Story Time 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 ================ *~* 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. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ === (`\,;+++;,/`) (- (((^.^))) -) (- ))\-/(( -) (- (() ()) -) \ `/`@`\` / \ / \ / \/ \/ / \ /_/_/_|_\_\_\ ldb *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form 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. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! 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THANK YOU! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." -- Abraham Lincoln ____________________________________________________ |____________________________________________________| | __ __ ____ ___ || ____ ____ _ __ | || |__ |--|_| || |_| |||_|**|*|__|+|+||___| || | | ||==|^^||--| |=||=| |=*=||| |~~|~| |=|=|| | |~||==| | || |##|| | | || | |JRO|||-| | |==|+|+||-|-|~||__| | ||__|__||__|_|_||_|_|___|||_|__|_|__|_|_||_|_|_||__|_| ||_______________________||__________________________| | _____________________ || __ __ _ __ _ | ||=|=|=|=|=|=|=|=|=|=|=| __..\/ | |_| ||#||==| / /| || | | | | | | | | | | |/\ \ \\|++|=| || ||==| / / | ||_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_/_/\_.___\__|_|__||_||__|/_/__| |____________________ /\~()/()~//\ __________________| | __ __ _ _ \_ (_ . _/ _ ___ _____| ||~~|_|..|__| || |_ _ \ //\\ / |=|__|~|~|___| | | | ||--|+|^^|==|1||2| | |__/\ __ /\__| |==|x|x|+|+|=|=|=| ||__|_|__|__|_||_|_| / \ \ / / \_|__|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_________________ _/ \/\/\/ \_ _______________| | _____ _ __ |/ \../ \| __ __ ___| ||_____|_| |_|##|_|| | \/ __| ||_|==|_|++|_|-||| ||______||=|#|--| |\ \ o / /| | |~| | | ||| ||______||_|_|__|_|_\ \ o / /_|_|__|_|__|_|_||| |_________ __________\___\____/___/___________ ______| |__ _ / ________ ______ /| _ _ _| |\ \ |=|/ // /| // / / / | / ||%|%|%| | \/\ |*/ .//____//.// /__/__/ (_) / ||=|=|=| __| \/\|/ /(____|/ // / /||~|~|~|__ |___\_/ /________// ________ / / ||_|_|_| |___ / (|________/ |\_______\ / /| |______| / \|________) / / | | >CALLING ME HOME by Kristine Lowder I was born in a library. Naw. Not really. But I could've been. Books prominently populate my earliest memories. Lots and lots of books. Enough to fill a library several times over. I remember snuggling into Dad's lap as he read aloud about a brown monkey and a man in a yellow hat. I remember Mom reading and re-reading a perennial favorite, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Also stories about a runaway bunny, Ferdinand the Bull. Green Eggs and Ham. A Secret Garden. A spider weaving webbed words, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Aesop and Dorothy Gale. So many others. As far as "learning to read" goes, it seems I was born reading. I suppose I received academic instruction at some point. I just don't recall being "taught" to read. In fact, I can't remember ever not reading. It's like not breathing. Weekly visits to the library with Mom added fuel to my bookish fire. I've long thought of the library as my "home away from home." Many are the cozy hours and golden afternoons spent browsing the library stacks, meandering in and out of Dickens, Bronte, Eliot, Dumas, Dinesen and Evans. Finding new books or a new author is like unearthing buried treasure. To this day I prefer a good book -- or even a mediocre one -- to any other media. I am never as well content as when behind the pages of a good book. Whenever I'm sitting down, I feel compelled to be reading something. Anything. Even the back of a cereal box. I bring books to baseball games, to the chagrin of my kids. I tell them I read between innings. And I do. I bring a book to the dentist's office, board meetings, ballet rehearsals. If I anticipate a line at the post office, grocery store or bank, I bring a book. Shoot, I usually bring a book even if I don't anticipate a line. I've also been known to read between acts at the opera and until the house lights dim at the theater. An apt epitaph might be: "So many books, so little time." I recently embarked upon a grand reading adventure that, while unplanned, has proven a vast delight. I'm re-reading some of my favorite titles from childhood. I haven't traveled between the covers of some of my grade school favorites for forty years or more. They are somehow welcoming. Even after all these years, plots and characters rise to greet me like long lost friends. A chapter or two and I'm home. I've long maintained that some of the finest writing in all literature is children's literature. Any writer who can grab and keep a child's attention for an entire story is doing something right. And so "home" these days includes wild ponies and round-ups of Misty of Chincoteague. Prairie fires, rampaging grasshoppers, scarlet fever, and Christmas candy in the Little House books. Walter Farley's Black Stallion series. Aslan and Narnia. Black Beauty. Peter and Wendy. I've gathered them around me now, favorite books from years past. You'd think the stories would all be fuzzy, gray. They're not! They're as rich and vibrant and glowing as they were when I first creased their pages. Still captivating. Still delicious. I feel that while I may have forgotten these books, their stories have not forgotten me. When I open the cover and dive into their patient pages, I find they've been waiting for me. Dear friends welcoming me back -- calling me home. -- Kristine Lowder __________________________________________________ Kristine is a multi-published author and makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. You can visit her at: http://www.kristinelowder.wordpress.com =========================================================== >-->Story Time: From B.Brabant: . , |`. ,'| \_`-._ _,-'_/ ./ \-._`-._ _,-'_,-/ \, \._/._ `._>`-.__ __,-'<_,' _,\_,/ /_ \_.`-._\_-._ `--__ __--' _,-_/_,-',_/ _\ /._`\_./ _`_./`.-._ `-. ,-' _,-,'\,_'_ \,_/'_,\ \._`/ _/ _`_./ _/`\_ `. ,' _/'\_ \,_'_ \_ \'_,/ /._`/ _/ _`_./` _/ `\_ `\_ _/' _/' \_ '\,_'_ \_ \'_,\ \._`/ _/ _`_./` __/ >. `-.,-' ,< \__ '\,_'_ \_ \'_,/ /_`/._/._`_./` __.`.-\_.-`'-._/-,',__ '\,_'_,\_,\'_\ `\._`_./`\._/_/' _ `\_\_,/'\,_'_,/' /_\ \./ __/(__ / `--' \ / _ _ \ \'| |`/ \|____|/ \/ -] \/ / | \ | | | | | \ / | \ \__,-`\___/ (_) |__) mic >Entertaining Angels It was fifty years ago, on a hot summer day, in the deep south. We lived on a dirt road, on a sand lot. We were, what was known as "dirt poor". I had been playing outside all morning in the sand. Suddenly, I heard a sharp clanking sound behind me and looking over my shoulder, my eyes were drawn to a strange sight! Across the dirt road were two rows of men, dressed in black and white, striped, baggy uniforms. Their faces were covered with dust and sweat. They looked so weary, and they were chained together with huge, black, iron chains. Hanging from the end of each chained row was a big, black, iron ball. They were, as polite people said in those days, a "Chain Gang," guarded by two, heavily armed, white guards. I stared at the prisoners as they settled uncomfortably down in the dirt, under the shade of some straggly trees. One of the guards walked towards me. Nodding as he passed, he went up to our front door and knocked. My mother appeared at the door, and I heard the guard ask if he could have permission to get water from the pump, in the backyard, so that "his men" could "have a drink". My mother agreed, but I saw a look of concern on her face, as she called me inside. I stared through the window as each prisoner was unchained from the line, to hobble over to the pump and drink his fill from a small tin cup, while a guard watched vigilantly. It wasn't long before they were all chained back up again, with prisoners and guards retreating into the shade, away from an unrelenting sun. I heard my mother call me into the kitchen, and I entered, to see her bustling around with tins of tuna fish, mayonnaise, our last loaf of bread, and two, big, pitchers of lemonade. In what seemed "a blink of an eye", she had made a tray of sandwiches using all the tuna we were to have had for that night's supper. My mother was smiling as she handed me one of the pitchers of lemonade, cautioning me to carry it "carefully" and to "not spill a drop." Then, lifting the tray in one hand and holding a pitcher in her other hand, she marched me to the door, deftly opening it with her foot, and trotted me across the street. She approached the guards, flashing them with a brilliant smile. "We had some leftovers from lunch," she said, "and I was wondering if we could share with you and your men." She smiled at each of the men, searching their dark eyes with her own eyes of "robin's egg blue." Everyone started to their feet. "Oh no!" she said. "Stay where you are! I'll just serve you!" Calling me to her side, she went from guard to guard, then from prisoner to prisoner -- filling each tin cup with lemonade, and giving each man a sandwich. It was very quiet, except for a "thank you, ma'am," and the clanking of the chains. Very soon we were at the end of the line, my mother's eyes softly scanning each face. The last prisoner was a big man, his dark skin pouring with sweat, and streaked with dust. Suddenly, his face broke into a wonderful smile, as he looked up into my mother's eyes, and he said, "Ma'am, I've wondered all my life if I'd ever see an angel, and now I have! Thank you!" Again, my mother's smile took in the whole group. "You're all welcome!" she said. "God bless you." Then we walked across to the house, with empty tray and pitchers, and back inside. Soon, the men moved on, and I never saw them again. The only explanation my mother ever gave me, for that strange and wonderful day, was that I "remember, always, to entertain strangers, for by doing so, you may entertain angels, without knowing." Then, with a mysterious smile, she went about the rest of the day. I don't remember what we ate for supper, that night. I just know it was served by an angel. - Author Unknown --- ...See This Teaching... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Are Angels Real? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ()_()()_() / ..)(.. \ __/ ( || ) \_ (_/ * * (_) | | | || | | | \_/| \__/ | | > \ / <__,--,__|/|_> unknown >Quotes He that does good to another does good also to himself. - Seneca The duty of helping one's self in the highest sense involves the helping of one's neighbors. - Samuel Smiles The kindness planned for tomorrow does not count for today. - Unknown A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. - St. Basil When a person finds themselves predisposed to complaining about how little they are regarded by others, let them reflect how little they have contributed to the happiness of others. - Johnson In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths. - Graham Greene There are times that when truth and kindness conflict one ought to chose kindness, especially when a little honesty is better than a lot. - Leroy Jack Syrop -<>- _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >THREE STEPS TO SUCCESS By Steve Goodier © 2002 Here are three simple steps to make things happen in your life: DO IT. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale put it like this: "Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all." If you wait until you have all the facts or until you know how you will handle every possible challenge that comes along, you'll never get started. Begin somewhere. You can't accomplish anything until you begin. Do it. DO IT RIGHT. One poet put it like this: "If a task is once begun, never leave until it's done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all." It's true: if you don't have time to do it right, when will you find time to do it over? Do it right. DO IT RIGHT NOW. In the Spanish-American War, as the American soldiers were trying to capture San Juan Hill, they were thrown back again and again. The black powder ammunition they were using pinpointed their position for their enemies. As soldier after soldier toppled, the troops began to panic. Up rode Teddy Roosevelt, on a little horse named "Texas," urging his men on. Encouraged by his bravery in exposing himself to the whizzing bullets, the troops began to cheer their commander. "Don't cheer, men," Roosevelt called out to them. "Fight! Now's the time to fight!" There is a time to cheer. A time to reflect. A time to plan. A time to reminisce. But there is also a time to act. Those who accomplish anything worthwhile know that time is now. Do it. Do it right. Do it right now. These are three/ --- ...Absolutely! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' James 2: 17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" faith [believing] without works [action] is dead [worthless or useless] because it is alone or by itself. This is not taught enough in our churches. We think believing is something we just do in our mind, but the Word of God says it is worthless if that is all we do! We must accompany it with works - an action - or it is like a boat sitting in the water without a sail, motor or oars. You are not going to get very far! Dead in the water without works to go with your believing. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' * Also See These Teachings... Fear: Feeling Kind Of Buggy [story] http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/fearfeelingkindofbuggy.html Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm -<>- ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' >Smile: Smiling is infectious, You catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin and when he smiled, I realized I'd passed it on to him! I thought about that smile and then I realized its worth, a single smile--just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected let's start an epidemiic--quick, and get the world infected! have a great day. joyce -<>- _,,,_ .' `'. / ____ \ | .'_ _\/ / ) a a| / ( > | ( ) ._ / ) _/-.__.'`\ ( .-'`-. \__ ) `/ `-./ `. | \ \ \ jgs | \ \ \ \ |\ `. / / \ >Only ONE You: You are a unique and valuable person, no matter what. No error in judgment, no embarrassment, no pain, no setback can take away the inherent value of who you are and who you can be. Certainly you want to be the best you can be. And the way to do that is by being confident of who you are. If you let every little thing, and even every big thing, get to you, your confidence can quickly be eroded. The more you worry, the more reason you'll have to worry. There's no reason to get caught in such a downward spiral. Instead, always keep in mind that no circumstance, no setback, no turn of events can ever have the power on its own to change your value as a person. Every life will have its share of unfortunate situations, but that is certainly no reason to cower in fear or to become consumed with anxiety. Rather, you have every reason to move confidently forward. Whatever life may take from you will never be able to deplete the good and valuable things you have to give. -- Ralph Marston --- ...See This Teaching... You Are The Only You God Has http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html -<>- (() ()) (() ()) (() ()) (() ()) (() .+. _.-//_\\-._ .'.-' XII '-.'. /`.'* *'.`\ / /* / *\ \ | ; _/ ; | | |IX (_) III| | | ; \ ; | \ \* \ */ / \ '.* \ *.'./ jgs '._'-.__VI_.-'_.' '-.,___,.-' >The Poem I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work For bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, And jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done, My soul could rest at ease..... All day long I had no time To spread a word of cheer No time to speak of Christ to friends, They'd laugh at me I'd fear. No time, no time, too much to do, That was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in need But at last the time, the time to die I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God! held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said 'Your name I cannot find I once was going to write it down... But never found the time' -<>- >Story Time... __ _|_ |+-==| .'.':`.`. | |+--=| / / | \ \ /'\ '+ -=| ^^^^^^^^^^^ //|\\ =| &C O__u | u O~ O ^^^^^ /\_u/\/uuu|uuu\/\ &C /|\_@| C__@ /) ( '--------' ,| /\_ \@@@@|@@\/\ /_| \_\ | /_| | ( ( `,o--------') /| / | /|\ |\ /'\ /__\ /`' | <| _|_ //|\\ /| /> /|\ \` .'.':`.`. ^^^^^ / / | \ \ %%|%% O _|_ ^^^^^^^^^^^ %%%|%%%_/\\ .'.':`.`. C_/ | '-------' ) / / | \ \ d}<|8888|888 {b | / \ ^^^^^^^^^^^ _888/\_88888|8888_/\ /|\ | \ ~C | O '--|(-------+----' ,| /),\_ O | \/|\/ | |_\ | \ | |/_( o /( ) /|\####|###### O | | \ /|\ | \\ (`' )_( \|'-----------'/\\ /\ / | |\ | _o / ) ejm |/ /|\ (`' /| /> \ \ Is doing good compatible with making money? It is if you practice spiritual capitalism. The gospel according to Adam Smith https://www.urbandharma.org/udharma13/asmith.html -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >Friendship Friends so quickly come And friends sometimes go, But if a friendship is true It will always continue to grow. For the qualities of a friend Are too many to describe, But one thing is certain They're never hard to find. F-Faithful and forgiving R-Reliable as well as receptive I-Influential and inspiring E-Educated as well as expressive N-Natural and nonconforming D-Daring as well as determined S-Sensible and sharing H-Honest as well as humorous I=Indifferent and individualistic P=Positive as well as patient Always remember that Friends have feelings too, Don't forget little things that matter Like saying please, and thank you. They often do so much To help us out everyday, Which is definitely why Friends are needed in every way. So take not for granted The qualities of your friends, For you never know When you may see them again. -<>- _/\_ __\ /__ <_ _> |/ )\| ejm97 / >ONE LEAF By: Joseph J. Mazzella I was walking out my door yesterday when a strong gust of wind blew something into my face. Getting over the shock I pulled it off of my glasses. It was single red leaf that had gotten taken for a ride on that windy September day. I held this messenger of Fall in my hand and looked at it closely. It looked like it had lived its life well. It probably had first popped out on a cold April morning giving the first hope of Spring to some Winter weary soul who saw it. It must have given shelter to singing birds and shade to tired children too. From the holes in it I would guess that it gave more than one meal to a hungry insect during the hot Summer months. Now it was ending its life at its most beautiful with its radiant red adding to the glorious painting from God that covers the mountains during Autumn here. I knew too that its work wasn?t done yet, because in death it would return to the soil and help God to bring about new life next Spring. My little leaf reminded me too of all the good I can do in my own short life here. If one, red leaf can do so much for this world then how much more can one human life do? I am going to do my best then to live my own life well. I am going to do all I can to give hope to the weary, to comfort the tired, and to feed those with hungry hearts. I am going to try and live so that my last days are my most beautiful: full of the colors of love, joy, and oneness with God. Remember you may just be one leaf in this world?s mighty forest, but without your love and your life the forest is less. Remember too that tomorrow is another chance to live, to learn, to laugh, and to love in this world. Do your best then. Share your beauty. Help others. Commit yourself to life before death as well as to life after death. God didn?t put you here just to hang on a tree. God put you here to live well and color this world with the light of your soul. God put you here to help make this world a better and more beautiful place for those who will follow. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Life Is...- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifeis.html I Believe...- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Kid Lessons!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidlessons.html Love Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovestories.html K9 9/11 Heroes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/k9-11.html All About Hugs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hugs.html Sweet Humanity!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sweethumanity.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Short Life Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifestories.html No Words Needed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html My Precious Child!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mychild.html Dog Rescue Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogrescues.html More Abundant Life!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abundantlife.html Making A Difference!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/makingdifference.html Come Smile With Me!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smilewithme.html Attitude Is Everything!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Akiane - Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html 9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/911hero.html! Wild Kisses And Snuggles!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wildkisses.html Famous Inspiring Women!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womenquotes.html -<>- A Christian Response to Depression https://tinyurl.com/y4l8ggjh To God Be The Glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU Breath Of Heaven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_475FKJWQ He Will Carry You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3WuenttBM One Day At A Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnZ8bmEOTM Down on my knees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqN5CAGvf8s Pass-it-on Poetry! http://www.abundantfun.com/poems/ Tcastle index http://www.tcastle.com/sitemap.html Another year has come and gone, and Congress has failed -- AGAIN -- to defund the nation's largest abortion provider. Sign the Petition to Defund Planned Parenthood! https://tinyurl.com/yxvz9v84 -<>- >In The News: Awesome Rally! Thank God for Trump! Trump holds campaign rally in New Mexico https://tinyurl.com/y55282b4 Across the country this week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) will welcome over 34,000 new citizens at more than 300 special naturalization ceremonies in celebration of Constitution Week. | Fox News https://fxn.ws/2QbdRXC Trump Epically Enters Medal of Freedom Ceremony https://tinyurl.com/yxfobfqa Senator Arrested Over Child Porn Charges https://tinyurl.com/y2p77ns9 Westwing News: The Latest Times Hit on Brett Kavanaugh is a Clear Miss https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/ WhiteHouseNews: President Trump visits the border https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Chicken, Vitamins, Flour, Lighting http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: Flour Linked to E. Coli Outbreak http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) MY AMISH HOME: A hot, hazy end to summer... eventually https://tinyurl.com/y3p8omyz --- ...Sweet! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Cats are simply adorable! https://youtu.be/7Zq-Ny7RV4A --- ...Awww. Thanks LouiseAu! 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 ========================================================== ______ _ ,',----.`. '.`-. .-' '----. || `.`-'--------| ;; `.|--------|// \ / '--------' SSt >Weeds to Pull Story Editor: by Dawn Joyce Schowalter North Carolina, USA Several years ago we moved to North Carolina. My husband headed to his new job, and I remained behind to sell our house and arrange the move. During this stressful time there was one crisis after another, including a dear friend's suicide. When I arrived at the new house I was exhausted and emotionally bankrupt. It was wonderful seeing my husband, but when he left for work I was so overwhelmed with the tasks ahead, I sat on the floor amongst the boxes and cried. As I plowed through unpacking my spirits refused to lift. One weekend we drove to check out a boat for sale. It wasn't what we wanted, but "John", the elderly gentleman selling it, was kind and we chatted. When I admired his beautiful rose garden he said it was his wife's. She'd been away several weeks but would return the next day. As I remembered my lovely garden left behind, a tall weed caught my eye. So his wife wouldn't regret seeing it on returning, with John's permission I pulled it. Months passed but I couldn't seem to find "my place" in our new community. I joined the local garden club but although the ladies were very kind, most were retired and had been friends for years. I didn't feel part of the group. As my depression grew deeper I drank to try and ease the pain. I felt this move had cost me everything: job, friends, happiness. One day, while totally miserable and pondering suicide, the telephone rang. I'd stopped answering calls for weeks, but for some reason I picked up. A lady from the garden club had special native plants to give me, but had been ill and missed club meetings for months. For some reason I started telling her my whole miserable saga -- everything! I was embarrassed even as the words spilled out of my mouth but couldn't stop. "Elaine" quietly listened, made no judgmental comments and said she would help. She promised to call every morning to get me back on track. She kept her word and called faithfully, being an encouraging friend, though ill and bedridden herself. With Elaine's positive comments I slowly progressed. One evening she invited my husband and I over for tea. She was able to sit up, plus still had plants for me. We started driving, yet some things seemed familiar. When we pulled in the drive at Elaine's address my husband and I just sat quietly and looked at each other. There was the beautiful rose garden where I had pulled a giant weed! Elaine and I still chat most mornings. With a twinkle in her eye she makes sure we thoroughly relish each and every joy that comes our way. She's taught me so much through words and example -- from surviving disappointments with dignity to gracefully accepting the changes of aging. I've helped her pull many more weeds from her garden and she continues to help me pull weeds from my soul. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: At the Los Angeles revival, a fellow evangelist accused Billy Graham of setting religion back 100 years. Graham replied, "I did indeed want to set religion back, not just 100 years but 1,900 years, to the Book of Acts, when first century followers of Christ were accused of turning the Roman Empire upside down." .. |\\ .====^^\\==. |\ || |\ kya :X"====^^====' \|XXXXXXXXXX| """"""""""" >The Day That Changed The Way I View Others (Author Unknown) Many years ago, when my children were ages 10 and 6, I went through a very trying time. I had just left my husband of 7 years, to escape abuse. I managed to get a job with a nursing home as an aide for the elderly and moved in with a "friend" to share living expenses. One afternoon, after work, I picked my girls up from the sitter, and we went to the fair for the afternoon. It was quite late, when we returned home, and the house was completely dark. I went to unlock the door, and discovered the my key wouldn't go in the lock but halfway. I kept trying for a few minutes, while my oldest daughter went to get a flashlight from the car. When she returned with it, we found that somehow the lock had been "stuffed" with sunflower seed shells. So we went around to the front door and tried to open it, with the same results. Thinking that one of the neighborhood children had been up to no-good, I didn't really give it much consideration. I went around the house trying to find a window that might have been left open enough for me to boost my 10 year old through. No luck. All was locked up tight. So I returned to the back door, and broke out a pane of glass and reached in and unlocked the door. Not wanting the girls to pick up any of the glass in their shoes and track it into the house, I told them to sit on the porch for a minute while I swept up the glass. I grabbed the broom and dustpan from behind the door and started sweeping up the glass. I heard a car pull into the driveway, and looked out to see two policemen walking up to the door. They inquired what I was doing, and why I had broken into the house. I explained the matter to them, and showed them the door locks. They then asked me for proof that I lived at that address, so I asked them to wait a minute, while I went to get my rent receipt and identification from inside the house. I then, for the first time, opened the door leading into the house itself. Oh my, but I will never forget the shock of that moment. The house was empty! Other than a few things remaining on the back porch, everything was gone! I went through the house looking in each room in complete disbelief. In a daze, I went back outside where the officers were waiting and informed them that there was nothing left. At this point, they were not buying any of my story. I could tell from their actions and tone of voice that they thought I was breaking into an empty house for some place to sleep. I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the owner of the house, or her phone number. After several minutes, of sitting on the steps in shock, I remembered the neighbor across the street was a good friend of the owners, and told that to the police officers. I asked if I could go ask her for the number, and they informed me that the incident call had originated from that address. I walked over with one of the officers, while the other stayed with my girls. The neighbor was able to provide the owner's name and phone number, so the officers made the call. The owner was quite shocked to hear my story. As it turned out, my "friend" had been going through an eviction process through the courts when I moved in with her, and had lost the case. She had been ordered by the court to vacate the premises by 10 am on that date. The court order had been issued the same day I had paid her 1/2 of the rent and a deposit of $300.00. The owner was very kind and understanding, but there was nothing she could do. The house had been rented already and the people were to move in the following weekend. She didn't press charges against me for breaking and entering and told me not to worry about replacing the pane of glass I had broken, since she had some extra panes from a previous time. The officers let me go, and I went to gather my girls into the car. They were both exhausted and cold. Also, very frightened, because they thought their mamma was going to go to jail. I put them in the car and laid them on the back seat, covering them with my coat. They fell asleep almost instantly. I got into the car, and drove away. I didn't go far though, before I had to pull over as the tears took control. I couldn't believe it!! Everything we owned was gone. I had used up all our money moving in and paying my "friend" our share of costs. I had about $11.00 to my name. And pay day was three days away. I knew very few people in town, as we had just moved there recently. I realized that I was exhausted myself and had to be to work at 6 am the next morning, so I drove to the city park and curled up in the front seat to sleep. Needless to say, I overslept, and called into work to apprise them of my situation. My supervisor was very understanding, but the best she could do was to see if payroll could issue my wages early. I went to sit back in the car with the girls until enough time had passed to call back. I was talking to the girls, explaining our situation to them, so that they wouldn't be afraid. During this time, there was a "street person" with a shopping cart, sort of lingering near by, looking in the garbage cans for aluminum cans, bottles, and any other item that might bring him some cash. I hadn't paid much attention to him, as I was used to "seeing" these people without really seeing them. They were just part of the back ground. After 45 minutes or so had passed, I tried calling my supervisor to find out what the verdict was, with no results. So, I decided to go get the girls something to eat for breakfast. We grabbed some bread, lunchmeat and chips, and returned to the park-for a "picnic." When we got there, and while I was again trying to call work, I noticed that the "hobo" wasn't alone. He was with a small group of others "like" him, and they were passing a hat amongst themselves. I, again, had no luck with my call, so the girls and I grabbed our bag of groceries and headed over to a picnic table. We set our things down on the table and Tami, (my 6 year old) told me she needed to use the bathroom. So we walked to the restrooms--just a few feet from where we were. We cleaned up a little bit and returned to the table. On the way back, I tried the phone again. This time, I had success. I reached my supervisor and was informed that I could pick up my check at 1 PM that afternoon. Such a relief!!! We sat down at the table, and I was busy setting up out little "picnic," when I heard a voice saying, "Ma'am, please excuse the intrusion, but...well..., I couldn't help but overhear the situation you are in, and well....., me and the fella's took up a collection for you and your little girls. It's not very much, but maybe it'll help a little." I looked up at this man,-- dirty, needing a shave, and smelling a bit "ripe"--and saw what you might say was the face of an angel. I started crying. (Bawling...to be truthful) The man tried to hand me something like $30.00, probably a small fortune to him and his friends. I folded his hand back over the money, and just hugged him as tight as I could. I told him, "Thank you very much for your more than generous offer, but we are going to be just fine." He didn't believe me at first, but I convinced him that it was okay. Later, that afternoon, I picked up my paycheck and rented a room for the week, to give me and my girls a little time to work our situation out. Then I went to the market and bought the makings for a barbecue, and off to that little park we went. It didn't take us very long to find those gentlemen and invite them to join us for lunch, which they did. I had a wonderful afternoon that day, sitting there with those old "bums," singing songs while they drummed on the aluminum park table, and just talking to them. They had some of the most entertaining stories I've ever listened to, and they shared the dreams they once had. They shared of themselves...from the heart. As long as I live, I will never forget that day, when God showed me what true generosity and giving meant. When he showed me LOVE comes from the most unexpected places, in the most unlikely way. Those old men will live in my heart and memories forever, as the richest people I ever knew, because they had enough love to share with a mother and her two daughters who would have never given them the time of day. That was the day [that] forever changed the way I view others. 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 ========================================================== __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >-->WHEN TROUBLE COMES and THINGS GO WRONG Let us go quietly to God when troubles come to us, Let us never stop to whimper or complain and fret and fuss, Let us hide "our thorns" in "roses" and our sighs in "golden song" and our "crosses" in a "crown of smiles" whenever things go wrong. For no one can really help us as our troubles we bemoan, For comfort, help, and inner peace must come from GOD alone. So do not tell your neighbor, your companion, or your friend- in the hope that they can bring your troubles to an end, For they, too, have their problems, they are burdened just like you, So take your cross to JESUS and HE will see You Through. And waste no time in crying on the shoulder of a friend, but go directly to the Lord, for on Him you can depend. For there's absolutely nothing that His mighty Hand can't do, and He is never too busy to help and comfort You. - Author Unknown -<>- ,(()). ,;;;;. __ ________ _____ ___ ((_ _));'_`'_( _| __ __ __ _| _| _| __ __ () \ /)\ ) / (_|__ _|-_| _(_|(_|(_|__ _|-- ((\ O(() \ O / _____(_|(_|_____________(_|_ SSt >-->This My Story - Blessed Assurance Christian Worship Song Lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDeiy9-t2GE Lyrics Blessed Assurance Lyrics Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels, descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $20 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all self-subscribed readers and $5 more will give you the same message also put up for all web site readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 **********************************************************************