Expressions From the Heart: A Collection of Poems, Prayers and Thoughts

By Mae Bertha Paul Powers

Expressions from the Heart is a collection of poems, prayers, and thoughts that seeks to show that "experiencing all aspects of life from the perspective of Christ is what gives meaning, joy, and fulfillment to our lives even in the midst of life's most difficult and darkest times." It seeks to relay that all of life, no matter what it is, good, bad, and everything in between, is all in His hands. "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28a, KJV).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642581836

Book preview

cover.jpg

Expressions from the Heart

A Collection of Poems, Prayers, and Thoughts

Mae Bertha Paul Powers

ISBN 978-1-64258-182-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64258-183-6 (digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Mae Bertha Paul Powers

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

I desire not to impress but only to bless.

My Purpose

What’s my purpose for these Expressions from the Heart?

Definitely not to show any literary skills or talent I may think I have; for honestly I feel if these were examined by a literary expert, the literary worthiness may be minimal at best.

So what’s the purpose?

Twofold and simple:

That those who care to read them will get a glimpse into a heart that is empty in every way without the filling presence of Christ!

That those who care to read will get a sense of their own emptiness without Christ!

So simply put, I seek only to glorify Christ and bless those who read these words!

Mae Bertha Paul Powers

(Based on 1 Peter 4:12–19)

1988

If I Must Suffer

If I must suffer,

And indeed I must,

Then let it be because of my

Love for Jesus in whom I trust.

Don’t let it be because I walked

In my own willful way

Or that I failed to obey.

If I must suffer,

And indeed I must

Then let it be because I

Chose to live for Jesus

And to turn away from greed and lust.

Don’t let it be because I failed to live as I should or

That I failed to love others

And to do good.

If I must suffer,

Then let it be for the right

And not for the wrong,

For one day this cross of

Suffering will be replaced with

A crown of righteousness

When I get home.

1989

Changing Times

Changes in life do not come easy especially if the change does not bring joy. But nothing truly stands still, but everything is forced to change. The scripture tells us there is nothing new under the sun. That is so true, yet we still have to find new ways to deal with the same problems. Yet change is not always undesirable, but definitely needed to help keep us from becoming too complacent with life. So my prayer is not that change will not come but for wisdom and courage to accept the change.

1989

Life’s Final Chapter

Life is like a book, there is a beginning, an ending, and a continuation. How life’s final chapter is written depends largely upon not the beginning chapter but all the chapters in between. In writing our lives, we many times will review certain chapters and wonder what we could have changed to make things different, and then we wonder how this will affect our final chapter.

Life’s final chapter is not death, but how we lived each chapter until death.

1989

Overcoming

Many times when we think of overcoming, we think of conquering a problem or certain situation in life. However, the greatest obstacle we have to overcome is ourselves and that is a lifelong process, a never-ending battle. That’s why we have to continue to look up for that is where our help comes from: it comes from the source much greater than ourselves.

1989

Seasons of Life

Life, like nature, has its seasons.

There’s the cold dark days of winter when hope and faith appears to be only a shot in the arm to help you make it to the next day only to find it to be just as bad. There’s the warmth and promise of spring when suddenly you feel maybe there is something to hope for and that all is not lost. There’s the sunny bright days of summer when it seems some dreams are coming true and some prayers are being answered, and you wonder how long it will last for you know. There will soon be a shift in the wind for the cool days of fall are upon you which tells you that the cold dark days of winter will soon be here again, but remember, spring and summer comes again too.

1989

Because of Him

Life with all its problems, life with all its uncertainties is made richer and more meaningful just because of him! Life with all