On Prayer

 

Prayer is to be in God's presence with open hands and an open heart.

There are many things in my life to which I cling as with a clinched fist -- my possessions for sure, but the immaterial things as well -- the work I do, the position I hold, the friends I have, my ideas, my principles, my image. If I should open my fist, they still remain. Nothing drops out. But my hands are open. And that is what prayer is. After a while, if I am willing to remain long enough with my open hands, the Lord will come. He will have a look and roam through my hands to see what I have. He may be surprised -- so many things ! Then He will look at me and ask:

'Would you mind if I take out this little bit ?'
And I answer, 'Of course you may take it out. That's why I am here with open hands.'
And perhaps the Lord will look another time and ask: 'Would you mind if I put something else in your hands ?'

And I answer: 'Of course you may.'

That is the heart of prayer. The Lord may take something out, and He may put something in.

No one else can do this, but He may."

A Creed To Live By

By Nancye Sims

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love. The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you're going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Listen To Your Heart

We all want to make things better in our lives,
But lots of times we just don't know
Where or when to begin.

Sometimes we are troubled about
Something deep inside,
And we are afraid of dealing
With our problems because
We've been hurt before,
And we remember what hurt can bring.

Making things better involves changing
But change isn't such a bad thing.

Life isn't always easy
No one ever promised it would be.
But it can be wonderful at times,
And it's up to us to make those times happen.

Where? Beginning within.
When? With the dawn of each new day.

How? Listen to your heart ..
And it will really show you the way.

Don't Look Back

As you travel through life
there are always those times
when decisions just have to be made
when the choices are hard,
and solutions seem scarce
and the rain seems
to soak your parade!

There are some situations
where all you can do
is to simply let go and move on
gather courage together
and choose a direction
that carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles
and take a step forward-
the process of change can be tough
but think about all the excitement ahead
if you can be stalwart enough!

There could be adventures
you never imagined
just waiting around the next bend
and wishes and dreams
just about to come true
in ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships
that spring from new interests
as you challenge your status quo
and learn there are so many
options in life,
and so many ways you can grow.

Perhaps you'll go places
you never expected
and see things that you've never seen
or travel to fabulous,
faraway worlds
and wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth
and affection and caring-
a "somebody special" who's there
to help you stayed centered
and listen with interest
to stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort
in knowing your friends are
supportive of all that you do
and believe that whatever
decisions you make,
they'll be the right choices for you!

So keep putting one foot
in front of the other
and taking your life
day by day.

If You Stand Very Still

If you stand very still in the heart of the woods,
you will hear many wonderful things--
the snap of a twig and the wind in the trees
and whir of invisible wings,

If you stand very still in the turmoil of life
and wait for the voice from within you will
be led down the quiet pathways of wisdom
and peace in a mad world of chaos and din.

If you stand very still and hold to your faith
you will get all the help that you ask.
You will draw from the silence the things that
you need -- hope and courage and strength
for your task.