Happy the man that finds the grace

Happy the man that finds the grace,
The blessing of God's chosen race,
The wisdom coming from above,
The faith that sweetly works by love.

Happy beyond description he
Who knows, The Saviour died for me,
The gift unspeakable obtains,
And heavenly understanding gains.

Wisdom divine! Who tells the price
Of wisdom's costly merchandise
Wisdom to silver we prefer,
And gold is dross compared to her.

Her hands are filled with length of days,
True riches, and immortal praise,
Riches of Christ, on all bestowed,
And honour that descends from God.

To purest joys she all invites,
Chaste, holy, spiritual delights;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her flowery paths are peace.

Happy the man who wisdom gains,
Thrice happy who his guest retains!
He owns, and shall for ever own,
Wisdom, and Christ, and heaven are one.

As I grow old

AS I GROW OLD

As I grow old it seems that I
Grow old as grows the western sky
When day is coming to its close :
For life takes on a tint of rose
I had not known in life’s hot noon .
I see new stars I had not seen ,
A surer faith ,a peace serene ,
As I grow old .

As I grow old , like men at even ,
I turn my eyes again to heaven ,
That were so busy with the earth :
And there I find the things of worth ,
The things most beautiful of all .
Upon the world a fairer light ,
A golden glean ,a beacon bright ,
As I grow old .

As I grow old the winds of life
Die down ,the hate ,the hurt ,the strife .
The waters calm ,the waves are still .
I want no triumph, wish no ill
To any man . now from my heart
The ancient angers all depart .
New friends I know ,news songs are sung ,
New joys are mine – yes ,I grow young
As I grow old
Jan Bagwell
God Bless and kept you

As I’ve Walked Thru Life

I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life .
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words .It may be the last time you see them .
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do no matter how we feel .
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you .
I’ve learned that heros are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences
I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up .
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow ‘even over the longest distance .
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have .
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less top do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated .
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is , they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that .
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others , sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are , but we are responsible for who we become .
I’ve learned that just because two people argue ,it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue ,it doesn’t mean they do .
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends chang .
I’ve learned tht two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different .
I learned that even when you think you have no more to give ,when a fiend cries out to you ,you will find the strength to help
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being .
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from too soon .
I’ve learned that family and friends are what make us who we are today ,and without them we would never be complete .
Jan Bagwell

A Sure Way to A Happy Day

Happinness is something we create in mind ,
It’s not something we search for and seldom find ,
IT’S JUST waking up and beginning the day
By counting our blessing and kneeling to pray ,
It’s giving up thoughts that breed discontent
And accepting what comes as a gift heaven-sent,
It’s giving up wishing for things we have not
And making the best of whatever we’ve got ,
It’s knowing that life is determined for us ,
And pursuing our tasks without fret , fume , or fuss ,
For it’s by completing what God gives us to do
That we find real contentment and happiness ,too .
Jan BAGWELL

Faith's Touch , Faith's Wonder

Faith's Touch, Faith's Wonder


“That I might touch the hem of His garment,
Reach down and touch the tassel of blue.”
Breaking the stern Levitical commandment
Which declared her defiled and under a curse
[Chapter fifteen, dreaded twenty-fifth verse],
She stooped and touched – and oh the feeling
Of coming out of a grave, of instant healing,
The flow arrested, and resurrection health!

Those painful years of perpetual pleading
With Jewish physicians, adept in bleeding
Patients to death; broken and bleeding,
She had lost all her wealth.
She stooped and touched – her heart reeling
With torrents of joy at the miracle of healing;
She came and fell at the feet of the Lord
[Jesus, Saviour, Healer, God! ];
Narrated her story, fearing and trembling,
The terrible years of quacksalving remembering,
Tears of joy she could not arrest. The disciples’ blunder,
Ignorant of faith [its touch and wonder],
Unable to grasp the Lord's benediction:
“Your faith has healed you; be healed of your affliction! ”

Because I'm Human

Because I’m Human
Because I am not perfect ,
My best intentions seen
To sometimes miss fillment ,
Like the texture of a dream ,
And I wage a daily battle ,
That I very often lose ,
Between the things that matter,
And the ones I seen to choose .

Because I am no angel ,
I am easy to mislead ,
In spite of what I know is right ,
I’m swayed by pride and greed .
Sometimes I think I love the world
Too much to want to leave ,
Though Eternity awaits me ,
And all that I believe ,

My free will is a problem ,
How easy it would be ,
If God made the decisions ,
And took the job from me
But in this there is no merit ,
I am very well aware ,
So I have to work for Heaven ,
Every moment I am here.

And just because I’m human ,
It might take a little long ,
To be come what I was meant to be ,
Since I’m really not that strong .
So I’ll just keep on a trying ,
and I’ll live from day to day ,
For my spirit is immortal ,
…Though my body’s made of clay ,
Jan Bagwell
8/12/04

If Tomorrow Starts Without Me...

If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,



That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
The thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,



From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things
You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
Jan Bagwell