What The Stars Told

Visit of the Magi by Peter Paul Rubens

 What The Stars Told

© 2014 S.D. Harden

All Rights Reserved.

Magi kings who studied the stars

Heard them speak of the Prince of God,

The Prince of God who was to come

From Heaven to earth, God’s only Son.

They studied the ancient prophecies

And knew one day would come a King;

To Israel this King would come

The Prince of Heaven, God’s only Son.

The greatest King in all the earth,

The Lord of all the universe,

This is what the stars told them,

So they wished to worship Him.

To worship Him was all they wished,

To bring Him gold and frankincense,

To bring Him myrrh, 

to kneel before

This wondrous King, the Lord of Lords.

These Gentile kings came to the Jews

And said, “Your King’s been born to you.”

This news disrupted the joyful feasts

Of King Herod, the Jews and priests.

King Herod said, “Go find the King,

So I can come and worship Him.”

But Herod’s heart was not for God,

His motive did not spring from love.

Any other king but him

~even God, that King he’d kill!

The scribes and Pharisees were bound

Their love for God was all but drowned

In rituals and many laws;

These they loved more than God;

Though holy, holy they appeared,

Beneath their robes their hearts were smeared

With every sort of sin and greed,

The Law just could not make them clean.

But the pagan kings who saw Christ’s Star 

Whose heart’s were aflame with love for God,

Upset the people to whom God sent

His only Son, the Prince of Heaven.

The ones who should’ve seen Christ’s Star,

Were blocked by the stars that stirred their hearts.

What should stir our hearts is Christ

We should see the Star of Life

That we would give up everything

Just so He could be our King,

Just to bow and worship Him,

Just to give Him all our gifts,

All our gold and frankincense,

All our myrrh, yes, all our praise,

To worship Christ for all our days.

Lord, make me like the Magi kings,

Lord, let me bring You everything,

All I am, Lord, all my gifts,

To love You, Lord, and for You live.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 We Three Kings Video by Suzanne Davis Harden

Prayer

 Heavenly Father, thank You for the greatest gift of all, Your Son Jesus Christ who came to redeem our souls from death. 

Thank You for Your measureless love for us that drove Your Son to suffer and die a cruel death on a sinner's cross for each one of us when He had committed no sin. 

Thank You that because of His sacrifice we can be forgiven of our sins forever and made right with You and be given eternal life. 

May we be ever thankful for what Christmas truly means and may You draw our hearts ever closer to Yourself in the coming year through Your precious Son, Thy beautiful Gift to us all, in Jesus' name. Thank You, Lord, We love You, Amen. 

"What The Stars Told" (Prayer Poem) © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. "We Three Kings" Music Video & Vocals by Suzanne Davis Harden Performance ©℗ 2014 All Rights Reserved. Photos Illustrations Source/Google 

Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 (KJV)

 Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart

Today is Thanksgiving, a day we remember to give thanks to our Creator for all of the blessings He has given to us.

If we are honest, each one of us, no matter what path we are on in our journey has only to look around us to see so many good things God has done for us. No matter what challenges we may be facing, there is always something to be thankful for.

Can we see? Thank God for our vision. Can we use our hands to pick something up or write or type with?

Thank God for the use of our hands even if we have pain.

Can we swallow food?

Thank God that we can swallow our food~ some people can’t even do this.

Can we hear the birds singing, children laughing? Thank God for our sense of hearing.

Can we smell the turkey cooking in the oven, the fresh rolls baking? Thank God for our sense of smell.

Can we walk? Thank God for this wonderful ability, even if we must use a walker to get around with-- at least we have mobility!

Do we have a job? Even if it is not what we had originally planned to do in life, at least it pays the bills, thank God for this job, and look for all the good things you can find that you like about it instead of what you don’t like about it. Then you will be happy.

Do we have a house, a roof over our heads? It may not be a mansion or even the house of our dreams, but it keeps us warm in the winter and shelters us from the storms.

It is a place where our family gathers and after all, what are fancy appearances but things to boast about and puff ourselves up with and make us proud?

Let us be grateful for our house no matter how humble, for our house is a very great blessing and a gift from our Heavenly Father. There are so many homeless.

Whatever gift we have been given, whether it be good health, or even a trial, yes—a trial can be a gift from heaven because it can lead us closer to God, we must look around and thank the Lord for all His blessings He’s given to us on our journey in this life, for there is always something to be thankful for, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

A defining characteristic of last days people is ingratitude.

St. Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.  
²  People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. 
They will abuse others with insults. 
They will not obey their parents. 
They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God.  
³ They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. 
They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. 
They will be cruel and hate what is good.  
⁴ People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.  
⁵ They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ERV)

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

One wonders how Jeremiah could write these words after meditating on his story in the book of Lamentations. He was in indeed as he wrote, “I am a man who has seen much trouble.” ~Lamentations 3:1(ERV)

He could write them because His focus was on His Creator and on all the good that God is and does.

Jesus Christ said that the lamp of the body is the eye, and that if our eye is evil then our whole body will be filled with darkness. In other words, if we keep looking for faults, we are going to constantly see them.

But if we rather look for the good, we will be walking in the light with God and we will be able to find peace, joy, and satisfaction no matter what our circumstances are.

“For God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. “~ 1 John 1:5

God is looking for the good in us and He wants us to make an effort to look for the good in ourselves, in each other, and in our circumstances every day and to be thankful. 

Keeping a thankful journal can help us do this.  If we are having difficulty being satisfied with our situation or someone, write down everything we can find that we like about that thing or that person. Consciously focus on the positives.

It is the enemy’s job to go looking for faults in people, to go around accusing and criticizing and find things wrong. The bible calls him “The accuser of the brethren.”

He wants us to always be dissatisfied. “...who accuses them before our God day and night.” ~ Revelation 12:10

St. Paul says instead to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

  Prayer

 Heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful Thanksgiving day. 

Please forgive me for not being grateful for all of the wonderful gifts that You have bestowed upon me, for not recognizing the blessings in the midst of the storms along my path. 

Forgive me for  so often focusing on the negatives instead of looking for what is true and noble and good and right in people and circumstances that I have found challenging. 

Lord, I pray for a grateful heart that looks for the good in every situation, even in the midst of pain; in every person You bring across my path; 

I pray for a thankful heart that sees Thy blessings every day and perceives Thy measureless love abounding in all things. 

Thank You for Thy greatest gift of all, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Savior, I love You, Lord,  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  

Unto The Least of These "Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: BJU Press  https://www.bjupress.com

Scripture Verses: NLT Bible Translation, ERV Bible Translation, KJV Bible Translation

Lord, Give Me Faith

LORD, GIVE ME FAITH

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

Lord, give me the faith of Abel

Whose sacrifice to You

Was born out of obedience

To Thy word of truth.

Lord, give me the faith of Enoch

Who walked with You each day

Ever drawing closer

Till Thy Love swept Him away

Into Thy heart of Truth~

He never died, You took Him home

To always be with You.

Lord give me the faith of Sarah

Who trusted and believed

The promise that you gave to her;

Thy promise she received.

Lord give me the faith of Abraham

Who waited many years

For the promise that You gave,

By faith he persevered.

He waited and he trusted

Though he saw no sign

That what You said would be fulfilled

In Your own way and time.

Lord give me the faith of Noah,

Who trusted and obeyed

Thy word to him to build an ark

Though he saw no sign of rain.

"Build Me an ark, “ said God,

~Noah saw no reason why~

Yet He patiently worked and built God’s boat

While hundreds of years went by.

"This world will end, dear Noah,

This ark you build will save

You and all I give to you,

Just do all that I say."

 

Lord give me the faith of Moses

Who faithful to You stayed;

Through every trial and temptation

He willingly obeyed.

You sent him to the Pharaoh

"Let my people go!"

And every time you sent him there,

The Pharaoh shouted, "No!"

He asked and sought and knocked,

Yet every door was closed,

But Thy will prevailed for him~

One day the king said, "Go!"

Lord give me the faith that lasts

To all eternity

That never doubts Thy promises

Will always come to be.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

                                           

“But joyful are those...whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.” ~Psalm 146:5-6 (NLT)

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us with such immeasurable love and for believing in us so much that You entrust us with beautiful dreams that we could never hope or imagine could ever be fulfilled except by faith in Your strength and power and ability to help us accomplish them. 

For You are to be honored and glorified in each of us 

by our lives on this earth in all that we do,

 and when we accomplish what would 

seem impossible in our own strength,

 all glory and honor goes to You, our awesome Creator. 

We love You, Lord and thank You 

for keeping every promise forever. 

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

"Lord, Give Me Faith," Prayer Poem © 2014 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. Bible Quote: New Living Translation: 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Photo Illustration/ S.D. Harden/ Unto The Least Of These © 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Prayer For Gratitude

 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 

where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, 

and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

~Matthew 6:19-21

Prayer For Gratitude 

A Prayer Poem © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

Lord I pray for gratitude,

Lord I pray for grace,

For only these along with love

To Heaven can I take.

I can take no money,

No awards, nor fame,

No success or honors,

Nor treasures bought or made.

I cannot take my spouse,

My family or my friends

My education, land, or home;

All that I have is lent--

A gift from You to me

For a Season to enjoy

One day I'll return to You

When You call me home.

But all Thy gifts will stay-

Behind me they'll remain;

Alone to You my soul will come

Just as to earth it came.

And so I pray for gratitude,

Oh Lord, I pray for grace,

And with them I will pray for love,

For with me they'll remain.

When Lord, You call me home

They'll still be in my heart,

They'll ride into eternity

With me to never part.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for Thy gift of life and for every blessing You pour out upon us each day. Help us to cherish each moment You give us here on earth and the loved ones and friends You bless us with. Let us every day offer You a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for each precious life in our family. 

When tempted to complain or find fault with others, help us to remember how very short our lives here are and that tomorrow is never guaranteed to any of us. 

Help us take every opportunity to tell the special people in our lives that we love them and pray for them as we give thanks for them each day. Thank You, Abba Father, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Unto The Least Of These "Prayer For Gratitude" A Prayer Poem © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Scripture Verse: King James Version Bible/ Photo: S.D. Harden's Photos

Lord, Teach Me

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, 

which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." 

~Isaiah 48:17 (KJV)

Lord, Teach Me 

(A Prayer Poem~Inspired by Isaiah 48:17-21)

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden

Oh Lord, you are my God

Teach me, Lord, I pray,

Teach me what is best for me,

Lord, teach me every day.

Oh Lord, you are my God,

Please lead me where to go,

Guide me down Thy holy paths,

Thy will I want to know.

Oh Lord you are my God,

Lord, help me to obey,

To hear Thy voice, Lord, in my heart

And do all that You say.

Thy word says if I listen

And walk within Your Light

My peace will be a river

That never will run dry.

My righteousness will be like waves

That role upon the sea,

Ever rolling on and on

If I follow Thee.

My children will be like grains...

Of sand upon the shore

Measureless as the grains of sand

And live forever more

If I will obey Thy voice

And follow Thee, oh Lord.

Oh Lord, You are my God

And to Thy path of faith,

Is where You call my heart to go

And follow You each day.

You call me to the sea,

And there You make a path

Upon the rolling waves You say,

"Trust Me and hold My hand.

You will not let me fall

Beneath the rolling tide

I am always safe with You,

For Lord, You are my Guide.

You carry me to Your shelter,

Despite the wind and waves

We'll walk upon the water

Till on Thy Shores we're safe.

Oh Lord, You are my God,

Please teach me, Lord, I pray,

Please teach me what is best for me

Lord, teach me every day.

~In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Lord, Teach Me" ~(A Prayer Poem inspired by Isaiah 48:17-21) © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden

All Rights Reserved. Photo Illustration from an original photo by Nikki Shum Harden

The Painting

 "And we know that all things work together for good 

to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." 

~Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

The Painting 

© 2014 S.D. Harden 

Lord, I thank You for today, 

For Thy gifts You sent my way... 

Thank You for forgiving me 

When I was too blind to see 

Thy treasures all along my path; 

Gifts for which I never asked;

You poured them out upon my way; 

You called them gifts, I called them pain~ 

Because I was too blind to see 

Them through Your eyes,

But patiently 

You held my hand 

And said to me, 

Someday, My child, 

Someday, You'll see, 

This pain's a gift~ 

Thy suffering
Is just My paintbrush
Painting Thee;
~A Portrait grande
Someday You'll see

My Face in yours

My Masterpiece.

Jesus Comforting His Child © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

 Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Thy mercies are new every morning, so great is Thy faithfulness to us. You are such an awesome, generous God, Thy word says that You daily "load us with benefits"--daily You give and give to us and bear all our burdens if we will allow You to. And although we may have to suffer various trials, Thy word promises that You are going to weave all these together into something 
beautiful in each one of us
 who love You. 

That is why we can be thankful always, for all things, even though we may not understand sometimes, we know we can trust in Thy faithfulness and in Thy love for us. 

Thank You, Abba Father. We love You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"The Painting" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Unto The Least of These /Illustration: Jesus Comforting His Child; Suzanne Davis Harden © 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Scripture Photo Illustration/via Pinterest  
Scripture Quotation: New King James Bible ©1982 Thomas Nelson Inc. Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Your Life Is A Beautiful Blessing

Prayer

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that Your love for us is as measureless as time itself. 
Teach us how to see ourselves through Your eyes and to love and to value ourselves as You love and value each one of us.
Your word says that we are "gifts and treasures that You delight in..." (Ephesians 1:11 Living Bible)
Lord, "shed abroad the love of God in our hearts today by Thy Holy Spirit..." In Jesus' name.
Thank You. We love You. Amen.

Unto The Least of These, © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. Photo Illustration via Google+/ Quote by Neale Donald Walsch