Mary At the Cross:

And Mary stood beside the cross !Her soul
Pierced with the self- same wound that rent His side
Who hung thereon .She watched Him ,as He died .
Her son! Saw Him paying the cruel toll
Exacted by the law ,and unbelief ,
Since He their evil will had dared defy .
There stood the mother helpless in her grief ,
Beside the cross ,and saw her frist-born die !

How many mothers in how many lands
Have bowed with Mary in her agony ,
In silence borne the wrath of war’s commands ,
When every hill is made a Calvary !

O pity , Lord ,these mothers of the slain ,
And grant their dead shall not have died in vain .
Jan Bagwell

People that want to go to Heaven

If you dont enjoy the church you wont enjoy Heaven.

If you dont enjoy worship you wont enjoy Heaven.

If you dont enjoy a relationship with God you wont enjoy Heaven.

ANGELS IN THE ALLEY

Diane, a young Christian University student, was
home for the summer.had gone to visit some friends
one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the
past year. She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk
home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived
only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her Safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it, however, halfway down the alley she
noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling
of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived Home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the
same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by
this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police
station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.
The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could
identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately
broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one
question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.When the policeman asked him,He answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her." Moral of the story? Don't underestimate the power of Prayer.
Gives you Goosebumps doesn't it!

God Bless !!
Jan Bagwell

GOD OF OUR LIFE THROUGH ALL THE CIRCLING YEARS

God of our life ,through all the circling years,
We trust in Thee ;
In all the past ,through all our hopes and fears,
Thy hand we see .
With each new day ,when morning lifts the veil ,
We own Thy mercies , Lord ,which never fail .

God of the past ,our times are in Thy hand ;
With us abide .
Lead us faith to hope’s true Promised Land ;
Be Thou our guide .
With Thee to bless ,the darkness shines as light ,
And faith’s fair vision changes into sight .

God of the coming years ,through paths unknown
We follow Thee ;
When we are strong ,Lord ,leave us not alone ;
Our Refuge be .
Be Thou for us in life our Daily Bread ,
Our heart’s true Home when all our years have sped .
Jan Bagwell

There are Blessings in Everything

There Are Blessings in Everything

Blessings come in many guises
That God alone in love devises,
And sickness which we dread so much
Can bring a very healing touch –
For often on the wings of pain
The peace we sought before in vain
Will come to us with sweet surprise
For God is merciful and wise –
And through long hours of tribulation
God gives us time for meditation , and no sickness can be counted a loss
That teaches us to bear our cross .
Jan Bagwell

A PRAYER

Teach me , Father , how to go
Softly as the grass grow ;
Hush my soul to meet the shock
Of the wild world as a rock ;
But my spirit ,rop with power ,
Make as simple as a flower .
Let the dry heart fill its cup ,
Like a poppy looking up ;
Let life lightly wear her crown ,
Like a poppy looking down .

Teach me , Father ,how to be
Kind and patient as a tree .
Joyfully the crickets croon
Under shady oak at noon ;
Beetle ,on his mission bent ,
Tarries in that cooling tent .
Let me ,also, cheer a nook,
Place for friendly bread or book –
Place where passing souls can rest
On the way and be their best .
Jan Bagwell

In the garden of the Lord

IN THE GARDEN OF THE LORD :

The word of God came unto to me ,
Sitting alone among the multitudes;
And my blind eyes were touched with light .
And there was laid upon my lips a flame of fire .

I laugh and shout ,for life is good ,
Though my feet are set in silent ways .
In merry mood I leave the crowd
To walk in my garden . Even as I walk
I gather fruits and flowers in my hands .
And with joyful heart I bless the sun
That kindles all the place with radiant life .
I run with playful winds that blow the scent

Of rose and jessamine in eddying whirls .
At last I come where tall lilies grow ,
Lifting their faces like white saints to God .
While the lilies pray ,I kneel upon the ground ;
I have strayed into the holy temple of the Lord .
Jan Bagwell

Though I walk Through the Shadow of Death

Though I Walk Through The Shadow of Death

I still remember that day. I was home with my husband and we
had a visitor. We heard a knock. I went to open the door and
standing there was a friend of mine who stayed in the same
building as ours.

I thought it was a normal visit but to my surprise she started
crying. Many thoughts went through my mind. What has happened?
Is it death in the family? I just couldn't figure out until she
started to narrate a terrible ordeal that she had just gone
through.

She told us that three gunmen attacked her in the safety of her
own home. They wanted to rape her but they did not. They
however, managed to tie her up and steal electronic gadgets from
her flat.

She was so afraid and shaken. I still remember how angry I
became. Just a week before I had fasted with her in prayer for
her protection. It was just like my prayers were redundant. I
became so angry with God, at the time I felt so afraid, so
vulnerable!

I thought that if God did not hear my prayer for her then how
assured can I be that he will hear any of my prayers. How
assured could I be that Psalm 91, which I always speak over my
family's life, is true?

In the days that followed, fear gripped me like never before.
The thought of waking up in the morning and going out scared me.
A knock on the door pushed me to the edge. Every time I looked
at a person I kept on thinking they may attack me.

I was almost at the brink of losing my faith. Then I read
issue, "Call Grace." That day I went home, sat on my
couch and started thinking. In my Christian walk I have gone
through a lot. Why is it that this situation has shaken me so
much to the point of almost losing faith?

I realized that all I saw was that moment. I never dared to
look at the bigger picture. I never dared to thank God that my
friend was not harmed. I never dared to thank God that her life
was spared in the ordeal. I realized that this was God's way of
showing me that on my own I am vulnerable.

It was His way of teaching me to trust Him even in the hardest
situations, and that for me was a Moment of faith.

Though I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil. Even though the devil sends his arrows my
way, I know for sure he will not succeed to destroy my faith.

I now have learned that whether we are on top of the mountain or
down in the valley, God will still be God. Through these
lessons, I have courage to wake again and face everyone with a
smile on my face and most of all to trust in Him at all cost.
Thank you , Brother Jan Bagwell , for your words of wisdom ,
Please never stop writing !
Original by Grace Kumwenda, South Africa~