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.
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O Divine Master,
grant that I may seek
not so much to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying
that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen
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We little knew that morning
God was going to call your name,
In life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you
The day God called you home,
You left us beautiful memories
That we can call our own.
Your warmth will never leave us
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you
You are always by our side.
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one
The Chain will link again.
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Prayer of St. Francis
Lord make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so
much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
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God hath not promised
Skies always blue.
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labour,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love...
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In Heaven We'll Understand
Not now, but in the coming years
It may be in the Heavenly Land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears
Some day in heaven we’ll understand.
We’ll know why clouds instead of sun
Were over many a cherished plan;
Why smiles have ceased when just begun;
Some day in heaven, we’ll understand.
Then trust in God, through all thy day;
Fear not for He does hold your hand;
But, while you live, still sing and praise;
Some day, in Heaven you’ll understand.
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Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Margaret Fishback-Powers
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God saw he was getting tired
And a cure was not to be:
So He put His arms around him
And whispered, "Come with Me"
With tearful eyes we watched him
Suffer and fade away;
Although we loved him dearly,
We could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands to rest;
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.
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And He will raise you up
on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of
dawn, make you shine
like the sun, and hold
you in the palm of
His hand.
Based on Psalm 91
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I Have a Place in Heaven
Please don't sing sad songs for me,
forget your grief and fears;
for I am in a perfect place,
away from pain and tears.
I'm far away from hunger,
and hurt and want and pride;
I have a place in Heaven
with the Master at my side.
My life on earth was very good
as earthly lives can go;
but paradise is so much more
than anyone can know.
My heart is filled with happiness
and sweet rejoicing too;
to walk with God in perfect peace,
and joy forever new.
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Safely Home
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last,
Did you wonder how I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.
And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?
Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s will.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth-
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.
When that work is all complete,.
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!
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23rd Psalm
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
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 comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
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An Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always
at your back
May the sun shine warm
upon your face
May the rain fall soft
upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the
palm of His hand.
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"Look! The tent of God is with mankind,
and He will reside with them,
and they will be His peoples.
And God Himself will be with them.
And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes,
and death will be no more,
neither will mourning nor outcry
nor pain be anymore.
The former things have passed away."
Rev. 21:3,4
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God looked around His garden
And He found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face,
He put His arms around you
And lifted you to rest,
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only picks the best.
He knew how you were suffering
The road was getting rough,
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, "Peace be thine".
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
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The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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