God's Eyes And More... :) 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 ================ >-->OoooWEeeee!! oo 8 "} > @ < .8 .-._/| .'_'`')`_.' \| ) / (>'/ |_,_ | (,| .' ,'\| `._/ ) \| '`- -- ''-- --- VK/ejm I'm doing a 'Happy Angel' dance! Why? Because Shangrala has been blessed with another donation from our long time Shangrala Angel, Cloie from NH! May God abundantly Bless her! She is a loyal supporter contributing to help Keep Shangrala Alive! We sure do thank God for her and all our past most sweet and wonderful angels! Thank You! If you'd like to help too and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP! Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* 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 super red hot new page is from our friend LouiseAu. It is an eye-opener for sure and might just give you cause to pause. I am glad I don't live in any of these cities though I am sure if born there, you'd be so used to it that you'd feel out of place in less inhabited areas! Be sure to check this out here... ___ _ __ _ ___ _ _ |===| (_) __ / _|(_)|_ _||_\/_| |= =|__ _|==|_ \__||_| |_| |__| |= =|::| |.|:|==| |=|=|::|_|.|:|==|_____(mruqe.)_____ World's Crowded Cities! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/crowdedcities.html --- ...Amazing! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _....._ .--. _.-' `-._ o/o-;;; ( `-._ _.-' ) (_, z) `:-._'---'_.-:' ,,,, _|-' / : `'''`_,-/`-._ /.. ) /\`--/"\ : [_./_ /_ _(_& _P / \_/, | : :`-/(_`_____ _\-'_/___/ /| : _.-: 8 \=__))____/ | : |'_.-: \_ | / F : | : : //`7/ / / : | :.-: (( (( L_______/ : |o : /_>/_> / Y / : |_.-': / / / : : J J J (`'-._____,-'`) | | | | | | | | | | _J__J__J (_ _) (__(_____) cjr'-..___..-' 2may01 >BRAG ANYWAY My job here is nearly over. Our youngest son turned 18 last week. That's three boys raised to adulthood, half a dozen trips to the emergency room, one car totaled, no felonies. Twenty-seven years I wouldn't trade for $27 million. What would you like to know from someone who survived all this? Let's start at the beginning: Be firm early and you won't have to be firm (or sorry) later. No two kids are alike. Our most easygoing son left us totally unprepared for the next one. Thank goodness for Dr. James Dobson's priceless book, The Strong-Willed Child. Dobson convinced me to become a "brick wall" that my kid would run up against every time he crossed the line. The little snot put a few dents in that wall, but it held. Parents of easy-going children can't imagine what it's like to battle a strong-willed child. When you're at war with a pocket monster, sometimes you can't help looking a little silly. I used to lie on top of one kid during his tantrums. It was the only way to make him stop hitting and kicking without hitting him back. Backing the authorities is good. But stick up for your own kid if you think he's right. When the school didn't protect one of our boys from bullies, he had to protect himself. He got in trouble for winning a couple of fights -- a little too convincingly. This came as a shock to a mild-mannered dad. But we knew our kid didn't start these brawls. We defended him in the principal's office, and even though he had to serve some detention, it was worth it. The bullies wised up and he never had to fight again. When another of our boys was the smallest kid in his second-grade class, karate lessons helped. He only had to protect himself once or twice after the word got around. He learned a lot of self-confidence and discipline in the process. Go ahead. Spend a little money. Buying a quality drum set for Christmas one year seemed like an extravagance -- the biggest present we ever bought for any child. Five years and an armful of music awards later, it's turned out to be the best money I've ever spent. Be willing to change your mind. I'd always scorned the idea of financial rewards for good grades. But by the eighth grade with one of the boys, I was desperate. Paying for A's and B's became the second-best money I've ever spent. Grown-ups work harder to earn bonuses. Why should kids be any different? Eventually, he didn't need money to motivate him to study. But I kept paying anyway. A deal is a deal. When he started coming home with all A's, report-card day became a joy to my soul and a disaster for my wallet. Coach your kid's sports team. Never mind that you don't know a soccer ball from a pumpkin. You can learn. Keep your perspective. Only a couple of kids on your team will ever become varsity athletes in the sport you're coaching at the moment. They might not be the ones you expect. And they'll never remember how many games they won in fifth grade. Try to do some big, special things with your kid. However, it's more important to do little things. Schedule a time every week to go to dinner. He'll pick a fast-food joint with plastic hamburgers. Don't worry if those meals are filled with yep-nope answers and awkward silences. He'll talk someday. Every kid will have one horrendously bad hair year, and the earlier in life, the better. Someday, his mirror will work properly and he'll see how stupid it looks. Keep your mouth shut, take lots of photographs and laugh about it later. Never underestimate the value of a good girlfriend. When my sons were out with the boys, I always worried that one of their buddies would be driving too fast, or drinking, or both. A good girlfriend won't put up with that kind of nonsense. Only one thing can go really, really wrong when your son is out with his girlfriend -- and it never did. I guess a good girlfriend won't stand for that, either. As a bonus, your son will start brushing his teeth and using deodorant. The safe, secure feeling when my sons were out with their girlfriends came as a marvelous surprise. My own experience with girlfriends of any kind in high school was zilch, zero, nada. What if your son is underachieving? A wise and successful father once counseled me: Be patient. Remember, it's your son's life, not yours. You might have given your left ear to have his throwing arm, but maybe he doesn't want to be a baseball player. Encourage him to do what he really likes. He'll be one of the best. You'll learn to love it. Be careful not to brag on your kid too much. It could come back to bite you. Brag anyway. -- Dave Kurtz ___________________________________________ For the past 27 years, Dave has lived in Auburn, Indiana, with his wife, Betsy, and is the managing editor of The Evening Star daily newspaper. You can email him by clicking here: mailto:dkurtz@kpcnews.net =========================================================== :. ,.. .' :~.':_., .' ::.::'.' : ::' .: `.: .: .:/ `::--.:'.::' |. _:===-' / / ,---.---. __,',' (~`. \ ) )','.,---.. `v`\ | ,' .-'.:,'_____ `. )|/.-~.--~~--. ~~~-. \ _/-'_.-~ ""---.._`.| _.-~~_.-~ ""' _..--~~_.(~~ __...---~~~_..--~~ ,'___...---~~~ seal >THE ROSE The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty - seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day." "You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!" "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." "Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. --- ...Here's the song... The Rose~Bette Midler With Lyrics(Best Version On Youtube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQY2z6aALD4 =======HeartWarming======= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * arm * "Be encouraged, child of God. He loves you even in the midst of your pain. He loves you even when you don't love Him. He loves you when you feel utterly alone. He loves you with an everlasting love. Your suffering can take many things away from you -- your health, your happiness, your prosperity, your popularity, your friends, your career, even your family. But there's one thing suffering can't take away: it can't take away the love of God." - Ray Pritchard -<>- ' . ' . . . : . . '. ______ .' ' _.-"` `"-._ ' .' '. `'--. / \ .--'` / \ ; ; - -- | | -- - | _. | ; /__`A ,_ ; .-' \ |= |;._.}{__ / '-. _.-""-|.' # '. ` `.-"{}<._ / 1938 \ \ x `" ----/ \_.-'|--X---- -=_ | | |- X. =_ - __ |_________|_.-'|_X-X## jgs `'-._|_|;:;_.-'` '::. `"- .:;. .:. ::. '::. Working in the noonday heat, a tired farmer sat under a walnut tree to rest. Relaxing, he looked at his pumpkin vines and said to himself, "How strange it is that God puts such big heavy pumpkins on a frail vine that has so little strength it has to trail on the ground!" And then looking up into the cool branches of the tree above him, he added, "How strange it is that God puts small walnuts on such a big tree with branches so strong they could hold a man!" Just then a breeze dislodged a walnut from the tree. The tired farmer wondered no more as he rubbed his head ruefully and said, "It's a good thing there wasn't a pumpkin up there instead of a walnut!" Hopefully, when the breezes of life blow, you will remember that God, who is great and wise, makes no mistakes. He deserves our praise under any circumstances. --Unknown -<>- o\ _________/__\__________ | - ( | ,'-. . `-| (____". ,-. ' || | /\,-\ ,-. | | ,-./ \ /'.-\ | | /-.,\ / \| | / \ ,-. \ |___/_______\__/___\_____\ lf >At Home In the early 1970's I moved my young family into an old Victorian house in the city. The rooms were so large I could have put all of my furniture in two rooms. My father suggested that I start going to auctions and estate sales. Before long, I had a house full of wonderful old furniture, but I couldn't stop! Every week my dad would call me with a list of upcoming auctions, in the farming community where I grew up. Over the years I collected many things but my collection of old photographs were very dear to me. Most of the photographs were of beautiful Victorian women dressed in high necked crisp white blouses and long bustled skirts. I often looked at the photographs wondering, for what special occasion the photograph was taken... My favorite photograph is of a girl who is about 18 years old. The most beautiful young woman you can imagine. Piercing dark eyes, thick dark curly hair, and creamy white skin. In 1980, we bought an old farm house in the community where I grew up. While decorating the old house, I decided to display some of the old photographs. The first photograph I displayed was of the young girl, I hung the frame with velvet ribbon, in true Victorian style. This past summer an elderly man knocked on my door, he introduced himself and told me he was the great grandson of the family that had lived here on the farm from 1850 until 1957. He said he had spent many summer vacations on the farm and just wanted to look around the old place. I enjoyed spending the afternoon with him, looking at the farm through his window into the past. When we were finished with the tour of the barns and the old slave house, I invited him in for coffee. As we sat talking he noticed the picture of the young girl. Much to my surprise, he asked, "Where did you get the picture of great aunt Sarah?" "Aunt Sarah?" I replied. "I bought that picture at an auction 10 or 12 years ago. I have no idea who she is." The old man said, "That's aunt Sarah all right. I have a photograph of her and I'm sure that's her." He went on to tell me that Sarah had died of cholera in 1855 at the age of 18 and "I think she died right here at home." The old man sent me his aunt Sarah's obituary and the photograph he had of her. Amazingly it was the same girl, and according to her obituary, she died on a sofa in the living room, where her picture hangs today, with her loving family gathered around. As I read her obituary I could only imagine the pain of losing this beautiful child. "Dear, sweet Sarah, was greatly loved and deeply mourned by all who knew her." How did Sarah get home? I have no idea. I've placed her obituary in the frame with her photograph in hopes that she will not be forgotten. ~ Author Unknown ~ -<>- . .-~\ / `-'\.' `- : | / `._ | | .-. { \ | `-' `. \ | / ~-.`. \| .-~_ .\-.\ .-~ \ `-'/~~ -.~ / .-~/|`-._ /~~-.~ -- ~ / | \ ~- . _\ >A True Story Of Courage And Love Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked! Yet I did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly! Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car. Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for. - David L. Kuzminski -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Our Gifts And Callings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html Give Praise http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/praise.html Directions Home http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/home.html Until We Write Again http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/write.html Beautiful Siamese Fighting Fish http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/siamesefish.html Advice For living http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/advice.html Thoughts Into action 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/action3.html Friends And Health http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendhealth.html Woman's Tears! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womantears.html Magical Snails! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/snails.html Pink The Pig Puppy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pigpuppy.html Naval Fleet Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/navalart.html Breeze & Buttons! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/breezeandbuttons.html Rare Flowers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rareflowers.html Never Give Up! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Veteran And Troop Pages http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/911andtroopsindex.html Christmas Index http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/christmasindex.html -<>- Some of Shangrala's Best Pages http://www.amazafamily.com/index.html -<>- Emergency Recalls - Product Alert: Cheese, Possible Listeria Contamination https://tinyurl.com/ybvqgh2k New Article: Prayer Changes Things https://tinyurl.com/y92zswt5 What does the Bible say about “Faith?” https://tinyurl.com/yatzkuhv Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0vH4WYChQ Take My Hand, Precious Lord - Jim Reeves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eKr9Omg__s One day at a time (lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnZ8bmEOTM What a friend we have in Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SCorW9r_Is Latest Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Today's Best Conservative Humor! https://theusawire.com/2018/03/8092-todays-best-conservative-humor/ 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 CupO'Cheer: >QUOTES God’s richest blessings often require not only sacrifice, suffering and hard conflict, but long delay and patient waiting. But the blessing grows with the delay. The interest gathers with the extended time, and God’s ratio is always compound interest. -A. B. Simpson "It's hard to trust God during the refining process of life, but that is what God longs for us to do. Trust comes down to believing that God is good even when life is terribly hard. Trust comes down to believing that the One who is refining you, loves you and has only your best in mind." - Kathy Troccoli Christ loves to show His hand through the unexpected. Often He keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then immediately it is all unfolded, and we find that He was walking by our side in this very thing long before we even suspected its meaning. -- A. B. Simpson -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >LET Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (NIV) Colossians 3:15-16 Thoughts Let, a verb meaning to allow. I let that bird go (meaning, I missed). I let that buck get away so he can grow up some (meaning, I couldn't get the shot off quick enough). I let my lab chew things up in my back yard (meaning, I can't catch her in the act to discipline her). I let my son take my truck and go camping with his friends for the weekend (meaning, he's grown up and doesn't need me there with him and his friends; they know what they're doing). We all let things happen in our lives. It's a part of life that we don't often think about, but we live it every day. Or, should I say, we let it happen daily. (Cliff S) Action Point For the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we must let it. For the word of Christ to dwell richly in us, we must let it. We have the power to allow God to be our primary influence, or to keep Him on the back burner of our lives. We let so many other things influence us daily, why not allow God to work in our hearts and let Him show us how to walk with and trust Him, how to teach and admonish others, and how to sing and worship Him. He will, if we'll let Him!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When the time comes, let your children head off into the outdoors without you. It's hard, I know, I've been there. But, if you've trained them right, you can have confidence that they'll do things right. And, who knows, maybe they'll let the old timer join them once in a while. as seen in Sportsmen's Devotional -<>- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I _______________III_______________ >FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS! Psalm 103:2 NKJV Author Philip Yancey writes, "On my first visit to Yellowstone National Park flocks of tourists surrounded the geyser, Old Faithful, cameras trained like weapons, while a big digital clock predicted the next eruption. We were in the dining room of the Inn overlooking the geyser when the clock showed one minute to go. So along with every other diner, we rushed to the window to see the big event! We 'oohed' and 'ahhhhhed' and clicked our cameras; some even applauded. But glancing back I noticed that not a single waiter or busboy even bothered to look up! Old Faithful had become so familiar that it had lost its power to impress them!" So here's the question: WHY do we lose our sense of gratitude and begin to overlook God's goodness? For three reasons: 1) Problems...If you close one eye and hold a penny close enough to your other eye, you can actually block out the light of the sun! Getting the point? 2) Pressures...Some times the perks we thought would bring us pleasure end up wearing us down! 3) People...When they disappoint us we turn sour and forget all that God has done for us! What's the solution? "The (unfailing) love of the Lord never ends...Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning" (Lam 3:22-23 NLT). God's mercies begin each morning, and your gratitude should too! Indeed, your days should be saturated in it! Continual gratitude comes from looking beyond your blessings to their unfailing Source, the Lord! His love, His faithfulness and His mercy are already at work when your eyes open each day! ~Claud Bowers~ -<>- ,-=-. / ) ( c/=( `-( _/ _/ (_ / `-- ) < , ) )> / \/ \ (/\ / ,' ) \ \ -=` / / | \ \-` / | '\| <_./ \ / | / , \ <,_./ | / | /_ | | ``--.__.-='! | / \ ! '`'"' ("" '`'`"' `) \_'"'`"" "``''"''`" "'"`''' (_ \_ '"`=-'`" `" " '"" `-'`" '"'`' '`'"' '""`'" >STEPPING OUT IN FAITH By Mary Southerland Key Verse: “Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.” (NCV) Devotion: I grew up in a small Texas town where tornadoes were a fairly common occurrence. When the clouds turned a peculiar shade of green and gusts of wind bullied their way across our little town my family would gather around the radio, waiting for news from the local weather man - hoping and praying that it was just an ugly storm headed our way. A few times, however, we were forced to climb down into the damp, musty storm shelter buried in our back yard. I hated those storms and with great conviction vowed that when I grew up I would live in a place that had no storms! But then we moved to South Florida. While living in Fort Lauderdale, I was introduced to hurricanes and saw first hand the devastation that these monstrous storms can bring. Hurricanes sweep brutally over their prey with a vicious strength, leaving nothing but destruction and terror behind. Homes are reduced to useless rubble, memories are washed away and lives are often lost. I had always thought of hurricanes as something that mankind could certainly do without but have recently learned that they are necessary phenomena in order to maintain a certain balance in nature. Scientists tell us that hurricanes are extremely valuable because they break up a large percentage of the oppressive heat that builds up at the equator. Hurricanes are also indirectly responsible for much of the rainfall in North and South America. As a result of these findings, meteorologists no longer feel the need to use cloud-seeding techniques to prevent hurricanes from being formed. In fact the world of science is convinced that hurricanes actually do more good than harm. The storms of life are much the same. Trials, pain, difficult circumstances and hard times are here to stay. We cannot stop the occurrence of storms but we can change our response to those storms. With every storm comes the opportunity to trust God and see faith grow. If you are like me, when the storm hits, my natural first response is a fervent plea for deliverance. Every day things happen that are beyond my understanding and out of my control. I often turn to God and ask, “Why?” What I really want to know is why me, why this, why now? That is where faith comes in. Faith is a natural by-product of trust and follows the choice to believe God no matter what! He wants us to wholly trust Him even when we do not understand and cannot explain the stormy circumstances swirling around us. When absolutely nothing makes sense and everything seems completely wrong He asks us to trust Him. Oh, it is easy to sing praises when the seas are calm and the boat is still. But the strength of our faith is justly measured in the midst of the raging storm. A job is lost – a marriage is destroyed – a child has strayed – a dream has died. It is in those bleak, seemingly hopeless moments that the value and depth of our faith is computed. A crisis always reveals what is really inside. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us! Anything – any trial or pain – that drives us to God can be counted as a blessing. Faith sees the storm as a chance for God to work in a new way. Faith sees the darkness as an opportunity for His light to shine brighter. Faith sees pain as an opportunity for God to comfort and encourage His precious child. The next time the storm churns around you step out of that rocking boat and walk by faith toward your waiting God. My Prayer for Today: Lord, my faith seems so small. I confess that when a storm hits my first thought is to find a way out. Please give me the faith to walk through my fear to you, trusting you to see me through. Help me to learn the lesson of the storm and share it with others. Amen. Application steps: Choose to believe that God is in control of today. Determine to face the storms that come with faith. Thank Him now for the trials that drive you to Him. Reflection points: What is the greatest storm in my life right now? How can I face that storm with faith instead of fear? What is keeping me from wholly trusting God? Read James 1:1-8. How do these verses tell me to view trials? Read Hebrews 11. List the rewards of faith. How did faith influence the men and women listed in this passage? Power verses: Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. (NLT) James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. (NLT) 1 Peter 5:9 Refuse to give in to him (the enemy) by standing strong in your faith. (NCV) Habakkuk 2:4 Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith. (NLT) 2 Chronicles 20:20 Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld. (NIV) as seen in Growthtrac To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== ___ ((((\\\ 9_9 3)) \= (( __) (__ ,' \_/ `. / :|: \ / / :|: \ \ \ \..:|:../ / `._\_, __/_.' .-)\\-///-. || L || || ^ || |/-->&<--\| | (._.) | | ( @ ) | | /|`"'|\ | //(_\___/_)\\ \\_()___()_// `+---I---+' |\(_)|(_)/| _|j"""""""|j_ | |_______| | |_| |_| hjw >Moving On Story Editor: by Amanda E. Savii Julane Marx Victoria, Australia My childhood was a rough one. My mother had me when she was very young. She blamed me for my own existence every day of my life. She screamed at me even when I was very small, saying I had ruined her life and her marriage. She called me names and told me I would never amount to anything. I got used to it and believed the things she told me, not knowing the effect it would have on me later on. After her second marriage failed, my mother gave up on me completely. She took me down to Social Security and told them if they did not remove me from her care she would kill me. She admitted she had no feelings for me at all and was not capable of being a mother. I was put up for adoption at 8 years old. I kept seeing my mother as I drifted from foster home to foster home. I was nearly adopted twice, but the adoption fell through both times. Mother moved on and took on new kids belonging to her current boyfriends, but she still didn't love me. I blamed myself, thinking I was the problem. At 18, I completed high school and moved out on my own. I met the man of my dreams but couldn't accept his love. He was the only person who cared about me but I didn't know how to react because I didn't know how to be loved. Many bad decisions and much relationship trouble later, I was discussing work problems with my fiancee's parents. His dad recommended I see someone for an aptitude test. Though I didn't know then, he phoned six psychologists, and Noni was the most helpful and genuine. I was nervous at first because the counselors I'd seen before through Social Security hadn't been at all helpful, but Noni soon put me at ease. Noni showed me that work wasn't the issue, instead it was unpleasant details from my past that I had to deal with in order to move on. She showed me it wasn't my fault, that my childhood wasn't normal, that I no longer had to carry this blame. Over time, my low self-esteem faded and my relationships improved -- I began to learn how to love and be loved. Noni didn't judge me, she supported me, and showed me how special I am for coming through it all. Thanks to Noni, I now have a wonderful relationship, I got the strength to remove my mother from my life for good, and best of all, I start university this year. I will use the horrible things in my background for something good. I will be a psychologist specializing in childhood trauma; I want to help others as I really know what it's like. It is amazing what you can do if just one person believes in you. Noni believed in me... and now I believe in me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "A man's heart is right when he wills what God wills." - Thomas Aquinas You must keep in mind not what you are, but whose you are. ______ (%%%%%%) )%%( ,'<\o=`. (%%<_\)%%) `."/|%.' )\\( /%%%%\ ejm >The Vessel (Author Unknown) "The Master was picking a vessel to use; On His shelves there were many - which one would He choose? "Take me," cried the gold one, "I'm shiny and bright, I am of great value; I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest. For someone like You, Master, gold would be best!" The Master passed on, with no word at all; He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall; "I'll serve You, dear Master. I'll pour out Your wine. I'll be at Your table whenever You dine. My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true, The silver I'm made of will compliment You." Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass, It was wide-mouthed and shallow and polished like glass. "Here! Here!" cried the vessel, "I know I will do, Place me on Your table for all men to view." "Look at me," called the goblet of crystal so clear, "My transparency shows my contents are quite dear. Although I am fragile, I will serve You with pride, I am sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide." The Master came next to a vessel of wood, Polished and carved, it solidly stood. "You may use me," dear Master, the wooden bowl said, "But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!" Then the Master looked down, saw a vessel of clay. It was empty and broken where it helplessly lay. No hope had the vessel the Master might choose, To cleanse it, to fill it, make it whole, fit for use. "Ah!" said the Master, "This vessel I choose. I will mend it and fill it and put it to use. I need not the vessel with pride in its self; Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf; Nor the one who is big-mouthed and shallow and loud; Nor one who displays his contents so proud; Nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right; But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might. He then gently lifted the vessel of clay, To mend it and cleanse it, He filled it that day. He spoke to it kindly, "There's work you must do, Just pour out to others as I pour into you." Paul wrote Timothy: "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20-21) -<>- . | . / \ I / \ ,g88R_ d888(` ). _ - --== 888( ).=-- .+(` )`. ) Y8P( '`. :( . ) .+(`( . ) .-- `. ( ) ) (( (..__.:'-' .=( ) ` _` ) ) `. `( ) ) ( . ) ( ) ._ ) ` __.:' ) ( ( )) `-'.:(` ) ) ) ( ) --' `- __.' :( )) .-' (_.' .') `( ) )) (_ ) ` __.:' --..,___.--,--'`,---..-.--+--.,,-,,..._.--..-._.-a:f--. >God's Eyes (By Melanie Chitwood) "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) One of my favorite things to do is watch my twelve-year-old son Zachary play basketball. I'm his biggest fan. Even though he's at an age when he's easily embarrassed, I cheer as loudly as I can knowing my cheers encourage him. When I'm watching his game, I am completely focused on my son. This is how God looks at each one of us. We, His children, are the focus of His attention. The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 16:9 exactly who God focuses on and why: "the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." God's focus is on "those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." I can just imagine God's eyes searching for the woman who would become the mother to his son Jesus. Then He sees Mary, nods His head and says, That's the one. I can imagine God searching for the person to have faith to build the Ark even though he's never seen a drop of rain. Then He sees Noah, nods His head, and says that's the one. Imagine Him searching for the person who would persevere in the wilderness for forty years. He sees Moses, nods his head, and says that's the one. What are your thoughts as you imagine God's eyes resting on you? Sometimes I've been unsure and even afraid of God's eyes resting on me. I look at my failures and think I don't measure up, that I won't be the one God's looking for. I see so clearly the days when I've selfishly thought of my own needs, instead of my husband's. I see the days when I've spoken harsh words to my children, instead of responding with patience. I remember times when I've judged or criticized other women. We have to be careful not to make this mistake. We have to believe what is true, not the lies and accusations of the enemy. God is not looking for the woman who's perfect or serves in the most ministries. He's not looking for the woman who never misses a quiet time with Him or who never doubts. God is looking for the woman who's fully committed to Him, a woman like you or me, whose heart is saying yes to God. Yes, I'll love my husband for You, Lord. Yes, I'll turn off the TV to read a Bible story to my kids. Yes, I'll call a friend to encourage her. And yes, when I fail to do what You want me to do, I'll confess my sin, receive Your forgiveness, and press on in faith. God is our greatest cheerleader, not our greatest critic. When His eyes light on His children, they are eyes of compassion and lovingkindness, not criticism or judgment. The verses in Chronicles tell us why God looks for us: He wants to strengthen us. His attention on His children is like that of a parent cheering in the stands. God's focus says, You can do it! So how do we become a woman fully committed to Him? Not by pretending we have no fear, relying on our own strength, or by striving to be perfect. We sit at His feet and worship and adore Him, thanking Him for the blessings in our lives. We pour out our hearts in confession to the Lord, read His word and obey His commands. Then our hearts will be knit with His, and we will be women fully committed to Him. When God's eyes search the whole earth, they'll stop on us, He'll nod His head, and He'll say, "They're the ones". "Dear Lord, I want to be a woman fully committed to You. I pray that all my decisions and actions will lead me closer to You, Lord. Search me and know me, and if there's anything keeping me from being fully committed to You, let me be willing to lay that down. In Jesus' Name, Amen." 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 ========================================================== / _, ,_ M\M"_,, `"MMMMMm._ `/MMMMMMP^^", MPTMMM`M `-. .'" MMMm "=, `.`"-. .' / S _"^M :Ww. \ `-. .-' .: ".wW\.; :WP^; `-. `-. .-' .-'/ \ :^WP: ; `--' ;\ `-. `. .-' .-' / /; `..' ; \`. `-. \ / .-' .' / ; .-";`"""--5..`-. `-.\ / .' .-' / | .' ; r`) `-. \\ ; / .-' .-' ;_/ ; _ ; `. \; |' .' .' ( _ _ : `-' :\ `./ `-' / .-r-.`Y `-' : / ; ; .-7" `.`7. | .' | : ' ; ; `--..__.'-""/ ;\ \ ,| | | ..--",-' : ; _ _.7`,_J- ; : ;, _,': /; ; _ .' `--.`-.`-'_.-| `. |/ : .'/ : ; | |`". _.-".+. :`"-. `--`"" ,_: `'7 /.-. ; | / | : 7",' ." | : \ : `-. / ;' / | | `--\ /4 ' / .' ; `. ; \ :`"\ .< ; : _.7 ' `. / /.' \ `.___.-"> ;_/ :---"\ `. ' `.-.. `"--' / fsc `.___..--"/ _mMMMm,.' `-.`-.._ ) `"--. .' `---'"mMMMMMMMMm,_ `-----' `"" `" "^`^MMMP^^mm, >-->THE QUITTER Fate handed the quitter a bump, and he dropped; The road seemed too rough to go, so he stopped. He thought of his hurt, and there came to his mind The easier path he was leaving behind. Oh, it's all much too hard, said the quitter right then; I'll stop where I am and not try it again. He sat by the road and he made up his tale To tell when men asked why he happened to fail. A thousand excuses flew up to his tongue, And these on the thread of his story he strung, But the truth of the matter he didn't admit; He never once said, I was frightened and quit. Whenever the quitter sits down by the road And drops from the struggle to lighten his load, He can always recall to his own peace of mind A string of excuses for falling behind; But somehow or other he can't think of one Good reason for battling and going right on. Oh, when the bump comes and fate hands you a jar, Don't baby yourself, boy, whoever you are; Don't pity yourself and talk over your woes; Don't think up excuses for dodging the blows. But stick to the battle and see the thing through. And don't be a quitter, whatever you do. - Edgar A. Guest -<>- __ ( y--. .=-. \_\/_,' / | --("))))))= __|__ | / < > > `\ .=-. .-' `-:._.-. | | / \' / | .\_. | | | ,- `(\|.--. .' \ . / \ / `'| ),' `-\_/ |` ` (\ `-'| / \ ' ; .' \ , /\ .' \ '`-.___.-> \ .> \ /\\ `---'| `. -' || `-..-' hjw .=`-....___ || / _.-`--=._ `----.___// \.' _.-'-.`-. `----' '\ ;' \ ; _.'`-. .' / ___ ' _.-'`. / / ,' , `-._ _.-| / /.--\ \ `._ __.---' `./ | \' \ `. `._.-' `. ``. | | `. d8oooo._\_ `. \ /\ / 988888888b. `. \ /::`-.__.'\ 688888888888b : | ___ |::::::::::\ "d8b""888888, ; |`-. .' _`. |::::::::::::. 8888888 | `. / .::::\ |::::::::::::::. /888888' / / /:::::| \:::::::::::::::.._ .' d88888 ___ .' | |:::::| `:::::::::::::::::"--.' `88888`. .-' _`._ |:::::| `::::::::::::::::-' d8889 `/ ,.::.\`-.__ |:::::/ `::::::::::;'`-._ `"' / /:::::| `-. \:::;' ``''''' `-._ /::::::| `-`"' `-._ |:::::::/ `-._ |::::::/ `. \:::;' `--`"' >-->God's Handiwork I love to wander through the woods, and see the handiwork of God, Displayed in colors bright and gay, with evergreen and goldenrod. In times like these how could man say "there is no God who made the world?" With beauty brimming everywhere, we can't deny God's power unfurled. And so I leave my busy day, with care strewn paths left still untrod; And use these moments sacredly, to reacquaint myself with God - Bill Van Sickle >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 ************************************************************************