~STIR

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"...I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you..."

~2 Timothy 1:6~

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works..."

~Hebrews 10:24~

"For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.  Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you..."

~2 Peter 1:12-13~

"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior..."

~2 Peter 3:1-2~

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*Spoon available for purchase here.

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~QUOTATION & POEM FOR THE DAY

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"'Weeping may endure for a night, but singing cometh in the morning.'  He, Who is Light, who gives the morning signal to every feathered songster to tune his song, will also give you a song that sings."

~Lettie Burd Cowman~

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WHAT LIFE IS

By Joseph R. Sizoo

LIFE IS a race.  Don't whimper if the track is rough and the goal is distant.  One day you shall reach it.

LIFE IS a voyage.  Don't complain if the storms batter the hull or the winds tatter to shreds the sails.  One day you shall come to your haven.

LIFE IS growth.  Don't find fault if the seed lies smothered and submerged in the dark earth before it blooms and blossoms.  One day you shall have your harvest.

LIFE IS a pilgrimage.  Don't falter on the road through self-pity because the stones cut your feet and leave your blood on the trail.  One day you will come to Immanuel's land.

The God who through the boundless sky guides the flight of the sparrow, who builds the blind bird's nest, will see to it that in his good time you shall arrive.

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*Photographs are by Rus Anson for Youth Vision magazine, June 2011

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~SONG FOR THE DAY

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None of us knows and this makes it a mystery

If life is a comedy, then why all the tragedy?

Three-and-a-half pounds of brain try to figure out

What this world is all about

And is there an eternity, is there an eternity?

God if You're there I wish You'd show me

And God if You care then I need You to know me

I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions

But I figure You're big enough

I figure You're big enough

Lying on pillows we're haunted and half-awake

Does anyone hear us pray, "If I die before I wake"?

Then the morning comes and the mirror's another place

Where we wrestle face-to-face with the image of Deity

The image of Deity

God if You're there I wish You'd show me

And God if You care then I need You to know me

I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions

But I figure You're big enough

I figure You're big enough

When I imagine the size of the universe

And I wonder what's out past the edges

Then I discover inside me a space as big

And believe that I'm meant to be

Filled up with more than just questions

So, God if You're there I wish You'd show me

And God if You care then I need You to know me

I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions

But I figure You're big enough

I figure You're big enough
'Cause I am not big enough

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*In this cover, the following stanza is tacked onto the end of the song--kind of kewl! ☺

Child I am here, in My Word I'll show you,

That I am the God who just wants to know you.

No, I don't mind that you're asking the questions,

'Cause I know you're not big enough,

I know you're not big enough.

'Cause I'm the One big enough.

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chrisrice.com

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~SONG FOR THE DAY

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Stained Glass Window

by Jeff Cash

I sit silent, my only color

Is the coffee stain around my rim

Broken handle, I'm worn away

Time and time again

I fall to the ground, my broken pieces

Are swept up in a dusting pan

This falling down, it feels so useless

You'll never drink from me again

Oh I wish I could be

Thrown back into the fire once more

And I wish I could be

Melted into a stained glass window

I glue myself together, but looking in the mirror

My reflection shows the same disgrace

Broken like a beggar on Christmas day

Thrown out and thrown away

And I melt away

Oh I wish I could be

Thrown back into the fire once more

And I wish I could be

Melted into a stained glass window

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