I'll start off with this poem called "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" written by Elizabeth Clephane (1830-1869)
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty Rock Within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat, And the burden of the day.
Upon the cross of Jesus Mine eye at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me: And from my stricken heart with tears Two wonders I confess, The wonders of redeeming love And my own worthlessness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow, For my abiding place: I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of his face; Content to let the world go by, To know no gain or loss; My sinful self my only shame, My glory, all the cross.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
"Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on! hold fast! hold out! Patience is genius. "
-- Georges L.L. de Buffon
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Over the mountains, beyond the sea There is someone who patiently waits for me Someone whose hands are both gentle and strong Whose presence would fill every heart with song
Someone whose beauty I long to see Whose eyes never cease to watch over me Who has carved me into the palm of His hand Whose wisdom we mortals cannot understand
Whose love is as pure as a love could be Someone who has given His all for me Who knows my thoughts, my dreams, my fears Who has promised to wipe away all my tears
There He waits till that blessed day When the trumpet sounds and I’m swept away And the forces of darkness wherever they be Have no power to stop Him from coming for me
Now this world could crumble, the skies could fall But it would not change anything at all For over the mountains, beyond the sea There is someone who patiently waits for me
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out! She’d scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the hams, And though her daddy would scream and shout, She simply would not take the garbage out. And so it piled up to the ceilings: Coffee grounds, potato peelings, Brown bananas, rotten peas, Chunks of sour cottage cheese. It filled the can, it covered the floor, It cracked the window and blocked the door With bacon rinds and chicken bones, Drippy ends of ice cream cones, Prune pits, peach pits, orange peel, Gloppy glumps of cold oatmeal, Pizza crusts and withered greens, Soggy beans and tangerines, Crusts of black burned buttered toast, Gristly bits of beefy roasts… The garbage rolled on down the hall, It raised the roof, it broke the wall… Greasy napkins, cookie crumbs, Globs of gooey bubble gum, Cellophane from green baloney, Rubbery blubbery macaroni, Peanut butter, caked and dry, Curdled milk and crusts of pie, Moldy melons, dried-up mustard, Eggshells mixed with lemon custard, Cold french fries and rancid meat, Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat. At last the garbage reached so high That finally it touched the sky. And all the neighbors moved away, And none of her friends would come to play. And finally Sarah Cynthia Stout said, “OK, I’ll take the garbage out!” But then, of course, it was too late… The garbage reached across the state, From New York to the Golden Gate. And there, in the garbage she did hate, Poor Sarah met an awful fate, That I cannot right now relate Because the hour is much too late. But children, remember Sarah Stout And always take the garbage out!
-Shel Silverstein
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid, and bring so much happiness, just as they did. I want to pay back all the joy they've provided. Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues, and I'll bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes. I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out. I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
When they're on the phone and just out of reach, I'll get into things like sugar and bleach. Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head, and when that is done, I'll hide under the bed! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
When they cook dinner and call me to eat, I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat, I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table, And when they get angry. I'll run. if I'm able! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click, I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick. I'll take off my socks and throw one away, and play in the mud till the end of the day! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh, I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes. My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping, and say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!"
-- Author Joanne Bailey Baxter
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might humbly obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed.
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Until I learned to trust the Lord, I never learned to pray; And never learned to fully trust, Til sorrow came my way.
Until I felt my weakness, His strength I never knew, Nor dreamed, til I was stricken, that He could see me through.
He who drinks deepest sorrow Drinks deepest too of grace, God sends the storm so He, himself,
Can be our resting place. His heart, who seeks our deepest good, Knows well when things annoy; We would not yearn for Heaven If earth held only joy!
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”