My God Is No Stranger

MY GOD IS NO STRANGER
by HELEN STEINER RICE



GOD IS NO STRANGER IN
A FARAWAY PLACE,
HE'S AS CLOSE AS THE WIND
THAT BLOWS CROSS MY FACE,
IT'S TRUE I CAN'T SEE THE
WIND AS IT BLOWS
BUT I FEEL IT AROUND ME AND
MY HEART SURELY KNOWS
THAT GOD'S MIGHTY HAND
CAN BE FELT EVERY MINUTE
FOR THERE IS NOTHING ON
EARTH THAT GOD ISN'T IN IT-
THE SKY AND THE STARS,
THE WAVES AND THE SEA,
THE DEW ON THE GRASS,
THE LEAVES ON A TREE
ARE CONSTANT REMINDERS
OF GOD AND HIS NEARNESS,
PROCLAIMING HIS PRESENCE
WITH CRYSTAL-LIKE CLEARNESS-
SO HOW COULD I THINK
GOD WAS FAR, FAR AWAY
WHEN I FEEL HIM BESIDE ME
EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY,
AND I'VE PLENTY OF REASONS
TO KNOW GOD'S MY FRIEND
AND THIS IS ONE FRIENDSHIP
THAT TIME CANNOT END!







RESTORE US, O GOD;
LET YOUR FACE SHINE,
THAT WE MAY BE SAVED.



PSALM 80:3
NRSV



ON EARTH PEOPLE WILL BE LOYAL TO GOD,
AND GOD'S GOODNESS WILL SHINE DOWN
FROM HEAVEN.



PSALM 85:11
NCV



THE LORD IS GOD,
AND HE HAS MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE
UPON US. WITH BOUGHS IN HAND,
JOIN IN THE FESTAL PROCESSION
UP TO THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR.



PSALM 118:27
NIV



O LORD, I HAVE COME TO YOU FOR PROTECTION;
DON'T LET ME BE PUT TO SHAME.
RESCUE ME, FOR YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT.



PSALM 31:1-2
NLT



FOR THE SAKE OF THY NAME,
O LORD, REVIVE ME.
IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS BRING
MY SOUL OUT OF TROUBLE.



PSALM 143:11
NAS