I Believe

I believe in Miracles and dreams that will come true,

And I believe in happiness And friendship, through and through

I believe that when you cry your tears are not in vain,

And when you're sad and lonely someone knows that you're in pain.

I believe that when we laugh a sparkle starts to shine,

And before you know these sparks will spread

From more hearts than just mine.

I believe the gifts you have are there for you to share

And when you give them from the heart, the whole world knows you care.

I believe that if you give, even just to one,

That gift will grow in magnitude before the day is done.

I believe that comfort comes from giving part of me,

And if I share with others, there's more for all so see.

I believe that love is still the greatest gift of all,

And when it's given from the heart, Love will conquer all.

What You Will Be

As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty;

I bowed my head and asked myself, "Why should He care for me?

I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above,

What is there about me that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees sway,

I cannot sing sweetly like your birds; will you love me anyway?

But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear,

In spite of all my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me pray.

Then I felt His Spirit tell me, "Child, look up, I have something to say.

"You are simply you, the spirit I love, a part of my great plan.

I put you here to learn of life and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made,

And your strength exceeds that of the wind's, so do not be afraid.

I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be.

I am always beside you watching you grow, you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it was true, my Father had always been there

Giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to share.

So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see,

He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows I will be.

On The Other SIde

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die.  Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know?  You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.  Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog?  He's never been in this room before.  He didn't know what was inside.  He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.  I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Remember the Duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods.  He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back to dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck.  Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.  In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you Johnny?"  And then she whispered to him, "Remember, the duck?"  So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But I was just wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you."

I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something.  Jesus Christ was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He is ready to forgive you. Perhaps He's wondering how long you'll let the enemy make a slave out of you.  The great thing about God is that He not only forgives, but He forgets.

SPECIAL BEATTUTUDES for those who work with special people

BLESSED ARE YOU who take time to listen to difficult speech

FOR YOU help us know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

BLESSED ARE YOU who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,

FOR in your companionship, we find havens of relaxation.

BLESSED ARE YOU who never bid us "hurry up" and more blessed, you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us

FOR often we need time rather than help.

BLESSED ARE YOU who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures,

FOR our failures will be outweighed by times when we surprise ourselves and you.

BLESSED ARE YOU who ask for our help

FOR our greatest need is to be needed.

BLESSED ARE YOU who help us with the graciousness of Christ.

FOR oftentimes we need the help we cannot ask for.

BLESSED ARE YOU when, by all these things you assure us that the thing that makes us individuals is not in our peculiar muscles, not in our wounded nervous systems, nor in our difficulties in learning

BUT in the God-given self which no infirmity can confine.

REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, and know that you give us reassurances that could never be spoken in words,

FOR you deal with us as Christ dealt with all His children.