SACRED MOMENTS

SACRED MOMENTS

If there are hours in the night when sleep is sought in vain,

When there's emotional restlessness, or unceasing, nagging pain.

If your mind just can't be still and let your body rest,

Count them not frustration; consider that you are blessed!

In these wakeful moments when night does not bring sleep,

There is more time to spend with God, and holy vigil keep.

You have the opportunity to pray for someone's need,

To thank Him for your blessings, and have gratitude indeed!

In these silent, sacred moments that seem to be in vain,

Often special insights come into your thoughts like rain.

And in their steady passing, as you pray and lie awake,

What growth in spirituality, you'll make.  

Verna Smith - California

ANTIDOTE

 ANTIDOTE

We are always faced with problems in this life it seems to me,
and we all need something that will help to keep us "worry free,"
So here is a thought that came to me last night as I lay in bed,
I was resting, but aware of thoughts racing through my head:

The coins an bills we use for cash here in the USA
All have our nations motto--a phrase we see each day
"IN GOD WE TRUST" is printed to remind us --every one, That what was first intended when our Nation was begun.

NOW:

Take, as your choice, a penny, though other coins will do,
And I'll point out a NEW use for the motto tried and true.

The BACK side is the "problem" (and it's not worth one cent!)
Yet, you can think of HOURS! WORRIED HOURS you have spent!
TURN YOUR PENNY OVER! On the OTHER side's a FACE
That you may choose to "represent" Christ Jesus and His Grace.
Read CAREFULLY the motto, re-read it, if you must,
Then turn your thoughts unto the Lord, and Put in Him your trust!

When you are thinking about Jesus, you CAN'T think thoughts of worry,
And if you'll KEEP your thoughts on HIM, you won't get in a "flurry,"
This way your mind becomes relaxed, and thoughts will come to you;
An "answer" that the Lord will give, and you will know what to do!

CREATOR 

  VERNA SMITH 

SILVER

 SILVER

When the sun's bright rays are hidden,

And the world seems awfully blue,

When misunderstandings happen,

and your heart is burdened too,

When your life seems hardly worth it,

And just everything's upset,

Dark clouds are lined with silver--

----And the silver's coming yet.

When people speak unkindly,

And the things they say cause pain,

When a cherished plan you made falls through,

And you must start again. 

When you feel you've lost your best friend,

Or that your hopes are vain,

Every cloud is lined with silver,

--But first there's often-- rain.

 When you have done the very best you can,

But it just was not enough,

When in spite of all your efforts,

Things keep on being rough,

Just remember when your life is dark,

And everything's gone wrong,

That your clouds are lined with silver,

Which--will shine for you before long!

And don't forget, the rainbow comes after! 

After the trial comes the beautiful rainbow

hold on!!!

Verna Smith

GOD IS WITH YOU

GOD IS WITH YOU

God is with you when you are happy; He's with you when you are sad,

He is with you in great sorrow, Or in times when you are glad,

He is with you when you have a task to hard to do alone,

He is with you, don't you worry, he always helps his own!

God is with you every morning when from slumber you awake,

He is with you every moment, and he knows each breath you take,

He is with you in all seasons;  rain or shine;  He's at your side,

Not a care you have escapes Him, nor a tear you try to hide.

TRUST IN HIM!

GRIEF

 GRIEF-THE REFINER'S FIRE

I'm so thankful for the blessings that fill my life each day,

And yet sometimes I'm so depressed it's like I've lost my way,

The trials and tribulations are so constant and it seems

That the peace I felt within my heart was only in my dreams.

This time the test has been so long; I've cried and complained,

And felt so tired and hopeless --  as though my mind is drained.

Of all the faith I had before these problems came along,

And, though I smile, I really feel like everything's gone wrong.

I keep on feeling so depressed in spite of all my prayers,

And feeling badly toward myself, for yielding to despair.

I am not tried as Job was, I still have loving friends,

And, somehow I must recognize the message God intends.

This "trial-by pain" has got to have a reason,

Though I do not understand, I will--in God's "due season,"

But, I am like a yo-yo and don't like how I behave,

For I know how I feel inside when people say I'm brave!

Help me to feel comforted in body and in spirit;

Keep me close to Thee, so when Thy answer comes I'll hear it.

Help me be more humble, more surrendered 'til,

Whatever Thy will may be for me, will also be my will!

 NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE!

Verna Smith

GOALS

Like a plane without a pilot, or a boat one cannot steer,

Like a car without a driver, or a train -- less engineer;

Like computers that aren't programmed, or machines without controls,

That is what were like, unless we set some motivating goals.

God gave us the right to choose the way we want to go,

But choice may be confusing, as we so often know!

And it would be so easy to choose wrong things to do,

So the quality of goals we choose is most important too.

Knowing this, God's guidance to the very highest goal,

Have been given for the benefit of every living soul,

We aren't left without direction to good goals that we may choose,

We have an excellet map to follow; one we may always use.

Since goals are so important as time savers every day,

Because they give direction and purpose on our way,

To begin we just take one step in faith, and we are on our way.

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step today.

So take that leap of faith right now, and you will be glad you did!

Verna Smith

GOD'S WATERFALL

This was Verna's first poem when she was16 years old in 1934. 

I hope you enjoy it.

WATERFALL

A waterfall!  How beautiful --  A pure white lacy thing,

That falls continually from above, to the rocks with a

vibrant ring.

And then as if inspired by God to make somebody smile,

It ripples along and seems to say, Think of your maker,

your God today!

A waterfall! How beautiful in torrents of water spray,

That falls continually from above -- endless --  from day to day.

As I stand and watch it, my heart will sing a song,

For it 's God's waterfall I'm watching, 
and to Him that I belong!

A LOVELY WATERFALL

                                                

                                                    MUSIC TO GOD'S EARS

The trilling notes a bird can sing,

The ripple of a lake,

the busy humming of the bees,

The noise insects make.

The murmur of a winding brook,

Wind whispering in the trees,

the lap of waves upon the beach,

The fall of autumn leaves,

Are music to God ears.

The changing blue of heaven's skies,

The green of early spring,

The gorgeous red and yellow hue,

That every fall will bring.

The pure white mantle that is spread,

Each year by winters King,

the wonder of the sunrise,

And sunset's coloring,

Are beauties for God's eyes.



WHO

WHO

Who cares when your heart is aching?

Who cares when things go wrong?

Who cares when circumstances

Have robbed your heart of it's song?

God Cares!

Who's glad when  something has turned

out good?

Who's glad when you are at peace

Because you did the things you should?

He will give you peace

God's Glad!

Who's there when you need someone?

Who's there when you are alone?

your friend every moment of every day.

Who wants to make you his own?

God does!

Verna Smith

SANCTUARY

SANCTUARY

A little place------

A place that I can call my own;

Where treasured things may be,

Displayed for all to see;

Where love and warmth will greet my friends,

Where I can serve as God intends;

Where those who enter seeking peace,

Will find, also a sweet release.

From all the trying daily things

That living life so often brings.

A little place----

Where books and music feed the mind,

Of loved ones who are so inclined;

Where all who come will be aware,

That they are always welcome here.

Where those who come will want to stay,

And gladly come another day.

Where everyone who comes will find,

Whatever specific help they need,

New strength, new hope, love, mind freed!

A little place-----

Where it is warm,

And friends may gather from life's storms.

Verna Smith

DIAMONDS

DIAMONDS

FRIENDS

Friends are like diamonds that sparkle and shine,

With facets of beauty--planned and divine.

Harder than steel if they have to be,

But constant and sure as eternity.

Friends next to Jesus, are God's greatest gift,

Bringing true joy and a wonderful "lift".

There is always the knowledge to each without doubt,

That good friends will respond should a need come about.

When friends become sisters by warm love entwined,

Or brothers because of their meeting of minds.

Then surely this treasure of friendship on earth,

Was found by these spirits before friends had their birth.

Verna Smith

A POET'S TOOLS

 A POET'S TOOLS

Pen and ink or pencil, ability to rhyme,

Clean white paper I can use, and my brain and time.

Inspiration from the Lord;  a good vocabulary.

These tools, above all others, are truly necessary.

Clean white page before me, I'm wondering what to write;

I don't like using words that end up sounding dull or trite

I want my words in rhyme to be words that lift and bless;

Words that bring encouragement, words that ease distress.

Words that bless and satisfy a deeply hungry heart, 

Words expressing beauty, words that life impart!

Words that sounds like, music to a listening ear,

Words expressing warmest love to someone who is dear.

Words that talk about His love, His boundless love for all.

Words that everyone will find easy to recall,

Simple, easy rhyming words that bring, in lovely ways,

Messages of happiness on otherwise sad days.

Words that once have been read, will find a resting place

Deep within the hearts of those, who need His words and grace!

Words--the very thread from which communication's made;

Words I've put on paper after I have prayed.

Why a prayer? so that the words of such important choice,

Will speak to hearts that read them, with loving gentle voice.

Words to be remembered because they fill a need;

Words so clearly from the heart that people want to heed.

Words that speak unchanging truth if I most carefully write;

With words from God, I can create -- poems of delight! 

Verna Smith

Pat love's poetry!  Verna Smith wrote poems throughout her life.  She gave me a whole loose leaf notebook full of original poems for all reasons and seasons.  I have also written some poems, and I have put favorites from others here too, and will be sharing them.  I feel that it is time to take this opportunity to bless the lives of others with these talents. I hope you enjoy them!