COME BACK, COME BACK

Come back, come back!

Where have you gone?

I long for your presence

For you to engulf me

Instead the darkness comes

But you, you I cannot find

I am glad for the little times

You come for a short visit

As you leave I cry

Come back, come back!

 

Do you not hear?

What makes you leave?

Do you have no choice?

Do you not care?

How long must I wait

For such a sweet return

How long can I wait

Before I can take no more?

Come back, come back!

 

I scream again and again

If you had a phone

I would call or text

To beg your return

You are like a dear friend

I impatiently wait your return

SLEEP, oh SLEEP listen

To these pleading words

Come back, come back!!!!

 

Love your neighbor as yourself. -- Luke 10:27 (NIV)

I have always thought people should treat each other like they want to be treated. But when I read this with my literal mind I think it gives the people that do not love their self an out. Maybe that is why there is so many people treating others terribly. I believe we should treat others as people of great value. Your mind might quickly say it doesn't matter how people treat me. As a child I had no say in how people treated me. I thought I deserved any mistreatment that happened and it didn't matter. That is not really true no matter how much I bought into it or how much you buy into it. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. If you choose not to return that same loving treatment shame on you. That still gives me no right to return cruel treatment with cruel treatment. Reality is: deep inside it really does matter how each of us are treated. Let's be an example of someone that follows the golden rule "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". So when someone imitates your behavior it will be one of loving self and neighbor. Have a great day loving each other.

GRAB A HOLD AND HANG ON

There have been days I felt like I was going to drown, in the troubles of life. I was going under for the third time and I was sure no one even noticed. I tried to yell but the troubles kept pouring in choking me, making me powerless. I could not get the words that I needed out to ask for the help I longed for. I thought I heard someone yell to just reach up and grab their hand. I could not believe there was someone there so I did not reach out. Again I heard a voice saying give me your troubles. I reached up my hand and I felt a strong hand taking mine. "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters (troubles)." (Psalm 18:16) I almost missed the help that was offered. I challenge you to listen, reach your hand out and don't miss the help. Have a great day.

What is courage?

 

I think it is when someone keeps going even when they feel like they cannot take another step. Like the lion on the Wizard of Oz. He kept going on his journey to the wizard even though he came across obstacles that were frightful. He kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept moving. There were times he needed encouragement from his friends but he kept going. Also when his friends needed him he was there for them. His whole journey to the wizard was showing courage. He felt like he didn't have it until the wizard gave him a metal that said courage. But the truth is he had it all along. How many times do you think you have no courage at all? Stop and evaluate. When things get hard do you keep getting up? Do you take a step when you feel like you just can't? Do you keep pushing when you think things are just too frightful? My friend you have courage if you answer yes to any of those questions. You might need friends to help you but there is nothing wrong with that. As friends we should be there to lend a helping hand to those that are weak. You will not always be weak. Hold your head high and take courage my friend. If you need me I am here to help as my friends have there for me. Have a great day.

Gel Pen Magic

 

A number of years ago when gel pens first came out I thought they were the greatest. Then came black paper to use with those fabulous pens. Of course I had to have both. I thought it was awesome to see how that ink showed up on the paper. A regular pen was harder to read and was not half as bright. The ink from the gel pen made the words look like they was going to jump off the paper. The once dull black paper was given a new bright look, that was very cool. I think that is kind of how our lives are sometimes. We have made mistakes and darkened our lives. We use a pencil trying to right the wrong but it is hardly even noticed. Then we go to a regular pen that will make a bigger impression to find the result is still not the best. Try as we might we cannot brighten our lives very much. Discouragement sets in leaving us wondering can life get better. Then if we're not careful we just start moping around living in that darkness. Woe is me attitude. To change the gloom we need to allow God to write His grace on the darkness of our heart. It will improve our lives permitting us to see things in a brighter, healthier way. I think I will do my best to allow God to use His gel pen on my life. What about you?

Are you smiling?

Are you smiling?
I'm smiling as I look at the people I pass. I got questioning looks and some people hurried right on by like something was very wrong. A brave soul stopped me. "What makes you smile so big" she asked with a frown on her face. "I smile because I'm different or unique as I like to think" I said. I felt my smile begin to grow just at the thought. This dear lady looked a little confused. "What troubles you" I asked as I watched her puzzled face. "Being different is not something to be so proud of" she said next to tears. "I disagree dear friend. Unique is great when you realized God took such care to make us that way. That tells me we are all very special to Him" I said as I looked into her troubled eyes. "Even me?" she asked. "Even you dear friend" I said with great confidence. She stood not speaking a word. I could tell that something quickly popped into her mind. She was lost in thought for a few minutes as I waited. Tears began to stream down her face. "I had been told that in Sunday School as a child…... I guess I had forgotten….. I have been busy trying to do good things…… and I lost sight of the fact that God loves me for who I am. Thank you for such a great reminder." she said with great brokenness of speak. I smiled at her and said "You're welcomed". As she turned to walk away I saw a big smile creeping across her now shining face. I am sure she will be stopped as I was, I thought as I began walking again with an even bigger smile than before. The next time you see someone smiling remember it might just be because they know how special they are. But you never know about some of us we also might be up to something. Have a happy smiling day.

God does answer pray.

It was my privilege to spend time with a retired missionary when I was in Bible College. She served in India for many years. She told how God took care of her in many life threatening situations. Her stories were also full of marvelous answers to prayers. She shared something I pray I will never forget. It was when she came back to the states to visit churches a number of people started asking her if anything happened on such and such a day because God brought her to their mind for prayers. Up to that point she never thought about writing anything down. When she returned to India she made it a point to keep a journal of those extra special times. Then when she came home she found those dates corresponded with those of the praying people in the states. I began to wonder if that is why people popped into my mind. I started the practice of praying for those individuals that came to my mind, in spite of the fact I didn't know what was going on. I have not really asked anyone to check dates. My prayers might just be short  or it might be one that goes throughout the whole day. As long as they stay on my mind I kept praying. I probably will never know what was going on in their lives and I am fine with that. My responsibility is to pray. "Pray without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:2. God does the rest. I want to challenge you to pray for those that come to your mind. We never know what hard times another person might be having.