Previously Published Poems Vol. V

The Dawn                                                         
Have you ever watched the dawn
As it gradually becomes day?
It is peaceful when all is silent.
What a perfect time to pray!
The birds are cheerfully singing
A melodious refrain
From a heartfelt joy within them
That nothing can constrain.
When we watch God's nature
Display its order and array,
Our hearts are touched with His majesty.
His message it does convey.
His love for us is evident
In this loveliness we survey,
As we view the scene before us,
At the beginning of the day.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"The dayspring (sunrising) from on high has
visited us."  Luke 1:78

COME APART
Do we need to be reminded
To begin each day with prayer?
Do we rise up early in the morning
And find our Savior waiting there?
Jesus went early to the garden
To commune with His Father above.
Can we do less than give Him our time,
As we receive His grace and love?
When we make plans for our day,
Let's not forget to include Him.
Let us not get so involved,
That we allow His love to grow dim.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"Come ye yourselves apart."
Mark 6:31

The Power of America
What makes America so strong?
Is it the way our people toil?
Is it the beauty of our valleys and hills?
Or does the secret lie in the rich and fertile soil?
Is it the people who care enough
To be willing to fight to save our land
And the heritage so sacrificially won?
No, our strength lies in God's generous hand.
He gives us freedom to live
In a land free from tyranny.
So blessed with bountiful harvest and
Beautiful, glorious scenery to see.
As long as we, as a nation, stay in God's grace,
He will bless with all we need
And enough to help the less fortunate
And other hungry nations feed.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
God is our source of strength,

Don't ever forget it!

The Door of Life Never Closes

Our lifetime is brief on earth below.
What lies beyond, we do not know.
We fret and wonder what death is about.
Oftimes we're prone our fate to doubt.
Some look at death as the final end
And are content a lifetime to spend
Living for the world's petty pleasures
And missing out on tomorrow's treasures.
God has promised a better life;
One that's free from sin and strife.
Where we'll commune with Him each day
Far from despondency and dire dismay.
A life filled with beauty and perfect peace.
Where laughter and joy will never cease.
All those who believe in the risen Lord
Have this precious promise as a reward.
Death for them is just a promotion
To a higher realm of undying devotion.
This life on earth is our time to prepare
For eternal ecstasy over there
Without mourning and shedding of tears,
And time is not measured by days and years.
Physical death is God's perfect plan,
Just a step in the life of each who began
A better life by belief in His Son,
And are worthy of heaven when this life is done.
To the committed Christian death is not sad.
It's only an opportunity to be happy and glad
For the life we'll share for eternity
Where imprisoned souls will be set free

.GOD HAS PREPARED A FUTURE
The road behind is no longer open,
It closes with each passing day.
Our hearts may cling to memories past,
But we much move forward without delay.
God has prepared a future for us.
He will guide us as we go.
He has plans for us to follow.
Day by day, He lets us know.
Why do we worry about the years
That lie before us unknown?
God will lead His children forward.
His love and care He's always shown.
At the end of the long road of life,
We will find happiness and peace,
And companionship with our Savior.
All worries and troubles will cease.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"And when the cloud was taken up from over the
tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in
all their journeys."
Exodus 40:36

HE WILL BE BESIDE US

God doesn't always
Let us know in advance
Just how He will work,
But He never leaves things to chance.
He wants us to fully trust Him,
To make our way clear..
We are not to worry and fret,
But overcome our fear.
He will give us an answer
In time for us to act.
We must wait for His instructions,
And keep our faith intact.
We must 'cease our stirring'
And learn on Him to depend.
He will be beside us in our endeavor,
And never leave us alone to fend.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"Be at leisure and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10  (Kay's translation)  

WONDERFUL PEACE
What wonderful peace to lie down at night.
Knowing my God watches over me.
Knowing He can control my thoughts
And make them what they ought to be.
When I lie down to sleep, I know
He will keep me safe from harm.
As I slumber in sweet repose,
I know I have no cause for alarm.
He chases away the worries in the night,
And gives me calm, sweet rest.
When I awake at the morning light ,
I know I have been blest.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid,
yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet."
Psalm 3:24
"Faith will not make the sun rise sooner, but it will
make the night seem shorter."

OUR LORD KNOWS WHAT'S BEST
We humans are so eager
To have everything in its place,
To have each minute planned,
And to know exactly what we have to face.
We are looking forward to the future,
And wondering what it will hold,
Not trusting in our Savior
Enough to let it just unfold.
We have to do the planning,
Of what comes next in our life.
We would fill it with pleasure
And ignore all stress and strife.
But our Lord knows what's best for us,
He knows exactly what to send.
The trouble and strife can draw us closer
And cause us on Him to depend.
He will show us what we should do,
If we stop and ask Him each day.
He will show us the path to take.
He delights in sending joy our way.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"We are not traveling by schedule but by faith."

  WHAT YOU ARE
What you ARE is so important,
More so than what you DO.
Deeds are always the product of your nature,
And reflect what really is in you.
People will remember you for what you ARE,
Not for the many things you DO.
You will be judged by your character,
Not for your deeds - whether great or few.
It is by your actions that people know
How sincere you are inside.
Outward deeds are signs of inner strength,
Which you receive when Christ is your Guide.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REFLECT?
Does your life reflect
The time you spent in prayer?
Can others tell when they see you,
That you met your Savior there?
Have you thrilled a sad heart today
By a gentle word you said?
Did you smile as you passed by
With a friendly nod of your head?
Have you eased someone's mind
Who was filled with worry and woe?
Did the loving words you uttered
Bring to his face a glow?
Set aside some special time today
To meet your God in prayer,
Ask Him to help you spread His love
To others everywhere.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

God Was There
I took a walk in the woods today,
Mid the dancing leaves of colors rare.
Nature had prepared a dazzling display,
And left a crisp 'nip' in the October air.
I took a walk in the woods today.

I strolled down a country lane,
Past fading flowers with frost in their hair,
And songbirds singing a sweet refrain.
October's colors were everywhere.
I strolled down a country lane.
God Was There!

I sat close to the warm firelight,
Basking in its crimson glare,
And watched the lazy logs ignite
And chase the chill from the October air.
I sat close to the warm firelight.
God Was There!

A Smile On Our Face

When the sun appears in the morning,
It is a welcome sight.
Then it rises high in the heavens
And sets in glorious color just before night.

When we see it on the horizon,
We know a new day has begun.
We watch it travel across the sky
And then the day is done.

It puts on its most colorful show
When it is dying in the West.
With colors indescribable,
God paints it with His best.

We can compare the sun's orbit
To the life we live in this world.
We began young and full of hope
And progressed as each year unfurled.

In mid-life,we are the strongest,
Just as at noontime the sun is warm and strong.
We slowly become physically weaker,
As the years of living move along.

And when the 'sunset' of our life arrives,
We pray we can have a smile on our face
That will leave a sweet testimony
Of God's great love and grace.

Whatever I Need

Though the clouds around me gather,
Though the sun hides from my sight,
I know my Jesus is with me
To guide me through the night.

Whatever He allows to come my way,
He will give me strength to bear.
I know He knows what He's about
And He will keep me in His care.

Nothing He allows is without a reason,
Whether it be bad or good.
He uses set-backs in our life,
To help us learn what we should.

He will never leave me stranded,
He is always by my side.
Whatever I need to help me through,
He will lovingly provide.

"Tho He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Job 13:15

Christ Is Our Anchor

Christ is our Anchor, no matter what comes.
He is always steadfast and sure.
Though the storms of life rage about us,
He will give us strength to endure.

We never know what will come with the day,
But we know He is in control of it all.
Nothing comes into our life unplanned by Him,
And He is there at our faintest call.

He will help us bravely face the storm,
However fierce the squall.
He can calm the tumult in our heart,
However great or small.

So, anything, anything that comes to us
We can count it as part of His plan
To help us become the person He needs,
And He will always hold our hand.

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast..."
Hebrews 6:10

GOOD-BYE TO AUTUMN

It's time to bid Autumn good-bye
As Winter comes our way.
We'll miss the singing birds that fly
And Nature's colorful display.

We'll miss the bright flowers that bloom
Their last brave, beautiful show.
They must die out to make room
For Winter's sparkling snow.

The trees have given their last presentation
Of beauty that warms the soul.
Another distinctive indication
That God our Creator is in control.

But we can welcome the Winter scene
With anticipation each day.
The drab world will appear white and clean
When the unsullied snows come our way.

God has His specific reasons
For everything He does permit.
The changing of the seasons
Is interesting - we must admit.

So, we accept what He sends our way
And rejoice that He's in control.
That the same God Who rules each day,
Is the Master of our soul.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

THOSE THINGS WE CANNOT LOSE

When we give our thanks to God,
It's usually for objects we possess.
Material 'things' and plenty to eat,
Those things that bring happiness.

We may lose these earthly possessions:
Our friendships and our wealth,
Our loved ones sometimes leave us,
Sickness takes away our health.

Our larder may be empty,
Our closets devoid of clothes,
Trouble may have us tightly
Entangled in its throes.

But, take heart, there are some things
That we simply cannot lose.
God gives them to us freely
If His life we choose.

Eternal life and forgiveness of sin.
His presence every day,
Access to His Heavenly throne,
When we take the time to pray.

Make this Thanksgiving a special one,
By accepting God and His love.
Concentrate on these things you cannot lose
And on your home in Heaven above.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"How about taking a new approach to giving thanks
this Thanksgiving? Instead of focusing on the
traditional blessings of food, family and friends,
let's thank God for what we cannot lose."

"To be rich in God is better than to be rich in goods."

THE BOOK OF LIFE

When I started my BOOK OF LIFE,
The pages were blank and white
Each day I filed a page with living...
Now, I question, what did I write?

As I reminiscence and think of the past years,
I wonder what my BOOK will say
To those who read it when I'm gone.
Will it some good display?

Choices I made as the days raced by
Cannot be erased or changed.
The pages are set as they were lived
And cannot be rearranged.

None of us knows when our BOOK is complete
Or how many pages it will contain.
Will it protray a life of good works,
Or a shallow life lived in vain?

The last chapter of the BOOK OF LIFE
Can be the best we've had.
The good choices we make in the pages left
May cancel out those that were bad.

Main Page

PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS

Let's put Christ back in Christmas.
Let's give Him His rightful place.
Let Him be in our songs and prayers.
Let us thank Him for His glorious grace.

He came as a Babe in a manger
To lost and dying mankind.
He made a way to save us all,
And brought sight to the spiritually blind.

He did not remain a Baby,
He grew to be a man,
Knowing throughout His earthly life,
That He would fulfill His Father's plan.

He came to die to give us life.
We have a choice to make.
To accept Him as our Savior and Lord
And all of our sins forsake.

His dying made it possible
For us to have eternal life.
His love and guidance can help us
As we face life's stress and strife.

So, remember this Christmas Season
What the activities really mean.
Give Him the worship He deserves and
Celebrate His birthday with a heart that's clean.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

PEACE

Peace - the hope of all mankind.  Will we ever live in peace again?
Peace is defined by Webster as: An undisturbed state of mind, serenity,
calmness, quietness, tranquillity.  Peace is a quality, a sense, a feeling.
We have peace when we are free from agitation, anxiety, apprehension,
care, concern, distress, fear, guilt, torment worry, etc.

We only gain true peace when we accept Christ as our personal Savior.  Yes, the very One Whose birth we celebrate this Christmas Season.  Man was created to glorify God, but our forefather sinned and the peace between God and man was broken.  Only a sacrifice of the Perfect One could bridge the gap between man and God.  God sent His only Son from Heaven to be born in a manger- to take on the form of a man so that there would be a perfect sacrifice.  Christ made that supreme sacrifice  on Calvary to bring this "PEACE".  All we have to do is accept His work and Him as our personal Savior.  The world  talks about peace among nations, between men.  This is important but the most vital peace is the peace between man and his Maker.  What better time of the year to make that peace with God than the time we celebrate His miraculous birth? This Christmas our life can be filled with peace in spite of all the turmoil around us.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   John 3:16

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.   Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14:27

GET BEHIND ME, PAST!

Get behind me, Past!
Let me press on to better things.
You are gone - you had your day.
I look forward to what the future brings.

Get behind me, Past!
I am living - you are dead.
I will not let thoughts of you drag me down.
With God's help, I'll look ahead.

Get behind me, Past!
I will not allow you to detain me,
You have no power over me.
My gracious God controls my destiny.

Get behind me, Past!
God has special plans for me this year.
He expects me to follow in His will,
And He promises to be ever near.

Get behind me, Past!
My future, filled with happiness and cheer,
Is spread before me in panoramic view,
Waiting for me to face it - without fear.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"Life is currently described as one of four ways: a journey, a battle, a pilgrimage, or a race.  Select your own metaphor, but the necessity of finishing is all the same.  If life is a journey it must be completed.  If life is a battle it must be finished. If life is a pilgrimage it must be concluded.  If life is a race it must be won." ~Selected~

HITHERTO

As I say good-bye to the old year,
Sad memories may bring a tear,
But happy memories are great!
I have much to celebrate!

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
My blessings I'd like to discuss.
The very first one on my list
Is thanks that God made me an optimist.

I can look at the world and see
Much of the good He prepared for me.
I can feel Him by me side,
Ever present to be my faithful Guide.

I can thank Him for health and home
And for never leaving me alone.
Thank Him for sweet fellowship and love,
And His watchcare from above.

I can look forward to the New Year
With anticipation, without worry or fear,
Knowing that He is always there
When I seek His help in prayer..

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
I Samuel 7:12

GOD HAS A REASON
When troubles come to distort your view,
And Satan's wiles are about,
Remember God has a reason for all
And He will help you out.
He placed certain people
In strategic places around you.
He knows what's ahead.
He knows what you have to do.
Look at your circumstances
And know God is working in them.
When all is done and you come through,
You will gratefully praise Him.
He may have you in the place you are
To help someone along the way.
If not for you they may perish.
It may be difficult - but stay!
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
DO SOMETHING NICE
When you are feeling low in spirit,
Do something nice for someone in need.
Spread God's love to all about you.
In a weary heart it will take heed.
Speak kind words to those who are sad,
Give that downtrodden soul a lift.
Give hope to the one who has none,
Smooth the feathers of the one who is 'miffed'.
There are so many needs out there,
So many  who have not  heard;
Many who have never known
God's love or never read His Holy Word.
When you forget your own feelings
And concentrate on God's love,
He will give you grace to conquer,
And to lead others to a home above.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"The darkest night has stars in it."
THE BLESSINGS OF THORNS
In many ways our confidence in God is tested.
Sometimes He allows us to suffer alone.
Wondering why a certain circumstance has occurred,
Dismayed because the reason is unknown.
Be assured He does have a reason.
Nothing comes to us that is not in His plan.
We must try to accept it and never doubt His love,
But leave it all in His capable hand.
We must not misinterpret His action,
But accept it and know it is in His love.
In the end we will understand -
Perhaps not until we meet with Him above.
It takes faith in Him to take whatever comes,
Without doubting His motives or His intent,
Wondering why it can't be different,
But to learn - in all things to be content.
  We must learn to accept the thorns   
As He providentially sends them.
Although we much prefer the roses,
We treasure the lessons we learn from Him.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

TO BE CONTENT
Life is far too brief
To waste it in discontent.
It is much better to spend it in joy,
Than in quarrelsome disagreement.
We may feel we have no control
Over circumstances in our life,
But it's not what happens to us that counts,
It's how we face the strife.
We can have a cheerful disposition
And make the best of whatever comes.
It's that person with the wrong attitude,
Who to discontent succumbs.
God has given each of us a choice
Of how to react to each incident.
We can accept what comes our way,
Or constantly live in discontent.

                                               How Beautiful Is My Morning

How beautiful is my morning,
As I sit and meditate.
The sun is shining brightly,
As today's blessings I anticipate.

God has promised to be with me
To keep me safe and secure,
To send me bountiful blessings,
And to keep my thoughts clean and pure.

He gives me all things to enjoy.
He only asks that I trust His love.
He provides my every need on earth
And a Heavenly home above.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

At The Beginning Of The Day

Have you ever watched the dawn
As it gradually become day?
It is peaceful when all is silent,
What a perfect time to pray!

The birds are cheerfully singing
A melodious refrain,
From a heartfelt joy within them,
That nothing con constrain.

When we watch God nature
Display its order and array,
Our hearts are touched with His majesty.
His message it does convey.

His love for us is evident
In the loveliness we survey.
As we view the scene before us,
At the beginning of the day.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under
the heaven; A time to be born, and
a time to die; a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up that which is
planted..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2

         
                   The Dogwood Tree
 
                The little, twisted dogwood tree
            Is a reminder of Christ's death on Calvary.
          It is said that it was once was mighty as the oak,
            But was changed forever when Jesus spoke
                     He promised that never again
             Would it be used as a cross to cause pain,
                 But would ever be twisted and small,
                    Never again to be strong and tall.
                     Its blossoms were destined to be
                   In the form of a cross for all to see
              And be reminded of the price Jesus paid,
                  As on Him our many sins were laid
           As we admire the beauty of the dogwood tree,
     Our hearts remember what Jesus did for you and me.
              How He suffered through stress and strife
                      That we might enjoy eternal life.
                            ~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
                        He Lives To Set Us Free
                       How overwhelmed we become
                     When we ponder Christ's majesty.
                      Too often we magnify His death
                And forget that He Lives to set us free.
             His crown of thorns which brought such pain
                           Is now a glorious diadem.
                   His pierced had holds a ruling sceptre.
                      For His Father has exalted Him.
                      
                             In spite of His royal fame,
                            He never rises too far above
                         His children who He died to save.
                       He ever surrounds us with His love.
                              He is here with us in spirit,
                       His heart touched with our sorrow.
                        He awaits in His Heavenly home,
                          To welcome us there tomorrow.

The Empty Tomb                                                                                                                                                                               I thank my God for an empty tomb.
                              It means my Savior arose.
                               It means because He lives,
                         I live...safe from the devil's throes.
                            It means I have a life to share
                     With others as I walk this earth below.
                        Because of His love, I have a love
                         Which to others I must daily show.

                          It means I have a home with Him
                         Far above earth's troubles and woe.
                          In a place He had prepared for me,
                              Where the healing waters flow.
                                 It means I'll spend eternity 
                            With Him - my Savior Divine.
                       I'll praise His Name and worship Him.
                      He died for 'whosoever', and He is mine!
                                 ~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
Exodus 20:12
                             Old Fashioned Mothers
         I had an old-fashioned mother,
A mother with gray in her hair.
A mother endowed with much patience,
With shoulders weighted down with care.
I remember her plain, printed dresses;
Her feet shod in heavy work shoes.
I can see her bib-style apron,
Which old-fashioned mothers would choose.
I can taste the meals she prepared us
And placed on our table with care,
Her potato salad and chopped apple pie,
Her specialties for her family to share.
I remember old McGuffy Readers,
And poems she so proudly would say
After our chores had been finished,
And we were ready for the ending of day.
I remember the clothes which she sewed for us,
How she labored to make them just right,
So we could be properly attired
For a special program that night.
We were proud of our old-fashioned mother,
And the kindness she always bestowed.
For the care which she gave to us daily,
From a heart that with love overflowed.
I wish for old-fashioned mothers,
Who before us examples will set.
Who leave us with life's fond memories,
Which we never shall ever forget.
I salute mothers who love God and family,
Who worship Him just as they should.
Who teach us reverence and obedience,
And to live a life that is good.
And to mothers who've gone on before us,
To wait patiently for us there,
Who left with us an heritage
Of love and kindness and care.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~



Fathers 
The actions of an earthly father
Are important to the development of his child.
If he learns to appreciate the Heavenly Father,
It is through his influence the two are reconciled.
If one has not had a healthy relationship
With his father here on earth,
It is very difficult for him to love the Heavenly Father
And to gain his own self-worth.
The earthly father loves his child's attention,
He wants to earn his respect and love.
He understands the difficulties of childhood
And depends upon wisdom from the Father above.
The father who personally know the Heavenly Father,
Is best equiped to guide his children right.
The children who learn to love and respect them both,
Will to him be a blessing and a delight.
 Fern Hanlin Coberly

Prize Your Storms
Sometimes God leads us to valleys deep.
Sometimes to the mountains high.
But through it all we can be sure
That He is always nigh.
Oftimes we must pass through the storm
And sometimes the sun is bright,
But through it all our God is near,
To give us a brighter view.
It's through the storms that we learn
To trust the Father's care.
So, 'prize those storms',
And bravely face them all with prayer.
~Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

How Do You Take Trials?
How do you take a trial of life,
The severe testing you often face?
Do you look At it or Above it,
Facing it with gratitude and grace?
The only way to overcome
Is to keep your God very near,
To place your trust in His infinite power,
And accept his help without fear.
God gives you Faith to sustain yu
Through circumstances above your control.
He's always ready to stengthen you
When life's troubles take their toll.
So, if you have a steadfadt fait
That remains in spite of your sorrow,
H'e'll be there to help you today,
And brighten your journey tomorrow.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

The Seeds We Sow
The Lord looks down from Heaven above
And searches throughout the world
For those who work and show His love,
To see it in lives unfurl.
He finds a few who labor for Him,
So few who truly strive
Errant souls to lovingly win
To exhibit Spirit-filled lives.
Sometimes we think our labor is in vain
In this world so filled with woe,
But He has promised to ease the pain
And bless the seeds we sow.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"The most beautiful hands are those which are
found ready to bless and help their fellowman."

THE RIGHT TIME
God hears your every petition.
He chooses the right time to send
The blessing for which you prayed.
On His promise, you can depend.
Has He not answered you before?
Do not doubt that He cares.
When it is the right time,
He will answer your prayers.
His timing may not coincide
With what you think you need,
But in the right time
Your expectations He will exceed.
He won't allow one trial too many,
He knows at what point you'll break.
He will come at the right time.
His child He'll not forsake.
Do not grieve Him with your doubt,
Let HIm know you trust His love.
Know that He knows the right time
To send your answer from above.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"This poor man cried, and the Lord
heard him, and saved him out of
all his troubles."
Psalm 34:6

WE ARE LOVED
We are loved - our way will be made clear.
For the One Who loves is ever near.
Always ready to listen and hear,
And to bring a ray of cheer.
We are loved - when the clouds gather o'er,
When our hearts are pained and sore;
When all things about us we abhor,
And our flesh and spirit are at war.
We are loved - when trials in life we must face;
When our actions bring disgrace;
When our affections we misplace,
He's there to give sufficient grace.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"For God so loved the world; that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
John 3:16
LEAVE SOME GOOD BEHIND
We should all have a burning desire
To leave this world a better place;
To do something - however small,
To show God's wonderful grace.
To do some constructive work,
To the betterment of mankind,
To spread some joy to those about,
And leave some good behind.
It needn't be some momentous work
To win the praise of men.
It may only be a kind word,
So they'll know where we have been.
But, most of all, it should honor God
And send the glory His way.
Our motive should be to help others,
And the love of God display.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Colossians 1:10
THE WORK WE DO
The work we do may go unknown
By humans upon this earth.
But what we do for our God,
Will have eternal worth.
We may never know the praise of men,
Nor receive crowns of reward.
Flowers may never be on our path,
Our efforts  constantly ignored.
But if we're always true to His work,
Someday our Lord will say,
"Well done, thou good and faithful ones."
Our sacrifice He will repay.
We cannot be weary in the task
He's called us to do alone.
If we keep working day by day,
We'll reap what we have sown.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"I a, the vine, ye are the branches.
He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the
same beareth much fruit,
For without Me, ye can do nothing.
John 15:7

Let Me Pass Each Test 

O, God, give me quietness of heart.
Let my soul be peaceful and at rest
Through the trials and sorrows of life.
Let me pass each test.

Remove the fear from me and
Replace it with a faith that's steadfast,
Knowing that You are ever present
And that Your love will last.

Let me still my restless heart
That I might hear Your voice
Let me listen as you speak
And in Your presence rejoice.

May the spiritual strength I gain
From my time spent withYou,
Be used to let others know
That they can have this peace, too.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"When thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned."
Isaiah 43:21

"In the center of a flame there is a hollow - a piece of entire stillness.  God can cause our hearts to be still even in the midst of trouble and trials. If we allow fear to crowd out faith, or if we are rebellious and restelss, we shall be hurt by the flame of anguish and disappointment. Testing is the proof of God's love, He is pleased when we come through a trial steadfast and true. If we face our trials quietly without fear, He will deliver us and draw us closer to Himself.  Oh, God, make us children of quietness!" (Selected)   

Upward
Why do we speak of those who are aging
As slowly descending downhill,
When we are reaching heights unknown,
With many goals yet to fulfill?
We will not focus on our descent and darkness,
When One Who loves us is our Guide.
When we strive for the highest hill top,
The strength to go forth He will provide.
Our physical bodies may weaken,
Our footsteps falter - our eyes grow dim ,
But every sigh, every cry He hears,
And not a care is hidden from Him.
It is always "up" when we will follow
Closely in the footsteps that lead us on.
The higher we climb and the stronger our faith,
We discover all our doubts and fears are gone.
The roughest ground lies behind us,
O'er grassy slopes, He leads the way.
That one last step - still up - we take
With Him into Eternal day!
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"There was an enlarging and winding about
still upward..."
Ezekial 41:7
"Father, help me to grow old gracefully,
beautifully and creatively to come to
maturity majestically. Let me so fill my mind
and soul with Thee that spiritual beauty
may be my achievement through constant
companionship with Thee."  Amen  (Selected)

As We Grow Older
The more years we live on earth,
The closer we should be to eternity.
Not only in our physical bodies,
But in our spirit which will be set free.
As we grow older here,
The more precious heaven will become.
We will see our Savior waiting,
When to death we do succumb.
We are in a quandary here,
Wishing from this world to depart,
We'll spend eternity with our Savior
And those loved ones closet to our heart. 
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"Ye Shall Have A Song"
Isaiah 30:29
As winter's cold is drawing nigh
And a blazing fire warms the soul:
When we meditate upon the flame,
Our mind takes a silent stroll.
We can hear music, loud and clear,
Coming from the dancing flame.
Our imagination is active
As we play a mental game.
One astute poet had a fancy he could hear
Singing voices, long sleeping in the wood.
They were brought forth by the heat of the fire.
Surprisingly, their message he understood.
When the tree stood in the forest,
The singing of the birds filled the air.
The wind whistling in the branches
Made a weird music everywhere.
Children, in their happy play
Left melodious sounds as they passed by.
Once, even one in sorrow
Sat down at its trunk to cry.
Others rested in its welcome shade
And thanked God for blessings good.
All of those slept in the majestic trunk
Until it was hewn down for firewood.
Then the heat brought forth the music
Which lay hidden in its bole.
Along with warmth for the body,
Came music for the soul.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"Remember, gather the driftwood, that will light the winter fire."

He Shows The Way
The dark forest looms before me,
Dense and filled with fear.
But I know my Father Dwells there,
And He is always near.
The valley I must cross over
Is extremely deep and wide,
But God  will safely deliver me
Through to the other side.
When I entreat Him for comfort,
He hears and answers my plea.
When I seek His face for guidance,
He shows the way to me.
~Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"I sought the Lord and He heard me and
delivered me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:4

Our Future Is In His Hands
We carelessly go about our way,
Making our daily plans
Without thinking that our future
Lies in far more capable hands.
We kneel at closing of each day
And ask our God above
To bless the plan we have made
And to keep us in His love.

But as our feeble plans all fail
And nothing goes as it should,
We are perplexed and lose our faith
And think God misunderstood.
The expected results didn't materialize,
Our plans didn't work at all!
Then we began to realize
That out faith is very small.
We'd made our plans
And expected God to follow through.
We should allow Him to lead the way,
And then - His will pursue.

Our prayer should not always be
"Dear Lord, bless my plans."
But, "Lord, You plan for me,
My future is in Your Hands."

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

GOOD-BYE TO AUTUMN

It's time to bid Autumn good-bye
As Winter comes our way.
We'll miss the singing birds that fly,
And Nature's colorful display.
We'll miss the bright flowers that bloom
Their last brave, beautiful show.
They must die out to make the room
For Winter's sparkling snow.
The trees have given their last presentation
Of a beauty that warms the soul.
Another distinctive indication
That God, our Creator, is in control.
But we can welcome the Winter scene
With anticipation each day.
The drab world will appear white and clean,
When the unsullied snows come our way.
God has His specific reasons
For everything He does permit.
The changing of the seasons
Is interesting, we must admit.
So, we accept what He sends our way
And rejoice that He's in control.
That this same God who rules each day
Is the Master of our soul.

~Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

THANK YOU, LORD
(Thanksgiving)

Thank You, Lord, for this day
In which we give thanks to You.
Let us be grateful for all You've given,
And for everything You do.

Thank You, Lord, for salvation,
For providing a way for us to be free.
Free from sin and death -
Free to worship and honor Thee.

In this wicked world of sin and strife,
ou have given us a wonderful peace,
A peace tht passes our understanding,
And causes our worries to cease.

We know that we can trust You
Regardless of what comes our way.
Keep us safe and always thankful.
May we always pause to pray.

You  give us comfort so we can sleep,
You remove all worry from our mind,
You cause us to rest when we are weary,
In Your presence your peace we find.

~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"He giveth to His beloved sheep."
Psalm 127:2

"Can we not learn, like tired children, to fall into
the everlasing arms and rest, not in what we know,
but in what we trust?"

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into
His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and
bless His Name."
Psalm 100:4

CHRISTMAS DAY
God, help us keep our mind and heart
Focused on You and Your Son.
Let us always be ready to do our part
To ease the sorrow and pain of someone.
There are so many in this world of woe
Who have  n o peace or joy on Christmas day.
Give us grace and ability to let them know
That You are waiting to take their sins away.
Thank You, God, for sending Your Son
To die that we may have eternal life.
Let all accept the wondrous work He has done
To help us through our sorrow and strife. 
And on this joyful day, let us remember the One
Whose human birth we celebrate.
In our busyness and joy, let us not shun
The very One we most appreciate.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
THE LIGHT STILL SHINES
That night God, the Savior came to earth,
Through a modest and lowly birth,
To bring salvation, love and joy
To every man, woman, girl and boy.
Near Bethlehem town that night long ago,
God wanted His shepherds to know
That His Son was being born
In a stable, dark and forlorn.
The star He sent to guide them there
Was one of brilliance beyond compare.
As it hovered above the manger that night,
It filled the world with Heavenly light.
That light still shines for those who seek;
Those who listen can hear Him speak
To guide them along their way,
That special Babe born on that night
is with us yet today!
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, and, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone about them.  And the angel said: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."

THE NEW YEAR
We are entering a New Year - a new life.
If we have learned the lessons of the past,
There lies before us an infinite source of blessings.
Blessings that are certain and steadfast.
How delightful it is to have God's assurance,
As we go through sorrow and hard places.
How comforting are His precious words,
When God our souls with love embraces.
We are told that pleasures come from the heart of trials,
That patience comes from tribulation.
Oh, how sweet to find that our God is waiting
To lead us away from all temptation.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,
For when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life,
Which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."
He will help us rise above the trouble and strife.
Let us claim our inheritance this coming year,
And in our troubled times God's opportunity find
The greatest challenge of our faith
As we leave the old year and its problems behind.
~Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"For the Lord thy God
bringeth thee into a good land..."
Deuteronomy 8:7
HELLO NEW YEAR!
Hello New Year!
I have been anticipating your coming.
I wait with eagerness to see what you will bring.
Forgetting those things that are behind,
I look ahead expectantly to what I'll find.
Hello New Year!
It is a joy to welcome you into my life.
Will you bring days of ease or days of strife?
Will I have troubles to bring me down,
Or will I smile more often than I frown? 
Hello New Year!
Will your days be filled with love
And blessings from my Father above?
Will I have the fortitude to face
All that come with thankfulness and grace?
Hello New Year!
Will I be able to correct - at last
Those mistakes I made in the past?
Will my currant projects progress?
Will my future bring success?
Hello New Year!
Will I closer to my Father grow?
Can I His love more clearly show
To those I meet and let them know
That His love is greater than anything on earth below?
Hello New Year
As I stand at the parting of the ways
Between my past and future days,
May I choose the right road to take
As I my selfish ways forsake?
Hello New Year!
I stand with God ever by my side.
He is my present and future guide
He will lead me all the way,
As I trust His Name and pray.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"Forgetting the past, I press onward."
Philippians 3:13,14

LORD, KEEP ME SWEET
Lord, I ask that you be with me
As I older grow.
When circumstances in life are are hard to bear,
And my footsteps become slow.
When I am sad and all alone,
Give me grace to go on.
When my friends have deserted me,
And my health is almost gone.
Help me control my heart each day,
That it will remain ever sweet.
Give me patience to be kind
To everyone I meet.
Oh, keep me sweet, and let me see
Beyond the troubles this life may hold.
Let me see the joy of eternity.
Keep me sweet as I grow old.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

OUR GOD LOVES US
It is wonderful that our God loves us.
He personally watches over us day by day.
He cares for each individual,
And hears each one as we pray.
He arranges every detail in our life.
There is nothing too small for Him to care.
He knows everything that touches us.
Of each minor circumstance, He is aware.
He will never forget His precious saints,
Who are "engraved on the palm of His hand."
His love will ever be with us,
As we lean upon Him, our faith will expand.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the
palms of  mine hands."
Isaiah 49:16
Remember when we used to write things on
our hand so we would not forget them? Isn't
it wonderful that we are so important to
God that He writes us on His hand so He will
remember us?

THE CROSS IN THE CENTER
As we look at the scene on Calvary,
We often miss cross number three.
The one in the center takes our eye.
That is where our Savior would die.
Jesus was born and came to earth
By a miraculous God-planned birth.
That day He fulfilled His destiny,
By dying FOR our sins on calvary.
What about the other two men?
One of them died IN sin.
He refused to accept the Savior's love,
Therefore, he missed a home in Heaven above.
The other listened as Jesus spoke
And allowed Him his sin to  revoke.
He died TO sin and forever would be
At home with Christ for eternity.
The three crosses left a message for today
Each one must choose his own way.
Will you die IN sin and be lost for eternity,
Or will you choose to die TO sin
and be forever set free? 
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE?
What will you leave to show how you live
On this earth?
How much good have you done,
Since your birth?
Can you count the time you helped others
Along the way?
Can you remember the many times
They  asked you to pray?
Do you have to hang your head
Down in shame?
When you take inventory of yourlife,
Will you find blame?
God wants us to show kindness
Along the way.
Can you find some way to bring joy
To someone today?
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~
"Put on the select of God's kindness."
Colossians 3:12
"Carve your name on hearts, not marble."

 MY LIFE WILL BE FULLER
Sometimes I become too complacent;
Too snug and smug in my nest,
That I forget I have a work to do,
I must give God my best.
I am interested only in my comfort,
What satisfies my selfish soul.
God sometimes has to disturb me,
To remind me He's still in control.
I don't want to leave the familiar
For something new and unknown.
It's not that I'm unthankful
For the wonderful love He has shown.
But, I want to go on without disturbance,
Keeping my life quiet and sublime.
After I've enjoyed what I desire,
I'll give God what's left of my time.
If I will only let Him direct me,
He has something better in store.
If I allow Him to work out His purpose,
My life will be fuller than before.
~ Fern Hanlin Coberly ~

"An eagle stirreth up her nest"  Deuteronomy 32:11
Sometimes God stirs our nest when we become too
complacent, too satisfied to move out.  He lets us
know that HE is still in control.  He wrecks our nest
although He knows it is dear to us - perhaps because
it is too dear to us.  He loves us too much not to
stir up our contentment. The destruction of the nest
may seem cruel - may come when we least expect it -
may be the least anticipated.  We must guard our
hearts and not forget that God cares and is still
concerned about our happiness.