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Isaiah 55:6-7 (King James Version)
Seek ye the LORD while he may be
found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and
he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Previous Quotes
"There is so much evil in the best of us, and so much good in the worst
of us, that it behooves each of us to look for the best in all of us"
-attributed to Sr. Kathleen Spurlin
The Thorn Bird
"Once I heard a song of sweetness,
as it filled the morning air,
sounding in its blest completeness,
like a tender, pleading prayer;
and I sought to find the singer,
where the wondrous song was borne;
and I found a bird, quite wounded,
pinioned by a cruel thorn!
"I have seen a soul in sadness,
while its wings with pain were furled,
giving hope, and cheer and gladness
that should bless a weeping world;
and I knew that life of sweetness,
was of pain and sorrow borne;
and a stricken soul was singing,
with its heart against a thorn.
"You are told of One who loved you, of a Saviour crucified;
you are told of nails that held Him,
and a spear that pierced His side;
you are told of cruel scourging,
of a Saviour bearing scorn,
and He died for your Salvation,
with His brow against a thorn.
"You "are not above the Master."
Will you breathe a sweet refrain?
And His grace will be sufficient,
when your heart is pierced with pain.
Will you live to bless His loved ones,
though your life be bruised and torn,
like the bird that sang so sweetly,
with its heart against a thorn?"
--Selected
The Quality
of Mercy is Not Strained
by William
Shakespeare
The quality of mercy is
not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch like his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice.
Therefore ...,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy!
...
-Portia
"The Merchant of
Venice
"
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