FOODFORTHOUGHT

GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR

One thing can always cheer me

When I'm feeling sad and low

When I tired of daily trials

That I have to undergo,

When those who should

Seem closest, seem like

People I don't know,

One thing can always cheer me

I know that God is near me.

One thing can always cheer me

When I do not understand

How pain and sadness

In our lives

Can get so out of hand,

When the best of human efforts

Doesn't meet the days demands,

One thing can always cheer me

I know that God is always near me.

One thing can always cheer me

More than anything I've known

And show me I will never

Have to struggle on my own

For no matter what might happen

I will never be alone

The thing that will always cheer me

Is just knowing God is near me.

Our lives are in God's loving

Hands, in everything we do

He is with us constantly,

He always sees us through.

And if our faith is strong enough

We'll never walk alone,

For with His great and perfect love

He takes care of His own.

-- Author Unknown

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FLAME OF LOVE

"I can master it," said the Ax. His blows fell heavy on the hard, strong steel. But each blow only made his edge more blunt until he ceased to strike.

"Leave it to me," said the Saw. With his relentless teeth, he worked back and forth. But to his dismay, all of his teeth were worn out or broken off.

"Ha!" said the Hammer. "I knew you could not do this. Let me show you how." But with the very first blow, his head flew off, and the steel was unchanged.

"Shall I try?" asked the Flame. And it curled itself gently around the strong, hard steel, embraced it, and would not let it go. And the tough steel melted.

There are hearts that are hard enough to resist the forces of wrath and the fury of pride. But hard is the heart that can resist the warm flame of Love.

"'For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.'" Matthew 13:15-17 (NIV)

-- Author Unknown

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