Praying, Praying... :) Shangy! >-->Praying, Praying, !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| and More Praying... `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ It's the new year and with it come resolutions and promises. Normally we ask God to help us keep our new year resolutions and promises. Or do we? Perhaps that is why most people wind up giving up on their new year goals. Maybe we should remember we can't always go it alone. Maybe we should remember we got a great big wonderful God and He can help us if we first and foremost... ASK! >Here is a great teaching from CES: Just Ask! Ask the Lord; he desires to give us good things! By Carolyn Pais If Jesus Christ walked up to you and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” What would you say? This question, as well as others, came into my mind as I was reading Matthew. Matthew 20:29-34 (29) As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. (30) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (31) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (32) Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. (33) “Lord,” they answered, “We want our sight.” (34) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” My first questions were: What was up with that crowd? Why would they tell the blind men to shut up? They obviously had their reasons, but were they good reasons? My question to you is: What reasoning tells you to be quiet, to not ask for help? Maybe you don’t feel you deserve the help, or perhaps you think you can handle the problem on your own. Perhaps it’s the crowd saying the erroneous belief that: “It’s the sovereignty of God, and He has a reason for you being sick, out of work, lonely…” Or possibly you don’t think you can ask for help because you caused your problem. You’ve made mistakes in parenting or perhaps your health is failing because you’ve never eaten properly. I think there are a slew of reasons for not asking; in fact, I’m sure one of the Devil’s major objectives is to keep us from asking. Instead of listening to the crowd and shutting up, these two men yelled louder! Sometimes we all need to be bolder, firmer and yes, louder against the voices in our heads of condemnation, pride, or public opinion. We need to simply ask with confidence that our lord hears and cares. In Matthews 7:7a, Jesus tells us to “Ask and it will be given to you…” Jesus compared our heavenly Father with an earthly father and goes on to say: Matthew 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” My next question was: What’s good? James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” “Wrong motives,” that’s not good. James 1:5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” “Wisdom,” now that’s good! James 5:15 gives us two more “good” things to ask for, healing and forgiveness. A “prayer offered in faith will make a sick person well…If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “…approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” It’s not always about our tough circumstances disappearing, but it’s about having divine intervention: strength, patience, peace, and love, to get through them. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Jesus told Paul “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness….” When we have a need that we by our power can’t control, and we ask for help, that’s when we get to see the power of Christ at work in us. To see our circumstances transformed by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is a good thing! As I continued reading in Matthew 7:11 about how our “…Father in heaven give[s] good gifts to those who ask him!” I came across the next verse, which disturbed me. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you….” Wait a minute—where do “others” fit in? I thought we were talking about me. In John 15:16 and 17, the same scenario takes place: “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” I realized that what our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven want is for us to bear good fruit. When we’re walking in the strength of our Lord, we can be his resource in taking care of others’ needs. In other words, we could be his answer to their prayers. That’s good fruit! Our giving can help others, our words can encourage others, our light can dispel darkness and help people see and know Christ. In John 15:11 and 12 Jesus explains: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete…Love each other as I have loved you.” Yes, Jesus cares about our personal needs, but he knows that when we are about loving others we then can experience his joy. I’ve noticed also that when I’m caring for others, I’m not stewing about my problems, which, by the way, doesn’t help matters. I think we all know people who only think about themselves. They focus on their needs and their feelings, and most of the time they are miserable. I recently was at a memorial service in which the pastor opened up with a humorous quip. “Live your life so that your pastor doesn’t have to lie at your funeral service.” Then he proceeded to share about two kinds of people, givers and takers. The man who passed away was a simple, quiet man who was a giver, and everybody in the room, hundreds of people, had been affected by his encouraging words, caring nature, and generosity. I realized that to be a giver, a lover of others, you didn’t need to have a special personality, a lot of talent or a lot of money. You just need to care and to decide to give, to decide to listen and decide to ask our Lord for help in caring for others. So back to where we started: two men answering the simple question that Jesus asked. “What do you want me to do for you?” Their answer: We want our need to be met. “We want our sight.” Jesus touched their eyes and immediately they received their sight, but the best part comes next. “They followed him.” The best part, the most fruitful part of our lives will come when we follow Jesus. Yes, many of our prayers will be, “Help me, Lord.” We need his help so that we can follow in his footsteps and be his source of help for others, bearing fruit that lasts. So my final question is: What would you like God & Jesus to do for you? Go ahead, ask! >From TruthOrTradition: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=665 ASK Vist here for more Prayer Teachings: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=21 Prayer ======================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: UNANSWERED PRAYER The promise in the Bible that states God will hear our prayers and give us anything we ask (Matthew 7:7) sometimes seems like a terrible hoax. Haven't you prayed with all your might and in complete confidence to the Lord for something, yet nothing ever happens? Probably every Christian has. There Are Reasons That God Sometimes Lets Our Prayers Go Unanswered. The most important thing to remember when claiming a promise from God is that no single passage of Scripture stands alone (1 Peter 1:20). Sometimes a Bible passage records truths to a group of people that had not previously been known, and these truths are given strong emphasis without bringing up every other truth relating to that subject. It is our responsibility and duty to study the Bible so that we can interpret any truth with other previously revealed teachings. (1Corinthians 2:13) The following reasons that prayers go unanswered are taken from the Bible. I encourage you to look up each verse. Before we give up on praying or accuse God of lying to us, let's see if there are areas of misunderstanding we can clear up, and discover possible changes we need to make that will allow God to answer our prayers, according to His will. This list is not arranged by importance or by the oldest Scriptural reference. I hope it serves to bring you closer to the Lord in prayer. (A) Selfish Reasons for Asking. Not caring if our request is in the best interest of others in our lives, or according to God's will. (James 4:3; Deuteronomy 23:5) (B) Against God's Will. He has other plans. (2 Corinthians 12:8,9; Deuteronomy 3:24-27) (C) Un-confessed Sin We Keep Repeating. Sin breaks our fellowship with God. (Psalms 66:18; James 1:6,7; 1Peter 3:7; Proverbs 28:9) (D) Prayers That Are Only A Ritual. Going through the motions is not acceptable with God. (Matthew 6:7,8) (E) God Knows What We Ask For Would Hurt Us If He Gave It (Exodus 23:29,30). (F) The Prayer Has Already Been Answered, But We Want An Easier Way (Joshua 7:10; Exodus 14:15). (G) The Answer Is Not Coming On Our Time Schedule. God hasn't said "no" just because He says, "wait." (Jeremiah 42:7; John Ch.11) Asking for what we want from God and expecting to get exactly what we have requested is almost the same thing as sitting on Santa's lap and reading to him our wish list. It's approaching God as though He is a genie in our private bottle. The Lord's Prayer from the Garden just before His arrest (Matthew 26:39-56) is the model for prayer when we are facing hardship, finding it terrifying to face the things we must, when we hope there is another way, and we are in a time of personal need. His acceptance of God's answer to His prayer is our model to follow. God's will in our prayer life is that our desires, wants, wishes, and needs will be surrendered to Him. If our God is the same God that Jesus revealed to the world, He can be trusted, believed, and honored. If we do not try to manipulate God as we often do people, if we understand that our prayers are filtered by God's own perfect standards, if we live life to please God above ourselves, and if we turn away from our sins toward the Father, He will answer our prayers according to His perfect and complete wisdom. Prayer requires faith. Faith is taking God at His Word. It is not positive thinking, begging, or a muscle we exercise. The prayer of a Christian who lives in obedience to all he knows about the will of God will be heard. The answers such a Christian receives ought to be accepted and acted upon, and glory given to the Lord for expressing His will. No Christian is perfect, and God understands that we are weak. But God does not lower Himself to meet our expectations. He lifts us up to meet His. Rev. Jerry H. Miller By way of JoLene@Charter.net ======================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Tony in Australia :) >-->God the Promise Maker….. One of the things we all find when we ‘soak’ ourselves in the Word of God is that God is a “promise maker”. If we endure, if we ‘live out’ His word, we also find the God is a ‘promise-keeper’. The word of God, from start to finish is full of promise…but to who? We might ask…does He make the promises? Is it us? Is it just for those in ancient days? Is it just for the Jews? Lets see if we can find the answers through this study. I personally don’t profess to have all the answers but ‘who’ can? Not one of us, because there are still lots of things yet to be revealed. But in Faith, and an open minded attitude, let’s look at a few scriptures and see if we can make sense of them, I am sure we will…IF we study them.I am going to put the scriptures in ‘easy to read’ ways. I am not intending in any way to transgress what you read in your own Bibles, but personally, I use the Old and Trusted KJV. Let’s begin… You saw what I did to the Egyptians! And how I lifted you above the danger like an eagle lifts itself out of the eye of the storm! Now, all that I ask is that you OBEY my will, listen to me always and keep your eyes on me and not on the ‘world’ then you will see that I will treat you like a treasure! A SPECIAL treasure above all others, because I rule the world and you are a part of it. (Exodus 19 : 4-6) Note well here, that God is asking us to do something that isn’t all that hard! And He always gives us the tools and the methods to carry out His orders, His commands and His wishes and always! IF we are obedient to His will…..we are the winners! Notice also, that God always precedes a promise with a Command… He says DO this, and I will DO that.. some would call that ‘bargaining’ or deal making, but I personally see it as God saying, “Tony, if you will just give me ‘so much’ effort of your own free will, then I will do….so and so… He is NOT making deals! Why would He? He is God! And doesn’t need to ‘make deals’. But what He is trying to make us realize is that IF we follow HIS will, we can enjoy what Gods rewards are! YES!.....so immediately, our human minds want to know “ So God, what is it that you are going to give me? A new car? A new house perhaps? A better job?.... Well, all of these things are well within what God can do for us but about what HE wants from us? Well, let me tell you this….. God is not about to be ‘all over’ you! He’s not about to ‘get in your face!’ God my friends, will NEVER force Himself on you…not ever! Oh yes! He may try to get your attention in other ways..! He may ‘call’us and we may find Him reaching out to us, but we won’t find Him grabbing our arms and ‘pulling’ us along. That’s what WE would do in similar situations, but no..not God! He doesn’t pull nor push, He just lets us make up our own minds. God blesses us constantly..do you know that? Well, I guess there are those reading this find that somewhat difficult to believe! Well, that’s maybe because those people spend their time focusing on themselves and ‘worldy’ things rather than the God who loves them and just wants the best for them. I tell you in truth, if you start to value the things that God has blessed you with, that new boat, car, house or whatever… then your relationship with God will weaken! We HAVE to keep our focus outside of ourselves and our own desires! People LISTEN to me…. Whatever God chooses to allow us to have or to bless us with in this life is because He LOVES us and wants us to make the best of life on Planet Earth at least more bearable! But we should never let our selfishness take over from the Love we should have for God! WE should never go ONE day without thanking God and worshipping God with all our being! The very secret of ‘enjoying’ our lives is to ‘enjoy’ God and the only way we can do that, is to ‘please’ God! Amen!....Being a committed Christian, is being part of a two way “giving” relationship and the deeper we learn to Love God, the deeper the relationship gets! There are tests! There are examinations,but mainly, we just have to follow HIS ways and not so much those of ourselves.Your faithfulness is where the testing is, and we must be prepared for that. He gives us lessons though, before he ‘tests’ us and the one lesson that comes to mind to me is the parable of the men who were given ‘talents’ ( money) by their master.. One was given 5 talents and he improved on that by ‘trading’ them, the man who was given 2 talents also ‘doubled’ his investment but the one who ‘buried’ his money was chastised for his laziness and lack of obedience… So we are asked to read the Word and take notice of the lessons there are in the verses and then? Well we should find ourselves ‘learning’ about how God works and what he requires of us. The lesson being “ what you sow is what you reap”…What did the first two guys do that the third didn’t? they focused on their Lord! And he ‘minded’ them and rewarded them. The third man thought only of himself and ‘his’ possessions, he didn’t want to take a risk and maybe lose what he had and spiritually, the man was a weakling! Why did he think he stood the chance of being a loser? Well, because he had NO faith! No faith in his master and no faith in himself. He was a ‘loser’ from the onset! If we allow ourselves to be like the ‘third man’ and ‘bury’ what the Lord has blessed us with, then we are ‘lazy’ in our attitude and therefore will be lazy in our actions! All we will inherit is FEAR! Fear of losing that which was ‘given’ to us to use in a way that is profitable without being ‘selfish’. We have to stop ‘pandering’ to our own desires and then and only then, will we appreciate even the ‘little’ blessings that the Lord gives us, For some, it’s a complete life change and not always at the most convenient time of their lives! And for others it may be just a few ‘minor’ adjustments, but whichever category you fall into, its NOT too late! When God sees you walking His way, he will set your path and bring you home. In the book of Luke we read…., "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it". Jesus is telling us it may NEVER be easy to follow Him, but in the long run, if we do as Paul did and ‘finish the race’ with faith and endurance, then it will ALL be worth while. Br Tony End of part One -<>- Let Us Pray... ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) Father, We thank you for Your presence in our homes and in our lives. We thank You Lord for the things you have done, the things you are doing and the things we know you will do. WE offer our worship and praises for all that is good in our lives and we thank you for the knowledge that when we are weak, You are our strength. Lord, be with us always we pray, in our work and in our play. Help us Father, to think of others when we are feeling low, remind us that there are those who endure far more than we have to. Help us Lord, and guide us to bring the Word and the message of salvation to those who have not had that privilege. Let Your Holy Spirit loose in our lives that people might see your blessings on us and want the same blessings for themselves. Help us Lord to turn our hopes into reality, let us change the world and not allow the world to change us. Thank You Lord for the knowledge that You, the One who cares and nurtures even the sparrows in their ignorance, will always care for those who labour in Your vineyard and will reward those who diligently seek you. Lord, we know the days of this life and even this world are numbered, encourage us Father to be about Your business as well as our own. Turn hearts and minds Lord, that Your house will fill until the walls as well as the stones cry out! Minister Dear Sweet Jesus, to those who are hurt and ill, thriving and lacking, sad and ecstatic and hasten the day Lord of Your Second Coming.. Bless those Father, who would bless You... In Jesus Precious and Almighty Name… Amen Br Tony ========================================================================= >-->From Our Friend Becky :) ChickenSoupForTheSoul... Jesus Loves Me By Phyllis W. Zeno One day a beautiful, but very troubled little girl came through the door of my Day Nursery. From the very beginning I became captivated by this child who had so little but needed so much. I was heartbroken that a four-year-old could... Read more http://tinyurl.com/yz9sxs ========================================================================= >-->From Our Friend Bob :) This is so cute and so true! Hope all is going ok for you at present. "Happy New Year". | ,' `. EVER FEEL LIKE YOU ARE LOSING / \ /-,-,-,-,-\ YOUR MARBLES? | J .--. | FRIENDS ARE LIKE MARBLES, / oo \/ / -- | ONCE YOU LET THEM GO, < \ / [] `--' YOU CAN'T GET THEM BACK, || /''\ SO I'M GOING TO TIE YOU TO MY HEART SO I NEVER LOSE YOU. SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS INCLUDING ME! SEE HOW MANY U GET BACK... Losing your marbles? Here is the cure ... Just smile and say... Dear Lord ... I know you're watching over me And I'm feeling truly blessed For no matter what I pray for You always know what's best! _o_o__o_o_ / /| |\ \ / / /| |\ \ \ / / / | | | \ \ / / / | | \ \ \ / / / | | \ \ \ / / / | | \ \ \ / / / | | | \ \ / / / | | \ \ \ | | \ | | \ | \ | \ \ | | | \ | / | \ | | / / / | \ | | | \ | | \ / \ | | | / \ / \ | | | / \ / \ | / | | | / | / | \ | | \ \ | | | |_o_ | | / | \ / \ | | | _o_\ _o_/ _o_| \_o_ /_o_ > > | | | /_\ /_\ | /_\ < < < < | | / \ | | Carl Erik Heiberg I have this circle of E-mail friends, Who mean the world to me; Some days I "send" and "send," At other times, I let them be. ____ .--"~~" ~"\___ Y ] ~~"\ l `v.,_ _/' ] \ | 7~~" /' \ | / /~"------"~ __.} l_/-^-<-. .--"~ Y I Y / l oj-<______ Y _ ~---~ ( ^ Y l |~t-.__( // \.__.^ \ | | ~\ _.^ "-._ | | "---"~ Y |-^----------..,__ . | |--.,__ --.,__ ~"-. \\ | l l "~--.,_ ~--. \ \\ _____ | \ \___, "-._ / \>-"~ ~"-.--j ~----/ "--" / ,--. Y _Y_ / ( ) ___ |_ -Row ,-~ " "--" " ~-< ~-. / Y \ \ / / . l Y )Y / l /-.____l !\, ) ! / / Y / /"--" / \__/' \ / /_K-~ `\__K-"\__.-" ^.__K-" I am so blessed to have these friends, With whom I've grown so close; So this little poem I dedicate to them, Because to me they are the "Most"! . \ | / _\|/_ .' ' ' '. ___ _.|.--.--.|.___.--'___`-. .'.'|| | ||`----'"` ``'` .'.' ||()|()|| .___..-'.' / \ `----'"` / .-. \ (.'.(___).'.) `.__.-.__.' jgs |_| |_| `.`-'.' `"` When I see each name download, And view the message they've sent; I know they've thought of me that day, And "well wishes" were their intent. So to you, my friends, I would like to say, &&& && && &&&&. &&& .&&&&& && &&& &&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&& & &` && && .&&&&& &&&; &8 .&&&: && &` & && 8&& & `& && && .&_ oO_&.-.-. && ( __ -/--' Thank you for being a part; &&~ .'-__-'& &&&~`'\`& Of all my daily contacts, &&&~` _& &&&&` && This comes right from my heart. &&8&&&& &&&&&&& & &&&&&&& &&;&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&& ~~~ .~~~~~ `&&&&&&&&& ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~;!&&&&&&&&&&~/~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~\~~~~&/` \`~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ `~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ BP God bless you is my prayer today, I'm honored to call you "friend"; I pray the Lord will keep you safe, Until we write again. ================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: COLOR ME CONFUSED Little Cindi graced me with a gap-toothed grin as she squirted catsup on her plump, juicy, hotdog. Her sweet, squeaky, "Here Auntie have a bite," was drowned out by my tomato-curdling scream. "Ewwwww! What's that?" I stared in horror as a big, PURPLE glop soaked into the bun. "It's our new cool catsup. We have purple and green in the cupboard," Cindi smiled. Color me confused, but the thought of purple catsup made my brow wrinkle almost as much as Granny Clampett's face. Believe me, I am not a catsup snob. In fact, I consider it one of the major food groups and think nothing of dousing fries, potato chips, hamburgers and fish sandwiches in rich, red, catsup. The problem arises when the catsup is not bright red, but Grinch Green or Passion Purple. I know color shouldn't affect the taste, but the thought of purple catsup is enough to give me sweaty palms, dry mouth, and heart palpitations (similar to seeing Brad Pitt on the movie screen). So what's the deal with all these food companies trying to "new and improve" their products? It's getting to the point that I'm afraid to out anything into my grocery cart these days. For instance, I recently stood in the garbage bag aisle and my brain turned to compost as I stared at the brands, sizes, and colors of bags that just get thrown out anyhow. Whatever happened to black cinch sacks for garbage, and clear plastic bags for recyclables? Scented bags, that's what! I actually saw "French Vanilla" scented garbage bags on sale. For only three times the cost of plain old "plastic scented" bags, I could buy a garbage bag that would "soar my senses" with aromatherapy. Somehow the thought of my garbage smelling better than me made me want to yank out my hair, but not my checkbook. So, besides sweet Cindi, who buys this supply of purple catsup and vanilla garbage bags? Probably the same try-anything-once folks who throw a vertically striped jar of peanut butter and jelly into their grocery baskets. Frankly, I find that concept as un-American as a kid who won't eat PB&Js at all. Everyone knows you have to slather creamy, gooey, peanut butter on one slice of Wonder Bread and then spread sweet, sticky, grape jelly on another piece before doing the old "slap and squish". You know, slap the bread together and the squish to join the flavors. The thought of calmly spreading PB&J at the same time should be grounds for court marshal! With all of these bizarre foodstuffs, it scares me to think what the world will be like when my kids (now in their terrible teens) go forth and multiply (after college and marriage) and take their kids to the grocery store. Will the little tykes beg for pink mac-and-cheese? Will the lime-green mustard clash with the purple hot dog nestled in its navy-striped bun? Color me old-fashioned, but no grandkid of mine is going to be served purple oatmeal or green spaghettios. Even if I have to stockpile "normal" foods, I will serve the little sweethearts food that is good, nutritious, and THE RIGHT COLOR. Now, all this talk about food is making me thirsty. Excuse me while I pop the top of a Code Red Mountain Dew. I know this soda "should" be green, but I broke down and tried a free sample the other day and its sparkly cherry taste is just like a kiddie cocktail. See, I'm not so set in my ways. I may never dunk my fries in green catsup, but color me courageous, there may be hope for me yet. -- Darlene A. Buechel ___________________________________________ We congratulate Darlene, as we proudly bestow upon her the title of Heartwarmer Gem. We reserve this honor for our most beloved writers who have consistently contributed outstanding and memorable works that have captured the hearts and minds of our members around the world. Darlene is well known for her humorous and light hearted stories that bring a smile to readers everywhere. And make no mistake. She has her opinions about colors too! She eats her RED catsup on GOLDEN french fries and throws her garbage in BLACK cinch sacks. She hails from Wisconsin. ========================================================================= >-->From PetWarmers: /\_/\ >^.^<.---. _'-`-' )\ THREE ORPHANS (6--\ |--\ (`.`-. --' --' ``-'BP cat While visiting my orphan brother, Wayne, in Gainesville, Georgia, I saw a little kitten running along the roadway. We were five miles from the nearest house. It was obvious this cat had been dumped by someone trying to get rid of it. I asked Wayne if we could stop to at least take it to a safer place. "I don't want no darn cat," said Wayne. "Well, I didn't ask you to adopt the cat. Just move it to another location so that it will not get run over," I told him. With one of those mean, gruff old looking moods, that some people get on their face, he pulled off the highway and let me pick up the kitten. As I got back into the truck I looked at him and said, "Now that didn't kill you. Did it?" "I gotta dog and that's all I need," said Wayne, with that mean old look of his still on is face. I picked up the cat from my lap and I held it toward him. "Why don't you reach out there and scratch that mean old man?" I told the cat. Wayne gave me one of those out-of-the-corner of your eye looks, but he didn't say a word. As we drove up to his house, I took the kitten and stood beside the truck petting it. "That cat is not coming into my house," Wayne said, pointing at me. "You want me to just throw it out in the street?" I asked him. "I don't guess I have to tell you that this is a little orphan kitten," I said back at him. Wayne and I both were orphans and we both know very well what it is like to have no one to give a hoot about you. "Don't pull that one on me," he replied. "Well, it's hungry and it needs some water," I told him. Wayne didn't say a word as he pointed toward the house, with his head, giving me permission to bring the kitten in for a drink of water and something to eat. "I ain't got nothing' but dog food. That's what it's going to have to eat or it can just go hungry," said Wayne. As soon as Wayne sat down on the couch, the kitten ran over to him and grabbed hold of his sock, with all four claws. He shook his foot as hard as he could but the kitten would not let go. Soon, Wayne was laughing as loud as he could. "Look at this darn cat," he told me. All at once the kitten let go of his leg. Wayne reached over and picked up the kitten and began to stroke it. "Listen to the motor in this thing," Wayne said. About that time, Wayne's dog came walking in from the back bedroom. All at once the dog and the kitten began to chase one another up and down the hallway, and around the couch. "I guess they sorta like one another. I'm surprised. My dog don't like no one," he told me. "Yea, like somebody else I know," I whispered to myself. As the animals continued to play with one another, Wayne and I got in some computer time. About an hour later we walked into the back bedroom and there was Wayne's dog, and the kitten -- both asleep on Wayne's bed. The kitten was all curled up in a tight ball next to the dog's chest. Over the next two days, I would see Wayne go to the refrigerator and cut up small pieces of his premium ham and hand feed it to the small kitten. On Sunday morning, I woke to the smell of breakfast. As I was about to take a shower I walked through the living room. I saw Wayne cooking in the kitchen. There on the floor were two bowls of food -- one for the kitten, and one for the dog. I knew right then and there that another orphan had been saved. I loaded my suitcases into my truck and then I turned around. I stood there looking at Wayne, his dog, and the kitten all looking at me. "Don't even think about it. Less you wanna fight," said Wayne, as we both laughed. Wayne and I hugged one another. I got in my truck and I drove away knowing that my orphan brother had found another piece of his heart. -- Roger Kiser ____________________________________________ Roger is from Georgia and is a Heartwarmer Gem. His book, Orphan, is available at bookstores and online. You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580624480/heart His friend, Wayne (Bobby) Evers can be reached at: EverEvers @ webtv.net ======================================================================= >--->CALLING ALL PET OWNERS... * * __ * ,db' * * ,d8/ * * * 888 `db\ * * `o`_ ** * * * _ * * / ) * (\__/) * ( ( * ,-.,-.,) (.,-.,-.,-.) ).,-.,-. | @| ={ }= | @| / / | @|o | _j__j__j_) `-------/ /__j__j__j_ ________( /___________ | | @| \ || o|O | @| |o | |,'\ , ,'"| | | | hjw vV\|/vV|`-'\ ,---\ | \Vv\hjwVv\//v _) ) `. \ / (__/ ) ) (_/ I am now collecting for my Pet Gallery. It will be on the line of my new Dog Gallery, but the little picture will load a page with a large picture(s) of your pet along with information about your pet that makes him/her special. So here you go. Make your pet famous! Email me with any jpg or gif image or images of your pet along with what breed or type of pet they are. Also tell me something cute, funny or interesting about their unique personality. Once I have enough pets, I'll put the Pet Gallery up and let you know your pet is a star! Not just dogs - ANY PET will do - only keep it clean for the family, please. No human pets. You can submit as many pets as you have Just PLEASE Send me their picture and info! So come on, PLEASE, lets all pitch in! Visit the dog page here for reference: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/dog.html Dog Gallery NOW. EMAIL ME with picture(s) and info you want to share with the world: >Make YOUR pet(s) Famous: Pet Glory! ========================================================================= >-->Quotes & Thoughts: "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." -- Dale Carnegie "The Almighty God has blessed our land in many ways. He has given our people stout hearts and strong arms with which to strike mighty blows for freedom and truth. He has given to our country a faith which has become the hope of all peoples in an anguished world." --Franklin D. 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