The Game of Life

When your life becomes unbearable
And the light of promise ceases to glow,
When all your dreams and aspirations
Lie dormant on ambition's death row.

When you feel that all is hopeless,
Life troubles just seem to abound.
When those you thought were supporters
Are suddenly nowhere to be found;

When weary from the struggle of trying
And you wonder to yourself, "What's the use?"
You fight on to do the best that you can
But once again, all hell breaks loose.

When things in your life become disjointed
And everything you touch turns stale.
When nerves are on edge from life's pressures,
And there's no breath with which to exhale.

When the road you are traveling gets bumpy
And the hills become harder to climb,
When the going gets tougher and tougher
And persist for a considerably long time.

Remember, it's not what you expect from life,
But rather, what life expects from you.
When the wind of quandary blows your way,
Life wants to see just how well you'll do.

You see, life is really like playing a game.
To win, you must play as it dictates.
If you follow its built-in survival rules,
Your troubles will miraculously dissipate.

So when you near the end of your rope
When your back is pressed to the wall.
When you're trapped all around by conditions
And you can scarcely move around at all.

Don't give up and wave surrender's flag.
Don't succumb to the goads of strife.
Don't hang your head in resignation,
Don't stop playing this game called life.

Just confront your troubles head on;
Face them all in prayer one by one.
You'll learn after a long or short while
The game of life can surely be won.

For your power will suddenly increase;
Your strength to fight on, He'll renew.
God will not forsake His own blessed child;
He cannot and will not fail you.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..
In The News:

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.
Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country
Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.
Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.
OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.
A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.
Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.
ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.
ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.
Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.
DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.
Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.
Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Man Unbowed [A poem]

Man UnbowedUnbowed by sin, the world of man, stands Upon... Read More

You Lost Your Last Gamble and Me

I will never think twice nor will I roll the... Read More

Its What She Didnt Say

When I hear your voice inside my head it makes... Read More

Ballade of an Inca King

Ah! Leave the gold, wealth and landSays the Inca King?;... Read More

Three Poems and Paradise Lost [One for Hell, One for Heaven one for an Inca King]

The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More

Poetry in a Nutshell

Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is... Read More

My hero, my best friend, my Grannio (a.k.a my Grandmother)

She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More

Breathing-in, Minnesota [a poem: now in Spanish and English]

In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls, In... Read More

Poetry ?Reborn? Emerges In Thriller Mystery Novel

Since Mohamed Ali?then Cassius Clay?announced that he had written "The... Read More

Wondering

How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More

Banana Republic

Like a cat I slumber, blissfully unencumbered, Through eighty per... Read More

Cruel World

Azra, Azra, Wake up Azra. Wake up Azra, It is... Read More

Mother, I Dont Mind The Pain

I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More

An Old Wood Pile [a poem with notes]

Old skin, once held tight Against her skeleton- Rose no... Read More

Four Poems: Two for the Devil, Two for Peru

Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More

Walt Whitman, Romance With a Stranger

The concept of brief encounters, even romantic encounters, with a... Read More

In the Mountans of Haiti [A Poem: in English and Spanish]

In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More

The Exit Poems [Iron and Fire & No Heroes]

The Exit Poems [And Socrates]Iron and FireIron can be... Read More

Ive Learned

You cannot make someone love you. All you can do... Read More

Two Poems with Triggers [and a commentary]

So Many Einstein'sThe morning mist, insists there is a God.... Read More

To My Friend, With Love

All is still; all quiet; The world seems to... Read More

Way of Life: Rhymes of the Inca [four poems: see in Spanish and English NOW!]

Way of Life: Rhymes of the IncaPizarro (Spanish conquistador ((1525))The... Read More

Write Your Way to Fame

Have you ever thought about how nice it would be... Read More

Satirical Poetry About Tony Blair

All Hail.Is your hospital full of aliens, despite new cleaning... Read More

Tale of the: Old Hunter and the Golden Hare [In SPANISH and English now]

There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More

insured cleaning company Wilmette ..