MEMORIAL POEMS

POEMS FOR EVERYONE

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day,
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that I once had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be said.

Christina Georgina Rossetti

Loving Memories (Your Gentle Face)

Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness we recall,
You had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true,
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you.
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be,
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by we miss you more.
Your loving smile, your gentle face,
No one can fill your empty place.

Author Unknown

I Am Always With You

I am always with you
When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do,
You mustn't tie yourself to me with too many tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
How much you've given me in happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
But now it is time I traveled on alone.
So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
That it is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away for life goes on.
And if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then, when you come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and a "Welcome Home".

Author Unknown

The Fallen Limb

A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says, "Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.
The good life I lived while I was strong.
Continue my heritage, I'm counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small.
Go on with your life, don't worry about falls
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes we're together again.

Author Unknown

The Broken Chain

I little knew that morning. God was going to call your name,
In life I loved you dearly, in death I do the same.
It broke my heart to lose you, you did not go alone,
for part of me went with you, the day God called you home.
You left me beautiful memories your love is still my guide,
and though we cannot see you, you're always at my side.
Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Ron Tranmer

Do Not Stand At my Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I did not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

While Waiting for Thee

Don't weep at my grave,
For I am not there,
I've a date with a butterfly
To dance in the air.
I'll be singing in the sunshine,
Wild and free,
Playing tag with the wind,
While I'm waiting for thee.
The Comfort and Sweetness of Peace
After the clouds, the sunshine,
after the winter, the spring,
after the shower, the rainbow,
for life is a changeable thing.
After the night, the morning,
bidding all darkness cease,
after life's cares and sorrows,
the comfort and sweetness of peace.

Helen Steiner Rice

Life is but a Stopping Place

Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord

Author unknown

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free.

Author unknown

Crossing Over

Oh, please don't feel guilty
It was just my time to go.
I see you are still feeling sad,
And the tears just seem to flow.
We all come to earth for our lifetime,
And for some it's not many years
I don't want you to keep crying
You are shedding so many tears.
I haven't really left you
Even though it may seem so.
I have just gone to my heavenly home,
And I'm closer to you than you know.
Just believe that when you say
my name, I'm standing next to you,
I know you long to see me,
But there's nothing I can do.
But I'll still send you messages
And hope you understand,
That when your time comes to
across over, I'll be there
to take your hand.

Author unknown

Memories Build a Special Bridge

Our memories build a special bridge when loved ones have to part
to help us feel we're with them still and sooth a grieving heart.
Our memories span the years we shared, preserving ties that bind,
They build a special bridge of love and bring us peace of mind.

Emily Matthews

Love Lives On

Those we love are never really lost to us - we feel them in so many special ways-
through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind, in
beauty that they added to our days... in words of wisdom we still carry with us
and memories that never will be gone... Those we love are never really lost to
us - For everywhere their special love lives on.

A. Bradley

Say Not, They Die, Those Splendid Souls

Say not, they die, those splendid souls,
Whose life is winged with purpose fine;
Who leave us, pointed to the goals;
Who learn to conquer and resign.
Such cannot die; they vanquish time,
And fill the world with glowing light,
Making the human life sublime
With memories of their secret might.
They cannot die whose lives are part
Of the great life that is to be;
Whose hearts beat with the world's great heart,
And throb with its high intensity.
Those souls are great, who, dying, gave
A gift of greater life to man;
Death stands abashed before the brave;
They own a life death cannot ban.

Author unknown

Poem of Life

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord.

Author unknown

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And
sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, lon I stood And looked
down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair. And
having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay. In leave
so step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet
knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh.
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took
the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Lee Frost

When I Am Gone

When I am gone, release me - let me go
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that we had so many years. I gave you love,
you can only guess, how much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love each have shown,
but now it is time I traveled alone.
So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must,
then let your grief be comforted by trust
It is only for a while that we must part
so bless those memories within your heart.
I will not be far away, for life goes on.
so if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you cannot see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All of my love around you, soft and clear.
Then when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home"

Author unknown

I Have a Place in Heaven

I have a place in heaven
Please don't sing sad songs for me,
Forget your grief and fears,
For I am in a perfect place
Away from pain and tears.
It's far away from hunger
And hurt and want and pride,
I have a place in Heaven
With the Master at my side.
My life on earth was very good,
As earthly life can go,
But Paradise is so much more
Than anyone can know.
My heart is filled with happiness
And sweet rejoicing, too.
To walk with God is perfect peace,
A joy forever new.

Author unknown

God Took Him To His Loving Home

God saw him getting tired, a cure was not to be.
He wrapped him in his loving arms and whispered "Come with me".
He suffered much in silence, his spirit did not bend.
He faced his pain with courage, until the very end.
He tried so hard to stay with us but his fight was not in vain,
God took him to His loving home and freed him from the pain.

Author unknown

Faith

You will not see me, so you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar
together again, both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to its fullest and when
you need me, just whisper my name in your heart, ...I will be there.

Emily Dickenson

RELIGIOUS POEMS

The Resurrection Prayer

I am the resurrection and the Life,
Saith the Lord: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.
I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
and though his body be destroyed, yet shall I see GOD: whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in
green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He
guides me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are
with me; Your rod and Your staff, They comfort me. You prepare a table before
me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And
I will dwell in the house of the Lord - forever.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

(Alternative)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will
be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our
sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now
and for ever. Amen

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to
change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships
as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I
would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His
will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with
Him forever in the next.
Amen.

PEACE

Lord, Make me a channel of thy peace- That where there is hatred, I may bring love; That where there is wrong, I may bring
the spirit of forgiveness; That
where there is discord, I may bring harmony; That where there is error, I may
bring truth; That where there is doubt, I may bring faith; That where there is
despair, I may bring hope; That where there are shadows, I may bring light;
That where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek
rather to comfort than to be comforted; To understand, than be understood;
To love, than be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by
forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to find - Eternal
Life.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace; Where there is hatred, let me
sow Love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness,
joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled,
as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it
is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in
dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

A Season

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

A Prayer For The Dead

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.

Lord Of All We Praise You

Lord of all, we praise you
for all who have entered into their rest
and reached the promised land where you are seen face to face.
Give us grace to follow in their footsteps
as they followed in the way of your Son.
Thank you for the memory of those you have called to yourself:
by each memory, turn our hearts from things seen to things unseen,
and lead us till we come to the eternal rest
you have prepared for your people,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.

Little Angels

When god calls little children to dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child,
who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold,
so He picks a rosebud, before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them, and so he takes but few
to make the land of heaven more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still somehow we must try,
the saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye"
So when a little child departs, we who are
left behind must realize God loves children,
angels are hard to find.

God's Garden

God looked around his garden
And found an empty place,
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, "Peace bethine".
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn't go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

Author unknown

Free

God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,
and whispered, “come to me.
“You didn’t deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.

Author unknown

I Have a Place In Heaven

I have a place in heaven
Please don’t sing sad songs for me,
Forget your grief and fears,
For I am in a perfect place
Away from pain and tears.
It’s far away from hunger
And hurt and want and pride,
I have a place in Heaven
With the Master at my side.
My life on earth was very good,
As earthly life can go,
But Paradise is so much more
Than anyone can know.
My heart is filled with happiness
And sweet rejoicing, too.
To walk with God is perfect peace,
A joy forever new.
Author Unknown

Footprints

One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord,
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there was only one.
This bothered me because I noticed
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed you,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed during the most trying periods
Of my life there has only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
Have you not been there for me?
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
It was then that I carried you.”

Stopping Place

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what’s to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay…
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some the journey’s slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We’ll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord

Author unknown

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free.

Author unknown

POEMS FOR MOM

She is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins

The Magic of a Mother's Touch

There's magic in a Mother's touch,
and sunshine in her smile.
There's love in everything she does
to make our lives worthwhile.
We can find both hope and courage
Just by looking in her eyes.
Her laughter is a source of joy,
her works are warm and wise.
There is a kindness and compassion
to be found in her embrace,
and we see the light of heaven
shining from a Mother's face.

Author unknown

My Mother Kept A Garden

My Mother kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
She planted all the good things,
That gave my life it's start.
She turned me to the sunshine,
And encouraged me to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rains came,
She protected me enough;
But not too much, she knew I'd need
To stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example,
Always taught me right from wrong;
Markers for my pathway
To last my whole life long.
I am my Mother's garden,
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love,
Reflected back from me.

Unknown

The Mother

There will be a singing in your heart,
There will be a rapture in your eyes;
You will be a woman set apart,
You will be so wonderful and wise.
You will sleep, and when from dreams your start,
As of one that wakes in Paradise,
There will be a singing in your heart,
There will be a rapture in your eyes.
There will be a moaning in your heart,
There will be an anguish in your eyes,
You will see your dearest ones depart,
You will hear their quivering good-byes.
You will be the heart-ache and the smart,
Tears that scald and lonely sacrifice;
There will be a moaning in your heart,
There will be an anguish in your eyes.
There will come a glory in your eyes,
There will come a peace within your heart;
Singing ‘neath the quiet evening skies,
Time will dry the tear and dull the smart.
You will know that you have played your part,
You shall be the love that never dies:
You, with Heaven’s peace within your heart,
You, with God’s own glory in your eyes.

Robert Service

A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

Helen Steiner Rice

Irish Funeral Prayer For Mom

You can only have one mother
Patient kind and true;
No other friend in all the world,
Will be the same to you.
When other friends forsake you,
To mother you will return,
For all her loving kindness,
She asks nothing in return.
As we look upon her picture,
Sweet memories we recall,
Of a face so full of sunshine,
And a smile for one and all.
Sweet Jesus, take this message,
To our dear mother up above;
Tell her how we miss her,
And give her all our love.

Author Unknown

What is a Mom?

A mom is one of life's best gifts,
Someone to treasure all life through,
She's caring and loving,
Thoughtful and true,
Someone who is always a special part of your life,
Someone who holds a prime place in your heart,
She's a mentor, a confident and also a friend,
Someone on whose love you can depend.
A mom always has your best interests at heart,
She's someone so dear and so good,
She's a blessing, she's a gift,
She's a treasure like no other,
She's someone that is truly wonderful.
Wherever you go, and whatever you do,
A mom's love will always see you through,
A mom is truly invaluable,
Indispensable and unforgettable.
I wouldn't want anyone but you,
And that's why I'm so grateful,
that life picked you for me.

Unknown

Mothers Are The Sweetest

Our mother is the sweetest
Most delicate of all.
She knows more of paradise
Than angels can recall.
She's not only beautiful
But passionately young,
Playful as a kid, yet wise
As one who has lived long.
Her love is like the rush of life,
A bubbling, laughing spring
That runs through all like liquid light
And makes the mountains sing.
And makes the meadows turn to flower
And trees to choicest fruit.
She is at once the field and bower
In which our hearts take root.
She is at once the sea and shore,
Our freedom and our past.
With her we launch our daring ships
Yet keep the things that last.

Nick Gordon

POEMS FOR DAD

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... "DAD!"

Author Unknown

Our Father Kept A Garden

Our Father kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
He planted all the good things,
That gave our lives their start.
He turned us to the sunshine,
And encouraged us to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came,
He protected us enough;
But not too much because he knew
We would stand up strong and tough.
His constant good example,
Always taught us right from wrong;
Markers for our pathway that will last
a lifetime long.
We are our Fathers garden,
We are his legacy.
Thank you Dad we love you.

Unknown

Dad

We'll always remember
that special smile,
that caring heart,
that warm embrace,
you always gave us.
You being there
for Mom and us
through good and bad times,
no matter what.
We'll always remember
you Dad because
they'll never be another one
to replace you in our hearts,
and the love we will always
have for you.

Author Unknown

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and
turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins

A Father

A light is from our household gone,
A voice we loved is stilled,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
God gave us a beautiful father,
A father who never grew old,
You were always there
With a helping hand,
Help us now to accept His plan.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by, we miss you more.
Your loving smile, your gentle face,
No one can take our "Father's Place"
May the choirs of the angels receive you
and may you have rest
and peace everlasting. Amen.

Author Unknown

Memories

The love we have for Granddad
Will never fade away.
We'll think of him, our special friend
Throughout each passing day.
We'll walk into the room
And see his empty chair;
Although we know he's resting,
We'll feel his presence there.
The memories of his laughter,
His warm and loving smile,
His eyes so full of happiness,
His heart that of a child.
Memories are forever
Be they laughter or of tears,
Memories we will treasure
Through all the forthcoming years.

Author Unknown

POEMS FOR CHILDREN

My Little Angel

You've just walked on ahead of me
And I've got to understand
You must release the ones you love
And let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can
But I'm missing you so much
If I could only see you
And once more feel your touch.
Yes, you've just walked on ahead of me
Don't worry I'll be fine
But now and then I swear I feel
Your hand slip into mine.

Author Unknown

Tears

If tears could build a stairway,
and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven
and bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken
no time to say goodbye
you were gone before I knew it,
and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness
and secret tears still flow,
what it meant to lose you,
no one will ever know.

Author Unknown

A Child Loaned

"I'll lend you for a little time
A child of Mine." He said.
"For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven year
Or twenty-two or three
But will you, till I call him back
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay
Since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want the child to learn.
I've looked this wide world over
In my search for teacher's true,
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you;
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labour vain
Nor hate Me when I come to call
And take him back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, They will be done,
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
For the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him
Much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."

Edgar A. Guest

There Is A Special Angel

There is a special Angel in Heaven
that is part of me.
It is not where I wanted him
but where God wanted him to be.
He was here but just a moment
like a night time shooting star.
And though he is in Heaven
he isn't very far.
He touched the heart of many
like only an Angel can do.
So I send this special message
to the Heaven up above.
Please take care of my Angel
and send him all my love.

Author Unknown

Heaven's Special Child

A meeting was held quite far from earth.
"It's time again for another birth,"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
And he'll require extra care
From the folks he meets way down there.
He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away,
In many ways he won't adapt,
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So let's be careful where he's sent
We want his life to be content.
Please, Lord, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven,
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heaven's very special child!"

Author Unknown

Precious Son

God, I know you gave your precious Son
To give us life with You.
But we didn't want our son to leave,
Cause he was precious too.
We all are special in your eyes
And all to you return.
We know our son will not come back,
And for this our hearts still yearn.
Our time on earth is for learning,
And when our lessons are through,
Our Lord will choose the time we leave,
And we come back to you.
Our precious son is with you,
And there will be a day,
That we too will leave this earth,
And you will light our way.
His arms will be wide open,
And the wait will be worthwhile,
When we see again our precious son,
And the splendor of his smile.

Author Unknown

I Only Wanted You

They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place no one else could fill.
If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane.
I'd walk the path to Heaven and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us back one by one, the chain will link again.

Vicky Holder

Epitaph For A Child

Here, freed from pain, secure from misery, lies
A child, the darling of his parents' eyes:
A gentler Lamb never sported on the plain,
A fairer flower will never bloom again;
Now let him sleep in peace his night of death.

Author Unknown

The Day God Took You Home

In tears we saw you sinking,
And watched you pass away.
Our hearts were almost broken,
We wanted you to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping,
So peaceful, free from pain,
How could we wish you back with us,
To suffer that again. It broke our hearts to
lose you, But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God took you home.

Author Unknown

God Took Him To His Loving Home

God saw him getting tired, a cure was not to be.
He wrapped him in his loving arms and whispered "Come with me."
He suffered much in silence, his spirit did not bend.
He faced his pain with courage, until the very end.
He tried so hard to stay with us but his fight was not in vain,
God took him to His loving home and freed him from the pain.

Author Unknown

Little Angels

When god calls little children to dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child,
who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold,
so He picks a rosebud, before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them, and so he takes but few
to make the land of heaven more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still somehow we must try,
the saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye"
So when a little child departs, we who are
left behind must realize God loves children,
angels are hard to find.

Author Unknown

From a Child

Sorry I didn’t get to stay.
To laugh and run and play.
To be there by your side.
I’m sorry that I had to die.
God sent me down to be with you,
to make your loving heart anew.
To help you look up and see
Both God and little me.
Mommy, I wish I could stay.
Just like I heard you pray.
But, all the angels did cry
when they told little me goodbye.
God didn’t take me cause He’s mad.
He didn’t send me to make you sad.
But to give us both a chance to be
a love so precious .. don’t you see?
Up here no trouble do I see
and the pretty angels sing to me.
The streets of gold is where I play
you’ll come here too, mommy, someday.
Until the day you join me here,
I’ll love you mommy, dear.
Each breeze you feel and see,
brings love and a kiss from me.

by Sandy Eakle

NON RELIGIOUS POEMS

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rosetti

Something Beautiful Remains

The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle
warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrains.....
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.

Author Unknown

Plant Thou No Roses at My Head

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree;
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Christina Rosetti

Loving Memories (Your Gentle Face)

Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness we recall,
You had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true,
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you.
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be,
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by we miss you more.
Your loving smile, your gentle face,
No one can fill your empty place.

Author Unknown

Do Not Stand At my Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I did not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let airplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message "He is Dead",
Put Crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday-rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk , my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood,
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

W. H. Auden

Four Candles

The first candle represents our grief.
The pain of losing you is intense.
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.
This second candle represents our courage.
To confront our sorrow,
To comfort each other,
To change our lives.
This third candle we light in your memory.
For the times we laughed,
The times we cried,
The times we were angry with each other,
The silly things you did,
The caring and joy you gave us.
This fourth candle we light for our love.
We light this candle that your light will always shine.
As we enter this holiday season and share this night of remembrance
with our family and friends.
We cherish the special place in our hearts
that will always be reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift
your living brought to each of us.
We love you.
We remember you.

Unknown Author

Remember Me

To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I will never return
To the angry, I was cheated
But to the happy, I am at peace
And to the faithful, I have never left
I cannot speak, but I can listen
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard
So as you stand upon the shore
Gazing at the beautiful sea, remember me
As you look in awe at a mighty forest
And in its grand majesty, remember me
Remember me in your hearts,
In your thoughts, and the memories of the
Times we loved, the times we cried,
the battle we fought and the times we laughed
For if you always think of me,
I will never have gone.

Author Unknown

Goodbye, My Friend

Though we never know
Where life will take us,
I know it's just a ride
On the wheel.
And we never know
When death will shake us
And we wonder how
It will feel.
So Goodbye my friend.
I know I'll never see you again.
But the time together
Through all the years,
Will take away these tears.
It's OK now - Goodbye my friend.
I see a lot of things
That make me crazy,
And I guess I held on to you,
You could have run away
And left - well maybe,
But it wasn't time
And we both knew.
So Goodbye My friend.
I know I'll never see you again.
But the love you gave me
Through all the years
Will take away these tears.
I'm OK now - Goodbye my friend.

Author Unknown

Because I Could Not Stop For Death

Because I could not stop for death
He kindly stopped for me
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality.
We slowly drove - he knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For his civility
We passed the school, where children strove
At recess - in the ring
We passed the fields of gazing grain
We passed the setting sun
Or rather - he passed us
The dews drew quivering and chill
For only gossamer, my Gown
My tippet - only tulle
We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground
The roof was scarcely visible
The cornice - in the Ground
Since then - 'tis centuries - and yet
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity

Emily Dickinson

A Season

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

Author Unknown

BIBLE VERSES

The Psalms 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Romans 6:3-9

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by
baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united
with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so
that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved
to sin. 7 For he who has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with
Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 For we know that Christ
being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion
over him.

Romans 8:14-23

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not
receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the
spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is the Spirit himself
bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children,
then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with
him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is
to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not
of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the
creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the
glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation
has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation,
but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:3l-39

31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He
who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give
us all things with him? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is
God who justifies; 34 who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who
was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed
intercedes for us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Romans 14:7-9

31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He
who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give
us all things with him? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is
God who justifies; 34 who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who
was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed
intercedes for us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

I Corinthians 15:20-23

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ

I Corinthians 15:51-57

51 Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
53 For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal
nature must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the
imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the
saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where
is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:1

1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Philippians 3:20-21

20 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious
body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.

2 Timothy 2:8-13

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as
preached in my gospel, 9 the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing
fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. 10 Therefore I
endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation
in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If we have died
with him, we shall also live with him; 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with
him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains
faithful--for he cannot deny himself.

1 John 3:1-2

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands,
concerning the word of life-- 2 the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and
testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and
was made manifest to us”

Revelation 21:1-5

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband; 3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe away
every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be
mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed
away."

Revelation 21:6-7

6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life
without payment. 7 He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his
God and he shall be my son.

Mathew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all
kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is
your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and
revealed them to babes; 26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 27 All
things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son
except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Luke 7:11-17

11 Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great
crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man
who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a
who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a
widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord
saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he
came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young
man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And
he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God,
saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his
people!" 17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea
and all the surrounding country.

Luke 23:, 39- 43

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not
the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do
you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41
And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but
this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom." 43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to
you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

John 5:24-29

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent
me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from
death to life. 25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will
live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to
have life in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment,
because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming
when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those
who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil,
to the resurrection of judgment.

John 6:37-40

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I
will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own
will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent
me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the
last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son
and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 11: 17-27

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the tomb
four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many
of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their
brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him,
while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever
you ask from God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will
rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and
the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever
lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to
him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is
coming into the world."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a
time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a
time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to
seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to
rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to
love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain has
the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the
sons of men to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time;
also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what
God has done from the beginning to the end.

Isaiah 35:1-6

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and
blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy
and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel
and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. 3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those
who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come
with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." 5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for
joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Isaiah 41:8-10

8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of
Abraham, my friend; 9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called
from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen
you and not cast you off"; 10 fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I
am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
victorious right hand.

Isaiah 61.1-3

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to
bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to
those who mourn in Zion--to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of
gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that
he may be glorified.

Zephaniah 3:16-20

17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will
rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over
you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. "I will remove disaster from
you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I
will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that
time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will
make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I
restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every
family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his
glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the
inner man, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have power to comprehend with
all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to
know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within
us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21 to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure
has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy
we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled,
and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are guarded
through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you
rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7 so
that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though
perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Without having seen him you love him; though
you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and
exalted joy. 9 As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.

Matthew 6:19-23

19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where
thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is
sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is not sound,
your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness,
how great is the darkness!

John 3:13-17

13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the
Son of man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must
the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal
life." 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the
Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be
saved through him.

John 10:11-18

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. 12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are
not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling and
cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and
my own know me, 15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay
down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold;
I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one
flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay
down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take
it again; this charge I have received from my Father."

John 10:27-30

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I
give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch
them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than
all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

Isaiah 25:7-9

7 And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all
peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death for
ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach
of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. 9
It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he
might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and
rejoice in his salvation."

SONGS

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T'was blind but now I see
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come.
T'was grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home,
And grace will lead us home
Amazing grace, Howe Sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
T'was blind but now I see
Was blind, but now I see.

Songwriters: Steve Abbott / Simon Lole / Ian Tilley

The Solid Rock (On Christ the Solid Rock)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' Name
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

Songwriters: Kendall Lee Combes / Charlie Hall / Trent Austin

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he'll call me someday to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share
And I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Songwriter: George Bennard

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Songwriters: Philip Paul Bliss / Christopher C. C. Stafford

Nearer My God to Thee Lyrics
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Even though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Songwriter: Eliza Flower

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blessed
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Death could not hold You, You are victorious
Praise to the risen King
Death could not hold You, You are victorious
Praise to the risen King
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus
Oh what a Savior
Wonderful Savior

Songwriters: Fanny Crosby / Douglas Wagner / Phoebe P. Knappe

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Songwriter: John Bacchus Dykes

Abide with Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Songwriters: Milner Edward Cecil / Lyte Henry F / Monk William

Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There's a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
There's a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody;
There's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning;
In our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing;
In our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

Songwriter: Natalie Sleeth

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is o'er
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom's shore, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
And drives away our fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
How weak the effort of my heart,
How cold my warmest thought;
But when I see you as you are,
I'll praise you as I ought.
Till then I would your love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of your name
Refresh my soul in death.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Songwriter: Stuart Keene Hine

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer
And to guide
Strength for today
and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord every morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hands hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
So faithful too me

Songwriters: Thomas Chisholm / W.M. Runyan

Rock of Ages Lyrics

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Songwriter: Augustus M. Toplady