A Time Of Renewal and Spiritual Blessings

A TIME OF RENEWAL AND
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

by HELEN STEINER RICE



NO ONE LIKES TO BE SICK
AND YET WE KNOW
IT TAKES SUNSHINE AND RAIN
TO MAKE FLOWERS GROW...
AND IF WE NEVER WERE SICK
AND NEVER FELT PAIN,
WE' BE LIKE A DESERT
WITHOUT ANY RAIN,
AND WHO WANTS A LIFE
THAT IS BARREN AND DRY
WITH NEVER A "CLOUD"
TO "DARKEN THE SKY"...
FOR "CONTINUOUS SUN"
GOES UNRECOGNIZED
LIKE THE BLESSINGS GOD
SENDS WHICH ARE OFTEN DISGUISED,
FOR SOMETIMES A SICKNESS
THAT SEEMS SO DISTRESSING
IS A "TIME OF RENEWAL"
AND A "SPIRITUAL BLESSING.
"









I WILL LIE DOWN IN PEACE
AND SLEEP, FOR YOU ALONE,
O LORD, WILL KEEP ME SAFE.




PSALM 4:8
NLT



DO NOT, O LORD,
WITHHOLD YOUR MERCY
FROM ME; LET YOUR STEADFAST
LOVE AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS
KEEP ME SAFE FOREVER.




PSALM 40:11
NRSV



PRAISE BE TO THE LORD,
FOR HE SHOWED HIS WONDERFUL
LOVE TO ME WHEN I WAS
IN A BESIEGED CITY.




PSALM 31:21
NIV



SURELY HE SHALL DELIVER YOU FROM
THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER
AND FROM THE PERILOUS PESTILENCE.




PSALM 91:3
NKJV



REACH DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND RESCUE ME;
DELIVER ME FROM DEEP WATERS, FROM THE
POWER OF MY ENEMIES.




PSALM 144:7
TLB



TURN, O LORD, SAVE MY LIFE;
DELIVER ME FOR THE SAKE OF
YOUR STEADFAST LOVE.




PSALM 6:4
NRSV



O KEEP MY SOUL, AND DELIEVER ME:
LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED;
FOR I PUT MY TRUST IN THEE.




PSALM 25:20
KJV



SET ME FREE FROM THE TRAP
THEY SET FOR ME,
BECAUSE YOU ARE
MY PROTECTION.




PSALM 31:4
NCV