Stand

If I stand for the grace that I've known, For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone, No I won't stand alone.....


 With visible breath, I'm calling your name
With visible tracks, I'm finding my way
With a sorrowful heart, I honor this pain
And offer these tears to the rain
In a moment of truth at the top of the hill
I open my arms and let go of my will

And stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand alone
There's a new pair of eyes to embrace all I see
A new peace of mind and it comes quietly
There's a joy in my heart that you've given to me
And I offer this soul's melody
So I beat on my chest till my song has been sung
And I cry like a wolf at the top of my lungs
And stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand alone
When the thundering voices of doubt try to shake my faith, oh
I'll be listening from inside out and I won't be afraid to
Stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand...I won't stand alone

New York Street Games

New York Street Games Trailer from Gigantic Studios on Vimeo.

Rod McKuen - Where Are We Now

The Remedy

The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.

Warren Wiersbe 

THY WORD - Amy Grant

One of my favorites

Britt Nicole - All This Time

"The prayerful practice of joy and thanksgiving leaves no room for stress or worry."

 David Jerimiah

I Can Hear Music Kathy Troccoli and Beach Boys-

In My Arms by Plumb with LYRICS

Your baby blues, so full of wonder
Your curly cues, your contagious smile
And as I watch, you start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms

Storybooks are full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens
And the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see
The truth from lies

When the clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
You are never all alone
Cause I will always
Always love you

Clouds will rage in
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms

Colossians1:9-11

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 

10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 

11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion…are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments".

Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Philippians 4:6-7

Psalm 27

Happy New Year 2019

But I am trusting in you, oh Lord, saying,"You are my God!' My future is in Your hands.

All for the Life of Me

A Prayer For My Children

True story

True story.

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son,  that  who so ever believes in him will have everlasting life".

You Say...God Says....

You say: It's impossible 

God says: All things are possible
 Luke 18:27

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
 Matthew 11:28-30

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
John 3:16

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
II Corinthians 12:9 
Psalm 91:15

You say:  'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
Philippians 4:13. 

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
II Corinthians 9:8

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
Roman 8:28 

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
I John 1:9 
 Romans 8:1

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
Philippians 4:19

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
 II Timothy 1:7

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
I Peter 5:7

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
Hebrews 13:5

The King and the Poisened Well

Today's life line has to do with trail blazing, walking the road less traveled, and doing what is right despite the difficulty.

The following parable was written by an unknown author. There are several versions of it on the web and I have taken the liberty to adapt a version here for your consumption. Hope you enjoy.

THE KING & THE POISONED WELL

There was once a wise king who ruled over a vast kingdom. He was feared for his might and loved for his wisdom. Now in the heart of the city, there was a well with pure and crystalline waters from which the king and all the inhabitants drank. When all were asleep, three witches entered the city and poured seven drops of a strange liquid into the well. They said that henceforth all who drink this water shall become mad.

The next day, all the people drank of the water, but not the king. And the people began to say, "The king is mad and has lost his reason. Look how strangely he behaves. We cannot be ruled by a madman, so he must be dethroned."

The king grew very fearful, for his subjects were preparing to rise against him. He had a difficult choice: risk being destroyed by his beloved subjects or drink from the poisoned well and become mad like them. So that evening, he ordered a golden goblet to be filled from the well, and he drank deeply. The next day, there was great rejoicing among the people, for their beloved king had finally regained his reason.

--Author Unknown

How many times in your life have you allowed yourself to do what is ordinary for the sake of comfort? Some people drink poison every day just to fit in with the crowd.

Well they say that the path of the righteous is narrow and long. It is beset by all sorts of obstacles, barriers, and evils that threaten to knock you off of the path. If you value your social role, status, possessions, relationships, or even your own life more than righteousness, then you will go the way of the king in the parable. You will drink from the well again and again in life. However, if you will risk standing out, risk being different, risk it all for love of righteousness, there is a greater reward.

Let your light shine and dim it for no one and nothing. You only have one life to live and one chance to get it right.

source:  http://manueljwbpsyd.blogspot.com/2010/04/parable-of-king-and-poisoned-well.html

What happened to Christmas

This year, let us try to remember the baby that was so adored. His name is Jesus. He died for our sin Open your hearts and let Jesus in. On this Christmas morning step away from the norm, and please, please remember our savior was born. Have a blessed Christmas.

Bethlehemian Rhapsody (with lyrics)

John Denver The Box 1973

This poem The Box was written about 1912 by Lascellas Ambercrombie -

Kindly Do Not Touch.

Once upon a time, in the land of Hush-A-Bye,
around about the wondrous days of yore,
they came across a kind of box,

bound up with chains and locked with locks

and labeled "Kindly do not touch; it's war."

A decree was issued round about, and all with a flourish and a shout 

and a gaily-colored mascot tripping lightly on before. 

Don't fiddle with this deadly box, or break the chains, or pick the locks. 

And please don't ever play about with war.

The children understood. Children happen to be good

and they were just as good around the time of yore. 

They didn't try to pick the locks or break into that deadly box.

They never tried to play about with war. 

Mommies didn't either; sisters, aunts, grannies neither. 

They were quiet, and sweet, and pretty in those wondrous days of yore. 

Well, very much the same as now, not the ones to blame somehow

 for opening up that deadly box of war.

But someone did. Someone battered in the lid.

and spilled the insides out across the floor. A kind of bouncy, bumpy ball 

made up of guns and flags and all the tears, and horror,
and death that comes with war.

It bounced right out and went bashing all about,
bumping into everything in store. 

And what was sad and most unfair was that it didn't really seem to care 

much who it bumped, or why, or what.....or for.

It bumped the children mainly. And I'll tell you this quite plainly,

it bumps them every day and more, and more, and leaves them dead,
and burned, and dying, thousands of them sick and crying. 

Cause when it bumps, it's really very sore.

Now there's a way to stop the ball. It isn't difficult at all. 

All it takes is wisdom, and I'm absolutely sure
that we can get it back into the box,and bind the chains, and lock the locks. 

But no one seems to want to save the children anymore.

Well, that's the way it all appears,
cause it's been bouncing round for years and years.

In spite of all the wisdom 'wiz since those wondrous days of yore 

and the time they came across the box, bound up with chains

and locked with locks, and labeled "Kindly do not touch; it's war."

Chicago_When All the Laughter Color My World

                                                                                                                                                              "When All The Laughter Dies In Sorrow"

When all the laughter dies in sorrow

And the tears have risen to a flood
When all the wars have found a cause
In human wisdom and in blood
Do you think they'll cry in sadness
Do you think the eye will blink
Do you think they'll curse the madness
Do you even think they'll think
When all the great galactic systems
Sigh to a frozen halt in space
Do you think there will be some remnant
Of beauty of the human race
Do you think there will be a vestige
Or a sniffle or a cosmic tear
Do you think a greater thinking thing
Will give a damn that man was here

A Wedding Prayer- Marisa & Ben- 10-16-2017

 

Heavenly Father and Great God,

We thank you that your hand and your will has guided and led us to this day. We gather to celebrate the love and commitment of Marisa and Ben, as they share their first meal together as husband and wife.

We pray that you will give Your Holy blessing today upon their marriage, and ask that You continue to bless them with Your love and mercy throughout their lives together.

We ask that you bless this food, and pray it be the  first of many loving meals they share together with their family and friends, and we ask that Marisa and Ben will always be blessed by Your amazing grace.

We thank you that we may come before you to pray and ask these things  in the sweet name of your son Jesus through whom we are granted our salvation. Amen