Advent

Advent --- Prepare --- He is coming!

Come, magnify God with me!

Exalting His Name,

We’ll worship together,

Preparing the way of the Lord!

Advent --- Prepare --- He is coming!

Angels proclaiming His glory!

In Bethlehem’s scene,

He’s more than the babe.

He shines; He’s the Light of the world!

Advent --- Prepare --- He is coming!

He’s coming on clouds of glory!

Repent of your sins,

He’s coming --- again!

Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Oh, come, let us worship together.

Come, and exalt Him with me.

He’ll grant us His grace,

‘til we meet face-to-face

And Oh, what a day that will be.

Thankful

So thankful for these precious people in my life!  My mother, and my son, my husband, brother & his wife, my sisters, along with many nieces and nephews, plus countless friends have enriched my life so very much, and I thank God for each and every one of them!

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Are We A Praying Church?

Are we a praying church?

Do we commit to prayers?

Are we actually prepared to pray

Until our answer comes?

Would we recognize the answer?

Do we merely beg You for ourselves?

Do we wring our hands in terror

In this wicked world of ours?

Are we truly Yours, O Lord,

Will we wait, in prayer, for you?

Do we really look to You for help?

Are we a praying church?

Drop Your heavenly fire, O Lord,

On us, that we may serve;

That enemies might learn of You

And thus be friends of Christ.

They may remain unknown to us,

But you know ALL, O God.

How might I serve Your word for peace?

Are we a praying church?

I know there’s more than illness,

More to pray for than just this,

So may our prayers contain our thanks,

May praying serve to pray our praise!

Lord, may THY will be done,

No matter what our thoughts!

May we rejoice in misery

As we think only of You!

May we not think of ourselves,

But live only for the Master.

May we become a praying church;

May prayers become our habit!

A Faith-filled Friend

Thank You, Lord,

For each and every faith-filled friend,

Those who supported and encouraged me

When most I needed it

In my walk towards You.

I was seeking a firmer,

A more steadfast faith;

A further knowledge of You, yes,

But even more

I sought a closer, more intimate love

Of You.

Each friend of faith drew me closer to You,

And closer still.

Now, in my older years,

My stronger-in-my-fragility years,

I find a yearning, Lord.

I want to BE such a companion,

A faith-filled friend;

One who is placed in situations

Where I will be able--

Where I am “allowed:--

To help another in their journey.

May I support and encourage them

As they seek to discover

A further knowledge of You, yes,

But even more,

As they seek to grow in intimate love

Of You.

Awaken

See all the works of the Lord all around us,

Become aware of what is to come.

Ask all your questions, then listen for answers,

Grapple with the mystery of grace.

Don’t let the world lull you to sleep again.

Raise your pulse-beat, return to your vision.

Don’t ever be gutted by your unbelief;

Allow love, and faith, to guide and to guard.

The world’s evil is spinning towards darkness;

Don’t let your soul to slip in the whirlwind.

Don’t sleep-walk through your life, but live it,

Allow God’s light to reveal Whose you are!

If Only

If only I had known,

I would have clothed the homeless,

I would have given food, and drink.

I would have cared, O Lord!

If only I had known,

That it was You before me,

You, who stood so weak, so weary

I would have helped, O Lord!

If only I had known,

What You, O Lord, expected.

If only I had understood,

Then surely I’d obey!

But child, surely you knew,

For it’s written in My Word

That “When you help the least of these,

You’ve done it unto Me.”

Gift of Tears

Lord, I accept Your gift of tears,

For my heart is sorely troubled.

Now she is gone, and grief abounds.

You have told me just enough

That merely glimmers of Your light

Assure me of continued life

As it be lived, in Heaven.

Your gift of tears will wash away

The pain and agony of loss.

Feeling helpless, yet filled with hope,

The essence of my faith, Lord,

Is to recall You’re in control.

Assurance of continued love,

We’ll meet again in Heaven.