The Rose

THE ROSE

It's only a tiny rosebud -
A flower of God's design,
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I -
The flower God opens so sweetly,
In my hands would fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud...
This flower of God's design,
How can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for his leading
Each moment of everyday,
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me
My Heavenly Father knows -
I'll trust him to unfold the moments
Just as he unfolds the rose.
- author unknown

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Be Good to Yourself

Be Yourself -- Truthfully
Accept Yourself -- Gracefully
Value Yourself -- Joyfully
Forgive Yourself -- Completely
Treat Yourself -- Generously
Balance Yourself -- Harmoniously
Bless Yourself -- Abundantly
Trust Yourself -- Confidently
Love Yourself -- Wholeheartedly
Empower Yourself -- Prayerfully
Give Yourself -- Enthusiastically
Express Yourself -- Radiantly

--- Author Unknown

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The Wonder of Friends

Friends aren't blind to your faults -- but they can see beyond them.

Friends are the best part of ourselves

FAITH FOR DARK DAYS

When dark days come--and they come to us all--
We so helpless and lost and small.
We cannot fathom the reason why,
And it is futile for us to try
To find the answer, the reason or cause,
For the master plan is without any flaws,
And when the darkness shuts out the light,
We must lean on faith to restore our sight,
For there is nothing we need to know
If we have faith that wherever we go
God will be there to help us bear
Our disppointment, PAIN, and care
For He is our Shepherd, our Father, our Guide,
And you're never ALONE with the Lord at your side.

--Helen Steiner Rice

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Emergency Phone Numbers

When in sorrow, call John 14
When men fail you, call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.
When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Cor. 13.
For Paul's secret to happiness, call Col. 3:12-17.
For idea of Christianity, call 1 Cor. 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31-39.
When you want peace and rest, call Matt. 11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8:1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, call Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1.
How to get along with fellowmen, call Romans 12.
When you think of investments/returns, call Mark 10.
If you are depressed, call Psalm 27.
If your pocketbook is empty, call Psalm 37.
If your loosing confidence in people, call 1 Cor. 13.
If people seem unkind, call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small,
and yourself great, call Psalm 19.

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary.

All lines are open to Heaven 24 hours a day! Feed your faith,
and doubt will starve to death!
(Author Unknown)

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The Trouble Pile


          "Where do you go today, old man.
       With that great load there on your back?"
     The old man just grumbled as he hobbled a long
          Holding Tight to the bulging sack.

         "I say, old man, "cried the boy again
           "Do you carry a sack of gold?"
          "Nay, lad," the old man whispered.
          "Tis just troubles--that's all I hold."
          "This sack I've carried, all my life
            Each trouble I've had is here.
      They've grown till now, my back grows bent
             With every passing year.

      "There's grief and pain, there's hurt and woe,
           There are trials and sins galore
          But I'm going now to the trouble pile
          and I won't pack these no more."

       The boy looked up with a troubled glance.
          "Tell me, what's the trouble pile?
  I'd like to know, and while we talk You can sit and rest a
                    while."

          "I lack the time," the old man said,
              I've got to rush along.
           I want to get to the trouble pile
          "Fore the little troubles are gone.

        "You see, it's a place where all can go
          To trade troubles great and small
    You can leave yours there and pick new ones up.
          Why, I'll trade 'till I've none at all."

       The boy glanced down at his twisted leg,
         And he blinked to hold back a tear.
     "Could I trade this leg for a good one," he asked,
           "If the trouble pile was here?"

      "Of course, you could," the old man was gruff.
          "But there's still a long way to go.
            I've got to hurry or I'll be late,
           And crippled you'd be too slow."

      So the boy sat down and watched the man,
           Disappear in the morning light,
        The hours wore on and still he watched
           As the day moved on to night.

            At last, there in the distance,
         The old man walked tall and strong,
           A bulging sack still on his back,
              But on his lips, a song.

             "I see you traded, mister,
             And lost your heavy load,
             His little voice grew wistful
          As he looked back down the road.

       The old man grinned and tossed his bag
           With a thud, in the dusty track.
        And he smiled a smile at the little boy
          As he sat and leaned lazily back.

     "Now, I'll tell you, lad, though you'll not believe--
          But that sack is the same as I had.
        When I saw the troubles of other folks.
            I found mine not half so bad.

         "Sure, I've hardly got a trouble now,
           And I'll tell you something too--
          If you could see that trouble pile,
            You'd keep that bad leg too.

          "Cause I've done a bit of thinking
            As I walked along the way.
       And if we worked hard on that leg of yours
       It would grow straight and strong to stay,

         "Now I've really nothing much to do
         And a crutch I could make for a start."
        Then he hugged the boy to hide a tear,
          And the joy in an old man's heart.

       So the boy and the man worked together,
         From morning to the last light of day,
      And the twisted leg finally was straightened,
         And the boy could soon run and play.

      It was then the old man knew he must leave,
          And again he shouldered his sack,
      But no longer did it bulge with his troubles--
         It just hung there loose on his back!

          For while he was helping another.
           His own troubles faded away,
  He had truly found the trouble pile, It's there if you look for
                   the way.

                       -Unknown

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A CHILDS WONDER

   "Daddy", she said, her eyes full of tears,
    "will you talk to me and quiet my fears?
    Those bad boys at school are spreading a lie
    'bout the impossibility of reindeer that fly.
    There's no Santa Claus, they say with a grin
    there's not one now and there never has been.
    How can one man take all of those toys
    to thousands of girls and boys?
    But I told them Daddy, that they were not right,
    that I would come home and find out tonight.
    Mama said wait until you come home.
    Please tell me now that I was not wrong."

    Her Daddy looked at her questioning face
    and puffed his pipe while his frantic mind raced.
    He had put this off as long as he could,
    he had to think fast and it better be good.
    Whispering a prayer, he began with a smile,
    "well climb on my lap, dear, let's talk awhile."

    "Remember at church how we learned to pray,
    asking God to take care of us each day?
    And you know how we say grace before each meal?
    To this same god whom we know to be real.
    Though we never see him, we know he is there
    watching his children with such loving care."

    "God started Christmas a long time ago
    when he gave us his son to love and to know.
    A spirit of giving came with that birth,
    and God's generosity filled the whole earth.
    Man had to name this spirit of giving
    just as he names all things that are living."

    "The name Santa Claus came to someone's mind
    probably the best name of any to find.
    There is, you can see, and I think quite clear
    Truly a Santa who visits each year.
    A spirit like God, whom we never see,
    he enters the hearts of your mother and me."

    "Each year at Christmas for one special night
    we become him and make everything right.
    But the REAL spirit of Christmas is in you and in me
    and I hope you are old enough now to see
    that as we believe and continue to give,
    our friend Santa Claus will continue to live."

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A Message

I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you. Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you'd want Me to walk along with you, too. So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited, you never called, I just kept on loving you.

As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you. I spilled moonlight onto your face - trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of me; I wanted so much to comfort you. The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into a glorious morning for you. But you woke up late and rushed off to work - you didn't even notice. My sky became cloudy and My tears were the rain.

I love you. Oh, if you'd only listen. I really love you. I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky. The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of the flowers. I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing for you. I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with nature's sweet scent. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If you'd only realize how I care. I died just for you.

My Dad sends His love. I want you to meet Him. He cares, too. Fathers are just that way. So please call Me soon. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait because I love you.

Your friend, Jesus

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