MOONLIGHT RIDE

Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.

For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town.

She unpacked her things with such great ease.

As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze.

How wonderful it was to have her own room.

School would be starting, she'd have friends over soon.

There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy

It's just the way she wanted her life to be.

On the first day of school, everything went great.

She made new friends and even got a date!

She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be,

Because I just got a date with the star of the team!"

To be known in this school you had to have a clout,

And dating this guy would sure help her out.

There was only one problem stopping her fate.

Her parents had said she was too young to date.

"Well, I just won't tell them the entire truth.

They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?"

Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.

Her parents frowned but said, "All right."

Excited, she got ready for the big event

But as she rushed around like she had no sense,

She began to feel guilty about all the lies,

But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?

Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,

But the moonlight ride would have to wait.

For Jeff was half drunk by this time.

But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.

Then the room filled with smoke and Jeff took a puff.

Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff.

Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point

But only after he'd smoked another joint.

They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,

Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.

They finally made it to the point at last,

And Jeff started trying to make a pass.

A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all

(and by a pass, I don't mean playing football).

"Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young.

Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb."

With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away:

"Please take me home, I don't want to stay."

Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.

In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.

As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,

Jenny knew that her life was in danger.

She begged and pleaded for him to slow down,

But he just got faster as they neared the town.

"Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied.

I really went out for a moonlight ride."

Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash.

"Oh God, Please help us! We're going to crash!"

She doesn't remember the force of impact.

Just that everything all of a sudden went black.

She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble,

And heard, "Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!"

Voices she heard...a few words at best.

But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.

Then wondered to herself if Jeff was all right,

And if the people in the other car were alive.

She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad.

"You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad."

These voices echoed inside her head,

As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.

They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do.

But it looks as if we'll lose you too."

"But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried.

"We're sorry, Jenny, they also died."

Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done

I only wanted to have just one night of fun."

"Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim,

And wish I could return their families to them."

"Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied,

And that it's my fault so many have died.

Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?"

The nurse just stood there ~ she never agreed.

But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes

And a few moments later Jenny died.

A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best

To bid that girl her one last request?"

She looked at the man with eyes oh so sad.

"Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad."

This story is sad and unpleasant but true,

So young people take heed, it could have been you.

|| Unknown

I AM A SOLDIER

I am a soldier in the Army of my God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commander-in-Chief.

My church leaders are my superior officers.

The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,

Trained by experience,

Tried by adversity

And tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army,

And I am enlisted for Eternity.

I will either retire in this Army at the Rapture

Or die doing my duty to this Army;

But I will not get out,

Sell out,

Be talked out,

Or pushed out.

By the grace of God,

I am faithful,

Reliable,

Capable

And dependable.

If my God commands me,

I am there.

If He needs me in the Sunday School,

To teach the children,

Work with the youth,

Help adults

Or just sit and learn,

He can use me

Because I am there!

I am a soldier.

I am not a baby.

I do not need to be pampered,

Petted,

Primed up,

Pumped up,

Picked up

Or pepped up.

I am a soldier.

No one has to phone me,

Remind me,

Write me,

Visit me,

Entice me,

Or lure me.

I am a soldier.

I am not a wimp.

I am in place,

Saluting my King,

Obeying my orders,

Praising His name,

And doing battle for His kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers,

Gifts, food,

Cards, candy

Or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled,

Cradled,

Or catered to.

I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt

Bad enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough

To turn me aside.

I cannot lose enough

To cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His Army,

I had nothing spiritually.

If I end up with nothing physically,

I will still come out ahead.

I will win.

My God has and will continue

To supply all of my needs.

I am more than a conqueror.

I will triumph ultimately.

I can do all things through Christ.

The devil cannot defeat me.

People cannot disillusion me.

Weather cannot weary me.

Sickness cannot discourage me.

Money cannot buy me.

Governments cannot silence me

And Hell cannot handle me.

I am a soldier.

Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander

Calls me from this battlefield,

He will promote me to Captain

And then allow me to rule with Him.

I am a soldier in the Army,

And I'm marching, claiming victory.

I will not give up.

I will not look back.

I am a soldier,

Marching Heaven bound.

Here I stand!

Will you stand with me?

Will you enlist by trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If you already have, be sure you are reporting to your Commander with a:

"Here am I, send me, Sir!"

NO TIME TO PRAY

I knelt to pray but not for long,

I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done

My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time

To spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,

I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God held a book;

It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said

"Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down...

But never found the time"

24 THINGS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER AND ONE THING TO NEVER FORGET

Your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.


Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.


Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.


Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.


Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot...goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people...together.


Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.


And don't ever forget...
For even a day...
How very special you are!

A PLACE FOR ME

There is a special place in life,
That needs my humble skill,
A certain Job I'm meant to do,
Which no one else can fulfill.

The time will be demanding,
And the pay is not too good
And yet I wouldn't change it
for a moment - even if I could.

There is a special place in life,
A Goal I must attain,
A dream that I must follow,
Because I won't be back again.
There is a mark that I must leave,
However small it seems to be,
A legacy of love for those
Who follow after me.

There is a special place in life,
That only I may share,
A little path that bears my name,
Awaiting me somewhere.
There is a hand that I must hold,
A word that I must say,
A smile that I must give,
For there are tears to blow away.

There is a special place in life
That I was meant to fill,
A sunny spot where flowers grow,
Upon a windy hill.
There's always a tomorrow and the best is yet to be,
And somewhere in this world,
I know there is a place for me!

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER AGAIN

If I had to live my life over again
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love yous"... more "I'm sorrys"...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back.

A STATE OF MIND

If you think you are beaten, you are:
If you think you dare not, you won't
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost;
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in a state of mind.

For many a game is lost,
Ere even a play is run,
And many a coward fails
Ere even his work begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow,
Think small and you'll fall behind;
Think that you CAN and you WILL;
It's all in a state of mind.

If you think you are out-classed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise;
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the fellow who thinks he can.

YOU STILL HAVE HOPE

If you can look at the sunset and smile,

then you still have hope.

If you can find beauty in the colors of

a small flower, then you still have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement

of a butterfly, then you still have hope.

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,

then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people,

then you still have hope.

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still

lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you

stop and stare in wonder, then you still have hope.

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant

under your fingertips, then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement

and optimism, then you still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt,

then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to

others that have touched your life,

then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter

still brings a pleasant surprise,

then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills your with

pain and frustration, then you still have hope.

If you refuse to let a friendship die,

or accept that it must end,

then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of

quiet and reflection, then you still have hope.

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the

Christmas tree or cook the turkey,

then you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile,

then you still have hope.

If, when faced with the bad, when told

everything is futile, you can still look up and

end the conversation with the phrase...

"yeah...BUT.," then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvelous thing.

It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides,

but rarely does it break.

It sustains us when nothing else can.

It gives us reason to continue and courage

to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and

something that will refresh us in return.

And it can be found in each of us,

and it can bring light into the darkest of places.

NEVER LOSE HOPE!

THE PREACHER'S WIFE

You may talk of the work of the greatest of man,
You may rave about statesmen and teachers;
You may tell all about their achievements, and then,
Let me tell you of the wives of the preachers.

No Martyr was ever more steadfast and true
No soldier was ever more brave;
She's a genius at home, she's a diplomat, too;
And the Best Mother God ever gave.

She has met disappointments with courage so high;
She has battled grim poverty, too.
With a smile on her face and a light in her eye,
And a hope each morning that's new.

She is often alone, but she'll never complain;
And she cheerfully stays by the stuff;
Knowing well that her loss is her dear Master's gain,
And His smile of approval's enough.

She never gets all the credit that's due,
For most of it goes to the preacher;
Few know of the faith and courage so true,
Of this gentle and wonderful creature.

There is coming a day when the whole world shall hear
From the lips of the Crucified One,
Her story in full, told in words sweet and clear,
Hear Him say to her softly, "well done."

And I think that when all of their labors are o'er,
And we know all their unselfish lives,
We'll honor more highly than ever before
The preachers' most wonderful wives.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall

HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE

As I was walking down life's highway many years ago,
I came upon a sign that read Heaven's Grocery Store.

When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide,
And when I came to myself I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said, "My child shop with care."

Everything a human needed was in that grocery store.
And what you could not carry you could come back for more.

First, I got some Patience. Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom, and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity, of course, I would need some of that too.

I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost. It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race.

My basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed Grace.
And then I chose Salvation, for Salvation was for free,
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter, to pay my grocery bill.
For I thought I had everything to do the Master's will.

As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer and put that in.
For I knew when I stepped outside I would run right into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?"
He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."

Again, I asked, "Really now, how much do I owe?"
"My child," he said, "God paid your bill a long, long time ago."

COMFORT ZONE

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busy work were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you're in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

HARSH WORDS

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way saying good-bye.
But at home a difference is told,
how we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
As I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the children you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
and you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
" Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

THE GOOD YOU FIND IN OTHERS

The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others are your faults as well.

After all, to recognize something you must know it.

The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you is your beauty.

The world around you is a reflection,

A mirror showing you the person you are.
To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.

Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What you see in others shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.

Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.

Show your best face to the mirror,
And you'll be happy with the face looking back at you.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully use you, and persecute you || Matthew 5:44