Words of Comfort

Words of Comfort from Psalm 121: 1-8

I will lift up my eyes to the hills-
from whence cometh my help?
My help cometh from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold. He who keeps Israel shall neither
slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your
shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike
you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve
your going out and your coming in from this time
forth and evermore.

 (cross reference:
Deuteronomy 28:6)

THE PLACE WHERE KINDNESS LIVES

The place where kindness lives is not so very far away

You'll stumble quite by chance upon its presence one sweet day

As if it were a dream, a gift, a treasure chest of gold

You'll walk into the depths and breadth of kindness unfortold

Some fortunate among us knew its essence long ago…

Childhood memories whisper warmth's sweet breeze as we grow old

Yet others of us wait till quite by happenstance it seems

The place where kindness lives, at last no longer crowds our dreams

At last we taste its sweet, sweet peace and breathe its fragrance new

And bask in fields of daisies _sunshine bright and daybreak's dew

And so we find the place where kindness lives not far away

Around our bend and up the street

A home where minds content retreat

A dwelling place where warm hearts meet

… This place where kindness lives

 

© October,  2012,  Carole Castagna

Dear Father,  
Help me to minister to  your people with your passion, compassion, love and grace.  Let me seek the lost and find them, reach out to them and touch them with your love, for Your honor and Your glory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Autumn's Dance

Autumn's Dance

Leaves, careless and playful,

dance against a rainbow,

flirting with the wind,

laughing "Catch Me If You Can"

in autumn's splendor.

Your majesty

commands first place

among the seasons,

fair autumn.

Drape your crimson-emerald gold

over my shoulders.

Stay a while and warm me with color

before winter breaks the day with

-cold and ice.

October morn, wait!

© carol castagna 2012

Companion Poem to Autumn's Dance:

Tango Wind-Song

Sundrenched autumn,

Strut your stuff.

Lift your leaves, flirtatious,

bare-backed, arched, victorious

to the tango wind.

Melon-persimmon and strawberry-pink

inspire a blush,

on a rust-spattered

mountain-side canvas,

slipping into sleep.

As dusk sweeps across a whisper

In the hush of early morning,

you feel the soft nudge of a wind-song,

beckoning,

“Yawn and stretch!”

to dance again at daybreak,

in the morning’s crackling crisp.

© 2015 Carol A. Castagna

Winter Statement - a poem

On the Northeastern Coast, the weather is still chilly in May.  What a stark contrast

for those of us who live in the warmth of Florida's sunshine. It has been quite

a winter for those Northern dwellers!  With all it's challenges, though, winter is a beautiful

season and claims it's own sweetness. The following poem glorifies God for all of winter's beauty...

 

Winter Statement

 

Ice-covered branches,

drenched in frost,

dripping in daybreak,

preside against a backdrop

of Tchaikovsky's Waltz.

I marvel at Your Winter Statement, Lord,

-at Your Winter Statement

of sight and of sound

and of the Great I Am!

This morning,

from my window,

in humble gratitude,

I praise You!

Prayer:

Dear Father, Thank You for the beautiful winter season and for all the lovely drapery of each season that follows as well.  Thank You

for Your favor in us.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

© carol castagna 2015

"Forget Not All His Benefits"

                                                                                                                                                       photo: © www.joypsalms.com

Jeramiah 31: 3

I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you.

Psalm 103

1.   Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me,

       bless His holy name!

2.   Bless the Lord, O, my soul,

       and forget not all His benefits:

3.   Who forgives all your iniquities,

       Who heals all your diseases,

4.   Who redeems your life from destruction,

       Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5.   Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

       so that your youth is renewed like eagle's.

....................................................................

8.   The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 

       abounding in mercy.

9.   He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep

       His anger, forever.

10.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor

       punished us according to our iniquities.

11.  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is

       His mercy toward those who fear Him:

12.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed

       our transgressions from us.

13.  As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.

14.  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

 

Prayer:

Thank You for Your abiding grace, Heavenly Father.  And for Your tender mercies

and endless love  -We are grateful, In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Scripture Photos and Photo -Courtesy Public Domain

 

 

© carol castagna 2015 www.joypsalms.com  

The Lord Gifts Us with His Holy Spirit

                                                       Dottie Rambo, Composer/Lyricist, is seen on screen.  Song,

                                                       "We Shall Behold Him," is sung by Sandy Patti.

                                                      

John 16: 1    These things have I spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.

Jesus warns us that the world will not look kindly upon us because they don't know Him

and actually hate Him.  Since we are followers of Jesus Christ, they feel the same way

about us.  Before Jesus ascends into heaven to the Father, He gifts us with the Holy Spirit

to lead and guide us through life's journey, until one day we shall see Him face to face.

John 16: 33    These things have I spoken to you that in Me you may have peace.  In the

world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Prayer:

Dear Father,

Thank you for leading us into Your holiness by Your truth.  Thank you for walking with us until the

day we walk with You on heaven's shores.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Inspiration taken from John 16

c carol castagna 2015

Mercy 4/27/15

"CAN A WOMAN FORGET HER NURSING CHILD AND NOT HAVE COMPASSION ON THE SON OF HER WOMB?                   SURELY, THEY MAY FORGET, YET I WILL NOT FORGET YOU.  SEE I HAVE INSCRIBED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HAND."     ISAIAH 49: 15, 16

Dear Father,

Thank You for Your mercy that is everlasting.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Life in Christ

Thank You for joy beyond compare

Thank You for gentle, tender care,

when pain I can no longer bear,

thank You for keeping me.

Thank you for raising me above.

Thank You for warm, unfailing lov,

and for your power that won't be moved.

Thank You for life in Christ.

When paths are blocked,

when doors are closed,

You lead me to your heart,

with sweet repose and make a way.

Thank You for joy of saving grace

and for the strength of Your embrace.

Thank You for life in Christ,

my all in all.

©  lyrics and music, mrs.c.a.castagna

original music on home page of this website, on right

                                                                                   Be Thou My VIsion   Selah

And Jesus Said: "I Am the Vine; You Are the Branches."

APRIL 20, 2015

John 15: 1, 2

"I am the vine and my Father is the true vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

John 15: 4, 5

"Abide in me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit:  for without Me you can do nothing."

 

Oh, how the Lord loves us!  His provision lifts us to be nurtured by Himself!  "We can do all things through Christ Who loved us and gave Himself for us."

 

Lyrics and Music by Kurt Kaiser:  Oh, How He Loves You and Me

Oh, How He loves you and me,

Oh, how He loves you and me.

He gave His life; what more could He give?

Oh, how He loves you.  Oh, how He loves me. Oh, how He loves you and me.

 

John 8: 38  

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

John: 14: 16, 17, 18

"And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, (The Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth.... I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving us.  Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit in this world to lead and guide.  Help us to be more like You every day.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

©   carol castagna 2015

www.joypsalms.com

Jesus's Promise: "Where I Am, There You Shall Be, Also." 4/17/15

बुधवार, ३ डिसेंबर, २०१४

Jesus's Promise: "Where I Am, There You Shall Be, Also." 4/17/15

BIBLE VERSE "For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands."   New Living Translation

And Jesus said...that where I am there you shall be also...

There are old, old, hymns that I remember from my childhood. The choruses go something like this:

THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME  (public domain/ author: unknown

This world, this world is not my home.

This world, this world is not my home.

This world is not my resting place.

This world, this world is not my home.

FARTHER ALONG  (public domain/author: Brad Parsely

Farther along, we'll know all about it

Farther along, we'll understand why.

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine.

We'll understand it... All... bye and bye.

FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS  (public domain/ author: Joseph C. Ludgate

Friendship with Jesus...

Fellowship divine!

Oh, what blessed, sweet communion.

Jesus is a Friend of mine.

I'VE GOT A MANSION OVER THE HILLTOP  (public domain/ author: Daniel O'Donnell

I've got a mansion, just over the hilltop

In that bright land where we'll never grow old

And someday yonder We will never more wonder

But walk on streets that are purest gold.

CHANGED IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE public domain/ author: Fanny Crosby, W.J. Kilpatrick

Changed in a twinkling of an eye

Changed in a twinkling of an eye.

The trumpet shall sound.

The dead shall be raised.

Changed in the twinkling of an eye!

KEEP ME TRUE public domain/ author: unknown

Keep me true, Lord Jesus. Keep me true.

Keep me true, Lord Jesus, Keep me true.

There's a race that I must run...

There are victories to be won.

Give me power, every hour, to be true.

IN THE SWEET BYE AND BYE (public domain)

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet  bye and bye,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

How blessed we are to know that this world is not the end of our soul's existence. The Lord has promised us that our souls wrapped in a new body will live on with Him in Eternity. How sweet, that we can rest on the promise that we are just passing through this life and that this earthly body will one day be transformed 'in a twinkling of an eye.'  Our trials on earth will be something similar to an eye-blink, when we reach those heavenly shores.  And there will be no sadness, there.       Romans 8: 31... We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 4: 16

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And theus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therfore comfort one another with these words.

                                Featuring Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patti sings "I've Just Seen Jesus"

                         

John 14:   2, 3, 6  And Jesus said:  In My Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you shall be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know... I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through Me.

PRAYER: THANK YOU, DEAR FATHER, FOR YOUR WORD THAT LIFTS US HIGH WITH THE HOPE THAT ONE DAY, WE SHALL BE WITH YOU AND SEE YOUR GLORIOUS FACE! ...AND SING AND REJOICE WITH THE ANGELS!  WE LOOK FORWARD WITH JOY TO THE DAY WHEN WE WORHSIP YOU FACE TO FACE!   WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL KEEP US FAITHFUL AND EVER-WATCHING AND READY FOR YOUR RETURN. PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS AND MATCHLESS NAME!   IN JESUS'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

copyright 10/2012 Carol Castagna

Children’s Happiness Song -original by carol

Great Grandpa and Scarlett

 *Music to the right on same page on                                                                                                   Google +

Great Grandma and Max

CHILDREN’S HAPPINESS SONG

He is with me by my side

Jesus is our Friend and Guide

I’m so glad that Jesus loves me

Let me share how glad He makes me.

Finger-snapping toe-tapping happiness

Lip-smacking, ice crackling happiness

Sun-sizzled, rain drizzled happiness.

(Chorus)          I’m so glad that Jesus loves me

Let me share how glad He makes me

Rainbow dazzled, hair-frazzled happiness

Dizzy, frizzy, swervey, curvy happiness

Ice-cream dripping – running, skipping happiness.

(Chorus)   I’m so glad that Jesus loves me

Let me share how glad He makes me

Puddle-slushing, water-gushing happiness

Kite-soaring, falls roaring happiness

Garden-planted, health-granted happiness

(Ending Chorus)

I’m so glad that Jesus loves me

I have shared how glad He makes me

He’s the One that I will love forevermore.

I Timothy 4: 12

Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believer in word, conversation,

Spirit, faith, purity

Mark 10:16    And Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.