Tuesday, June 30
In Community……
By Gary Bittner
Together we share both the joys and the tears,
In moments of silence, or wild, happy cheers,
We gather for meals, around tables so wide,
Each story a thread, woven deep inside.
From early in the morning to dusk's gentle glow,
In the garden of His love together we grow,
With hearts joined in service, as encouragement we speak,
In the strength of our unity, it’s connection we seek.
We celebrate triumphs, both very big and quite small,
In the chorus of our voices, we find we can stand tall.
When one of us falters, the others are near,
In the fabric of our friendship, we can banish all fear.
So let’s cherish each moment, and nurture our ties,
In the garden of living, where the heart truly flies,
For in the embrace of togetherness is found,
In our community’s circle, His true love knows no bounds.
Thursday, June 4
Author unknown…..
By Gary Bittner
A church in Atlanta was honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time, and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high-back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait, to the podium.
Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself, and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...
The only thing that would comfort me was this verse....
"Jesus loves me, this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak, but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children, of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."
"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(Verse 2)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(Verse 3)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
Tuesday, May 19
No Testimony Without The Test
By Gary Bittner
If you’ve ever felt like
Your soul is in need of rest
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When everything seems backwards
And you feel ‘less than blessed’
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When the bank account is low
And you’re feeling absolutely stressed
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When you feel really, really lost
When you don’t know east from west
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When you’re young but feel really old
When you seem to have lost your zest
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When the school calls weekly saying
‘Your child is such a pest’
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
When all these things are happening
When you feel so heavy in your chest
Just hang on my friend, because…..
There’s no testimony without the test
Remember Matthew 11:28
Jesus promises to give you His rest
And He says tenderly to you….
“My child I’ve got you in my hand,
And I have chosen what’s best.”