Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - A Prayer by Dawn Ferrett

O Father God, You fashioned me
Inside my mother's womb.
You wove Your pattern through me
As though upon a loom.

My soul is ever thankful
That You never hide Your face,
And I know I will find solace
Knowing I am in Your Grace.

You know me inside out, Lord,
My weakness and my strength.
I know You go before me,
And we will meet at length.

Your Word will be my beacon,
Even through the darkest night.
Your Spirit, here within me,
Will be my guiding light.

Nothing can come against me,
Nor steal away my heart.
You're with me, Lord, forever.
We never more will part.

For I know I am a child of God.
No fear shall overtake me.
I lay my trust in God Most High.
He will not forsake me.

In the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

Amen

Psalm 139 NKJV - My Favourite Psalm

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Slips, Trips & Falls

Many of us are unaware
That there are dangers everywhere.

Spillages from making drinks

Turn walkways into skating rinks.

Tripping on objects in our path
Could cause a painful aftermath.

A fall down stairs - not holding the rail
Could leave you feeling somewhat frail.

So heed these words - take them to heart!
Be fully aware! Be safe! Be smart!

If you have been a mucky pup,
Please take the time to wipe it up.

When you go to wash your paws
Don't leave great puddles on the floors.

Trip hazards must be stowed away
And made secure to save the day.

On stairs, be sure to hold on tight
To banisters with all your might.

Safety first! Yes, that's the key
To save a trip to A and E!

Dawn Ferrett

Broken

Do you ever feel the slightest pang

Of sorrow or remorse?
Do you wish things hadn't come to such a pass?

Have you ever felt the stabbing pain
That comes when all is lost,
Like your heart is being pierced by shards of glass?

In the shadows of a lonely night
Do teardrops fill your eyes?
Are you racked with helpless grief for what we had?

Would you give the whole wide world and more
To erase those prideful words
That changed what once was good and made it bad?

I hope someday you'll read these words
And think about what was.
Perhaps you'll reminisce and gently smile.

Then maybe you'll think kindly of
The woman you once loved
And remember life was blissful for a while!

Dawn Ferrett

A Glutton's Lament

Why did I have that last slice of cake

When I'd already eaten enough?

I'm doubled up now with acute tummy ache

And I'm feeling so horribly rough!

Why, when I'd had much more than my share

Did I wolf down that trifle so quick?

I'd eaten my meal, and the leftovers there.

Now I think that I'm gonna be sick!

Why, oh why, did I have treacle tart

With custard piled on inches high!

My stomach feels like it's bursting apart

And I'm sure that I'm going to die!!!

Was it only last week that I said I would quit:

I'd give up the bingeing and diet?

Well, I'm going to start now, to get myself fit!!

Yes,

Next week, I'll certainly try it!!!!

Spring Fever!

The days are getting warmer.

Winter has given way.

Leaf-buds begin to open,

And daffodils, to sway

Birds are preening feathers

And looking for a mate -

Busy building nests again,

New life to accommodate.

The atmosphere is thrilling,

Full of expectation!

Spring infects our jaded hearts

And results in jubilation

Hope is rising on the breeze

Of longer days and sunshine,

Of children playing in the park

And washing, flapping on the line.

I really love this time of year

My second-favourite season

Because, for me, it won't last long!

Soon I'll be snufflin', coughin' and sneezin'!!!

.........Bloomin' hayfever!!!

(In case you were wondering - Autumn's my favourite season!)

Hymns I Loved

Being a born-again Christian, I have recently been reminded of some of the hymns from my youth, that I loved to sing in our school assembly. Here are just a few of my favourites.

1. When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old,
He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold.
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour, he rode through the land.

No charger have I, and no sword by my side,
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride.
Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more, and the dragons are dead.

Let Faith be my shield and let Joy be my steed,
'Gainst the dragons of Anger, the ogres of Greed.
And let me set free with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of Darkness, the Power of the Truth.

2. Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.

Chorus
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide.
He will wash away my sin
That His child may enter in.

Jesus loves me, loves me still
When I'm very weak and I'll.
From His shining throne on high,
Watches o'er me while I lie.

Jesus loves me, he will stay
Close beside me all the way.
If I trust Him, when I die
He will take me home on high.

3. Daisies are our silver,
Buttercups our gold.
This is all the treasure
We can have or hold.

Raindrops are our diamonds
And the morning dew,
While for shining sapphires
We've the speedwell blue.

These shall be our emeralds -
Leaves so new and green.
Roses are the reddest
Rubies ever seen.

God who gave these treasures
To your children small
Teach us how to love them
And grow like them all.

Make us bright as silver,
Make us good as gold.
Warm as summer roses
Let our hearts unfold.

Gay as leaves in April
Clear as drops of dew,
God who made the speedwell
Keep us true to you.

4. Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray
You bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of our day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of our day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of our day.

There are so many more, like "Morning has broken", " All things bright and beautiful", "I vow to thee, my country", and my personal favourite, "Jerusalem" - I always loved the end piece of music, and I can still hear it in my mind.

Other Christian songs have replaced all of these, and while I love the songs we sing in church today, such as "Oceans" and "Running" - they are so much more up-to-date - I will always hold these old favourites in my heart.