Prayer for Next President of the USA

Dear Lord Jesus,

Here it is August 30, 2006...almost two years to go until the next Presidential election. You, O Lord, know who the next President will be. In your infinite wisdom, You have chosen this person for such a time as this. Even now, O Lord I pray, begin to fill this one with a special anointing of your Holy Spirit. Impart wisdom, O Lord, to this one like unto Solomon.

Heavenly Father, in a world that is running amuck, a Godly leader is needed for such a time as this. This one You have chosen may be a poor man but one that knows You intimately. Lord God, I pray (and others are too) that this leader will begin to rise. I remember how Brother Elijah prayed for rain, and there was not a cloud in sight. He prayed with power and faith, and then a cloud the size of a man's hand came in sight...and it produced an outpouring of much needed rain.

Lord Jesus, let that small cloud (for the next President) begin to appear. Put your hand on this next President, cause him to prosper in everything he does, and give him a mouth and wisdom which all of his adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

In Your Precious Son's name I do pray, Irvin.

Daddy's Birthday Today

Today, August 18, 2006 would have been my daddy's birthday. If he had lived, he would have been 80 today. The Lord called him home in December 1966 when he was 40. Daddy has spent almost 40 years in heaven. He left behind his wife, Mary, four daughters, Shirley, Evelyn, Linda, Joanne, and a son, Irvin (that's me). Daddy never held any of his grandchildren (13...seven grandsons and six grandaughters) or his great-grandchildren (17).

Shortly after he died, a close friend of his, Jackie Walker (husband Reverend Julian Walker) wrote this tribute about daddy:

In Memory of Reverend A.J. Rozier

I once knew a man who was one of God's servants
He had the love of God in his heart
He knew the joy of being a Christian
In spreading the gospel. . .he had a part

So many times we'd visit together
I'll never forget the fellowship sweet
But it can't compare with that meeting in Heaven
When we sit and talk at Jesus' feet

I guess there was nothing that A.J. loved better
(For truly he was a good Christian man)
Than to sit down with a good cup of coffee
And talk with somebody of Salvation's Plan

Could we deny him the pleasures of Heaven
And call him back to this earth again
No, we can't question the work of our Father
For we believe this was part of God's plan

Oh how it grieved us to part with this loved one
Knowing his face we'd see here no more
But if we live a life true and faithful
He'll be there to greet us when we reach Heaven's door

Death cannot claim the memory he left us
Though time will ease the ache in our heart
We'll always remember the life that he lived here
And when we reach Heaven we will never part.

Copyright 1967 Jackie Walker

Happy birthday, Daddy! Hope you and Mama (she went to Heaven in 2001) are having a good time. I'll see you again one day.

Your son, Irvin

The North Carolina Hills

Up in them rolling North Carolina hills
You can hear the sound of whippoorwills
The pine tree forest shields the ground
A carpet of their needles lies all around

The silence of the forest will shatter
As the squirrels cease their chatter
In the distance a hound dog is baying
Maybe someone is on their knees praying

God the Creator made this beautiful place
As a retreat fom the world's hurried pace
A troubled soul entered those green hills
And found the peace there better than pills

God walks the dark hills to show us the way
I know that He goes before me each day
He will lead me to heaven's bright shore
The troubles of this world will be no more

Copyright 2006 Irvin L. Rozier

The Veterans' Hospital

I went to the Lake City Veterans Hospital the other day. As I was sitting there, looking at all the vets, I begin to write this poem. I finished it this morning.

The Veterans' Hospital

I went to the veterans' hospital today
I had to drive a mighty long way
As I entered the hospital front door
I noticed the fresh shine on the floor

The waiting area was filled with vets of all ages
Their stories would fill pages and pages and pages
They used to be airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines
Think of all the sights and things their eyes have seen

The World War II vets are getting quite old
Many suffered in the German winter cold
Korea vets are nipping at their heels
In those days they missed many meals

Vietnam vets served their very best
They rank up there with all the rest
Cold war vets kept the enemy at bay
Until the Berlin wall fell on that day

Gulf war vets completely followed their orders
And drove the enemy back across the borders
The number of the War on Terror vets daily grow
They have been where the desert sands blow

All of these vets deserve the hospitals' best care
Many of these vets have wounds that are hard to bear
The staff of the veterans' hospitals must remember
Veterans served our country from January to December

May the Lord keep watch over these women and men
Who are sacrificing much now as they did when
They wore the military uniforms of the United States
And served their country on their active duty dates

Copyright 2006, Irvin L. Rozier, Captain (Retired), US Army Reserves, Chaplain of American Legion Post 181