Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... December, 2013

11-30-2013 | JustAmy; St.Louie1; MamaBear; Billie; Meg33, Friends

[MEG33]

Good Morning To Amy's Place
With Deep Gratitude ~~ Christmas Blessings To Our Armed Forces,
Our Veterans And Their Families

Please Click.."A Soldier's Christmas" by Michael Marks

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
***
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
***
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
***
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
***
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
***
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
***
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
***
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone
Away from my family, my house and my home.
***
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
***
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
***
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
**
God Bless And Keep Safe Those Who Stand Watch For Us

[left that other site]

Thank You for that Classic Poem, MEG.

Prayers up for all our Military, especially those far from home during Christmas.

[MEG33]

Your welcome, ML..

Amen

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Thanks for posting; a good reminder this time of year.

[MEG33]

My pleasure!

[The Mayor]

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A Giving Competition
December 10, 2013

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15

Bible in a Year:
Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1

A television commercial I enjoy at Christmastime shows two neighbors in a friendly competition with each other to see who can spread the most Christmas cheer. Each keeps an eye on the other as he decorates his house and trees with lights. Then each upgrades his own property to look better than the other’s. They then start competing over who can give the most extravagantly to other neighbors, running around cheerfully sharing gifts.

God’s people aren’t in a competition to see who can give the most, but we are called to be “ready to give, willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:18). The apostle Paul instructed the church at Corinth: “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

At Christmastime, as we share gifts with others, we remember the generosity of God toward us—He gave us His Son. Ray Stedman said, “Jesus set aside His riches and entered into His creation in a state of poverty in order to enrich us all by His grace.”

No gift-giving could ever compete with the Lord’s extravagance. We thank God for the indescribable gift of Jesus! (v.15).

No gift is greater than the gift of Christ Himself.

[Jane Long]

Beautiful poem and beautiful tribute to our brave military troops and families. Thanks for posting ~ very thankful...especially during the holidays. God bless and keep them, now and always.

[Jaidyn]

[Silentgypsy]

Blurry screen. Thank you and God bless!

[trisham]

Amen. That’s beautiful, MEG.

[MEG33]

Thank you for your kind comments.
We love our troops!

[trisham]

Yes we do!

[Jane Long]

God bless ‘em and keep ‘em...til they can come home, safe ;-)

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for the Beautiful Monday and Tuesday Posts and Links, Dear FRiends!

At Google I Found the Cutest Pic of a Dog Winking;
I don't Know how they Got him to Do that, but it's So Adorable, Lol!

(((((Sending Hugs to All FRiends)))))

[Jane Long]

Adorable!

[MEG33]

You’re Welcome, (((Kitty))).
Thank you for your sweet “flirty” doggie.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Hope For Skeptics
December 11, 2013

Read: Isaiah 55:6-13

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. —Isaiah 55:11

Bible in a Year:
Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2

As a workplace chaplain, I’m privileged to be in conversation with many different people. Some are skeptics of the Christian faith. I’ve discovered three major hurdles that keep them from trusting in Christ for salvation.

The first barrier, surprisingly, isn’t an unwillingness to believe that God exists; instead some doubt that they’re important enough for God’s attention. Second, some believe they are unworthy of His forgiveness. People are often their own harshest judges. The third hurdle? They wonder why God is not communicating with them if He is out there.

Let’s work backward through the hurdles to see what God’s Word says. First, God doesn’t play head games. He promises that if we read His Word, He will make sure it accomplishes His purpose (Isa. 55:11). In other words, if we read it we will discover that God is communicating with us. This is precisely why the Bible speaks so often of His grace and mercy toward all (v.7). His willingness to forgive surpasses our own. Once we learn that we can hear God in the Bible and once we see the emphasis on His mercy, it becomes easier to believe we have His attention when we cry out to Him.

God’s story is amazing. It can give hope for all of us.

There can be times when one’s mind is in doubt,
Times when one asks what the faith is about;
But we can believe Him, we know that He cares—
Our God is real, as the Bible declares. —Fitzhugh

Honest skepticism can be the first step to a strong faith.

[MEG33]

Welcome To Warm Fuzzy Wednesday At Amy's Place

Window Shopping On A Snowy Afternoon

I Hope You Are Staying Warm And Cozy

[left that other site]

Good Morning, MEG!
((((HUGS))))

[GailA]

I see the new neurosurgeon today, Please pray he has answers for this torture of pain I’ve lived with for the past 4 years. I know my dx score is mildly bad, but that does not mean the medical community should leave me in constant pain and only offer addictive narcotic drugs or PT which always damages another part of my spine. Nerve blocks don’t work either. Some of the issues can be taken care of in less than a hr, like removing bone spurs. I know my lumbar is the biggest mess and will be the hardest to deal with. To end on a positive note, God is still on His throne.

Mary’s Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sn9XXL6Hpo&feature=related