BE KIND TO YOUR SELF

 “Why Ever hurt yourself the slightest bit? 'Cause You could form a habit hard ta quit! Some types of pleasure lead ta later pain, and self-indulgence, man, ain't ever sane!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

TEACH ME, LORD!

 “Lord, teach me not ta be a crazy fool, who thinks he's wise and rarely tries ta pray, who's often vain enough ta think he's cool, whose habits help him fritter time away! No, make of me a conscientious guy, and help me live a life that honors You. Please, help me get myself and others high, by showing love with everything I do! Please and thank you!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

PRAYER FOR THE POET

“At times I've been as slothful as can be, and done some foolish things that injured me! Lord, help me learn ta Love ta move and Thrive… and Drop the slothful, masochistic jive! And kindly neighbor, pray a Prayer, please, that Heaven me from all those habits frees! In Jesus' name, amen!”

KINDNESS BEGINS WITH SELF-LOVE

 “Acceptance, understanding, I can Give, to others, If I First will love myself. But if my bucket's leaking like a Sieve – no juice fer Me or anybody else! Unhelpful habits must be overcome, and loving me could really help me win; since self-abuse and cruelty are dumb, Lord, Help me now ta practice Peace within! The self-neglect has really gotta go, so, Heaven, Help me, please, ta care fer Me! In love fer me, each day, please, help me grow, and kind ta others, I will surely be!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

WHY DON'T YA THINK IT OVER?

 “If You been doin' wrong, why not repent? Or do ya think ya got too much ta lose? If you would be a happy gal, or gent, your common Sense is what ya need ta use. So what is gonna be the end result? It's better not ta shuck yourself, one bit. And, Are ya gonna be a true Adult? That habit might be somethin' You could quit! Why don't ya think it over, do it now? 'Cause surely Heaven wants to help you out, the Holy Spirit sure kin show ya How, and You Can Do It, pal, I have no doubt!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

RESPONSIBILITY IS LIKE SWIMMING

 “One day, that self-indulgence you’ll regret, ‘cause, though it may be fun, it tears ya down! Oh, temporary kicks you’ll probably Get – but he who isn’t swimming, Just might drown!” I warned ya; I love ya! Of course, ya need ta get some wholesome rest, too. Remember the Mahayana!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

STRUGGLER'S PRAYER

Struggler's Prayer

Please, Help me Show the Best of Care ta Me, and “Thank You, Lord!” fer All the Grace I Get. Lord, Thanks fer All the Help in Breaking Free! I'm Gonna Be an OverComer, YET!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

LORD, TAKE THESE CHAINS!

Lord, Take These Chains!

CafFeine and NicoTine [alcohol] be Far from Me! Lord BuddhaChrist, please Come and Take their Place! I GOTta BE all Nasty-Habit-FREE, and FILLED with Heaven's SWEET aMAZin' GRACE! Ay-MEN!!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

THE HOLY ONE IS CALLING

The Holy One Is Calling

Guy, Why deLay the Day ya Start ta Pray? Lord BuddhaChrist is Calling Now fer You! Now, You may Think that Ev'ryThing's OK, and If ya Do, now Here's a Little Clue: that Little Nagging Sin yuh'd OverCome, that Habit Seems so Minor, now, I Know; but Now is Not the Time ta Be too Dumb: 'cause If ya Slide and Slide, ta Hell you'll Go! Ain't Talking 'bout “eTernal Fire” for Flesh, ain't Talkin' 'Bout no “Devil”, AnyWay; but Here's an Outlook, Brother, Plain and Fresh: a LIVING Hell could Well be Yours, one Day!

Why Don't ya Straighten Up while Yet there's Time? Why Not rePent and Ask fer Help ya Need? ToDay yer Status May seem Fine and Prime, but Life for You will Change, THAT'S GUARANTEED! I HAVE SPOKEN!

Copyright 2013 Marie Louise Nickerson

RETHINKING BAD HABITS

Rethinking Bad Habits

When Wasting Just a little Juice, you Seem to Think it Matters Not – but Sin don’ Wanna Turn you Loose, unTil it’s Taken all you Got! Addictive Pleasures Ruin Our Health – they Ain’t no Good fer Us at ALL! Ya Can’t creAte much Helpful Wealth, if You-Won’t-Answer-Loving’s Call!

So Are you Tough eNuff, or Not? Aren’t You prePared for Life that’s New? Are You inTent on More of Rot, or Are you Faithful, Kind, and True?

There’s Hope for All the Helpless Ones, all Those who Daily just de-Spair; give Up yer Guns, get Off yer Buns, and Show the World you, Too, can Care!

There Shines a Light in Loving Hearts, diRecting Us to Do good Deeds, and If we’ll Only Do our Parts, then Love’ll Meet our Deepest Needs!

Do ya’ll beLieve?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

HONEST PRAYER

Honest Prayer

Dear God, I Fear the Hell I've Heard aBout; I Fear that You are Gonna Send me There! My Heart's been Filled with Fears, my Mind with Doubt; these Burdens Are so Very Hard ta Bear! So Many Worries Plague me All the Time; I Wish that I could Be a Better Soul! You Know aBout my Ev'ry Awful Crime – now, How do I esCape this Habit-Hole?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

THE HOLY ONE WILL HELP

The Holy One Will Help

What Thing withIn you Would ya Change fer Good? What Illness, Habit, AttiTude, or Thought? I Know you'd Change it, If ya Knew ya Could – I Hope you're Gonna Give it All you Got!

Through Buddha, We kin Do the Things we Must, so, Why not Give it All a Loving Go? 'Cause If in Heaven's Help ya Trust, the Christ will Help ya Conquer Any Foe!

May God now Bless you, Pilgrim, Through and Through! May Heaven's Love throw Out your Ev'ry Fear – and May your Mind coOperAte with You, and You find Joy and Freedom NOW, ya HEAR?! All RIGHT!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

HEAVEN, HEAL ME FROM MY HABITS!

Heaven, Heal Me from My Habits!

Old SlothfulNess, my EneMy, fer Sure; anXieTies and Fears, my Longtime Foes; and Hurting Me – these All reQuire a Cure, so, Heaven, Make me Well, from Head ta Toes!



Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

BACK-AND-FORTH

BACK-AND-FORTH

A. YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE YOUR SELF, PLEASE UNDERSTAND!

B. WHAT LOVING ACT WOULD YOU HAVE ME PERFORM?

A. FIRST, PLACE UPON YOUR SELF NO MEAN DEMAND!

B. YOU MEAN, BE KIND TA ME?

A. YOU'RE GETTING WARM! YOUR SUFFERING YOU'VE GOTTA SACRIFICE!

B. LIKE GIVING UP MY BEING HARD ON ME?

A. OH, YES, INDEED, AND START TA BE MORE NICE, AND IF YOU WILL, YUH'LL START TA BE MORE FREE! A MASOCHISTIC HABIT'S HARD TA BREAK; YOU'VE GOT TA PRACTICE BEING KIND TA YOU! AND DO IT ALL THE TIME, FOR JESUS' SAKE; FORGIVE AND LOVE YOURSELF A LOT, PLEASE DO!

WORDS TO MY GUY

Words to My Guy

The World Wide Web can Be a Sneaky Thief, if Surfing Ya aDore; you’ll Need a MIGHTY Load o' Sweet reLief, from Craving More and More! No Need ta Be comPulsive, Hapless, Man, aBandoning your Health; those Pixels, Sounds, and Bytes canNot sufFice, so Kindly Watch yourself! Okay?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson