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How true it is,
That we are wretched sinners,
Dying since our birth,
Condemned by Man’s First Sin.Yet, we wait, in hope believing,
For what we have begun to be,
Since our Christ died upon a Tree
Shedding His blood at Calvary.Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
One of the Holy Three,
All Man, All God, All Given
That for repenting
We become the Forgiven.
There is a delicacy of old
With which men speak to one another.
Though, approaching from the farthest ends,
Never meeting in the middle,
Yet, do they honor one another,
In their humanity.They offer the gift of presence,
Gifting to the other
An open ear
That wills to hear.To do the Good
For the sake of Good,
To forge the best of thought
For presentation at the gate
Is the beginning of our holy end.Though all men be wrong
In varying degrees,
There is something right
In putting down one’s arms
To meet as warring friends,
In hope and trust
That they serve a higher call,
When men do speak of peace.Who is honored by this respect,
If not the Maker of all Men,
Who alone can change
Hearts of stone to flesh,
Making them like unto His own.By Joann Nelander
Early one morning in the Holy Land,
I gazed heavenward and smiled;
An image painted in cloud,
Floated in the sky.
“I had the best dream,”
My companion, shared;
“It was so real.”
“I was dancing with Jesus.”
God delights to confirm the visions,
He gives His friends.
The heavens always proclaim God,
But, especially, on this day.
“That must have been you,
Who I saw in the clouds!”
I wondered in awe.
“Jesus was turning you
Under His arm.”
By Joann Nelander.
(Remembering Doris)
God throws kisses
He threw me one
As I left home.
You can always spot God’s kiss.
It comes with a smile
On the lips of someone
Who kinda’ glows
When they say your name.Sometimes, God blows His kisses.
At times they feel like the wind.
They’re carried on a cool breeze
That, surprisingly, warms you
When you inhale.Sometimes, you can see God’s kisses.
People think they’re only snowflakes,
But, then, you must see them
For what they really are.
I like the ones that land gently
On my face and shoulders.
Those are definitely kisses!By Joann Nelander
God is counting on you.
God’s plan for the Universe includes you.
God’s plan for History includes you.
God’s plan of Salvation includes you.
God planned you.
You count!Catch God’s vision.
When you are down,
Ask God, what’s up?
Plans can go wrong
But God is on track.
Are you?Be faithful.
Little choices add up.
The ordinary is grace-filled opportunity.
That is the stuff of Saints.By Joann Nelander
Inspired by Fr. Jeffrey Whorton
Make me all blessing, Dearest Lord.
My day lies, yet, before me,
As I wake.
Your Will shall come to me.May my arms be open
To embrace the gift.
In the giving of grace,
May I ever receive,
And not turn aside a blessing.Some blessings come disguised.
If misfortune lies at my doorstep,
Help me, in my fear,
Lest I bar the door as curse.You plot a Way across stony ground,
That will lead me, true to You,
To troves You treasure,
Hidden in dark places.You set my course.
May Your brave Spirit
Dress me for each day,
That I may know,
With steady heart,
Your Way is my way,
And I am sent,
And set upon it.I must stay that course,
Returning blessing for the curse,
Thus spreading grace
That grace abound.With seeds for the morrow
Fill my purse
That I might spend You
On the poor,
And lavish You on sinners
As I go.At day’s end
May I find myself rejoicing,
And safely rest in Thee,
My All and happy end.By Joann Nelander
Be Holy! 