For Such a Time as This by Donna (Ensign) Woods

I was created...for such a time as this.

A God-given moment...I shall not miss...

So many times God said "NO"

When a different direction, I was to go.

Rocks that made me stumble and fall

Because...flat on my face...I could hear Him call !

...Preparing me, so I wouldn't miss

Such a time as this.

He often allowed my broken heart.

To give me strength for a brand new start.

No such thing as "coincidence" or "luck"

...As I wade through life's mire and muck

...Equipping me...so I will not miss

Such a time as this.

Injury, Illness and Disease...

To toughen callouses on my knees

All part of God's wondrous plan

...A stairway to Heaven for mortal man.

For such a time as this

I do not want to miss.

Those fiery trials I must endure

Result in blessings...I can be sure.

...A beggar on the street...

Pricks my heart and moves my feet.

The cries of a friend in need

Provides the soil to plant a seed.

God prepares me...so I will not miss

Such a time as this.

All things work together for good

...In God's time...just as they should.

Creating a detailed history

For a perfectly planned destiny.

For such a time as this

I do not want to miss.

Though Satan labors to destroy

...He can never touch my eternal joy !!

He can never stand between God and me

...Or remove the blood that set me free...

My Savior's feet, I kneel and kiss

...For such a time as this !!

A Time by Donna (Ensign) Woods

TIME.......Too much of it, we become bored and restless

Not enough....We panic and stress.

There is a TIME to be born...a TIME to die

As we live and laugh and cry.

A TIME to plant and to pull up

As God refills our empty cup.

A TIME to kill and to heal

In the arms of God we know and feel.

A TIME to tear down and to re-build

...Trusting what God had willed.

A TIME for weeping and for laughter

Knowing what we are searching after.

A TIME to mourn and A TIME for dancing

Creating memories and romancing.

A TIME to scatter

And then to gather.

A TIME to embrace and refrain

Finding joy amidst the pain.

A TIME to search....and never give up

To move forward...or to back up

A TIME to keep pieces of the past

...Or trade them in for something to last.

A TIME to tear or to mend

There is no TIME to pretend

A TIME to be silent and still

As God teaches us to climb each hill.

A TIME to speak

...And encourage the weak.

A TIME to love.....

Being blessed from above.

A TIME to hate....

Making crooked way straight.

A TIME for peace...and for war,

As we journey through each new door.

Trusting God, each moment of our day

....Guiding our hearts along the way.

Friendship by Rachel Pitcher

A friend of mine and I have often discussed that we wished we could just have microchips inserted in our brains. This would enable us to talk to one another whenever we wanted before we forget what it is we had to say and so that it wouldn't be interrupted by children or daily duties. We live 45 minutes apart and with small children don't get much time together. Often when we are together we say, "Go ahead with your story but remind me to tell you about _______ (fill in the blank)." We have so much to say to one another and so little time to say it in. If we are together, the kids are there too and it's hard to keep our train of thought going. Without exception, we can never get enough and the time simply flies! Our husband's marvel at how much we can talk about and for how long.
For us, it's like being at a buffet and having all this good food staring at us but only a dessert size plate to put it on. So we fill up once and when we come back it's all gone; time's up—kitchen's closed. We have so much we want to share and say and we just can't fit it all in!
Sadly, that isn't really at all how my conversations with God are. Judging from human measures it might even appear that we are only acquaintances. Maybe we seem like we used to be friends but haven't really seen one another in awhile. Maybe we don't seem to have anything in common at all anymore. Maybe, we've just lost touch. Correction: Maybe I've lost touch. Ever felt like that?
I always tell our children that "to have a friend, you have to be a friend." We make and keep friends by spending time with them. The way we get to know God is to spend time with Him, because we want to, not because we have to. Praying, worshipping, reading the bible, coming to church, attending bible studies or reading Christian books, these are all ways that we can get that microchip installed with God on the other end.
The bible says we should "hunger and thirst for righteousness" ( Matthew 5:6 ) and I know God wants me to hunger for conversation with him like I do with my good friend. Other friends of mine whom I don't get a lot of time with may think I don't make the time. I'm sure that's how God would see it if he were human. Thankfully, he's not and he knows me better than I know myself. So, even if it's been awhile, my "old friend" - my Redeemer, Savior, Friend - is always ready and waiting for me to slow down, quiet down and have some good quality time with Him. What a friend I have in Jesus. If you haven't met Him, I'd love to introduce you two sometime!

Friends by Tana LeMay

We meet many friends throughout our life time. Some are with us for many years, while others come and go. Some will always live in our memories. Others may be so fleeting, the memories hazy, we may not even recall their name. But each leave an impact, teaching us things about ourselves and the world around us.
I met my first friend in kindergarten. Her name was Katie. We were inseparable for the next three years. Katie had a vivid imagination. She taught me to dream, to find the magic in stories and songs. We "filmed" many movies in her backyard. Most involving a damsel in distress, rescued by her knight in shining armor. Yes, we loved those kind of fairy tales, with happy endings.
My friend Diana taught me that pain is a part of loving others. Her family moved to Newton when I was in second or third grade. Diana was a take charge person. Sometimes, a little bossy. She loved to play games; board games, outdoor games, anything with a little challenge. She only lived in Newton for a couple of years. I was heartbroken when she moved away, sure I would never have a friend like her again.
Diana's moving was an opportunity, though. A chance to widen my horizon. I was fortunate to be in a class of kids that got along well with each other. I attended many slumber parties with 10 to 20 giggling, loud, shrill girls. (Those parents were saints, or maybe just plain crazy.)
The first of my lifelong friends came into my life during junior high and high school. The four of us did everything together. You knew where one of us was, the other three would soon follow. We all live in separate communities now, but the strong ties of friendship remain. Time has not dissolved that link. We shared each other's joy of first love, college graduation, marriage, children, and our children's graduations. We've also shared each other's pain - news of debilitating illness, loss of loved ones, employment woes, etc. Miles may separate us, the busyness of life may keep us from speaking for a few weeks/months, but we each know we're only a phone call away.
All relationships require a gift of sacrifice, a willingness to take time to enjoy their lives. I've learned to cherish my friends, to be thankful for their presence, to appreciate whatever time we have together.

Proverbs 17:17 -
A friend loves at all times.

Give and Receive by Julie Short

Give
An ear,
A hand,
Honesty,
Your time,
Unconditional love,
Expecting
Nothing
In return.
Be
Understanding
Forgiving
Available.
Be
A
Friend
And
You
Will be
Blessed.