Ambassador Of The King... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This too hot to handle new page is from our friends Linda and Geniann. Do you know what is the fastest plane in the world today? You may be surprised to learn it had its first test flight over 50 years ago in 1964! The pilots look like they are on an Armstrong Lunar Landing mission rather then jet plane pilots flying across country. Just another US military wonder! Check it out here... _ _.-, \`-..' _/ .'-''` ) /`'. _ -'._ /__.:-' `--..--. \ . ` = .:_ _. pils \ . ` `-.| \ _.-' ' ' |.'`', _.-' . ' ' .:'` ) .-' _=' .______/"'. .' `-. / _-'" ` .'` / _:'``''--'` : (/_\' ` .' ""` : ' " _.' \ ' _.' ::......-'' " World's Fastest Plane! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastestplane.html --- ...What an inspiration! Loved this! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Your thought for the day: It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. -<>- ,+*^^*+___+++_ ,*^^^^ ) _+* ^**+_ +^ _ _++*+_+++_, ) _+^^*+_ ( ,+*^ ^ \+_ ) { ) ( ,( ,_+--+--, ^) ^\ { (@) } f ,( ,+-^ __*_*_ ^^\_ ^\ ) {:;-/ (_+*-+^^^^^+*+*<_ _++_)_ ) ) / ( / ( ( ,___ ^*+_+* ) < < \ U _/ ) *--< ) ^\-----++__) ) ) ) ( ) _(^)^^)) ) )\^^^^^))^*+/ / / ( / (_))_^)) ) ) ))^^^^^))^^^)__/ +^^ ( ,/ (^))^)) ) ) ))^^^^^^^))^^) _) *+__+* (_))^) ) ) ))^^^^^^))^^^^^)____*^ \ \_)^)_)) ))^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^) (_ ^\__^^^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^^^^) ^\___ ^\__^^^^^^))^^^^^^^^)\\ From: ^^^^^\uuu/^^\uuu/^^^^\^\^\^\^\^\^\^\ Keely 11/93 ___) >____) >___ ^\_\_\_\_\_\_\) ^^^//\\_^^//\\_^ ^(\_\_\_\) ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ >THE FOURTH THURSDAY by Kristine Lowder When I was growing up in San Diego, California, the fourth Thursday in November was like a trip to Disneyland, a banana split with double hot fudge and extra summer vacation all rolled into one day. Prancing and cavorting like a frisky new colt in an open pasture, Thanksgiving trotted out laughter, music, sparkling cider, mouth- watering aromas, Mom's good china and silver service, and "Don't you dare come to the table dressed like that!" It was a day for dad's fabulous roast turkey, succulent and perfect, and mom's lime-pineapple Jell-o mold with walnuts. Mom worked so hard on that Jell-O concoction, no one had the heart to tell her we only ate it to be polite. I don't think any of us kids actually liked it. (It was the walnuts.) As the oldest daughter, it was my job to set the big oak table in the dining room -- the one reserved for special occasions -- and to dig out the His and Her pilgrim candles from the bottom drawer of the china hutch. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim presided unlit as our wax Thanksgiving centerpieces for years. (I don't know what became of them, but suspect they now preside over a big Thanksgiving table in the sky.) Besides the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and endless quarters of football, we typically gathered around the television and watched the Peanuts gang in a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving as well as the entire string of Walton Thanksgiving specials, from 1973 to 1993. It seems incredible that so many Thanksgivings have come and gone since these holiday classics originally aired. Where did the time go? At last count the Walton Thanksgiving movies totaled three -- the original, "A Walton Thanksgiving," followed by "A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain" (1982) and in 1993, "A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion." Interesting, isn't it, that not Christmas, Easter or even Mother's Day but Thanksgiving inspired three separate movie specials? Someone once said, "On Thanksgiving, of all holidays, one should be at home." It's true, isn't it? Without family or friends, Thanksgiving is... well, it's like Abbott without Costello or Lucy without Ricky. Yes, sometimes distance, health, losses or external factors beyond our control preclude a traditional family get-together around the turkey and trimming-laden table. An unresolved conflict or festering wound may shadow an otherwise cozy gathering. But nothing says "home" quite like Thanksgiving. As autumn slides toward winter this year, I suddenly find myself at an age where memories stir more and more often and November seems both full and empty. This Thanksgiving will be full with whispers of grace -- kids, feasting, football, music, and maybe a Waltons re-run or two. This festive time of year is not only the entree to the holiday season, it's also soothing and strengthening, evoking faces and voices from the mists of memory like no other day. My grandparents, parents, favorite uncles and aunts are all gone. I feel their absence most acutely between November and December. My siblings are flung to the four compass corners of the United States. I miss them all. Thanksgiving in sunny San Diego is rarely cold, but the holiday can be chilly in other parts of the country. More than a thousand miles removed from my southern California roots, I'm never cold on Thanksgiving, no matter what the thermometer reads. The reminiscences of Thanksgivings past wrapped around family, friends and the fresh faces of Thanksgiving present promise a warm celebration. While my sister, brothers, cousins and other relatives aren't able to gather around the table as often as we'd like, we hold each other close in our hearts and the memories of past Thanksgivings strengthen and sustain us today. Indeed, Thanksgiving is even better than mom's lime-pineapple Jell-O WITHOUT the walnuts because I know that regardless of my address, wherever my loved ones are on the fourth Thursday in November, I'm home. -- Kristine Lowder __________________________________________________ Kristine is a multi-published author and resides in Washington State with her husband and their four sons. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) __ _-==-=_,-. /--`' \_@-@.--< `--'\ \ <___/. Tiggers If Rabbit \ \\ " / can do Was bigger >=\\_/`< ANYTHING! And fatter ____ /= | \_|/ And stronger, _' `\ _/=== \___/ Or bigger `___/ //\./=/~\====\ Than Tigger, \ // / | ===: If Tigger was smaller, | ._/_,__|_ ==: __ Then Tigger's bad habit \/ \\ \\`--| / \\ Of bouncing at Rabbit | _ \\: /==:-\ Would matter no longer, `.__' `-____/ |--|==: If Rabbit \ \ ===\ :==:`-' Was taller. _> \ ===\ /==/ /==\ | ===\__/--/ <=== \ / ====\ \\/ (one of Pooh's songs) _`-- \/ === \/--' | \ ==== | -`------/`--' / \___-' >Thoughts Don't judge yourself by your past. You don't live there anymore. Over thinking kills happiness. Insecurities kill self-esteem. Lies kill trust. If you want comfortable Journey of life then reduce the luggage of expectations! Luck is not in your Hands, But Work is in your Hands. Your Work can make your Luck, But your Luck can't make your Work. As it is Rightly said that the Harder you work the luckier you become --- ...Teehee! Love it! We make our choices for sure! Thanks Jacinto! =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Life's Christian Direction... [Edited] Breathe in the future, breathe out the past. No matter where you are or what you’re going through, remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Never expect, assume, or demand anything, just do your best, control what you can, and let go of what you can't giving it to God through Jesus Christ. Others should accept you for who you are. Speak God's truth even if your voice shakes and you know it won't be well received. You are something beautiful and unique so if you hold that back, the whole world gets a bit less amazing. Walk your path confidently and proudly, don’t expect anyone else to understand your journey. You are not who you used to be, and that’s OK. Renew your mind to God's Word and travel forward with confidence. People go through many ups and downs in life and it changes them, you are no different. Your perspective has changed, your likes and dislikes have changed, your political views may have changed, and that is all normal. When people accuse you of changing just replay by saying: “Of course I’ve changed. That’s what life is all about. I’m still the same person, just stronger and wiser and more happy.” Everything that happens helps you grow. Take everything life throws at you as an opportunity to improve yourself and be the best you can be for God. Whatever happens, hold on to hope and know that God through Jesus Christ will see you through. Learn from everything and don’t be afraid to make the same mistake twice, 3 times, or as many times as necessary. God loves you and will be there to hold you up every single time you allow Him to. Life should be simple. Don't stress over things so much. Focus on one thing at a time. You don’t have to do everything, and you don’t need to do something every second of your life. Breathe, pray and do your best, it's the most anyone, including yourself, could ever hope for. Educate yourself to be happy, not to be rich or dependent on others for your happiness. There is a big difference between knowing the price of things, and knowing the value of things. In the end, you will come to realize that the best days are the days when you don’t need anything special from any body to make you smile. Always be positive. You have God in Christ In You! What more could you ask for? Your misery or unhappiness is determined not by your circumstances, but by your attitude. Smile at those who want to hurt you, show them that they can’t take away your happiness from you. Your will power with Christ is stronger than you know. Pay attention to those you care about. Don’t be too upset if some people only seem to remember you when they need you, only be upset if they are not there when you need them. Learn how to let go of people. Some people are bad for you, some people need to do things on their own, and some people might need you to teach them a hard lesson. It's not easy to say goodbye when you don’t have to but you know you need to, but it's for the benefit of both sides. Sometimes getting results means stripping yourself of people that slow you down. As much as you might love them, some people can make it a lot harder for you to reach your goals. Almost everyone will encounter such a person during their life. As you find out who you are and what you want, you realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you do. Keep the wonderful memories you had with them, but move on to achieve your happiness. “I can’t believe I did that”, is much better than, “I wish I did that.” Don’t live your life trying to impress others, live it so you'll impress God and yourself. If you know you will regret not doing something, just do it. It's that simple. If you feel you should not do something. Just don't do it. It too is that simple. Do not regret what you do or don't do, simply learn from your mistakes and do better next time. We all fail from time to time, it's just a part of life. Don’t be stubborn and just accept it. The strongest people out there are the same people who have fought the toughest battles, lost, and moved on to a new beginning. Always trust God through your Lord Jesus Christ to help you and guide you through all your life's paths. Then you will have that perfect peace knowing you did according to God's Will as best as you could. After all, You can't do better than your best! --- ...Great Advise! Thanks LouiseA! ============================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Nothing Else Source: From a sermon by Alan Smith, "The Lord is My Shepherd." In his book, I Shall Not Want, Robert Ketchum tells about a Sunday school teacher who asked her group of children if any of them could quote the entire twenty-third psalm. A little four-and-a-half-year-old girl was among those who raised their hands. A bit skeptical, the teacher asked if she could really quote the entire psalm. The little girl came to the podium, faced the class, made a little bow, and said: "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want." She then bowed again and sat down. She may have overlooked a few verses, but I think that little girl captured David's heart in Psalm 23. The idea throughout the psalm is that we are utterly contented in the shepherd's care and there is nothing else that we desire. --- ...See this page The 23rd Psalm http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/psalm23.html -<>- STEWARDSHIP, TREASURE During the Civil War, a man with a large amount of money in gold coins lived near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. When Union forces entered the area in 1862, he was afraid they'd take his money, so he buried it in a field near his farm. He made notes of the exact location of the treasure, using trees and rocks as markers. But the occupying Union soldiers cut down trees for firewood and gathered rocks to form chimneys for their barracks and fire pits. When the war ended, the man returned; but everything was different, and he was unable to locate his fortune. He spent the rest of his life trying to find the lost coins. David Jeremiah writes: "We're to be wise stewards, laying up for the future and providing for the needs of our families. But if we bury our treasures and invest ourselves too heavily in the things of earth, we end up losing everything. All we have belongs to the Savior; and when we invest our resources and energy in His Kingdom, we're making investments with eternal dividends." (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 1-16-09) SIN, TEMPTATION In his book, Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Crossway), Marc Driscoll writes: "You can learn a basic principle of how your enemy works. The great Puritan Thomas Brooks wrote one of my favorite books on spiritual warfare, Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices. Brooks uses a wonderful illustration that explains why Jesus rejected Satan's simple offer of bread. "Brooks says our Enemy will bait our hook with anything we find desirable. This means he will gladly give us s#x, money, power, pleasure, fame, fortune and relationships. Satan's goal is for us to take the bait without seeing the hook, and once the hook is in our mouth he then reels us in to take us captive. His gifts are often very good things offered for sinful uses. He'll challenge us to examine the gift to ensure its quality. That is the essence of the trap. The gift may be good, but the giver is evil. In this way, Satan and demons are akin to a pedophile who seeks to entice children into trust with gifts of candy and toys, only to destroy them and their innocence. "When we take the gifts Satan and demons give, we are in essence biting down on the bait. As a result, the hook of sin is in our mouth, and Satan reels us in as his captive so that, as Jesus says in John 8:34, we become slaves to our sin." -<>- . / \ _\ /_ . . (,'v`.) . . \) ( ) ,' `. ( ) (/ \`. / `-' `-' \ ,'/ : ' _______ ' : | _,-' ,-. `-._ | |,' ( )__`-'__( ) `.| (|,-,'-._ _.-`.-.|) / /<( o)> <( o)>\ \ : : | | : : | | ; : | | | | (.-.) | | | | ,' ___ `. | | ; |)/ ,'---'. \(| : _,-/ |/\( )/\| \-._ _..--'.-( | `-'''-' | )-.`--.._ `. ;`._________,': ,' ,' `/ \'`. `------.------' SSt ' >Ambassador Of The King Source: David Fisher, The 21st Century Pastor: A Vision Based on the Ministry of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996), 238-239. I served on the board of a Christian college for several years. During that time, the government of Swaziland wanted to recruit Christian school teachers to come to their country and help them set up a Christian school system. Swaziland is a monarchy, and this was the desire of the king. Swaziland's ambassador to the United Nations, Nelson Malinga, came to the college to interview students. I was privileged, along with another board member, to serve as his host for two days. It was an eye-opening experience. My lifetime in a democracy had not prepared me for the power of a monarchy. I had never before met a government official, and I discovered that ambassadors are a very special type of governmental official. Ambassadors of a king are even more unusual. The first thing I noticed was Mr. Malinga's sense of dignity. It was quickly apparent that he was the personal representative of a king. His office bore an inherent power that gave the ambassador great confidence. From his behavior it was clear that he was well aware that he spoke for a king. He was quick to say, "Well, the king says..." If anyone had questioned his authority or his word, he could simply have replied, "Call the king!" Mr. Malinga's dignified confidence rested in his assurance that he spoke for a monarch who had nearly absolute power. Because the ambassador spoke for the king, a certain authority accompanied everything he did or said. At the same time, however, the ambassador was quite reserved. At all times he deferred to the king, from whom his confidence and power came, for neither the message he spoke nor the mission he was on were his own. At night when the meetings were over and we went back to the hotel, Mr. Malinga had one last task. He called home to talk to the king. He had known the king all his life and represented a king he loved and respected. I think that much of the ambassador's dignity and quiet sense of authority came not just from his high office, but also from his relationship with the king. He knew what the king thought and desired. He lived to make the king's wishes come into being. Jesus came to do the same thing for his Father that Mr. Malinga did for the King of Swaziland. He came to make the wishes of his Father come true. He came to die, so we didn't have to. In the same way, we are Christ's ambassadors to the world, and we should know our King so well and be so united with His purposes that we feel assured of His love, yet deferred to His authority. sermoncentral.com -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Alzheimer's Through Artist Eyes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dementiaandart.html I Believe!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Jesus Clinic!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html God's Instructions!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/instructions.html Blind Woman Sees!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindsees.html Life Is...Continued!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifeis2.html Christ's Life!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Walk With Jesus!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/walk.html Angel Falls!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angelfalls.html Wall Mural Art 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wallart3.html Trash Shadow Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/shadowart.html World Of Wonder!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worldofwonder.html Taking A Cat Bath!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catbath.html Life's Little Oops 8!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops8.html Look Who's Talking 4!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/talking4.html Miniature Wonderland!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/modeltrain.html Creation VS Coincidence!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creationvscoincidence.html Garbage Truck Camper!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/garbage.html Moon Photography Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/moonart.html When Artists Get Bored!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abored.html -<>- >From Our Friend Melinda :) World War II America (Battle Hymn of the Republic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR7HPQM0Jgg&feature=em-share_video_user Veterans Day 2015 #ThoseWhoDared | An Unbreakable Code https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2ttZzE5l0U&feature=em-share_video_user "USAA 2015 Commercial #ThoseWhoDared | Veterans Day" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1gde9Q0U7k&feature=em-share_video_user Horses Help Heal Veterans' Invisible Wounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7EedCwJ4ww&feature=em-share_video_user --- ...Great Links! Thanks Melinda! 10 Industrial Uses For Coke Which Prove It’s Not Fit For Human Consumption http://tinyurl.com/pwlscob GOD SAVES MAN FROM GREAT WHITE SHARK ATTACK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6SdDdTWVSQ&feature=em-share_video_user --- ...Awesome testimony! Thanks Melinda! -<>- >From Our Friend Karen :) She sent us one we have here... Vintage Cars! City That Time Forgot http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/city.html --- ...A great One! Thanks Karen! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) This is downright amazing. Normally you don't find fossils this well-preserved. But a farmer in Lima Township, Michigan, uncovered a fully intact woolly mammoth skeleton in his field. Watch them excavate the massive head to see how big a creature these must have been. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FYF3QcL4SmU Animals bring us lots of joy and laughter, but they are at their funniest and most adorable when they are acting just like you or me. The furry creatures in this video clearly think they are people, with hilarious consequences! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XrU214dJUtA 5,000 year old city is holy to not one but three major religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It has seen many rulers and has accumulated more than 100 names over the years. It has been called the city of light, the city of gold, the city of peace. There is none other like it. This is Jerusalem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H0DwOEVlHdg Take a short visit to Paris in this video called In Love in Paris from AmnesiArt. Paris is the Capitol of France and is known to many as the City of Light and Love. The city is full of history and beautiful architecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz5cu72Gv5Y&feature=player_embedded Andrea Bocelli & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform “The Lord’s Prayer”. This is truly an amazing performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEplqV0scyo&feature=player_embedded --- ...Most beautiful! Thanks LouiseA! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== _______ /______/"=, [ | "=, "=,, [-----+----"=,* ) (_---_____---_)/ (O) (O) Emiliano >If That's All You Need Story Editor: By L. Harding Joyce Schowalter California, USA It was 1972. "The Summer of Love" was gone, hippies were a rare sight, but there were still large pockets of narrow minds, filled with distrust, in rural America. More than once we met with proof of that in our travels across "the heartland of America." Our only home was our tent, our only "real furniture" the baby's crib, all piled atop the TravelAll. My husband and I were down on our luck, moving from one temporary job to another. Driving through Nebraska, a wheel bearing started to squeal. With no traffic, no sign of humanity, and fingers crossed, I drove 20 miles before I finally saw an exit. Barely slowing down, I took the offramp and saw a gas station ahead. There were no lights on, but I turned in anyway; there might at least be a pay phone. The owner was there, with his wife and kids. It was about 8:00 on a Saturday evening, and he was obviously homeward bound. But he walked up to my window and asked if he could help. I told him the problem, asked if there was a pay phone, and if we could use his station to do the repairs. He said he wasn't a mechanic, and had no tools. I assured him that, if I could only get the parts, I could do the repair work myself. "Well, if that's all you need ..." It was unbelievable! My truck went into the service bay, and he went off to get the parts I needed. Being farm country, that meant the International Harvester service and parts department was open even at night. By the time he came back with the bearing, I had the wheel and old bearing off, despite having few tools to work with. But there was a problem. Because it was harvest time, the IH dealer had sold the last race for the bearing, and a bearing without a race is worthless! My panic must have shown on my face, because he quickly told me that he knew another place to look for the race. He made a number of phone calls, then came to tell me the owner of the parts store would meet him there. All he needed was the race so they could be certain they were getting the right part. I quickly handed it to him, then went to work installing the bearing. It was close to 11 p.m. before the race had been pressed into the wheel, and everything put back into working order. When I asked how much we owed, he refused to take even a penny more than the original $20 I'd given him for parts. For a man who "had no tools," he accomplished a lot that night: He called in favors from people all over town, played "go-fer" for hours, found the parts, gave me a safe place to work, and even fed us. He also managed to raise -- tremendously -- my opinion of the people who lived in Nebraska. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Karen :) _|_ | .-'''''-. .-' '-. .-' :::::_::::: '-. ___/ ==:...:::-:::...:== \___ /_____________________________\ ':'-._________________________.-'_ ':::\ @-,`-[-][-^-][-]-`,-@ / _| |_ '::| .-------------------. ||_ @ _| ::|=|* ___ _ ___ *|=|'.| | ':| |' ))_) )) ))_) '| |::.^| _:|=|' ((`\ (( (( '|=|::::::. _| || |' _ '| |:::::::. |_ |=|'1634 _( )_ 1789'|=|':::::. | || |' ( (_ ~ _) ) '| | ':::' |^||=|* ) (_) ( *|=| '::' | '-------------------' .::::' |_____________________.::::::' .'___________________.::::::'' |_______________.::::'':::''' .'_____________.::::::''::::'' .:::'''' LGB .'::::' .:::::''':. .:::::' >"Cleaning of the Stones" While "Cleaning of the Stones" at the National Cemetery in Holly. I noticed a quarter placed on one of the stones. Later I also noticed a nickel placed on another stone. I was so touched with this that I took pictures. I googled about the coins, and found this out. I am very proud to share this: A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldiers family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect: Leaving a penny means you visited. A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier died. I AM VERY PROUD TO SHARE THIS. --- ...Wonderful! Thanks Karen! ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: >QUOTES "Yes, we did produce a near perfect Republic. But will they keep it? Or will they in the enjoyment of plenty lose the memory of Freedom? Material abundance without character is the surest way to destruction."--Thomas Jefferson "You will not measure true spiritual fruit rightly while you are on the earth. You can only measure your true success by how much more clearly you are able to behold the Lord, by how much better you know His voice, and by how much more you love the Brethren." --Rick Joyner - THE CALL "Prayer is mighty in its operations. God never disappoints those who put their trust and confidence in Him. They may have to wait long for the answer, and they may not live to see it, but the prayer of faith never misses its object." --E. M. Bounds "Forgiving those who have wronged us is often a process rather than a single event. It involves at least five steps: 1) identify your feelings; 2) confess your feelings to God; 3) ask God to change your feelings; 4) pronounce forgiveness specifically; and 5) release your feelings. We act in faith believing that God will do in us what we cannot do ourselves." --Richard Exley "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13-14). -<>- .:::. .:::. /:::::\ /:':':\ | _ | | _ | | (_` | | |_) | | ,_) | | | | | | jgs | | /`'---'`\ /`'---'`\ `'-----'` `'-----'` >THE POWER OF SALT! Salt has a marvelous effect on a lot of things and more uses than "you can shake a stick at," as my mother says. Most of us are familiar with Matthew 5:13 regarding salt. In this passage God uses salt in his description of man, his religion and his relationship to the world. Notice what he says, "You are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men." Have you ever had food that was bland, with no taste, missing something.... maybe just a little salt would help bring out the flavor, I have and you probably have too. What do we begin to do? Generally we look for or ask for some salt. I have been in some situations though where I haven't asked for or added salt. It may be that I am in a strange place and don't know where it is or it is unavailable, maybe I don't want to hurt the cooks feelings. But you know what, the food just isn't as enjoyable without the salt. I have tried the "salt substitutes," that are supposed replacements for the real thing. I can tell you, they aren't! I don't care what the advertisers try to tell you, there is no substitute for real "made by God" salt. It brings the flavor to life and there simply nothing better that can replace it. I had to laugh when I read the following little story. It seems a five-year-old was watching his mother change the baby. When she overlooked sprinkling the baby's backside with talcum powder and hurried him into his diaper, the five-year-old chimed in, "Hey, Mom, you forgot to salt him!" You see the point of the passage above is that we are the salt of the world. If your life is not spicy enough, doesn't zing your taste buds maybe it's because your salt has lost its taste. What does that mean? Simply, maybe you need re-salted or your saltshaker needs refilled with a good dose of God and not a salt substitute. We are the "salt of the earth." How many of your friends are looking for a better more fulfilling life? Could you share "a little salt," with them? You can't unless your own salt-shaker (your life) is filled with "the real thing," a strong relationship with the source of all things, our God! Have a great tasting day! Russ Lawson As seen in Messages from the Heart --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Salt in the Bible... Many passages in the Bible are descriptive of Eastern culture. Those of us from Western cultures (Europe and the Americas), may not understand these passages, or even misinterpret them because we don't understand the culture of the times in the Bible. Like this one... >Covenant of Salt. Numbers 18: 19 -- All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute forever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee. II Chronicles 13: 5 -- Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? The covenant of salt is an extremely important concept in the East. It is mentioned various times in both the Old and New Testaments. The covenant of salt means that you have pledged or promised fidelity to someone. By eating a salted meal with another person, the covenant is accomplished. Even if the other person is a thief or a murderer, he will not steal from you or hurt you. To Easterners, breaking a covenant of salt means death. God had a covenant of salt with His people of the Old Testament, and we also have it in the Age of Grace in which we live. Every day we eat God's salt, because we live by His grace. Some of us dishonor Him, however, and break the covenant by our actions and our words. Matthew 5: 13 -- Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. In the Eastern household, salt was kept in a large stone jar on the floor. Every day the floor was washed with water. The jar would continually absorb some of the water, and the salt at the bottom would leach out and lose it's 'saltiness'. When the household reached the lower level of 'unsalty' salt, it would be tossed out onto the street so the jar could be refilled. The record in Matthew relates this to our commitment to God and His Word. Non-commitment is bland and tasteless. Those who are not committed will soon find themselves trodden underfoot by the world. Colossians 4: 5, 6 -- Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. If our words are salted, they will be gracious and truthful. We will mean what we say and say what we mean. The covenant of salt is a promise of allegiance between us and God. God has never broken His covenant with us, and we must strive not to break our covenant of salt with Him. From Orientalisms of the bible 3 http://tinyurl.com/no42sx8 Check out more Orientalisms here: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Word/Word_of_God.htm -<>- ___ ____ ___ ____( \ .-' `-. / )____ (____ \_____ / (O O) \ _____/ ____) (____ `-----( ) )-----' ____) (____ _____________\ .____. /_____________ ____) (______/ Joe Reiss `-.____.-' \______) >GOD’S CIRCLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT Mary Southerland >Today’s Truth Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV). >Friend to Friend When I went through my first major battle with clinical depression, I was amazed at the compassionate people God sent to encourage and comfort me. One of the most precious groups of encouragers was the elders of our church where my husband served as pastor. With my permission, Dan shared what I was going through and asked the elders to pray, which they did. They then put feet to those prayers and came up with what they called the “Rescue Mary Plan” for me. Our church had five services each weekend and because I was so emotionally frail, I never knew if I could even attend or which service I would be able to attend until I was literally dressed and headed out the door. I called Dan to let him know I was on the way. Dan then relayed the message that I was coming, and the elders went into action. One would meet me at the car and escort me inside. Another would keep an eye on me during the service in case I needed help. Our church auditorium had three main aisles. An elder would walk those aisles before and after the service, watching and waiting. Many times, the elder would press a note of encouragement into my hand as he passed the offering plate. If he sensed I was in trouble or caught in a draining conversation, he would swoop in, take me by the arm and say, “Excuse us, please. Mary is needed elsewhere.” I was then ushered to my car, hugged and told, “We are praying for you. We love you. Go home.” I know. It was amazing! It was not only an important factor in my recovery - but an amazing example of comfort and compassion at work in my life. Looking back, I realize that many of these men who so freely and faithfully encouraged me had endured great pain in their own lives. They had experienced the compassion and comfort of God and were quick to share it with me. Now that I am on the other side of that pit, I am motivated to encourage others in God’s circle of encouragement. You have heard the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Truer words were never spoken when talking about comfort and encouragement. We all need the love and comfort of God - especially during tough times. Those “tough” times can come in all shapes, sizes and forms and can vary from person to person. We have one child who has been known to run an extremely high fever, walk around on a broken foot, and have a headache that would put me in bed … all without a word of complaint. The doctors have always been amazed at this child’s high level of pain tolerance. We have another child who has been known to dissolve into hysterics at the sight of a splinter embedded in a finger and turn ghastly pale and almost faint at the mere antiseptic smell when we walked through the door of the doctor’s office. The doctors have been amazed at this child’s low level of pain tolerance. The difference between these two children does not reflect a right or wrong reaction. It is what it is. When each child is in pain, they each need understanding and comfort. What about you, girlfriend? Do you long for someone who will offer you just a word of encouragement? Does your broken heart cry out for compassion and comfort? Do you need something for your pain? Come to God. He will be your comfort. Let’s Pray Father, I am amazed at how You love me through others. Your compassion heals and encourages me and is a gift of love from Your heart to my life. Help me receive that gift and then give it away to someone else in need. I want to be Your hands and feet to those who are hurting around me. Give me eyes to see them, Lord. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen. >Now It’s Your Turn If you need encouragement and compassion, think of two people with whom you can share that need and make a plan to do so. Look for people in your life to encourage. In your journal, record a recent time when you received and/or gave encouragement. What were the results? Write a note of encouragement to someone in need, letting them know you are praying for them. Offer to take care of a specific need such as preparing a meal, dropping by the grocery store to pick up a few items or picking up their cleaning. Many times, people in pain can’t or won’t ask for help. If you see a need, meet it. Write a note of thanks to someone who has encouraged you. as seen in Girlfriends in God To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316kim@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: _ .--. ( ` ) .-' `--, _..----.. ( )`-. .'_|` _|` _|( .__, ) /_| _| _| _( (_, .-' ;| _| _| _| '-'__,--'`--' | _| _| _| _| | _ || _| _| _| _| _( `--.\_| _| _| _|/ .-' )--,| _| _|.` (__, (_ ) )_| _| / jgs`-.__.\ _,--'\|__|__/ ;____; \YT/ || |""| '==' >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Julie, a Montessori school teacher, recently asked one of her students a question: Where does milk come from? The student said, "From the refrigerator." You must admit the little girl is right. That is where she gets her milk! -- Jason and Julie Shlater of Fort Wayne, Indiana BreAnn, 4, was spending the day with her grandmother, Zelma. When BreAnn asked for a snack, Zelma fixed her some pizza rolls. When Zelma gave them to her, BreAnn said, "Grandma, these are too hot. Will you warm them down for me?" -- Zelma Feltner of Kendallville, Indiana Here are some more BreAnn stories. One day Zelma took BreAnn with her to get her mail and newspaper. BreAnn put out her hand and said, "Grandma, I will carry the newspaper and you can carry the mail news." _ .-. .--''` ) _ | |/` .-'` ( `\ /` _) _. -'._ /` .' .-.-; `).' / \ \ (`, \_o/_o/__ / .-''` ``'-. { /` ,___.--''` { ; '-. \ \ _ _ { |'-....-`'.\_\ / './ '. \ \ `"` _ \ \ | \ \ ( '-.J \_..----.._ __) `\--..__ .-` ` `\ ''--...--. (_,.--""`/` .- `\ .__ _) | ( } .__ _) \_, '. }_ - _.' \_, '. } `'--' '._. ,_) / | / .' \ | _ .-' \__/;--.||-' _|| _||__ __ _ __.-` "`)(` `" ```._) jgs (_`,- ,-' `''-. '-._) ( ( / '.__.' `"`'--' One day at home BreAnn said to her mother out of the blue, "I want a brother or a sister." Her mom said, "Oh -- how do we get a baby?" BreAnn said, "You have to put in in your belly." Her mom asked, "How do we do that?" BreAnn replied, "You have to eat lots of chicken!" Patricia, who is in her 40s, her husband and their two children (Katelyn 13, and Melanie, 10) went out to eat at a restaurant. There were two babies at a nearby table. Their mothers looked awfully young and it didn't look like the moms were taking very good care of them. Patricia said she wanted to take those babies home with her. Melanie asked, "Why don't you have another baby?" Patricia said, "I'm too old to have another baby." Melanie then asked, "So if you have another baby would you give it up for adoption?" -- Patricia Gallant of Ontario, Canada By nature Patricia is a night owl. She finds herself washing dishes or making lunches before she goes to bed. One evening Katelyn, 14, came downstairs to ask if it was too late to get in the shower. When Katelyn walked into the room Patricia passed gas. Katelyn gave her a funny look. Patricia said, "Hey, I was alone down here. This is my time alone." Katelyn replied, "And this is what you do? /\ __ \ .-':::. \ :::::|\ |,\:::'/ \ `.:::-' \ `-. \ ___ `-. | .-'';:::. `-.-' / ',''.;;;\ | ','','.''| |\ ' ,',' /' `.`-.___.-;' `--._.-' AsH When Ily (pronounced eye-lee) was 3 (she just turned 4) her "Happy Meal" at McDonald's was missing the toy. She asked, "Does that mean it's a 'sad meal,' Mom?" -- Wendy Pflughoeft (mother of Ily) of Auburn, Indiana Here's another story from Wendy. This spring when Wendy and Ily went to the DeKalb County Courthouse Ily took one look at the grand marble staircase and whispered, "I should have worn a dress!" Lily, 6, has nearly waist-length hair and is now grooming it herself. Her mother encourages independence. But her grandmother Linda is not always pleased with the way Lily's efforts turn out and she told her before she started first grade this year that if she goes to school looking like a rag-a-muffin, people will think she doesn't have anyone who loves her and cares about her. Lily considered that idea for a moment and then said, "Nana, if I go to school looking like a rag-a-muffin, Mrs. Hamlin will know I have people who love me and care about me." (Mrs. Hamlin was her kindergarten teacher!) -- Linda Wingfield (grandmother of Lily) of Kendallville, Indiana This past summer Linda took Lily to Coldwater, Mich. for a ride on the Little River Railroad. Lily is a seasoned traveler by air but not by rail. When they pulled into the parking lot she said, "Nana, are we allowed to have liquids and lip balm on this trip?" ... ;::::; ;::::; :; ;:::::' :; ;:::::; ;. ,:::::' ; OOO\ ::::::; ; OOOOO\ ;:::::; ; OOOOOOOO ,;::::::; ;' / OOOOOOO ;:::::::::`. ,,,;. / / DOOOOOO .';:::::::::::::::::;, / / DOOOO ,::::::;::::::;;;;::::;, / / DOOO ;`::::::`'::::::;;;::::: ,#/ / DOOO :`:::::::`;::::::;;::: ;::# / DOOO ::`:::::::`;:::::::: ;::::# / DOO `:`:::::::`;:::::: ;::::::#/ DOO :::`:::::::`;; ;:::::::::## OO ::::`:::::::`;::::::::;:::# OO `:::::`::::::::::::;'`:;::# O `:::::`::::::::;' / / `:# ::::::`:::::;' / / `# unknown When Lily was 3 she was having a conversation with her grandmother, Linda, about death. Lily had obviously been paying very close attention in children's church. She said, "Nana, are you going to die?" Linda told her that she would some day, but not to worry because God would take care of her. Lily said, "No! Nana, John 3:16: For God so loved the world he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall NOT die. Read it! Remember it!" Shawn, 8, came home from baseball practice with the news that the coach had told them they would have a baseball clinic at Vanderbilt University on Saturday. Shawn asked his grandmother, Alice, how old these "Vanderbilt kids" were. Alice told him they were 18, 19 and 20 year-olds, who played baseball so well, Vanderbilt was giving them their college education to play baseball for Vanderbilt. Shawn sat there for a few minutes and then said, "You know, I don't think we can beat them." Alice had to leave the room for a moment, until she got her laughter under control, then she returned and explained that the Vanderbilt boys were going to HELP his team with their skills -- not play a game against them! -- Alice Riley (grandmother of Shawn) of Nashville, Tennessee Ogden, 5, was playing with Play Dough with his grandmother. She attempted to impress him with her dinosaur. After finishing her "work of art," she said, "I hope this doesn't scare you." Ogden replied, "Grandma, that doesn't scare me. Dinosaurs are extinct. They haven't been alive since my mom and dad were cavemen!" -- Diane Schlemmer of LaGrange, Indiana _ \ `. ' \ ) | .-` \_/ `. .' `. .` `. / `. `. .` .` \ | \ / \ / \ / \\ // /\ \ / ,-. :'' \ \ / / | \ \ \ | | | \ \ \ / / \ | \ | | / | | | / / / .._ | | ,._/ \ \ \/ # \/ \/ ##\ | | \ ### / /\ \###/ | | `---' //\\ `-' / \ | _..._ | / \ / .-" _..._ `-. \/ \| `.-' `-.` / `-._ /// _.-` `-.________.-" LGB Sandi took Max, 5, to the annual autumn pumpkin patch at a local church. After glancing all around at about a thousand pumpkins on the ground stacked in various piles, Max remarked with a puzzled expression: "None of these things have faces!" -- Sandi Pound (grandmother of Max) of Lehigh, Florida During a get-together the family noticed that niece, Emma, not yet 1, was getting too big for her pajamas. The pajamas were a one-piece unit with feet, so one of the adults mentioned that it was time to cut the feet off. PJ, 4, Emma's cousin, interrupted with a very serious, "That would hurt!" -- Aunt Beverly from Syracuse, Indiana Matthew was looking forward to a visit to the zoo. His mother advised him not to try to pet the bear, the lion or the tiger. "I won't," Matthew replied. "But can I pet the scarecrow?" -- Myrle Brown (grandmother of Matthew) of Hazlehurst, Georgia Rebecca was in the car with Debbi and Debbi's daughters. Rebecca was telling Debbi about her first kiss as a young girl, trying to remember the boy's name. "It was something Hershey, or maybe Hershey was his first name. I can't remember, but I know it was something weird," Rebecca said. Faith, 10, popped up in the back seat where the girls were watching a movie and said, "So your first kiss was a Hershey kiss? I love Hershey kisses!" -- Debbi Armstrong (friend of Rebecca) of Orlando, Florida , _,- (\ _,-',' \\ ,-" ,' \\ ,' ,' \\ _:.----__.-."-._,-._ \\ .-".:--`:::::.:.:' ) `-. \\ `. ::L .::::::'`-._ ( ) : \\ ":::::::' `-. `-_ ) ,' \\.._/_`:::,' `. . `-: :" _ "\"" `-_ . ` `. "\\"":--\ `-.__ ` . `. \\':: \ _-"__`--.__ ` . `. _,--..- \\ :: \_-":)( ""-._ ` `.-'' \\`:`-":::/ \\ . . `-. : :\\:::::::' \\ ` . `. : :\\:':':' . \\ `, : : : \\ . \\ . `. : ,- __`:\\ . \\ . ` ,' ,: : ,-' _,---"" : \\ ' \\ . :-" ,' ,-"" : \\: . : \\ ` ' ,' / ' : : \ . \\ . _,' ,-' : . ' : :` `,-' ,--' : : : ,'-._,' ,-' _: : :8: ,--' :dd`-._,'-._.__-""' ,' ,----' _.----' __..--"" "" dd Ida watches her grandchildren one evening a week. She was at their home when Jordyn, 3, was in the backyard. Jordyn's family had welcomed new backyard neighbors. Jordyn had overheard her mother introducing Laura as her "new friend." Jordyn was not to be outdone. When Ida came outside Jordyn dropped what she was doing and ran across the yard, calling, "Laura, Laura, come meet my friend, Grandma Ida!" -- Ida Fisher of Fort Wayne, Indiana Here is another one from Ida. Jordyn was at a family gathering where they were going to have chicken cooked on a rotisserie. Jordyn touched the skin on the chicken leg and asked, "Is this fish?" The adults said no. She took some more bites and asked, "Are you sure you didn't make this chicken out of fish?" Christian, 3, was staying with Franziska's parents. The weather was not too good. As Christian looked out of the living-room window up to all those gray clouds he remarked full of melancholy, "There is no sky today." -- Franziska Eber (aunt of Christian) of Germany Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >-->THE U IN JESUS Before U were thought of or time had begun, God stuck U in the name of His Son.. And each time U pray, you'll see it's true, You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified.. Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His plan? The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, And this word resUrrection is spelled with a U. When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. "Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U." So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U. Will U pass it on? For even when He RetUrns, Guess who is in the middle? That would be U! --Author unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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