Grandpa's Horse

Hilarious Moments

The horse jumped over the fence one day,
For she wanted to eat some oats and some hay.
She went to the barn and opened the door.
By using her teeth she moved the latch o'er.

Then she went in and found oats in a sack,
And she ate much more than just having a snack.
She overdid, and the oats made her sick.
The farmer then thought, "This horse I will trick."

He decided to buy an "electric" fence.
But the horse outwitted the fence with "horse sense".
She listened to hear the "click" the fence made.
It if wasn't turned on, then she wasn't afraid.

Over the fence she jumped with great ease,
Thinking her appetite she would appease.
But the farmer's son saw her and thought with some glee,
"I'll fix this horse... I'm smarter than she."

He found an egg a chicken had laid.
It had been there awhile and was somewhat decayed.
He hid in the barn and stayed very still
Until the horse entered. And then with great skill...

He threw the egg to startle the horse,
And splattered the egg in her mouth with some force.
She ran out the door with her nose to the ground.
With her mouth in the dirt she ran all around.

Then she ran through the marsh, and snorted and neighed.
What a high price for the oats she had paid!
She was dragging her nose to try to erase
The smell and the egg from off of her face.

Grandpa then changed the latch on the door,
But she still tried to get in and find the food "store".
She was much smarter than horses should be.
That she could outwit him, he would agree.

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

He Is My Strength

If something has knocked the wind from your sails,
Or hope for the future suddenly pales,
Jesus will be there in your situation.
He is the One to rebuild your foundation.

What is before you just may not seem clear,
But He knows your heart and what you hold dear.
He will bring strength and the courage you need
As He carefully guides you in how to proceed.

As you fix your eyes on His purpose for you,
Your weakened foundation He'll start to renew.
He'll cause you to have very strong underpinning.
In Him is your hope for a fresh, new beginning.

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of
my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Follow The Leader

Children have a game they like to play, called "Follow the Leader". The idea is to watch the leader and then do exactly as he does. Small children love to mimic, and they take great delight in following along. They are fresh and open and uninhibited.

How much this is how the Lord wants us to be. He wants us to become as little children and follow Him. As we do that maybe He will....

"Set my feet upon a rock and establish my steps..."
Psalm 40:2b
or
Lead me to "run through a troop and leap over a wall..."
Psalm 18:29
or
"Make me to lie down in green pastures, lead me beside still waters, or restore my soul."
Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord wants to show each of us a path. He will lead each of us differently, for He knows our individual needs..... and each path that He gives will be exactly right for us.

"His sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."
John 10:4 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Work Of My Hands

When I've finished all my labors
And I think my work is done,
Have I really made a difference?
Perhaps my work has just begun...

Could it be that I'm not seeing
What is right before my eyes...
Your true meaning for my life...
And simply do not realize?

Lord, help me see as You would see
And do what You would have me do,
So I will know I've found Your purpose
When each precious day is through.

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us...."
Psalm 90:17 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Sarcasm's Edge

Sarcasm has it's comic use,
But never should it bring abuse.
It often has a cutting edge.
It's careless use can "drive a wedge".

Innuendo is it's tool,
Which some would use as ridicule.
It's painful twist can send a dart
Which hurts and wounds another's heart.

Sarcasm should have careful screening,
Lest we speak with two-pronged meaning.
It isn't useful commentary
And simply isn't necessary.

"The tongue of the wise promotes health."
Proverbs 12:18b NKJ

"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly....."
Proverbs 15:2 NKJ

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life....."
Proverbs 15:4 NKJ

© 2005 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Painted In Time

A smile in the heart brings a twinkle in the eye.
Joy deep within holds the promise of laughter.

Peace residing is reflected in softness.
Love and Kindness shine forth in warmth.

Time is the canvas upon which a life is painted.
The brush strokes are recorded there, and the
colors come forth in beauty and character.

And so a rare and unique painting over time is
created, and.......
The Master's touch makes it special....

"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation."
Psalm 149:4 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Bringing A Blessing

Oftentimes throughout the day
As I work or when I pray,
God will bring someone to mind.
This is not by chance, I find.

I may need to make a call
Or say a prayer, however small.
For God will show me how to "bless"
If I am willing to say "yes".

Someone might just have a need
And God will have me intercede.
Or maybe I should "bless" that one...
Blessing others can be fun!

These are only little things,
But great results this practice brings.
In spreading joy through words I pray,
Someone will be blessed each day.

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others."
Philippians 2:4 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Cat Named "Felix"

There is a cat named Felix,
Whose fur is black and white.
He is a very nice kitty cat...
A little boy's delight!

When Felix is contented
He will snuggle up and purr.
Petting him is lots of fun...
He has such nice soft fur!

He likes to play with soft stuffed toys.
Maybe he thinks he has a mouse.
He makes me giggle as I watch him
Carry them all around the house.

Felix is a very nice pet...
I think he's so much fun!
I'm really glad that God made cats.
I know I have the very best one!


© 2005 Arlene Schwartzkopf

In God We Trust

In God we trust, in Him believe,
Into our lives His tenets weave.
We have chosen His Word to read
To find the wisdom that we need.

Often what we think is right
May seem okay... but isn't quite.
So we can search within the Word
And let His wisdom undergird.

When we're not sure which way to go,
It's best to wait until we know.
Always He will keep us steady,
And He will move when He is ready.

He may not move just as we think,
But from His voice we will not shrink.
For always He will know what's best.
In that we have His blessed rest.

In God we trust...

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.'"
Psalm 91:1 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

True Worship

A Vision

The church was full that morning..... As the service started, the people moved quickly into praise.

As we moved from praise into worship the singing was glorious - hundreds of voices in harmony, with hearts and hands raised to our Living God. I looked across the auditorium, seeing a sea of faces and hearing the awesomeness of the worship, and I was deeply moved.

Then my eyes were drawn upward..... and I began to see what was going on in the Spirit. The auditorium had a high, beamed ceiling. The space above the worshippers was totally filled with fine silver threads, strung in every direction..... almost like spider webs. I could see currents of energy pulsing through the silver threads, with sparks of fire everywhere. If I had reached up, my hand would have bumped some of the threads because there were so many going in every direction.

I was literally seeing the power and movement of the Holy Spirit in that room. The air was alive with the presence of God. And I knew that lives were being changed and people were being healed.

How great and awesome is our God.....

"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool;
For He is holy."
Psalm 99:5 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Perseverance

Perseverance wins it's race.

Perseverance
Breaks through barriers,
Jumps over hurdles,
Reaches the top of the mountain.

Perseverance
Keeps it's eye on the goal,
Doesn't give up,
Finishes it's job.

Perseverance
Looks neither to the left nor to the right,
Doesn't look back,
Accomplishes much.

Perseverance wins!

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Quiet Places

What a joy, what a privilege..... to withdraw into the quiet places with the Lord.....

When all is still and all the issues of the day
come to rest.... and when my mind is uncluttered and receptive.

There in the stillness I can enter in. A door opens..... and I sense the presence
of the Spirit.

As I wait, His presence causes the very atmosphere to change. For I lose track of self and only am aware of Him. This is the place of new life and refreshing..... communion with Him.

As He speaks I know that I will see with new eyes and hear with new ears and that I will have new perspective.

And so I seek the quiet places, knowing He will meet me there.....

And my life is enriched.

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
Psalm 84:1-2 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Waffles And Bones

When we first got our pets we laid down firm rules that we were not going to feed the pets anything while having dinner. But then our little mutt learned to sit up by the table and wait with begging eyes. And then the cat would come and sit next to him, waiting. Well, they were both really cute, and the rules just never stood up to the test. Soon they were getting tasty tidbits of some of what we were eating.

One food that they liked in particular was waffles. They both liked them so well that it became a contest between them to see who could get the most. (They even got into a fight under our daughter's chair one morning, scaring her so that she let out a scream).

Sometimes if we had a leftover waffle, I would take it out and toss it up on the garage roof for the birds to eat. When the birds picked at the waffle, pieces of it would fall down over the edge of the roof and onto the ground. The cat and dog got wise to that, so whenever I threw a waffle up there they would sit down below just waiting for a piece to fall down.

This had been the case one summer morning when I went out to water some of the flowers I had planted the day before. As I pulled the hose through the gate, I saw the dog digging a hole right where I had planted a lovely chrysanthemum. He had a waffle and was digging a hole to bury it. Now if you gave this dog a bone he would chew on it till it was gone. But if you gave him a waffle, he would bury it... probably so the cat couldn't get it! When I saw where he was digging I sprinkled him with the hose. He didn't like getting sprinkled, so I figured that would back him off. He continued to dig. So then I just let the water run on his back (it was a warm day), but still he didn't stop. The plant was looking worse by the minute, so finally I gave him a swat, but he was intent on what he was doing. By this time both of us were wet. So I dropped the hose, picked him up, scolding him, and took him to another part of the yard. Then I went to turn the water off. When I came back to try to repair the damage to the chrysanthemum plant, I found the waffle with a large rock laying on it. The dog had laid a rock on it so the cat couldn't get it.

The plant survived, just barely, but the dog was really miffed at me. Even so I had to laugh at what he had done.

Sometimes when I put waffles out for the birds, the dog would even go up to the cat and smell her breath (he would sniff right in her face) to see if she had been eating waffles. He always tried to outdo her, but often he didn't win. I wonder how many waffles he buried...

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

My Strength

Lord
You are my footing..... my firm foundation.

You are that safe place to stand..... when everything is shifting...

Where I cannot be intimidated by the enemy,
Where I will not lose my footing,
Where I may find courage,
Where I will not fail,
but may have confidence.

You are my strength.


"It is God Who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places."
Psalm 18:32 NKJ

© 2005 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Love Is

THE BEST PORTION IN LIFE

It warms and heals ..... softly and gently .....
It protects ..... guards ..... covers .....
It doesn't see faults, but always finds the best in you .....
It always sees you with a smile .....
It always encourages you to believe in yourself .....
It brings peace within ..... deep satisfaction and quiet .....
It brings strength and courage .....
It encourages the heart to sing .....

LOVE IS
A bridge over challenges .....
Makes a path through valleys .....
Finds a way to the top of the mountain .....

LOVE IS
The best gift of all .....

"Love never fails."
I Corinthians 13:8 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

No Greater Love

No Greater love
Than what He gave...
He gave His life
My life to save.

No greater gift...
With Him to be
Forever
Through eternity.

No greater Joy
Could He impart
Than when He speaks
Heart-to-heart.

No greater peace
Could fill my soul.
For Jesus Christ
Has made me whole.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for His friends."
John 15:13 NKJ


© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Heart Of Rare Worth

Silver floss and golden threads
Are woven in the heart,
Many strands of greatest worth...
The Master's priceless art.

Insight upon insight, and
Godly thought on thought
Combined to stitch a rare design
And priceless beauty brought.

With filigree of grace and mercy,
Softest color, gentlest hue,
Interwoven love and beauty...
Jesus' handiwork in view.

All the riches in the world
Could not ever match its price,
For in this heart of rarest worth
Only heaven's riches will suffice.

"My heart rejoices in the Lord....."
I Samuel 2:1 NKJ`


© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Heart Of Tears

It seems the heart is made up of tears.....
and tears are an expression of the heart.

When the heart is touched tenderly,
the tears will be soft and gentle.

When the heart is jarred or surprised,
the tears will be nervous tears.

When the heart is hurt or wounded,
the tears are painful, and
sometimes cannot even come forth.

When the heart is happy,
the tears are mingled with warmth and laughter,
healing and release.

When Jesus touches the heart,
Love is birthed there...
And the tears bring renewal and change.

For His gentle touch will cause the
painful tears to be forgotten,
And will fill the heart with happy tears.

He is the Master of all our tears.....

"You put my tears into Your bottle."
Psalm 56:8 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

For Your Friends

You saw a hand reaching out..... and You took it.
You heard a voice cry out..... and You answered.
You didn't just pass by.

You saw a face searching..... and didn't look away.
You saw a hungry soul..... and You fed him.
You didn't close the door of Your heart.

You helped the blind.
You comforted the sick.
You helped one who was cold.
You saved the lost.

You did, Jesus.

You did all these things unto me...


"Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it."
Song of Solomon 8:7 NKJ


© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Hand Of God

A Vision

In my spirit I "see" a large open hand with upturned palm.... the hand of God. I see little birds coming to alight there, and they feed from His hand. It is a safe place, where they may rest and find nurture.....

They are so tiny and frail..... yet important to Him.

Even as He notices the little sparrows, He notices us and takes thought for our well-being. The hand of God is a hand of love and warmth..... always there..... a hand in which we may always trust.....

"You are of more value than many sparrows. Not one of them is forgotten before God."
Luke 12:6-7 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Train Up A Child

When we see a precious child
Turn to walk a worthless road,
It's so hard to watch their steps
And see them waste the "seeds" we sowed.

And yet if we have raised them right,
We have promise they'll return,
Give up their folly and frivolous way,
Come back to us and truth discern.

As parents we must trust and pray
When our children go astray
And do not choose to honor God,
But follow their own selfish way.

How much this makes the Father grieve
When our children make wrong choice.
But He is greater than the problem.
In this we truly can rejoice!!!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Kitty Cat's Nap

Our wonderful cat climbed on a soft chair.
She had decided to take a nap there.
She washed her paws to make sure they were clean,
Then rolled onto her back and was very serene.

She stretched out her body in quiet repose,
Expecting to have quite a nice winter's "doze",
When the shade right above her flew up with a "snap",
Making quick end to the kitty cat's nap!

She rose up in the air, three feet off the chair!
She was not prepared for this kind of a scare!
She "flew" out the door on this cold winter's night,
With need to recover from her sudden fright.

Cats need nine lives.... she lost at least two
From this sudden excitement that she had gone through.
When the old roller shade rolled up with a "snap"
It frazzled her nerves and ended her nap!

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Quiet Heart

A quiet heart is soft and gentle... and is very beautiful.
It has learned to reside in that place of peace and "resting" which is the presence of God.

A quiet heart will practice love and and choose peace and joy as it's companions.
A quiet heart thinks well of others.

It will not waver... or struggle... or fear, but will trust.
It will speak softly and carefully, and it's words will be healing words.

It will be able to see clearly and hear accurately, for it is sensitive to the Spirit of God.
A quiet heart is very beautiful in the sight of God.

"He leads me beside the still and restful waters."
Psalm 23:2 Amplified Bible

"Let not yours be the (merely) external adorning with (elaborate) interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; but let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which (is not anxious or wrought up, but) is very precious in the sight of God."
I Peter 3:3-4 Amplified Bible

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Forgiveness

Forgiveness in a gentle heart
Will offset wounds and words that "smart".
When we forgive and choose to pray,
Bitterness will fall away.

For unforgiveness hurts the one
Who will not let offense be "done".
It sometimes hides behind facade
But blocks relationship to God.

If it stays, it makes one ill.
In all life's corners it will spill.
The one who carries it will bog down.
It is a very heavy "crown".

Don't let unforgiveness start
And then reside within the heart.
Forgiving others is the key.
When we forgive, then we are free.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
Matthew 6:14 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

The Master Weaver

God is the Master Weaver.....

When He creates a design He chooses only the finest threads and combines the most brilliant of colors.

His designs have great beauty and are intricate and very finely woven. His attention to detail is very precise as He blends the threads carefully to make rich harmony of color.

Each design is uniquely different and has great value and worth..... because the Master has skillfully and lovingly fashioned it with His own tender, loving hands.

In His hands, life becomes a beautiful tapestry.

"Your hands have made me and fashioned me."
Psalm 119:73 NKJ


© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Pets Are Important Too

One evening the guys in our family went out and took our dog, Scruffy, with them. They were gone for a few hours, and we didn't see them again until just after 9:00 p.m.

When they came in I noticed that Scruffy was limping. Apparently they had been running with Scruffy on the leash, and somehow Scruffy, in the excitement, got tangled in the leash, dragging one back leg on the pavement. Since it was dark out they didn't really see the extent of what had happened to him until they got home.

I looked at his leg and was horrified. The fur and skin on his back knee joint were rubbed away and I could actually see right into the knee joint. It was too late in the day to take him to the vet, so, not knowing what to do for him, I prayed and asked God to heal him.

By morning he could not walk. So as soon as the veterinary clinic opened, we took him in. The vet looked at the problem and said that infection had set in. He needed to keep him overnight so that he could give him antibiotics and then observe his progress.

As we came out of the clinic, I remember thinking, "It's sure going to be 'dead' around the house without this little guy to liven things up", and, "I sure hope he gets well", and, "His leg sure won't look very good with all the fur gone". So I went home and prayed again that God would heal him.

God heard my prayers. Scruffy only had to stay at the veterinary clinic till the next morning because his progress had been good. We could see that he was healing up nicely, and when we brought him home, again he could run all over the house. But God was yet going to do something really special in this situation. Not only did He totally heal Scruffy's knee, but all the fur grew back within a week or so! The vet had said it would take several weeks.

Surely God cares for our pets when we pray for them!


© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf

Forest Story

Fir Tree
Said the fir tree to the fern,
"There is much that you could learn.
It is good to be a fine tall tree,
So you should learn to be like me!"

Fern
Said the fern unto the tree,
"Just like you I cannot be.
My roots are not like yours, you see.
I have my own identity."

"When strong winds blow, you bend and shake.
When snowstorms come, you sometimes break.
So even though you're very tall,
You simply do not know it all!"

Fir Tree
"But I give shade and I stay green.
I beautify a winter scene.
And sometimes people need my wood.
All my purpose is for good!"

Fern
"Even I enjoy your shade.
But for different purpose we are made.
I am content to just be me...
God did not make of me a tree."

"My place is not so tall to grow,
But to be satisfied here below.
My humble purpose you don't see.
God made a fern when He made me."

"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness. But who can find a faithful man?"
Proverbs 20:6 NKJ

© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf

A Pat On The Back

A "pat on the back" is a really good thing,
To lift up the heart and encouragement bring.
This will speak volumes... it means that you care.
It lets people know that you are aware.

It may make the difference to help one be strong,
And if they are weary, to cheer them along.
Maybe a good word will help someone "win",
Or, if they are nervous, will help them "begin".

Encouraging words which are happy and bright
Will just make life better and bring smiles of delight!
A "pat on the back" is a wonderful touch.
In today's world it is needed so much.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works."
Hebrews 10:24 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf