The Power Of Love ... :) 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 Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ _..---.._ .' .-'''-. '. / .' _..._'. \ __ : : /`;' ) : : _,="`\ ,--''` ``'.; : |; ,-; : ; __..==""==.,_| `-, `; .\; / ^\ _,.="// '-,_.--._ '.(;_.'__/`_.-'`\ ,.--''`` _..=. `'--.// `` \ `--, '` `- |_\ '-. | `-._ _.;--`-..___,.-'` `'-...-_:',;`==,| \ _.--',=" / /"=;="=, _.' ,=".-'` .' /| ,=" _.--' .-' "=, : .' | ", `;._ .--'.' .-' .' . ; ,;;\_ . '._.'--'` -' / ,;;;._ '-._ .''.__.' `\_ .' '._ / '._ .(` jgs '._ ';./ `;` *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ *~* HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND! HUGGUMS! *~* _. ,-.,-"`""-./ \ / \ `-.| .:::.:::. \ / `-._ ::::::::: | "=\ ':::::' | .==" |o_|_ ':' | _o. ` (_) ,;;;,;;;, ; \\ ;;;;;;;;; \ _. /|-. ';;;;;' \ ` `'---'/ \ ';' \ .--._ /-' | ,-`. / `-._( / `-._`-._\ `\ '\ ( ` `'._ _, | \ / ~-. `| | | / `;-.| | | .' \ /| | / .'-. '. | \ | .' `-._ '. | /"` `\ jgs / `"--.,_'-._\-.___.'_ ; / `""";--' `. | / .'` \ /""-. ; / \""-, \ | / | \ | \ | '. |/ '. \ .'`-. / '._ '.,___,.;' '-.___.' `"""----------'` >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This amazing one comes from our friend PatDeE. It has some really great photos! Check it out here... Microscopic! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/micro.html --- ...This does have it's gross side as well as awesome! Thanks PatDeE! ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: .-. .-. / < >-`'`'`-< > \ _' | | , ____ `-.' `.-' .-. '| | | | | / |/ \ / | \/ / 6 6 \ \ / |/\| |/|/|/ \_|\_/ \_|, .-. .oo. .-. | .-o-. | (|||)< /| ( >|==|< ) | ._|_. | / \ /| \| `-' |==| `-' `. _ .' `-' |_____ ,_ _ `==' .'`-.______.-'` `. | \ /_\ | | | / | , .' `. |_/ \__, | | |/\_|/ / \ /| / | | \ \| | _/ __ __ \_ | | | | _/(_.::::..::::._)\_ | , ___, | _ ,_ |_ ' ,_ _ \ \::::::::::/ / \ / / | | /_\ | \ | | | \ /_\ `. /::::::::::\ .' \/ \_|/|_/\__/| |/|_/|/| |/\__, ,oOo. / `---'`.::::::::.'`---' \ .oOo. ,-. oOOOo | `.::::.' | oOOOo __ \ / `OoO' \ (%`::'%) / `OoO' \ >(|||) | /\ \%%%%/ /%. | _/ / \ | _.'%%`. |%%| .'%%'\_ v | /\ | `-' <|/%`%%%%%`._ (%%) _.'%%%%%'%\(>o<) |/.') o (X) |-.%%%%<%%/ /%%\ \%%%<%%%-'\ ^ |`-' Vv_|'%|%%%%%%%%( /%%%%\ )%%%%%%%%`|. | ,Vv\|//|vW,V!!/vVyVv,,vVVv,Ww,||,,vVhjwVv!!V|vV\|/ hjw >THE POWER OF LOVE by Joseph Walker By any standard of measurement, David was a powerful man. Tall, handsome and dignified, he cut an imposing figure, even in his declining years. He was widely known and greatly respected by his peers and others in the community. As the head of a large organization, he was surrounded by people who were prepared to respond to his every whim. Because of the prominence of his position and the value of his time, he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to do, or that wasn't a high priority to him. Which is why it seemed a little unusual to those who worked in the small downtown market to see this great man, slowed and bent by the years, shuffling in to shop. "Doesn't he have people to do this sort of thing for him?" a clerk asked the store manager. "Of course he does," the manager whispered. "He has people who have people who have people to do this sort of thing for him." They watched as David moved slowly, deliberately, toward the produce section. "Then what's he doing here?" the clerk asked. "I don't know," the manager said, a little nervously. "But whatever it is, it must be VERY important." David paused at the produce section, looking at the surprisingly expansive display of fresh fruits and vegetables. At last his eyes settled on a big bin of large, shiny red apples. He picked up the apples one by one, examining each closely, twisting and turning it in the sunlight to expose any defect or flaw. Over the course of several minutes he must have inspected two dozen apples or so until at last he settle on one that looked absolutely perfect -- perfectly sized, perfectly shaped, perfectly colored, perfectly ripe. "Perfect!" he said to himself, smiling broadly. He tucked the apple securely in his hand and made his way back up the aisle to the cash register, where the manager stepped in front of the clerk. "There will be no charge for that, sir," the manager said when David presented the apple for purchase. "You may have it, with our compliments." David shook his head. "Thank you, sir," he said kindly. "But I insist. Please allow me to pay for this beautiful apple." Hesitantly, the manager rang up the charge for the apple, and placed it carefully in a brown paper bag. He took David's money, and handed the bag to him. "Thank you," David said, holding the bag as one might hold a package of diamonds. "Emma will love this!" Emma? Of course -- Emma. The love of David's life. His sweetheart of more than 50 years. It was said that in all their time together, they had never once had an argument. And now, a clerk and a manager at a small downtown market understood why. It was a matter of priority. It was a matter of sensitivity. It was a matter of purpose. And clearly, it was a matter of power. The power of love. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ ____ ____ .-" "-. .-" "-. / `. .' \ | (`-"-`) | | /'Y'\ | ; __\_^_/__ ; \ ()_ >o< _() / `\ ) : ( /' `\ / /-\ \ /' `\ ()/ \() /' jgs `\ /' `\ /' `\ /' Y >VALENTINE BIRTHDAY Why is Valentine's Day special to me? It's very simple. God gave me a miracle on February 14, 1996. Since I was a little girl, I always thought I would get married young and have a large family. Instead, I was almost 28 and it seemed a child was not to be. Fertility treatments didn't work and I gave up after 5 years. However, God hadn't. Much to my surprise, and my doctor's, I became pregnant. My due date was the end of February, but at Christmas time, I started to have some issues. By February 13, I had pre-eclympsia and the doctor said we couldn't wait any long for the baby. Labor was induced, but it took hours before I was put into a hard labor and then things progressed so rapidly I didn't have time to get any pain medication and my son was born at 2:50 in the afternoon. Over the years, he has had some health issues, usually dealing with lung related issues. He is the love and joy of my life. Bright, sweet and talented. He will be 15. He is my friend. He is the best thing I have ever done or will ever do. He is my Funny Valentine. -- Amy Taylor Parker ================================================================= >-->From Our Friend Gwen :) _ _ ( \/ ) .---. \ / .-"-. / 6_6 \/ / 4 4 \ \_ (__\ \_ v _/ // \\ // \\ (( )) (( )) =======""===""========""===""======= jgs ||| ||| | | >93 and Getting Married! I have to tell you that I am 73 and on February 19 my mom's birthday she will be getting married in San Antonio, Texas. She met Holman in Assistant living where lived across the hall from her. They both lost their spouces and found eachother to be attractive. The KENS radio station in San Antonio ie CBS will be interviewing them Monday the 14 for Valentines Day. The Express News followed them in their wheel chairs to the Court House to get their marriage certificates. For those interested can send cards to Mr and Mrs Holman Massey Chandler Assistant Living 5100 Howard Street San Antonio, Texas 78212 It's not everyday that one gets to start over in life Thank you Gwencopeland56 --- ...Awww, so sweet! Thank You Gwen! ..8888888.. ..8888888.. .8:::::::::::8. .8:::::::::::8. .8:::::::::::::::8:::::::::::::::8. .8:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::8. 8:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::8 8::::::::::/` \/ `\:::::::::::::::::8 8::::::::::\ /` \/ `\:::::::::::8 '8:::::::::::. .\ /::::::::::8' '8:::::::::::\/:::. .:::::::::::8' '8::::::::::::::::\/:::::::::::8' '8:::::::::::::::::::::::::8' '8:::::::::::::::::::::8' '8:::::::::::::::::8' two hearts '8:::::::::::8' beat as one... jgs '8:::::8' '8' May God Bless Their UNION! Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. -- Robert Browning ================================================================= :. ,.. .' :~.':_., .' ::.::'.' : ::' .: `.: .: .:/ `::--.:'.::' |. _:===-' / / ,---.---. __,',' (~`. \ ) )','.,---.. `v`\ | ,' .-'.:,'_____ `. )|/.-~.--~~--. ~~~-. \ _/-'_.-~ ""---.._`.| _.-~~_.-~ ""' _..--~~_.(~~ __...---~~~_..--~~ ,'___...---~~~ seal >Eleven Roses Story Editor: by Katherine E. Lockwood Joyce Schowalter New York, USA My two-year-old daughter and I often get smiles from strangers as we walk through town with Clara riding in her backpack, singing and swinging her feet. I felt extra grateful for my sunny little girl on one walk at the end of April, 2006. Just three days before she woke up from her nap with a fever of 106 degrees. We spent a traumatic evening in the emergency room. Any parent or child is frightened by such an experience. So it was a great feeling that Clara was so happy that day. We were heading home from a local grocery store, which wisely gives out free balloons to children. Clara always looks forward to getting a balloon there. She had done an especially nice job being patient at the store, after waiting a long time for a prescription. She was thrilled when the selection included pink balloons. Pink looms large in her philosophy, especially these days, since the antibiotic she is taking for the infection that caused the high fever is bubble-gum pink. Clara was singing "Mister Golden Sun" to her balloon, as we walked under a tree, when POP! There went the balloon. Clara immediately burst into tears. "My pink balloon popped!" She has had many balloons before, but is always very careful with them. This was the first time she experienced this minor trauma of childhood, and she was inconsolable. A college-aged young man, about 21, with light brown hair, who was walking behind us noticed Clara's tears. He was clearly preparing for an important date, as he was carrying a bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed roses. He stopped and talked to Clara. "Your balloon popped, that's very sad." "What's your name?" Unfortunately, Clara was too shy and upset to answer, but I filled in for her, touched that a young guy, probably hurrying home to get ready for a date, would stop to comfort a little child. "Clara is a pretty name," said the young man. "Would you like a flower? It's pink, just like your balloon." Clara was still crying inconsolably, unable to say that she would really like the rose. The young man said jokingly, "Uh-oh, I'm in trouble if girls don't like these!" He tucked a pink rose into Clara's backpack, and went on his way. Shortly after the young man was too far away to hear, Clara said "Thank you for my rose," in a quiet voice. She carried the rose in her hand the rest of the way home, finally waving at the young man, who was much too far away to see. A block later, Clara was singing to her flower. Somewhere in Ithaca, a lucky young lady is receiving a bouquet of eleven roses. I hope she asks why one is missing! =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .-. .-. ( \/ ) .-. .-. \ .-. .-. ( \/ ) \ ( \/ ) \ .-. .-. / \ / jgs \ ( \/ .-. .-. / .-. \.-.\ ( \/ )/ ( \/ )\ /\ // \ / \ / \ / \ / \/ \ / \ / \/ \/ >NAMASTE Has this ever happened to you? The day after we moved to a small town in Colorado my wife Bev did grocery shopping. We moved few food items with us so she filled four grocery carts full. She asked if she could pay with an out of state check. "We just moved here," she explained, "and don't have local checks yet." They said, "Yes, no problem." But when she began looking for her checkbook, she discovered that she had left it at home. All of the groceries had been checked and sacked. "I'm so sorry," she said, "I thought I had it with me. If I could just leave the groceries here for a few minutes, I'll run home and get the checkbook." "Don't worry about it," the cashier told her. "Take the groceries home. The next time you're in the store you can pay for them." We had just moved from a large city and she couldn't believe what she was hearing! This clerk had never seen her before. But she treated her as if she were a VIP. She was somebody! Don't you love it when you are treated like you are somebody? Because the truth is, we are all somebody. We are all important. And maybe most businesses cannot (and should not) let everybody pay with credit, but even strangers can be treated with honor and respect. "Namaste" is a polite Indian gesture of greeting or farewell. From Hindi, the word literally means "bowing to you." Namaste has also been used to mean "I honor the sacred that is within you." What a remarkable thing it would be to actually honor the sacred that is within each person we meet! Even strangers. Nobody would go unnoticed and everybody would count. Here is an exercise that may dramatically change your life: for one month treat everybody you meet as if she or he is the most important person in the world. The man sweeping the sidewalk, your spouse and children, a teenager in the neighborhood, the elderly woman seated across the aisle from you -- honor that which is sacred in all of them. Give your undivided attention. By your words and actions, communicate to them all how important they are to you. Show them great respect and kindness. You may be amazed at what happens to your relationships! You may not single-handedly solve the problem of world peace -- but in one small way at least, you will make a great difference. Namaste. -- Steve Goodier -<>- ,;;;;;, ,;;;;;;;;, ;;;'____ ; ;;;(\\\\\; `/'((||||| ___< C))|||| ,' \__(((||), | \ _)))))))\,_ /| |/"\`\`""""' |) ; \ \ ) \_____/_| | |\ \' _.,-' | | ' \ \.,-' _./ | ( _,-\ _.-'' | ; "'|___\__.-' ; ) |----| _.--,;' ; ,' , | ( __.,-' | ,' ,' `""'' `. | ; ) `, ( ) | ( ,' | | ( | | | | | | | |___________| | | | | Normand Veilleux based on work by Tua Xiong >GENTLENESS AND HUGS By: Joseph J. Mazzella In my life I have experienced a lot of different types of hugs. I have gotten the warm hug that goes on forever. I have gotten the bear hug that squeezes the air right out of your lungs. I have gotten the neck hug where the little child jumps in your arms and wraps lovingly around your neck. I have gotten the back slapper hug where the hugger gives you the bam, bam on the back. I have even gotten the leg hug which toddlers all over the world use to melt your heart. The most memorable hug I ever got, however, came when I was a teenager. I was visiting a monastery in the Midwest with several other boys. Our guide took us through the simple rooms where the Priests and Monks lived, worked, and prayed. As we entered a small kitchen one of the Brothers walked in. To say he was intimidating would have been an understatement. He was a giant of a man. He stood well over six and a half feet tall. He must have weighed over three hundred pounds as well. He looked like a lineman for a professional football team dressed in a brown, wool robe. As we talked, though, his kind spirit and delightful sense of humor put us all at ease. That is until he rose to leave. Then he walked right at me to give me a hug. At first I feared he might crack a rib, but when he took me in his huge arms all I felt was the love from his soul. It was the gentlest hug I ever got. Leo Rosten said: "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." I learned that lesson first hand in the arms of one of the strongest but gentlest spirits I have ever met in this world. He showed me with one hug that God is love and that our real strength comes from loving each other as He loves us. He showed me that our true power comes when we aren't afraid to embrace our goodness or express our joy. He showed me too that gentleness and hugs will forever go together. May your life always be full of both.( -<>- .-~~~- .-~~~_._~~~\ /~-~~ ~. `._ / \ \ | ~~-_ __ | | | | /~\| _-~~ ~~-..| ______||/__..-~~/ ~-.___ \ /~\_________.-~~ \~~--._\ | / ^-_ ~\ \ /^ ^~---|~~~~-.___.-~^ /~^| | | |^~\ //~^`/ /_/ ^~\\ / //~|| \ ~ || ___ -(|| __ ___ _ |\| \ ||_.-~~ /|\- \~-._ | -\| | ||/ / | |\- | |\ \ \__-\|______ || | \___\| \_\| _____ _.-~/|\ \\|| \ | / ~-. /' --/| / /| \ \|| \ / |\~- ' ---/| | | |\ | || \__| | --/| | ; \ /| / -(|| `./ | / \|/ ||)- `~^~^ || >LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD by Lydia E. Harris As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5 Read: Isaiah 62:1-5 On Valentine's Day I like to send and receive love notes with the special people in my life. I'm always eager to tear open the envelopes from family and friends and read the special sentiments. The cards may be humorous, sweet, or even romantic if they are from my bridegroom of 40 years. Often I save messages in my "special cards" file to reread later. I treasure another volume of love letters written to me--the Bible. God's Word overflows with messages to encourage, affirm, and guide me. But I'm ashamed to admit, I don't always read it as eagerly as my valentines. Although God's Word is penned with sacrificial love, at times it remains unopened. Busyness, interruptions, and life's cares may cause my disinterest and neglect. Just as love between a husband and wife wanes if it isn't nurtured, love for my heavenly Bridegroom grows cold if I don't cherish my time with Him. Yet God's love for me never changes. In Isaiah 62, I learn He sees me as a crown of beauty and a royal diadem in His hand (v. 3). And He delights in me (v. 4). Not only that, He rejoices over me as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (v. 5). Ponder that thought: God Almighty rejoices over you and me. Incredible! Author Joni Eareckson Tada describes God's amazing love this way: "It's a jump- up-and-down, throw-your-head-back, yell-out-loud Rejoice!' Jesus is brimming with heartfelt love for you too." Lord God, I'm thrilled by Your love. Give me a deep, consistent love for You and Your Word. Day by day, may I fall more in love with You. Questions: What causes you to neglect God's love letters to you? What can you do to be consistent? How has God shown His deep love for you? What can you do to fall more in love with Him? Perhaps one way is to reflect on the words of the hymn, "The Love of God." by Frederick M. Lehman. Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky. -<>- >Links For You Need A Partner http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041635.htm Never Take A Mans Last Beer http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041636.htm New Mouse http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42001.htm Pepsi-Italian http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42002.htm Plane Crash http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42003.htm -<>- _ _ _ _ /` \/ `\ _ _ /` \/ `\ \ / /` \/ `\ \ / _ _ '. .' \ / '. .' _ _ /` \/ `\ \/ '. .' \/ /` \/ `\ \ / \/ \ / '. .' '. .' \/ _ H A P P Y _ \/ /` \/ `\ VALENTINE'S /` \/ `\ \ / D A Y \ / '. .' _ _ _ _ '. .' \/ /` \/` \ /` \/ `\ \/ \ / _ _ \ / '. .'/` \/ `\'. .' \/ \ / \/ '. .' jgs \/ >SPECIAL LINKS For Valentine's Day.... POEMS: Friends Together http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/together.html I Need A Hug! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/hug.html It Takes Two! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/two.html Love's Lust! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/desire.html Moody Is My Day http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/need.html TEACHINGS: Our Valuable Anchor http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Choose His Children? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html You Are The Only You God Has http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html SPECIAL PAGES: Best Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/bestfriends.html Friendship! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendship.html God's Little Love Notes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/notes.html Love Thoughts http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html Love Test http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovetest.html What Is Love 1 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove1.html What Is Love 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove2.html What Is Love 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove3.html Would You Care? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/care.html Jesus Laughing Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.htm Akiane Child Prodigy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com We look forward to seeing you there! ==================================================================== >-->DevineHalowings: /)o(\ ||^|| '/_\' >Little Angel by Michelle Johnson My true story happened last year. I am totally blind, and have been since I was a tiny baby. Yet God is so awesome to be letting me see angels! I dreamed that I saw a little angel, kind of like a cherub. I had no idea where I was, but there was this group of people around me. Out of nowhere I was suddenly looking at this angelic figure. I think someone was holding it. At first I thought it was a toy or a porcelain doll, but every time I saw it's face, I would see a faint starlight glow, different to that of any glow seen on earth. That was so frightening! What I found peculiar was that the angel was so small, smaller than the palm of my hand, yet could still have such a countenance about him. The glow was like that of an angel in a dream I had last year, who kept pointing me away from certain fields which were dangerous. The glow was also like that of another angel I saw while I was still awake who told me not to go near the jug to boil water for coffee. That jug actually exploded only a short time afterwards while my mother was boiling water! This took place last year too. Back to my dream: This little cherub was being passed around and the other people, mostly boys - I think teenagers, didn't seem so scared which seemed strange to me. It seemed that I was the only one scared of it. The face, every time it was passed to me reminded me of Ezekiel's vision of the four living creatures, cherubim, and one of them had a cherub's face. This angel's face looked to me like that cherub's face miniature sized! The cheeks were chubby and puffed out, the little mouth reminded me of a doll but more perfected somehow and the rest of the body looked like a doll's body but more the shape of an angel. When it was passed around to me once again I decided that my fear might be my imagination or something of sorts putting me off, so I took more time to study him. Sure enough it looked like it could be a doll, but it was warm; maybe our hands made it warm, but after a few seconds of touching the angel, I found that it animated it's own heat. I knew it was living then. That scared me a bit. Then the face - it continued to fascinate me. I started to wonder, was it really glowing or was it just my imagination? I stared at it, then after a few seconds I saw that same starlight glow, the one I saw in the face of the angel in the dream about the fields and the other one in my vision of the dangers of going near the jug that exploded. What startled me apart from realising that indeed it was glowing and was not my imagination was that the little angel had it's own presence, the same presence as a normal-sized angel! I realised I was holding a miniature angel! I quickly lifted it away from my eye level - I was half bowed with fear by that time, so I lifted it to my right shoulder. Then it stretched it's tiny arms across my shoulder as if to comfort me and show me that he was not dangerous, but every time I looked at his face, I saw the angel's starlight glow, the same as the angels as described above. Knowing that it really was a miniature-sized angel scared me so much that I woke up. Lately I have been asking God to guard me with his "little" angels, which I know are gigantic, but compared with the omnipotent God Almighty, little. -<>- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >Saving Hands The rain has barely let up in the City of Makati (here in the Philippines). Hundreds of commuters were stranded and literally swarming along the highway. I felt as helpless as the person next to me. Buses were nowhere in sight and the head count was increasing by the second. Thirty minutes and counting... an hour and still nothing. My feet hurt and I was getting restless, so I whispered a silent prayer that my guardian angel and St. Michael, the Archangel, woul d protect and help me get a ride home. A few more minutes passed, my bus arrived. Finally! Unmindful of my actions, I began to run towards its side (like so many others have), each of us trying to be first to be assured a seat. I was pretty sure no one would have liked the idea of standing for 2hours more in that traffic...But I stepped inside too soon you see...the bus was still gliding to its proper stop and I couldn't wait...My mind was quick to think during that critical moment. Critical because I was not able to hold on to the door railing for balance and I have to make two quick decisions before the fall: 1) force myself to get inside the bus and risk a twisted knee or foot but eventually get crushed by the moving wheel or 2) diffuse my weight to send myself flying backwards away from the bus but still get crushed minus the wheel...I chose the latter, and a miracle happened! A lot of hands were suddenly beneath me, from my head down to my legs. THEY BROKE MY FALL! They carried me...everyone went still for a few seconds and they just let me get on quietly. Right then and there, I knew they were my angels!!! My angels saved me. Still shaken but otherwise unharmed, I looked back among the crowd and said out loud "THANK YOU. Thank you for saving me!" When I arrived home that night, I recalled the experience with my husband, every detail. He was scowling at first but as I got to the part where my angels saved me, he ended up smiling and acknowledging the powerful protection and intervention of angels. We both can't thank you enough. I shared my experience likewise to close friends. Hopefully, they too may experience the love, care and protection angels unconditionally give!!! -<>- . , |`. ,'| \_`-._ _,-'_/ ./ \-._`-._ _,-'_,-/ \, \._/._ `._>`-.__ __,-'<_,' _,\_,/ /_ \_.`-._\_-._ `--__ __--' _,-_/_,-',_/ _\ /._`\_./ _`_./`.-._ `-. ,-' _,-,'\,_'_ \,_/'_,\ \._`/ _/ _`_./ _/`\_ `. ,' _/'\_ \,_'_ \_ \'_,/ /._`/ _/ _`_./` _/ `\_ `\_ _/' _/' \_ '\,_'_ \_ \'_,\ \._`/ _/ _`_./` __/ >. `-.,-' ,< \__ '\,_'_ \_ \'_,/ /_`/._/._`_./` __.`.-\_.-`'-._/-,',__ '\,_'_,\_,\'_\ `\._`_./`\._/_/' _ `\_\_,/'\,_'_,/' /_\ \./ __/(__ / `--' \ / _ _ \ \'| |`/ \|____|/ \/ -] \/ / | \ | | | | | \ / | \ \__,-`\___/ (_) |__) mic >Angelic Interventions Vicki was awake in bed at 02:00AM, suffering from an asthma attack, and had got out of bed to open the window to try a change of air. Her ground-floor bedroom looks out onto the back garden, and she immediately noticed a young man on the lawn. At first she thought he was an intruder who had been attacking women in the area and, not being a nervous sort, she decided to confront him to frighten him off. As she opened the window to call to him, she saw that what she had thought was a short fair youth was actually a tall angel, kneeling as if in prayer. Vicki says, "He was half turned away from me, with wings, looking as if he had stepped off an ornate tomb ! My first reaction was utter amazement; my second was feeling like an intruder myself, seeing something totally private. I watched him silently for a while, then closed the window as quietly as I could and got back into bed." Vicki relates the surprising sequel: "I lay there thinking, Some people have gnomes in their gardens, I've got an angel in mine! I felt a weird mixture of pleasure and This is ridiculous. Have I lost my marbles? Then the angel spoke to me. I was aware of his message as an emerging conciousness. He told me not to be jugmental of people, even when I was sure they were wrong, that only God may judge. Not to hate people for what they do, but to understand. That life on Earth is only a tiny droplet in the ocean of eternity and my concern should be to try to become as close to God as I could, since God is composed of love and light. "Really, I don't have words to describe his message. I can only say I was filled with an incredible sense of love and knew I was feeling Heaven. Written down, the message sounded simplistic, yet it was full of subtlety; he spoke to my understanding. I fell asleep filled with enlightenment. "It took several weeks to realize the full effect. The angel had taken my anger and left me with self-knowledge and illumination. Those who know me well comment on a change; I am a richer, more committed and gentler person as a result." =================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >AN OLD LADY WITH A GOLDEN HEART by Roger Kiser I guess it takes years for us to grow up, but more importantly, it takes many years for us to wise up. As a young man, I saw an ad in my local newspaper one morning that advertised a boat, motor and trailer in "almost perfect, like new" condition. I called and talked with an elderly man and was assured that it was showroom new and that I would find nothing better for that price. I immediately jumped in my station wagon and went to look at a boat. When I arrived, I learned the old gentleman had been my son's former grade school principal. The boat sat on the side of the driveway and was uncovered by a faded somewhat torn and shredded green tarp. I stepped back as the old man unstrapped and peeled back the covering. My eyes opened wide as I secretly told myself "that damn thing is nothing but a piece of junk." There was no way I was going to buy that piece of junk, at any cost. Politely, I explained the boat was too small in length for delta fishing and I returned home. All day long I walked around wondering how anyone could see beauty in something that was old and falling apart. Because of hard times, several weeks ago, I considered selling my 1996 Chevy truck. Though it is fourteen years old, it is in perfect condition. Of course, there is the normal wear and tear but I have taken very good care of the truck and it has taken very good care of me. A new truck with the same features costs about $42,000 and I was surprised to learn that the Kelly Blue Book listed my vehicle at only $3,500. Does this Kelly guy not realize that this old truck has a heart of gold -- that it can stand tall and work just as hard as the rest of those new shinny looking fellows sitting dormant on the showroom floor? It was this just morning, some 50 years later, that I realized what that elderly school principal was seeing when he showed me his beautiful boat. He, as I now see, was looking at the inner beauty of an elderly, wrinkled old lady who had brought much joy, happiness and many pleasant memories into his life. I guess the true value of anything is in the heart, and in what it has accomplished during its lifetime. I suppose, with much sadness, that those traits cannot be purchased or sold at any cost. -- Roger Dean Kiser __________________________________________________ Roger is an author from Brunswick, Georgia, and is one of the nation's leading advocates for orphans. You can visit his website here: http://www.americanorpahn.com ==================================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: ____ ____ _,',--.`-. _,',--.`-. <_ ( () ) > ( <_ ( () ) > `-:__;,-' \ `A:__:,-' \ / \ (( ) \-' \ \ ( ) -Shimrod `-'"`-----' >THE TOUGHEST THING GOD EVER TRIED TO DO Al Lingren, a professor at Garrett Theological Seminary, told once of taking his teenage son fishing years ago. As they were sitting in the boat and talking, his son suddenly asked, “Dad, what is the toughest thing God ever tried to do?” The professor said the question caught him off guard. He didn’t know what to say, so he did what a lot of dads do when they are asked a difficult question: he answered with a question, “What do you think it was, son?” he asked. The boy proceeded to answer his own question. “Since taking science in school, I thought the creation of the world might be the hardest thing God ever tried to do, and in Sunday School we got to talking about some of the miracles, and I thought the resurrection might be the toughest thing God ever tried to do. But, after think- ing about it some more, I decided that the toughest thing God ever had to do is to get us to understand who he is and that he loves us.” --From a sermon by Robert L. Allen --- ...My Two Cents... It was to watch his only begotten Son be tortured and hung on a tree. -<>- | -+- _ _|_ {@} _|=|_ /___\ /(")\ (") .---'-'---. /((~))\/\ _ .-. /___________\ ~~/@\~~\|_|/ ((_)) | A /^\ A | / \ ||| ((_)) '-' | |"| | /~@~@~\ ||| '-' ldb_|___|_|___|_____/_______\|||______ ~THE ANNIVERSARY PRESENT~ Every year on our anniversary, Judy and I celebrate the special occasion by having bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for dinner -- a tradition we have held for fourteen years, mainly because that is what we ate on the day we met. About three o'clock we headed to Harvery's Grocery Store to purchase the items necessary for our meal. When pulling into the parking lot there were an elderly man and woman in the car in front of us. I began to get a little agitated as the man was driving about one mile per hour. "If I ever get that slow I want you to shoot me," I told my wife. "You're already that slow," she replied. "Then forget what I just said." The gentleman pulled into a handicapped parking space and the two of them slowly exited their automobile. By the time we parked the two of them were heading into the store. The woman was using a walker and the old man pulled himself forward using a three legged walking cane. After picking out a head of lettuce and several tomatoes, we headed to the meat counter for a slab bacon. As we round the corner, guess who ends up directly in front of us, pushing a shopping cart at three feet per hour -- the elderly couple from the parking lot. Judy and I stood waiting for them to move on down the line so we could reach the bacon. Very carefully, the old man reached over and picked up a small package of pork chops. Holding them out to his wife he replied, "This sure would be good for our anniversary mother." "You know we can't afford that dad," she replied. Slowly, the man placed the package back on the meat counter and the two of them continued down the aisle. Judy picked out a large package of bacon and off to the bread aisle we headed. As we passed the elderly couple, the man was trying to pick up a large package of hamburger. "The small package dad. The small package," the woman told him. Judy and I stopped and looked at one another. "James Ditty time?" "I think so, mom," I said, as I smiled back at her. Judy and I headed back to the meat counter and rang the buzzer. Several seconds later our friend James Ditty came out of the freezer. "Hey guys," he replied as he shook my hand. "James, how about four of your best center cut pork chops, maybe one and a half inches thick," Judy told him. "You got it." Judy and I waited for James to cut and wrap the meat. When he returned I took the marking pen from his pocket and wrote "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" on top of the white package. "How are we going to do this without embarrassing them dad?" Judy asked. "Don't worry, I got it covered." Judy and I headed to the bread aisle, picked out a loaf of bread and headed to the check out counter. After paying for our groceries, I took the pork chops and wrapped them in a plastic bag. I pointed out the elderly couple to the cashier and told her to slip the meat in their grocery bag when they checked out. Judy and I stood up front waiting for the couple to come through the register. As the woman was fumbling through her purse, the cashier placed the pork chops in the bottom of their grocery bag and sat the sack in the cart. As they headed toward the door the old man was trying to push the shopping cart with one hand and hold his cane with the other. "Can I help you with that," I told him. "Why thank you sonny." As the hours passed, we finally made it the fifty feet to their automobile. "Did I hear you say it's your anniversary today?" I asked the gentleman. "Fifty three years today." "Fourteen for us," I told him. "Well, Happy Anniversary," he replied. "And a Happy Anniversary to you guys too." Judy and I stood watching as the two of them slowly made their way out onto Perry Lane Road. As car after car began to line up behind them, horns began to blow. "Thank you for the anniversary present dad. It's the best one you ever bought." I just looked at my wife and smiled. ~Roger Dean Kiser~ (The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com) -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >A VERY HUMAN THING TO DO Someone made the statement: "To err is dysfunctional, to forgive co-dependent." Sometimes I think I operate that way - afraid to err and slow to forgive. Of course, we've all heard Alexander Pope's famous assertion that to err is human, to forgive, divine. But I don't agree. I think that to forgive is one of the most human things we can do. A number of years ago, Hildegard Goss-Mayr of the "International Fellowship of Reconciliation" told this true story. In the midst of tragic fighting in Lebanon in the 1970s, a Christian seminary student was walking from one village to the next when he was ambushed by an armed Druze guerrilla fighter. The Druze ordered his captive down a mountain trail where he was to be shot. But an amazing thing happened. The seminarian, who had received military training, was able to surprise his captor and disarm him. Now, the table was turned, and it was the Druze who was ordered down the trail. As they walked, however, the student of theology began to reflect on what was happening. Recalling the words of his scripture, "Love your enemies," "do good to those who hate you," "turn the other cheek," he found he could go no farther. He threw the gun into the bushes, told the Druze he was free to go and turned back up the hill. Minutes later, he heard footsteps running behind him as he walked. "Is this the end after all?" he wondered. Perhaps the young man had retrieved his weapon and meant to finish him off. But he continued on, never glancing back, until his enemy reached him, only to grab him in an embrace and pour out thanks for sparing his life. That was a very human thing he did - foregoing the impulse to strike back. It took a strong spirit. Yet every time we decide not to get back at somebody who hurts us, we exercise one of our greatest powers - the power to choose a better way. Somebody else put it better than I can: "Life is too short for drama and petty things, so, kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly." It's one of the most powerful and human things to do. -- Steve Goodier as seen in Life Support -<>- _ /_) (8_))}- . \_) '. .--. . , .-.-,_, : '. .' )`-.>'` ( '---'`; / `\ | . | | | _.' \ / / .' `=(\ /.=` ' `-;`.-' '._ `)| , ` ' ' ' ' ' || .-'| ,_|| \_,/ , \|| .' |\|\ , ||/ ,_\` |/| |Y_, '-.'-._\||/ >_.-`Y| ` ,_|| \|| || jgs || |/ >GOD'S LOVE God sends us flowers every Spring; Their fragrance fills the air. He sends us breezes to refresh Oh friend, how much He cares. He sends the morning sunrise With gold and orange hues. At night, He sends us twinkling stars -- His wonders ever new. He sends the warmth of sun each day, The trees to offer shade, And for my cascading waterfalls -- All this for us He made. The majesty of mountains high Outlined against the sky; The rippling brooks, the rolling seas -- All made for you and I. He sent evenings for resting And each day to start anew. With all these daily miracles He's saying "I love you." Helen Gleason as seen in Inspiration Plus To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================= __ .---. __ / ` .-.7,--. / `. .-''. -, , \ '--.- -; | ) / ,` / \ ,_) / '-. / ( ( | / .' ) \ '. `--,/ .---' ,-.| `--. / '-, -' .' .==,=; `-,.;--' / ,' _;--;| /_...=' || jgs || .==,=. ||/ '.\ ,||`'=...__\ || || ||, || || || *~* HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND! 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