WELS -- 150 Years, 150 Prayers

150 Prayers and Poems

As part of Abiding Word's celebration of the 150th anniversary of our church body, the WELS, we gathered 150 prayers and poems. We hope you find them helpful as you give glory to God in your life, especially at mealtimes. Many of the prayers for mealtimes were adapted from prayers submitted to the magazine Taste of Home by its readers.

The 150 prayers and poems are divided into these groups:
	1–6	Morning and Evening Prayers
	7 - 106	Prayers for Before Meals
	7 - 79	in verse
	7 - 22	especially for children
	23 - 29	which can be sung
	30 - 71	for everyone
	72 - 79	on the lighter side
	80 - 106	in prose
	107 - 139	Prayers for After Meals
	140 - 146	Prayers for Godly Living
	147 - 150	Poems

Morning and Evening Prayers

Luther's Morning Prayer

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

2	Jesus, let me walk with You although my steps are small. Stay beside me, hold my hand, and never let me fall.

3	Dear Father, whom I cannot see, Smile down from heav'n on little me. And keep me safe because I am My loving Shepherd's little lamb

4	Jesus, friend of little children, be a Friend to me. Take my hand and always keep me close to Thee.

Luther's Evening Prayer

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me:
Bless Your little lamb tonight.
Through the darkness, please be near me;
Keep me safe till morning light.

    All this day Your hand has led me,
    And I thank You for Your care.
    You have warmed me, clothed me, fed me;
    Listen to my evening prayer.

May my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take us all at last to heaven
Happy there with You to dwell.

Prayers for Before Meals (in verse) — especially for children

7	A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Thank You, God, for feeding me.

8	Here is love and here is bread. Thank you, God, we are well fed.

9	Bless this food, bless our friends, Bless our moms and dads. Amen.

10	Father, thank You for Your care, And the food we eat and share.

11	Bless this food, O Lord, we pray. Keep us safe both night and day.

12	Our hands we fold, our heads we bow, For food and drink, we ask You now.

13	For the Hand that feeds us, For the Heart that loves us, For the Grace that saves us, we give You thanks.

14	For mother's love and father's care, For food to eat and clothes to wear; For homes and friends and answered prayer, we thank You, God, through Jesus.

15	As I come here to the table, I see the good food there. I thank my heavenly Father, Before I take my share.

16	Bless our food and drink, Dear Lord, and bless our little friends, too. Help us day by day to show our love and thanks to You.

17	Father, thank You for this food and for Your loving care. May these precious gifts be shared by children everywhere.

18	Before we eat this food, dear Lord, we bow our heads to pray. For all Your love and all Your gifts a grateful 'thanks' we say.

19	For this food upon our table, For the birds outside the door, We thank You, heavenly Father, For these things and many more. ("Birds" can be replaced with other things like stars, sun, car, etc.)

20	Bless our family gathered here. Thank You for another year. Grateful for the joy of living, We thank You, Lord, for this Thanksgiving.

21	Although s/he is too small to pray, And thank You in the proper way, Bless his/her peas and bless his/her meat, And everything s/he 'tries' to eat! (for a small child)

22	Thank You for the food we eat, Thank You for the friends we meet. Thank You for another day, To pass Your hug along the way.

Prayers for Before Meals — which can be sung

A Thanksgiving Prayer

(may be sung to the tune of the Common Doxology)

Lord, bless us now, we humbly pray,
For strength and patience for this day,
Never to grumble nor complain,
Let's thank You in all we do and say.

Down on our knees we lowly bow,
Dear Jesus, we thank You now
For friends and family, draw near
And for freedoms that we hold most dear.

Riches from Your gracious hand,
Fall on us and all the land,
Traveling 'cross the land, we see,
How greatly blessed we are by Thee.

written by Colleen L.

For food and health and happy days,
Accept our gratitude and praise.
In serving others, Lord, may we
Repay a debt of love to Thee.

(may be sung to any melody with a metrical index of LM such as Old Hundredth ("Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow") or Christian Worship hymns #16, #125, #597 or The Lutheran Hymnal hymns #175, #200, #558 and many, many others.)

25	Be present at our table, Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. Thy people bless and grant that we May feast in Paradise with Thee. (for tunes, see previous prayer)

26	Dear Father in Heaven, our thanks now we bring, For food and for clothing and every good thing. Give of Your good blessings to all who have need, And help us to love You in thought, word and deed. (tune: Away in a Manger)

I thank You, dear Father in heaven above,
For goodness and mercy, Your kindness and love.
I thank You for home, friends and parents so dear
And for ev'ry blessing that I enjoy here.

(may be sung to any melody with a metrical index of 11,11,11,11 such as the traditional tune for "Away in a Manger" or Christian Worship hymns #68, #143, #240, #337, #416 or The Lutheran Hymnal hymns #198, #278, #427)

28	For peaceful homes and happy days, For all the blessings God displays, We give You thankfulness and praise, Who gives us all. (may be sung to any melody with a metrical index of 8,8,8,4 such as the Christian Worship hymn #487 or The Lutheran Hymnal hymn #443.)

Bless our friends, bless our food;
    come, O Lord, and sit with us.
May our talk, glow with peace,
    send Your love to surround us.
Friendship and peace, may they bloom and grow,
    grow in love forever.
Thanks for friends, thanks for food,
     thanks for this time together. Amen.

(sung to the tune of Edelweiss)

Prayers for Before Meals (in verse) — for everyone

30	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest In all we say and do. Now let these gifts to us be blessed To bring forth fruit for you. Come, Lord Jesus be our friend, Be with us day and night. Protect us through this stormy life Till heaven is safe in sight. written by Pastor Tim Grams, 1990

31	God is great, God is good, And we thank Him for this food. By God's hand we all are fed, Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Bless this home with peace and love And grant in Christ a home above. submitted by Richard R

32	Jesus, bless what You have given. Feed our souls with bread from heaven. Guide and lead us by Your love Till we reach our home above.

33	Our thanks for food before us here, for those with whom we share it, For those who helped to grow it and to harvest and prepare it.

34	We thank You, Lord, for daily bread, for blessings on this table spread; And pray, O Lord, that we may do and be whatever pleases You.

35	Dear Jesus, now I bow my head Before I eat this daily bread. To You, O Lord, my thanks I say, For food and drink another day.

36	We thank the Lord for food and drink, For appetite and power to think, For loved ones dear, for home and friends, For everything the good Lord sends.

37	May all that we do and all that we say, Help to brighten someone's day. And may this meal give strength today, To do Your will at work and play.

38	As we from Your bounty eat, Keep us humble, kind and sweet. May we serve You well each day, And feel Your love, Dear Lord, we pray.

39	To thank You, Lord, I bow my head, For golden butter on my bread. For fruit and milk so fresh and sweet, For all that makes this meal complete.

40	Our thanks, O Lord, to You we bring, Who gives us every lovely thing. The birds, the flowers, the sun, the air; Our home and friends and tender care.

41	We thank You for this food before us. We thank You for the One who saved us. We thank You for the folks who help us. And thank You for the life You gave us.

42	Blessed be this feast we share, Your gracious bounties, love and care. We praise You, Lord, for all You give, So we can please You as we live.

43	Be with us, Lord, in breaking bread, but stay with us, do not depart. Abide with us, dear Lord, we pray, and spread Your table in our heart.

44	Great God, we praise Your gracious care, Which does our daily bread prepare. Oh, bless us by the food we take. And feed our souls for Jesus' sake.

45	For our food and for our strength and for the company that we share, Lord, we thank You and we praise You for the ways You show You care. Alleluia. Amen.

46	For daily bread, for all things good. For life and health, for this our food. For each good gift Your grace imparts, We thank You, Lord, with humble hearts.

47	Father, for this food we share, We give You thanks and say a prayer That health and strength we'll surely find, To feed our heart, our soul, and mind.

48	Blessed Jesus, be with us in the breaking of this bread, With food that You have given may our hungry souls be fed. Do not leave us even when from this table we must go, Strengthen us for joyful service with Your love and grace aglow.

49	Breakfast Gracious Giver of all good, Thanks for all our rest and food. Grant that all we do or say Brings You glory all this day.

50	Lunch Father, for this noonday meal, We now speak the praise we feel. Health and strength we have from Thee, Help us faithful, Lord, to be.

51	Dinner Tireless Guardian of our way, You have kept us well this day. While we thank You, we request, Care continued, pardon, rest.

52	We thank You, God, for autumn and for frost upon the ground; For ripened apples, golden corn, and pumpkins fat and round. We thank You for our table piled high with things to eat, And our happy family gathered here to make the day complete.

53	We thank You, God, for families, and that we are together. We thank You for good things to eat and for the pleasant (or winter, summer, spring, autumn) weather.

54	We thank the Lord for this our food, For life and health and every good. Bless these, Your gifts, and grant that we With others share what comes from Thee. And bless our loved ones where'er they be, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

55	At this table be our host, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Food and drink are from above, Tokens of Your heavenly love. For these blessings from Your store Keep us thankful evermore.

56	Thank You, God, this happy day. For food and home and friends and play, For flowers that bloom about our feet, For tender grass so fresh and sweet, And for the food we soon will eat, Father in Heaven we thank You.

57	Dear Jesus, You are good to me, You give me all life's blessings free. The birds that sing throughout my life, The plants that bloom on paths of strife. A mountainside where I may roam, With winding paths that lead me home. A sky of every tint and hue, But best of all, You gave me You.

58	Every time I eat my meals, I thank my Lord above, Who made my food and blessed it From His kind heart of love. I fold my hands and thank Him, I know He hears my prayers. The food we have reminds us, That Jesus really cares.

59	Dear Lord, we lift our hearts to You and bow our heads to pray; And as we thank You for the food You give to us each day, Again we ask You, Lord, to guide all that we say and do, And keep us always on the path that leads us home to You.

60	Bless the family living here, Draw us close with love and cheer. Bless us through the food prepared, Bless the guests with whom it's shared. Bless us all that ever we, May through Jesus live with Thee.

61	Our thanks to You for love that's shared, Our thanks to You for food prepared. O bless the cup, and bless the bread, Your blessing rest upon each head. Lord, bless us one and all we pray, As we are gathered here today.

62	For all the blessings of this day, For rest and food and work and play, We thank You, Father, Lord of light. Help us to live our lives aright. Help us to serve our fellowman, For Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

63	Oh, dearest Lord, we thank You for all the gifts You give, For food and drink and clothing and homes in which we live. For parents kind and loving and friends whose love is true, And tenderly we say it: "We thank You, Lord, for You!"

64	We thank You, Lord, for task and song, And food that makes our body strong. And since our hearts are hungry, too, We thank You, Lord, for Your Word so true. We also give our thanks to Thee For meeting with this family.

65	Bless us with this food we eat, Bless us with the friends we meet. Bless us with Your precious love, Guard us, Jesus, from above. O sweet Lord, you are the way, Thank You, Jesus, for today.

66	For all we mean to one another, for all the happy times we share, Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers kept within Your loving care, Father God, we truly thank You, and we praise You for this food. May it give us strength to serve You and help others as we should.

67	O You, who clothes the lilies, and feeds the birds of the sky. Who leads the lambs to pasture and deer to the waterside. Who multiplied loaves and fishes, and changed water into wine. Do come to our table as Giver and as our Guest Divine.

68	Thank You, Lord, for friends and food. Please put us in a giving mood. We need Your help along the way, We often feel it's not our day. Oh, let Your love upon us shine, And bless the friends with whom we dine.

Dear Lord and Father of us all,
    forgive our sins today.
We thank You for the food we share
    and then, Dear Lord, we pray,
For friends who can break bread with us
    in kindly loving ways.
For cozy house built by the road
    and those who pass and say,
"Kind neighbor, we will come again,"
    we thank You, Lord, today.

70	Father, from our hearts we thank You for needs and blessings thus supplied. While many eat their bread in sorrow, Us You abundantly provide. Grant that our souls, O Lord, may not to fleeting life and bondage be, But may we feed upon Your truth and live for You eternally.

Back of the loaf is the snowy flour,
Back of the flour is the grinding mill,
Back of the mill is the seed and shower,
Light from the sun and the Father's will.
For these things we now give thanks.
For home and friends we hold so dear,
For freedom to worship without fear,
For life itself we come to Thee
In gratitude and humility

Prayers for Before Meals (in verse) — on the lighter side

72	Forgive the cook and food, O Lord, and bless it all the same. We hope You'll eat and drink with us and not regret You came.

73	Thank You for this meal abundant. Thank You, God, for mom who done it.

74	It's hard to make our stomach wait, when we're hungry as a bear. But everything tastes better, Lord, when we first thank You in prayer.

75	Lord be praised, as I'm amazed To see how things have mended. Pies and cakes before my eyes, Where porridge was intended.

76	Thank You for the food we eat, for those who share or serve it. And if there be a good dessert, please grace us to deserve it

77	Jesus, make us able to behave while at this table. Bless those who come to eat: may they rest their weary feet. Fill with food our hungry bodies; with Your Word our hungry souls. When we leave may we present You with our empty plates and bowls.

78	Great gray elephants, little tiny bees, Pretty purple violets and tall green trees, God gave all these things to me. He gave me eyes to see. Thank You, God, for everything That You have given me.

79	We thank You for the food we eat, For bread and cheese, milk and meat, For sugar, salt, savory spice, For apple pies, cakes and rice. But, Lord, we thank You most of all, For warmth of friends who come to call. To share our bread, our cup of cheer, For friendship's always welcomed here.

Prayers for Before Meals (in prose)

80	For this food, we thank You, Lord, and for the blessings of this day.

81	Dear Lord, forgive me my sins, God bless everybody, thank You for everything.

82	O Lord, bless us to serve You, and make us mindful of those who are truly in need.

83	Thank You, Lord, for this food in front of us. And thank You, Lord for being behind us.

84	Gracious God, smile on us in tender mercy. Help us to be humble and truly thankful for these and all other blessings.

85	Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts, which we have received from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

86	Thank You, God, for the food and family gathered at our table, and thank You for the farmer who produced the food. Bless each and every one of us.

87	Thank You, Lord, for this food, that it may nourish my body, for it is a blessing. Thank You, Lord, for Your Word, that it may nourish my soul, for it is a bigger blessing.

88	Easter For the glory of our Risen Savior, For the beauty of nature's rebirth in spring, We celebrate and offer our thanks, O Lord.

89	Thank You, God, for blessing our food and our family. Thank You for blessing everyone, those we know and those we don't. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen and amen!

90	Bless us through this food, O Lord, which we are about to receive. Keep us from being like our porridge—slow to boil and hard to stir. Make us like cornflakes—always ready to serve.

91	Father, we thank You for all Your wonderful and abundant gifts; for the gift of life, for the gift of shelter, for the gifts of food before us, and for the gift of each other. We pray in Jesus' name.

92	Dear Lord, once more we call upon Your Holy Name, realizing that we need You. Bless us as we use this food the way you intended. Guide us and direct us in life, and in death save us, for Christ's sake.

93	Our kind and heavenly Father, we thank You for the guidance You have given us this day. Bless us through this food which You have placed before us, that it may be a nourishment to our lives and a lesson for our souls.

94	Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for this and all other manifestations of Your loving‑kindness. As we partake of this food, may we remember its intended use. Forgive our many sins, and at last, in Christ, receive us.

95	Our kind and heavenly Father, we thank You for the guidance You have given us this day. Bless us through this food which You have placed before us, that it may be nourishment to our bodies just as Your Word is nourishment to our souls.

96	Dear Heavenly Father, cause this food to nourish our bodies. Bless the hands that have grown and prepared it. Teach us to be ever thankful for these and all Your many blessings to us and shape our lives to greater service. In Jesus' name we pray.

97	Be You our guest, Dear Lord, at this Thanksgiving dinner. As we enjoy the fruits of Your bounty, may our souls be refreshed by Your presence and peace. As we leave this table, may we be strengthened physically as well as spiritually for the sake of Jesus our Savior.

98	Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings upon this family and for Your watch‑care over us. We thank You for this food and for the hands that prepared it. Bless our bodies through the food which fuels us for Your service. In our Savior's blessed holy name we pray.

99	Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this food, this day and the beauty all around us. We thank You for the good night's sleep and the morning light. Now we ask You to guide and keep us from all harm. Give us all a safe trip home. We ask this in Jesus' name.

100	Our Heavenly Father, we thank You today for Your watchful care over us, for the blessings You have so freely bestowed upon us. We thank You for the food we are about to partake of. Let us use it the way you intended, as strength to honor and glorify You.

101	Lord, we ask You to bless this family with a warm place by the fire when the world is cold; a light in the window when the way is dark; a welcoming smile when the road is long; a haven of love when the day is done. For the blessing of this home and this food, we give thanks.

102	Our Father, we thank You for this food, remembering those who are hungry. We thank You for our health, remembering those who are ill. We thank You for our homes, remembering those who are friendless. We thank You for these blessings, and ask You to bless those without them.

103

Thank you Lord, for the many blessings upon this family and for your watch‑care over us. We thank You for this food and for the hands that prepared it. Bless our bodies through this food, and bless our service to You and others through our well-sustained bodies. In our Savior's blessed and holy name we pray.

104

Gracious heavenly Father, Creator of all things, You have provided seedtimes and harvest, rain and glorious sunshine. These gifts provide the bounty which sustains us, and the beauty which pleases us. While we thank You for these gifts, we thank You most of all for the free and gracious gift of Your Son, our Lord Jesus, by whom we are saved.

105

Father, we thank You for the wonderful family gathered here today. We all thank You for Your blessings and the bounty You have bestowed on us, symbolized by this table and this gathering. We thank You for the laughter and shrieks of joy heard here today. We pray You guide our youngsters as You have guided us. May they come to know and appreciated the strength and comfort You offer though Jesus our Savior.

106

Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for this food, the roof above us and for this family. Help us remember that a family is for growing up in, for going away from, and for coming back to; for loving concern, for helping each other through happy times and sad. With Your blessing, this family will always be together in our hearts and in our memories, giving each of us the strength to live our lives in service to You and others through Jesus our Savior.

Prayers for After Meals

107	Sing to the tune of "Frere Jacques" God our Father — God our Father We thank You — We thank You For our many blessings — For our many blessings A-men — A-men submitted by Luke M.

108	We thank You for our food, Dear Jesus, kind and good. Amen.

109	Our hands we fold, our heads we bow, For food and drink, we thank You now.

110	We thank You, Lord, for food and drink, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

111	Thank You, Jesus, for this food, You are loving, kind, and good.

112	For the food that makes us grow And because You love us so, Father, we thank You.

113	Dear Lord, our thanks we say, for home and food and all things good You give to us each day.

114	For health to be hungry, For food every day, For hands that have served it, We thank Jesus today.

115	We thank You, Lord, for happy hearts, for sun and rainy weather. We thank You for the food we ate, and that we are together.

116	For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Your goodness sends, Father in heaven, we thank You.

117	Thank You for the world so sweet, Thank You for the food we eat. Thank You for the birds that sing, Thank You, God, for everything.

118	We thank You, dear Lord Jesus, that You our guest have been. Please stay with us forever, and keep us from all sin.

119	For warm, safe homes, for clothes to wear, For food to eat and food to share, thank You, Jesus.

120	For food and all Your gifts of love we give You thanks and praise. Look down, O Father, from above and bless us all our days.

121	Bless us now, most gracious God, from whom all kindness springs. Make clean our hearts and feed our souls with good and joyful things.

122	I thank You, Jesus, for this food. I'm sure it will do lots of good To fill me up with energy To live, O Lord, this day for Thee.

123	Lord Jesus, You have been our guest, Through all this food we've now been blest. Oh, may Your grace to us be given, One day to be Your guest in Heaven.

124	Thanks for food that helps us grow, For family and friends we know. Thanks for all the world we see, Thank You, God, for loving me.

125	Thank you, Lord, for drink and food, Thanks for all from You that's good. Thanks for fam'ly blessings, too, Thank you most of all for You.

126	Thank You, God, for milk and bread, For warmth of fire and warmth of bed, For lighted lamps, for gentle care, For these small hands held up in prayer.

127	Heavenly Father, hear our thanks for Your love and care. Help us daily show our love and each our blessings share.

128	Teach me to be thankful, Lord, in everything I do. For all the things I call my own are really gifts from you.

129	Dear Lord, for Your great gift of food, We bow our heads in gratitude; And from our thankful hearts we pray, That we may do Your will today.

130	From Your rich hand comes every good, Accept our thanks for daily food. Lord, o'er us all Your blessing give, And to Your glory may we live.

131	God, we thank You for our food, and for Your tender care. How good of You to love us all, each one and everywhere.

132	Accept our gratitude, Dear Lord, For all the blessings that You give. Direct and guide our daily path And by Your Word teach us to live.

133	Father of all, in Heaven above, thank You for Your love. Our food, our home and all we wear demonstrate Your loving care.

134	We who sit together here, Wish to thank You, Father dear, For Your love and tender care, Folded 'round us everywhere.

135	Lord, we thank You for Your grace, Our needs are met here in this place. We trust You, in Your sovereign way, To bring us closer day by day.

136	Lord, the gifts Thou dost bestow, Can refresh and cheer us so. But no gift can to the heart, Be what Thou, our Savior, art.

137	We thank You, Lord, for our daily bread, For joys of the past and joys still ahead. For friends we have known, and those we hold dear. Thanks be to God for this time of year.

138	Our heavenly Father, dear God, we thank You for this our daily bread, for help to walk the road ahead. Grant us Your strength in word and deed, to share with those who are in need. All this we ask in Jesus' name.

139	Just as the Pilgrims thanked You, Lord, for all You did for them. So today we bow our heads, and thank You, too. Amen.

Prayers for Godly Living

140	Father, for Your Word we give our fullest thanks today. May we use the strength it gives to drive all sins away.

141	Dear God, thank you for our church and family, friends, food, and entertainment. Thank you for the world, but most importantly for Jesus' dying on the cross for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. written by Christian F and Rose O

142	Dear God, please help us to grow in faith. Thank you for food and for the houses that give us shelter. Thank you for our relatives that help us in times of need. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. written by Katie G and Luke M

143

O Lord, I meekly pray,
Teach me to be more like you each day.
Allow me to turn the other cheek,
When my enemies treat me as though I'm weak.
Help me to realize your love for me,
And help me love my enemies accordingly.

Help me develop a love for Your Word,
    that is above all earthly gain.
Your word is there to strengthen me,
    help me not to forsake You.
Keep me on the path to glory,
    which is the proper ending to Your story.

When Satan tempts me,
help me flee from the evil one.
And to turn toward You and Your waiting arms,
this is where I need to be.
In close communion with Thee.

When I am feeling so boastful and proud,
    keep my eyes focused on the cross.
Where in humility and sacrificing love
    You didst save me.
You truly are my Prophet, Priest, and King,
    for it was You who have freed me.

When earthly journey is almost ended
    and my body is weak all over.
May there be a smile on my face
    as I cross over.
Too live and die for Christ,
    may this be my one true goal in life, Amen.

written by Mike L.

144	Let not our hearts be empty inns that have no room for Thee, But cradles of the living Christ for His nativity.

145

Here's my prayer, Lord please hear me.
Watch over and bless my family.
Thank You for the gifts from above,
And for the freedom that I love.
Please teach me not to grumble or complain,
Because only unhappiness is to gain.
Dear Jesus, to You this prayer I send
In Your holy name, Amen.

written by Grace L.

146

Heavenly Father, we often go through life so lonely, needing what other people can give us, yet ashamed to show that need. And other people often go through life so lonely, hungering for what it would be such a joy for us to give. Please bring us together with other people who need us, so we can help each other, and we would so much enjoy each other.

Thank You for bringing us together at Abiding Word, so that we can work to Your glory with a greater impact than we could alone and with the added blessing of enjoying each other's company along life's way. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

written by Cathie R.

Poems

147	What Jesus Means to Me J ust (He treats everyone with love.) E ternal (He lives forever.) S aves us from evil. U nderstands our weaknesses ‑ so we don't get hurt. S trengthens us when we get sick. written by Faith L.

148

Going to Church

When you go to church,
You don't whine,
But have a really good time.

'Cause you are singing praises,
that's an important thing.
You'll have a load of fun.

When you sit or stand,
On the Pastor's command.
You'll have a really fun time.

But wait! That's not all!
When you sing, stand tall!
You'll hear everyone else praising God,
And you'll have a ball!

But at the end,
He will shake your hand,
And that's a fun thing.

Before the opening is begun,
and after church is done,
we have loads of fun!

So now we go fight for a chair.
Our teacher says, "You kids need to learn to share."
Then we have a very good time.

During our class the doughnuts go fast,
Just like the ones in the past.
This is Fun!

So next week, when you begin to freak.
Just remember what happened last week.
You really had a fun time!

written by Grant L.

149

Renewal

I look at her and she stares back.
I think that she's about to crack.
But then I hear the sweetest sound
Of life beginning all around.
This may seem a bit absurd,
But it's the sweetest thing I've heard.
She wakes with a start
And up starts her heart.
God has given back her life,
When close to dying from her strife.

written by Sarah S.

150

If Tomorrow Never Comes . . .

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in tighter
And pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
And call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
So I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would spare an extra minute or two
To stop and say love you,
Instead of assuming you KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day...
...Well I'm sure you'll have so many more
So I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
To make everything right.

There will always be another day
To say our "I love you"s.
And certainly there's another chance
To say our "Anything I can do?"s.

But just in case I might be wrong
And today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
And I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get
To hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You'll surely regret the day
That you didn't take that extra time
For a smile, a hug, or a kiss
And you were too busy to grant someone
What turned out to be their one last wish.

So always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I'm sorry,
Please forgive me, Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
You'll have no regrets about today.

submitted by Amber Z.

Everyone needs to know Jesus better.

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