Ghouls

You ask why my anger burns and why I feel like ramming my fist through a wall

When my people are maimed and slaughtered just for living their normal lives Victims of blasts of fire and metal Caught innocently in moments of diversion

The perpetrators aren't human but ghouls instead What's worse --- they bite the hand that feeds them

You can stand idly by and calmly say "I'm not from that part of the country" But our land comprises many people who share common values and heritage

So the eagle watches them from above The eye in the sky won't let them escape See them running like the cowards they are Others wouldn't want to be in their shoes

It's just a matter of time before they're snared Justice will then undeniably be served

One more example of why freedom must be paid for with eternal vigilence Truth Seeker

The Winds and the Sea Obey Him!

Matt 8:23-27 KJV

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Life Ain't No Picnic

Life Ain't No Picnic

Things are never easy
I think we'd all agree
But sometimes it seems
Even our best laid schemes
Go awry at the worst time
You could almost call it a crime
When I was little I thought I could fly
No sky appeared too high
Doors opened and beckoned
And I darted through them in a second
But as I aged, life dragged me down
And turned my smile into a frown
Every day a new ache beset me
And I found it hard to be depression free
From the animal world I learned much
Not to use my pains as a crutch
Take the industrious ant for example
Proof of its laboriousness is ample
It teaches us the value of determination
Without being defeated by frustration
So why should I let trouble win the day
Let my model, the tiny ant, show the way

Truth Seeker

Little Prayer

Little Prayer

Dear Lord thank You for today,
Walk beside me all the way,
Keep me safe from all that would
Cause me heartache if it could.
Guard my eyes, and ears, and lips,
Give me strength to come to grips
With each problem I must face,
And some courage, just in case.

Never let my footsteps stray,
'Lest perhaps I lose the way,
And whatever may befall,
Keep me humble through it all.
If a cross must be my share,
Make it one that I can bear,
And through shadows of the night,
Hold me close 'til morning light.

Grace E. Easley

I Will Start Anew

I Will Start Anew

I will start anew this morning
with a higher, fairer creed;

I will cease to stand complaining
of my ruthless neighbor's greed;

I will cease to sit repining while
my duty's call is clear;

I will waste no moment whining and
my heart shall know no fear.

I will look sometimes about me
for the things that merit praise;

I will search for hidden beauties
that elude the grumbler's gaze.

I will try to find contentment
in the paths that I must tread;

I will cease to have resentment
when another moves ahead.

I will not be swayed by envy
when my rival's strength is shown;

I will not deny his merit,
but I'll try to prove my own;

I will try to see the beauty
spread before me, rain or shine;

I will cease to preach your duty
and be more concerned with mine.

S.E.Kiser

Life is One Long Test

Life is One Long Test

Matt 10:38 NIV
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

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Matt 16:24 NIV
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Luke 9:23 NIV
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

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Rom 8:18 NIV
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

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James 1:12 NIV
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

If God Didn't Give It To You... You Don't Need It (Or... You May Already Have It!)

If God Didn't Give It To You... You Don't Need It (Or... You May Already Have It!)

Let's examine the Scarecrow, in search of a brain:
Wizard of Oz: Why, anybody can have a brain. That's a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a diploma.

Look at the Tin Man looking for a heart:
Wizard of Oz: A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.
Wizard of Oz: As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart. You don't know how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.

Let's see the Cowardly Lion who desperately needs courage:
Wizard of Oz: You, my friend, are a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate impression that just because you run away you have no courage; you're confusing courage with wisdom.

Here I Come to Save the Day !

Here I Come to Save the Day !

Mighty Mouse was my first superhero... followed by the Long Ranger...
then by Superman... then Batman...
then by Spiderman... followed by Iron Man...
and the list ended with two or three more.

I don't recall anyone in my childhood years
ever telling me Jesus is the greatest Superhero.
After all, He didn't fit the type - - - no red cape, you know.
The big picture in my house of the Sacred Heart inspired
reverance in me but no boyhood awe and wonder.
Thank God for the nuns in Catholic school and the daily
Catechism questions I memorized nightly and
recited the next school day.

But you see, little problems call for little superheroes;
it's the big ones that call for the real McCoy - - - Our Lord.
Sometimes a death of a parent will bring Him and His Blessed Mother
(the real Wonder Woman) to the child's side in no time flat.
A subsequent mental illness is liable to empty
heaven's rafters of its saints.

Truth Seeker

Soar

Soar

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Resisting Temptation

Resisting Temptation

1 Cor 10:13 NIV
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

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James 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

Psalm 23 (King James Version)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer

God,
Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the Courage to change the things I can
and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

Saint Michael The Archangel Defend Us in Battle

Holy Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protector against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen