A NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
As we soon enter another year,
I hold you up in prayer, my dear;
That God will be your Guide each day
And bless you in a special way,
That He will be very close to you
To guide your footsteps all year through.
May His hallowed presence bless
All your days with happiness.
A NEW YEAR'S WISH
I wish you happiness for the new year,
A happiness real and complete.
A happiness that will show
Wherever you go
And radiate to those whom you meet.
I wish you joy, the exuberant kind
That overflows like a bubbling spring,
A contagious joy
That is without an alloy
Is what I wish the new year to bring.
I wish you peace, but the peace the world gives
Is empty and blighted and bare.
I wish you a peace divine
To last for all time
That peace that comes only by prayer.
NEW EVERY MORNING
With joy and gladness we greet the new year.
It thrills the heart when a new beginning is here.
We will leave behind the mistakes of the past.
We're certain we have learned our lesson at last.
Yet new every morning are the mercies of God!
We need not wait till the year is through
To make a fresh start and to begin anew.
We have twelve months. We have fifty-two weeks.
Each is a time of beginning to him who seeks.
For new every morning are the mercies of God!
His love and forgiveness are new every day
If only we ask Him, if we earnestly pray.
Today is a new beginning for you.
God and His mercy makes all things new.
New every morning are the mercies of God!
VALENTINE GREETINGS
I thought I would send
some lines your way
As my greeting to you
on this Valentine's Day.
But, so very inadequate
seem these words of mine
When you are in truth
a real valentine.
In your kindness to others
we see love applied.
You are love itself
personified.
The love of the Master
shines through you
In all that you say
and all that you do.
LIVING VALENTINES
There are many valentines
In the store across the way,
And little children buying them
To give on Valentine's Day.
They buy valentines for teacher
And one for Mother, too;
Valentines for favorite friends,
Only the best will do.
See the smiling little fellow
Like a mischievous little elf.
Although he doesn't know it,
He's a valentine himself.
Little girl with pigtails
And dancing dark brown eyes
You're a living valentine,
You're an angel in disguise.
Give me living valentines,
Bright-eyed girls and boys.
When I have their love and friendship,
I ask no other joys.
I see walking valentines
Wherever children go.
They scatter love and sunshine,
Making heaven here below.
LOVE IS PATIENT
"Love is patient and kind," these words I read.
A love that is patient is what I need.
In my youth it was Grandmother who always took time
To show interest in any problem of mine.
When learning to sew, I knew where to turn,
My Grandmother was willing to help me learn.
If my sewing went wrong or I had knots instead,
Grandmother patiently untangled the thread.
No matter how busy Grandmother might be
She always took time to listen to me.
While others were rushed, a schedule to meet,
Grandmother's patience was always a treat.
I've bought valentines as that day draws near;
The best one I'll give to Grandmother this year.
Love is patient and kind, I know that is true,
And a valentine to Grandmother is long overdue.
THE MESSAGE OF EASTER
Go quickly and tell the joyful news.
The Lord has risen today!
To those you meet who are lonely and sad
This message of comfort convey:
Our living Lord has conquered death.
He is alive forevermore!
He lives in my heart and He will live in yours
If you only will open the door.
The glad Easter message proclaim to all.
The Lord is risen indeed!
My heart overflows with unspeakable joy
For Jesus is all that I need.
To those who are hungry to know of His love
There is hope, and peace, and cheer.
We need not face life's problems alone.
The Master is always near.
EASTER
How can I double when all about
The miracles of God are seen?
The trees that were bare
When no leaves were there
Have suddenly all turned green.
The little bulbs were brown
When put into the ground
A few short months ago.
They've burst forth with roots
and tall green shoots.
Now the flowers begin to show.
How it can be; I just do not see.
It is too much for my little mind.
But it is God's wondrous plan
And I need not understand,
For the wisdom of god is divine.
So I'll just believe
And his blessings receive.
I know he leads me each step of the way.
My glad heart will sing
Of the miracles of spring
And that He arose on that first Easter Day.
HEARTS AGLOW
When they traveled toward Emmaus,
Their hearts were warmed in a marvelous way
As they walked and talked with the Master
On that first glad Easter Day.
Our hearts grow warm as we serve Him;
We can walk and talk with Him too.
As we practice feeling the presence of God,
He will guide us in all that we do.
I have had a glorious experience this year.
But have no words to explain how it can be.
My heart is aglow with the love of the Lord,
For He is so precious to me.
ON A WEDDING DAY
Take the Lord Jesus with you
When you make that wedding vow.
If the Master is always included
Things work out better somehow.
Don't try to sail the marital sea
And battle life's storms alone;
The Master will be your pilot and guide
When both of you are His own.
The God who made each human heart
Can help you each to understand.
He will reveal to each the other's worth
As you journey hand in hand.
Even hearts that are closely knit
Have thoughts that they cannot explain.
Jesus is the heart's interpreter
When He is allowed to supremely reign.
AT GRADUATION TIME
If I could find a real wishing well
Where all of the wishes come true,
I would get me a bushel of special ones
And have them delivered to you.
I'd wish you a sense of humor
To cushion the things that go wrong.
I'd wish you a faith so triumphant,
That you'd begin each day with a song.
I'd wish you to find your own special place,
The work God intended for you.
I'd wish a compassionate, congenial companion
Beside you for all of life through.
I will not wish you great success
Neither health nor a life of ease.
Although these are often the goals in life,
We can be happy without any of these.
As you leave school to go into the world,
I wish for you only the best:
That you can accomplish something worthwhile,
For that is the ultimate test.
OUR HOLIDAY IN JULY
A most important day to me
Is our holiday in July.
Each year I make that day unique,
For I never pass it by.
I fell I'm just a kid again
On Independence Day,
And find some way to celebrate-
Perhaps an old fashioned way.
I must do something very special,
Maybe different food to eat;
And when watching public celebrations,
To me that's quite a treat!
For so long as I know it's July,
I'll feel the Fourth is great!
If I were drawing my last breath,
I'd want to celebrate!
I VALUE MY FREEDOM
Would you take away the freedom
my forefathers fought to save,
that the constitution gave?
The liberty and enterprise
Would you take away the freedom
from an old man such as I,
And take the reason for celebrating
our holiday in July?
I set great value on my freedom
Where I've the right to happiness,
in this homeland of the free
such as my hobby is to me.
I'm content when I keep busy
with the tasks I love to do.
Feeling useful is the happiness
I'm most eager to pursue.
I like to do some things myself
even though I am growing old.
My working days aren't over, quite,
despite what I've been told.
Don't force me into idleness;
being "fenced in" that would seem.
It would take away my freedom
and all my self-esteem.
Let me enjoy some freedom still
to do whatsoe'er I can.
When I continue to be useful,
I can feel I'm still a man.
I'll be a patriotic citizen
until my dying day.
I want to die a free man;
Please let it be that way.
PRAYER FOR AMERICA
Our Father and our God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, We thank You for America, this land of our birth.
You have showered our nation with blessings indeed. You have given us far more than we ever could need.
But, we often fail to be grateful to You.
We fail to give credit where it's properly due.
We look with a proud and arrogant gaze
And say, "We achieved this ourselves, in our own ways."
Lord God of Hosts, help us to see aright
That You are our source of power and might!
Hear us, O God, hear America's prayer.
We look to You in times of despair.
The problems that beset America today
Are all because we have wandered away.
For the things of God we have failed to take time,
And now we see our nation is filled with crime.
We have foolishly thought that You do not care;
Some will say that You aren't even there.
We know in truth that You are grieved by our sin
And by the way our nation has decayed from within.
Help us, our Father, to turn back to You,
To the source of our strength when our nation was new.
Our forefathers made a solemn vow
To be loyal to You. But look at us now!
We, the people, are guilty of sin.
We have let greed and selfishness enter in.
We let them take the place of honesty and love
And the proper reverence toward God above.
Hear us, our Father, as we now pray
For a return to righteousness in America today.
Hear our prayer at this crucial hour
As we interceded for those in power.
We pray for our President and for the Congress, too,
And for the State officials. May they look to You
For guidance in matters of public affairs.
Give them Your wisdom, dear God, to supplement theirs.
May they lead our nation in ways that are right,
Honest, and honorable in Your sight.
Grant this petition, O Lord we pray,
For the sake of those in America who serve You today.
Amen
LABOR DAY
I have a special gift from God:
"I am happy in the work that I do."
When I rejoice in my task
It is all I can ask-
Like a child who enjoys his play.
My love for my job is so sincere
It is always refreshing and new.
With buoyant step
And plenty of pep
I am ready for work each day.
Today we show honor to labor
As we honor the laboring man.
There is a pleasure in work
That is unknown if we shirk.
We rejoice in the work that we do.
I am thankful to God for labor,
For strength to do what I can.
Very sad it would be
If there were no work for me;
I would feel discouraged and blue.
THE ORIGIN OF LABOR
When God created the universe
And made all the animals and man,
They were made entirely different
According to His marvelous plan.
Man was made with ability to think;
The Creator planned it that way.
He placed man in a garden for a reason,
To till and to tend it each day.
Basic to man's contentment
Is the joy in watching things grow,
Whether growing food for the family
Or raising beautiful flowers for show.
It arouses an inborn instinct
That was placed there aeons ago.
He who works close to nature
Has riches that others don't know.
WELL DONE
Happy that laborer at the setting of sun
Who knows the thrill of a task well done.
He has finished the job he set out to do;
Stayed with his work till he's seen it through.
No recreation, no play, and no fun
Can equal the thrill of work well done;
That weary feeling-ready for rest,
Yet knowing full well he has done his best.
Happy the man at life's setting sun
Who knows in his heart that his work is done.
He can look back in memory and honestly say,
"I've done some worthwhile work along the way."
ON ELECTION DAY
Will I go vote? I most certainly will!
I'm a patriotic citizen still.
Here is a fact of which you should note:
No man is ever too old to vote!
I'll admit it is an effort for me to go;
I know I am old and lame and slow.
These arthritis pains are here to stay,
But they won't keep me at home on Election Day.
We each must do the best that we can
To elect good officials to govern our land.
We are fortunate to live in a democracy
And we dare not forget the responsibility.
While I am able to go and am in my right mind,
The franchise is a glorious privilege of mine.
For so long as I live I'll have taxes to pay
And the duty to vote on Election Day.
THANKSGIVING
All the family are coming home,
Even those who live far away.
All will gather around the table once more
On this Thanksgiving Day.
We will rejoice at being together again
And the dear faces once more to see.
It is a time of love and remembering
Just as Thanksgiving really should be.
We look forward to a meeting in heaven
When this old earth has passed away.
We will gather around the throne of God
On that great Thanksgiving Day.
There will be singing and glad rejoicing
When we meet on the other shore.
There we shall be with the Lord forever
And praise Him forevermore.
FIRST FRUITS
(Deuteronomy 26:2)
I desire to bring a sacrifice
To offer to my King.
Like the ancient Hebrews
The first fruits I would bring.
I have no fruit, what shall I do
On this Thanksgiving Day?
I only bring this little gift,
The praises that I sing.
(Hebrews 13:15)
I found it in the Scripture,
The answer to my plea
"The fruit of lips in praises"
A true sacrifice can be.
Now I know what I can do
On this Thanksgiving Day.
My lips in sincere praises
Is the sacrifice from me.
WHERE ARE THE NINE?
When we fail to give thanks to the Father,
To show appreciation for our blessings each day,
Should we expect God to continue to bless us,
To shower more blessings our way?
When we are lacking in real appreciation,
We develop covetousness, jealousy, and greed.
If we are never content with our blessings,
We will want much more than we need.
It is pleasing to the Heavenly Father
That we praise Him all the day long;
That we tell to our friends how He helped us,
Or praise Him in jubilant song.
When Jesus had healed the ten lepers,
There was only one returned at that time
To give praise and thanksgiving to the Master.
Then Jesus asked, "Where are the nine?"
THE STARS SEEM BRIGHTER
The stars seem to shine on Christmas eve
With a special brightness to those who believe.
And they even seem a bit more near
Than they are on other nights of the year.
There is a hallowed hush over all the earth
As though the world awaits the Saviour's birth.
For He is born in each humble heart anew
To those who know the sweet story is true.
When we look up and claim Him as our own,
If we let our hearts become His royal throne,
Then Christmas takes on an added thrill.
It becomes truly a day of peace and good will.
ONLY A FEW
When God stepped over the threshold
To live in the world among men,
And was born as a Babe in Bethlehem
The stars shone with a brilliance for Him.
All of the angels in heaven
Sang beautiful anthems that day,
But only a few on earth really knew.
The others just went on their way.
Those who knew it repeated the story;
It was handed down from father to son.
There was always a few who knew it-
Who continued to pass it on.
Through the ages men have observed it,
Making much of the outward show.
And now the beautiful meaning of Christmas
We share with the many who know.
CHRISTMAS THEN AND CHRISTMAS NOW
Feverishly we haste to do
All our shopping, and when we are through
We wrap each gift in a special way
To look most beautiful on Christmas Day.
"You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."
Luke 2:7
We decorate with a Christmas tree;
We put a star at the top for all to see.
The store windows in town are bright and gay;
Very often a star is in each display.
"We have seen His star in the East."
Matthew 2:2
Joyful are the carols we sing;
With Christmas music the air will ring.
Groups of carolers are a familiar sign,
Singing carols to their friends at night.
"A multitude of heavenly host praising God."
Luke 2:13
We send glad greetings every year
To our loved ones far and near,
To tell the Christmas story again
"Of peace on earth, good will to men."
"And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them."
Luke 2:18
THE CAROL SINGERS
She sat by the fireside
in an old rocking chair.
She was alone, neglected,
and feeling despair;
When out of the night
she heard a new sound.
It seemed to be music-
her heart gave a bound.
"Yes, someone is singing!
It is carols I hear."
It was youthful voices
that fell on her ear.
She went to the window
to take a peek out.
Of course 'twould be over
at the neighbors, no doubt.
The sound grew in volume
as though just outside!
She went to the door
and opened it wide.
The sight that she saw
A group of church friends!
was a thrilling surprise.
Then tears filled her eyes.
"Christmas is real!
It's a time of great joy!
Thank you, dear God,
for each girl and boy.
For those who have come
with a message of cheer
To a lonely old lady
at this glad time of year."
A DAUGHTER FOR CHRISTMAS
We knew Aunt Matilda felt lonely
For tomorrow would be Christmas Eve.
All of her friends had a family
While her family was make-believe.
She often spoke of a "lovely daughter"
Whom she said lived far away.
She was sure the daughter would come visit.
She might come almost any day.
She had even written the "daughter's" name
At the top of her Christmas list.
But no one deceived by the story;
We knew the "daughter" didn't exist.
Today Aunt Matilda was near to despair
When a kind woman came into her room
With these cheerful words, "I'm your daughter now;
I drew your name this noon."
LOVE AT CHRISTMASTIME
A gift of love is a priceless gift
At any time of the year,
But a gift of love at Christmas time
Is even more precious and dear;
Because, by a marvelous miracle
Love gifts touch the hearts of men
When given in the name
Of the One who came
As a Babe born in Bethlehem.
Gifts given through a sense of duty
Without enough love tucked inside
Will lose some of their luster and beauty
No matter how elegantly tied.
We can make a Christmas a "giving spree,"
A mere give and get for merriment
Or to help the economy.
But a day of holy ecstasy
Is the more ideal way it can be.
We can give as though to the Master who said,
"As you do it for one of these brothers of mine
You are doing it for me."
A gift of love is truly transformed
As if by a touch from above.
It can warm the heart till the teardrops start
When the gift is seasoned with love.
AFTER CHRISTMAS IS OVER
After our Christmas is over
And the tinsel removed from the tree,
When the last late gift has been opened,
It isn't over for me.
My heart is still filled with remembering
All the greetings and words of cheer,
The letters from friends and relations,
Who write me but once a year.
The extra love of the season
Warms my heart by its afterglow.
I feel more love from my neighbor,
And I'm a better person I know.