I Asked

“I Asked” was written by a Confederate soldier.  It was recovered from his body after the battle of Gettysburg…

I asked for strength that I might achieve,

God made me weak that I might obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things,

I was given grace that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy,

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I prayed for power that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing I asked for,

My prayer was answered.

I’ve Never Seen God – Helen Steiner Rice

On June 23, 1973 the young lady pictured in the thumbnail (Jane Smith) gave me a birthday card.  The card has been an inspiration for these many years, and today sits on my desk reminding me of how I should live each day.  The poem written by Helen Steiner Rice is entitled “I’ve Never Seen God.”

I’ve never seen God but I know How I feel,

It’s people like you

who make Him “So Real”…

My God is no stranger,

He’s friendly and gay

And He doesn’t ask me to weep when I pray…

It seems that I pass Him

so often each day

In the faces of people I meet on my way…

He’s the stars in the heaven,

a smile on some face,

A leaf on a tree or a rose in a vase…

He’s winter and autumn

and summer and spring…

In short, God is Every

Real, Wonderful Thing…

I wish I might meet Him

much more than I do,

I would if there were More People Like You.

How Should We Live?

The Old Testament predicted that Jesus would come, sacrifice Himself as an atonement for sin, and that He would return.  The New Testament book of Revelation reminds us (assures us) that He is indeed coming again.

In fact, Revelation 22 quotes Jesus saying (three times) “I am coming quickly.”

“And behold, I am coming quickly.  Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”  Revelation 22:7

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”  Revelation 22:12

“Yes, I am coming quickly.”  Revelation 22:20

How do we conduct our lives while we wait?  Verse 7 says we are to “heed the words of the prophecy of this book.”

In chapter 1, verse 3, John wrote, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.”

While we await His return we are to follow the guidelines of His instruction manual (the Holy Bible).  It is helpful to read the books of great theologians, commentaries, Bible notes etc., but the Bible is the Word of God (God speaking directly to us) and we should immerse ourselves daily in its content.

Every true believer should diligently study the Word of God and seek to apply it to his life.

Me Without My Horse