A New Year's Prayer -- for Every Day, Too

 Dear Heavenly Father,  

Thanks for the memories of dear family members who have died !

Thanks for providing for them, giving  blessings to each one through their  years !

Help me remember those good times, challenges, opportunities, places we were !

Blessings we ask for the rest of us, who are still here. We smile and also shed tears !

These days many bad worldwide reports we read and hear; they dominate the news.

More problems, big troubles ahead in the world, but we do trust in You.

We are confronted by fear, anger, new sickness, terrible confusion !

Provide and help us every day with wisdom —what to believe, to say, and to do !

Show us as we open the Bible more than we knew when we were little kids.

Give us greater understanding of what happened then — and why and how.

We want grow in confidence in Your love, salvation, and provision.

Help us to grow in faith and trust and love —  and that’s what I need now.

I pray now for family and friends, each one I remember by name;

You know each one’s situation, and please bless and meet their needs today.

I love You,  and thank You,  and praise You !  I look forward to being in Heaven !

I pray this now in Jesus’ name — with great appreciation all this I say. 

AMEN 

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

Doin' It Right !

Oh, yes, I want to do it right

  at the right time,

    in the right way,

      saying the right words

        to the right person.

Oh, yes, I know I need help

  because, lookin’ back later, 

    sometimes 

      what seems to be right at the time

        is not always perfectly right.

Oh, dear Father in Heaven

  forgive my mistakes,

    fix my thinkin’ and sayin’ and doin’ 

      so it pleases You

        and can bless others, too.

                  + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2020 

Christmas is This Special Time of Year

 We like to celebrate family birthdays,  don’t you ?                                                                                                                                         (And we celebrate Jesus’ birthday every year, too.) 

All the stores have special sales on-line and downtown,

    Decorations glitter on houses all around. 

We do like that nice music, some we remember, 

    And it’s already the first of December ! 

Time to bake yummy deserts, or buy in some store,

    We expect our favorites, but also try much more.

Of course, lots of Christmas cards we will mail.

    And some places get lots of snow, without fail ! 

Presents our mom and our aunties had made brought cheer,

    We looked forward to that happiest day of the year.

Yes, special programs at church there would be,

    Kids and grownups dressed up; who would we see ? 

That whole month was so special we never would forget;

    Photos now help our memories, shows even our pet.

Now, my siblings married and moved, parents have died,

    What I still have are special feelings inside.

Since all those happy days are past, so it is time

    to put some important words into Christmas rhyme,

Jesus is the reason for the season — that’s real !

    Bible truth, eternal life, sins forgiven, peace you’ll feel. 

A BIG commitment, Heaven after dying here !

    God’s wonderful plan, NOW receive His grace, your time is near !

         + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2020