The Church of God of Carmichael

Matthew 25:13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES

If I knew it would be the last time
that I’d see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say “I love you,”
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I’m sure you’ll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything right.

There will always be another day
to say our “I love you’s,”
And certainly there’s another chance
to say our “Anything I can do’s?”

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I’d like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget,

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll surely regret the day,

That you didn’t take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you’ll always hold them dear,

Take time to say “I’m sorry,” “please forgive me,”
“thank you” or “it’s okay”.
And if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll have no regrets about today.

~Author Unknown~

 Psalms 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 40:1  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

When we learn to wait for our Lord’s lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead—this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Waiting for His leading.   S. D. Gordon

Judges 8:4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

These men had just won a mighty victory, letting their lights shine and shouting the victory over the enemy, but the battle was not over; the enemy was still there. So they continued to press on, faint yet pursuing…..

2Corinthians 4:7-10  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

It doesn’t matter if we are faint, if we feel weak, if it looks hopeless, if the battle is long, if people don’t help us or understand. God says keep pursuing, don’t give up; continue to call on me; endure to the end; draw night to me; cast  your care on me; seek me early; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks

Isaiah 40:28-31  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Thank you, Lord, for propping me up on every leaning side.

Matthew 28:20   and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. --

This, too, will pass

 This, too, will pass. O heart, say it over and over,
Out of your deepest sorrow, out of your deepest grief,
No hurt can last forever - perhaps tomorrow will bring relief.

This, too, will pass. It will spend itself - its fury
Will die as the wind dies down with the setting sun
Assuaged and calm, you will rest again,
Forgetting a thing that is done.

Repeat it again and again, O heart for your comfort
This, too, will pass as surely as passed before
The old forgotten pain, and the other sorrows
That once you bore.

As certain as stars at night, or dawn after darkness
Inherent as the lift of the blowing grass
Whatever your despair or your frustration
This, too, will pass.  Grace Noll Crowell

Mathew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mark 13:31  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luke 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

How many times I prayed “Help me follow you, Lord.”

Last night at Bible Study Time, I was challenged to be more than a follower. I pictured a follower as one with the group but like a child easily distracted by the things around me.

Psalms 22:24  For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

 When you pray, therefore, do it with the awareness that He is the God who listens, and is delighted to do so. Your words matter; each one is carefully weighed by the Master of Words; each phrase is turned over and examined with artful care in His great heart. And He appreciates with Fatherly pride everything you think and say.   James Rlye

 Hebrews 4:15-16  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us 'walk in grace' together.
May we find 'joy in the journey and good times in the going."

1John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Love is life, and lovelessness is death. As the grace of God changes a man’s heart and cleanses and sanctifies him, this is the great evidence of the change,

Am I doing what I can in the simple things with my ‘ill matched threads’?

Did You?

The light from the sunset
Compels me, saying
Today is ending,
Did you spend it well?

Did you love with enough
Tenderness and passion, did you
Speak what people needed to
Hear from you?

Did your hand
Stroke the shoulders that needed
To be stroked? Did you write?

Did you laugh? Did you share a
Glance with the one who
Longs to speak but hasn’t
Yet found the words?

Did you allow the space for the
Words to be born?

--Julie Jordan Scott, © 2010

Psalms 5:3  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Take time. Give god time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive through the Spirit the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you. Take time to read His Word as in His presence; that from it you may know what He asks of you and what He promises you Let the Word create around you, create within you, a holy heavenly light in which your soul will b e refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life.     Andre Murray   (underline mine)