A Holy Blog by Valerie Booker Thurman

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN                                                                                                                   STOP!                                                                                                                                                               Take time out to rest for an hour                                                                                                LOOK!                                                                                                                               Open your eyes to the beauty of the flowers                                                           LISTEN!                                                                                                                                         To the music of the rain in a summer shower

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN                                                                                                                     STOP!                                                                                                                                              Whatever you are doing and take time out                                                                              LOOK!                                                                                                                               Can you see what life is all about                                                                               LISTEN!                                                                                                                                            With your heart, there’s no need to shout

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN                                                                                                                           STOP!                                                                                                                                                    Blaming others for your circumstance                                                                     LOOK!                                                                                                                               To God’s mercy and give it more than a glance                                                       LISTEN!                                                                                                                                                  To the word of God and give Him a chance

STOP. LOOK. LISTEN.

The Lord has put the choices in our hands

And what we choose we need to understand

That we have full control our own lives

And how we live determines how we die

(chorus) Now’s the time to make your choice

                 Lift up your hands and raise your voice

                 Ask Jesus to come in your life

                 Wash sins away, remove all strife

                 He is the way, He’s heaven’s door

                 Call out His name, what are you waiting for ?

                  What are you waiting for, He’s heaven’s door.

A life of sin will lead you to your death

Where will you go when you breathe your last breath

Do not be fooled by what you see and hear

For Hell is real, a place you need to fear

                    (chorus)

The choice we make, it must come from the heart

The end result depends on where we start

If we turn from the errors of our ways

God’s mercy will be added to our days

                    (chorus)

So take the time to think about your life

Is the choice you’ve made a step towards life with Christ

For in the end it’s you who’ll pay the price

Is your choice the one that gives abundant life

                  (chorus)

I am packed and ready for my life’s journey. The trip, I hope, will be a long one and I am well prepared.

I have a bag full of mountain climbing equipment – ropes, pick axes, hooks, and stuff. I even have boots with suction cups on the bottom. I’m ready to climb the rough side of any mountain and on all of this equipment, I am counting.

I have a bag full of swim gear- swim suits, caps, ear plugs, nose guards, goggles, a raft, and several life preservers. I know that with all this stuff, I’m ready to cross any waters.

I have another bag filled with clothes for all types of weather – coats, boots, hats, sweaters. I have light clothes, heavy clothes, clothes for the rain, and clothes for the snow. I have a bag full of clothes for every season, outfits that can be used for any reason. I am truly prepared.

I have bag, a cooler really, to keep my food and drinks. I know I won’t go hungry, because I have enough food and staples to get me through the whole trip. I even packed some extra food and drinks in case there are delays, and I won’t have to ration it out. I have no doubt I am fully prepared.

Look! there’s someone headed down life’s highway just like me, but he doesn’t have any baggage with him. He must not be planning to go very far in life. I stopped and asked him where was his supplies for the trip and he showed me a book. The book looked really old and ragged. He said it was God’s word – the Bible. (??????)

He looked at all my mountain climbing equipment and said he didn’t need any of that stuff, because God’s word says to speak to the mountain and it will move out of your way

He looked at all my swim gear and said he couldn’t swim, but he had faith to walk on water, because God’s word says that the Greater One is in us, and the works that He did we can do and even greater works than these will we do.

Then he saw all the clothes I had brought with me and said that just as the Father clothed the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, He would clothe him. (Hmmmmm……mmmmmmmmm)

And then he saw all the food and drinks I had with me. He said that God’s word says that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

I stopped and took a long hard look at the situation. I saw myself loaded down with all the baggage that I thought I would need to get through life. All that baggage was a heavy burden to have to carry all by myself. I would be exhausted and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the trip…….this man was traveling with less baggage, free of burdens and worries and enjoying the trip…..hmmmmm..well, well, well.

I decided right then and there to travel with less baggage, and as this man, I too started to enjoy my journey down the road of life.

THANK YOU LORD JESUS.

Lord you are…

               the arms around my shoulders

               the kiss upon my cheek

               the pat upon my head

               the pillow for my bed

               the encouraging voice I hear

               the one true choice so clear

                                                  Lord you are…

Lord you are…

               the medicine for my pain

               the water for my thirst

               the cloth that dries my tears

               the music to my ears

               the touch that awakens my soul

               the blanket when it’s cold

                                                  Lord you are…

Lord you are…

               the peace in times of trouble

               the rainbow after the storm

               the sun shining through the gray

               the path that leads the way

               the umbrella in the midst of a shower

               the beauty in a field of flowers

                                                  Lord you are…

Lord you are…

               the blood of the covenant

               the price that was paid

               the forgiveness of sins

               the victories we win

               the womb of our rebirth

               the righteousness on earth

                                                  Lord you are…

Lord you are…

               the wind in my sails

               the ointment for my ails

               the breath of life in my lungs

               the melodies in the songs I’ve sung

               the hope in all my dreams

               the bridge to cross any stream

                                                  Lord you are…

Lord you are…

Lord you are…

Lord you are…

                                       LORD.

Husband

Wife

ONE

God

Jesus

Holy Spirit

ONE

Jesus

Church

ONE

Red

Yellow

Black

White

ONE

Gentiles

Jews

ONE

We are all one under the SON

A mother’s love, it has no end

It will not break, it will not bend

There are loves that come and go

But a mother’s love will grow and grow

Her love it starts before your birth

Agape love, here on earth

It’s unconditional and knows no bounds

More than enough to go around

She loves each child one by one

Then all together when the day is done

She sees in them what others miss

She prays for them, sealed with a kiss

Her dreams for them may go astray

Her hopes for them will never sway

She knows God put them in her care

And it’s God’s love she wants to share

The closest thing to our God’s love

Is the love of a mother designed from above

She doesn’t spare the rod and spoil the child

Because her love is strong, not meek, not mild

If you have known a mother’s love

Give thanks and praise to God above

For you have been blessed beyond all measure

A mother’s love is a wonderful treasure

Be still and listen, to the voice within your soul

Be still and listen, as His wisdom it unfolds

Be still and listen, take heed to what you here

Be still and listen, It’s the Father and He cares

Be still and listen, He knows what’s best for you

Be still and listen, everything He says is true

Be still and listen, with your heart so open wide

Be still and listen, He is standing by your side

Be still and listen, it’s a whisper but it’s clear

Be still and listen, there is nothing you should fear

Be still and listen, with patience calmly wait

Be still and listen, His answer won’t be late

Be still and listen, for the Lord will answer prayer

Be still and listen, don’t seek answers from elsewhere

Be still and listen, have no doubt within your heart

Be still and listen, His love will He impart

Be still and listen, be still and listen

Be still…………be still

Listen…….listen…….LISTEN

Oh to have a thousand tongues

That I might praise the Lord

Oh to have a thousand tongues

That I might praise Him more

Oh to have a thousand tongues

To give God praise He’s due

Oh to have a thousand tongues 

To praise Him through and through

But I do not have a thousand tongues

I only have this one

But if I use it wisely

To praise God as I should

I would not need a thousand tongues

My walk would do as good

As I open my eyes to a brand new day

“Thank You Lord” is the first thing I say

Thank You for waking me up this morn

Thank You for keeping me safe from harm

I start this day with You in my heart

Out of Your sight I will never depart

As I rise to face this day ahead

With You in me I have nothing to dread

I know I don’t face this day alone

For You are in charge, You are still on the throne

I ask You to guide my footsteps this day

To lead me, and teach me, and show me the way

I know with this day comes new trials and tests

I promise You Lord, I will give You my best

Greater is He that is in me this day

Than any trial or test that might come my way

I pray Your light will shine through me today

As a blessing to others who don’t know the way

In this brand new day, may Your will be done

May some lost souls be brought to Your Son

May I use this day wisely and not miss a chance

To share You with others in all circumstance

I praise You dear Lord from my heart of hearts

And now I am ready for my new day to start

AMEN

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

Another day has come and gone

You’ve been beside me all day long

And now it’s time to rest my head

I thank you Lord for this warm bed

Through out the day, I’ve faced some trails

And because of You, I still can smile

I know You’re there to see me through

And when I need help, I can lean on You

I thank You Lord for supplying my needs

I thank You Lord on my bended knees

I thank You for the chance to witness to others

For I know in You, we’re all sisters and brothers

I thank You Lord for Your Son, Christ Jesus

I know His shed blood is what has freed us

And now it has come to the end of the day

A time when I stop and give thanks and pray

I thank You for keeping me safe and sound

I thank You that Your love and mercy abounds

Before I close my eyes and sleep

I pray dear Lord for your lost sheep

I pray for those who have gone astray

Please touch their hearts and minds this day

So now I close my eyes and sleep

Knowing dear Lord  my soul You’ll keep

AMEN.