THE OPEN ROAD

HIGHWAY 77

1/17/2021

HIGHWAY 77

Many years ago, somewhere around midnight
of the thirty-first of December, Donna and I some-
how meandered off of route 76 onto a new highway
---route 77. (Highway 77 is a north-south highway
that extends from Sioux City, Iowa to Brownsville
Texas).
The snow was descending softly all around us.
Yes, indeed, it was a dark and stormy night.

We probably wouldn't have noticed any significant
difference between the old 76 and our new 77
passageway, except for the fact that we had the
occasion to pickup a young couple with a new born
babe in arms.
They informed us that we were now traveling
on a brand new highway. Their names have long
been forgotten, but we felt warm that we could
offer them some assistance.

The scene reminded us of a young couple with a
new born babe centuries ago travelling on roads
unsure and out of place not knowing what their
future might hold or where they might eventually
wind up. And so it is with all of us, as it always
has been.

First published on January 28, 2014)

HOLD ON

1/17/2021

   HOLD ON

                                                 Bias, a Greek philosopher wrote that
                                                "The greatest misfortune of all is
                                                 not to be able to bear misfortune."

                                                 In times of misfortune, what shall we do...
                                                 Hold on   with faith in God
                                                Hold on   with hope in your heart
                                                Hold on   wait patiently and pray
                                                Hold on   Until the dark clouds depart
                                                Hold on   Do not give up
                                                Hold on   As the Spirit gently whispers
                                                 Hold on   I understand and care

                                                 God continuously works on our behalf.
                                                 He can make a good fortune for us even
from our greatest misfortunes.

(First published on January 27, 2013}

A SMILE AND A HELPING HAND 645A

1/17/2021

A SMILE AND A HELPING HAND

When our hearts were hurt and heavy
You came along in time
And gave us what we needed...
A smile and a helping hand.

There were no looks of accusation
No cutting words of scorn
You gave us what we needed
A smile and a helping hand

When the path looked quite impossible
And snares wrapped around our feet
You gave us what we needed
A smile and a helping hand.

We may stand now on the mountaintops
And see for miles around
But, it wasn't always that way,
Then you came along
And gave us what we needed
A smile and a helping hand

(First published on January 17, 2021)

IF OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH GOD 224

1/10/2021

IF OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH GOD 224

Wrote Charles Sorley...

"The gates are open on the road
that leads to beauty and to God."

No walls, no matter how thick
No fences, no matter how high
No guards, no matter how many
Can keep us encumbered or bound
If our hearts are right with God

If our hearts are right with God
Walls become windows
Fences become rose trellises
Guards become our friends
No chains may fetter
The upward bound soul

God's gates are always open
To those who would enter in

(Written on October 3, 1976,
with some revisions on August 4,2019)

LIFE ITSELF 641

1/10/2021

LIFE ITSELF 641

"The happy man," wrote R.J. Baugham,
"is he who lives the life of love, not for
the honors it may bring, but for life itself."

That kind word, that reassuring look,
that gentle way that lifts the burdens of another...
This is the stuff that life's made of.

To share the story of our life and the mercy
and grace and love which has continually
been poured out upon us by a merciful
and loving Lord., what greater honor is there?

To Love, not for honors, but for the sake of
love only, ah, that is...Life itself.

(First published on July 1, 1979

GOING, GOING, GONE

1/7/2021

GOING, GOING, GONE

2020 has finally slipped away
And a new year has taken its
place. 2020 will always be
zed recognized as the year
of the deadly pandemic whose
tentacles of sickness and death
touched hundreds of thousands
around the globe.

Thousands of businesses closed,
many lost their well paying jobs

And in the U.S., the Democrats
  managed to take control of
all three branches of government.
It will be more than interesting
to see how that turns out.

On the positive side, more prayers
were said, more scriptures read,
more neighbors helped more neighbors,
and we all learned virtually to do anything.

For those of you who weathered
storms and basically arrived into
   the new year unscathed, you were
fortunate and blessed, indeed

A BACKWARD GLANCE WHILE LOOKING FORWARD

12/31/2020

A BACKWARD GLANCE WHILE LOOKING FORWARS

The mountains are full of snow
The ground is blotchy tho'
Now that the year is almost gone
I wonder where I shall go
In the new, new year ahead
Will I be rich or shall be poor
I'm really not that sure
Will I again be racked with pain
What a year this has been
Will I have to see it once again
Or shall past remain the past
What shall the future yet unfold
Only time shall tell, as it always will

(Written on December 31. 2020)

NEVER MIND THE STORMS 638

12/27/2020

NEVER MIND THE STORMS 638

We recently saw a bookmarker
with these words printed at the
top, "Never mind the storms."

  Below this inscription was a
beautiful canyon scene with
myriad shades of brown and
black with white and misty
pinks and purples on a narrow
opening of a canyon gorge.

And, down at the bottom of
the depths of the small gorge
languished a soft colorful
rainbow.

Never mind the storms. They
will pass. They always have.
They always will.

And the Maker of Rainbows will
will remain with us as a trusted
friend, like a brother committed
to our well being and safe keeping,
now and always.

(First published on June 30, 1979)

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020

12/25/2020

Merry (tough year) Christmas
and a Happy
Hopeful
  Grace filled
Faithful
New Year (2021)
to you all

from: Bill and Donna
(morganofriverton.com)
"the Open Road"

AT THE ALTER 228

12/20/2020

   AT THE ALTER 228

                              Have you got burdens that bother
                                   Have you got troubles and woe
                                   Give them to your Master and Savior
                                   Just drop them at the alter and go

                                   With a heart that's filled with mercy
                                   Jesus is looking for you
                                   He knows all your faults and follies
                                   Now there's only one thing to do

                                   Drop your sins at the alter
                                   Your years in battle with strife
                                   Come, take the hand of your Master
Let Jesus be Lord of your life

                                   Go, go in peace
                                   Go in peace, sin no more
                                   Go, go in peace
                                   And sin no more

(Frist published on October 17, 1976)