A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.
Happy New Year from the Roadway Church! Be safe and blessed in the upcoming year!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
As we come upon the New Year and all the celebrations that go along with it, I hope that you will take a moment to say a prayer for the "men in blue" who will be out protecting us and our families.
The Men in Blue
It takes a very special person to wear the blue.
Most people do not understand what we do
We made a commitment to protect and serve.
We work hard to provide the safety you deserve....
No normal shifts, not nine to five.
We work 24/7 to keep you alive.
Holidays and weekends don’t mean a thing.
We work night and day, just give us a ring.
Our loved ones and children pray every night.
That we will return at the break of daylight.
We carry guns and wear vests to help us get through.
You couldn’t imagine some of the things we must do.
We see accidents and blood and small children crying.
We also see death and it’s not just old people dying.
Abusive spouses and parents that don’t seem to care.
These are just a few of the things, to make you aware.
Drug dealers and drunks are a regular sight.
We go to the bars for fight after fight.
Responding to calls day after day.
Not allowing our personal lives to get in the way.
You complain all the time when you see us on a break.
We just drive around in cars and oh, the money we make.
Stop for a second and try to assess
Who’s always there to clean up the mess?
We do all we can to help and provide.
To make you feel safe and secure inside.
Please remember all of the things that we must do.
And next time you pray, include the men in blue.
Adam E. HuttonHarwich (MA) Police Department
"If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home." Psalm 91:9-10
Thursday, December 29, 2011
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." Art Linkletter
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Giving Gift
A Holiday Short Story, by Brian Joseph
After he had unwrapped his gifts on Christmas morning the the 5 year old boy’s mother asked him which one of his presents he wanted to donate to a poor child who had less than him. “None”, the boy replied. His mom sat him on her lap and explained to him thatsharing with those who were less forunate was part of the holiday spirit and how a child who had less would probably be very happy to receive a gift. This took some convincing from mom but the boy eventually agreed to part with one of his gifts. Mom told him that he could have until the following morning to decide. The day after Christmas the boy put his four gifts in front of him and tried to decide which one to part with. It was a difficult decision. His eyes scanned over the toy flute, book of Aesop’s Fables, Popeye book bag, and the toy dump truck with doors that really opened. He decided that he part with the flute. “Where do we take it ?”, he asked his mother. His mother explained that there was a Salvation Army box two streets away and that the people who emptied this box would make sure that it got to a child who needed a gift. “How will they know it is for a child ?”, he asked. His mother told him that he could tape a note to the flute and she helped him to write one that read, “Please make sure this gets to a kid who doesn’t have a lot of toys”. After securely attaching the note to the flute the boy said, “I forgot to write my name, how will they know who this came from?” His mother explained that they wouldn’t need to know who it came from and how sometimes part of giving was doing it so that others wouldn’t know where it came from, like putting coins in the poor box at church. “Well, can I please write my name?” His mother said it would be okay and he wrote his name at the end of the note.
This parting with a gift the day after Christmas became a yearly ritual. When he was 8 years old the boy so treasured the gifts that he had that the decision needed to be made by eeny-meny-miny-mo and he had to part with a set of checkers. “I really love these mom”, the boy said. His mother said that he could select something else but he didn’t want to have to decide again. His mother left the room and returned with a piece of cardboard, the boy’s crayons, and his bottle cap collection. Together they created a board and set of checkers. “I bet no other kid in the world has checkers like these”, he said. That year he decided all on his own not to put his name on the note that he attached to the checkers box. Three months later when he saw a checkers set at his friend Jerry’s house he fought back the temptation to say , “that was mine”, after Jerry had told him that an army man had brought it to his door.
When he was 10 years old the laundrymat where his mother worked closed shortly after Thanksgiving and gifts were sparse. On Christmas he looked over his three inexpensive gifts. His mother came and sat beside him and told him that this year he didn’t have to part with a gift. At first this sounded great but when he woke up the morning after Christmas he thought about how much fun he had seen Jerry have with the checkers and how the giving gift could be secret and magical. He told his mother that he wanted to put his new football in the Salvation Army box. “You don’t have to do that”, his mother said. He told her that he wanted to.She got teary-eyed and gave him a big hug.
Six months later his mother’s birthday was approaching and the boy emptied his piggy bank and counted out three dollars and forty-nine cents. “What would you like for your birthday ?”, he asked his mother. She was silent for a moment and then she spoke, “I’ve noticed Billy playing catch football with his dad and it looks like a lot of fun. I think I would like a football.” That year his mother got a football for her birthday.
Many years later when he was a young man he talked to his mother about how in some ways it seemed strange that she had him give to the poor when he was a child since they themselves were poor. Then it happened. She gave him ‘the look’. It was a look that if it could be put into words would say, “Don’t you understand, haven’t you learned ?” The look said that and so much more. It was the same look that he had seen many times before. Words that appeared to be carefully chosen usually came shortly after ‘the look’. Certain instances were more memorable than others. There was the the time when he was 9 years old and he told his sister that she could never be president because she was a girl. That time “the look” was followed by his mother saying that people had all sorts of opinions about president Johnson but that she had never heard anyone comment on the importance of whether he stood or sat when he went to pee. This time he was 17 years old and ‘the look’ was followed with an explanation about what real poverty is and how the worst poverty to be in is poverty of the soul.
The giving gift tradition continued into adulthood. One Christmas his own 5 year old boy asked him, “What was the best gift you got for Christmas when you were a kid ?” He wanted to explain to his son that the best gift he ever received didn’t come in a box, it wasn’t wrapped and you couldn’t even hold it in your hand.
He tried to explain the giving gift as best as he could in words that a young child might understand. "Do you still do that Dad ?" His father explained that he had not missed a Christmas in over 30 years. The following day the father selected a new sweater and wrote directly on the white box, “Please give this to someone who needs it”. As he was getting ready for the drive to the Salvation Army box his son asked , “Can I come?” The father asked the boy to have his mother help him put on his boots, hat, and coat while Dad went to warm up the car. The father sat in the car waiting for ten minutes and thought about the Christmas of the first giving gift. He was just about to go back inside to see what was taking his son so long when the little boy came running out with a new play-doh set in his hands. “Dad, can you help me write the note ?”
There is joy in watching surprised looks on the faces of children as they open gifts. Material gifts can be precious but the greatest gifts that we can give to children aren’t wrapped in fancy paper and they can’t be purchased at the mall. The greatest gifts were meant to be passed on to others. The receivers of these gifts are often initially unaware of what they are actually receiving. The gifts of forgiveness, sharing, fairness, and caring are the most valuable gifts. These are the gifts that we can give away but still keep.
After he had unwrapped his gifts on Christmas morning the the 5 year old boy’s mother asked him which one of his presents he wanted to donate to a poor child who had less than him. “None”, the boy replied. His mom sat him on her lap and explained to him thatsharing with those who were less forunate was part of the holiday spirit and how a child who had less would probably be very happy to receive a gift. This took some convincing from mom but the boy eventually agreed to part with one of his gifts. Mom told him that he could have until the following morning to decide. The day after Christmas the boy put his four gifts in front of him and tried to decide which one to part with. It was a difficult decision. His eyes scanned over the toy flute, book of Aesop’s Fables, Popeye book bag, and the toy dump truck with doors that really opened. He decided that he part with the flute. “Where do we take it ?”, he asked his mother. His mother explained that there was a Salvation Army box two streets away and that the people who emptied this box would make sure that it got to a child who needed a gift. “How will they know it is for a child ?”, he asked. His mother told him that he could tape a note to the flute and she helped him to write one that read, “Please make sure this gets to a kid who doesn’t have a lot of toys”. After securely attaching the note to the flute the boy said, “I forgot to write my name, how will they know who this came from?” His mother explained that they wouldn’t need to know who it came from and how sometimes part of giving was doing it so that others wouldn’t know where it came from, like putting coins in the poor box at church. “Well, can I please write my name?” His mother said it would be okay and he wrote his name at the end of the note.
This parting with a gift the day after Christmas became a yearly ritual. When he was 8 years old the boy so treasured the gifts that he had that the decision needed to be made by eeny-meny-miny-mo and he had to part with a set of checkers. “I really love these mom”, the boy said. His mother said that he could select something else but he didn’t want to have to decide again. His mother left the room and returned with a piece of cardboard, the boy’s crayons, and his bottle cap collection. Together they created a board and set of checkers. “I bet no other kid in the world has checkers like these”, he said. That year he decided all on his own not to put his name on the note that he attached to the checkers box. Three months later when he saw a checkers set at his friend Jerry’s house he fought back the temptation to say , “that was mine”, after Jerry had told him that an army man had brought it to his door.
When he was 10 years old the laundrymat where his mother worked closed shortly after Thanksgiving and gifts were sparse. On Christmas he looked over his three inexpensive gifts. His mother came and sat beside him and told him that this year he didn’t have to part with a gift. At first this sounded great but when he woke up the morning after Christmas he thought about how much fun he had seen Jerry have with the checkers and how the giving gift could be secret and magical. He told his mother that he wanted to put his new football in the Salvation Army box. “You don’t have to do that”, his mother said. He told her that he wanted to.She got teary-eyed and gave him a big hug.
Six months later his mother’s birthday was approaching and the boy emptied his piggy bank and counted out three dollars and forty-nine cents. “What would you like for your birthday ?”, he asked his mother. She was silent for a moment and then she spoke, “I’ve noticed Billy playing catch football with his dad and it looks like a lot of fun. I think I would like a football.” That year his mother got a football for her birthday.
Many years later when he was a young man he talked to his mother about how in some ways it seemed strange that she had him give to the poor when he was a child since they themselves were poor. Then it happened. She gave him ‘the look’. It was a look that if it could be put into words would say, “Don’t you understand, haven’t you learned ?” The look said that and so much more. It was the same look that he had seen many times before. Words that appeared to be carefully chosen usually came shortly after ‘the look’. Certain instances were more memorable than others. There was the the time when he was 9 years old and he told his sister that she could never be president because she was a girl. That time “the look” was followed by his mother saying that people had all sorts of opinions about president Johnson but that she had never heard anyone comment on the importance of whether he stood or sat when he went to pee. This time he was 17 years old and ‘the look’ was followed with an explanation about what real poverty is and how the worst poverty to be in is poverty of the soul.
The giving gift tradition continued into adulthood. One Christmas his own 5 year old boy asked him, “What was the best gift you got for Christmas when you were a kid ?” He wanted to explain to his son that the best gift he ever received didn’t come in a box, it wasn’t wrapped and you couldn’t even hold it in your hand.
He tried to explain the giving gift as best as he could in words that a young child might understand. "Do you still do that Dad ?" His father explained that he had not missed a Christmas in over 30 years. The following day the father selected a new sweater and wrote directly on the white box, “Please give this to someone who needs it”. As he was getting ready for the drive to the Salvation Army box his son asked , “Can I come?” The father asked the boy to have his mother help him put on his boots, hat, and coat while Dad went to warm up the car. The father sat in the car waiting for ten minutes and thought about the Christmas of the first giving gift. He was just about to go back inside to see what was taking his son so long when the little boy came running out with a new play-doh set in his hands. “Dad, can you help me write the note ?”
There is joy in watching surprised looks on the faces of children as they open gifts. Material gifts can be precious but the greatest gifts that we can give to children aren’t wrapped in fancy paper and they can’t be purchased at the mall. The greatest gifts were meant to be passed on to others. The receivers of these gifts are often initially unaware of what they are actually receiving. The gifts of forgiveness, sharing, fairness, and caring are the most valuable gifts. These are the gifts that we can give away but still keep.
Where is your Bethleham?
by Marilyn Ehle
Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem… He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:4, 5
As the crow flies, it was a journey of approximately 100 kilometers but traveling over hills, through villages and around rivers would likely have made the trip even longer. Christmas pictures always show Mary riding a donkey but we really have no idea of their mode of travel. In any case, whether on foot or on the back of a swaying brown animal, it wasn’t an easy journey, especially for a women nearing the end of her pregnancy.
Why did she go? True, government officialdom decreed a census and that everyone must go to one’s “own city,” the place their families called home, for this official registration and counting. Perhaps Mary was also quite ready to leave the village of Nazareth where tongues were wagging about her pregnancy and unmarried status.
But Mary and Joseph knew they were going far from family and into a city whose streets would be clogged with traveling strangers. They were assured of no warm welcome, no cozy place to birth the expected child. Perhaps they hoped for a small house or a distant relative or a way for Joseph to earn money for their keep, but in almost every way, they were traveling into the unknown. The journey was long and hard, the destination uncertain.
Nearly nine months before their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary spoke life-changing words to God, words that were to comfort her in the many uncertain years ahead. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” With those simple words of faith, she could endure the long journey on the back of a donkey, the cold streets of Bethlehem, the staring faces of strangers, and even the crude stable with its straw-lined manger.
Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem… He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:4, 5
As the crow flies, it was a journey of approximately 100 kilometers but traveling over hills, through villages and around rivers would likely have made the trip even longer. Christmas pictures always show Mary riding a donkey but we really have no idea of their mode of travel. In any case, whether on foot or on the back of a swaying brown animal, it wasn’t an easy journey, especially for a women nearing the end of her pregnancy.
Why did she go? True, government officialdom decreed a census and that everyone must go to one’s “own city,” the place their families called home, for this official registration and counting. Perhaps Mary was also quite ready to leave the village of Nazareth where tongues were wagging about her pregnancy and unmarried status.
But Mary and Joseph knew they were going far from family and into a city whose streets would be clogged with traveling strangers. They were assured of no warm welcome, no cozy place to birth the expected child. Perhaps they hoped for a small house or a distant relative or a way for Joseph to earn money for their keep, but in almost every way, they were traveling into the unknown. The journey was long and hard, the destination uncertain.
Nearly nine months before their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary spoke life-changing words to God, words that were to comfort her in the many uncertain years ahead. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” With those simple words of faith, she could endure the long journey on the back of a donkey, the cold streets of Bethlehem, the staring faces of strangers, and even the crude stable with its straw-lined manger.
Where is your Bethlehem? Has the path been long, the people uncaring, the circumstances burdensome? When we submit ourselves as servants to a loving God, we can—in quietness and confidence—add “May it be to me as you have said” no matter the place or position in which we find ourselves.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS MORNING
I have read this story before and stumbled acrossed it again today. This story really puts a lump in my throat and humbles me to think that there are people out there that have lived this very story. We sometimes forget just how good we have it! There are truly people who have nothing.
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds.
He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job.
The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whoever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel.
An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people.
I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.
When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.
One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana I wondered? I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.
I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys - then hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boy’s pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.
On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.
When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was a whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans.
Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was a whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll. As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.
Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 8:27
Father, I ask you to bless our friends, relatives reading this story right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power or let them be the ones bringing love and joy in someone else’s life. Amen.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Labor of Love
"It was a Labor of Pain
It was a Cold Sky Above
But for the Girl on the Ground in the Dark
With Every Beat of Her Beautiful Heart
It was a Labor of Love"
It was a Cold Sky Above
But for the Girl on the Ground in the Dark
With Every Beat of Her Beautiful Heart
It was a Labor of Love"
For the Mobile Followers you can click on the following link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5gW9FUqp90
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
For the Man Who Hated Christmas
By Nancy W. Gavin
It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.
Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids – all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.
Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children – ignoring their new toys – would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.
The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.
Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.
It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.
Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids – all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.
Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children – ignoring their new toys – would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.
The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.
Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.
Monday, December 19, 2011
"Its not the load that breaks you down,
Its the way you carry it"
Lena Horne
Its the way you carry it"
Lena Horne
"Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load." Galations 6: 2-5
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKINGS BY THE MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND... BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT AND ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY,
MY CORPS.'
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY,
ALL IS SECURE.'
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
I apologize for neglecting the website these last few weeks. It seems that i have been meeting myself coming and going and it just has not worked out that i have had time to stop and think about a "thought for the day". It really bothers me that i have been less than efficient and i find that i myself have missed the lift that this brings to me.
The CHRISTmas season is very hectic. The commercialization of CHRISTmas has made it stressful trying to find the perfect present for our family and friends and the economy has made it even more stressful trying to finance these gifts. Keep in mind while you are bustling around this CHRISTmas season that we were all given the PERFECT present when he died for us so that we may live and that is truly the ONLY gift that we need.
Maybe the PERFECT present this CHRISTmas season is simply sharing that with someone who has not received their PERFECT gift yet.
When life gets to be more than you can stand.....KNEEL!
The CHRISTmas season is very hectic. The commercialization of CHRISTmas has made it stressful trying to find the perfect present for our family and friends and the economy has made it even more stressful trying to finance these gifts. Keep in mind while you are bustling around this CHRISTmas season that we were all given the PERFECT present when he died for us so that we may live and that is truly the ONLY gift that we need.
Maybe the PERFECT present this CHRISTmas season is simply sharing that with someone who has not received their PERFECT gift yet.
When life gets to be more than you can stand.....KNEEL!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Be Kind
Unselfish and noble actions are the most
radiant pages in the biography of souls.
David Thomas
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Outside my window, a new day I see.
And only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,
Or it can be boring and cold, unhappy and grey.
My own state of mind is the determining key,
For I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful and do all I can to help,
Or be selfish and think, just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do and make it seem fun,
Or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand,
Or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself and believe what I say,
And I personally intend to make the best of each day.
And only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,
Or it can be boring and cold, unhappy and grey.
My own state of mind is the determining key,
For I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful and do all I can to help,
Or be selfish and think, just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do and make it seem fun,
Or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand,
Or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself and believe what I say,
And I personally intend to make the best of each day.
Monday, November 21, 2011
God's Protection
Each of us has a course to follow,
God knows every cross I bare,
God knows the battles brewing,
He protect me with His care.
God has set the course I follow,
He knows how much that I can bare,
God will help me fight my battles,
When I go to Him in prayer.
God has given me the power,
He has set the course we share,
God will keep me in the battles,
He protects me with His care.
God protects me with His Spirit,
He delivers me from care,
God defends me in my valleys,
When I go to Him in prayer.
God rejoices in my worship,
He protects me from all harm,
God has helped me win my battles,
Wrapped securely in His arms.
You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26: 3-4
Each of us has a course to follow,
God knows every cross I bare,
God knows the battles brewing,
He protect me with His care.
God has set the course I follow,
He knows how much that I can bare,
God will help me fight my battles,
When I go to Him in prayer.
God has given me the power,
He has set the course we share,
God will keep me in the battles,
He protects me with His care.
God protects me with His Spirit,
He delivers me from care,
God defends me in my valleys,
When I go to Him in prayer.
God rejoices in my worship,
He protects me from all harm,
God has helped me win my battles,
Wrapped securely in His arms.
You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26: 3-4
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Wallet
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope. "Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?" She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you." I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked. "I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter." She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living. I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?" I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks." I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her."
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be."
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall.
They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope. "Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?" She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you." I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked. "I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter." She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living. I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?" I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks." I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her."
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be."
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall.
They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Jake, the rancher, went one day
to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty and
the clouds rolled gray and dense,
As he pounded the last nail in
and gathered tools to go.
The temperature had fallen
and the snow began to blow.
When he finally reached his pickup,
he felt a heavy heart,
from the sound of that ignition,
he knew it wouldn't start.
So Jake did what most of us do
if we'd have been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head
and sent aloft a prayer.
As he turned the key for the last time,
he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later,
frozen stiff in that old truck.
Now Jake had been around in life
and done his share of roamin'.
But when he saw Heaven,
he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.
Of all the saints in Heaven,
his favorite was St. Peter.
Now, this line, it ain't needed
but it helps with rhyme and meter.
So they set and talked a minute or two,
or maybe it was three,
Nobody was keepin' score --in Heaven time is free.
"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,
"that God will answer prayers,
But one time I asked for help,
well He, just plain wasn't there.
Does God answer prayers of some,
and ignores the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square --
I know all men are brothers.
Or does he randomly reply,
without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day,
the weather or the season.
Now I ain't trying to act smart,
it's just the way I feel,
And I was wonderin', could you tell --
what the heck's the deal?
Peter listened very patiently
and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition,
and he said, "So, you're the one!
That day your truck,
it wouldn't start,
and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time,
with hundreds of us a trying.
A thousand angels rushed to check
the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard
from you in quite a while
And though all prayers are answered,
and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice,
and started a truck in North Dakota.
Poetry By © Bill Jones
to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty and
the clouds rolled gray and dense,
As he pounded the last nail in
and gathered tools to go.
The temperature had fallen
and the snow began to blow.
When he finally reached his pickup,
he felt a heavy heart,
from the sound of that ignition,
he knew it wouldn't start.
So Jake did what most of us do
if we'd have been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head
and sent aloft a prayer.
As he turned the key for the last time,
he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later,
frozen stiff in that old truck.
Now Jake had been around in life
and done his share of roamin'.
But when he saw Heaven,
he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.
Of all the saints in Heaven,
his favorite was St. Peter.
Now, this line, it ain't needed
but it helps with rhyme and meter.
So they set and talked a minute or two,
or maybe it was three,
Nobody was keepin' score --in Heaven time is free.
"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,
"that God will answer prayers,
But one time I asked for help,
well He, just plain wasn't there.
Does God answer prayers of some,
and ignores the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square --
I know all men are brothers.
Or does he randomly reply,
without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day,
the weather or the season.
Now I ain't trying to act smart,
it's just the way I feel,
And I was wonderin', could you tell --
what the heck's the deal?
Peter listened very patiently
and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition,
and he said, "So, you're the one!
That day your truck,
it wouldn't start,
and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time,
with hundreds of us a trying.
A thousand angels rushed to check
the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard
from you in quite a while
And though all prayers are answered,
and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice,
and started a truck in North Dakota.
Poetry By © Bill Jones
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
When You Least Expect It
Jimmy and I just spent the last several days at the Ride Rank for a Cure Bull Riding School in Derby, Kansas with our son Weston.
Jimmy and Weston had been to this school the previous two years and pretty much knew what to expect, but i had stayed home as i thought there is no place at a bull riding school for this mom!
This being Weston's Senior year and not knowing if we would be welcomed to join him next year, i decided that i would go along and take it all in. When the school began and the instructors began to talk i was simply amazed at the motivation and inspiration that they raidiated through out the building. Each of them have had alot of success inside the arena and should rightly be proud of their accomplishments. What made this so amazing was that these same guys shared that your physical ability can only get you so far and that you need to rely on your faith to get you down the road to success.
I had a plan that when they began speaking and working on drills that i would get my kindle and read a book OR being that close to Wichita i would just go to the mall and pass my time there. I quickly saw that the message being given did not only apply to the riders, but it actually applied to me, the mother who would be sitting in the stands taking video. Needless to say i took in the entire four days of the bull riding school and came home with a renewed spirit and alot more money cause i stayed away from the mall!
I say all this to share with you that sometimes the biggest blessings are received when you least expect it!
For more information or if you would like to donate to Ride Rank for a Cure you can go to http://www.riderankforacure.com/
Jimmy and Weston had been to this school the previous two years and pretty much knew what to expect, but i had stayed home as i thought there is no place at a bull riding school for this mom!
This being Weston's Senior year and not knowing if we would be welcomed to join him next year, i decided that i would go along and take it all in. When the school began and the instructors began to talk i was simply amazed at the motivation and inspiration that they raidiated through out the building. Each of them have had alot of success inside the arena and should rightly be proud of their accomplishments. What made this so amazing was that these same guys shared that your physical ability can only get you so far and that you need to rely on your faith to get you down the road to success.
I had a plan that when they began speaking and working on drills that i would get my kindle and read a book OR being that close to Wichita i would just go to the mall and pass my time there. I quickly saw that the message being given did not only apply to the riders, but it actually applied to me, the mother who would be sitting in the stands taking video. Needless to say i took in the entire four days of the bull riding school and came home with a renewed spirit and alot more money cause i stayed away from the mall!
I say all this to share with you that sometimes the biggest blessings are received when you least expect it!
For more information or if you would like to donate to Ride Rank for a Cure you can go to http://www.riderankforacure.com/
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thankful
By A. R. Gronos
By A. R. Gronos
I'm thankful for all good with which
I've been blessed throughout life.
For hardships, and for heartaches, too,
For failures, trials and strife.
I'm thankful for each little prayer
Someone has said for me;
For loving thoughts, for friendliness,
For all good will I see.
My thanks for hands, with which I could
Scribe someone on life's way;
For all small deeds of kindness
I'm allowed to do each day.
I'm thankful for all happiness,
Each long hour of deep sorrow;
God thus in his great mercy gives
More wisdom for tomorrow.
My thanks for hands, with which I could
Scribe someone on life's way;
For all small deeds of kindness
I'm allowed to do each day.
I'm thankful for all happiness,
Each long hour of deep sorrow;
God thus in his great mercy gives
More wisdom for tomorrow.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Life can only be lived looking forward,
But understood looking backward
But understood looking backward
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
It is not too late to make this a part of your weekend! We encourage you to click on upcoming events and register, however it is not required! We want you to come join the fun! Rita Morrow, Christian Comedian, from Amarillo, Texas will be our guest speaker who is sure to tickle your funny bone all while inspiring your heart!
Dont miss out on this special opprotunity!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This is a really good guestion we truly need to put some thought into. All of us are probably guilty of doing alot more talking than we do praying. Whether it be a problem we are having in our lives or something that has happened that has been a blessing! We share alot more with our friends than we actually spend in prayer sharing it with God. Although he knows our every want and need, we still need to take everything before him and lay it at his feet and he will answer according to his will.
Monday, October 24, 2011
People gather bundles of sticks
to build bridges they never cross.
~Author Unknown
to build bridges they never cross.
~Author Unknown
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship." The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church." "I did," replied the old cowboy." If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the preacher. "Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He'd never been in this church."By: Greg Moorhead
Just another example of it is not what is on the outside that God is looking for. It is what lies within!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change"
Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!
Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Matthew 25:
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
Friday, October 7, 2011
The 7-Ups
Wake Up - Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7
Shut Up - Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "
He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3
"Gossip betrays confidence, avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19
"Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20
Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
Look Up - To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13
Reach Up - For something higher.
As Jiminy Cricket sings "High Hopes". Always try to better yourself.
Lift Up - Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING" Philippians 4:6
Faith in God
He, the only survivor of a shipwreck, was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?"asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it:
You say: "It's impossible"God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)]
You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:16; John 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on"God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians12:9; Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I forgive you (I John 1:9; Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (IITimothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on Me (I Peter 5:7)You say: "I don't have enough faith" God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith(Romans 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you(Hebrews 13:5)
The Answer is Right Above You
Did you know that if you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 or 8 feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner? The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
Did you know that the ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place? If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
Did you know that a bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out? It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, there are a lot of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there "Above" them.
Did you know that the ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place? If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
Did you know that a bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out? It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, there are a lot of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there "Above" them.
The Wise Woman's Stone
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."
Author Unknown
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Hold On
God has time to listen
If you have time to pray
If you have time to pray
He may not answer our prayers today
but if we HOLD ON and be patient he will show us the way!
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
**For Email account holders, please click here ---> HOLD ON <--- that will take you to the location so you too can see the video! Its a must see!**
**For Email account holders, please click here ---> HOLD ON <--- that will take you to the location so you too can see the video! Its a must see!**
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Moments Like These
We have all heard the saying "Stop and Smell the Roses" but do we ever do it? Usually not. We spend most of our days rushing around doing all that life demands of us and we often forget to soak in our blessings that are right in front of us! Don't let "life" stand in your way of stopping to smell the roses! Life truly is too short to let these go!
Lord, "when time flies by, remind me to breathe, cause Heaven on earth is moments like these...........
Lord, "when time flies by, remind me to breathe, cause Heaven on earth is moments like these...........
Church Dinner
This Sunday October 8th, 2011 we will be having a Church Dinner following Church Services! Please bring your favorite food and join us for friends, fun, and fellowship!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
If you never make mistakes, you will surely never learn!
There really is no question as to whether we make mistakes. We make them daily. Most of the mistakes are relatively minor and easily fixed. Then there is that one huge mistake that we made that keeps us awake at night wondering "why did i do that?" We fret and stew about what to do next and how to "fix it". Alot of times we make more mistakes "fixing" the first mistake and it turns into a really horrible mess! We have to remember that we can not "fix" anything on our own! We must turn our troubles over to he Lord and he will do all the handy work!
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:6-7
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday October 3, 2011
"Happiness is not found in capturing what you desire, it is appreciating that which you have already caught"
For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me. Philippians 4: 11-13
Friday, September 30, 2011
Are you 2nd?
People spend a large part of their time seeking money and possessions, but God wants us to have a different priority.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ~ Matthew 6:19-20
**The treasures of this world are fleeting, but the treasures of the next world are eternal. We will have to spend some time on the treasures of this world in order to provide for our family and our needs, but Christ’s message is that our real treasure is in heaven. Let us not spend so much time in earthly pursuits that we neglect the spiritual treasure that God offers us.**
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." ~ Matthew 6:24
**The Greek word used here for mammon means worldly riches. There are two masters struggling for control of our time and our commitment -- God and worldly riches. Whom do you serve? Is God more important to you than the wealth and the possessions this world has to offer? The treasures of heaven far exceed anything we can conceive or imagine. Let us not be torn between two masters. Let us be willing to serve God and put him first.Have you ever observed that those who walk the tightrope at the circus always look straight ahead while on the rope? They never look down at the rope or the crowd. They know that if they were to do that, they would lose concentration and be in danger of falling. So it is in our Christian walk. We must keep our eyes focused on God and spiritual matters. When we look down at the treasures or pleasures of the world, we will surely fall.**
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." ~ Matthew 6:33
**Here is what we must do -- seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. If we do that, the other things will take care of themselves. It is all a matter of perspective. When we are at work, is our focus on buying a new fishing boat, or is our focus on being a blessing to others? Is our focus on pushing others aside so that we can get the promotion, or is it on ministering and serving others? The one thing that I have learned is that Christians who live their lives by godly principles find that they are the ones who get the promotion or who are blessed with a raise anyway. So why should we make worldly pursuit our focus? Make God your focus, and you will find that he will abundantly bless you and meet your every need. It all begins when we learn to put God first.**
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday September 29, 2011
Life is a Garden....
Dig It!
Dig It!
Remember every flower started from a seed that grew up through alot of dirt!
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Don't Quit
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile,but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit…
By all means pray, and don’t you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
God’s hidden gift in the clouds of doubt.
You never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So trust in the Lord when you’re hardest hit…
It’s when things go wrong, that you must not quit!
By Author Unknown
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile,but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit…
By all means pray, and don’t you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
God’s hidden gift in the clouds of doubt.
You never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So trust in the Lord when you’re hardest hit…
It’s when things go wrong, that you must not quit!
By Author Unknown
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday September 27, 2011
I do not ask to walk smooth paths,
Nor bear an easy load
I pray for strength and fortitude
To climb the rock strewn road.
Give me such courage that i can scale
the hardest peaks alone.
And transform every stumbling block
Into a stepping stone.
Ricky Ritter
Nor bear an easy load
I pray for strength and fortitude
To climb the rock strewn road.
Give me such courage that i can scale
the hardest peaks alone.
And transform every stumbling block
Into a stepping stone.
Ricky Ritter
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
ATTITUDES ARE CONTAGIOUS...
IS YOURS WORTH CATHCHING?
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7: 19-20
Friday, September 23, 2011
I Have Been Set Free
As the first official day of fall is here we begin to think of the beuatiful days ahead. We will finally be "set free" from the scortching heat and the trees will begin to change. The orange, brown, and yellow leafs will be "set free" from their waivering branches where they will cascade in the gentle breeze floating through the air until finally reaching a place where it can rest on solid ground. Our lives are alot like these autumn leafs. We sometimes spend months stuck on something that takes ahold of us and does not let us go. Sometimes its grief over the loss of a loved one, maybe its making ends meet when there is too much month left at the end of the money, maybe its alcohol, drugs, or maybe it is just that we have lost our way in our relationship with God. Today is as good a day as any to release yourself and ask God to "set you free" from all darkness in your life and let you have that soft landing on solid ground.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Laughter...It does the body good!
Last night while attending a school function i was reminded just how much laughter really does do the body good. Kinda like milk! Here we were, about a hundred or so i would guess, when the cutest little girl began to get tickled. It was not just a chuckle, it was one of those belly laughs. As she laughed, a few of us began to chuckle as her dad was trying to settle her down a bit. Our chuckling did not ahelp her to settle down as she began to laugh a little harder. By this time the laughter began to spread and pretty soon the whole place erupted into laughter. For just a minute everything was right with the world and everyone in there had a smile on there face. All it took was one little girl having a cheerful heart to give us all a moment of happiness!
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." ~e.e. cummings
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Make a Difference
"God has not called us to see through
each other, but to see each other through"
each other, but to see each other through"
Pick up the phone and call a friend who may just need to hear a kind voice. Give a family member a hug that has had a bad day. Say a prayer for somebody you know that is struggling to make it in life. We may not be able to change the world, but we might just be able to make a difference in someone elses life by doing the little things.
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;
be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8
Friday, September 16, 2011
Move Me
Seems as though difficult times are hitting everyone. Whether it be thru financial troubles, spouse problems, kids at school bullying you or your children at school, family members falling away from the right path, or the loss of a loved one. The list is endless...Its all around.
But we can have an advantage, we have God on our side and He promises to never leave nor forsake us. He will be with us in the midst of it all! In the highs and the lows. What do you have to do? Just trust in Him.
Below is a song that has helped me in may difficult times. Whenever the waters start to get rough I listen to this song, it reminds me that He is there and He will get me through no matter what. I know He'll do one of two things, He'll move the mountain or He'll move me.
"And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
But we can have an advantage, we have God on our side and He promises to never leave nor forsake us. He will be with us in the midst of it all! In the highs and the lows. What do you have to do? Just trust in Him.
Below is a song that has helped me in may difficult times. Whenever the waters start to get rough I listen to this song, it reminds me that He is there and He will get me through no matter what. I know He'll do one of two things, He'll move the mountain or He'll move me.
"And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
STRENGTH AND COURAGE
It takes strength to fit in.It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide your own pains.It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.It takes courage to live.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
It takes strength to fit in.It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide your own pains.It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.It takes courage to live.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Be on your guard; stand firm in faith; be men of courage; be strong 1 Corinthians 66:13
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I had the opprotunity to listen to a guy by the name of John Starnes speak at cowboy church this past weekend. John was a bullrider who followed the circuit and did fairly well for a "big fellow" as he put it. John struggled along the way and had a buddy whom he thought was "the bomb". This dude had it all. The girls, the perfect bull ride, the perfect life. He spent years being envious of this guy and wishing he could be just like him. One day at a rodeo he crossed paths with this friend coming out of a port a potty. What he saw that day was the beginning of a path of destruction. This friend had a white powdery substance on his nose and face. John wanting to have the "perfect life" thought that doing drugs must be the key to having it all so he joined this friend in doing drugs. He continued on this path for several years until one day he decided he just could not do it anymore and found himself out in the middle of the pasture on bended knee asking God to forgive him and to help him straighten out his life. God answered his prayer that day and has lead him into ministry called pistols and prayer which he does with his wife and four kids.
John's story was just another example of how easy it is to think that we do not have the perfect life just because our wish list has not been fulfilled. It is my prayer that we can look beyond our wish list and see that what truly matters is if God's wish list for us has been fulfilled.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
John's story was just another example of how easy it is to think that we do not have the perfect life just because our wish list has not been fulfilled. It is my prayer that we can look beyond our wish list and see that what truly matters is if God's wish list for us has been fulfilled.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
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