Poems by Helen Steiner Rice

My favorite Christian poet is Helen Steiner Rice, she truly has been blessed by God with a beautiful gift to write poetry. Here are some poems from her book called "To Treasue Forever, A Gift of Love, Poems from the heart of Helen Steiner Rice". First Edition published by Gibson Greeting Cards, Inc. Copyright 1970.

Show me the way,

not to fortune and fame,

Not how to win laurels

or praise for my name-

But show me the way

to spread "The Great Story"

That "Thine is The Kingdom

and Power and Glory."

Helen Steiner Rice

Help Yourself To Happiness

Everybody, everywhere

seeks happiness, it's true,

But finding it and keeping it,

seems difficult to do,

Difficult because we think

that happiness is found

Only in the places where

wealth and fame abound-

And so we go on searching

in "palaces of pleasure"

Seeking recognition

and monetary treasure,

Unaware that happiness

is just a "state of mind"

Within the reach of everyone

who takes time to be kind-

For in making others happy

we will be happy, too,

For the happiness you give away

returns to "shine on you."

Heleh Steiner Rice

A Prayer For The Young And Lovely

Dear God, I keep praying

for the things I desire,

Yo tell me I'm selfish

and "playing with fire"-

It is hard to believe

I am selfish and vain,

My desires seem so real

and my needs seem so sane,

And yet You are wiser

and Your vision is wide

And You look down on me

and You see deep inside,

You know it's so easy

to change and distort,

And things that are evil

seem so harmless a sport-

Oh, teach me, Dear God,

to not rush ahead

But to pray for Your guidance

and to trust You instead,

For You know what I need

and that I'm only a slave

To the things that I want

and desire and crave-

Oh, God, in Your mercy

look down on me now

And see in my heart

that I love you somehow,

Although in my rashness,

impatience and greed

I pray for the things

that I want and don't need-

And instead of a crown

please send me a cross

And teach me to know

that all gain is but loss,

And show me the way

to joy without end,

With you as my Father,

Redeemer and Friend-

And send me the things

that are hardest to bear,

And keep me forever

safe in Thy care.

Helen Steiner Rice

New Concepts And Old Commandments

Living as we do today

in a world of speed and greed,

we are restless and dissatisfied

and we recognize a need

for something to alleviate

our constant state of stress,

something that will change dull days

to hours of happiness,

something new and different

to exercise our bored existence

which we so foolishly attempt

to change with rash resistance

by protesting were entitled

to the carnal-minded things,

believing we'll be satisfied

with the pleasure this life brings-

and in our discontentment

we disregard restrictions

and decide to seek our happiness

in delinquent derelictions-

we renounce our morals and ethics

and reject all discipline,

forgetting The Commandments

governing now outmoded sin-

we are sure in our new freedom,

with our lust and greed unleashed,

the "Pinnacle of Pleasure"

will certainly be reached-

but man cannot desecrate his soul

or defy God's changeless laws

for the age old Ten Commandments

stand untouched by human flaws,

and until man comes to realize

he must live and still obey

The Commandments that God handed down

was back in Moses' day,

he will never find contentment

and his search will be in vain

for what he thought was pleasure

will return to him in pain-

for man with all his greatness,

his knowledge and his skill,

is still as helpless as a child

and subject to God's will,

and there is nothing man can do

to bring lasting joy and peace

or curb his untamed passions

or make his longings cease,

but the humble, full acknowledgment

that there is no substitute

to bring forth a "Happy Harvest"

except the "Spirits Fruit"-

for unless man's spirit is redeemed

he will never, never find

unblemished love and happiness

and eternal peace of mind.

Helen Steiner Rice