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	Comforting Thoughts For Living – Page 5   Assurance In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8 : 37-39 These words mean that no matter what happens, nothing can separate us from God's love and protection. The secret is to build up in your mind, day by day, the knowledge and realization of God's presence and his love for you. Dwell on this mentally until it becomes an unshakeable fact. N V Peale, from Thought Conditioners.     The Art of Parenthood Our children are watching us live, and what we are shouts louder than anything we can say. When we encircle them with love, they will be loving. When we are thankful for life's blessings, they will be thankful. When we express friendliness, they will be friendly. When we speak words of praise, they will praise others. When we set an example of honesty, our children will be honest. When we practice tolerance, they will be tolerant. When we confront misfortune with a gallant spirit, they will learn to live bravely. When our lives affirm our faith in the enduring values of life, they will rise above doubt and skepticism. We can't stand there pointing our finger to the heights we want our children to scale. We must start climbing, and they will follow.   ..............................   How to Build a Home The walls of a home are not built of wood, brick, or stone, but of truth and loyalty. Unpleasant sounds, the friction of living, the clash of personalities, are not deadened by Persian rugs or polished floors, but by conciliation, concession, and self-control. The home is not a structure where bodies meet, but a hearthstone upon which flames mingle, separate flames of souls, which, the more perfectly they unite, the more clearly they shine and the straighter they rise toward heaven. Your home is your fortress in a warring world, where a woman's hand buckles on your armour in the morning and soothes your fatigue and wounds at night. The beauty of a home is harmony. The security of a home is loyalty. The joy of a home is love. The plenty of a home is in children. The rule of a home is service. The comfort of a home is in contented spirits. The maker of a home, of a real human home, is God himself, the same who made the stars and built the world.     Gratitude Our Father, as we gather under this roof, sharing the events and feelings of the day, we give you thanks for our home. The warmth and coolness, the order and colour of the furnishings, the taste of good food, the feel of clean clothes — all reinforce spoken words of love and discipline. Thoughts of others who have no house, or whose family is not really a family, press in upon us — sometimes disturbing our sense of well-being. Free us from crippling feelings of quiet. Replace them with the kind of love for you and for them that gives added meaning and purpose of life. Show us how to be bridges between their lives and you — how to share this home. We pray in the name of Jesus who came to open the way into one family. Amen. Sara B Harrison   ..............................   Reflections We walk by faith, not by sight. Sorrow is a fruit: God does not make it grow on limbs too weak to bear it. Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue in order that they should see twice as much as they say. To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.     Meditation Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and, Where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not, So much seek to be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love, For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Prayer of St Francis of Assisi   From Voices United Voices United is the United Church's latest hymn and worship book, published in 1997. It is an excellent treasure of hymns, prayers, responses, psalms and many other worship resources. Some of this material is presented in these pages for your meditations. The words of the hymns make thoughtful sources for comfort.   It Only Takes a Spark   (Pass It On) It only takes a spark to get a fire going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing: That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it: You spread God's love to everyone, you want to pass it on. What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding, The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming; That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it: You want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you want to pass it on. I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found On God you can depend, it matters not where you're bound; I'll shout it from the mountain top; I want my world to know: The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.     The Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. English Language Liturgical Consultation, 1988   A New Creed We are not alone, we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
	The music, American Reverie, ©2000 LLERRAH, Inc is sequenced and performed by Margi Harrell and is used with her permission. If you wish to use Ms Harrell's music you must contact her at http://www.llerrah.com/ where you will find many wonderful midis as well as CDs for sale!