Things to do Every Day of the Year - not just Christmas!

These are some special things we should do not just on Christmas but every single day of the year.  Life would be a much better place if everyone would put forth this sort of effort to each other.  Let's all give it a try . . .

How to Rekindle Your Inner Light

"A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark".
– Dante Alighieri

Life, with all that it has to offer, can give greatly, and at times, it can also take away. Personal tragedies, whatever the cause, can wear anyone down. Even the strongest among us can find their inner light dimmed by these tough times.
When you find yourself drowning in darkness, take comfort in the simple fact that your light does not die. Light, in fact, is eternal. Believe that you have the power to rekindle it whenever you choose.

Start Your Campfire

Fires give comfort when you feel alone in the darkness of a cold forest. They provide warmth, safety and light. Building an inner fire can provide you with the same comfort. You can rekindle your inner fire and then use the light to find your way back to peace by remembering how a campfire is started when it’s needed most.

• Gather the kindling
  Something cannot come from nothing. If you feel that your inner fire has burned out, it’s up to you to build a new one. Resist the temptation to suffer in the darkness and trust yourself to recover from the tragedy.
  Take it upon yourself to begin your healing and move on with your life. Find things in your life to help you restart your fire. Gather what you need from the woods and take it back with you. Prepare yourself to set a goal and then equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve that goal. Know what you need and then gather these things again.
• Build the fire
  Before you can start the fire, you must first build the base upon which to make the fire.
  In the same manner a campfire is started, restarting your inner fire starts with a spark and some tinder. Setting concrete goals makes it easier to plan practical ways to achieve it. Outlining a plan of action is like stacking the kindling around the tinder. You have to know the kind of fire you need so you can decide how it is to burn. Starting a fire requires patience and perseverance. Don’t just throw a bunch of logs into a pile and hope that they catch fire. The same is true with your goals; start small—start with the tinder. When the tinder catches, move on to the kindling. And when the kindling catches, then you can move on to the larger fuel.
• Feed the fire
  After you start the fire, you need to feed it to keep it burning. Add fuel to the fire. Work towards achieving the goal that you have set. Practice your skills or choose to learn new ones.
  The fire may dip at times, depending on external factors or even internal factors, but you must add fuel to keep it burning. This is the part that might seem tedious, but this is also the part where you remind yourself that you need the fire and that while keeping the fire alive may be troublesome, having to build a new one can be even more tiring.
• Control the fire
  Fire does not produce its own fuel. When the fire is at the point where it’s no longer just a fragile flame, it runs the risk of being uncontrollable. Whether you toss in a block of wood, an old newspaper or a 200-year-old painting, fire does not discriminate and it will burn through what it touches. Take care of your inner fire, but control it so it does not consume you. Use your fire to ignite your passions in life and let your inner light guide you through your path in the world.   
  -Calex Blackwell                               www.thebridgemaker.com 

  
  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~
  
  I'm reminded of the old song "It Only Takes a Spark" we used to sing around the campfire . . .
  
  It only takes a spark
      To get a fire going
      And soon all those around
      Can warm up in the glowing
  
  That’s how it is with God’s love
      Once you’ve experienced it
      You’ll spread His love
      To everyone
      You’ll want to pass it on
  
  What a wondrous time is spring
      When all the trees are budding
      The birds begin to sing
      The flowers start their blooming
  
  That’s how it is with God’s love
      Once you’ve experienced it
      You’ll want to sing
      It’s fresh like spring
      You’ll want to pass it on
  
  I wish for you my friend
      This happiness that I’ve found
      You can depend on Him
      It matters not where you’re bound
  
  I’ll shout it from the mountain top
      I want the world to know
      The Lord of Love
      Has come to me
      I want to pass it on
  
  This is how God's Great Love Works!!

   

Three Things . . .

Attitude is Everything Movie

Attitude is Everything Movie 
(Mute the blog playlist then - Double Click on this Movie title for some inspiration!)

Here is a video to get you thinking straight - especially when we get so run down, out of sorts, and just plan tired.  When we forget the things that we need to remember.

Think Before You Speak

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing unto you, O Lord, my Rock and my Salvation". (Psalms 19:14)


Since my Brain Surgery to remove the two tumors back in December 2012, I have had go to Speech Therapy.  I have been working to reprogram some of my vocabulary to connect in the cognitive thinking area of my brain so I can communicate those words that are blocked and not connecting.  I may know the word and sometimes it is right on the tip of my tongue but I just can't communicate it. It is like it is just blocked out of my verbal communication.  So in Speech Therapy, I work on hundreds of words, their meanings, their opposites, I try to list as many synonyms as I can for a certain word and attempt to do all this within 5 seconds!  It is really quite challenging as I try to think of these words.  Some are really a struggle for me, others are a real breeze, and some of the words I just have to pass over and come back to them later.

Since I am working with all of these "words", I have started taking note, in a different light, of the many words and phrases people use and also those that are in what I read.  There are so many words - some I have never attempted to use! I must say that I am almost fascinated by them. Many of these words have different meanings with the different context of use. Even "opposite" words and their meanings come in different degrees!

Through all of these word exercises I am having to do, I've come to realize how import our vocabulary is . . . it can build up or it can tear down; it can spread rumors or lies or it can speak volumes of truth; it can help or hinder; it can encourage and inspire or it can put down and belittle; it can be necessary to speak or it can be idle, course joking and of little use; it can be kind and understanding or it can be hurtful and harmful.  We choose what we want to come out of our mouths, what falls upon the ears of our children, families, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers.  We choose with ever word.  Before you speak . . . THINK!  This is such good advice for all of us to remember.

I want to think before I speak and know what the words I am speaking are really saying. Psalms 19:14 says this, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing unto you, O Lord, my Rock and my Salvation".  During this time of speech recovery, I have claimed this scripture to stand upon. It is my hope and prayer that as my learned words reconnect to my verbal vocabulary they will communicate what is pleasing to my Lord.

A Different Type Of Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember, that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night, is a single mother, who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember, that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day, is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember, that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Help us to remember that those in our country that do not speak 'our' language may be able to speak the language of love, if we would be patient, and understand that they feel alone, and out of place, and are looking for a new beginning from a place of poverty, persecution, and hopelessness to a place of security, freedom, and a promise for a future.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts, not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity.

Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgiveness and patience and empathy and love.

The Carpenter

 Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

 

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer 

to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge .. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched..

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother..
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, to build a bond of "love", "peace" & "sacrifice" like this type of  "LOVE".

Thanksgiving Roses - for you!

 

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind.
Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss. Troubles had multiplied. Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. THEN! Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.
"She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.
"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life, but took her child's?"
"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk.
"I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.
"For Thanksgiving? Do you want the beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the 'Thanksgiving Special'? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"
"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."
Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."
Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order."
She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.
"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk.
Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers?
She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.
"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again." She said, as she gently tapped her chest.
Sandra stammered, "Ahh, that lady just left with, uh....she left with no flowers!"
"That's right, said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."
"Oh, come on! You can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.
"Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do, today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very ittle to be thankful for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery."
"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."
"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.
"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I NEVER questioned Him why those GOOD things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, "WHY? WHY Me?!" It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we'r afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."
Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about the thought that her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."
Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man. "My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement...twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.
"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously.
"Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"
"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem. The Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny, here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us.
As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"
"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too...fresh."
"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious.
We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."
Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment.
"I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.
"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read:

My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."
Praise Him for the roses, thank Him for the thorns.

Just for Today

Just for Today ...

.. smile at a stranger

.. listen to someone's heart

.. drop a coin where a child can find it

.. learn something new, then teach it to someone

.. tell someone you're thinking of them

.. hug a loved one

.. don't hold a grudge

.. don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry"

.. look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are

.. don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him 

   the way out

.. look beyond the face of a person into their heart

.. make a promise, and keep it

.. call someone, for no other reason than to just say "Hi"

.. show kindness to an animal

.. stand up for what you believe in

.. smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind

.. use all your senses to their fullest

.. cherish all your TODAYS

~ Author Unknown

Verses That Guide

James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jeremiah 29:11’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Psalm 25:12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 2:6-9 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

Hymns For The Aging

Precious Lord, Take my Hand (And Help Me Get Up)

It is Well with My Soul (but my back hurts)

Nobody Knows the Trouble I have Seeing

Amazing Grace (Considering My Age)

Just a Slower Walk With Thee

Count Your Many Birthdays, Name Them One by One

Go Tell It on the Mountain (And Speak Up)

Give Me that Old Timers Religion

Blessed Insurance

Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah (I've forgotten where I parked)

MEMO FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

In our search for a suitable pastor, the following scratch sheet was developed
for your perusal. Of the candidates investigated by the committee, only one was found to have the necessary qualities. The list contains the names of the
candidates and comments on each, should you be interested in investigating them further for future pastoral placements.


Noah
He has 120 years of preaching experience, but no converts.

Moses
He stutters; and his former congregation says he loses his temper over trivial
things.

Abraham
He took off to Egypt during hard times. We heard that he got into trouble with
the authorities and then tried to lie his way out.

David
He is an unacceptable moral character. He might have been considered for
minister of music had he not fallen.

Solomon
He has a reputation for wisdom but fails to practice what he preaches.

Elijah
He proved to be inconsistent, and is known to fold under pressure.

Hosea
His family life is in a shambles. Divorced, and remarried to a prostitute.

Jeremiah
He is too emotional, alarmist; some say a real pain in the neck.

Amos
Comes from a farming background. Better off picking figs.

John
He says he is a Baptist but lacks tact and dresses like a hippie. Would not feel
comfortable around him at a church potluck supper.

Peter
Has a bad temper, and was heard to have even denied Christ publicly.

Paul
We found him to lack tact. He is too harsh. His appearance is contemptible, and
he preaches far too long.

Timothy
He has potential, but is much too young for the position.

Judas
He seemed to be very practical, cooperative, good with money, cares for the
poor, and dresses well. We all agreed that he is just the man we are looking for
to fill thevacancy as our Senior Pastor.

Thank you for all you have done in assisting us with our pastoral search.

Sincerely,
The Pastoral Search Committee

African Baby

THIS WILL TRULY LIFT YOU UP SPIRITUALLY. Isaiah 65:24 

This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa .

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..

'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.

They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.

I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'

'Of course,' I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.

And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'

‘Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
___________
Isn't it funny how much and how often God calls on his people all over the world to send something important as a "hot water bottle" & "a doll"??  Even if from some people back home away far from Africa - 5 months in advance!   Our God is such an awesome God!!!!!

Lunch on the Bank

A pastor and two of his deacons are out on the river fishing in their rowboat. Twelve o'clock rolls around, and one of the deacons notices a nice spot on the bank to have lunch. He turns to the others and says, "That looks like a nice spot for lunch. What do you say we have lunch over there?" The other deacon agrees, and so does the pastor. The deacon stands up in the boat, steps out onto the river and walks over to the bank. The pastor looks on with amazement, and thinks to himself, if his deacon is holy enough to walk on water, surely he can. The other deacon stands up, picks up the picnic basket, steps out of the boat, and walks over to the bank and sits with the first deacon. Again, to his amazement, the pastor thinks again, if his second deacon is holy enough to walk on water, surely he can. The pastor stands up, steps out of the boat, and sinks into the water. The first deacon turns to the second and says, "Think we should have told him where the rocks are?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you ever wish you knew where all of the rocks are at????  There have been times that I wish I had known where they were at.

BRAVERY - by Lucas

"The difference between someone who is scared and someone who is brave is that the brave person is scared, but tries anyway. Bravery cannot exist without
fear."

On September 11, 2001 my wife and I were in the middle of training in Manchester, England. We, and another American in the program, were asked to step
outside the room. We were informed that two planes crashed into the World Trade
Center buildings in an apparent terrorist attack. They wanted us to know before
everyone else because it was our country and home. We stood there in shocked
silence for a moment as a few details were given.

While we listened to the news, the rest of the students, from all across
Britain, Europe, Africa and Canada, were told the same shocking news. A few,
presumably with ties to America through friends and family, came into the hall
to support us. I do not remember what words were spoken, but I do remember the
tears.

So many people, almost three-and-a-half thousand miles away from New York City,
were broken. I do not know what thoughts were flowing through their minds. Was
it sorrow, fear, anger, bitterness, rage, confusion, compassion? After a few
minutes of simply huddling together, our tears falling to the floor of the
hallway, just as debris and humans were falling from the towers, the news came.
Another plane had crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth plane seemed destined
for the White House.

Fervent prayer ensued. We, as a community of Christians, prayed together in
faith that the fourth plane would not make its destination. We prayed for divine
intervention on a human event. Our prayers were already answered in the form of
the brave passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. All we found out at
the time was that the plane never made it to Washington D.C.

Many stories have been told of men and women helping others evacuate. Many tales
of people charging into certain death to do everything they could to ensure that
others would not. Still, stories will never be told of those who could not
escape, but faced death and stared it down. Those who stayed behind by choice so
as not to leave those too beaten, broken, burned, bruised to die alone. Those
who stayed behind to help others face fear. People who were brave for those who
could not be brave.

If I ever need to teach my son the definition of bravery, I need not only look
to my country's men and women who serve in public, military and voluntary roles,
but to those who were thrust into service. They are heroes too. Millions were
scared that day. Thousands were brave.

THE PRODIGAL SON RETOLD

Feeling footloose, fancy-free and frisky, this feather-brained fellow finagled his fond father into forking over his fortune. Forthwith, he fled for foreign fields and frittered his farthings feasting fabulously with fair-weathered friends.

Finally, facing famine, and fleeced by his fellows in folly, he found himself a

feed flinger in a filthy farmlot. He fain would have filled his frame with
foraged food from the fodder fragments.

"Fooey! My father's flunkies fare far fancier" the frazzled fugitive fumed

feverishly, frankly facing fact.

Frustrated from failure and filled with forebodings, he fled for his family.

Falling at his father's feet, he floundered forlornly. "Father, I have flunked

and fruitlessly forfeited further family favors."

But the faithful father, forestalling further flinching, frantically flagged his

flunkies to set forth the finest fatling and fix a feast.

The fugitive's fault-finding frater, faithfully farming his father's fields for

free, frowned at this fickle forgiveness of formal falderal. His fury flashed,
but fussing was futile.

His foresighted father figured, "Such filial fidelity is fine, but what forbids

fervent festivities? The fugitive is found! Unfurl the flags! With fanfare
flaring, let fun, frolic and frivolity flow freely, former failures forgotten
and folly forsaken. Forgiveness forms a firm foundation for future fortitude."

Holy Alphabet . . . This is Beautiful

Whoever came up with this one must have had some Divine guidance!



Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of 'Camp Complaining'
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To 'thank' is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

God Knows

“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” 

 1 John 3:20

In hard times and good, God knows what you are going through. He weeps when you are weeping and laughs when you laugh, he shares all of our joys and sorrows. In fact every human experience we have ever known has been known by God. You are not alone, HE is with you!

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts…
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you’ve cried so long and your heart is in anguish…
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by…
God is waiting with you.

When you’re lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call…
God is by your side.

When you think you’ve tried everything and don’t know where to turn…
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated…
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope…
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for…
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe…
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow…
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing… GOD KNOWS!!

Choosing a Successor

A successful businessman knew it was time to choose a successor to lead his business. Instead of appointing one of his directors, or one of his children, he decided to  call the company's young executives together. He said,  "It is time for me to choose the next CEO. I have decided to select one of you."  The young executives were shocked, but the CEO continued. "I am going to give each of you a SEED today - a very special SEED. Plant the seed, water it, and one year from today bring what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will judge the plants you bring, and choose our next CEO." One of the leaders, Jim, excitedly told his wife about the plan. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost, and he planted his seed. Every day, he watered it and watched to see if it had  grown. Soon some of the other executives began talking about their seeds and the plants beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Weeks went by, but still nothing. Everyone else was talking about their plants,  but Jim had no growth and felt like a failure.  Six months passed,  but still nothing in Jim's pot. He concluded he had killed his seed,  but said nothing to his colleagues. He continued watering and fertilizing the soil - he desperately wanted his seed to grow. When the year ended, the young  executives were instructed to bring their plants to the  CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife he refused to take an empty pot to his workplace, but she urged him to be honest  about what had happened. It was going to be Jim's most embarrassing moment, but he knew his wife was right.  Jim took his empty pot to the boardroom. When he arrived, the variety of plants the other executives had grown amazed  him. They were beautiful - in many shapes and sizes. When  Jim put his empty pot on the floor, many of his colleagues laughed. When the CEO arrived, Jim attempted to conceal himself in back.  "My, what wonderful plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"  Then the CEO noticed Jim. He invited Jim to the front - with his  empty pot. Jim was terrified. "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked what had happened to his seed. Jim explained despite his best efforts, nothing had grown. The CEO turned to the group and asked  everyone to sit down, except Jim. He then looked at Jim and  announced, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" Then the CEO explained: "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back in a year. But I gave you all boiled seeds; it was  not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought healthy plants and flowers. When you found the seed would not grow, you substituted a different one. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!" It is said: If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will  reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap  contentment. If you plant hard work, you will reap success.  If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.  If you plant faith, you will reap a harvest. So be careful what  you plant now: it will determine what you will reap later. "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out" (Proverbs 10:9). "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity" (Proverbs 11:3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have you ever wished you knew what to do when the pot didn't produce anything from the seeds??? When no matter what you planted - nothing came up?  One might think oh, how embarrassing this plant is - but that is just the way it is!  But when we stand back and look and listen we can see that this is just the way it is. It is what it is!  It is all of those little things that add to great things!  It all comes down to "integrity"!  That is where it is at for all of us!

Recipe for a Prosperous, Peaceful Year!

 

Take twelve, fine, full-grown months, see that these are free from all old

memories of bitterness, rancor, hate and jealousy; cleanse them completely from

every clinging spite: pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short,

see that these months are freed as much as possible from the past.

Cut these months into 29, 30 or 31 equal parts. This batch will keep for just

one year. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons

spoil the entire lot in this way), but prepare one day at a time, as follows:

Into each day put

twelve parts of faith,

eleven of patience,

ten of courage,

nine of work,

eight of hope,

seven of fidelity,

six of liberality,

five of kindness,

four of rest,

three of prayer,

two of meditation,

and one well selected resolution.

If you have no conscientious scruples, put in about a teaspoonful of good

spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping

cupful of good humor.

Pour into the whole love ad libitum and mix with a vim. Cook thoroughly in a

fervent heat; garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy; then serve with

quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness, and a Happy New Year is certain.