Prayers

Thank you Lord for giving us the chance to talk with You
We know that You take interest in the things we do.
You know before we ask You the things that we require
And, if You should think it right, You give what we desire.
We should wait in silence so we can hear from You. 
For You are beside us in everything we do.
Help us Lord to listen and follow what You say
So we do what You require each and every day.

Memory

I find I am forgetting things every now and then

Some places I have visited I don’t know where or when!

Names have been a problem for many, many years

If I don’t remember yours it’s not a cause for tears.

I really know I know you but I can’t recall your name

It’s my defective memory, which surely is to blame.

I can’t remember how to get to places I know well

I find it most frustrating as I'm sure that you can tell!

I’ve still got my vocabulary so I can find a word.

And I recall my childhood, which really is absurd.

I remember history and things of long ago

But if it happened yesterday I find I may not know!

A mild cognitive impairment has been diagnosed

And it’s not as important as I had supposed.

It is quite annoying but one thing I’m glad to see,

The maker of the universe still remembers me!

Losing

I am quite competitive, I really like to win!
I will try my hardest in any game I’m in.
Word games are my favourite, my vocabulary is good.
It’s seldom I get beaten when I’m in the mood!
I’ve been playing racquet sports since I was a lad
And though I shouldn’t say it I was not too bad.
I played rugby to my utmost till I was thirty-five
As with every other sport it made me feel alive!
My favourite sport was cricket, I could bat and bowl
Though I was not brilliant, I was lucky on the whole.
I scored two flukey centuries and six hat tricks with the ball
And upon reflection I enjoyed it overall.
I’ve recently played Carcassonne a game of mental skill
And my wife keeps beating me! A very bitter pill!
I’m getting used to losing but I still don’t like it much!
So I keep on playing her- perhaps she’ll lose her touch?
Ok it is a lesson I maybe should be taught
How to lose more graciously as a Christian ought!

Dilemma 
I know just what I ought to do but it gets in the way
Of other things that I enjoy if I could have my say.
If I could do it when I want to and not when it's required
There'd be no dilemma I'd do what I desired
And then could do the other thing without a sacrifice! 
If things could be so ordered wouldn't it be nice?
Ah well, that's not the way that it appears to be
Of course such a decision is always up to me.
I'll just have to get on with it for I do know my place
I'll do what I know should be done and do it with good grace!

Red Kites

Our lives are all made better by the beauty that we see
And there is such grandeur in the Red Kites over me.
I watch their graceful gliding, their effortless control,
Their soaring, swooping, turning which delights my soul.
Time just loses meaning as I stand here quite in thrall.
Knowing my creator is still in charge of all.

No Condemnation

I must mourn the passing of an iconic name
That fundamental Christian known as Billy Graham.
He had a forceful manner and an hypnotic voice
Calling people forward as if they had no choice.
In one sense that is valid for followers of God
But using mass hysteria somehow seems quite odd.
He could quote bible chapters to back his narrow views
As if his understanding was the only one to use.
He roared in condemnation of those who disagreed
Feeling that his judgements were what God decreed.
There I must take issue, for it's not our place to judge 
And that is a position from which I will not budge!
The God I know loves everyone and Christ died for our sin
And it is with compassion that he sees the place we're in.
He understands our weakness, he yearns to bear our load
And he'll walk beside us on our dark and weary road.

Equality

"All are created equal", so the good book says
Something I've believed in throughout all my days.
Male or female, black or white, foreign or true Brit,
Gay or heterosexual that is the gist of it.
I can't abide the preaching of 'politically correct'
To treat all as equal is a matter of respect.
Respect for other people is to give them all their dues
It is not remotely about minding 'P's and 'Q's.
I hate all the witch hunts, which now seem to prevail 
All of them seem targeted on the white Caucasian male!
God loves everybody, even those who sin,
Lord, let all be equal in this world we're in!

Punctuality

The politeness of princes it’s supposed to be
That’s the maxim I was taught at my mother’s knee.
Being late for anything goes against the grain
And just to avoid it I fight with might and main!
I like to leave a margin when going anywhere.
And waiting round for others drives me to despair!
OK, I sometimes go too far and get there before time
But I’ve never seen that as an awful crime!
Aim to be there early and you cannot be late.
And if I am punctual it’s a cause to celebrate.
No wonder then that others think I am a bore
For I’m always pushing to get out the door!

This is your time

You're here for a reason though you may not know
What may be your purpose here on earth below.
Only you know what you meet, be it joy or bitter pill.
That must be your challenge and you meet it still.
You may have two choices:- to run away and hide
Or to meet it boldly. You alone decide!
If you do avoid it you will never know 
If to stand and face it would lead to joy or woe.
This is your dilemma, which choice do you make?
To miss an opportunity would be a mistake!
All the worlds great progress is caused by those who dare
And it's greatest miseries are cured by those who care.
For evil to triumph, it seems, good men stand idly by
And when the outcome's horrible no need to wonder why!
Even in disaster great lessons can be learned
And for those who persevere, their rest is fully earned.
One thing is for certain there is no need to hide
For your precious Saviour is always by your side!

24/7

I search for inspiration while waiting for the plumber
Feeling rather helpless or maybe even dumber!
Just a little lesson that I'm not in control!
I am not a plumber for that is not my role.
Then I call the number quoted on the site
And I can't get through not that late at night!
Trying in the morning I had the same success
For 24/7 service I see that as a mess!
Then I tried the number I had stored on my phone
So when that got through I had a little moan!
Just like for many other things help is what I need
So in my worried mind there starts to grow a seed.
When I need help from my God the number's never wrong?
He is always with me as I walk along.
It may not be my plumbing that needs God's greatest work 
But I know from my saving He'll never, ever shirk!

A golfers meditation 

While wandering round a golf course on a cold and frosty morn
I see lots of reasons to thank God I was born!
I am wrapped up warm and snug in my winter kit
Though my fingers may be tingling just a little bit!
A fox is running bold as brass across the fairway here
And there is a woodpecker working somewhere near.
The sun has not yet risen though it won't be long
And soon the birds will start to sing a glorious daybreak song.
The squirrels have now woken and are scurrying about
And the crows are calling with that raucous shout.
The golf may not be wonderful, for that you need some skill,
But the sounds and sights of nature still give me a thrill!
I thank God for the morning and all the sights I see
But most of all I thank him for putting up with me!

When the fun stops …Stop!

What a load of balderdash on ads for betting Aps!
They know, if you’ve started, that they’ve got you, chaps!
If you think you’re going to win you must be off your trolley
It’s punters who are getting poor, the bookies get the lolly.
They know, if you start to lose, you’ll want to win it back
Then you’re on that slippery, downward, one way track.
Many men before you have tried to beat the odds
But watch the bookies laughing. The downright greedy sods!
To promise easy money just panders to your greed
It’s a vile addiction and you really won’t succeed.
My advice to anyone is:- “Stop before you start”!
For the love of gambling can tear your life apart.

Patience 
I have not much patience and tend to blow my top
Even over little things! I really want to stop.
I’ve always had a temper but lately it gets worse
It’s a trend I’d really like to put into reverse.
What is worse is that the one who has to suffer me
Is the one I truly love and always want to see!
Lord, curb my irritation and make me calm and sweet
And help me to digest the humble pie I eat!
I want to share Your love around not get in a temper
Lord I pray You find a cure for my despised distemper!

My Valentine
I was very fortunate a good long time ago
I met a lovely woman who I got to know.
I was the last person that she thought she’d marry
If I came to speak to her, with me she would not tarry,
Then as if by miracle we had a little chat
She found we’d an affinity and bingo that was that!
We spent some time together and our love just grew
And she agreed to marry me, my, ever loving, Sue.
We have now been married for over forty years
And shared what life has dealt us, be it joy or tears.
If anything our love has grown and deep within my heart
I know her love is with me, together or apart.
I will always love her for she is truly mine
My Sue, my life, my everything, my perfect Valentine,