What is Love

What is Love? Divine adornment
Of the soul that wears it high.
It's the crystal-golden pathway
Keeping us by Jesus' side!

It's sublime and never ending
Always following God's own chart,
Reaching over lands and oceans
To console a single heart.

Jesus, Jesus, Lord of loving,
Teach me from Thy tender heart
How to serve all those around me,
To fulfill my loving part!

I found love; I found the answer!
Finally I've found out now
That to love and serve another
I just have to ask You how!

Every soul that looks to Heaven,
Every heart that's warm and kind,
Can discover in God's beauty
All that no one else can find!
--Christina Rose

The Secret To You

Gratitude Attitude

Gratitude and trust are closely related. In order to be thankful for everyone and everything in my life‚ I need to trust that the universe makes sense, that everything my soul has chosen to experience in my lifetime has been for my ultimate highest good. I trust that when it appears I'm failing, I'm only learning. I make a great effort to bless my life as it is, both the so-called triumphs and disasters. A line from Kipling's poem If often comes to mind: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat these two impostors just the same."

When I remind myself that I am a student in Earth School, choosing those lessons that enhance my soul's purpose, it's possible to more readily bless every circumstance of my life. Of course, from a more unenlightened segment of myself, I sometimes wonder, "Why did I choose this particular misery?" Yet, gratitude for, and trust in, ultimate justice is the best antidote for the poisonous emotions of self-pity and resentment. I find it impossible to experience gratitude and negative emotions simultaneously.

When my soul arrived in Earth School, it set up some challenging lessons. Many years went by before I learned to see the blessings in these experiences. When I could honestly begin to understand their purpose and to feel gratitude for them‚ I made an escape from the darkness of a victim's prison into the light of freedom and joy.

Looking back over my life, I can see the beauty that the windstorms have carved. I trust current and future challenges to facilitate additional soul growth. My heart is filled with gratitude for all the people and events in my life because I now understand their higher purpose. My heart overflows with gratitude for the Divine Love that enfolds, guides, protects and sustains us all!

Check the link for Danielle Peck's song "Isn't that Everything"

Trust...

When the times get rough, the storms get high, the night gets darker, the despair and the discouragement get deeper, don't give up, don't surrender! Even if you feel that you can't fight, just look unto Him and trust. Read His Word and trust. For trust in the darkness brings triumph at dawn. The trust through the darkness in my life brought forth the greatness of the dawn and the light that poured forth, and the inspiration that came out. All of this was part of the squeezing, all of this was part of the proving. For He could trust me because He knew I trusted Him. And He wants to be able to trust you. So prove that you can trust Him through it all.

I know He is there with you! He is there in the dark­ness. He is there in the trial. He is there in the test. He is there in the confusion. He is there in the depths. He is there because He loves you. He knows you have to go through these things, even as He had to go through the death and the suffering of the cross. But He is there to help you through. He is there because He loves you, because you are very dear to Him.

No matter what, trust Him! Every man and woman of God goes through it. Your mom and dad have gone through it. I went through it. My mom and dad went through it. Heaven is full of people that went through it! That's why they're Here, and that's why they have such glorious rewards, because they trusted Him!

So trust Him, won't ya? Look to His Word! Look to Him! Praise Him and thank Him through the storms. He'll bring you through and He is right there. Just trust Him, hold on to Him, don't let go. Keep fighting! Keep praising! Keep trusting! He'll bring you through. And believe me, it's worth it! It's well worth it. For the glories that are Here are well worth the trials that are there. The rewards of trusting are far beyond all that you could imagine!

Easter Messiah - Via Dolorosa - Isaiah 53 - Sandi Patty

Happy Easter everyone

This morning I came upon this short but meaningful story about how obstacles can actually be a help to us. If we learn to look at them in the right way sometimes we'll see how they can get us going into the right direction. What ever the obstacle there is always a good side to it even if we don't see it right away.

Making a Beeline

By Curtis Peter Van Gorder

I was waiting for a friend to pick me up and decided to bide my time in the quiet of an empty restaurant. Against a window pane next to where I was sitting, a bee frantically tried to escape his transparent prison. It would fly up the pane until it became so tired that it fell back to the bottom, only to repeat the futile effort over and over. It seemed programmed to do no other. The curious thing was that only a few inches away there was an open door. The bee just didn't see it. Perhaps it never considered a horizontal flight path to freedom, or perhaps the few inches of window frame seemed impossible to circumvent. To the bee, the outside and freedom looked so real, so close, yet inaccessible.

It wasn't until after about 10 minutes of failure after failure that the bee escaped. How did it do it? It was scared into it. A passer-by inadvertently bumped the window pane from the outside and the bee felt threatened. It didn't understand that the glass that separated it from freedom also shielded it from its imagined predator. Trying to avoid danger, it broke out of its routine, darted back a few inches, saw daylight elsewhere, and took off through the open door.

Have you ever felt like that bee? Have you ever felt like a prisoner to a routine from which there was no way to escape? Has the thought of freedom been compelling, but actual freedom seemed unattainable? God does allow obstacles in all of our lives that can seem as insurmountable and impenetrable as that pane of glass, but often it's to get us to go another direction, through an open door and on a beeline to freedom.

The Cycle

A message from Jesus

There are cycles--cycles in which things go well, and then they go bad, and then I bring forth victories and they go well again. You must hold on to Me, seek Me, and follow Me through each phase of the cycles.
When you're faced with these obstacles, these tests, these trials, don't let them discourage you. Don't be downcast about them, or worried that they will not be solved, or that victories will not be won; for I say to you, they will, for it is part of the cycle. But you must go through this portion of the cycle to come out at the other end with victory.
That's the purpose of the cycle: that when the problems and the difficulties arise, you rise up to meet them in faith. You fight and you win, and that brings forth the next portion of the cycle: the victory, the progress, the forward movement. Then you are faced with new challenges, new fights and new tests, and you must once again fight, take up the challenge, seek Me, and cry out to Me, that you may overcome these tests and trials, and that you may then move out of that portion of the cycle, and again into the victory. And again, there come more tests, more trials, more challenges, and again, you seek Me, obey Me, and that brings forth the victory.
Like a wheel, the top goes down to the bottom and comes up to the top again. That is motion, and that moves the vehicle forward. And that's what these cycles do--they move you forward. So don't look at them as defeats or weights, but as challenges, as a way to make forward motion. And, yes, I know it's difficult to fight your way through. I know it's difficult to face the problems, to face the challenges, to seek Me for solutions and to implement them, but as you do, it brings you out of the decline of the cycle, the low point of the cycle, upward to the victory, the high point of the cycle. And so you move round and round and round, as a wheel that turns and makes forward motion.
But if at any time you do not seek Me for the solutions, you do not take up the challenges, and you do not fight the fight and overcome, then it's like stopping the cycle, as in putting the brakes on, so that you remain at the low point of the cycle and there is no forward motion; the vehicle just sits, going nowhere.
So you must take up these challenges and these fights, and you must seek Me, and you must win the victories, so that the cycle can be ever turning, ever revoluting, ever moving forward.--So that you as a person will constantly be moving forward, growing, going on, ever upward, ever forward and on to victory!

The Dash

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis

Don't let it get you down

Stretch your faith. Let it grow. Ask for something that seems too big, too difficult, almost ridiculous. Ask in faith. Ask for something you need. Ask for something that you know is impossible without divine intervention. Ask through the power of the keys. Do it today! Do it now! Watch it happen!

When this world gets you down, when the troubles and the confusion of life surround you and close in on you, escape to Me. You can escape by rising above at any moment. You don't have to wait for conditions to improve in any way. Simply call out to Me. Ask Me specifically to help you rise above the pressure and strain, then and there, and I will lift you to a safe and secure haven for your mind and spirit.

There is a chamber in your heart, deep and hidden, where I have prepared a place of retreat. This place is protected from all the cares of the world, from all the attacks of the Enemy. This place is a defense in times of desperate need. To reach this place, all you have to do is ask Me to take you there. While you are in this place, I will wipe away all your tears and fears and renew your strength and courage to face life again.

Don't let discouragement get the better of you. Don't look at the waves. The waves are there--problems are there‚ your weaknesses are there, they're not your imagination--but they cannot drown you. They need not control you or direct your life. As Peter walked on water‚ you can walk on top of them and subdue them through My supernatural power.

Haven Sings Live

This song is my inspiration to keep going on no matter how tough things seem to be.

We Have Today

This is my favorite poem, it reminds me how important each day of my life is & that it will never be returned to me again. I love that quote "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."

We Have Today

We don't live on dreams,
Waiting for a better tomorrow.
For time could get away
And we will run out of
Tomorrow.
God has given us now;
We have today.
We will love today.
We will work today.
We will serve today.
We will say the tender things
We want to say
And say them today.

We will not fear tomorrow,
For God holds it
And we will let it rest.
But we will love as if
Today were a rare beauty
That could be gone tomorrow
Because it could.

I will tell you I love you
Today.
I will touch your hair
And rub the nape of your neck
Today.
I will tell you how much
You mean to me
Today
While you can hear it
And feel how good it is.

I will hold you
Close to my chest
And rest your head
On my shoulder
And sway gently
Back & forth.
I will do it today.

I will not stand alone
Tomorrow
And wish I had done it
Yesterday.
We have today.
God has promised us
Each day can be special
With His Love.

God has given us now.
We have today.
We will love today.
We will work today.
We will serve today.
We will say the tender things
We want to say
And say them today.

Selah-You Raise me Up

Answer to 'The Odd Couple'

From o'er the years my Lover came;
The lowly Jesus was His name.
His nature was so true and clean,
He first impressed me like a dream.
I was so young and gay and bright,
But He so old, and yet, in spite
Of years and years between our age,
We were tuned in at every stage.
He held the key to my young heart;
I loved His love right from the start.
He was so free, relaxed, yet true,
It was the first love that I knew.
He cared for others more than most,
Deriving pleasure from the host
Of common people that He met,
Who shared His face, could not forget
His smiles, His touch, His time to talk,
No rush, just rest, and slowly walk.
Why should you think that it's so odd
He'd make me too a child of God?

To Where You Are - Josh Groban (AOL Sessions)

I'M A SURVIVOR

I sat down to a card game on the day that I was born,
No holds barred and my back against the wall,
The stranger playing against me, he seemed to seldom smile,
And only laughed if I won a hand at all

The funny part is that I never fully saw his face,
It made it hard to tell which
way to play,
But I'd never been a poker face and so he had an easy time,
Whittling me down sad to say

Though I mostly sat alone, there on his side were quite a few,
Doubt and fear and hate were his good friends,
And he never played his cards wrong until the day I drew
The card that put his dark plan to an end

I'm a survivor, I was born to fall and rise again,
I'm a relier, on a helping hand from an old and trusted Friend,
I do what I can and then I leave it in His hand,
That's the only way a loser wins

When I drew it out I clutched it hard and he seemed to sense a change
And then I folded all my others and in his eyes there burned a rage,
Then he pushed in all his winnings, and he threw his last card death,
And his friends began to mock and laugh and I just held my breath
As he reached to take his winnings is when I said, "Hey, just wait!"
And I stood up and showed my hold card and from death I walked away

I'm a survivor, I was born to fall and rise again,
I'm a relier, on a helping hand from an old and trusted Friend,
I do what I can and then I leave it in His hand,
That's the only way a loser wins

[Here comes the epilogue]

The card I drew was love, you know, the love of God's own Son,
He overcame death and hate and He's out-drawn every gun,
There's just one chance you've got to win in this game of life we play,
Put Jesus in your hand, my friend, He's this life's only ace

That's the only way a loser wins...

Micah

Shout for Joy

Rejoice and be glad!
Shout for joy, as do those in the heavenlies!
Shout for joy because you are Mine!
Shout for joy because you are eternally safe in My strong and loving arms!
Shout for joy because you are connected to the everlasting source from which comes all power and might!
Shout for joy because you will triumph in the end over all evil and darkness!
Shout for joy because there is absolutely nothing that you and I, united in My love, united in My Spirit, and assisted by all the power of Heaven, cannot do.
Shout for joy because there are no impossibilities to you and the power of the keys!
Shout for joy because you have heaven on earth in your hearts and Homes, and Heaven eternally to look forward to!
Shout for joy and praise Me now.

James Taylor In Concert - Up On The Roof

Up on the roof

Here are the lyrics to"Up on the Roof"

When this old world starts a getting me down,
And people are just too much for me to face,
I'll climb way up to the top of the stairs,
And all my cares just drift right into space.
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be,
And there the world below don't bother me, no, no.

So when I come home feeling tired and beat,
I'll go up where the air is fresh and sweet,
I'll get far away from the hustling crowd,
And all the rat race noise down in the street.

On the roof, that's the only place I know,
Where you just have to wish to make it so.

Let's go up on the roof.

At night the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me.

That's what I said. Keep on telling you that
right smack dab in the middle of town,
I found a paradise that's trouble proof.
And if this old world starts a getting you down,
There's room enough for two up on the roof.

Have I Told You Lately

SOUNDS IN THE NIGHT

I've always liked the night, it's so quiet. I like these little lonesome sounds. The tiniest little sound gets its chance at night.--The rattle of the antenna on the roof, a cat's meow in the alley, a distant bark of a dog, the lonesome whistle of a train. Even a rare passing car gives a kind of a sad, wailing sound as it goes by.--Listen & you'll hear it. It sounds like it's scared & running from something, trying to get safely home in a hurry. Cars sound like they're afraid of the night.
At night you can even hear a little tiny mouse gnawing on a baseboard or rattling around in the cracker bin. The night is big & quiet enough that even if you're just a tiny bird you can be heard a long ways. Even little old you can be heard at night if there's no other sound. Raise your voice!--See how it echoes & bounces around! At night, every little noise counts--a child's restless whimper in his sleep, a door slamming, footsteps in the alley or the flush of a toilet. These, you couldn't even hear in the daytime, but they're clear & loud & distinct at night.
I hate the busy day with all its garish activity, crashing sounds, screams & shouts & roars, its blinding glare, it's burning heat! I long for the cool & quiet of the night when you can see the tiny stars twinkling away so quietly, so sweetly winding their way through space, tip-toeing through the Heavenly corridors, lighting up the mansions of the sky! You feel like they're the eyes of Angels peeping through at you telling you they know you're there.

Mo

...For Aye

May I have those pearls?" He questioned,
Knowing that I prized them so--
"If you love Me, will you lay those
At My feet?" I answered, "No."

But He looked so disappointed;
The I cried, "O though it grieves,
Take them, Master, take them, take them!
Yea, I love THEE `more than these.'"

Yes, He took my pearls, just cheap things
That could last but for a day,
But He gave me back some REAL ONES--
PRICELESS! JOYS for aye--FOR AYE!
--Edith Mapes

Shakespeare - No comparing

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sweetest Love, I Do Not Go

John Donne
(1572-1631)

Song: Sweetest Love, I Do Not Go

Sweetest love, I do not go,
For weariness of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter love for me;
But since that I
Must die at last, 'tis best
To use myself in jest
Thus by feigned deaths to die.

Yesternight the sun went hence,
And yet is here today;
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor half so short a way:
Then fear not me,
But believe that I shall make
Speedier journeys, since I take
More wings and spurs than he.

O how feeble is man's power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot add another hour,
Nor a lost hour recall!
But come bad chance,
And we join to'it our strength,
And we teach it art and length,
Itself o'er us to'advance.

When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not wind,
But sigh'st my soul away;
When thou weep'st, unkindly kind,
My life's blood doth decay.
It cannot be
That thou lov'st me, as thou say'st,
If in thine my life thou waste,
That art the best of me.

Let not thy divining heart
Forethink me any ill;
Destiny may take thy part,
And may thy fears fulfil;
But think that we
Are but turned aside to sleep;
They who one another keep
Alive, ne'er parted be.

Surrounded by Praise

Here's something I was reading today about how Praising God can make a difference in your life.

Your praises surround you with a force field both spiritually and physically. It transports your mind into heavenly places. It can protect you from pain, eliminate fear, and defeat the works of the Devil. Praise is like a weapon, mighty and powerful. God can fill your life and your heart and your thoughts with His presence when you praise Him, and He will be with you.

In your personal life, it's the solution to so many of the struggles you face. Praise is the lacking ingredient that will propel you to the stage where you're really forging ahead. Praise will make a huge difference, because praise unlocks the door to greater faith.

Focus on that concept. Every time you face a difficulty of any kind, praise God. Make it your focus. Try to make praise a habit everyday day‚ & make an effort to remember to praise at those crucial times. And like any habit, the more you do it, the more you'll remember to do it, and the more things you'll think of to praise God for, and the more positive your outlook on everything will become.

Find things all along the way to praise God for, which will bring His power into the situation. You'll see what I mean as you do it more. It doesn't have to become an insincere or hypocritical habit. It can be a beautiful attitude of positiveness, always looking for the good and a way to glorify God, regardless of the circumstances.

When you're praising God, you're bringing Him more into your life and circumstances‚ so things will start working out better. You'll not only feel better and react to things better, but things will actually be better, because I'll be more in control, His presence will be more manifested. By praising God you're acknowledging Him and bringing His Spirit into the situation.

God loves you, and as always, is ever near to help you with anything you face. Praising God will help you to feel His presence more and take advantage of all the spiritual power that's at your command.

Keys in your hands

MAT.16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.

Let your drooping hearts be glad;
March in Heavenly armour clad;
Fight, nor think the battle long,
For soon shall come the victory song.

When wearied with the strain of it all you can fly to God on the wings of prayer & faith & get the relief that He alone can give you.

Leading Home

Leading Home
When feverish worries crowd our lives,
When we are sad and all things fearing,
When woe and care are multiplied,
Oh then, believe it--God is nearing.
He seeth where the sparrows fall;
Oh trust in God! He knoweth all.

And when the pathway leads us down
Into the shadow, dark and lonely,
We there find our void profound
Is answered with His comfort only.
And on His bosom we find rest;
Oh live with God! He loveth best.

When we can trust, not seeing ought
Of where our poor steps next are landing,
Faith leads us where, with beauty fraught,
Her sister dwelleth--Understanding.
There we shall know as we are known;
Oh follow God! He leadeth home.
--Sue

When you are lost I will give you sight; When in despair, I will give you hope; When on the verge of collapse, I will raise you up; When Hopelessness surrounds you, I will restore your vision; When all seems lost I will bring Victory -- All through the power of the keys of the kingdom.

You Are

This song is a favorite of mine & makes me think of & connect with the one I love the most.

You Are

Sometimes I try to count the ways & reasons that I love you,
but I can never seem to count that far.
I love you in a million ways & for a million reasons,
but more than this I love you as you are.
More than this I love you just as you are.

You are my inspiration, you are the song I sing.
You are what makes me happy, you are my everything.
You are my greatest sunshine, you are my evening star.
Everything I'd ever want, to find, is what you are,
Everything I'll ever want for mine is what you are.

You are my thoughts when I'm awake, you're my dreams when I'm asleep,
You are the reason for my smile, you are the words I speak.
Every role I play in life, you play the leading part.
Everything I'll ever want, or need is what you are.
The only one I'll ever want, for me, that's what you are.

You are my inspiration, you are the song I sing.
You are what makes me happy, you are my everything.
You are my greatest sunshine, you are my evening star.
Everything I'd ever want, in mind, is what you are,
The only thing I'll ever want for mine is what you are.

You are, You are, You are.

I love you just cause you are.

-- Dolly Parton --

The Prayer of the Pilgrim

I found this last night when I was thinking of a friend of mine but it so expressed my feelings at this moment too. When thinking of the person who wrote this & how her pilgrimage has now ended in this life but I know she along with a host of others are keeping the candle burning for me.

The Prayer of the Pilgrim

Did You know the sky was inky?
Did You see I'd lost my way?
Did You feel my heart was empty?
Did You hear my spirit pray?
Did You know my world was dying?
Did You see my bosom bleed?
Did You feel my heart was crying?
Did You hear my spirit breathe?

Keep the candles burning for me.
Maybe here or far away,
Maybe somehow and someday
I will see them and be strong,
And they will light me Home to Thee.

Do You know the awful blackness
Of this vast and hollow place?
Can You feel the freezing dampness?
Do You know I'm lost in space?
And yet, although I am cold and lonely,
I think that if I had a sign
That I am not the one and only,
I can fight to stay alive.

Keep the candles burning for me.
Maybe the light through the gray
Will keep the hounds of hell at bay.
For I will see it and be strong
And it will light me Home to Thee

You must know the endless yearning;
You must love me, for I see
Countless beacons bravely burning,
Lights that say You are with me.
So I will walk into the darkness,
I will see the lights beyond,
And will not stop until the brightness
Pales with the welcome dawn.

Keep the candles burning for me.
Maybe now, or on the day
When I am too weak to pray,
I will see them and be strong
And they will light me Home to Thee.

Guard the hallowed flames of Angels.
Stand watch on the stars tonight;
Keep the solemn midnight vigil
'Till we dance the waltz by light.
For I will be Home in the morning
If I walk by candlelight.
So keep the candles burning for me,
Always burning through the night.
--Sue