By Rev Charles Koch

How many times have my hopes crumbled?

How many times have my prayers seemed unheard?

How many times has the day filled with burdens and my troubles grew

greater and long?

But how many times has my spirit been lifted when friends brought a word

of good cheer?

And how many times in the midst of my failure have I been lifted by

faith and a prayer?

How many times when despair was intense and when hope seemed to fade

like the sun....and then came an answer, a breath of fresh air that

lifted my soul and my cares.

I think that I've realized that trials will come, that heartbreaks are

common in life; that pain comes in torrents and trials in storms that

drown me in fear and despair. But God sends the sunshine, and God sends

the friends and God dries the tears that we shed. For my life is

precious to Him and to me and to others who know that I care.--- Who

know that I want to be useful and clean and follow the paths where He's

led.

I'd like to give up. To surrender. To quit. To "throw in the towel"

as they say, but what of the people whose life I can touch and bring to

them hope for today? My story is only a part of this world. My

sorrows, a slice of the loaf. I'm not here by chance, I'm not here to

fail. I'm chosen to do what I can.

My future is bright, not for riches I gain, or fame or possessions of

wealth. My future is part of the plan that God has. My future is given

to me to display. I don't know the details, I can't see the end. I

know I can trust all the way. For some day I'll see the crooked made

straight, some day I'll fathom His ways.

Till then, I'll keep striving, working and hope that my life will serve

in some way to help others be stronger and not run away from the life

that is richer, I pray.

-- Rev Charles Koch to Rev Buckman in a Moment of Need....Thank you, Charlie         Next Page