He makes the sun to rise and shine;
     His breath inspires the wind;
He fattens the fruit, ferments the wine;
     And makes the grape thin-skinned.

Because of Him, raindrops fall
     And early birds arise.
God makes the deaf to hear His call,
     And makes the foolish wise.

[based on a true story]

While searching through dumpsters to see what treasures I could find, I discovered in one a trapped raccoon that had no way out. He was there at the bottom with a couple bags of garbage, looking concerned. The walls were too high for him to climb, but his stomach was bigger than his foresight.  All he could see was food, and he jumped in from an overhanging tree branch. And now he was in a bind that he couldn't get out of.

Being, to him, the very image of God, I solved his problem by carefully laying diagonally inside the scavenger trap a long plank of wood (nearby trash) that extended out of it, into freedom. And even as I was arranging the wood, he was already on it and making his way up.

My Lord, Jesus Christ, thank you for saving the trapped raccoon that was me! and for extending to me the cross that I climbed to salvation!

I'm neither what nor who I'd choose to be
          If such were up to me:
               A most inferior
               Ex- and interior,
          By intelligent design,
                    Are mine,
Even as grace received makes me divine.   

Yet, what I am is not what I shall be
          When Him, the Lord, I see;
               For then the glorious,
               Righteous, victorious
          Person of Christ, my Lord,
                    The Word
Made flesh, will make us two of one accord.

The LORD will have us
As he wills:
He will chasten us
And chastise us,
And, by fire,
He will baptize us;
For the Lord, Christ Jesus,
Came not to please us,
But to save us.

Hotter than hell, the sun is burning
The firm, fixed earth that isn't turning,—
The fixed, flat earth that's very, very,
Verily, very stationary,—
Immovably firm on its foundation,
As God has made it, His creation.

I love You, LORD, with all my heart,
And all my soul, and all my mind,
And all my strength (my weakest part),—
With all myself in all combined.
Strengthen me, God; refine my core,
That I may love You all the more.

Jehovah be praised
Ever and always!
Sinless
Unrivaled
Strength,

Christ, Your begotten Son,
He is risen
Righteous on Your right hand
In highest Heaven,
Sitting on His
Throne.

Neither to gain a place in paradise,
Nor yet to win a pride vainglorious,
Should any true believer sacrifice
And follow Christ by taking up his cross.
Because the King of kings, and Lord of lords,
Gave up the ghost for others to atone,
Likewise deny yourself for no rewards,
But only thus, to serve the Lord alone.
Glorious God in highest Heaven works
His wonders here on Earth for sinful man,
For love of man, in whom vile evil lurks,
Beneath the firmament's star-vaulted span.
Praise to the faithful Lord! the Father, Son,
And Holy Ghost!  Thy will be ever done!

Lord Jesus Christ,
slain sacrificed
begotten Son
of Father God
(whose will be done
in heaven, in earth),

the day was good
when light and shade
divided made
day one, and He
our Father knew,
but I've had doubts,
but now I see.