God's Law... :) 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! 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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! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for -- perfection is God's business. -- Michael J. Fox _____ (((\\\\\ )_ \\\| / \\|\/ \\( ), & \) ( (( |` \\ ))) _ | \` __| ` | , \ ` , \ | \ ,\ , \ ' \/ \_ \/ \ `_,`-._ ` \ ejm / `-. _ \ ` / ,`. \ === / '== =`. | ==== / | === ` / /========= / | / , /______| / , ======== __-' | = === / ,======= ' - -- ( \ \ \ ` \ ` \ ` \_____ \ / ` _/ / '-- ' >HAUNTING ME by Joseph Walker To the frightened boy I saw in the news photograph: Please forgive me for writing to you this way. I know it's sort of cold and impersonal. There isn't much of a chance that you will ever see this. But it's the only way I know to try to reach you, and to tell you that... well, I don't even know what to tell you. I saw your photograph on the Internet this evening. You were sitting there in Baghdad with your parents -- at least, I assume them to be your parents. With all my heart, I hope they are your parents. They look concerned and angry. I can understand that. I would be concerned and angry too if the city in which I live was being systematically destroyed. But it is the look in your young eyes that is haunting me tonight. You can't be more than 11 -- the same age as my son, Jon, who is sleeping safely upstairs in his bed as I write this. But those eyes have seen things during the past few weeks that no child's eyes ought to see. And I can see that it is wearing on you. The redness of your eyes, and the unmistakable look of fear as you peer directly into the camera has forced me to try to reach out to you -- somehow, some way. I wish I could explain why all of this is happening to you and to your family. Then again, maybe it's just as well that we don't even go there. No matter what I say, it can't explain the near-constant pounding of the bombardment you have already endured, or the pain of loved ones lost, or the terror of not knowing from one moment to the next what the future will hold for you, your family and your country. I guess the only thing we can say is we both live in countries where those who are in charge make certain decisions, and those decisions sometimes have a way of making life miserable for innocent people who had absolutely nothing to do with making them. So the leaders of your country have made decisions and the leaders of my country have made decisions, and the result of all those decisions is a bunch of bombs dropping on your city and changing your life forever. There are those around the world who think that those changes will ultimately be for your good. That's probably sort of difficult to imagine at this point, and I'm pretty sure that thought doesn't give you much comfort. Promises of a better "someday" don't mean much when "today" is filled with the sights, sounds and smells of war. Especially when those promises are coming from the same people who are bombing the life out of you. My guess is you've been told that we're pretty awful over on this side of the world. From the look in your eyes I'm thinking that would be hard to dispute. And to a certain extent, it's true. There are people here who are capable of horrifying things. There are people like that in your country, too, unfortunately. You probably already know that. But just as there are wonderful people who you know and love all around you, there are also people here who are capable of great goodness -- caring, compassionate people who will do everything in their power to help you and your family get back on your feet once all of this is over. Of course, I don't expect you to believe that. Not right now, anyway. But maybe you can tuck away in the back of your mind the hope that even if all of this fighting ends badly for the people who have been running your country, it may not turn out to be such a bad thing for you. Freedom -- real freedom -- is often painfully won. But it can be an incredible thing for those who are prepared to use it properly. I pray that it may be so for you and for your family. That's the only way any of this makes sense. And that's the only way the look in your eyes stops haunting me. -- Joseph Walker ___________________________________________ Joseph is a Heartwarmer Gem and nationally syndicated columnist. You can contact him by clicking here: mailto:valuespeak@earthlink.net --- _,. ___. . ____ ,._ --=:_ *: ======((|_L]_ \\ c:____]((=- :* _:=- - - - - `' (__(____) \\ / // ___ `' ,._ \\___. / // _/_/_]=== :* _:=-- ,. ___. _((|_L]_ _/ //_.(_(_)(_).. `' --=: *: ======((|_L]_ _/(__(\_ _)\_ /____\_\ `.... `' (__(____) cjr ...This was speaking of the horrors of war - it reminds me of seeing the small children after being gassed in Syria. Such horrors no child should have to experience - only evil and evil doers are always at the root of all suffering. We can look forward to Christ's Return to ultimately end all this suffering. President Donald Trump's textbook surgical strike sent the right message to Syria, Bashar Assad https://tinyurl.com/y89xs967 =========================================================== ___ /_ _\ ( - - ) __\ _ /__ / \_/ \ __ __/___________\__ //\\ | JUDGE |\ ___ (//\\) | R.T. Baldy || //\_\ _\__/_ | || (~O=O~) / \ | || \_-_/ / / \ \ | || / \|/ \ \_\ /_/ | ||_/_/___\_\__ (/____\) | | WITNESS |\ | _ _ | | | ||__| | |_____jro | | || | | | |________________|____________|/ |__|__| (__/ \__) ORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJ ORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJORJ __________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >-->God's Law by emb Here we go again. Yesterday, my son was reading up on Moses and the Pharaoh during the time he wouldn't free God's people. He was thinking that this was not the God he thought he knew. The plagues were devastating and cruel to all the people even ones he felt were innocents. Back in the old testament, the people lived under God's Law. This meant that they were given rules to live by and if they broke the rules or laws put forth by God, then they would automatically suffer the consequences. My old teacher in the Word used to define this as God having put up an invisible wall and people who went against his Laws would be like running their car at top speed into this wall. It was set in place and unmovable. It did not care who ran into it, they would all meet pretty much the same fate. God didn't have to do anything as His laws were enforced automatically. Think of it like warning your children not to play with the stove or the oven or with a electrical outlet or any other dangerous thing. You warn them it would be bad if they don't listen to you. Instead of obeying you, they break your rules and do what they want to and wind up getting burnt or worse. Are you as a parent evil for them going against you and not obeying you? Of course not. This was the Law. It was considered a curse... Gal.3 [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Slavery is not a new thing. It is what drove God to get Moses to help free His people... Exod.5: [1] And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh liked having the slaves and didn't want to free them so God had to take action. Back in the Old Testament days, slavery was by way of wars or battles or by purchase or by choice. Every 7 years, though, all Hebrew slaves according to God's Law were to be set free. Much was done on a work bondage sort of deal. People who wanted something that had no means to pay for it would become an indentured slave. Paying for whatever they wanted through working for whoever was giving it to them for a certain amount of time. Often they had their sons or daughters be slaves to work off their debt. But every 7 years, all Hebrew slaves were to be set free. Pharaoh didn't want to do that so he butted heads with God and ultimately paid the price. Deut.15: [1] At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. [2] And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD's release. [12] And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. [13] And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: [14] Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. [15] And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman [slave] in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. Notice He said over and over 'thou SHALT'? This is not conditional. This was an absolute. So this was God's Law. Everyone knew it. Pharaoh knew it and all the people holding slaves under Pharaoh knew it. They were simply snubbing their noses at God's Law because they did not want to give up their free labor. God is a most loving and caring God. He knew what the automatic punishments for keeping slaves beyond the 7 year limit were. That was why He got Moses to try and persuade the Pharaoh to let His people go. The longer they defiled God's Law, the worse it would get for him and all those keeping them. Remember the Wall? Like slamming your head into it over and over again. It was not pleasant or forgiving to go against God's Law back then. You can always follow the money. Even in the Old Testament, it was more profitable for them to keep the slaves than to let them go. So they made up excuses and the devil gave Pharaoh people who could simulate what Moses was doing to prove God sent him to warn him. So he kept refusing to obey the Law and he and his people kept suffering the consequences of breaking God's Law. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Today, we don't have God's Law in place. The Law has been fulfilled by Jesus so we are no longer ruled by it. Thank God! Jesus said... Matt.5 [17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Gal.3: [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: We live now under the age of God's Grace. Eph.2: [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of [from] God: But we still are under the age old law of Giving equals Receiving. Some people call this Karma. But God's invisible Law holds true. So what goes around comes around. Evil gets evil, good gets good sort of thing. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See these great Teachings: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/GIVING_EQUALS_RECEIVING.htm The Curse Of The Law http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/curseofthelaw.html The Bible and Civil Law http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/the-bible-and-civil-law Which Parts Of The Bible Are Written To You? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/whichparts.html =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: __________________________________________/ ------------------------------------------| | | |~~~~~~~~~~| | | | | *| *|Bless this|* |* | | |_____|_____| ~Home~ |______|______|____| _________ | _______ | | `| ((()) || || | |] ))- -(( ||_______|| |__________| ((\o/)) |_________| | | /\\_//\ |_==___==_| | |]__.-- //(_ _)\\ ____|_________| | |------ \\\ /// ----|oo o oo| | | | (// \\) *__|| _______ | | | | * /_____\ _*__||| || | | |_____| | | | __*__|||_______|| | |________ | | | __\___|_________| |__________| |_|_| \ (_) (_) Thank God For Dishwashers! >WASHING DISHES By: Joseph J. Mazzella A friend asked me the other day if I had an automatic dish washer. I smiled and said, "Nope! sometimes I forget to do them at all." The truth is I have washed a lot of dishes in my life. I have faced dried on, caked on, and burnt on food that my dogs wouldn’t even touch. I have scrubbed out pots and pans that needed a barrel’s worth of elbow grease to get clean. I have done dishes when the water pipes were froze and I had to carry in water from outside and heat it on the stove. I have even worked in a restaurant where I had to wash a year’s worth of dishes every single day. A full sink and an empty dish rack don’t scare me then. In fact, I find it peaceful slowly scrubbing away the crust and grime from my dishes, cups, pots, and pans. I sometimes even sing to myself while I wash them. It feels good looking at them when I am done and seeing them sparkling, clean, and ready to use. I only wish that getting the crust and grime off our hearts, souls, and minds was as easy. This world is always working to dry on its anger, cake on its prejudice, and burn on its hatred. Everyday it does its worst to fill our insides with its muck. After a while it is hard not to feel like a 10 foot tall stack of dirty dishes. Thankfully, though, we can all call in the best dishwasher in the universe: God. No matter how much filth this world throws at us when He washes us in His love and rinses us in His forgiveness we too come out sparkling, clean, and ready to use. He is always ready to step up to the sink too. We just have to let Him. The next time you are washing your own dishes then allow God’s love, peace, and forgiveness wash over you too. The next time you are drying your pots and pans allow God to dry your tears as well. You don’t have to go through life feeling like a dirty dish, not when God’s love and joy can make you sparkle and shine. --- ...What a sweet analogy! Gotta love Jesus Christ! He makes us shine! Matt.5: [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. John.8: [12] Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 9: [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. I was without a dishwasher for such a long time, I won't live without one - Hey, I figure God gave us good things... James.1: [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. So, I will do as the bible tells me to do... Deut.26: [11a] And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house... A dishwasher is a good thing. It cleans the dishes so I am free to do other things to give God the Glory! Like share this with all you sweet God loving people! Gotta love our Father - He always knows best! :) -<>- _ |-| |~| |:| WINE AND CHEESE .'.'. / ::\ |_____| __ _ |:.:;.| <:__:> .-'o\ |_____| \ ::/ .o' O. o\ | ::| '..' |--o.--o--| | ;:| || |._._o_._.| \_____/ .''. '----' pjb >"THREE POWERFUL WORDS" A funny story is told about General George Patton from his World War II days. He once accepted an invitation to dine at a press camp in Africa. Wine was served in canteen cups but, obviously thinking he was served coffee, Patton poured cream into his cup. As he stirred in sugar, Patton was warned that his cup contained red wine and not coffee. Now, General Patton could never, never be wrong. Without hesitating he replied, "I know. I like my wine this way." And he drank it! I relate this story because I see something of myself, and perhaps most of us, here. It is difficult to admit mistakes. It is hard to admit when we are wrong. Three of life's most difficult words to say are, "I was wrong." But they are also three of the most powerful words we can utter. "I was wrong" breaks down barriers between people. It brings estranged people together. And it creates a climate where intimacy and love may flourish. You may be surprised at how positively many people respond to the words, "I was wrong"! Naturally, it is a risk. But to admit when you are wrong is not to confess that you are a "bad" person. Simply an honest one. And true friends will appreciate you for it. Whole and happy lives are built by people who have learned the power of intimacy, in part, through the use of the words "I was wrong." --From RICHES OF THE HEART, by Steve Goodier -<>- A king asked a sage to explain the Truth. In response the sage asked the king how he would convey the taste of a mango to someone who had never eaten anything sweet. No matter how hard the king tried, he could not adequately describe the flavor of the fruit, and, in frustration, he demanded of the sage "Tell me then, how would you describe it?" The sage picked up a mango and handed it to the king saying "This is very sweet. Try eating it!" -Hindu teaching story -<>- , , /(.-""-.)\ |\ \/ \/ /| | \ / =. .= \ / | \( \ o\/o / )/ \_, '-/ \-' ,_/ / \__/ \ \ \__/\__/ / I'm your worst nightmare! ___\ \|--|/ /___ /` \ / `\ jgs / '----' \ >Perfect Love Drives Out Fear by Jon Walker 1 John 4: [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [19] We love him, because he first loved us. There you are, driving to the grocery store. You re under the speed limit and following all the traffic laws, but then you notice a police car in your rearview mirror. The policeman isn't flashing his lights; he's not pursuing you; in a sense he's just like any other driver who might be following behind you down the road. But he's not just any driver. He's a police officer, and so you tense up. You start thinking: Am I going too fast? Am I wearing my seatbelt? Did I signal properly when I changed lanes? And then there's the fear you'll make a mistake right in front of the policeman. Now, the reality is that you've done nothing wrong, but the fear is there because no one is a perfect driver. He could pull you over for a variety of minor violations. When fear enters any situation, we become defensive and less trusting. We focus on fairness and on protecting our rights. Consider what happens when someone brings fear into your environment perhaps a fellow employee, perhaps a boss, maybe a family member or a friend. Their fear shows up as criticism, defensiveness, or manipulation, and it soon infects nearly everyone, pushing them toward self-protection toward reactive decisions instead of thoughtful responses. On the other hand, the environment also can change when someone shows up with an outpouring of God's love. Love shows up as encouragement, as positive interactions. Because criticism is constructive, it is easier to receive. You know you are loved, so you know your mistakes and imperfections will not lead to your being rejected or labeled a loser. You're less concerned about fairness because you know this loving person is looking out for your best interests, and as the environment becomes drenched in love, you begin to understand that everyone is looking out for your best interests. The more you trust, the less you fear, and eventually this pure love you might say perfect love drives out your fears. This is the essence of the apostle Paul's words: There is no fear in love . (1 John 4:18) We are forgiven. We are loved by God, and we can rest in that truth. We can allow that truth to spread from our hearts to our hands, in service. Knowing that God is always loving us gives us the trust, the confidence, the faith to believe that God is working all things out for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) We can approach God's throne of grace boldly. (Hebrews 4:16) Here is what I believe Paul is teaching: If you walk in fear, you're trying to control life, rather than trusting in God's love and letting him control you. Look through your fear and focus on God instead. The thing is, if you have fear, you may be the person who brings fear into the room. Because you are less trusting, because you fear doing wrong, you may spark the fire of fear. If you fear others will take advantage, you will work to gain your own advantage. Paul says, The one who fears has not reached perfection in love. But perfection in love doesn't start with us we can t work ourselves up to perfect love. Perfect love starts with God: We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 HCSB) As we seek to be spiritually mature, it is God's love that drives the fear from us. Then it is his love within us when we trust his love for us that moves us to love others. What does this mean? Give God your fears When you fear, tell God about your them. In other words, don't nurse your fears or use them to justify fear-driven actions. Instead, go to God with your fears. Ask him to show you the root of your fears, and then ask him to work within you to remove the whole fear-tree roots and all. ("I believe; help my unbelief.") Let God develop perfect love in you Accept and respond to God's perfect love for you. How would your life change if you were no longer controlled or motivated by your fears? Ask God to fill you with his love and to love other through you. ("I can't; God can.") Pray for those who fear When you see someone showing their fear through defensiveness, control, manipulation, gossip, or other such behaviors, pray for them. Pray they will allow God to drive away their fears, that they will receive and accept the perfect love of God, and, with that love within them, that they will begin to act in faith and not fear. Pray for our police officers Lest anyone misunderstand my illustration about a policeman in the rearview mirror, these men and woman put their lives on the line constantly in order to protect and serve us. They are ministers of God, in that they maintain the peace. Pray for them and their protection, that they will be drenched with the perfect love of God. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com . --- ...Keep in mind that 'fear' is believing. Howbeit negatively. Believing = Receiving so by your own fear, you might do as Job did: Job.3: [25] For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Always remember, there is no fear in love. If you are believing and trusting God - who is love - then you should have No Fear... Pss.23: [4a] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; -<>- _..---.._ .' .-'''-. '. / .' _..._'. \ __ : : /`;' ) : : _,="`\ ,--''` ``'.; : |; ,-; : ; __..==""==.,_| `-, `; .\; / ^\ _,.="// '-,_.--._ '.(;_.'__/`_.-'`\ ,.--''`` _..=. `'--.// `` \ `--, '` `- |_\ '-. | `-._ _.;--`-..___,.-'` `'-...-_:',;`==,| \ _.--',=" / /"=;="=, _.' ,=".-'` .' /| ,=" _.--' .-' "=, : .' | ", `;._ .--'.' .-' .' . ; ,;;\_ . '._.'--'` -' / ,;;;._ '-._ .''.__.' `\_ .' '._ / '._ .(` jgs '._ ';./ `;` >Our Unique Call So many terrible things happen every day that we start wondering whether the few things we do ourselves make any sense. When people are starving only a few thousand miles away, when wars are raging close to our borders, when countless people in our own cities have no homes to live in, our own activities look futile. Such considerations, however, can paralyze us and depress us. Here the word call becomes important. We are not called to save the world, solve all problems, and help all people. But we each have our own unique call, in our families, in our work, in our world. We have to keep asking God to help us see clearly what our call is and to give us the strength to live out that call with trust. Then we will discover that our faithfulness to a small task is the most healing response to the illnesses of our time. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Our Valuable anchor http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html For The Joy That Was Set Before Him http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/joy.html Never Give Up! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Akiane Child Prodigy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Taking A Cat Bath!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catbath.html Taking A Catnap 2!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catnap2.html God's Water Paintings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Life's Little Oops 13!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops13.html USA Of Crazy Laws!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/uscrazylaws.html Real Fantasy Trees 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees2.html Aww Animals 4! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals4.html Disney Character Bushes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/disneybush.html Giant Catfish! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giantcfish.html Humor In Religion 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hreligion3.html Lion Cub Rescue! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lionrescue.html Maxine Humor http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxinehumor.html Sweet Wooden Car http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodcar.html Willis (Sears) Tower http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/willist.html Maria The Goose http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Amazing Homes Around The World! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ahouse.html God's spring Paintings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gspring.html -<>- >Please Visit/Follow Me On StumbleUpon: https://tinyurl.com/y8vqgf6t Some of Shangrala's Best Pages http://www.amazfamily.com/index.html -<>- A Quick Reference to the Books of the Bible https://tinyurl.com/y84o98rj Enjoying the Bible https://tinyurl.com/y8uzhcgu What does the Bible say about Salvation? https://tinyurl.com/ya2cs8ep Social Security - What You Can Do Online https://tinyurl.com/yd3awg3m WhiteHouseNews: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ 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 Fran :) A New Day https://www.youtube.com/embed/SN5c-m45fxs --- ...So sweet! Thanks Fran! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) If you've flown anywhere recently, you probably took a very large commercial plane. It may not have been the most comfortable experience, with little legroom and tiny snacks, but compared to previous aircraft designs, today's large jets are luxurious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwrIf_5gEEM --- ...Super! Thanks LouiseAu! Revisiting... >From Our Friend Jo Ann :) Info Please! Year by Year worthwhile events. What was happening in your birth year? http://www.infoplease.com/yearbyyear.html --- ...Great! Thanks Jo Ann! -<>- >From Our Friend Wesley :) Motion Math - Game! http://motionmathgames.com/motion-math-hungry-fish/ --- ...FUN one! Thanks Wesley! 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 :) >Quotes Life is a gift, Freedom is a responsibility. -Unknown Sadly, disappointment can be the ruin of great ideas. -Unknown Some people give up too easily on their hopes and dreams because they wrongly interpret disappointments as road closed signs. -Unknown -<>- _|_ | .-'''''-. .-' '-. .-' :::::_::::: '-. ___/ ==:...:::-:::...:== \___ /_____________________________\ ':'-._________________________.-'_ ':::\ @-,`-[-][-^-][-]-`,-@ / _| |_ '::| .-------------------. ||_ @ _| ::|=|* ___ _ ___ *|=|'.| | ':| |' ))_) )) ))_) '| |::.^| _:|=|' ((`\ (( (( '|=|::::::. _| || |' _ '| |:::::::. |_ |=|'1634 _( )_ 1789'|=|':::::. | || |' ( (_ ~ _) ) '| | ':::' |^||=|* ) (_) ( *|=| '::' | '-------------------' .::::' |_____________________.::::::' .'___________________.::::::'' |_______________.::::'':::''' .'_____________.::::::''::::'' .:::'''' LGB .'::::' .:::::''':. .:::::' >Story Time... In January 2009, my cousin Jean and her husband Tommy came to Virginia to see the headstones that had been put up to honor the graves of her parents who had passed away Tommy also lost his mother during that time. It was a tough, but their love for one another and faith pulled them through. In our family, my paternal grandmother was a praying woman. She was a widow at a young age, I knew what drove her to her knees and why she prayed all the time. She was clearly at the helm of her family and prayer was passed down to all of us because of her faith. The three of us decided to go Blackstone. When we arrived at the cemetery, there was no one but us. As we pulled into the parking lot, we could feel the tears. It's a reminder that our loved ones are no longer with us. We walked to her father's grave and admired the headstone. When we went to her mother's grave, we admired the headstone and she asked me to pray. I noticed an unfamiliar car as it passed the cemetery. It made a turn into the cemetery. I couldn't make out who it was. She eased her car toward a grave closest to the road. Maybe she lost her husband, I thought. Slowly the door opened. I continued to watch. She seemed unaware that we were there, even though our car was parked near hers. She had parked right at the headstone. She stood up and took just three steps. She quickly went down on one knee and grabbed the headstone as if it were to break her fall. But did not fall. She bowed her head and laid it on the headstone. Her quiet sob was muffled. It is a picture I will always remember. I was so moved by her sorrow. "I'm sorry" I said. "I don't mean to disturb you. I thought you were one of the ladies that lived on this road." "No, I'm Bertha Goode," she told me. "I've come to see my sister Doris today. I miss her so very much. We were so close." I read the headstone which said August 2007. She said she just celebrated her 79th birthday and she was the only sister left but she was now alone without a husband, missing her sister, and wondering how much time she had left. "I'd love to give you a hug today, if that would be all right", I said. She reached her arms up to me and I reached down to her. I asked God to please send whatever it was she needed that day. I thought of how it might feel to lose a sister. What was Mrs. Goode feeling that day that made her drive to the cemetery on a week day and almost collapse as she cradled the headstone of her sister? Whatever it was, I knew that God had us in the cemetery on that day. Even though we went for one purpose, God felt that someone would also be there for Mrs. Goode. As I walked away, I realized that I had been a small part of a miracle. He had me in the right place at the right time. He gave me a little nudge to go over and see about her. And through my arms and my heart, God was able to give her the love and hug through a human being that she went to the headstone, made of marble to receive. Everyday there is a miracle! -Sharmaine Hobbs --- ...So heartwarming! Thanks Fran! ========================================================== .::\)`:`, .:;\/~`\``;) ,.~-----, ;;==`_ ~:;( ,,~{*}\~~--,.`. ;:== 6 6;;) ,(((((({*});~~. .\ ;;C } )' (('`)))~({*}) . \ .\ :;` `--'; >6 6`({*}))) . \~~ | `____/ ( { ))())) . .`, ____._| |_____. `--' (((())) . | / \ \__ _| | \ `-- )))))) . .| | ) \/\/\_{@} | ,-| ((((((( . | | \_ \ \ | / | / | / ))))))) .| | |\ : \ |/ | Y | (/*@@*( ' ` ) . | \ \ \_\/_/ | | / */ \ \'/ /. | \ \ |o | | \. \ |'@'| .| \ \ | ; ,'--,.,.,., \ ~*@*~. . | \ \_________._--`((,:{@}.:))_\ |~@~| . | \ ' | ((,{@}:{@}.))-----' ;/\ (, \._____________`-__((;,{@},:))_________/|{ | . ; | | | `';{@},) /`-----'\ |. | | .__/\__ | `{@};,; / / | \ \ \/ .| | / :; \ | `(@))\ / \. . | | /! | \| ';; ))_/`-'/`_`., \. | | | ! | | ';(( | | ! `_ \ .| | | ! | | )) | | ! |.\_| | |/ ! | | (/ | | ! | . | | ! | | | | ! |~~~~' >A Generous Change of Plans Story Editor: by Linda Gavitt Joyce Schowalter Connecticut, USA In January 1999 planning for my daughter's wedding began with a phone call telling me she and John would marry in March -- leaving little time to plan! Fortunately Lauren wanted a small wedding with 20-30 close friends and relatives. She was in Orlando, Florida, John was stationed in Kentucky, and I was in Connecticut. Her finance's family generously offered their help to plan everything, and their Tampa area home for the reception. I obtained vacation time to attend, but I was my 84-year-old mother's primary caregiver. She had many health issues, and lived in a house near mine. I worried about leaving her alone for 11 or 12 days. I searched for people to check up on Mom or stay with her, but she was uncooperative and didn't want a stranger in her home. While I understood that, it left me with a major problem. I tried to put that aside as I helped with wedding plans as much as possible by phone. We didn't invite my family members to the wedding because of the short notice and the distant location. As the date for Lauren's wedding approached, I arranged for care for my cats, bought my airline ticket, arranged a rental car and bought a dress -- but still had no solution to the problem of my mother being alone. One evening my sister Joan, who lived in South Carolina, called to say she would come to the wedding. She wanted Lauren to have family members present at this significant event in her life. I was surprised and a little worried about adding more people, but gave her the details about dates, and locations. In addition, we'd had problems with finding a hotel because the men's college basketball playoffs were in town at the same time. Joan said she'd start making arrangements to fly or drive to Florida. We began talking about Mom, and I broke down and cried because I was so worried about her staying alone. Joan kept saying Mom would be OK, but I wasn't convinced, because this trip was so long. But we said goodnight and left it at that. About three days later Joan called to say she had a better idea. She would go to our mother's house and stay with her while I was at Lauren's wedding. Of course I cried with surprise and delight. She would arrive two days after I left Connecticut, and leave two days before I returned. Thus my mother would only be alone for a total of four days, and in just two-day increments. I went to Lauren's wedding with a free mind and heart, and enjoyed the days I spent with her in Florida. For that very important day in my and my daughter's life, I will never forget the gift of peace of mind my sister gave me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "Jesus Christ is God's everything for man's total need." - Richard C. Halverson The Lift , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Livin' With the Fear No More (By Chris Long) Back before I truly gave my heart to Jesus and asked Him to be my Savior and Lord in July 1995, I had quite a number of fears. But there was one that stands out among all the others - the fear of death. The Lord was reminding me of this today as I pondered some songs I had written in that seemingly long-ago year of 1995 when I was 14-15 years old. One of those songs was called "Livin' With the Fear" and its chorus went something like this: "Livin' with the fear, everynight, everynight Livin' with the fear Livin' with the fear, everynight, everynight Livin' with the fear Cause you never know when the day will come, the day when you will die. Yes you never know when the day will come, the day when you will die" This was written in late January 1995. I can remember pondering death and feeling scared and hopeless about it. This song put that fear into clear and concise words, no? It honestly terrified me and I remember telling myself just not to think about it. The easiest thing to do was just to avoid thinking about it. I suspect this is the same approach that many people still take. But you know, a funny thing happened. In early July of that same year, I truly surrendered to the Lord. In my case, it wasn't anything "showy" by human terms - it was just me and the Lord in my garage. But after working through some big questions I had about God ("why do bad things happen?" etc.) I came to the place where I made the choice to choose Jesus Christ. I realized I was a sinner and needed a Savior - and that God had provided such a Savior for me. I placed my faith in Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sins and to make me right with God. I won't say that I instantly felt massively different, but I was different and knew it. Once I surrendered to God, His peace came into my life and manifested itself by transforming several areas of my outward behavior. In literally only a few months, I was a very different person to most anybody that was looking. Romans 5:1-2 says: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (NIV) Besides transforming behavior, this peace transformed my thinking. One of the key things that changed was that I suddenly realized several months later that I didn't fear death any more! I thought to myself, "you know Chris, you should change that song you wrote earlier." And so I did. I re-wrote the song in late November 1995 - the new chorus went like this: "Livin' with the fear, no more, no more Livin' without that fear Livin' with the fear, no more, no more Livin' without that fear But you never know when the day will come, the day when you will die. just let the Lord into your life, leave your worries behind" Now, yes, I realize that at first glance these words appear a little simplistic. We know that just because we accept Jesus, it doesn't mean that our life becomes perfect. But we ARE to leave our worries behind - as a child of God, we are to leave our worries at the cross. We are not to worry but instead to trust God. And this is no more pertinent then with the issue of death. See, I had good reason to fear death before I surrendered to God. Really, I did. We are held accountable for what we do with Jesus and had I died knowing about Jesus and what He did for me, but unwilling to place my faith in, and surrender to, Him, I would have had a horrible eternal future to look forward to. No-one really told me all this - nobody told me much about hell. I was largely taught the opposite with my upbringing being in a Christian denomination who believes that all who are baptized as infants, as I was, are automatic "children of God" and going to Heaven. (sidenote because I know someone is thinking it: this is a separate issue from infants that die - I'm not addressing that in this article) But no amounts of theology like this - no matter how great it sounded on paper - could keep me from what I innately knew - even as a 15-year-old. I feared death because I innately knew deep-down inside that I was not right with God because I had not chosen to admit my sin and put my faith in Christ. Even with my very limited knowledge at the time, I knew that the Scriptures didn't teach an "automatic salvation," but rather a salvation based on faith. I mean, even John 3:16 lays that one out pretty clearly. I certainly didn't understand any of this nearly like I do now, but I understood enough and in simple faith, humbled myself before God. And God met me in that simple faith and came to reside in me. But before that happened, I definitely had reason to fear. It WAS terrifying. It would have been horrible. A future in darkness with "weeping and gnashing of teeth" doesn't sound so enticing, you know what I mean? Again, I don't think I consciously realized all this at the time - I was just thinking of fearing the process or method of dying, etc. But really I had good reason to fear - beyond what I could even comprehend at the time. But what a difference 10 months makes! You see, I wrote that first song on January 26, 1995 and I wrote the second song on November 20, 1995. Basically 10 months. And you know what event was right about in the middle? You guessed it - my surrendering and placing my faith in Jesus Christ. It was basically 5 months prior to that event that I wrote the first song and it was basically 5 months after that event that I wrote the second song. This little tidbit blew me away when the Lord showed me that today. It's funny how the Lord works, you know? Even as a believer though, there have been times when I've let fear get the better of me, even with this whole issue of death. I suspect maybe you have too. But the truth is that as believers we have absolutely nothing to fear at all. If God is our Father (and He IS), and if this is the same God who made the universe and made us (and He IS), and if this is the God that has given us His promise that those who have faith in His Son will have everlasting life with Him, then we have NOTHING to fear. Indeed, in Romans 8:15-16, Paul tells us: "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (NIV) We are not to be slaves of fear - death or otherwise. If you've placed your faith in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins and have consciously chosen Christ, the Spirit Himself dwells in you and confirms to you that you are His and are sealed by Him. Leave the worrying to those outside of Christ. They SHOULD worry. They SHOULD be afraid. Perhaps that fear and worry will, like me, help them to become more open to learning about how they can be set free from all that by humbling themselves before the very God that made them. But as blood-bought, redeemed children of God, we have absolutely nothing to fear - and worry should be a thing of the past. The King has set us free. The King has declared us righteous. No matter what the future may hold here on this planet and the exact methodology by which we will die, it matters not because this is all passing away anyway. This body is just our shell - how it goes is of little importance. Our spirit lives on. We're going to see the King and we will be with Him forever and ever. Hallelujah!!!! What else really matters? "Livin' With the Fear No More!" Is that your cry today? If not, you can make it so right now: "Dear Lord, Forgive me for my fear and worry. I know that everything is in Your hands, including my life. You are the Lord over all and that includes my body. Help me to live as the free and redeemed child that you have made me. Help me to live with no fear and wholly trust You with everything that is happening or may happen in the future. Please remove all fear now from my life. Thank you for dying for me and paying my sin debt that I could never pay. I love you Jesus. Amen." With Christ's love, Chris Long Laugh & Lift ministries http://www.laughandlift.com ----- This article is Copyright by Chris Long 2009. You may use this article for free for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as you use the entire text and that all text, including this notice, is not modified or removed in any fashion. For any other usage, you must obtain written permission from the author. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. 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 ========================================================== _.--._ \ ** / (<>) . ) ( . )\_.._/ /\ \_.._/( (*_<>_ _<>_*) )/ '' \ \/ / '' \( ' ) ( ' ( ) ) ( (<>) / ** \ /.-..-.\ >-->An Easter Prayer God, give us eyes to see the beauty of the Spring, And to behold Your majesty in every living thing. And may we see in lacy leaves and every budding flower The Hand that rules the universe with gentleness and power. And may this Easter grandeur that Spring lavishly imparts Awaken faded flowers of faith lying dormant in our hearts. And give us ears to hear, dear God, the Springtime song of birds With messages more meaningful than man's often empty words. Telling harried human beings who are lost in dark despair 'Be like us and do not worry for God has you in His care.' 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