TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3

Monday, January 26, 2015

17th CENTURY PRAYER

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking



http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

I found this 17th Century Prayer  two decades ago, when I was working as a Community Life Director at a retirement community for senior citizens.  
 
Copyright 1997 Marcia Norwood

I hoped the humor and wisdom in this prayer would help residents who had become  sour in their old age.

I asked GOD to remind me when I got older - to heed the advice in this centuries old prayer.  

The title of the prayer is traditional.  

The author is unknown.

Here's the prayer I'm praying for myself today.

Who else will pray through it with me?





17th CENTURY PRAYER



LORD
Thou knowest better than I know myself
that I am growing older, 
and will some day be old.

Keep me from the fatal habit 
of thinking I must say something
on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving 
to straighten out everybody’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful, but no moody…
helpful, but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom, 
it seems a pity not to use it all,
but Thou knowest, LORD
that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free 
from the recital of endless details.

Give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains.

They are increasing, 
and love of rehearsing them
is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough 
to enjoy the tales of others’ pains,
but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility, 
and a lessening cocksureness
when my memory seems to clash 
with the memories of others.

Teach me the glorious lesson 
hat occasionally, I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet.

I do not want to be a saint…
some of them are too hard to live with.

But a sour, old person 
is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability 
to see good things in unexpected places,
and talents in unexpected people.

And give me, O LORD
the grace to tell them so.

Amen




 Thanks for stopping by.

Come back often, and invite a friend.

Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood
Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

 
 

Sunday, January 18, 2015

ENLIGHTEN WHAT'S DARK IN ME

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking



http://tellmeastory-marcia.blospot.com/

How long has it been since you
talked with GOD?

HE can be trusted
to work miracles in our heart and mind.


 
Dear God,

Enlighten what's dark in me...

Strengthen what's weak in me...
Mend what's broken in me...
Bind what's bruised in me...
Heal what's sick in me...
     and lastly...
Revive whatever peace and love 
Has died in me.

Amen


Thanks for stopping by!
 
Come back often, and invite a friend!
 
Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
 
 

 
 


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

AGAINST EVIL

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/


I was still shaking hours after watching the movie,  UNBROKEN. 

This  true story is filled with such cruelty.  

Man's  inhumanity to man is pure evil.    

UNBROKEN is the story of  Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war - only to be captured by the Japanese navy after a plane crash.   

It is amazing that Louis Zamperini survived.  He ultimately forgave his Japanese captors through his faith in God.  

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:
 http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=unbroken+movie&FORM=VIRE2#view=detail&mid=47B873A61B715B44FC1247B873A61B715B44FC12

www.louiszamperini.net

Do you ever 
just sit and wonder about things?




 Ever wonder if evil goes unpunished?

 Do you ever wonder if GOD hears your cries?
 

 Does GOD seem far away? 

You are not alone.

 Emmanuel means GOD is with us. 

Evil will not go unpunished.


   LISTEN 
to GOD's promises.

 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
 Psalm 34: 16

 
 
 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
 Psalm 34: 17
 




 

 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
 Psalm 34: 18


 


Psalm 34  

New King James Version (NKJV)

1   I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2   My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4   I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

5   They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.

6   This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.

7   The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8   Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9   Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.

10   The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

11   Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12   Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?

13   Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.

14   Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15   The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.

16   The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17   The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18   The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19   Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20   He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.

21   Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22   Thee Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34&version=NKJV


You're an overcomer! 
You're not going under.
GOD is holding you.


Overcomer 
by Mandisa

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v24tLxsxGHM





YOU ARE I AM
By Mercy Me
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:

WE ARE THE BROKEN
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:

GREATER
By Mercy Me
"Bring your tired.
Bring your shame.
Bring your guilt, and
bring your pain.
Don't you know that's not your name.
You will always be much more to me."
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:


HE KNOWS MY NAME
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:

REMIND ME WHO I AM
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:


MY BROKEN  Hallelujah
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:


HOPE IN FRONT OF ME
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE in your browser:


I am praying for you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!



 Marcia Norwood

America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking