If you possess kindness
Show it to another
If you have forgiveness
Give it to a brother

If you have a hand to lend
Give it to a stranger
If you have courage
Help one in fear through danger

If you have encouragement
Encourage the one defeated
If you can inspire
Inspire one who needs it

If you have a smile
Show it to your neighbor
If you have a willing hand
Help someone in their labor

If you have an adversary
Try to make of him a friend
If you know someone alone
Seek them to befriend

Show grace to all you meet
Treat every person right
Show to all the truest love
Show the love of Jesus Christ

RLB

As I look at the world around me
It's present and its past
I ask of you this question Lord
How much longer can we last

Unending pain and hurts
Multiple miseries and dispair
No matter what direction I look
And I see sickness everywhere

I watch and see mankind seeking
Shelter from the calamity
If just a temporary place to hide
From the worlds disparity

Some think they have found the answer
But in reality a peace that's only temporary
Turning from the only Son of God
Believing his help is not necessary

How many more tears must fall
How much more blood to be shed
Before we realize the truth
Of the words of the Christ who bled

How many more men must die
At the hands of mankinds wars
And how long will men still seek
The lies behind the devils doors

Our world is a darkened place
As the devil tempts and tricks
And he laughs when we are splintered
Like so many dried and broken sticks

You are our saviour Lord
In a world of darkness , a light
Our only way to safety
As we continue our earthly plight

We cry out to you Lord Jesus
Help us our burdens to carry
Please come quickly Lord
How much longer will you tarry?

A beautiful blanket of white
Covers the frozen earth
It is slowly disappearing
As spring is marching forth

From
Beneath
Winters
Numbing
Hold
Spring
Shall
Burst
Forth
Renewed
and
Bold

I've looked and sought through the days
But still I do not see
Any mother made from the mold
That shaped the mother God made for me

My mother so loving
My mother so kind
She knitted her family
With ties that bind

O mother I miss you
Your tender voice your joyous laugh
your gentle smile
I know I shall see you again
But I must remain for yet a little while

My mother she waits
On heavens sweet shore
To welcome us home
Forevermore.

RLB

Gazing out the window
On this beautiful winters morn
Under sky's of gray
Where the flakes of snow are born

It is a peaceful scene
Snow silently crashing to the ground
All that was so dark
Is covered in white all around

The branches of the trees
Glimmer with a diamond coating
As from above up higher
The white keeps downward floating

So peaceful, beautiful, serene
Is this morning to my sight
As I watch God slowly paint
The earth in purest white

RLB

Is it the "not knowing" that restrains us
Fear and what we precieve as failure or rejection
We know we should not harbor such goods
But still we carry the heavy cargo

We would like to push it all overboard
Watch fear sink till it fades from our sight
Knowing in our heart it is gone
Forever laid to death in the darkness of the deep

We tell ourselves
Trust and take that first step
We will never know what can be
Until we walk across the unseen bridge of faith

I know I carry this burden unnecesarily
In my heart is the knowledge I am held in Gods embrace
But fear causes my eyes to refuse to see
That great things wait at the other end of the bridge.

Talking
To
GOD
Intimately
And
Listening
For
His
Loving
Response

I've always been one to stand and wave goodbye
When a loved one leaves my home
Stand and wave and watch till they are out of sight
It's just something I've always done

Like when mom and dad came to visit
I think it was in the spring
When the temperature was starting to warm
And the birds were beginning to sing

We would gather around the supper table
I'd get my Moma to laughing at me
Then she'd look outside and say "It's getting dark"
Then tell dad it's time to leave

I'd walk them both out to their car
Moma always had a few last words to say
I'd hug and kiss her tender cheek
Then I'd stand and wave as they drove away

I'd stand there and wave goodbye
Till mom and dad were out of sight
I only wish I could remember though
The date that marked that night

Moma always waved right back
Till in the distance behind she could no longer see
I waved goodbye see you soon
And Moma waved the same to me

That day I never thought that never again
Would Moma visit my home on a spring time day
I never knew that would be the last time I waved
Goodbye as they drove away

Moma if you can hear look down from heaven
See me as I wave
It's not a wave goodbye but see you soon
For I to am on my way.

RLB

Recalling the last time my mother came to my house to visit.
Someday we will never again wave goodbye.
Love you Moma .

A cross alone would not bear
The weight of mankinds sorrows
The pain the grief the tears
That fill all men's tomorrows

It could not hold upon its limbs
Hate and lust and strife
Not bear one dark misery
That steals so much of life

The cross alone has no strength
To hold sins true weight
Under this crushing load
The cross was bound to break

Until God sent us his only son
His purpose to mend the broken beam
Nails driven through his hands and feet
He sealed the broken seam

The cross is now made whole
No more a broken limb
Because of the blood of Christ
The cross is made whole through him

RLB

The little thigs of life
Are to most of no great affair
Such as the warmth of the sunshines rays
Or the coolness of the evening air

The little things of life
Are so often unaccounted
But if we would stop and take notice
We would stand astounded

The little things of life
For such we have no time
The colorful leaves of fall
Or a ringing church bells chime

The little things of life
Come to us each passing hour
A thorny bush of roses
Or a welcomed springtime shower

The little things of life
Fill up life's empty spaces
Let's us know that God loves us
And reveal his many graces

The little things of life
Seem to be missed by our eyes
A trees limb bending in the wind
Or the beautiful azure sky

The little things of life
Quickly appear then they are gone
Such as a smile on a strangers face
Or a lonely sparrows song

The little things of life
Are given to us free
The sound of a gently flowing stream
Or the shade of an old oak tree

The little things of life
Like a word so kindly spoken
Can ease a wearied mind
Or help mend a heart that's broken

A thousand little things
Unnoticed by our eyes or ears
Is a thousand little blessings
Missed throughout our years.

RLB