He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
This essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”). If you are interested, you can read the original version . Graham Pockett
Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Today we look back across nineteen hundred years and ask, What kind of trail has he left across the centuries? When we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life…
I understand that this is the original essay by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”). Graham Pockett
Footprints One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. How could you leave me when I needed you the most?" The Lord replied " My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of suffering and when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
-- Margaret Fishback Powers (This poem perhaps was written Thanksgiving (Canadian) 1964 at Echo Lake Youth Camp, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The book, of the same name, is published by HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., 1993. The original title was "I Had A Dream." ) Footprints, started out as "I Had A Dream" by Edith Elma Fishback the copyright came out in 1993 by Margaret Fishback. She wrote the book Footprints The True Story Behind The Poem That Inspired Millions, and wrote this to her Mom and Dad inside the book. To my Mom, Edith Elma Fishback, and the sweet memory of my Dad, Clarence Henry Fishback. In 1987, Hallmark Cards asked for rights to use "Footprints" and the poem (and) -- Mary Stevenson
http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/ (Others believe Mary is the author. Visit Longbeach Press - Telegram for more information.)
"The Majesty of Our God"
Can anyone truly look at a sunset
and say that there is no God.
Or gaze into the heavens on a starry
night and not know that we have been blessed
by the Presence of an Almighty Creator.
And then there are those billowing cloud
formations we lay staring at as a child.
Could this be an act of chance?
Or listen to the melodious tune of a babbling
brook as it sings on its merry journey.
God's handiwork is all around us and His
signature is on each of His masterpieces.
And the greatest masterpiece He ever
created was YOU and ME!
Because He created us in His Image.
To say that we have tarnished that
image is certainly an understatement.
But just like all His other Masterpieces
we are not complete until He signs His work.
God puts His signature on YOU and ME
the day that WE receive Jesus Christ as
OUR personal Savior and Lord.
The Prodigal Son
THE CROSS ROOM
The young man was at the end of his rope.
Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.
"Lord, I can't go on," he said.
"I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied,
"My son, if you can't bear it's weight,
just place your cross inside this room.
Then open another door and pick any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief.
"Thank you, Lord,"
he sighed, and did as he was told.
As he looked around the room he saw many different crosses;
some so large the tops were not visible.
Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
"I'd like that one, Lord,"
he whispered. And the Lord replied,
"My son, that's the cross you brought in."
-Unknown
DEAR JESUS I wanted to take this opportunity to drop you a line, To thank you for all of man kind. I don't know if we can truly comprehend, Just what you endured to save us from our sin. You walked to that cross, 10 thousand angels at your call, Yet you offered not the slightest fight at all. Long ago in that faraway land, Can we really understand? You gathered, taught, loved and healed, Yet your blood, we freely spilled. How your heart must have broke, You you died to free us from every yoke. The love so great in you.. Your plea.. forgive them Father, they know not what they do. Unwilling that even one should fall, You sweet Jesus gave your all. First the Father, then the Son, Thank you for all that you have done.
Author Dawn Joy Kidwell
"AND GOD SAID...." I said, "God, I hurt." And God said, I know." I said, "God, I cry a lot." And God said, "That is why I gave you tears." I said, "God, I am so depressed." And God said, "That is why I gave you Sunshine." I said, "God, life is so hard." And God said, "That is why I gave you loved ones." I said, "God, my loved one died." And God said, "So did mine." I said, "God, it is such a loss." And God said, I saw mine nailed to a cross." I said, "God, but your loved one lives." And God said, "So does yours." I said, "God, where are they now?" And God said, "Mine is on My right and yours is in the Light." I said, "God, it hurts." And God said, I know." Posted on the wall at the Oklahoma City bombing site by K. C. and Myke Kuzmic Stockton, CA
The Guardian
An angel was assigned to you,
On the day you were born;
It watched you as a slumbering babe,
And kept you safe from harm.
It followed every childhood step,
Then guarded you as you grew;
The dangers that you never saw,
God and your angel knew.
For the Father gave the angel,
A mission to fulfill;
To keep and guard you every step,
Was the Heavenly Father's will.
To gently guide you on your path,
To stand and do battle for you;
A constant, holy companion,
Until life's journey is through.
On the day that you were born;
A Guardian sent to walk with you,
To keep you safe from harm.
This Poem was Graciously Donated by: Allison Chambers Coxsey
Lord Please Bless My Computer
Every night I lie in bed
This little prayer inside my head
God bless my mom and dad
and bless my children
and take care of my spouse
who brings me so much joy...
God, there's just one more thing
I wish that you would do
if you don't mind my asking
to bless my 'puter, too??
Now I know that it's not normal
to bless a small machine
but listen just a second
and I'll try to explain...
You see, that little metal box
holds more than odds and ends
Inside those small components
rest a hundred loving friends.
Some it's true I've never seen
and most I've never met...
never shaken hands or
ever truly hugged, and yet...
I know for sure they love me
by the kindnesses they give,
and this little scrap of metal
is how I get to where they live.
By faith is how I know them,
Much the same as I know You.
I share in life it brings them,
So if it's OK with you...
Just take an extra minute
from your duties up above...
to bless this little hunk of steel
that's filled with so much love.
So God, Please Bless My Puter...
- author unknown-
THE LITTLE PRAYER ROCK I AM YOUR LITTLE PRAYER ROCK AND THIS IS WHAT I'LL DO - JUST PUT ME ON YOUR PILLOW UNTIL THE DAY IS THROUGH THEN TURN DOWN THE COVERS AND CLIMB INTO YOUR BED AND WHACK, YOUR LITTLE PRAYER ROCK WILL HIT YOU ON YOUR HEAD, SO THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER AS THE DAY IS THROUGH TO KNEEL AND SAY YOUR PRAYERS' JUST AS YOU INTENDED TO. WHEN YOU ARE ALL FINISHED JUST DROP ME ON THE FLOOR. I'LL STAY THERE ALL NIGHT LONG TO GIVE YOU HELP ONCE MORE... AT WAKING IN THE MORNING CLUNK, I'LL STUB YOUR TOE SO YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR MORNING PRAYERS BEFORE YOU GO. NOW PUT ME ATOP YOUR PILLOW WHEN YOUR BED IS MADE AND YOUR CLEVER LITTLE PRAYER ROCK WILL CONTINUE IN YOUR AID. BECAUSE YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER CARES AND LOVES YOU SO, HE WANTS YOU TO REMEMBER TO TALK TO HIM, YOU KNOW.
{A Gift Idea Copy This Poem On A Small Piece Of Paper And Tape It To A Small Rock And Give It To Someone You Care About}
O Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me, I come before you, one of your children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught my people, the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
Chief YellowHawk
I hope the Great Heavenly Father, who will look down upon us, will give all the tribes His blessing, that we may go forth in peace, and live in peace all our days, and that He will look down upon our children and finally lift us far above the earth; and that our Heavenly Father will look upon our children as His children, that all the tribes may be His children, and as we shake hands to-day upon this broad plain, we may forever live in peace.
Red Cloud [Marpiya-Luta] (late 19th century) Oglala Sioux chief
The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air. That is why you notice the hawk knows how to get his prey. The Indian is like that. The hawk swoops down on its prey; so does the Indian. In his lament he is like an animal. For instance, the coyote is sly; so is the Indian. The eagle is the same. That is why the Indian is always feathered up; he is a relative to the wings of the air.
Black Elk (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux holy man
When a child my mother taught me the legends of our people; taught me of the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms. She also taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom, and protection. We never prayed against any person, but if we had aught against any individual we ourselves took vengeance. We were taught that Usen does not care for the petty quarrels of men.
Geronimo [Goyathlay] (1829-1909) Chircahua Apache chief
When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earch, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man.
Chased-by-Bears (1843-1915) Santee-Yanktonai Sioux
A warrior who had more than he needed would make a feast. He went around and invited the old and needy....The man who would thank the food--some worthy old medicine man or warrior--said: "...look to the old, they are worthy of old age; they have seen their days and proven themselves. With the help of the Great Spirit, they have attained a ripe old age. At this age the old can predict or give knowledge or wisdom, whatever it is; it is so. At the end is a cane. You and your family shall get to where the cane is."
Great Spirit, Great Spirit, my Grandfather, all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike...Look upon these faces of children without number and with children in their arms, that they may face the winds and walk the good road to the day of the quiet.
The first peace, which is the most important,
is that which comes from within the souls of people
when they realize that their relationship...
Their oneness with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize that at the center of the universe,
dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center
is really everywhere...
For, It is within each of us.
There are many things to be shared with the Four Colors of
Humanity in our common destiny as one...
with our Mother Earth. It is this sharing that must be
considered with great care by the Elders and the
medicine people who carry the Sacred Trusts, so that no harm
may come to people through ignorance and misuse of these
powerful forces.
In early days we were close to nature. We judged time,
weather conditions, and many things by the elements-the
good earth, the blue sky, the flying of geese, and the changing
winds. We looked to these for guidance and answers. Our
prayers and thanksgiving were said to the four winds-to the
East, from whence the new day was born; to the South, which
sent the warm breeze which gave a feeling of comfort; to the
West, which ended the day and brought rest; and to the North,
the Mother of winter whose sharp air awakened a time of
preparation for the long days ahead. We lived by God's hand
through nature and evaluated the changing winds to tell us
or warn us as to what was ahead. Today we are again
evaluating the changing winds
CHEROKEE PRAYER BLESSING May the warm winds of heaven Blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit Bless all who enter there. May your mocassins Make happy tracks In many snows, And may the rainbow Always touch your shoulder.
Fruit From The Light
by Frank Howell
