The little cares that fretted me,

The foolish fears of what may happen,
I cast them all away
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay;
Among the husking of the corn
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born
Out in the fields with God.

-Elisabeth Barrett Browning.

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How can one live with that
awful truth
and not die of sorrow,
of loneliness,
of unworthiness?

How can one ever hope
to be loved
when one knows how unlovable
one really is?

For what can one offer
her beloved
if not the thorns
that surround her very heart?

What can one expect to receive
if not fear, and if not rejection
for all the darkness
that one really has?

O, that my darkness
could turn into light,
and that my emptiness,
be filled with good!

O, that a kind hand
may lead me somewhere safe,
safe even from the horror
of who I really am.

Maybe then though I cry,
I might find some comfort;
though I hurt and cause others pain,
I might find healing and forgiveness.

Though I fail,
I might hope to keep on trying,
Though I die, I might believe,
and I might live again!

"I have been trying to make the reader believe that we actually are, at present, creatures whose character must be, in some respects, a horror to God, as it is, when we really see it, a horror to ourselves. This I believe to be a fact: and I notice that the holier a man is, the more fully he is aware of that fact." - C.S. Lewis

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There are times in your life
when all that you could do is rest.

You cannot love,
you cannot dream,
you don’t know where to start,
and you don’t know where to go.

You want to change your life,
but you’re too weak to move,
you’re too tired to think,
too hurt to heal,
too numb to make amends,
too lost to even hope,
too tired to even pray.

Rest then O heart,
and rest then O soul,
for the journey has been too much for you,
and the world has left you wounded
and alone.

Sleep then for a while,
let go of all your woes.
Lie down in trust,
and let your tears flow down
as they should.

Somebody’s watching,
Somebody’s catching your every tear.
Fear not, for in the quiet of the night
you’re in the arms of Him
who loves you most.

Think not of your worries,
think not of your wounds,
for they shall be healed.
In time shall you find comfort,
and you shall find peace.

O blessed peace,
claim your portion and your strength.
May your soul know what stillness means,
and may the very marrow of your bones
find ease.

Time has come to stop your restless wonderings,
and for all the useless work to cease.
Let God work while you are sleeping,
and in the morning
may you find all things new and sweet.

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." -Isaiah 30:15

"Remain still before Him, and stop your own restless working until He begins to work.  Do nothing that He Himself has not commanded you to do.  Allow God time to work and He surely will.  Then the very trials that threatened to overcome you with discouragement and disaster will become God's opportunity to reveal His grace and glory in your life in ways you have never known before." - Streams in the Desert

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The steady hand can never find the deep things of the Lord;
The undimmed eyes can never see the comfort in His Word;
The joyous heart can never know the healing of His love;
The learned mind can never grasp the wisdom from above.

But, oh, the trembling hand clasps His and loses all its fear;
The weeping eyes can search His Word and read His promise clear;
The broken heart rests in His love until its faith prevails;
The childlike mind can reach the source where wisdom never fails.

By Annie Johnson Flint

He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.- Psalm 147:3

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And you will hear a little voice within you saying:

Your joy is not in your sadness nor in your confusion.
Your joy is not in the darkness where you are.
Your joy is not lost.
Your joy is not broken.
It is stored somewhere safe,
protected against all harm.
God Himself protects it!
God keeps it secure,
where not even the most piercing grief could touch it.
Your joy is in GOD’S LOVE
and God’s Love is always upon you.
LOVE NEVER FAILS.

What Fills My Heart With Joy

My heart is filled with joy because of God’s wonderful love for me.
Weak and small that I am, He takes notice of me and witnesses my life.
He takes me as I am and fashions me after His own glory.
He takes away my shame and my brokenness.
He heals my wounds.
He makes me beautiful and strong.
I will always look forward for that morning when He makes everything new.
Within my heart shall always dwell His voice, and I shall never be alone.
Wisdom is His constant gift, and respect, an eternal blessing as love.
Who would appreciate my small tokens of love? It is He who does not disregard my smallest efforts and my meekest prayers.
Who has planned the best things for me? It is He who has my welfare in mind for all eternity.
My short life is but a vapor that fades, but He grants me a life that never ends.
I am poor and have nothing, but mansions He has prepared for me where He is.
I cry and He wipes away my tears.
I run in grief, but He pursues me, and He wins me back with His words of love.
He shows me the value of each heartbreak,
the cost of every tear.
He shows me how each sorrow can turn to joy
a joy that never fades.
People may hunger now, but they shall be filled.
People may mourn, but they shall be comforted.
We shall receive far more than what we have lost,
and far more than what we could ever dream about.
He is just, but He is also merciful.
He reigns from on high, yet He is never out of our reach.
He is my Father, but He is also like a Mother who loves her children
each one is valuable, no one is dispensable,
each one loved as though she were her only child.
I have my questions but He answers them one by one,
I have my doubts, but He fills my soul with faith.
Where can I go that He cannot follow?
What wrong can I do that He cannot forgive?
There is nothing that can ever separate me away from Him,
and there is no one who could take away these things that fill my heart with the Joy of Him!

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Stillness doesn’t mean that your problems are already solved
and that you have nothing more to worry about.
Stillness doesn’t mean that you are already content
with everything that you have.
Stillness doesn’t mean that you have no regrets.
It doesn’t mean you no longer have questions
hanging at the back of your mind.

Stillness on the other hand, is that point
where you take a deep breath
to pause for a while,
and to find some rest,
amidst your days of toil.

Stillness is recognizing that you have your problems,
but worrying about them now
will do no further good.

Stillness is hoping to find your hopes again,
and to find answers
beyond those that didn’t work.

Stillness is opening up one’s heart
to find that deep silence within,
in that secure place
untouched by raging storms.

Stillness is a plea for help.
It is a hand surrendered in prayer.
Stillness is an invitation for mercy
so that one may find its way to peace.

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1. Humility

A child knows and recognizes his weakness.  He is not afraid to admit them nor does he try to hide them.  He knows he has yet much to learn and so he seeks teachers who could teach him those things.  He knows too, that he cannot do many things.  He cannot reach high objects.  He cannot read books.  He doesn’t know how a certain toy works.  But he knows the people who could help him and he engages their help.  People are always more than willing to help him in his smallness, in his humility.  Have you become too proud to learn new things or to ask help from others?

2. Wonder

There is always a sense of wonder in a child.  For a child, all things are new because he has seen them for the first time.  How long was it since you have allowed yourself to be in awe of something beautiful or interesting? Do you still look forward to experiencing something and relieving that excitement of tasting things for the very first time?

3. Hope

Hope for a child isn’t something that’s far from reality.  When he hopes, he expects, he believes.  At times, he is almost certain.  For us grownups, we have to have many proofs before we allow ourselves to hope.  Many times, all that we allow ourselves to feel is fear.  We’re anxious even if we couldn’t see the basis for many of our fears.  Is it easier to be afraid than to hold on to your hopes?

4. Trust

It’s a wonderful feeling to have when a child trusts you.  You could tell him anything and he’s always willing to believe.  You could lead him anywhere and he’ll only hold you tighter if he ever feels a bit nervous.

Isn’t it hard to help someone who doesn’t trust you?

5. Purity

A child’s intention is pure.  That’s one reason why his prayers are powerful.  When a child wants something, he tells you right away.  He doesn’t resort to all sorts of hidden agenda.  When he is sad, he cries.  When you give him something to cheer him up, he smiles right away and forgets his grief.

How do you feel right now?  Could you still define what pure sadness is?  Could you still feel that kind of joy that makes you want to dance like a little child once again?

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When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Annie Johnson Flint

2Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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