What Love Means

[Judy Harder]

WINTER CHILL

When morning frost glistens,
When the winter chill begins to bite,
When the world darkens
In the shortening of sunlight,

I remember You are here,
You are ever close to me;
You are here, my Lord Jesus,
All the closer You are to me.



For when I need warmth,
You are closer to me still;
When I shiver in the cold,
Your warmth my heart does fill.

What have I to worry
When You hold my hand?
Even in wintry winds
You lead to the Promised Land.



You point to barren trees,
To the frost-covered earth;
You remind that through death
We find spiritual rebirth.

Surely in the spring
Flowers will blossom and bloom;
Surely You arose,
Leaving behind an empty tomb.



As the last Autumn leaves
Fall to the ground,
All the more Your grace
Does grow and abound.

And as frost glistens,
As the winter chill does bite,
A once gray world looks brilliant
In Your glorious light.

Caroline Gavin ©Nov 2012
Purposeful Pathway

~**~

Job 37:10
The breath of God
produces ice,
and the broad waters
become frozen.

[Judy Harder]

 KNOWING HIM

My God, my Father, my Lord, my King;
My Deliverer, my Keeper, my everything.
Your hand on my life, my life in Your hand;
In the strength of Your joy I take my stand.



While going Your Way and seeking Your will;
I seek Your face being very still.
Whispering Your Name in sunshine and pain;
Awaiting your presence once again.



I call upon You, You answer me;
You hear Your child and set me free.
There's no other one like Jesus the Son;
My Savior, my King, the Three in One.

~*~

Alice Beliew ©2/4/09

Psalm 7:17
I will give thanks to the Lord
because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of
the name of the Lord Most High.

[Judy Harder]

Never worry about tomorrow, my friend
God will send the rising of the sun,
Do not anguish over past mistakes
That can never be undone.



Never waste a single precious moment
On things that brings sorrow to the heart
Always use each day to fashion
Into a lovely work of art.



Today comes only once, my friend
Remember it will never return
Think, and use it wisely while you can
So many important lessons yet to learn.



Never worry, enjoy this beautiful day
Forget frustrations, let them slip away
Fill this day with happiness and love
Thank God for all blessings from above.

Glenna M, Baugh © 10-18-08
Living by Faith

Psalm 55:22 (KJV)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and he shall sustain thee:
he shall never suffer
the righteous to be moved.

[Judy Harder]

Thanks


There is something very special
I'd like to send your way
Lovely flowers and sunshine
To brighten up your day.

A little comfort of the heart
Like a song so often heard
When in each others presence
Understanding every word.



Knowing without asking
That there may be a need
Then reaching out and helping
To do a friendly deed.

Expecting nothing in return
For it comes from the heart
Being there for each other
Like it was right from the start.



Your kindness and thoughtfulness
Touches my heart every day
May this card express my feelings
In a very special way.

Thank You My Friend!

~*~

© Ginny Bryant
Ginny's Gift of Love

Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever:
for in the Lord Jehovah
is everlasting strength:

[Judy Harder]

Friends are kept-
Forever in the heart.
I'm wishing you lots of joy today
And tomorrow, more from the start.

I also hope the week ahead
Will bring you happiness too
Just one thing I'd like you to know
I am always thinking of you.

So, this is one of many notes
That I will send your way
Because we have a wonderful friendship
Today and every day.

I choose these words carefully
With love I want to send
This special poem is just for you
My very special heart friend.


God bless you!
~**~

©Ginny Bryant
Ginny's Gift Of Love

1 Chronicles 29:13 (KJV)
Now therefore, our God,
we thank thee, and
praise thy glorious name.

[Judy Harder]

GOD'S HAND

I always seek God's loving hand
When my heart is heavy with care
I ask Him to walk with me each day
I know He always understands.



God's hand enfolds me like a glove
A gentle reminder of His love
Giving so much beauty to behold
Bringing happiness to my soul.


I never refuse God's helping hand
And He meets my every need
Giving me the gift of His grace
Trusting Him I have joy indeed.



God's hand is a soothing relief
Giving my life such sweet peace
My love for Him grows each day
I hold God's hand each time I pray.

~**~

Glenna M. Baugh ©8/06/05
Living by

Faith
Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:6 (KJV)

[Judy Harder]

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind
and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever- present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks
and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did.
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future
and He knows how many hairs are on our heads.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me
for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree,
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.


It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put CHRIST back in CHRISTmas.

"Jesus is still the reason for the season"

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you
and your loved ones this CHRISTmas
And may He prosper and bless the work
of your hands in the New Year!



~**~

Psalm 9:2 (KJV)
I will be glad
and rejoice in thee:
I will sing
praise to thy name,
O thou most High.

Merry CHRISTmas

[Judy Harder]

THE WICKER BASKET


Each

  morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his

  old worn-out Bible.  His grandson who

  wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he

  could..

One

  day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I

  don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I

  close  the book. What good does reading the Bible do?'

The

  Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this

  old wicker  coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of

  water.'

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water

  leaked out before he could get back to the house.

The

  grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little faster next

  time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try

  again.

This

  time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he

  returned home.

Out

  of breath, he told his grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a

  basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead.
The

  old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. 

  You can do this.  You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out

  the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it

  was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as

  fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at

  all.
The

  boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the

  basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!'

 

'So you think it is useless?' the old man said. 'Look at the

  basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he

  realized that the basket looked different.  Instead of a dirty old wicker

  coal basket, it was clean.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the

  Bible.  You might not understand or remember everything, but when you

  read it, it will change you from  the inside out.'

Moral of

  the wicker basket story:
Take time to read a portion of God's word each

  day;
it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.

[Judy Harder]

December's CHRISTmas 

Oh 'tis here, oh such delight
December joy has come
Now you and I have a month of days
To share our Christmas love



And if together we can be for Christmas
What a wonder it will be
With our hearts as one in praise
To sing so prettily



In a glorious love to share
With all from here to there
Oh, may our time be so wonderful
With so much loveliness to share



God bless our celebration of His joy,
Our families, our hearts
May this time bring glory to His name
In all that He imparts



God bless December
In all the wonder you remember

Soft December whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems ©2008
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry From The Heart

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.

~**~

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
Therefore the Lord himself
shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel.

Merry CHRISTmas

[Judy Harder]

Happy birthday, Jesus,

It's that time of year
All the lights on the tree say
Christmas time is near

Another year's behind us,
You helped us make it through
Happy birthday, Jesus
This song is just for you.


We all get so hung up on material things
At times it seems like we forget
What christmas really means
It should be thanks we're givin',

That's why I wrote this tune
Happy birthday, Jesus,
This song is just for you.


There's a gift for everyone but you
Underneath the tree
Though, it's not much, but I hope you like
This song to you from me.

Happy birthday, Jesus,
That's why I wrote this tune
Happy birthday, Jesus,
My song is just for you.

Written by J.P. Pennington and Teddy Gentry,
Recording by Alabama ©M.S. Productions,
All Rights Reserved.

~**~

Luke 1:46-47 (KJV)
And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Saviour.

~**~

Wishing you a season of rejoicing
as we celebrate the birth of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has
given us all we could ever hoped for....
life eternal through His gift of grace
and a future bright with promise.

Merry CHRISTmas