conditions that are hard to believe?
Have you ever felt you must speak and explain and deny
A story that’s groundless or a small, whispered lie?
Have you ever heard rumors you would like to refute
Or some telltale gossip you would like to dispute?
Well, don’t be upset, for God knows the score,
And with God as your judge you need worry no more …
For men may misjudge you, but God’s verdict is fair,
For He looks deep inside and is deeply aware
Of every small detail in your pattern of living,
And always He’s fair and lenient and forgiving,
And knowing that God is your judge and your jury
Frees you completely from man’s falseness and fury …
And secure in this knowledge, let your thoughts rise above
Man’s small, shallow judgments that are so empty of
God’s goodness and greatness in judging men,
And forget ugly rumors and be happy again.
B E G LAD
Be glad that your life has been full and complete,
Be glad that you’ve tasted the bitter and sweet.
Be glad that you’ve walked in sunshine and rain,
Be glad that you’ve felt both pleasure and pain.
Be glad that you’ve had such a full, happy life,
Be glad for your joy as well as your strife.
Be glad that you’ve walked with courage each day,
Be glad you’ve had strength for each step of the way.
Be glad for the comfort that you’ve found in prayer.
Be glad for God’s blessings, His love, and His care.
M EMORY R ENDEZVOUS
Memory builds a little pathway
that goes winding through my heart.
It’s a lovely, quiet, gentle trail
from other things apart.
I only meet when traveling
there the folks I like the best,
For this road I call remembrance
is hidden from the rest,
But I hope I’ll always find you
in my memory rendezvous,
For I keep this little secret place
to meet with folks like you.
S O M ANY R EASONS TO L OVE THE L ORD
Thank You, God, for little things that come unexpectedly
To brighten up a dreary day that dawned so dismally.
Thank You, God, for sending a happy thought my way
To blot out my depression on a disappointing day.
Oh God, the list is endless
of the things to thank You for,
But I take them all for granted
and unconsciously ignore
That everything I think or do,
each movement that I make,
Each measured, rhythmic heartbeat,
each breath of life I take
Is something You have given me
for which there is no way
For me in all my smallness
to in any way repay.
O N THE W İNGS OF P RAYER
On the wings of prayer our burdens take flight
And our load of care becomes bearably light
And our heavy hearts are lifted above
To be healed by the balm of God’s wonderful love …
And the tears in our eyes are dried by the hands
Of a loving Father who understands
All of our problems, our fears and despair
When we take them to Him on the wings of prayer.
W EDDİNG D AY
May God bless your wedding
day and every day thereafter
And fill your home with happiness and
your hearts with love and laughter …
And may each year together find
you more and more in love
And bring you all the happiness
you’re so deserving of.
May the joy of true companionship
be yours to share through life,
And may you always bless the day
that made you husband and wife.
A P RAYER FOR THE B RİDE AND G ROOM
As hand in hand you enter a
life that’s bright and new,
May God look down from heaven
and bless the two of you.
May He give you understanding,
enough to make you kind,
So you may judge each other with
your hearts and not your minds.
May He teach you to be patient
as you learn to live together,
Forgiving little human rifts that
arise in stormy weather …
And may your love be strong enough
to withstand the strongest sea,
So you may dwell forever in
love’s rich tranquility.
I T T AKES A M OTHER
It takes a mother’s love to
make a house a home—
A place to be remembered no
matter where we roam.
It takes a mother’s patience
to bring a child up right
And her courage and her