Thank you, Rufus, and you're quite welcome. I have written lots of religious poems as well as songs: at least one for every day of the month with a few left over for good measure. This is bragging a little, but one I wrote was seen by the choir master at the Calvary Episcopal Church in New York. He wrote to me and asked permission to put it to music.
It is called "You Are A Light"

You are a light set upon a hill.
This is not by happenstance, but by the Creator's will
You are the salt of the earth to bring to life favor
And this He gave you at birth.
You are an elect race and a royal priesthood:
Not in being so that you might glory,
but that in so being you show life to be pure and good.
You are a holy nation; people for God's own possession
And He so blesses that you might live in peace
Fearless in Him of defeat and oppression.
You truly are the light of the world.
A reflection of the glory of God.
In you His righteousness dwells.
So walk that as He made you,
Comes his approving nod.

Prayer for March 31 Who Are Your neighbors
Jesus instructs us to love our neighbors. But just who are your neighbors? We live in an area where the closest neighbors may not be within walking distance Actually the people whose land connects to ours are our closest neighbors- all you have to do is climb 500 feet up to the ridge line, go back down 400 feet, through a small swamp full of snakes and snapping turtles, and then walk 500 feet to his house. We prefer to drive the mile and a half around the mountain to visit.The only ones we can walk to have power company land between us but it is only 1/3 mile from driveway to driveway, unless you take the road, then it is about a half mile- a good walk. But they are our neighbors. One of our neighbors lives three miles up the hollow, but in bad weather he plows the single lane road from the head of the hollow to the start of the paved road way past our driveway. He plows all the driveways in between. He even came down here one icy day and pulled the ambulance up the drive when I had to go to the hospital before I had the two stents put in. That is the kind of neighborly love that is the norm around here the folks here really do take Jesus commandments to heart. Another neighbor stops by here and picks up our extra vegetables from the garden, stops next door for goats milk and eggs and takes them to a couple of other neighbors who couldn't afford to buy them. The neighbors her do take Jesus at His word.
But you can't do the same thing in big cities. the other people in your apartment building are strangers, no one lives in one place long enough to get to know anyone else. You don't take your dog out for a walk at midnight on a balmy summer night, it wouldn't be safe. How do you get past the emotional isolation that may prevent you from knowing your neighbor, let alone loving him.Knowing that you cannot love all those you meet should not prevent you from being friendly and polite, but past that may b difficult. When we lived in the Chicago area we knew we had a few close friends, a number of casual friends and many business and personal aquaintances. all of them deserve respect and courtesy unless they prove otherwise. For us the latter were the easiest to love as individuals because we didn't know them well enough to know their flaws, nor did they know us that well. Our very few close friends we loved and cherished and would not hurt them for the world. SWMBO found it easier to express her concerns because she has always been more open and trusting than I am, and therefore could discuss tings without being critical, but it took me a long time to develop that skill, no matter how much I cared about their personal and spiritual well being. The good friends are always the hardest, and I was never sure if I had the right approach until I put that decision in God's hands.God is easy to talk to, He wants you to do the right things by other people and yourself, all I had to do was to ask for His help. Oh Lord I know I am but a conduit for your words. All that is good and loving comes from Thy hand alone. Help me to hear what my friend is saying and hear in my heart Your loving response, and I will know how to answer in a strong but loving way, that will be a comfort and guidance when my friend needs Your help but is unsure how to ask for it directly. Help me to show him how to pray for the spiritual strength to know what is the right way to act. With Thy help and love, the Truth will guide my prayers and theirs, and the honest and moral things will become clear. God, please give me the strength to love my friend so much that Thy Word will become mine and my friend will hear and understand.On my own I am too weak to do it, but with Thy hand n my shoulder, my words will be the truth, and relieve my friends torment as he battles evil and seeks Thy Light to guide him. This I ask through Jesus Christ who is the light and Hope for all us sinners. AMEN.

Thank you, Rufus, and you're quite welcome. I have written lots of religious poems as well as songs: at least one for every day of the month with a few left over for good measure. This is bragging a little, but one I wrote was seen by the choir master at the Calvary Episcopal Church in New York. He wrote to me and asked permission to put it to music.
It is called "You Are A Light"

You are a light set upon a hill.
This is not by happenstance, but by the Creator's will
You are the salt of the earth to bring to life favor
And this He gave you at birth.
You are an elect race and a royal priesthood:
Not in being so that you might glory,
but that in so being you show life to be pure and good.
You are a holy nation; people for God's own possession
And He so blesses that you might live in peace
Fearless in Him of defeat and oppression.
You truly are the light of the world.
A reflection of the glory of God.
In you His righteousness dwells.
So walk that as He made you,
Comes his approving nod.

Hope this will suffice for our prayer for today. Lord, watch over all of us on this forum, and over all those who love and adore you - Please hear our earnest cries for your help.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. 2:1-4
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jer. 29:7
For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. Psm 22:28
(This one is a toughy today!) Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Pet. 2:17
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.” Dan 2:20-23
O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Dan 9:18-19
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Psm 2:1-4
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, Phil. 2:14
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9

Father we humble ourselves before you, listening to your words, and asking your forgiveness and your long-suffering toward us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil - these things we humbly pray in your Son's most holy name. Blessed be our God and our redeemer, Jesus Christ. The them go all the glory and honor - AMEN.