Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
September 2005

Taking Things For Granted

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!’
“The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down…
“Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a days walk in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one fathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and He struck them with a severe plague.” —Numbers 11:4-9, 31-33

Too often, as we seek our dreams, our eyes focused on what’s ahead, we so often look at what we don’t have, and we forget what we do have, and everything we’ve been given. Too often we grumble in discontent for meat when God’s given us heavenly bread! Too often we seek in vain for the perfect friend, and don’t realize what a treasure God’s given us in the friends we have.
We take for granted so many blessings that God has given us. In the same way, we take for granted so many things that those we love have done for us. Often it is not until we lose them that we realize everything they’ve done for us.
If we could but open our eyes and appreciate all the blessings being poured out upon us, we will find many of our dreams fulfilled right where we are at.

Today

Today, I will treasure each moment.
For, tomorrow’s a mystery.
I’ll not take this day for granted.
I have faith that God’s guiding me.

There may be mountains to climb,
Or struggles and problems to face.
But today, I’ll put my worries aside;
Enjoy the gift of God’s grace.

I’ll start the day at dawning,
When all the world seems new;
Take a stroll around the garden,
As the sky dons its mantle of blue.

My jewels are in the garden;
The shrubs, the plants, the trees.
Here, I feel a sense of peace
As I’m brushed by a gentle breeze.

I’ll treasure each moment I share
With friends and family, too;
Such love and laughter in my life,
My blessings are more than a few.

When the twilight is falling
And the day draws to a close,
I’ll offer up a thankful prayer
As I drift into sweet repose.

Paved With Petals

When you had paved the path with petals
I’m certain I was very glad!
But time eroded gratitude,
’Til I was dull to all I had—

In time I wrongfully assumed
That roses cover every road;
It wasn’t ’til I traveled far
I saw the beauty you bestowed—

And now I’m coming home again,
To lovely paths with petals paved;
I’ll crown each piece with smiles of joy,
And thank you for the gifts you gave.

All For Mankind

For us He hung on tree,
the cross is firm, secure.
The Christ who died to free.

With crimson blood to see,
in daylight hours mature,
for us He hung on tree.

There is no other fee,
nor price to pay, endure.
The Christ who died to free.

To bend upon our knee
will aid to make thee pure.
For us He hung on tree.

Why don’t we heed the plea
to chart the path that’s sure?
The Christ who died to free.

This is the way for me
to live my life His lure.
For us He hung on tree.
The Christ who died to free

Marbles

If you received a marble for each day
They might go far in filling up your room,
But if you had a marble for each blessing
The tower might reach halfway to the moon!

Too often we examine all the scars
That mark the marbles of the days gone by,
Forgetting that one step outside the door
There stands a staircase reaching to the sky!

Life

Never take life for granted,
Whatever comes your way.
Just grasp it, in both hands,
And enjoy it every day.

Sometimes, sorrow comes your way;
Blocking out the light.
That’s the time to pray and
To know you’ll win the fight.

Life is but a journey
Through mountains, hills, and vales.
We cannot have the sunshine,
If we have no rain and gales.

So, enjoy each precious moment
And always give your best.
Remember, keep faith in God.
Then, you’ll be truly blessed.
© by Marian Jones
Used with permission
http://www.geocities.com/marians_words_of_life/homepage.html

Friendship

Flowers bloom a legacy
Reaching with a silent plea—
I behold their joy, am blessed,
Etched forever by their quest!
Needy souls are freed from gloom—
Do you know what makes them bloom?
See beyond what they employ,
Hear the hum that brings them joy:
It’s the bees who make them beam,
Pleased to serve and build their dreams.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

Visit our web page at http://home.neo.rr.com/thegraberclan/Fts/morethanconquerors.htm to read past issues of “More Than Conquerors”.

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