We Can't Have A "Crown" Without A "Cross"

WE CAN'T HAVE A "CROWN"
WITHOUT A "CROSS"

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS
THAT ARE DISMAL AND DREARY
AND WE FEEL SORTA BLUE
AND LONELY AND WEARY,
BUT WE HAVE TO ADMIT
THAT LIFE IS WORTH LIVING
AND GOD GIVES US REASONS FOR DAILY"THANKSGIVING"...
FOR LIFE'S AN EXPERIENCE
GOD'S CHILDREN GO THROUGH
THAT'S MADE UP OF GLADNESS
AND MUCH SADNESS, TOO...
BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW BOTH THE
"BITTER" AND "SWEET"
IF WE WANT A GOOD LIFE
THAT IS FULL AND COMPLETE,
FOR EACH TRIAL WE SUFFER
AND EVERY SHED TEAR
JUST GIVES US NEW STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE
AS WE "CLIMB" THE" STEEP HILLS"
ALONG LIFE'S WAY
THAT LEAD US AT LAST
TO THAT WONDERFUL DAY
WHERE THE "CROSS" WE HAVE CARRIED
BECOMES A "CROWN"
AND AT LAST WE CAN LAY
OUR BURDEN DOWN!





DEPEND ON THE LORD;
TRUST HIM, AND HE WILL
TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WAIT AND TRUST THE LORD.
DON'T BE UPSET WHEN OTHERS GET RICH
OR WHEN SOMEONE ELSE'S PLANS SUCCEED.
DON'T GET ANGRY.
DON'T BE UPSET; IT ONLY LEADS TO TROUBLE.



PSALM 37:5, 7-8
NCV



I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD;
AND HE INCLINED UNTO ME, AND HEARD MY CRY.



PSALM 40:1
KJV



OUR LORD, WE BELONG TO YOU.
WE TELL YOU WHAT WORRIES US,
AND YOU WON'T LET US FALL.



PSALM 55:22
CEV



I AM TRUSTING GOD- OH, PRAISE HIS
PROMISES! I AM NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING
MERE MAN CAN DO TO ME!
YES, PRAISE HIS PROMISES.



PSALM 56:10-11
TLB



YOUR KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM,
AND YOUR DOMINION ENDURES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS.
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL TO ALL HIS PROMISES
AND LOVING TOWARD ALL HE HAS MADE.



PSALM 145:13
NIV



BUT AS FOR ME, MY PRAYER IS TO YOU, O LORD.
AT AN ACCEPTABLE TIME, O GOD,
IN THE ABUNDANCE OF YOUR
STEADFAST LOVE, ANSWER ME.



PSALM 69:13
NRSV