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