Thy Will And Will Of Man... :) 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 ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ .-. [.-''-., | //`~\) (<| 0\0|>_ ";\ _"/ \\_ _, __\|'._/_ \ '='-, /\ \ || )_///_\>> ( '._ T |\ | _/),-' '. '._.-' /'/ | | '._ _.'`-.._/ snd ,\ / '-' |/ [_/\-----j _.--.__[_.--'_\__ / `--' '---._ / '---. -'. .' _.-- '. \_ '--.___ _;.-o / '.__ ___/______.__8----' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2010 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2010 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! ================================================================ >-->From Heartwarmer: _ .-' '-. / \ |,-,-,-,-,| ___ | _)_(_ | (/ \) | _\_/_ /) / \_/ \// |( )\/ ||)_( |/ \ n| | / \ | |_|___| \|/ jgs _/L\_ >MARTHA STEWART, HE IS NOT by Shelley Madden The satellite dish had stood in my father's yard over twenty years. It watched over us kids growing up, moving out to explore the world and start families of our own. In it's day, it was the landmark of our neighborhood, shining aluminum pointing into space, as it cupped the sky, casting a giant shadow beneath its twelve foot expanse. Passerbys would slow to admire its massive size, many would stop for closer inspection. We would gather in front of the TV, my younger brother flipping through the channels as the dish groaned and turned outside, searching through space for a new signal. We were infatuated with TV land, thousands of channels awaited us, if we could only figure out what buttons to push when. Too soon, it was outdated, replaced by new inventions. It was quickly forgotten, where it silently stood representing a bygone era. It collected leaves in the fall, caught snow in the winter. It rose proud in the spring storms, then lay quiet in the summer heat. Divorce and retirement found dad living alone in his old house, passing time on many projects. During his daily excursions he could be found poking around in our small town's community dumpster, or behind the car wash, looking for Objects d'Art which only he could breathe life into once again. His garage was soon brimming with other's castoffs -- broken, unwanted things waiting for their chance to become useful once again. The satellite dish loomed over my father and his projects, as he took parts off broken lawn mowers, using them to bring life to another old mower. It waited patiently in the background watching him fix old clocks, or rebuild a broken rocking horse he had brought home. It stood silently while he crafted an old headboard into a bookcase. He tinkered day and night, creating things with his skilled hands, hands never slowed by time or age. As soon as he finished one creation, he would begin another. One summer day, I came to visit, but something was missing from the yard. The satellite dish was gone. In its wake was a large hole, followed by drag marks slicing across the lawn. The yard now looked oddly barren, reminding me of a Thanksgiving table missing its centerpiece. I could almost feel my memories fade as I gazed solemnly at the bare spot in front of me. I followed the path of churned dirt and crushed grass around the side of the house, to the back yard. My mother would have had a fit if she were still here and seen the mess dad had made. There it was. A giant spacecraft had crashed in the backyard. The neighbors would surely think my father had gone mad. I could see myself calling the old folks home for a tour in the very near future. I took a closer look, trying to understand what I was looking at. Framed by the blue sky and the old pecan tree, stood the satellite dish, reigning in new found glory, standing proudly with a new purpose. Never at a loss for creativity, never at a loss for time, my father had welded an eight foot pole into the center of the inverted dish. It was now a giant upside down bowl. He then cemented it into the ground upright, creating what was perhaps the world's largest patio umbrella! He stood beaming beneath, BBQ tools and grill at the ready. He had set in its shadow his old patio chair, and a small table. He had what no man in town had, perhaps what no man in the state had -- an indestructible relic of days gone by given new meaning once again by his skilled hands. An old memory was now ready for new memories. And he had done it alone. The former satellite-dish-now-turned-patio umbrella was once again watching over us. As time passed, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would play below, as if under the petals of a giant flower protecting its nectar. It sheltered us against the sun, protected us from the rain. It gave new meaning to holidays and birthday parties. Folks continue to stop and gaze at it in awed silence. Dad's masterpiece now proudly bears the colors of his alma mater, and tiny white lights are laced around its broad rim -- lights which cast a warm, almost other-worldly-tin-foil glow around my father as he sits quietly beneath, reading a book, perhaps thinking of days gone by, or maybe even planning his next invention. For which I patiently await. -- Shelley Madden __________________________________________________ Shelley is a freelance and short story writer, who enjoys raising horses and poultry. She is a native of Wise County, Texas. --- .--. ________ |Oo| |()| | -} .----\""/----. | \/ | | | . | | | | . | |____/__ \ \ . (_____/_= \ \ \ \/\=[]===) (""\ | | |_/ | | | | Tim Campbell >WALMART SENIOR GREETER Charlie, a new retiree greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies. One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charlie, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang up job, but you're being late so often is quite bothersome." "Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it." "Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd though you're coming in late. I know you're retired from the Navy. What did they say if you came in late there?" "They said, 'Good morning, Admiral. Can I get you some coffee, sir?'" ===================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: ___ \\|| ,'_,-\ ;'____\ || =\=| || - | ,---'._--''-,,---------.--.----_, XXIV / `-._- _--/,,| ___,,--'--'._< /-._, `-.__;,,|' / ;\ / , ; / ,' | _ - ',/, ; ( ( | /, ,,; \ \ | ',,/,; \ \ | /, / ,; (| ,^.| / ,, ,/; `-'./ `-._,, ,/,; ´-._ `-._,,; jrei |/,,`-._ `-. |, ,;, ,`-._\ Roman Numerals One of my college friends asked a group of us for advice on organizing his final report for the year. "Why don't you use Roman numerals to head the different sections?" another friend suggested. "I thought of that," he replied. "But my keyboard doesn't have Roman numerals on it." By way of Doc's Daily Chuckle To Subscribe, go to : http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/DocsDailyChuckle/ This post is brought your way by Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To subscribe go to http://www.sermonfodder.com or drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends. ========================================= , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Evidence OF BIBLICAL FAITH FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Decades ago when T.W. Hunt was about to become a leader at a boys camp in Spain, he asked God to give him the type of biblical faith Paul, Timothy and Peter possessed. "I expected to get zapped and then drive into camp with that same kind of faith they had in the New Testament," said Hunt, one of the great prayer teachers of this generation. "But it didn't happen like that. God did give me faith, but it took years and years. And he did it by building five conditions into my life." Hunt - author of the "Doctrine of Prayer," "Disciple's Prayer Life" and "The Mind of Christ" - said you should write these five conditions of faith down and put them in your Bible and pray about each one: 1) For Christians with faith, prayer becomes their very breath. "You cannot help praying. Many times I've missed meals, and I hate to tell you this, I've even missed classes because I was praying," said the former music professor at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. 2) Christians with real faith see life from a spiritual perspective. "You wake up in the mornings thinking about Jesus." 3) For Christians with biblical faith, Christ is the source of their joy. "Joy in the Bible is not happiness," Hunt said. "When the Bible talks about joy, it talks about joy in the Lord. Most people think joy is when you get credit for good things, but let me tell you, if God gets all the credit, there will be great joy." 4) Christians with real faith keep their eyes on the Lord, not just what they are praying for. The problem with some churches today, Hunt said, is that members don't let God take over. They don't keep their eyes on him. "They say, 'We know what to do. We're trained. We have methods, money and buildings.' Some of the churches I go to, I even wonder if God is there." 5) Christians with biblical faith know Jesus is real in the present. "Most of us think of Jesus in the past or future, and that is important. But the most important thing about Jesus Christ is what he is doing right now. Jesus is real right now." Hunt said once he realized God was giving him the faith he asked for so many years ago, he also discovered it was a package deal. "I began to realize that along with faith came two other things I was not expecting -- trust in the Lord and hope." Faith brings with it trust in the Father and hope in him - not just hope he will fulfill specific wishes, Hunt said. "Hope is never followed by the relative pronoun, that," Hunt said. "It is always hope in God, not hope that it won't rain or that I won't have cancer." A Christian falling on hard times may have a difficult time with faith and hope, he said, "but he can still trust in the wisdom of God." Hunt's latest project is a nine-week, video-based study by Hunt, "From Heaven's View." The study, co-written with Hunt's daughter, Melanna, discusses her experiences with cancer. by Terri Lackey www.Pastors.com ©Copyright 2003. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ==================================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,sdPBbs. ,d$$$$$$$$b. d$P'`Y'`Y'`?$b d' ` ' \ `b / | \ \ / / \ | \ _,--' | \ | /' _/ \ | \ _/' /' | \ `-.__ __/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__ /' / | / \ \ `-. `\ / /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-. / |;;;;;;;\ \ _|_ | /^\ /^\ /___\ /^\ \/^\ | # |__________ /^\/ \| | | # |__________\ . |_|/ | _ | # # # # | X | H | | >God's Mountain Garden By Bertha M. Sutliff I grew up on a farm in the mountains of northwest Arkansas. As children, my brother and I roamed every inch of the little mountain facing my parents' house. We knew where every giant boulder and animal burrow was on that little piece of mountain bordering my dad's farm. One day, my grandpa came to visit from his home several miles away. We sat on the front porch swing looking at the mountain and he began to tell me a story. It was a delightful tale about him and me living in a little cabin on the mountain. "Can you see it?" he asked. "It's right there by that big acorn tree. See it?" Of course I saw it. What eight-year-old child wouldn't see what her imagination wanted her to see? "We're gonna live in that cabin. We'll catch a wild cow for our milk and pick wild strawberries for our supper," Grandpa continued. "I bet the squirrels will bring us nuts to eat. We'll search the bushes for wild chickens and turkeys. The chickens will give us eggs and we'll cook us a turkey over the big ol' fireplace. Yep, we'll do that some day." From that day on, every time I saw my grandpa, I asked when we would go to live in that little log cabin on the mountain. Then he'd once more spin the story of how the two of us would live in the cabin with the wildflowers and wild animals around us. Time raced on; I grew into my teens and gradually forgot Grandpa's story. After graduating high school, I still saw Grandpa and loved him dearly, but not like that little girl did. I grew out of the fantasy of the log cabin and wild cows. Before long, I married and set up my own house. One day, the phone rang. When I heard my daddy's sorrowful voice, I knew my grandpa had left us. He had been in his garden behind his house and died there, his heart forever stopped. I grieved alongside my mother for my dear grandpa, remembering his promises of the cabin in the woods with all its animals and flowers. It seemed I could once again hear his voice telling me the fantasy we shared. I felt my childhood memories being buried with him. Less than a year later, I went to visit my parents' farm. Mama and I sat on the front porch admiring the green foliage of the mountain. It had been ten months since Grandpa had passed away, but the longing to hear his voice one more time was still fresh in my soul. I told Mama about the story Grandpa had always told me, of the cabin in the woods, the wild cow, the chickens and turkey. "Mama," I said after I had finished my story, "would you mind if I went for a walk by myself?" "Of course not," was her reply. I changed into old jeans and put on my walking shoes. Mama cautioned me to be careful and went on with her chores. The walk was invigorating. Spring had come to the country and everything was getting green. Little Johnny-jump-ups were springing up all over the pastures. New calves were following their mamas begging for milk. At the foot of the mountain, I stopped. Where did Grandpa say that acorn tree was? "Straight up from the house," I thought I heard him say. I began my journey up the little mountain. It was steeper than I remembered, and I was out of shape. I trudged on, determined to find that tree. Suddenly the ground leveled out. I was amazed to see what was before me. Soft green moss covered a small, flat clearing. Dogwood trees, smothered in pastel blooms, surrounded it. Off to the side stood a tall oak tree -Grandpa's acorn tree! Scattered among the tufts of moss were vibrant colors of wild wood violets. Green rock ferns and pearly snowdrops were scattered about as well. I could hardly catch my breath. I don't know how long I stood there - several minutes, I suppose. Finally I came to my senses and sat down on the moss. In all my childhood wanderings on the mountain, I had never seen this magically beautiful place. Was this what Grandpa meant when he pointed out our special spot on the mountainside all those years ago? Did he know this was here? A squirrel darted in front of me. He had a nut in his mouth. I watched as he scampered up the oak tree. No, I didn't see a wild cow or chickens. But in my heart, I knew they were there somewhere. I decided to go tell Mama what I had found. She would want to see it too. Before I left I took one more look. It was the most beautiful place I could have ever imagined. It didn't take me as long to get back to the house. I burst into the kitchen babbling about the clearing on the side of the mountain. Mama calmed me down enough so she could understand what I was talking about. Daddy heard the conversation and tried to convince me there was no such place up there. He knew the mountain and had never seen anything like that. On my insistence, he and Mama decided to go see the amazing place I was raving about. Once again I climbed the mountain straight up from the house Before I knew it, we were at the top. "We must have missed it," I told my dad. He just nodded and we retraced our steps. We searched for over an hour for that little place on the mountain. We never found it. I was devastated. On the way back home, Mama put her arms around my shoulders. "Sissy," she said, "you know what you saw, don't you?" "Yeah, I know what I saw, and I know it's there somewhere. We just missed it." "No sweetie, it's not there anymore. You saw God's garden. Only special people can see that. Your grandpa loved you so much, and he knew you were grieving inside. Hold that memory in your heart." I'm 52 years old now. Every time I go back to Mama's house and sit on the porch, I remember the secret garden Grandpa told me about. But I no longer go out and look for it. No, I know just where it is. -<>- I Can Do All Things Because It IS CHRIST In ME - The Hope Off Glory! _________________________ (, ______________________ ) | | || | | @@@@ || @@@@ | | @@@@@@@ || @@@@@@@ | | @@ - - || - @@@@ | | @ c/ || '_ @@@ | | _@| |_ || __\@ \@ | | ( \ )/_\ /_ || _\\ (/ ) @\_/) | | \ \|) / \) || |(__/ / /| | | |\_/ ( -/ || \___/ ----/_| | | / \ || ,: '( | | : _/| || |: \ | | : | || |: ) | | : | || |: | | |_______'____,_|_______|| |_____,_| .---('________________________)--. | / ( |____ __________ _| | /\ ) |___| -o- | |__| -o- | ( \| / |___| -o- | |__| -o- | | /'=. b'ger|________| |__|______| '=>/ \ / \ /|/ ,___/| >KEEP THE FAITH All of our thoughts are creative; that is, we create our entire life with our thoughts. What happens when we actively apply faith to our thoughts about our self and our life? Would we not experience a more powerful, meaningful, and fulfilling existence? Of course we would! What exactly is faith? Faith is the fertilizer we give to the seeds of our thoughts. It is the beginning of every dream we have for our self, and no dream can be achieved without faith to light the way. Faith is neither positive nor negative. It resides in our conscious mind, as well as our subconscious mind, and literally propels our thoughts, no matter what they are, to fruition, which in turn creates our reality. Faith is sometimes mistaken for bad luck because it can be used by our subconscious mind to create poverty or misfortune if those are the seeds we have planted for our self. Faith is the thought behind the thought, the one we rarely glimpse until we totally clean out the cobwebs, look deep into our mind, and state with total honesty what we really, really believe about our self. In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill writes "Faith is the 'eternal elixir' which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought!" I challenge you to read that again and again, until the meaning of that statement is more than just an intellectual understanding. Let it sink in deep. Personalize it by applying it to situations of your own that could use some life, power, and action. In my mind, faith is belief to the tenth power. When I say I believe in myself or I believe something to be true, I'm making a statement based on what I know. On the other hand, when I have faith that something will happen, I'm giving up what I know, releasing all control, and accepting that it is done. That is the key that will change your life when you apply it to achieving every one of your heart's desires. There is no limit to the miracles that faith can create, but what really defines faith is the innate trust that the desire or miracle you seek is already manifest. It is done; it has already happened; it is already there waiting for you to open your eyes, reach out your hands, and grasp it! In faith you have already created it! When you come to the point, through faith, of accepting that your heart's desire is already done, you have stepped out of your illusion of lack, unworthiness, and aloneness. You have conquered your negative self talk and cured the thought behind the thought that has always denied you the desires of your heart. It is then that the illusions of pain, lack, disease, and strife will cease to exist. In place of these illusions will be the faith that you can create and experience the opposite of these things by simply knowing that love, peace, joy, abundance, and perfection are available for you to choose. These things are already there, with plenty for all, and it is done! -<>- //-----------\\ // | | | \\ // \__ / \ / | \\ || \| | / __|| || \ | |_/ || ||\ __ | |/ __ || || \__/ \| |_/ \_|| || _ ___| / \_ || ||_/ \__/ |/_ \_/|| || o \ _|| It's not - 7 years bad luck... ||\ / | \___/ || || \___/ | \ /|| It's - We Get A Brand New Mirror! || | / \_ )-<_|| || / / \ / || \\ / | _>< // //\\ | / \ //\\ || \\-----------// || || || /||\ /||\ /____\ /____\ unknown >See It Through When you're up against a trouble, Meet it squarely, face to face; Lift your chin and set your shoulders, Plant your feet and take a brace. When it's vain to try to dodge it, Do the best that you can do; You may fail, but you may conquer, See it through! Black may be the clouds about you And your future may seem grim, But don't let your nerve desert you; Keep yourself in fighting trim. If the worst is bound to happen, Spite of all that you can do, Running from it will not save you, See it through! Even hope may seem but futile, When with troubles you're beset, But remember you are facing Just what other men have met. You may fail, but fall still fighting; Don't give up, whate'er you do; Eyes front, head high to the finish. See it through! ~ Edgar A. Guest --- ...See this... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Never Give Up! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Walking In Power http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.htm Attitude Is Everything http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html -<>- ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" >I'll Paint You A Rainbow I'll paint you a rainbow to hang on the wall, To brighten your heart when grey shadows fall, On a canvas of joy outlasting the years. With a soft brush of sweetness to dry all your tears, I'll paint you a rainbow with colors of smiles That glow with sincerity over the miles. On a palette of words I will tenderly blend Tones into treasures of sunlight and wind. I'll paint you a rainbow that reaches so wide, Your sighs and your sorrows will vanish inside, And deep in the center of each different hue, Is a memory fashioned especially for you. So, lift up your eyes, for suspended above, Is a rainbow designed by the fingers of love. --- Grace E. Easley --- --- ...Check these out... God's Little Love notes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/notes.html Johan's Noah's Ark http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/noahsark.html God's Paintings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpaints.html God's Water Paintings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html -<>- _------Q--\ /~ ) <_____________/ / _ ))))))))) [] / ((((((((( |~~~| (____/' )))))))))) | | ))))))))))))))))) |\ | | (((((((((((((((((( / | | | /~~\----------/| // \ | _/ | |<===| ===] ||// \ \____ //' //| | \__/~~~~~~~~~~|^ _--~~~ ~~~-// // | | | / () () // ) // | | | | () _-//-~ // | | ((((((((| () (_// // | | | : | ~~---_ // | | | | \ () () ) // | | | | ~--__ __-~ // |___| | | |~//~~~~~ // // \\ / / |// // // \\ (___(___________|- // [==] [==] unknown >Life is a miracle Life is a miracle. Don't let it slip away. Open your heart to others. Give of yourself each day. See the beauty in everyone, Regardless of where they've been. Some have a difficult journey, and really need a friend. Share your gifts and talents. Listen with your heart. Do the things you dream about, but don't have time to start. Pick a bouquet of flowers. Show someone that you care. Be gracious and forgiving. Life is never fair. Hold on to your courage. You may need it down the road. We all have a cross to bear. It could be a heavy load. If you practice all these things No matter where you roam, you may find both sun and rain, But you'll never feel alone. Shared by Angelina Hanselaar -<>- >Links for your enjoyment Worse Than Locking Keys In Car http://www.buffaloschips.com/72206.htm Worst Seats http://www.buffaloschips.com/72207.htm WoW http://www.buffaloschips.com/72208.htm Wrong Ball http://www.buffaloschips.com/72209.htm Wrong Gift http://www.buffaloschips.com/72210.htm Hama Rat http://www.buffaloschips.com/72211.htm Rollin' On The River! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/river.html Extreme Homes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/exhomes.html Nanny Animals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nannyanimals.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! =================================================================== /\ __ \ .-':::. \ :::::|\ |,\:::'/ \ `.:::-' \ `-. \ ___ `-. | .-'';:::. `-.-' / ',''.;;;\ | ','','.''| |\ ' ,',' /' `.`-.___.-;' `--._.-' AsH >More than a Mere Coupon Story Editor: by Marilda Mel White Joyce Schowalter California, USA There was nothing in the house to eat and I was hungry. I was also downright grouchy because I had to go to the store before I could have breakfast. I don't much like starting a day like that. Adding to my frustration, by the time I got to the market I couldn't remember anything else I needed. I wandered around and finally picked up a 40-pound bag of dog food and a few other things and headed for the checkout. There were only three checkers working and every one of them had a long line, further fueling my bad mood. Then I really picked the wrong line. The people in front of me had two carts full, and as the checker started ringing them up, they worried out loud that they might not have enough money for everything. They started sorting things into "must have" and "maybe" piles and checking the sub-total after every beep. I understood their situation (I've been there too), but they were going to take forever and I just wanted to get home to eat my donuts. Then it hit me -- I'd forgotten to pick up the donuts for my breakfast! I left to get the things that had brought me to the store in the first place, and back at the check stand a few moments later, crankier than ever, I picked a different line. The woman ahead of me there looked at my cart and said, "I think I have a coupon for that." "What?" I said, rather stupidly. I was so sure that every minute of the day was going to be rotten that I didn't realize yet that my fortune was turning. "The dog food," she said, going through an envelope. "I'm sure I have a coupon for that." She found it and handed it to me. I noticed then that she had the same brand of dog food in her cart, so I suggested she might want to save the coupon for herself. "Oh no," she said, "I have plenty of these. You're welcome to it." I took it and thanked her profusely. The woman probably thought I was overdoing it with my many thanks for a $3.00 coupon, but then again, I wasn't just thanking her for a mere coupon. I was thanking her for reminding me that sometimes when I least expect it (and least deserve it), some small, kind act by a stranger can hit me smack dab between the eyes and turn my whole day around. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From cupO'Cheer: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Give to Receive Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 --------------------------- I used to think Luke 6:38 only referred to money. But last week the Lord reminded me once again that, whatever I give--love, mercy, friendship, help--will be given back to me even more generously than what I gave out. When I feel a need in my life, the fastest way to get that need filled is to fill that need for someone else. A few days before Mother's Day, my 8-year-old daughter asked, "Mommy, can we see Mary (her former foster mother) on Mother's Day? I made her a card." I hesitated for just a moment and then said, "I'll see what I can do." Every Mother's Day is a reminder of how precious my children are. After the girls came back to me three years ago, I still let them stay with Mary occasionally because I know she loves them and they love her. But several months ago, Mary stopped inviting the girls to visit her. A few weeks ago, I learned indirectly that Mary has been under treatment for breast cancer. As much as I wanted to spend Mother's Day with my girls, I felt that Mary needed them more. She was very excited when I called her to make the arrangements. I spent most of Mother's Day with my older kids. By the afternoon, I was really missing my little girls. At the end of the day, I checked my Facebook page on the internet and found a Mother's Day note from my oldest daughter, thanking me for carrying her 30 years ago. That was an unexpected surprise. I was 20 years old, unmarried, and a college student when she was born. Unable to raise her myself, I gave her up for adoption. I found her 11 years ago through the internet, and we have had a sporadic long- distance relationship ever since. Getting that note from her on Mother's Day was like a hug from God for sharing my little girls with Mary. I don't know what your need is right now, but God does. If you will just stretch yourself a little to touch someone else in that area, He will make sure you are touched right back. Love in Christ, Cathleen Murphy as seen in The Bread -<>- __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP >TRUST ME Come unto me and I will give you rest. I will bear your burdens for you. Your life is valuable when you use it to glorify Me. I will lift you up above the things of this life that have held you down. Trust Me with your heart, and lean not to your own understanding for My ways are higher than yours. My ways will prosper and bless you more than you can realize. Put not your confidence in man or you will be headed for a fall. I know what you yearn for, and I can fill that need. There are some things that only I can do for you. Seek my face for those things with all your heart and you shall have them. Keep your heart open, and your ears tuned to My word that when I speak, you will know and understand that it is I that speaks unto you. Press forward when trials come your way, for I am perfecting that, that is within you so that you will be able to do my will. Stay close to Me so that you wont be distracted and miss out on what I would have you do. If you need wisdom, ask Me and I will give it to you. Stand firm upon My word and I will perform it. Written By: Mary Eldrdge 2/24/05 as seen in TimeWithGod -<>- -------|--------------------------------------------------|--------- ___|___ ___|___ ////////\ _ _ /\\\\\\\\ //////// \ ('< >') / \\\\\\\\ | (_) | | (^) (^) | | (_) | |______|.===="== =="====.|______| ----------------------------------------------------------------ldb-- >IS ANYONE LISTENING? "How are you today?" "I'm fine, how are you?" "I'm not so good today." Silence. Most of the time we take conversations like this as simple chit-chat. Nice words spoken as a courtesy without real concern or obligation. "How are you today?" he asks the next person. "I'm doing great! How are you?" "I've been better," he replied. He rings up the sale, hands her the bag and she leaves. The next person moves up, "How are you today?" "I'm doing fine," she said. But she never asked him. I could see this empty look on his face. I was in a local discount dollar store. I was looking for wrapping paper which was located near the front register. Over and over I heard the same conversation as customers were leaving the store. No one took the next step. No one asked the clerk why he was having such a bad day. In my presentations I often speak about the fact that in general we go through these niceties but we really don't want to know how someone is doing. Most times we don't really tell the truth anyway because we figure it's none of their business or no one really cares about our troubles. So, when I checked out I took it a step further. I always do. "How are you today?" he asked me. "Wonderful, thanks. How are you?" "Not doing well today," he replied. "Work getting to you?" "No, well, I don't want to be here." "The day's almost over. I hope it gets better," I told him. "This won't get any better." "I'll say a prayer for you." "That won't help. I have someone who is dying." I set the bag on the counter, leaned in and said, "I'm so very sorry. Is it a family member?""My grandfather. He's filling up with fluid. His body is swollen and they say he only has a few days." I went on to tell him that my Gramps was my favorite. "I really loved that man." "He's my last grandparent," he added. We talked a little more and looking at his name tag, I reached my hand out and said, "Clark, I am so very sorry. I promise to remember you and your grandfather in my prayers. We shook hands and I left. I wondered how many other people didn't ask. How many times have you heard someone express sadness, frustration or disappointment and you didn't respond. Sure, the line might be long. Step aside and continue the conversation. Sure, you might be in a hurry. This will only take a few minutes. Sure, in essence you might not really care. You'll need someone to care one day, too. But when someone is honest enough to tell you things aren't so good today, they are hoping that someone cares enough to ask why. "Is anyone listening?" Bob Perks If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ~ Thy Will ~ The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 NLT I did it again! I let down the person who counts on me the most. She asked me to pray for her, and I did, but I prayed for God's will and she wanted something completely different. Perhaps God is trying to speak to her through this struggle. Perhaps He wants her to take notice and take hold of Him to carry her through. We make choices in our lives that are not always best for us or aligned with Him. When we stop following Him and try to do things on our own, we can, without a doubt, make a mess of our lives. But He promises to get us through the storms and stay by our side; if only we would trust Him and let go of our own will and pay attention to His. Praying for someone or a situation is not a guarantee that what we want is what God wants. He knows what's best for us; why do we struggle with that? Why can't we simply trust? Adjust? When we center our lives on one event, we will certainly lose focus on what is truly achievable in HIM. Prayer to the Father: As Christians we are called to pray continuously; carry on a non-stop conversation with You. It's impossible! Isn't it? It undoubtedly is my biggest struggle Lord. I'm working on it -- praying about it -- and I know with Your help You will comfort me. Lord I lift the situation mentioned to You, knowing that You are just. You love us equally. You show no favoritism. You know every thought, action, and motive of every single person You created. You know our faults and weaknesses; our strengths and talents. You call each one of us to be Your friend. Thank You Lord for never changing, never forgetting, always being faithful, and always listening to the cry of Your children. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. My Personal Growth: So if I have let someone down it is only because I have chosen to be the woman God calls me to be, or the woman I expect myself to be. He constantly reminds me of the progress I've made on this journey of life with Him. Even though I may not be the person others want me to be, I am not who I used to be (Praises!). I will continue to try to be the women he has designed me to be...with Him! In His Path, Brenda Bates --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...A good example... Of Thy Will And Will Of Man Luke 22: [41] And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, [42] Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Jesus is our perfect example of 'thy will' be done. Jesus prayed to God 'remove this cup from me' - he was asking not to have to go through the torture and humiliation and death on the cross - but Jesus knew that God's will was always the best so while he asked to be spared from this he at the same time said - but if it is not your will then please your will be done. It is how we always should think and pray when asking for things that we are uncertain of God's will. I want to also make this point because it is one to remember... Always also keep in mind one of God's most important rules when you are asking for something. That is the will of another person. God will never force any thing on a person if it is against their will. So perhaps you are asking that God give you a raise or for that job you've been wanting to come through or say for uncle Henry to be saved or to be healed. All of these seem to be in the realm of something good and OK to ask God for. But then when you don't get what you are asking God for, how many of us will get upset and blame God for not caring or blame ourselves for not believing enough? How many also may just figure God is slow or that we just have to keep asking God because He must not of heard us as if God is deaf or requires us to ask for the same thing over and over and over again? We act like a little child that keeps asking for a cookie when they have been told they cannot have one until after dinner. Sound like something you can relate to? Well lets break this down a little. First the job raise. Easy to figure. If it is not the will of the people in charge, then God can only be so persuasive. He cannot make them give you a raise. Likewise, God cannot make them choose you over somebody else. He can give a positive feeling about you to the hireling's brain if that person or another one close by is reachable. Same goes for Uncle Henry. If Uncle Henry is not wanting to come to God, all God can do is make the opportunities to help or aide him to be saved. The choice is up to Uncle Henry. That goes for his healing as well. Some people get tired of the fight and are negative and have given up or believe their doctors more then they believe God will heal them. Their own personal believing is not there or countless other reasons why you praying for a person to be healed may not work. One time my friend wanted her boy friend to call her as she was very concerned because she could not get through to him. I prayed and she prayed and the day turned into days and then a week and then finally in desperation, I asked God what was going on and learned that they were having a hard time getting through to him. Not every one is fine turned to spiritual messages. When she finally did hear from her boy friend he said he felt time and time again to give her a call but he dismissed it figuring she'd know he was OK. He shrugged God off in other words. So remember that. When asking God for something that involves other people, God will do His very best for you, but when dealing with people, He has to play by His freedom of will rules. -<>- PRAYER Dear Lord, Strengthen the hands of the one who has become weary in doing well Encourage the heart of the one who is fearful of the future Guide the feet of the one who seems to have lost his way Gently lift the head of the one who has become discouraged Give eyes of COMPASSION to the one who has become callous to the needs of others Place Your hand of tender COMFORT on the shoulder of the one wracked in grief Put Your arms of acceptance around those who feel the emptiness of loneliness Apply the BALM of FORGIVENESS to the one who has harbored bitterness and resentment Minister healing to the one whose body cries out in pain Give sweet REST to the one overwhelmed with the cares of this world Freely grant Your perfect PEACE to all those who abide in Thee Bestow special BOLDNESS upon those persecuted for their faith Restore the JOY to the one whom You call Your Own And SAVE the soul that is nearest hell today! LORD, You are the Supreme Mercy-Giver! So, only You can: Love the unlovely Give FAITH to the faithless Reach the unreachable! In Your LOVING kindness, do all these things and more Lord, making us willing instruments of Your Grace, in case You see fit to use us--in ways however big or small--to accomplish Your special purpose in the lives of others! ALL THE GLORY GOES TO YOU, LORD! AMEN. By Tamsen Mongelli Hammen -<>- _\|/_ /--\ |[]| _] \/ [_ /_ `==' _\ \\| |// l\ __/j `|-'##| |#||#| |#||#| _|#||#|_ `==" "==` as >BEING DAD AND BEING THERE by Joseph Walker It would be something of an overstatement to say that I played on the school basketball team in junior high. I was on the team. I practiced with the team. I wore the black and white uniform. Yes, color HAD been invented by this time -- black and white were our school colors... or absence of colors, as the case may be of the mighty Millcreek Mustangs. I ran out on the floor and did lay-ups before the game started, then I sat on the bench and waved a towel and cheered for the guys who were actually going to play in the game. And when we won, I hugged cheerleaders and Pep Club members, who seemed to like hugging me because I wasn't all sweaty. As far as I was concerned, it was a pretty good arrange- ment. I enjoyed the camaraderie with the players, the workouts kept me in shape, I had a great seat for all of the games and I got a number of exuberant post-game hugs from Heidi Van Ert, who was the president of the Pep Club and the object of my 9th grade affections. But I didn't feel any of the pressure that comes with knowing that the outcome of the game may rest on your bony adolescent shoulders. I don't know how my Dad felt about my bench-warming status. We never talked about it. In retrospect, I imagine it was hard for him. Dad was a gifted athlete. He played basketball and ran track in college. He was fast and strong and he could jump like a kangaroo -- at least, that's what it says in his news clips. By the time I was old enough to play ball with him he was well into his 50s and wasn't moving like he used to. But he could still kill me in games of H-O-R-S-E with a two-handed set shot that he could hit from half-court -- time after time after time. Two of my older brothers were high school sports stars, and the third was an important part of a college basketball team that won the NIT championship (OK, he was the equipment manager - he still received an NIT championship ring that he wore until the day he died.) Dad was used to going to games to watch his sons PLAY. I'm not sure how he felt about going to games to watch his son SIT. And cheer. And wave a towel. And, hopefully, hug. Still, Dad was always there in his suit and tie, usually standing in a corner of the gym, leaning against the wall. I'd make eye contact with him during pre-game lay-ups -- it would've been uncool to smile or wave. And then I forgot about him until after the game -- and the hugging -- when he'd come up to me and smile and shake my hand and tell me, "Good game!" Even though I never actually did anything to make the game good. Until the last game of the season. We were playing our arch-rivals, the South Davis Redmen (OK, so maybe we didn't have actual colors for school colors -- at least our mascot wasn't politically inncorrect). It was a great day for the Mustangs, as we galloped off to a big lead. We were up by about 20 with two minutes to play when coach finally felt comfortable enough to look toward my end of the bench. "Walker!" he barked. "You're in!" The next two minutes are still kind of surreal to me. I remember running up and down the court a few times. I remember getting a rebound on defense and then running up the floor as the Pep Club starting counting down the last seconds of the game. I remember hearing them yell "5!" just as Mark passed the ball to me. I remember hearing the guys on the bench behind me shouting "Shoot!" as I faced the basket -- and shot. I remember watching the ball bounce off the backboard and through the hoop as the buzzer went off. I remember hearing everyone scream and yell like I had just won the game even though it just meant that we won by 22, not 20. And I remember wondering what to do. I mean, I knew what to do when we won a game while I was sitting on the bench. But I was completely unprepared for what to do when we won a game and I had hit a last- second shot -- meaningless though it may have been. Instinctively, I looked for Dad. And he was there, where he always was, smiling at me as he always did. And somehow that helped -- just knowing he was there -- and I came back to my senses in time to give a sweatier-than-usual hug to Heidi. For the next 35 years that was always the case -- not the "sweaty hug" part, but the "Dad was there" part. Through good times and bad, Dad was always there to smile, to encourage, to support and to love. I came to depend on that, even toward the end of his life when smiling was about all that he could do. It helped to know that, no matter what, Dad was there. And now I'm the one who is in my 50s struggling to keep pace with a teenage basketball player in my family. I think about Dad on Father's Day or whenever I'm tempted to NOT be there for my children. To be honest, I'm not as good at it as Dad was. But I keep trying because I know how much it can mean for Dad to be there when you hit that big shot. Or especially when you don't. -- Joseph Walker as seen in CCEC Storylist To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chriistian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Pass this on as it should be of interest to all who served. The study was carried out in Austrialia on their Vietnam Veterans. ABC Nat. 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