Fleeting Years

It seemed just yesterday whistles blew ,

   And sirens shrieked a mighty cheer .

When merry makers jammed the midnight streets  

   To welcome in the glad New Year .

Only a little while since then it seems

     We faced the year with joyful heart .

And in the song and cheer of happy souls

    Our festive spirits were apart .

We looked with bright prospects upon the year

     To try what we had tried before

To give to Christ and to lost human kind

    A yielded heart to serve Him more .

But now the year has swiftly fled away .

     And we are left with little done .

The many tasks that we had planned to do ,

     It seems that have just begun .

So swiftly flies the fleeting hours away ;

     So soon the precious days are o’er ;

Unless we hasten in Master’s work ,

     We’ll fail , just as we did before.

The old year’s gone , but – in thy hand the new .

      Another chance has come and show .

As stewards of the year ,we must not fall

     A faithful service  to bestow .

We cannot stop the passing of the hours ,

     Nor to our heart hold back the day .

Just as it came , so it must soon depart ,

     And leave us on our weary way .

But one thing there is left for every man

     Within harvest field to do ,

And Grace is giv’n  to carry out God ‘s plan ,

     Before the old year  changes out God’s   plan                                                                                                                          

Like a Brook

Like a Brook 

Life is time of changing courses ,
Changing moods and altered wills –
Like a brook that changes pathways
Through the woodlands , fields and hills;
It is time of changing values –
From beginning to its end –
Where we choose ,with growing wisdoms ,
Newer courses ; better friends.

There are years of rushing splendors ,
Reckless thrills and lustful fonds;
Times of tears that flood and threaten
Loves of life and human bonds;
Years of struggle – trail and error –
When we reach for higher goals ,
Searching life for truths and comforts
That are balm for heart and soul .

Then there come the years of ebbing ,
In the quiet pool of life ,
Where there are no rushing waters-
No demands of youth or strife ;
Graceful years that hold no changes
For our courses , wills and ways –
Where the Lords makes calm the waters
That precede our Judgment Day .
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !!

   A Sunset Lesson

This evening I saw the sun set

   Behind the mountain dim ;

It dropped from behind a beautiful cloud ,

   All gold around its rim .

And as the sun sank down to rest ,

   Beneath its bed of gold ,

It filled my soul with rapture ,

   Its beauty to behold .

O that my life ,at close of day ,

    May be as supremely bright ,

As I pass on from this present world

     To the realms of endless light ;

That a golden crown may await me there .

     As bright as this golden sky ,

And that I may dwelt forever there ,

    In that beautiful home on high

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Courage To Live

Courage 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,s 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

       A Crushed Rose

O, beautiful rose , please tell me ,

For I would like to know ,

Why I must crush your petals

That the sweet perfume may flow ,

O , life that  is clothed in beauty

Perhaps like that wonderful rose

You will need to be crushed by  suffering

If the radiance of  your life must glow

A life that is crushed by sorrow

Can feel for another’s grief ,

And send out that fragrance of love

That will bring some heart relief ,

O , do not repine at your testing

When called to pass under the rod ;

For your life the sweeter will be

If blessed by the hand of God

Then let us rejoice when He sendeth

Some sorrow or hardship that tries

And be glad to be crushed as a rose leaf

That a sweeter perfume may arise.