ON GIVING THANKS  584

                         During the past year, 
                         we have encountered many 
                         of the typical problems experienced 
                         while raising a young family. 

                         Often, these problems encouraged us
                         to become discouraged and to complain 
                         far more frequently than we know we should.
    
                         Recently, some of the problems were resolved, 
                         or at least their solutions became foreseeable. 
 
                         And so, we breathed a sigh of relief 
                         and thanked  the Lord.
    
                         But, we suspect there is a tendency within us
                         to complain much louder and more often
                         than to give thanks to the Lord.
  
                         We have been continually blessed
                         by our Heavenly Father. And we hope
                         in the months to come, our praises 
                         shall far outweigh and out distance our
​                         complaints.

                         (Written on February 9, 1979)
                                           ​

                                                                     
​                                           ISAIAH 55:6,7,8,9

                                Seek ye the Lord
                                while he may be found
                                Call ye upon him 
                                while he is near

                                Let the wicked forsake 
                                his way
                                and the unrighteous man
                                his thoughts
                                And let him return unto
                                the Lord

                                And He will have mercy
                                upon him
                                for he will abundantly pardon

                                For my thoughts are not
                                your thoughts
                                Neither are your ways
                                my ways, saith the Lord
 
                                For as the heavens are higher
                                than the earth               
                                so are my ways higher
                                than your ways, and my thoughts
                                than your thoughts
                  
                                ​
                                                                          

  

​                                                                       
                                                             A TOUCH OF WONDER     208     
           
                                       When we were children
                                       We tried to count all the stars
                                       In the sky and we were struck
                                       With a touch of wonder

                                       As we grew, it often amazed us
                                       How little puppies grew
                                       And grew and grew and grew
                                       And every day was new
                                       With a touch of wonder

                                       In our youth, we often sat
                                       At our parents' feet
                                       And marveled at the miracles
                                       Of Jesus, and dreamed
                                       With a touch of wonder

                                       We cuddle our children now
                                       And snuggle them warm in their beds
                                       Who has privileged us so
                                       We ask as we kneel in prayer
                                       With a touch of wonder
                                  
                                       One day we shall take 
                                       That fateful journey
                                       Across the gulf of immortality
                                       And place our hand in his
                                       With a touch of wonder

                                       (Written on August 24, 1978)
   

                                                 
                                THE LAST LAUGH 583

    During the holidays, Donna was resting in our
     bedroom, when I came up and laid down with her...
     "Uh, What are you doing here?" She said.
     "The next football game doesn't start for 45 minutes.
     I thought I'd rest with you until game time."
     (I tried to carry on a civilized conversation with
     her, but it didn't work out.)

     Finally she said, "Why don't you go fix yourself a
     (soft) drink before the game starts. Hurry you only have
     five minutes."

     "Fifteen!"
     "Oh, well that's okay. Hurry along."
     "Don't rush me."
     "Goodbye."
     "Goodbye...I am not leaving until I have the last word!"
     "Oh, okay."
     "See...you don't want me to leave."
     "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."
     "Ho-ho yourself, I'm not leaving with you having
     the last laugh either."
     "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."
     "Silly."
     There's a short silence. Donna breaks it up with a
     couple of deep sighs followed by "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."
    "All right, you can have the last laugh and the last sigh,
     but I still get the last word."
    'Okay."
    "Goodbye!!!"
​    "(Sigh...Ha...Ha.)"

    (Written on February 4, 1979)

                                            Ho,Ho,Ho,Ho   

                     ISAIAH 55:1,2,3

                     Ho, every one that thirsteth,
                     come ye to the waters
                     And he that hath no money,
                     come ye, buy and eat
                     Yea, come, buy wine and milk
                     without money and without price

                     Wherefore do ye spend money
                     for that which is not bread
                     and your labor for that
                     which satisfieth not?
                     
                     Hearken diligently unto me, 
                     and eat ye that which is good,
                     and let you soul delight in fatness

                     Incline your ear and come unto me;
                     Hear and your soul shall shall live
                     and I will make an everlasting an 
                     everlasting covenant with you
                     even the sure mercies of David

​                                               MOTHER'S DAY (1979)  618
  
                When all the roses have faded away
                And no bloom is found in sight
                There'll still be the lingering fragrance
                Of when mother held me tight

                When the shadows fall at eventide
                My mind remembers in my youth
                The lessons my mother taught so well
                Like always "Always tell the truth"

                Now when I sit by the fire and ponder
                And my thoughts begin to wander
                I think of the care my mother bestowed 
                And my gratitude for her life grows fonder

                And when stories are told by men grown old
                With wistfulness and sheer joy
                I'll remember my mother's love for me
                When I was but a boy

                (Written on May 13, 1979)  

0 CommentsISAIAH 54:11,12,13
                                                      

                                                       SECOND THOUGHTS 580

                                    From an unknown writer...
                          "Second thoughts they say are best."

                          One of the lessons the Lord keeps
                          trying to teach us is...to have second thoughts, 
                          especially before we speak them aloud.

                          For often, our first thoughts are shaped 
                          by our emotions which are frequently faulty 
                          and need to be tempered and reshaped
                          by the Holy Spirit.

                          When time and circumstance permit, let us
                          wait patiently for better thoughts which may 
                          lead to better actions and reactions... 
                          and better consequences.

                          As we form our second thoughts, may we ask 
                          ourselves..."Is this what Jesus would think?"... 
                         "Is this what the Holy Spirit would have me say?"

                         "Second thoughts they say are best."
                         Perhaps, in the long run, we shall find 
                         that, indeed they are. 
                         
​                         (Written on January 28, 1979)

                           ISAIAH 54:17

                    No weapon that is formed
                    against thee that shall prosper
                                           And every tongue that shall rise
                    against thee in judgment,
                    thou shalt condemn

                    This the heritage of the servants
                    of the Lord
                    And their rightousness is of me,
                    saith the Lord