Love Gifts (2 page)

no longer is taboo.

Our standards have been lowered,

and we resist all discipline,

And our vision has been narrowed

and blinded to all sin.

Oh, put the summer brightness

in our closed, unseeing eyes

So in the careworn faces

that we pass we’ll recognize

The heartbreak and the loneliness

the trouble and despair

That a word of understanding

would make easier to bear.

Oh God, look down on our cold hearts

and warm them with Your love,

And grant us Your forgiveness

which we’re so unworthy of.

Don’t start your day by supposin’

that trouble is just ahead,

It’s better to stop supposin’

and start with a prayer instead …

And make it a prayer of thanksgiving

for the wonderful things God has wrought,

Like the beautiful sunrise and sunset,

God’s gifts that are free and not bought …

For what is the use of supposin’

that dire things could happen to you,

Worrying about some misfortune

that seldom if ever comes true …

But instead of just idle supposin’,

step forward to meet each new day

Secure in the knowledge God’s near you

to lead you each step of the way …

For supposin’ the worst things will happen

only helps to make them come true,

And you darken the bright, happy moments

that the dear Lord has given to you …

So if you desire to be happy

and get rid of the misery of dread,

Just give up supposin’ the worst things

and look for the best things instead.

Take a cup of kindness,

mix it well with love,

Add a lot of patience

and faith in God above,

Sprinkle very generously

with joy and thanks and cheer—

And you’ll have lots of “angel food”

to feast on all the year.

The good, green earth beneath our feet,

The air we breathe, the food we eat,

Some work to do, a goal to win,

A hidden longing deep within

That spurs us on to bigger things

And helps us meet what each day brings—

All these things and many more

Are things we should be thankful for…

And most of all, our thankful prayers

Should rise to God because He cares.

Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,

Good things and bad things,

pleasure and pain.

We can’t have all sunshine,

but it’s certainly true

That there’s never a cloud

the sun doesn’t shine through …

So always remember, whatever betide you,

The power of God is always beside you …

And you’ll find when you smile

your day will be brighter

And all of your burdens

will seem so much lighter—

For each time you smile you will find it is true

Somebody, somewhere will smile back at you,

And nothing on earth

can make life more worthwhile

Than the sunshine and warmth

of a beautiful smile.

Deal only with the present—

never step into tomorrow,

For God asks us just to trust Him

and to never borrow sorrow,

For the future is not ours to know,

and it may never be,

So let us live and give our best

and give it lavishly …

For to meet tomorrow’s troubles

before they are even ours

Is to anticipate the Savior

and to doubt His all-wise powers,

So let us be content

to solve our problems one by one,

Asking nothing of tomorrow

except “Thy will be done.”

God’s love endures forever—

what a wonderful thing to know

When the tides of life run against you

and your spirit is downcast and low.

God’s kindness is ever around you

always ready to freely impart

Strength to your faltering spirit,

cheer to your lonely heart.

God’s presence is ever beside you,

as near as the reach of your hand.

You have but to tell Him your troubles—

there is nothing He won’t understand …

And knowing God’s love is unfailing,

and His mercy unending and great,

You have but to trust in His promise,

“God comes not too soon or too late” …

So wait with a heart that is patient

for the goodness of God to prevail,

For never do prayers go unanswered,

and His mercy and love never fail.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof …

It speaks of His greatness, it sings of His love.

And each day at dawning I lift my heart high

And raise up my eyes to the infinite sky.

I watch the night vanish as a new day is born,

And I hear the birds sing on the wings of the morn.

I see the dew glisten in crystal-like splendor

While God, with a touch that is gentle and tender,

Wraps up in the night and softly tucks it away

And hangs out the sun to herald a new day …

And so I give thanks and my heart kneels to pray,

“God, keep me and guide me and go with me today.”