PRAYING HANDS

There are hands that help and comfort,
Hands that plan and teach,
Hands that rest and hands that strive
For a goal just out of reach,
Hands that grasp and hands that give,
Hands that work and play,
Friendly hands and loving hands
That soothes life's cares away.
But praying hands are dearest
In the sight of God above
For in their sweet and earnest clasp
Are reverence and love.
No hands can do an unkind act
Nor cause another care
Nor sin against Our Father's love
When they are clasped in prayer.
Author Unknown

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35

Dear LORD, give me a hunger to explore your word. Help me to discover the truth that will change my life and help to enrich the lives of others. I see your hand, Lord in everything around me. Be the guiding hand of everything I do. Help me to ask less and to give more. Give me a love others can count on. Help me to recognize all that you are sending my way. Let my words, my work - whatever I do - create in others a desire to know you. Amen

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

The Bible is a great river of spiritual reality rising out of Israel's remote past and continuing to flow more deeply and powerfully through succeeding centuries. It is fed by many rushing streams and mighty torrents and into it has flowed the spiritual wisdom and insight of twelve centuries.
The long river of the Bible is broad and very deep, and the Spirit of God moves upon the face of its waters. Here men that thirst come to drink of the water of life. The power of its onrushing current turns many a wheel. It gives direction and continuity to our individual understanding of spiritual things. Following the shores of this river, no man need lose his way in jungles of speculation nor deserts of spiritual dryness. It is like the ancient river that "went out of Eden to water the garden," for it is a river that enriches the soil of our civilization.
Alice Parmelee

No person can be considered well educated who has not some knowledge of the Old and the New Testament. Here it is not a question of vocabulary, though the infinite riches of the English language are nowhere so gloriously displayed. It is not a question of history, though the development of man may be profitably studied in the chronicles of a powerful and intellectual people. It is a question of knowledge against ignorance. The language, the episodes, the personages of the Bible are so interwoven with our daily speech, with the books we read, with every human utterance throughout Christendom, that our children cannot afford to be ignorant of it.
Laura B. Richards

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6

The Bible is the Word of Life. I beg you will read it and find this out for yourself - read, not little snatches here and there, but long passages that will really be the road to the heart of it.
You will not only find it full of real men and women, but also of things you have wondered about and been troubled about all your life, as men have been always, and the more you read, the more will it become plain to you what things are worthwhile and what are not; what things make men happy - loyalty, right dealing, speaking the truth, readiness to give everything for what they think their duty, and, most of all, the wish that they may have the real approval of the Christ, who gave everything for them; and the things that are guaranteed to make men unhappy - selfishness, cowardice, greed, and everything that is low and mean.
When you have read the Bible, you will know that it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.
Woodrow Wilson

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8

The Center of the Bible
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
Psalms 117
What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?
Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188
What is the center verse in the Bible?
Psalms 118:8
Does this verse say something significant about
God's perfect will for our lives?
Psalms 118:8 "It is better to trust the Lord,
than to put confidence in man."
Author Unknown

Medicine Chest
For the blues, read Psalm 27.
For an empty purse, read Psalm 37.
If discourages about work, Psalm 128.
If people seem unkind to you, John 15.
If you are losing confidence in people, 1 Corinthians 13.
If you cannot have your own way, James 3.
If you are all out of sorts, Hebrews 12.
For a traveling companion, Psalm 121.
Author Unknown

Visual Image of Malachi 3:3
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying Chapter Three, they came across Verse Three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver".

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study session.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse, that says, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, how do you know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part. When I see my image reflected in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.
Author Unknown

Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD.
Proverbs 22:17-19

"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths," says the LORD.
Proverbs 4:11

Life is a miracle
Life is a miracle,
Don't let it slip away.
Open your heart to others,
Give of yourself each day.

See the beauty in everyone,
Regardless of where they've been.
Some have a difficult journey,
And really need a friend.

Share your gifts and talents,
Listen with your heart.
Do the things you dream about,
But never seem to start.

Pick a bunch of flowers,
Show someone that you care.
Be gracious and forgiving,
When life treats you unfair.

Hold on to your courage,
You may need it down the road.
Each one has a cross to bear,
It could be a heavy load.

When you practice all these things,
No matter where you roam,
You may find both sun and rain,
But you'll never walk alone.
Author Unknown

He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.
Isaiah 2:3

The Rose
If you doubt there is a God, look deep into a rose;
See the velvet petals from the folded bud unclose;
Note the tint and texture and the lovely coloring;
Feel the softness of the petal, breathe the fragrant scent;
Need you waste another thought on further argument?
Here is proof of a Creator: God made manifest;
In this little rose we see divinity expressed.
Patience Strong

Unfolding the Rosebud
It is 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.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD's design,
Then 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 every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.
Author Unknown

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3

Pearls of Love
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. As soon as Jenny got some, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she asked the neighbor, Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma gave her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then, will you give me your pearls?"
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite.""That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you". And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one little tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing ....... God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.
Author Unknown

Pumpkin
A lady had recently been baptized. One of her co-workers asked her what it was like to be a Christian. She was caught off guard and didn't know how to answer; but when she looked up, saw a jack-o-lantern on the desk and answered: "It's like being a pumpkin." The co-worker asked her to explain that one. "Well, God picks you from the patch and brings you in and washes off all the dirt on the outside that you got from being around all the other pumpkins. Then he cuts off the top and takes all the yucky stuff out from inside. He removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all to see. It is our choice to either stay outside and rot on the vine or come inside and be something new and bright."
Author Unknown

JUST PEDAL
At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. But later on, when I met God, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back, helping me pedal.
I don't know when it was that He suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal."
I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey...and we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with God as my delightful constant companion. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says, "Pedal!"
Author Unknown

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang. But,
the man did not hear. So the man yelled "God, speak to me" And, the thunder
rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around
and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did
not notice. And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle" and, a life was
born. But, the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me,
God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched
the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Don't miss
out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5

O God, help me to touch someone today with my eyes, my words,
my smile, my voice, my laughter, Your word.
Change my life, so I can make a difference.
Let my actions bring someone closer to you.
Help me to make Christmas last all year.
Help me to use my gifts for Jesus. Amen.

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