The Rosebud

 

 

 

 

 

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petal
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud...
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

-author unknown-

The Ninety and Nine

 

 

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the flock,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off in the cold and dark;
Away on the mountains wild and bare...

Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.


“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?“
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”


But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night which the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the bleak desert He heard its cry—
All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.


“Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?“
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.“
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?“
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!“
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!

Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane

The Lamb

THE STRAYING LAMB

The Shepherd loved His little lamb,

And gave it His tender care...

And followed it with His loving eyes

As it wandered here and there.

 

And as He sat by His grazing flock

 

Who so meekly His voice obeyed,

 

He pondered sadly His little lamb

 

As again and again it strayed.

 

The little lamb had a loving heart,

And adored His Shepherd, true,

But would turn aside and seek his own way

As lambs will so often do.

 

With His gentle voice the Shepherd called,

To His loved and straying lamb,

"Come back, little one, for you are not safe

Unless you are where I am."

 

But still the lamb would soon forget

And unthinkingly wander away,
 

And not really noticing what he did,

From the Shepherd's side would stray.

 

 

Until one day, the Shepherd kind

Took His rod in His gentle hand,

And what He then did seemed so cruel

That the lamb could not understand.

 

For with one sharp and well-aimed blow

Down the rod so swiftly came

That it broke the leg of the little lamb

And left it crippled,  and lame.

 

Then the little lamb, with a cry of pain,

Fell down upon his knees...

And looked up at his Shepherd, as though to say,

"Won't you explain this, please?"

 

Then he saw the love in the Shepherd's eyes

As the tears ran down His face,

As He tenderly set the broken bone,

And bound it back in its place.

 

Now he was utterly helpless,

He could not even stand!

He must trust himself completely

To his Shepherd's loving hand.

 

Then day by day, 'till the lamb was healed

From the flock he was kept apart...

And carried about in the Shepherd's arms,

And cradled near His heart.

 

And the Shepherd would whisper gentle words

Into his now listening ear...

 

Thus he heard sweet words of love

 

That the other sheep could not hear.

 

He felt the warmth of the Shepherd's arms

And the beat of His faithful heart...

Until it came a blessing to seem,

By his weakness to be set apart.

 

Every need of the little lamb

By his Shepherd so fully was met

That through his brokenness he learned

What he never again would forget.

 

 And as the broken bone was healed,

And once more became whole and strong...

Wherever the Shepherd's path would lead,

The lamb would follow along.

 

Thus at the Shepherd's side he walked

So closely, day by day,

For once a lamb has a broken leg

It will never again go astray.

 

For the cords of love had bound it so

In it’s hour of weakness and need...

That it had no desire to wander away,

When once again he was freed.

 

Could it be you are broken today,

And you cannot understand

The painful blow of the Shepherd's rod

Nor believe it came from His hand?

 

He only seeks, by this painful thing,

For a time to call you apart...

To cradle you close in His loving arms,

And draw you near to His heart.

 

So look up into your Shepherd's eyes,

And earnestly seek His face...

And prove in the hour of your weakness and need

The sufficiency of His grace.

 

 For as you are borne in His loving arms,

And carried there, day by day...

He will bind you so close with the cords of His love

That never again will you stray!

-author unknown-

Do The Next Thing

A poem quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

Do The Next Thing

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.

And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing."

Author Unknown 

The Wish

The Wish

We all have a Christmas wish

A place to dream or make a list

Of the things that we have waited for all year

But of all the dreams I've ever had

There's none I've wished for quite as bad

As the one I'll tell you now if you will hear

I wish I were the lamb

That night in Bethlehem

That gladly shared the stable and some hay

I wish I were the star that guided from afar

The wise men to the place where Jesus lay

But in a place my feet have never trod

Somewhere in the heart of God

That little babe that seemed without a care

Cared for me and I believe that I was there

If I could travel back in time

To any place I had in mind

I know I'd choose the time of Jesus birth

I'd like to be a witness of

When God the Son came down in love

And the angels sang out peace to men on earth.

I wish I were the lamb

That night in Bethlehem

That gladly shared the stable and some hay

I wish I were the star that guided from afar

The wise men to the place where Jesus lay

But in a place my feet have never trod

Somewhere in the heart of God

That little babe that seemed without a care

Cared for me and I believe that I was there

© Debbie Wicker

.

Only One Life

“Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

C.T Studd