The Water Mill

Listen to the water mill ,

Through the live-long day ,

How the clanking of its wheel

Wears the hours aways !

Languidly the autumn wind

Stirs the forest leaves

From the field the reapers sing .

Binding up their sheaves ;

And a proverb haunts my mind ,

As a spell is cast :

“The mill cannot grind

with the water that is past “

Autumn winds revive no more

Leaves that once are shed ,

And the sickle cannot reap

Corn once gathered :

Flows the ruffed streamlet on,

Tranquil ,deep ,and still ,

Never gliding back again

To the water mill ;

Truly speaks the proverb old ,

With a meaning vast ,-“

“The mill cannot grind

With the water that is past .”

Take the lesson to thyself

True and loving heart ;

Golden youth is fleeting by ,

Summer hours depart ;

Learn to make the most of life ,

Lose no happy day ;

Time will never bring you back

Chances swept away !

Leave no tender word unsaid ,

Love while love shall last ;

‘The mill cannot grind

With the water that is past. “

O the wasted hours of life

That have drifted by !

O the good that might have been ,-

Lost ,without a sigh !

Love ,that we might once have saved

By a single word .

Thoughts conceived but never penned ,

Perishing unheard :-

Take the proverb to thine heart ,

Take , and hold it fast ,-

“The mill cannot grind

with the water that is past .”

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Landen is waiting on an operating room at GHS, needs a new shunt to drain fluid off his brain. Doctors made a hole in his skull last night to let fluid drain and Landen woke up, which is good. This is Clayton Burdette's grandson, please keep prayers going for Landen. 4 pm, July 11. Please be in Prayer for him . And sister Judy Howard !

I Love To Steal Awhile away

I love to steal awhile away

From every cumbering care ,

And spend the hours of setting day

In humble , grateful prayer .

I love in solitude to shed

The penitential tear ,

And all his promises to plead ,

Where none but God can hear .

I love to think on mercies past ,

And all my cares and sorrows cast

On him whom I adore .

I love by faith to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heaven ;

The prospect doth my strength renew ,

While here by tempest driven

Thus ,when life’s toilsome day is o’ver ,

May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour ,

And lead to endless day .

Jan Bagwell
God  Bless

THE SEEKERS

One asked a sign from God ;and day by day

The sun arose in pearl ,in scarlet set ,

Each night the stars appeared in bright array ,

Each morn the thirsting grass with dew was wet .

The corn failed not its harvest ,nor the vine .

And yet he saw no sign .

One longed to hear a prophet ;and he strayed

Through crowded streets ,and by the open sea .

He saw men send their ships for distant trade ,

And build for generations yet to be .

He saw the farmer sow his acres wide ,

But went unsatisfied .

One prayed for a sight of heaven ;

He saw a workman at his noontime rest .

He saw one dare for honor ,and the smile

Of one who held a babe upon her breast;

At dusk two lovers walking hand in hand ;

But did not understand .

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Courage To Live

Couraage To Live :

To those who have tried and seemingly have failed ,

Reach out ,dear Lord , and comfort them today ;

For those whose hope has dimmed ,whose faith has paled,

Lift up some lighted heavenly torch , I pray .

They are so frightened ,Lord ;reach out a hand .

They are so hurt and helpless ; be their friend .

Baffled and blind ,they do not understand –

They think this dark and tangled road the end .

Oh ,touch to flame their hope that has burned low ,

And strike with fire faith, ashes that are dead .

Let them walk proudly once again ,and go

Seeking the sure and steadfast light ahead .

Help them to move among their fellow men

With courage to live ,courage to try again .

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

No , brothers and sisters , I am not sick , I only can write

what God give me . I sit down and pray and write what

 comes in my head . I feel it a gift God has given me to share with others . I think there a person or persons reading  this blog

that in trouble .Please know that God knows and help is coming  

Five Minutes After I Die Saved

Loved ones will watch for the latest breath ;

Tenderly care for the dust of death ;

Joyously speak of the victor’s wreath ,

Five minutes after I die .

Faces of saints who have gone before ;

Anthems of praise on that golden shore ;

Jesus exalted forevermore

Five minutes after I die .

Here, as a pilgrim and stranger I’ve ranged

Staff in my hand ,to the world estranged ;

Then ,pilgrim days past –oh what a change !

Five minutes after I die .

Perfect the conscience that once sin stirred ;

The blood has atoned ,and its voice is heard ;

Welcomed are all who believed God’s Word ,

Five minutes after I die .

Mated for aye to heaven’s glad throng ,

Long is eternited ,but not too long –

“Praise to the Lamb once slain ,”my glad song ,

five minutes after I die  .

Oh, what a prospect !The Word is true ;

Trusting the Saviour ,and born anew ,

Heaven I enter ,God’s glory to view ,

Five minutes after I die .

I am not flinging a fortune away :

I have believed in salvation’way :

God will fulfil what His Word doth say ,

Five minutes after I die .

Thanks be to Jesus for pardon free !

He paid my debt on Mt Calvary’s tree .

Paradise gates will enfold even me ,

Fives minutes after I die .

Oh marvelous grace that has rescued me !

Oh joyous moment when Jesus I see !

Oh happy day when like Him I’ll be .

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !