WAYS  OF  LOVE

Written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

 

1 John 3:18

“Dear children let us not love with words or tongue

But with actions and truth.”

 

A multitude of ways to show love

As endless as stars above.

A simple hug, with no word said,

When a friend is filled with dread.

Occasional meal, for someone alone,

An act of love is shown.

A note or simple card…

Showing love is not that hard.

Smiling face for those you meet

Connect with hearts on the street.

Encourage without a  word

Love’s voice is felt…not heard.

Just a moment of your time

Adds the music to life’s rhyme.

A sunshine basket…..a little gift

And hurting hearts will shift.

Prayers lifted up for you or me

….So God’s love we can see.

Showing interest in another’s day

Seeds of love sown along the way

If you’re first…..choose to be last

Love doesn’t hurry past.

Reach out…open a door

Remember what your hands are for.

Take time to do the unexpected

…..And love is shown and perfected.

Share the words that Jesus said

LIVE the LOVE written in red !!

Ways to show God’s love

As endless as stars above.

In His Hands, I Am Enough

                                                             by Tina Schafer

                            

I often feel that I am not enough- not doing enough, not good enough, not pleasing enough.  The list goes on.  I often doubt that I have what it takes, and left to myself, this is true.  God has given me special gifts, talents, strengths, and even weaknesses.  This should be more than enough. 

In all four Gospels we read the account of Jesus feeding the multitude with only five loaves and two fish.  Where did it come from?  Only in John's account do we see that a young boy brought the loaves and the fish to Jesus.  This boy put what little he had in the hands of the supplier and the multiplier.  In the hands of Jesus, the not enough became more than enough!  Everyone ate until they were full with leftovers to spare.  Only the faith of a child by the power of God could accomplish such a miracle.  In the hands of Jesus even a little is a lot, and often more than is needed. 

So it isn't about what I have to offer, but whose hands I place it in.  In His hands, He will use my gifts and talents to accomplish His purposes.  In His hands, He will show His power through my weakness.  In His hands, He will take what I offer and make it something more.  But only when I let go and place it in His hands.

 

John 6:8-9 "Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 

CRUCIFIXION  DAY

Written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

 

I lived a very long time ago…

But my story….I want you to know.

I was once a very evil man

A murderous thief with self-laid plan

My heart imprisoned in man-made hell

Please listen to the story I tell.

The reports of Jesus, I had heard

But I scoffed at every word.

My soul festered with disbelief.

For my torment, I found no relief.

I knew of His healing powers

And words of His teaching hours.

I heard He even raised the dead

…..That’s what His followers said.

By a brief encounter with God’s Son

When His earthly life was nearly done.

My own heart was softened and changed

My entire life re-arranged.

We made eye contact that day

For only a moment before I ran away.

As I ran---the crowd seemed to part

To avoid the evil in my heart.

When I was a safe distance away

…..Something made me stop and stay.

What was that look on His face ???

I’ve never seen that---any place !!

Was it a depth of love I’d never known ???

Or a mercy I’d never been shown ???

I was captivated by Jesus. God-Man.

As I followed the crucifixion caravan.

From a distance, I saw the mistreating

His flesh ripped and torn at the beating,

The glisten of soldier’s spit

As they encircled Him, mocked and hit.

I saw the blood run down His face,

As the crown of thorns was put in place.

Once again, His eyes found mine

And moments were frozen in time…..

I thought I might get sick

As the lump in my throat grew thick.

But I followed as they led Him away

On that Crucifixion Day.

How could they crucify Him ??

This man that had no sin.

Jesus had committed no crime !

The sentence of death should have been mine !

I watched Him stagger, Bloody and pale.

I heard the women mourn and wail.

The sound of hammer and spike

…..I couldn’t bear the sight !!

I watched the painful breaths He’d take.

I heard the moans He’d make.

As He hung upon death’s tree

….. He scanned the crowd…and looked at me…..

Once again we were eye to eye

As darkness filled the sky

I stood in darkness from 6 until 9

And I saw Him breathe for the very last time.

I saw His body, after He died

…..As His Mother held Him …. And cried.

I watched His body wrapped in white.

I’ll never forget that sight !

I knelt at His empty cross that day

In a pool of His blood, I fell to pray.

Jesus died for my sin and shame…..

…..Barabbas is my name.

Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify Him!” they shouted “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and had Him handed over to be crucified.

Mark 15:6-15

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DESIRES OF MY HEART

written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

 

Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the Lord

and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

 

What are the desires of my heart ?

Where, Oh where do I start??

Blessings and joy and wealth,

Long life and good health......

But, as I peel off the Earthly layers,

What is at the heart of my prayers?

Ask and I shall receive....

With all faith to believe.

In my Lord, I delight.

But what desires are in my sight??

I desire faith for each step

That leads me to where joy is kept.

I hunger for wisdom, so I will know

What direction I am to go.

If I seek His perfect will....

My cup, He will overfill.....

I desire a song to sing

A joyful noise for my King.

I want to make a difference some how....

For eternity, not just here and now

I desire Heavenly mansions for those I love.

Eternal dwelling places above.

I want to leave a powerful legacy

So others will know and see....

And I desire to hear God say....

"Well done" on judgement day.

February-The Month of Love or Is It? by Dave Blecha

What is Love?

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection!  (New Oxford American Dictionary)

As winter is upon us and the days of February have started to pass, many of us will think

of Valentine’s Day, and I can only imagine the kind of emotions and memories that will get

stirred up in your hearts and minds.  A special poetic card that you received, or maybe there

was a box of chocolates, or maybe flowers, a dozen roses by chance?  How all those things

were nice in the moment, but, is that really love?

The Love I have in my heart, and am speaking of, is the kind of Love GREATER than

any box of chocolates or poetic card or even a dozen roses in all their beauty.  I am speaking

of God’s Love! The kind of Love that is shared with us each and every day, not just

some singular day on the calendar.

What makes God’s love so amazing?  Simple, God’s Love for us was the motivation to send

his one and only Son to die for our sins.  This Love is described in 1 John 4:7-12.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has

been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because

God is love.  This is how God showed love among us: he sent his one and only Son into

the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that

 he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God

so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

As I think about this love: I have the thought, can we truly see God?  This is where I challenge

 you to think about whether or not we can.  

I would like to first include some scripture to start your thought process from 1 John 4:12.

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

After thinking about this scripture, I have to ask the following questions:

1.       Can people see you?

2.       Can people see the love that we show towards others?

Now if you think about your answers to these questions, and consider the words in 1 John 4:12

 “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us”,

do you think that we can see God when we see people showing love towards others? IF God

abides in us, he dwells in us – so?

I will let you think about that last question, I definitely have my answer, and I have faith that

you will have a definite answer too.

I leave you with a final piece of scripture that I hope you find encouraging and full of

God’s Love; I quote from Proverbs 3:4-5:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Closing Prayer:  Loving and Gracious Father, we come to you today as vital part of your

body to thank you for the infinite love you give to us!  We ask that you continue to let us

be witness of your love so that others may see you.  We thank you for your loving guidance

 through the Holy Spirit, and for your Son Jesus, and in his name we pray.  Amen.

WHAT DO I LEAVE

written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

"This is what the Lord God says:

Give careful thought to your ways."

Haggai 1:7

 

As I turn back the pages of my mind

What in the past do I find ?

Did I leave behind a trail of gladness?

....Or was it paved with sadness?

Was conflict laced with forgiveness ?

....Or was it thorn laden with bitterness ?

Of the Legacy I leave behind

What treasures can I find ?

Was there disappointment or joy

For each precious girl and boy ?

Did I leave behind tears or smiles

For all those faded miles ?

Did I plant the seeds of faith ?

...Even when shadows crossed my face....

Does my family know I love them much ?

Are they warmed by memory's touch ?

What witness do I live

What Legacy do I give ??

Do I leave behind treasures

That bless a heart with joyful pleasures

Or has trash littered my life's trail

Did I succeed ? Or did I fail ?

As I travel and journey on

All the yesterdays are gone....

But the Legacy I left continues to live.

Today......What memories shall I create for tomorrow's past to give ??????

CRASHING WAVES

written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

James 1: 6

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,

because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,

blown and tossed by the wind."

Tossed about on a deadly sea.

Waves threaten to devour me.

Luring, pull of the powerful deep

My soul it longs to steal and keep.

Waves crashing with deadly force

Confused and frightened----I'm off course.

The ocean's deafening pulse beats

As it lurches, grabs and retreats

Grabbing, pulling, consuming me

With no desire to set me free.

Waves scream in devilish delight

As it swells and crashes, it blocks my sight.

Salt sprays hiss and sting

....As demons of the deep squeal and sing.

Covered with this world's mossy slime

I stand accused of sinful crime.

On slippery rocks, I cannot stand

I cry out for the Father's hand

As I'm being grabbed and swept away

With faith-filled hope....I pray.

"PEACE, BE STILL"...I hear Him call

As demonic waves retreat and fall.

He's saved me, once again

From the crashing waves of sin.

He scoops me up in loving arm

Rescues from waves of harm.

He places me on peaceful sand

Holding me...so I can stand.

Reminding me of my place.....

He whispers,"CONTINUALLY SEEK MY FACE."

"NEVER RUN AHEAD OF ME...

OR BE LURED BY THE CRASHING WAVES OF THE SEA."

TREASURE

written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

(Matthew 6:21)

("For where your treasure is

there your heart will be also.")

 

Where is my heart's treasure ?

What truly gives me joyous pleasure ?

I have 5 children, I treasure and love

and 8 grandchildren, blessed from above.

I treasure beautiful places

And the love found on precious faces.

Blessings I ponder when I sit alone

In the peaceful silence of my home.

A scrapbook of memories I treasure

Of people, places and things of pleasure.

I greatly value being mother and wife

....But true lasting treasure is not of this life

The greatest treasure I've known....

The love and sacrifice Christ has shown.

I treasure God's mercy and grace

And the love as I seek His face.

I treasure the blood He freely gave

Just so my soul...He could save

I treasure His words written in red

And every truth and promise He said.

I treasure His wisdom, strength and hope

As He gives me courage to live and cope.

Humbly I fall at the foot of the cross

I treasure being found.....and no longer lost.

TREASURE 

written by Jerry Woods

Matthew 6:21

 

What be a treasure ??

Pirates plundered for it

Kings demanded it

Peasants dreamed of it

Criminals stole for it

Men all seek it.....

Be it wealth or fame.

Your heart will always be true to the

greatest we have to gain

An eternal life for all to attain

So as you dream and search

listen to the heart which will always proclaim

O dear soul, why experience pain

when treasure of earthly gain

holds not an ounce of weight in Heaven's

measure of life's wealth or fame.

Put your heart in control

and your mind at rest

for all who know Jesus can attest...

I have the treasure of life.....in a soul at rest.

ALL THINGS

written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

("And we know that all things work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.")

Romans 8:28

All things work together for good.

Don't let the trials of life be misunderstood.

A baby dies while still in the womb

Or a young child dies much too soon.

Empty arms and a Mama cries

As hope for tomorrow dies.

.....but, that child is nestled in angel wings

Cradled and rocked as Heaven sings.....

If they had lived and walked and breathed

In God they may have never believed....

Choices may have led them away

To eternal Hell on judgment day

.....Perhaps God saved them....by taking them away

So forever with Him, they would stay.

Cancer attacks young and old, rich and poor.

It randomly enters many a door.

In fear and disbelief, we tremble and cry

We cling to God....and ask, "Why?"

....."We cling to God"....that's the key

Using even cancer to bless you and me.

When suffering is ushered in....

So too is joy from Him.

A child lays in a hospital bed

And a father falls to his knees...and bows his head.

In desperation, a Daddy will go

To a God he's never taken time to know.

His very first trip to the cross

And he is lead and not lost.

A child's illness has blessed and saved him

.....Now all in Christ will win.

A flat tire on the interstate

Nerves on edge because you're running late.

....But perhaps...God is using this delay

To keep you out of harm's way.

Tho many trials we don't understand

God is orchestrating and perfectly planned.

There's a "Heavenly reason", we can be assured

For every delay, hardship or illness endured.

Doors close on hopes and dreams

......Not always the tragedy it seems

God has a greater joy in store

If you'll just walk throguh a new door.

....For which He has given you the key

You'll be blessed....It's His guarantee.

Feel His nudge and move along

To write new chapters and sing His song.

We are often used by the Potter's hand

For His purpose....glorious and grand.

Life is not always fair

But Christ promised, our burdens to bear

....So "All things work together for good"

According to God's plan, just as they should.