
A new song in my heart and joy I have found.
Many shall see it and will become aware
Of how the Lord in His kindness answered my prayer.
"Help me, dear Lord, to keep my vow
That I'll always remember how You blessed me now
And to proclaim to others the blessed relief
Of waiting with patience and with sincere belief."
The Psalmist assures us that God knows what's best
And at just the right time we'll be richly blest.
"O, God, calm my restless, impatient soul,
Make me willing to wait and let You take control."
TO A FRIEND WHO HAS FAILED
Don't feel downcast because you have failed-
I've a message of cheer.
The compassionate Master has promised
That He's always near.
Even a failure can become a success
In God's almighty hands.
He will give you strength to try again
For He understands.
Not till we've failed can we ever learn
True humility.
But to try again, and again, and again
Takes real ability.
The disciples deserted the Master
In His dark hour.
They learned they were weak and helpless
Without His power.
Yet these were the ones Jesus entrusted
To spread the word,
So that in every village and hamlet
The gospel was heard.
THE PRICE GOD PAID FOR ME
My little lamb has wandered away,
Willful and rebellious,
She was determined to stray.
O God, where is my child tonight?
Where is my darling? Why did she go?
Did she not understand that I love her so?
I would willingly die to save her from harm,
To save her from sorrow and pain.
O that I knew how to rescue her,
To bring her back home again.
O God, help me in my plight!
I would go out in the desert
Amid briar and thorn;
I would gladly search
Although bruised and torn.
There is no suffering known
That I wouldn't endure
To have her at home again, safe and secure,
Away from her wanderings, away from her sin,
Back home with me to begin again.
If I could rescue my darling
From the mountains wild
I would suffer torment.
I would die for my child!
O, God in heaven, now I see
That is the price You paid for me!
O God, I am not worthy,
Not worthy that You should love me so!
That terrible price You paid for me!
I didn't know! I didn't know!
WHEREVER HE LEADS I'LL GO
My grandchild and I went for a walk one day
Where many rough stones were along the way.
Some hills were steep but he climbed them all
Not even crying when rocks caused him to fall.
He rejoiced at the scent in every turn
And asked many questions. He was eager to learn.
When the going was hard, he did not complain.
Wherever I led him, he gladly came.
With another grandchild, on another day,
I went for a walk along the same way.
He rebelled and resisted, although he wanted to go,
But the rocks in the path made our progress so slow.
He suggested a better path he'd like to take
And objected to any choices I'd make.
He complained so much that he gave me no joy.
I felt almost sorry I had invited the boy.
The difference in the boys made me realize
The way I must look in God's all-seeing eyes.
Some days I follow gladly as He leads me along,
Even rejoice at burdens and sing a glad song.
But I'm ashamed as I recall there have been other days
When I complained that He led me in difficult ways.
Forgive me, dear Master, I just didn't know
That my wrong attitudes could grieve You so!
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD
In my bereavement what shall I say?
"The Lord hath given and He hath taken away."
I feel lost and bewildered; my sorrow is deep.
In my loneliness I can do naught but weep.
But I need not despair nor the future fear,
For my heavenly Father is always near.
"Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I will no longer question, no longer ask "Why?"
My Father knows far better than I
What is best for my loved one and best for me.
He can see what my finite eyes cannot see.
My deepest desire is that God's will be done,
Then all will be best for everyone.
"Blessed be the name of the Lord."
This experience for me is a fork in the road.
From now on I must carry a different load.
That stage in my life has come to an end.
New tasks are awaiting around the bend.
I am willing to follow where the Master leads.
In His infinite wisdom He supplies all my needs.
"Blessed be the name of the Lord."
GRANDMOTHER HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO KEEP
My Grandmother's life was a real busy life.
She was the mother of six, and a farmer's wife.
But I've heard it said that each Lord's Day
Found her and her family on their way
To the small country church on the plot of land
That her father donated for the church to stand.
She ne'er missed a Sunday, come rain, cold, or heat,
For Grandmother had an appointment to keep.
A meal at Grandmother's was always a treat.
Her table just groaned with the good food to eat.
After breakfast was eaten, each knelt by his chair
While Grandfather led in the family prayer.
The Sunday noon meal was usually late,
"But Spiritual Food must never wait."
Grandmother was strict in her firm belief
In the Sunday morning appointment to keep.
When they moved into town, at an age to retire,
She found more time for her heart's desire.
Much more of her time was now occupied
With serving her Lord, in life's eventide.
A Sunday School class of women she taught,
And here faithful example by many was caught:
"Whatever happens, come what may,
We've an appointment to keep on each Lord's Day."
When old and feeble she still managed to go,
Though lame with arthritis and walking so slow.
In time, by wheelchair was the only way
She could be taken to church on each Lord's Day
A ramp was built to enter one door,
For Grandmother could climb the steps no more.
Yet, still she was there to do her small part,
Her faith and her courage to others impart.
The news of her death reached me one day,
And I lifted my heart in thanksgiving to pray;
Grandmother's pain and suffering was o'er,
The sorrows of earth she would know no more.
I rejoiced that she now was "fallen asleep"
For Grandmother had an appointment to keep
With the Lord she loved, forever to be-
An appointment to keep for eternity.