Enduring Our Hardship

     Life can give you much happiness but it also can give you much sadness. You can try to prepare for every disaster however life has away of coming at you in a unexpected way. I do not think that anybody is protected from the hardships that life will sometimes bring. We just have to hang on and endure until our life becomes a little bit more livable. We have to hold tight to our hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Romans 12:12 says "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
     When hardship happens, we may find our strength has weaken because of our sadness. In times of disaster, we do not have to rely on our strength only, we can rely on God's. Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." We can put our hope in God and that hope becomes our strength. He is our portion meaning he is our hope and happiness. He is the one that we can rely on to help us through our troubles.
     When we are at our lowest, we may think that God might have abandon us. God said in Isaiah 41:10 "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." We can see that God will not abandon us but he will help us in our time of need. Even if we are at our lowest, we must not be overcome by our doubts but to hold strong to our faith in God because he cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
    We can endure our hardship with God on our side because he gives us hope. His Holy Spirit can strengthen us when we feel that we can no longer endure the suffering. We can trust in the Lord to hear our prayers.  Psalm 22:24 "For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him." Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." When we are enduring a hardship we can count on God to be by our side. We can count on God to hear our prayers and to help us in our time of need.  

We Use Our Hands

     We used our hands throughout our lives in doing many things whether or not it was wrong or right. In creation our hands were design by God in the very beginning to do his will. As sons and daughters of God, we were allowed to live upon the land and work in it's fields. We were allowed to build houses and have families. However man discovered something else he could do with his hands taught by the action of Cain. It was Cain who killed his own brother Abel. Cain brought murder into our world. We have a choice, we can use our hands in doing good according to the will of God or we can use our hands just like Cain to bring more suffering into our world.
     Our hands follow the will of our heart. If our heart is good we will do good, if our heart is evil we will do evil. It is clear to me if sin rules over us, our hands will follow sin's desire. Let not our own anger or hatred blind us as to what our own hands are doing. Let peace rule over your heart so that you can see clearly the right way in how to use your hands. Brothers and Sisters let God guide your hands so that you may succeed in accomplishing his will across the land.
     We can use our hands to build and to create what we imagine. We use our hands to write our words. We can use our hands to play musical instruments so to make music that moves our soul. With our hands, we can climb up mountains or we can walk through the valleys. We can do many wonderous things with our hands. The same hands that build huge structures, can also comfort those who are hurting. We can use our hands to do large things or we can do the smallest things to make a difference in our life and in the lives of others.
     I cannot see what everyone is doing with their hands. I only know what my hands are doing. I know that I can choose not to harm anyone. I know that I can use my hands to do good instead of evil. My hands are under my control. I am willing to pledge the use of my hands in God's service in order to bring in his peace and his love into our world. If there are people who are spreading chaos and terror, my hands will not be apart of it. I will not help to bring in more hatred into our world. I want the rule of our Lord and Savior and not someone who uses his hands to do evil. May God help us in showing us how to use our hands so to show our love just like the way Jesus showed his love to us.
     

I Need to Keep My Mind Open to Change

     I need to walk a new path. The path that my mind needs to awaken from it's slumber. My mind is to resistant to change from the years of thinking the same way and doing the same things over again. I must learn to do things more differently. For example, if a person is kind to me, I must not view it as pity. I must not think that they are looking down on me. I must just thank them for their kindness and listen to any advice that they might have to offer. You might not mean to hurt other people's feelings but that is why you must keep your mind away from negative thinking and be open to making a change.
     If I become to rigid and inflexible, how can I be taught anything new? How can people get through to me and show me that there is another way to look at life. How can there be any mental growth if I ignore the help that people may want to give to me. I must not say to myself that I know everything because there are people who know a whole lot more than I do. I must be humble enough to accept their help if I need it. I must not think to myself that I need to stand alone and to be alone, when there are good people out there who can also sympathize with my situation. There are a lot of people in the world who are not out to get you. They are actually kind and caring. 
      Please God, let me not miss out on what life has to offer because I was to stubborn in my ways. Let me not misinterpret people's actions in a negative way. Help me to let down my guard just a little so as to invite good people into my life. I know even if I change a little it can greatly improve my life. Lord, help me to keep my mind open so I do not miss out on what is good for me. Help me even if I do not want any help for you know me better than I do. Lord, thank you in your name I pray, Amen. 

One More Day Lord

     I stand before you as a humble servant. I am undeserving of your kindness, your sacrifice and your love. Who am I to asked you for one more day? One more day Lord to see the blue sky and the clouds above. One more day to feel the sun's warmth on my skin. One more day to hear the voices of the people that I love. Lord, I want one more day so I can receive love and to give it back again. I want one more day to see people smile and hear their laughter. I want one more day to feel joy and celebrate life.
     Lord, am I asking to much? I know Lord, your will comes before my will and I will always say, "Let your will be done." However, if I do not die today then I want to ask you for one more day. I want to ask you for one more day so I can enjoy all the creation that you and your Father have made. It is all so beautiful, the oceans, the sunrises, the sunsets, the woodlands and the mountains. There are majestic waterfalls to look at. There are different kinds of animals on the land and fish in the sea. In the night sky there is the moon and the stars. It would take a lifetime to see it all so Lord this is why I am asking you for one more day.
     One more day Lord to sing your praises and to give you honor and to do as much good as I can in your sight. Who am I without you Lord just a pile of dust upon the ground. I am only alive because of the breath of life that your Father gave to us. I am only alive because of the mercy and the love that you have shown. One more day Lord so as to experience your goodness and righteousness. One more day to read about our future in your Kingdom. One more day I will have spending with my brothers and sisters rejoicing over all that you have done.
     Who is to say how much time I have but only you know. If I do have only a little time left then give me one more day to say what needs to be said and to do what needs to be done. Let me leave this life with no regrets. One more day with you Lord and I am happy because you are always with me. In having one more day there is so many ways that I can spend my time. I can spend my time with my family and friends or do other things that make me smile. In having one more day Lord is a day that I will truly cherish. 
      

My Heart Aches for Us

      My heart aches for us, when I hear about all the suffering that the people of the world are going through. I am sadden by the unfairness that we have to live with everyday. I want our lives to be better. I want our happy days to out number the sad ones. Why does it have to be like this? Why does the human race always seem to be bring down evil upon one another instead of a blessing. Why does our minds even dwell on the ways in hurting others? Please, God help us to change before every heart has grown cold.
     I know we can do much better but are we even trying. Does every man, woman, and child need to suffer? Is every stranger an enemy in our eyes? If we are not related by blood, race or religion, do we deserve to be treated badly? Where has our love gone O God and how can we get it back? Let my heartache come to an end. I know God that you will someday bring all this badness to a end but in the mean time watch over us and protects us if you can.
     I want nothing but goodness for us. I want to see our children happy and not afraid. Fear has somehow grip our minds and our souls and made our trust in each other to grow less. Our fear has isolated us from other people and made us sad, angry, and lonely. It has made our heart to be closed off to love. Who can we love if we fear that someone might hurt us? When did our fear replace our love? It is a shame that fear has such a great hold upon our world.
     I do wish that our world will change somehow so that we can have our peace and some security in our lives. I do not want us to be to afraid to love one another but to keep our hearts opened just a little wider so that we can still love. I will keep on praying to God so to help us. I will try to do my best to hold up under my suffering so it does not break me. I will do my best to try to see the good in our world so that sadness does not rule over my mind. I do hope that our world will change for the better so that my heartaches will be less. I can take comfort that if I do have an heartache it means that I do still care. 

Day to Night, Night to Day

     I see the sun high above me and I feel the warmth on my skin. I see the trees in the distance and the grass beneath my feet. I think to myself, how wonderful is this day and may it never end. I feel myself clinging to the light of this day because it has been a very good day. Nothing went wrong and everything feels so right. I want time to stop so this day will not end.
    I feel a fear coming over me and something feels so wrong. I look above me and the sun is no longer high above my head, it is at a angle and starting to set in the sky. My worries are becoming stronger as the sun is setting. I begin to think, what will tomorrow bring? Today has been a good day but I cannot control time. What will be, will be. The day is becoming night and I cannot stop it.
     I see high above me the moon in the sky and I feel the chill of the night on my skin. I see the stars in the sky and the shadows over the land. Change is happening all around me without me doing a thing. Time is continuing on and I say to myself, "Please, let not tomorrow bring me sorrow but another good day." My mind cannot help but think of the many problems that may come my way. Tonight is peaceful but will that peace carry on to tomorrow, only time can tell.
     I see a light in the distance. Have I been standing here all night? A new day is coming and what will it bring? It's a worry, that can only be answered in time. I see the sun rising in the sky and I feel it's warmth taking away the chill of the night air. Tomorrow is here over any of my objections or approvals. Time waits for no one. I feel like it has it's hands on my back pushing me forward whether I like it or not. We are all move along together in time. Whatever happens, will happen and I will have to deal with it. I do wish I could make the good days last by slowing down time.
     Day to night, night to day a cycle that has continually happen throughout time. A cycle we have no control over. If I could stand in front of a mirror and watch myself age. I would see myself as a baby then watch myself grow to be an old man and there would be nothing that I could do about it. I think time is telling us do not fight against it but enjoy every minute that you have. Our time with each other is limited so do not waste any of it. Yes, I do want to stop or even slow down time on the good days that I have. I worry about what will be tomorrow. However I am only human and will have to deal with what time will bring.

I Wish You Well in Life

     I wish you well in life. May your failures be less and your successes be more. May your dreams come true. May God's blessings always be upon you. May his light guide your way. In your darkest hour, I wish that hope will find you and I wish all your tears be happy ones. I want you to have joy and love so that hate will never have a place in your heart. May sadness never find you so that happiness will always be with you. Let your soul feel the warmness of spring so to drive out the coldness of winter.
     I wish that all your prayers be answered and when you cry out for help that help will come. Be happy in all your days and let your smiles outnumber the frowns. Breath in the refreshing air and breath out the negativity that is within you. Let life energize your soul and make you want to live your life to the fullest. Love yourself and those who are around you. Be good to yourself and those who are around you. Stand tall and know that you do count in this world. Believe with all your heart that God will come someday and change our world for the better.
     I wish you good health so that your struggles in life will be less. May your family prosper so that they can endure the hard times a little easier. Live your life with little regrets if you can. Make good memories now so that they can comfort you when you get old. Forgive if you can so that your heart can be free of hate. Free your heart so that it can be light as a feather. Find the good people in this world so you can support each other when times get rough and lean on each other, when you cannot stand. Let the positive that is within you take over so that you can speak words that do not bring others down.
     I wish you all the good things that life has to offer so that you will never go without. Let evil never win over you, let good be your constant companion. You are loved, you are cherished, you are special and you are not alone. There are people who understand you and they do care. Do not be alone in worries, your fears and your disappointments in life. Find someone to talk too, find someone that you can trust and join hands and face life together. All the good wishes that I can think of I give to you so that you may never have any troubles in your life. May all of us have a good life and a good ending so that one day, we can continue our friendship in heaven.