*A Love Story*
 (Author unknown) 
			One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
			Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.
			As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
			As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.

			He asked me,
			"Do you love me?"

			I answered,
			"Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!"

			Then He asked,
			"If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

			I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body
			and wondered how many things I wouldn't; be able to do, the things that I
			took for granted.

			And I answered, 
			"It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

			Then the Lord said,
			"If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"

			How could I love something without being able to see it?
			Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them
			still loved God and His creation.

			So I answered,
			"It's hard to think of it, but I would still love you."

			The Lord then asked me,
			"If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"

			How could I listen to anything being deaf?
	
			Then I understood.  Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears,
			but our hearts.

			I answered,
			"It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word."

			The Lord then asked, 
			"If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"

			How could I praise without a voice?

			Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul.
			It never matters what we sound like.  And praising God is not always with
			a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of
			thanks.

			So I answered,
			"Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name."
	
			And the Lord asked,
			"Do you really love Me?"

			With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, 
			"Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!"

			I thought I had answered well, but God asked,
			"THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?"

			I answered,
			"Because I am only human. I am not perfect."

			"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES
			OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY IN EARNEST?"

			No answers. Only tears.

			The Lord continued:
			"Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? 
			Why ask things so  selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?"

			The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

			"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why
			in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry
			on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"

			I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.
	
			"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have
			blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away.  I
			have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have
			spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you,
			but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly
			by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered
			them all."

			"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?"

			I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no
			excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and the
			tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your
			child."

			The Lord answered,
			"That is My Grace, My child."

			I asked,
			"Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"

			The Lord answered,
			"Because you are My creation. You are my child.
			I will never abandon you.
			When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
			When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
			When you are down, I will encourage you.
			When you fall, I will raise you up.
			When you are tired, I will carry you.
			I will be with you till the end of days, and I will
			love you forever."
           
			Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could
			I have hurt God as I had done?

			I asked God,
			"How much do You love me?"

			The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands.
			I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour.
			And for the first time, I truly prayed.


*Footprints*
 (by Margaret Fishback Powers) 
					One night I dreamed a dream.
					I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
					Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
					For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
					one belonging to me
					and one to my Lord.
					When the last scene of my life shot before me 
					I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
					There was only one set of footprints.
					I realized that this was at the lowest 
					and saddest times of my life.
					This always bothered me
					and I questioned the Lord
					about my dilemma.
					"Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You,
					You would walk and talk with me all the way.
					But I'm aware that during the most troublesome
					times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
					I just don't understand why, when I needed You most,
					You leave me."
					He whispered, "My precious child,
					I love you and will never leave you
					never, ever, during your trials and testings.
					When you saw only one set of footprints
					it was then that I carried you."


						*The Rainbow*

			   		 (by William Wordsworth)

					My heart leaps up when I behold
					A rainbow in the sky:
					So was it when my life began;
					So is it now I am a man;
					So be it when I shall grow old,
					Or let me die!
					The Child is father of the Man;
					And I could wish my days to be
					Bound each to each by natural piety.


			  		*In Men Whom Men Condemn*
				
			     		 (by Joaquin Miller)	

					In men whom men condemn as ill
					I find so much of goodnes still,
					In men whom men pronounce divine
					I find so much of sin and blot,
					I hesitate to draw the line
					Between the two, where God has not.