Not my problems, but his power
Not my stress, but his strength
Not my worries, but his wisdom
Not my failures, but his faithfulness
Not my loss, but his love
Not my pressure, but his peace
Not me, but him, in everything
"For from him and
Through him and 
To him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
Amen" (Romans 11:36, NIV)
​Published in Purpose/1998

When Jesus came down
His only crown
Was the jewel-filled
Stars in the sky.
His throne was small
In the cattle stall;
His praise a lullaby.
And those who came
To give acclaim
Were men who
Smelled like sheep,
Yet shepherd's heard
The angel's word,
And now we all repeat:

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men." 
(Luke 2:14) 

You came home today
Finding me uptight, tense.
No reason, really,
Except the jangling phone,
A tight schedule, and
Endless interruptions.
Sitting down to dinner
It all came out.
You had problems, too.
We passed them back and forth
Along with chicken, bread,
Tomatoes, beans.
And then you passed a smile
Familiar, yet somehow new.
I savoured it awhile
Then sent it back,
Unable to describe
​This taste of loving you.

Sometimes we need a diversion. Mine was simple today. Instead of sitting at the kitchen table, I took breakfast into the den, using the coffee table for set up. After a brief prayer, I turned on the t.v., practically inhaling coffee, eggs and toast during the Christian program.

Then, glancing at the time, I jumped. The memorial service for a friend would begin in just over an hour and I still needed to bathe, dress and pick up another friend who would ride with me.

About to dump the scraps into the trash can, my eye caught something more precious than food. Somehow, I had managed to accidentally snag the Bible bookmark up with my breakfast plate. Now this is no ordinary bookmark. Crocheted by my grandmother, this is one of a few items I have from her: a gift she gave me when I was around six years old. Grandmother Belle died when I was only eight.

I immediately thought of her favorite hymn: Rock of Ages. Sometime during those years before her death I had learned to play the piano. Knowing this was grandmother's special hymn, I had struggled to learn it and fondly remember calling her on the phone to play it for her. After the brief recital, I recall grandmother saying something like this: "Honey, this is the best gift you could give me."

Today, I have little skill for sewing and don't crochet so am truly thankful I didn't carelessly toss the bookmark away. After all, one line in Rock of Ages reads, "Let me hide myself in Thee." Now, as the marker rests in my Bible, I am also reminded of the admonition: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Ps. 119:11 NIV). Today I can say with her: "This is the best gift you could give me."

Not my problems, but His power,
Not my stress, but His strength,
Not my worries, but His wisdom,
Not my failures, but his faithfulness,
Not my loss, but His love,
Not my pressure, but His peace,
Not me, but Him, in everything:
"For of Him and through Him and to
Him are all things, to whom be glory
forever! Amen." Romans 11:36).

Our feathered friends are fearless
Their food God will supply, and
 Should a branch not hold them
With wings, of course, they fly.

So if the birds have beauty
And God gives them a song
Should not His sons and daughters
Praise Him all day long!

An excerpt from:
Be Anxious For Nothing

My friend Allie asked her young grandson this question: "Paul what does God do when He saves a person?"

"Oh, that easy Grandma. God just takes the baddest out and puts the goodest in."

I believe if Paul had understood the meaning of peace and contentment at this young age he would have also said it comes when "God takes the baddest out and puts the goodest in."

Read more @ www.amazon.com/author/saradubose.

A friend is a smile on a dreary day. A friend is a hand when you've lost your way.
A friend is an eye to help you plan. A friend is a heart to understand.
A friend is an arm when the day is long. A friend is a voice through your stifled song.
A friend is an ear to hear what you say. A friend is a soul to help you pray.