God Moves When You Move... :) 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: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND 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 scorching hot new page is from our friend LouiseAu. It is one that may surprise you as well as give you some smiles for your day. Be sure to check it out and the video here too... ___,,___ _,-='=- =- -`"--.__,,.._ ,-;// / - - - -= - "=. ,'/// - - - = - ==-=\`. |/// / = `. - = == - =.=_,,._ `=/| /// - - \ - - = ,ndDMHHMM/\b \\ ,' - / / / /\ = - /MM(,,._`YQMML `| <_,=^Kkm / / / / ///H|wnWWdMKKK#""-;. `"0\ | `""QkmmmmmnWMMM\""WHMKKMM\ `--. \> \ hjm `""' `->>> ``WHMb,. `-_<@) `"QMM`. `>>> Fearless Animals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fearlessanimals.html --- ...Teehee! Some of these are so cute! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- *~* Last Month We Had A Superior Month Of Giving And Sharing! ()._ _.--. (##)_`-. / . ``u (##), ` `. \__) _/ (##),--. \ | --' ()' \ \ / | | | ,' \ _,' / ,' | ,;--// / ___\ |/ ___V__{(_ | ' \| || ,'-===- `,'| __| ,' /| || |""""""""|-L| ,`__. < _)))_))) |________|,' gnv (,' ool >Be Sure To Visit And Share All These New Pages: Festivals Around World! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worldfestivals.html Polar Bear Capital! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/polarbearcapital.html Big Happy Pet Family! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/petfamily.html Jungle Boogie! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jungleboogie.html Mysteries Around The World! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worldmysteries.html Dangerous Critters 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dangerouscritters3.html Maxine On Winter! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonwinter.html Incredible Animals! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/incredibleanimals.html 'Invisible' Animals 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/invisible2.html * May God Abundantly Bless All Our Contributors Through Christ Jesus! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. -- Jeanne Moreau .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >HEY! by Lynelle Dawson I remember hearing them throughout my childhood. "Hey," my step-dad would say out of the blue. "Hey what?" my mom would automatically reply. I had noticed nothing more was generally said, but then I was young and didn't pay too much attention to the "old fogies." Years passed by uneventfully, I was now in my twenties and still I would hear their apparently meaningless conversation. "Hey." "Hey what?" For over 25 years I heard this exchange, never knowing what it meant. Quite truthfully, I never knew it was supposed to be anything other than a greeting of some odd sort. I didn't hear it frequently, only occasionally, therefore I didn't really spend a lot of time dwelling on the custom either. Around the ripe old age of 35, which was quite a bit older than one of the "old fogies" of my childhood, and barely a decade younger than the other, I learned what the expressions were meant to convey. Saying, "Hey," meant, "I love you." Replying, "Hey what?" meant, "I love you too." For 27 years now, this has been their secret way of expressing the depth of their love for one another without anyone being the wiser. Hey! -- Lynelle Dawson ___________________________________________ Lynelle and her daughter, Kallie, live in Oklahoma with their menagerie of pets. "After over 25 years of hearing my parents say these words, my mom let me in on the secret. Boy, was I ever shocked’ and pleased. I was able to return the shock favor last year by throwing a surprise 25th anniversary party for them too!" Today, February 6, happens to their 26th anniversary! Lynelle is a Heartwarmer Gem, HeartTouchers featured author and published writer. To read more of her writing, go to: http://www.tomorrows-leaders.com and click on "My Writing". -<>- ,ae, ,88888e ,a888b.9888888i 888888888888888 88888888888888Y '8888888888888' "S888888888" unknown "7888888Y "e88j "Y >THE VALENTINE REWARD by James "PoppyK" Kisner The classroom was quite empty; all the children had gone home, My fourth grade room was quiet, as I sat there all alone. That day in class, I told the children what they were to do, Make a Valentine for someone, who is close to you. Someone who you look up to and someone you admire, Someone who is helping you become what you desire. Then I told the children, print a poem that is your own, Then leave them on my desk to read, before you all go home. Tomorrow, you can take them home to give to those you love, But first I'd like to read them to see, who you're thinking of. As I sat and read the poems, the little cards weren't bad, Some were for grandparents and then some for mom or dad. Some had standard verses, "Roses red and violets blue," While others had cute verses, that the children made up new. But then I started reading one and tears filled up my eyes, I never had expected this; it caught me by surprise. "I love my mom and dad, she wrote, but you are special too, That is why I want to make this Valentine for you. I heard my mom once say, you are a blessing in disguise, The way you love to teach and help to open children's eyes. So you will know and understand, 'cause next year I'll be gone, You've helped me to be who I am; you are a special one." I closed the little card from her and I just sat and cried, This precious fourth grade girl had done more than she realized. A teacher doesn't earn a lot, there's much they can't afford, But all the money in the world can't match this great reward. To know you make a difference when you teach a little child, And know you have influenced them does make it all worthwhile. I know that all who teach will never earn themselves great wealth, Their riches come from knowing one has given of one's self. To know we make a difference, having helped a child soar, To know we had a part will be our "Valentine reward." -- James "PoppyK" Kisner ___________________________________________ PoppyK is a Heartwarmer Gem and a valued contributor to our publications. He publishes his own free email newsletter of his poems, called PoppysPals, and you can join it by sending an email to: poppyspals-subscribe @ yahoogroups.com (remove the spaces) or clicking here: mailto:poppyspals-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" >Godly Desire There are a few simple things we need to seek, in our desire to draw closer to Him. Be the eyes of God. See what He sees. See the world as God sees the world. When God sees a homeless man. He sees a precious person who has a painful life, whom everyone else has cast aside. When God sees people fighting against each other, He is grieved because they have allowed their small differences to destroy what they have in common. When He sees a child without parents, He sees the lonely heart abandoned by people who themselves have pain. See what God sees. Be the ears of God. Hear what He hears. God hears the silent tears of the lonely. He hears the voices of the oppressed. He hears the shouts of injustice. He hears the cries of pain. Learn to listen and hear as God hears. Be the mind of God. Think as He thinks. Seek to understand the mind of God, to think as He thinks. Observe things around you and have conversations with Him. Seek His wisdom and knowledge. Know that He wants to bring you to a higher consciousness of His Kingdom. Learn to think as God thinks. Be the heart of God. Feel what He feels. Seek to understand the heart of God. Feel the pain He feels for those who suffer. Feel the tears He feels for the lonely. Feel the magnitude of His great love and compassion for us His creation. The heart of God is filled with overflowing love and He desires us to participate in His work to bring back wholeness to the world. See that the heart of God is indeed filled with unconditional love. Learn to have a heart like God, full of love. Be the hands of God. Do as He does. God asks us to take everything we have learned from Him and change things. He asks us to use our hands to do His work: To stand up when there is injustice. To love as He loves. To do things no one else wants to do. By making a connection, volunteering, joining a community or offering to help, we do what God hopes for us all to do: love people to Him. Listen to God and do what He beckons you to do. There is so much that needs to be done, but so few persons willing to do the work of God. We can no longer be just bystanders on the side of the road asking God for handouts, comfort and security. We each have a part in His great plan to bring salvation to the world. Many believe that being spiritual is cerebral. Our minds seek only to contemplate and meditate on God, but that is only part of it. Thinking on God is 1% spirituality. Doing the work of our contemplation's is 99% of it. Action above all is what is hardest for us to do; yet, ACTION is the fruit of deep spirituality. Contemplation may be spiritual, but when there is no action behind our spiritual thoughts, they become worthless. Like the Good Samaritan, what matters is that love is manifested into action. Not just concern, not just prayer, and not just sympathy, but ACTION. The energy that gets the ball rolling and sets God's love into motion is ACTION. So many of us pray when someone needs help, yet, no one just goes on in and helps. We pray for someone else to do the work, but perhaps we are the ones who should heed our own prayers. A person of God, sees, hears, thinks, feels and then DOES. Spiritual thoughts are fruitless until they become a part of your life. One who does, follows through with what he has learned and produces fruit. It is the result of our conversations with God. One who thinks only entertains himself. One who does, entertains God. God is excited when we allow our hands to be His hands, because only then can things begin to happen. Only then can work be accomplished. We can no longer remain complacent and removed from everything. He challenges us to walk along with Him and be His eyes, ears, mind, heart and hands to do His work. To walk a closer walk with Him. When our hands do as God does, then we are truly walking side by side with Him toward the Kingdom of God. © 2009 Edrick --- ...Excellent advice! Thanks Bunni! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' This reminds me of how Jesus Christ said he was with God and His prayer to God for all of us... John 17: [1] These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: He went on praying saying... [20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (that's us Christians) [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. [22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Jesus was talking about the gift of holy spirit - that awesome God in Christ in you! [24] Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Asking that we have eternal life with Him! [25] O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. [26] And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. Again, he is speaking of being born again with God's spirit of God in Christ in you - that makes us one with them! Col.1: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: That makes us ONE WITH GOD AND JESUS CHRIST! We just need to walk our spiritual walk and be who we are in Christ to be closer to God each day! Phil.2: [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: That's what this teaching is all about. Try to think like Jesus Christ did and act like Jesus Christ did on God's Word! It's impossible to think like God himself... Isa.55: [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. He is the super, righteous, all knowing one. We don't even come close! BUT we have Jesus Christ who we can pattern ourselves after... Romans 12: [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12: [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See this great teaching: The Renewed Mind http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/THE_RENEWED_MIND.htm Also - Menu of the Basics Teachings: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Basics.htm =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .---. (_---_) (_/6 6\_) ( v ) `\ /' .-'': ;``-. / \,Y./ \ / (:)___ \ : .-'XXX`-.`\_; `.__.-XXX-.__.'\_ / / XXX \ \ `\_ / XXX \ `\ / XXX \ _`\___ jgs / \ (`--"""-') / \ (=-=-=-=-) `--...___ ___...--' (________) >Grammie's Geraniums Geraniums and marigolds were two flowers my mother couldn't tolerate. As a kid, I tended to agree with her. They were a far cry from roses. As the years past like sand through the hour glass, I didn't give geraniums more than a passing thought. While I was in France with my Army husband, I planted flowers by our front door step. No geraniums or marigolds -- only sweet scented flowers. While pulling weeds from my small garden one day in June, my husband arrived home just before noon to tell me my grandmother was ill and in the hospital. Of course, my first thought was getting home to see her, but I was way "too pregnant" for the airlines to allow my emergency flight to the states. When we got word that my grandmother had passed away, I went into false labor. Later that week, I delivered my precious daughter. When Lorena was a year old, we were finally shipped back to American soil. It was a bitter sweet home coming because my beloved grandmother wouldn't be there to welcome us back. My two younger children would never know her or be held and hugged by her. While showing off my three children to my favorite uncle, he asked me if I'd like a "trinket" from Grammie's jewelry box. I was thrilled to be able to visit Grammie's house once again. I'd spent many happy childhood hours there -- playing the piano, playing Monopoly with Uncle Reggie, or exploring the magical upstairs of Grammie's sea captain type house and marveling over the beautiful hand pieced quilts and crocheted bedspreads, the oak dresser with oval mirror, and bath tub with feet. I loved looking from the alcove window in Grammie's downstairs bedroom to watch fishermen as they came to sell their lobsters at my uncle's wharf. I loved sitting at the window seat in the dining room and looking out at the ever changing ocean as sea gulls glided overhead making their gull noises for Grammie to toss them a tidbit. To me, her house was truly an elegant place to be. The first time I slept over in the guest bedroom, I felt like a princess right out of a fairy tale. Her house was always filled with intriguing smells -- cookies, pies and cakes, Evening in Paris cologne in deep blue bottles, Spic and Span, and her ever present house plants. I coveted the Easter lilies, geraniums, and a huge, gorgeous Christmas cactus. Grammie had had the cactus for eons, and she'd given me many slips from it to start. Every time one succumbed, she'd give me another and warn me again not to over water it. When, at last, the door to Grammie's house was swung opened, though my mind knew better, my heart expected her welcoming arms to reach out to us and pull us into her inviting kitchen. "Sit a spell and have a piece of pie," I could hear her say. What I didn't expect, after her home had been closed up for over a year, was to be greeted by the spicy scent of geraniums. It seemed as if the house had been holding its breath all that time, and when the door was opened, it exhaled. The powerful scent of geranium washed over my very soul like a crashing wave from the Atlantic at the height of a storm. The night before Grammie's passing, a strong wind shook the cement walled house we lived in and caused me a restless night. The morning was peaceful, sunny and bright. When I noticed our Spanish neighbor across the street, I commented about the howling wind of the night before. He looked at me rather strangely and told me he'd been up several times during the night and added in broken English, "No Honey, calm... No wind last night." When the news of Grammie's passing came, I wasn't surprised. I felt the wind had been forewarning me of the sad news to come. Had the geranium scent really lingered in Grammie's house all that time? Or had it been tucked into the recesses of my memory waiting for the right moment to emerge? Whether the geranium scent was real or imagined, it spoke volumes to me. Grammie's physical presence may be missing from my life, but the essence of her love, like perfume from a beautiful rose, would remain in my heart forever. ~ Kay Seefeldt ~ -<>- _______________________ |\_____________________/| || || || _ _ || || / ) / ) __ |_| || || / -|- / -- | || || `== `== ' || || _____ || ||______________#####__|| jgs |/_____________________\| When his son was just learning to write, Paul Halpern gave him a small chalkboard so they could write notes to each other. One evening while Paul was in the living room, his son called out from the bedroom, "How do you spell 'best'?" A few minutes after Paul answered, his son yelled again: "How do you spell 'kid'?" Paul responded. And then, for a third time, his son asked, "How do you spell 'ever'?" When Paul went into the child's room to view the board, he expected to see a note saying, "I am the best kid ever." But he was totally surprised when his son presented him with a different message: "You are the best dad a kid can ever have." Paul told his son he would have to buy him another chalkboard. He wanted to save this one. Many years later, it still hangs on his wall. Most people struggle hard for approval at work with the hope of getting acknowledgment, a raise or a promotion. These forms of recognition can give real pleasure. Yet if you could choose between winning your child's "Best Dad a Kid Can Ever Have" award and being named the best employee, which would you choose? The point is not to belittle the pursuit of recognition and success in your work life. It's to remind you how much closer, more personally meaningful and easier it is to find an enduring sense of pride and pleasure in the earned appreciation of your own children. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. C 2007 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation's leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character educationprogram, CHARACTER COUNTS! For further information visit http://www.charactercounts.org -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Think Positive! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html Niagara Falls In Neon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/niagaraneon.html Microscopic Winners http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/micro2.html Garbage Truck Camper http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/garbage.html eleMMent Palazzo Mobile RV http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rv2.html Classic Woodies http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodcars.html Real Three Bears http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bears.html Newsworthy Animals 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/newsanimals.html Tree Trunk Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trunkart2.html Crayola Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/crayolaart2.html Life Train! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetrain.html Thank You God! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.html -<>- >In The News: The SOTU Address https://tinyurl.com/ybozruer WhiteHouseNews: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Hannity on SOTU Address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b79h20NbOIQ Viewers approve of Trump's first State of the Union address - “Three in four Americans who tuned in to President Trump's State of the Union address tonight approved of the speech he gave,” CBS News reported last night. https://tinyurl.com/ybh9s8xe CNBC reports that under President Trump we have “the best wage gains since the Great Recession,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “President Donald Trump's first full year in office saw gains that easily outdistanced any year for his predecessor,” Jeff Cox writes. https://tinyurl.com/ycywopn2 Charlie Kirk writes in NBC News that “the Democrats last night could hardly bring themselves to acknowledge the benefits that Trump's administration has provided American families.” Kirk notes that “because of President Trump, the American people are finally being fully represented and the American Dream is alive and well again. We have made major strides in America’s comeback, even as the Democrats are simply warming their own seats.” https://tinyurl.com/ycd5f2hn In CNSNews, Melanie Arter reports on conservative leaders’ overwhelming praise for the President’s State of the Union speech last night. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said that President Trump “spoke from the heart about our shared values as Americans.” https://tinyurl.com/ydae4r5e TRUMP OR REAGAN? Heritage Foundation Reveals Which President Had More Conservative First Year The Heritage Foundation, widely viewed as a leading conservative think tank, revealed this week that President Donald Trump has enacted a more conservative agenda his first year in office than former President Ronald Reagan, as American policymaking has taken a sharp turn to the right. https://tinyurl.com/y8l98rjr Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Latest From RightAlerts: http://rightalerts.com Latest At FoxNews: http://www.foxnews.com/ Latest From MRC News: https://tinyurl.com/ya6uruck Latest From TrueDailyNews: http://truedaily.news/category/news/ -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) She sent us one we have here... One Word Essay http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/essay.html --- ...Such a beautiful reminder! Thanks Geniann! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) Simplicity is the key to brilliance. --Bruce Lee It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. --Seneca -<>- O (_) _ )_( _ /`_) H (_`\ .' ( { } ) '. _/ /` '-'='-' `\ \_ [_.' _,...,_ '._] | .:"`````":. | |__//_________\\__| | .-----------. | | | .-"""-. | | | | / / \ | | | ||- < -|| | | | \ \ / | | | |[`'-...-'`]| | | | ;-.___.-; | | | | | ||| | | | | | | ||| | | | | | | ||| | | | | | | ||| | | | | | | ||| | | | | | | _|||_ | | | | | | >===< | | | | | | |___| | | | | | | ||| | | | | | | ;-; | | | | | | ( ) | | | | | | '-' | | | | | '-------' | | jgs _| '-----------' |_ [= === === ==== == =] [__--__--___--__--__] /__-___-___-___-___-__\ `""""""""""""""""""""""" >THE CLOCK There once was a clock on a high wall At the end of a very, very long hall He was as lonesome as a clock could be Until they bought him a coo-coo to keep him company. Frances Booth (aka: Carol Clarke) Grama's Book - 1980's --- ...TeeHee! So cute! Thanks Fran! -<>- _ _ / )%.===.%( \ | // ,,, \\ | \/ \/6.6\/ \/ .===. /\ ( _ ) /\ / ,,, \ ^^ /()-()\ ^^ ( /6.6\ ) / /o o\ \ )( _ )( (._\ Y /_.) (_/;---;\_) (O_`&`_O) / `"*"` \ / / \ \ ( (_.@._) ) / ()/^\() \ /'._\|/_.'\ /. . . . . . .\ /. . . . . .\ `"`"`|`|`|`"`"` `"`"|"|"|"`"` jgs _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ (___|___) (___|___) >Story Time: On April 26, 2002, every parent's worst nightmare came true for me: my two step-daughters, Anna, 6, and Emily, 4, were abducted from daycare by their mother, who had recently lost custody. The police said it was not their problem — it was a "civil matter". It took five days to get them to write a report and six days to get the girls into the missing persons computers. At first we thought it was just their mother going off and it wouldn't last long. But on May 8 their mother turned up without the girls. She was charged with contempt of court because she would not give up the girls' location. Anonymous members of a "children's advocacy" group were hiding the children. For months nothing happened. The police wouldn't help. HeroicStories publisher Randy Cassingham suggested we send out a press release to get the media interested. My friend Mari, who works in public relations, wrote it, and it worked: Within one week the story was in our two major local papers; the next week it was on TV. Finally Dan Noyes, an investigative reporter at our local ABC station, picked up the story and worked on it for eight weeks. On November 4th his report aired, and he uncovered the fact that the man who heads the advocacy group hiding the girls was a convicted child molester, which led to a major uproar in the group. Some members, who knew where the girls were kept, rescued them and brought them to the TV station. The group leader was arrested. More than five months after the girls were taken, we finally got the phone call saying we could come get them. We went to the TV station and were brought up to the conference room where Anna and Emily were happily playing. When their father and I walked into the room Emily looked up at me with the biggest, brightest smile on her face and raced toward me. A hug never felt so good. Within minutes the girls were laughing and clamoring for our attention. They were happy and healthy and thrilled to be going home. Parental abduction appears to only be barely a crime. The police don't care. We spent about $50,000 on investigators and lawyers. We furnished the police with about 700 pages of worthwhile evidence. They organized it into a nice binder. With the same evidence, Dan Noyes brought down the advocacy group and gave us back the girls. "This is True" and "Heroic Stories" were the first to provide media attention, and it helped a lot. Ultimately the girls' pictures were carried on about 12 web sites; about half were from concerned Heroic Stories and TRUE readers. We learned so much — all the hard way. The most important advice I can give parents is: make sure your kids know your full name, phone number, and how to call 911. And make sure they KNOW you would never want to be separated from them, regardless of what anyone tells them. by Sharon Zeff --- ...Wow! Thank God it all worked out well! Thanks Fran! ========================================================== _______ /______/"=, [ | "=, "=,, [-----+----"=,* ) (_---_____---_)/ (O) (O) Emiliano >So Many Wonderful People Story Editor: by Jaqi Joyce Schowalter Texas, USA In December of 2006, I moved away from my family and friends to Texas with my fiance. When we broke off the engagement in June 2007, I decided to keep my job and stay in town, even though I still had trouble making any lasting friends. My ex-fiance decided to let me use the car we shared (it was in his name) until I was able to buy my own car, hopefully in about a month. However, three months later, the company I worked for cut the commission rates so effectively that my paychecks were half of what had been. I struggled to stay on top of my bills. Worst of all, I was still relying on my ex to drive me everywhere. He was understanding until one day I didn't pick him up from work. He stopped talking to me and refused to drive me to work the next day. I set off on the 5-mile trek to my workplace at 6 a.m. the following morning. An hour later I was almost there, but tired and unsure if I would make it (my asthma and heart condition were not advantageous in the situation). Suddenly a car pulled over and a friendly woman on the passenger side asked if I needed a ride. Hot, tired, and looking forward to eight hours at work, I agreed to get in. She and her husband drove me to work, and when I got out, thanking them over and over, they told me just to pay it forward. I told them I'd never forget their kindness and went in to work. Two young girls fresh out of high school, Ashley and Chelsey, saw my sweaty face when I went to the bathroom to freshen up and asked if I'd just been in the exercise room. I told them no, I'd walked from home because I didn't have a car. I knew them because they sat a few desks over, but didn't talk to them much. At once, Ashley said it was unacceptable for me to walk to work and said she'd drive me to and from work from then on. After I got home that day, I sat on my balcony contemplating the long walk to the grocery store and whether I had the strength for it. My neighbor, who shared the balcony, came outside and we started talking. He offered to take me to the grocery store that day, and every week until I had a car. When I left for work that morning, I was unsure whether I'd be able to keep my job, and trying to decide whether to move back into my parents' house. By the end of the day, I had met so many wonderful people I knew I didn't need to move at all. I procured a car, and am now doing fine. All that is thanks to one day where a group of people I barely knew all came together to help a disillusioned little me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "Your life is not valuable because you're an articulate speaker; your life is not valuable because you're a generous person." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:33-35,37-39 (NIV) "You're valuable because God thinks you're valuable!" The Lift .-'''''-. |'-----'| |-.....-| | | | | _,._ | | __.o` o`"-. | | .-O o `"-.o O )_,._ | | ( o O o )--.-"`O o"-.`'-----'` jgs '--------' ( o O o) `----------` >The Chocolate Chip Cookie Experiment (By Roy Irwin) "You can see a lot by observing." ~ Yogi Berra ~ A room full of children. A plate full of chocolate chip cookies. The setting could not have been more perfect! Who would have believed that it was the beginning of an experiment whose outcome would still affect me some 30 years later... It went something like this: Each person was allowed to choose a cookie but told not to eat it. Instructions were given that for the next 5 minutes each person should study their cookie closely, observing every detail, in order to learn what makes their particular cookie unique. At the end of the allotted time the cookies were collected and mixed together on a plate. Then, one at a time, each child was invited to come up and see if they could identify 'their' cookie. One by one, almost immediately, each child excitedly identified and was reunited with 'their' cookie! Each person was then asked to share with the group what it was about their cookie that made it unique. Like proud parents the children shared different traits that made their particular cookie special: One had a lot of chocolate chips; another almost none. For some it was the placement of the chips, creating an unusual shape or pattern. One had a crack on one side, another was a different shade of color. One of the more easily identifiable cookies was missing a 'bite' from an overeager (and hungry) child! I've shared this 'experiment' with other groups over the years: Scouts, church groups, work groups, gatherings of friends. And each time the results are always the same - everyone can identify 'their' cookie and beams with pride in describing it! Give it a try sometime! It's also a great excuse to enjoy chocolate chip cookies! (note: I'm 'sure' this would work with other types of cookies, but not with broccoli, asparagus or other vegetables...) As I was enjoying yet another chocolate chip cookie this week, I was replaying in mind those events from years ago when I was introduced to the above lesson. If children could so quickly and easily identify and take pride in their special cookie, how much more special is each of us in the eyes of God? I was reminded again of several promises from the Bible that give us a glimpse of how special and unique we are to God; how He knows each of us uniquely and individually; and how much He loves us. In the book of Genesis God reveals that we were made in His image. From Jeremiah 1:5 God shares an intimate portrait of His individual relationship with each of us by writing "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (NIV) In Jeremiah 31:3 God tells us, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (NIV) And we learn in Matthew 10:30 that God knows each of us so well that "God even knows how many hairs are on your head." (ICB) Words are one thing, but ultimately God revealed His love for each of us by sending His Son Jesus Christ to earth for the sole purpose of paying for your sins and mine through His death on the cross. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV) So the next time you're enjoying a chocolate chip cookie, remember and hold fast to this promise from Romans 8:35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (NIV) "Dear Lord God, help us to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your love for each of us. Help us to see our Worth in You - that we were loved by You even while we were still in the womb - and that NOTHING can separate us from Your love. Thank you Father! May we learn to love You and trust You more - full of Your hope - as we continue growing in Your love. In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen." "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV) (Copyright 1998 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== _ . , . . * / \_ * / \_ _ * * /\'__ * / \ / \, (( . _/ / \ *'. . /\/\ /\/ :' __ \_ ` _^/ ^/ `--. / \/ \ _/ \-'\ * /.' ^_ \_ .'\ * /\ .- `. \/ \ /==~=-=~=-=-;. _/ \ -. `_/ \ / `-.__ ^ / .-'.--\ =-=~_=-=~=^/ _ `--./ .-' `- /jgs `. / / `.~-^=-=~=^=.-' '-._ `._ >-->Start with the Faith You Have [The boy's father said,] "... If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!" Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!" Mark 9:22-24 (MSG) *** *** *** *** Is it possible to be filled with faith and doubt at the same time? Yes! You can have faith that God wants you to do something and still be scared to death. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is going ahead and doing what you're called to do in spite of your fear. You have to begin with the faith you already have: it may be just a little, but you start there. A beautiful example of this is the story of the man who brought his sick son to Jesus in Mark 9. Jesus looked at the man and said, "I can heal your son. If you will believe, I will heal him." The father then makes a classic statement: "Lord, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief." Have you ever felt like that? "Lord, I have some faith. But I also have some doubts." This man was filled with faith and doubt, yet despite his honest doubts, he went ahead and asked Jesus for a miracle. And he got his miracle – Jesus healed his son. Mustard seed faith moves mountains. No matter how weak or how frail you think your faith is, it's enough to get you through what you're facing because your "little faith" is in a big God. Matthew 17:20 says, "If you have faith as small as the mustard seed, nothing will be impossible to you." That's not a lot of faith; in fact, it's just a little faith. But what else does that verse teach? "If you have faith as the mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, 'Move' and it will be moved." Mustard seed faith moves mountains. Don't get this reversed; we tend to read this verse backward; we want it to say, "If you have faith like a mountain, you can move a mustard seed" – as if it takes enormous faith to do a very little task. Everybody has faith. You had faith this morning when you ate your cereal – faith that your spouse didn't put poison in your granola! You had faith when you sat down in your computer chair – faith that it wouldn't collapse. Everybody has faith; the difference is what you put your faith in. Sometimes people will tell me they don't want to surrender to Jesus until all their questions are answered; they don't want to make a commitment until every thing is understand. God wants you start with the faith you have; and based on the example of the mustard seed, you don't need a whole lot of faith to do great things for God. You just need a little. So here's a trustworthy equation: Little Faith + Big God = Huge Results! You take your little faith; "Lord, I believe! Help me with my unbelief!" And you place your faith in our big God, And then he'll show you how he works out huge results. --- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp ...God’s hands, legs and mouth Keep in mind - faith (believing) alone won't get you results - James 2: [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Even so faith [pistis – believing], if it hath not works [action], is dead, being alone. – James 2: 17 What people don’t realize today is that they are God’s hands, legs and mouth. Until you believe and act upon God’s Word, God will not move. As said many times in the world, you will believe it when you see it. But with God, you will see it when you believe it. It’s just the opposite of what the world teaches and that is just the norm. When you ACT upon Gods Word, THEN you will see results. You can pray until you are blue in the face, but unless you act on what you are praying about, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. Read all of this great teaching here: God Moves When You Move http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/God_Moves_When_You_Move.htm ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend Karen :) __,--'''''--,_ _,--'''''--,__ _-' `\ /' `-_ ,' `\/' `, / `\ \ / `\ `\ \ ( /'\ `\ ) ( /' `\ `, ) ( /' `. | ) \ /' `-,__,-' / \ /' ___ / `. /' ,' `\ .' \ /' / ,--( `\ / /' /' ,' \ `< ( /' / ,--( `\ ) ( /' /' ,' \ `\ ,' `---,' /' ,--( `\ `\-' ( /' ,' \ `\ ) `---,' ( `\ `\_,-' ( \ `\ ) `---,' `\ `\_,-' Normand ( `\ ) Veilleux `---' `\_,-' >Food For Thought Success Is Like A Beautiful Lover It Will Leave Us At Anytime, But Failure Is Like A Mother It Will Teach Us Some Important Lessons Of Life! A Good Heart Can Win Many Relationships, A Good Nature Can Win Many Good Hearts! A TOUCH Could HEAL A Wound An Eye Could SPEAK Volumes A SMILE Can Confirm I AM THERE !! The Bird Asked The Bumblebee: "You Work So Hard To Make The Honey And Humans Just Take It Away, Doesn't It Make You Feel Bad?" "No," Said The Bee, "Because They Will Never Take From Me The Art Of Making It --- ...Very thought provoking! Thanks Karen! ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >Cross In My Pocket I carry a Cross in my pocket A simple reminder to me Of the fact that I am a Christian No matter where I may be. This little Cross is not magic Nor is it a good luck charm It isn't meant to protect me From every physical harm. It's not for identification For all the world to see It simply is an understanding Between my Savior and me. When I put my hand in my pocket To bring out a coin or key The Cross is there to remind me Of the price he paid for me. It reminds me too, to be thankful For the blessings day by day And to strive to serve Him better In all that I do and say. It's also a daily reminder Of the peace and comfort I share With all who know my Master And give themselves to His care. So I carry a Cross in my pocket Reminding me, no one but me That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life If only I let Him be. ~ Verna Thomas ~ --- ...A lovely poem! Thanks LouiseAu! >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? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE:Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************