Trusting In God... :) 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!! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) Just a reminder for Facebook Users: .-. [.-''-., | //`~\) (<| 0\0|>_ ";\ _"/ \\_ _, __\|'._/_ \ '='-, /\ \ || )_///_\>> ( '._ T |\ | _/),-' '. '._.-' /'/ | | '._ _.'`-.._/ snd ,\ / '-' |/ [_/\-----j _.--.__[_.--'_\__ / `--' '---._ / '---. -'. .' _.-- '. \_ '--.___ _;.-o / '.__ ___/______.__8----' Please Friend me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! Thank You! :) I've also been sharing Images there from our friend Brenda! --- ...Most wonderful ones! Thanks Brenda! -<>- >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This hot sizzler is from our friend Brenda. So many sweet, beautiful, picture perfect photos it should please all our super dog lovers! Check it out here... |\ || \ | | | /.,, / ( / \ ( \ \ \_\__ .' '--._ ,__,-., / _";__( ,__._7 / ) \_ Y,=; \d ( _.' ~/ 6, '-, \___ ; ( _,-. Y) (C(/\. ) /I-._\(_'-' \_\_,-,_ /,,/ '-7) \ |"\_ \ ` \ _\ \_ \___ (` \_ '.<,_))) snd `-\,))) Cameo Dogs http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cameodogs.html --- ...Lots of Awws here! Thanks Brenda! This next smoking hot page is from our friend Linda. It combines adorable photos with quotes and sayings sure to touch all our animal lovers! Check it out here... ,-~~-.___. / | ' \ It was a dark and stormy night.... ( ) 0 \_/-, ,----' ==== // / \-'~; /~~~(O) / __/~| / | =( _____| (_________| W< About Dogs And People http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/aboutdogs.html --- ...So Cute! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: '\ . . |>18>> \ . ' . | O>> . 'o | \ . | /\ . | / / .' | jgs^^^^^^^`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? by Lee Simonson You didn't have to be a golf enthusiast to appreciate the "other" miracle that took place this past Easter Sunday. Easter represents a day of hope. So it was fitting that one hope was realized in a remarkable effort that had millions of viewers around the world glued to their televisions and holding their breaths. The outcome of the prestigious four day Master's golf tournament came down to one final stroke on the final hole. It couldn't have been scripted any better. What made this day, this hole, this final putt so special, was the golfer himself -- Phil Mickelson. Yes, the fans loved him. They loved his personality and boyish looks. They knew how he had been swinging golf clubs since he was 18 months old in the backyard of his San Diego home. Interestingly enough, he is right handed in everything he does, except golf. When his father demonstrated the game to him righthanded, he stood on the opposite side of him and followed along lefthanded. His father had built a putting green in the backyard so he could learn the game and practice. But this green on Sunday was far from his childhood backyard. It was at the beautiful Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia -- one of the most spectacular and difficult courses in the world. However, that wasn't the only difference. You see, 33-year-old Phil Mickelson has had a monkey on his back since he started playing professional golf in 1992. He's developed a reputation for always coming in second or third in major tournaments -- never finishing first. Oh, he's considered one of the best golfers in the world and he's won many lesser tournaments -- the Buick Invitational, the BellSouth Classic, the MasterCard Colonial and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. But the ultimate prize for golfers is winning the U.S. Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship and the Master's. But despite 42 tries, Phil had come to be known as "the best player to never win a major." Competition has been fierce. As soon as Phil was gaining his stride, along came a younger Tiger Woods who played like a vacuum cleaner, scooping up golf titles and tournaments like candy. Phil was constantly asked by reporters -- thousands of times -- why he couldn't win. Yet, he was a class act, and despite being hounded incessantly, he was always gracious and never lost his temper or friendly composure. Was Phil always going to play second-fiddle? Would he ever be able to breakthrough and show the world that he indeed had the talent and mind set of a true champion? Could this be his chance? The Master's on Sunday was a seesaw among great players. Tiger Woods was out of contention early on. His game of late has been off. But there were other formidable contenders who were all within one to three shots of being in the lead. Each hole seemed to create a new leader, each one capable of securing the title. But somehow, the golf commentators and experts sensed something about Phil Mickelson's play early in the game which singled him out. The cameras surveyed the players, and despite the tremendous pressure, anyone watching could see Phil's confidence growing each and every hole. The crowds would cheer him on as he walked down the fairways, and he would gesture back with a sheepish smile as he looked around and seemingly wondered to himself, "Is this what it feels like to be winner?" Phil and the world would soon find out. At the end, Phil had to make an 18 foot putt. If you think that's easy, get a measuring tape or yardstick and measure out 18 feet on the floor or your yard outside and picture yourself trying to hit a golf ball into a tiny 4-1/2 inch cup. Fortunately, Phil was playing with Chris DiMarco who happened to hit his ball right in front of Phil's on the green. This was a tremendous stoke of good luck since Phil now had the opportunity to see how Chris's putt would play out -- how the ball would roll over the bumps and slants on the green. He would know how his ball would react and he could compensate for it. If Phil made the putt he would win. The religious services for Easter had concluded. Most of the family get togethers and meal celebrations were over. The eyes of the world were now on one player who had a chance at making golf history. Everyone held their breath. You could hear a pin drop even though thousands of people were standing only a few feet away. For a moment, the world stood still. Phil knew what he was up against and knew what he had to do. He hit the ball and millions of people watched as it rolled... getting closer... closer... and WOW! It dropped in the hole! The crowd went wild and Phil jumped up in the air. Tears of joy started flowing from everyone. Phil hugged his caddy and went looking for his wife, Amy and three children. It had taken 14 years of hard work and effort to achieve this dream, but it had finally arrived. Yes, Phil Mickelson won the coveted Green Jacket that Master's champions are awarded. When he put it on, he said it felt nice. And while no one even mentioned it, he also won over $1 million. But money wasn't on anyone's mind. There were other more important things to consider. Things like hope, conviction, never giving up -- savoring a long sought victory with beloved family and friends. When Phil walked off the green and held up and hugged his gorgeous two year old daughter, Sophia -- the spittin' image of Goldie Locks -- he looked at her and in one of the most heartwarming moments in sports history, said, "Daddy won! Can you believe it?" We're not sure if Sophia knew what to believe at that moment. However, Phil made believers out of the rest of us. He helped us to understand a lesson we often forget -- that despite obstacles, setbacks and disappointments, there comes a time when hard work, practice, and the right attitude, will eventually pay off. Thanks Phil, for reminding us. -- Lee Simonson, Publisher, Heartwarmers ___________________________________________ Lee's golfing ability can be summarized in one word: terrible. ========================================================== >-->About Trusting In God From Our Friend LouiseA :) \ ,'|`-. / \,' _|_ ',' /'.' | `,' \ -._/_/_'.|,'_\__\_,- | | ,-*." | | ___|,+' /|\`.| | \ \/ | \/`. |___ \ /`.|,'\ / Y. | \/ | `.|_,' | | __ | __\|,- ,-`=--. Ool /=8\ >God and the Spider (Author Unknown) During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "Hah," he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that with you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall." We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection. -<>- _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Worship: Offering Yourself to God (By Rick Warren) Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about. This act of personal surrender is called many things: consecration, making Jesus Lord, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the Spirit. What matters is that you do it, not what you call it. God wants your life, all of it - 95 percent is not enough. Our total surrender to God is blocked by several things, including: * Our ignorance of God - not knowing what he's really like; * Our sinful nature - the desire to be God ourselves; and * Our misunderstanding of surrender and the trust that it requires. Can We Trust God? Trust is an essential ingredient to surrender. We won't surrender to God unless we trust him, but we can't trust him until we know him better. Fear keeps us from surrendering, but love casts out all fear. The more you realize how much God loves you, the easier surrender becomes. How do I know God loves me? He gives us many evidences: * God says he loves you (Psalm 145:9); * You're never out of his sight (Psalm 139:3); * He cares about every detail of your life (Matthew 10:30); * He gave you the capacity to enjoy all kinds of pleasure (1 Timothy 6:17b); * He has good plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11); * He forgives you (Psalm 86:5); * He's patient with you (Psalm 145:8); * He sacrificed his Son for you (Romans 5:8). God loves you infinitely more than you can imagine. "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1 HCSB). If you want to know how much you matter to God, look at Christ with his arms outstretched on the cross saying, "I love you this much! I'd rather die than live without you." God is not a cruel slave driver or a bully who uses brute force to coerce us into submission. He doesn't try to break our will, but woos us to himself, so that we might offer it freely to him. God is a lover and a liberator, and surrendering brings freedom, not bondage. When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that he is not a tyrant but a savior; not a boss, but a brother; not a dictator, but a friend. -<>- {) _, _/) /,`"/.|),___ (\.'//`<-' ,`+. `'_| > / |)) (.-)|--'\ < \( \)|| || ` /( /( SK >Thoughts Midstream (Try Looking Up) (By Joni Eareckson Tada) When I was little and went horseback riding with my sisters, I had a hard time keeping up. My problem was that I was riding a little pony only half the size of their mounts. I had to gallop twice as fast just to keep up. I didn't mind. I took it as a challenge - until we came to the edge of a river. My sisters on their big horses thought it was fun and exciting to cross the river at the deepest part. They never seemed to notice that my little pony sank quite a bit deeper into the swirling waters. It was scary, but I wasn't about to let them know. One crossing in particular sticks in my memory: the Gorsuch Switch Crossing on the Patapsco River. It had rained earlier that week and the river was brown and swollen. As our horses waded out toward midstream, I became transfixed staring at the swirling waters rushing around the legs of my pony. It made me scared and dizzy. I began to lose my balance in the saddle. The voice of my sister Jay finally broke through my panic. "Look up, Joni! Keep looking up!" Sure enough, as soon as I focused on my sister on the other side, I was able to regain my balance and finish the crossing. That little story came to mind recently when I was reading about Peter in Matthew 14. It seems he had a similar problem as he walked on the water toward the Lord Jesus. He looked down at the raging waters, got dizzy, and lost his balance. Because he took his eyes off the Lord and put them on the swirling waves around him, he began to sink. How much are we like him! Instead of resting on the Word of God, we let our circumstances almost transfix us, absorbing us to the point where we begin to lose our spiritual equilibrium. We become dizzy with fear and anxiety. And before you know it, we've lost our balance. It's easy to panic, isn't it? And admittedly, it's hard to look up - especially when you feel like you're sinking. But my pony and I made it across the Patapsco and Peter made it back to his boat. Thousands before you, enduring the gale force winds of circumstance, have made it through, keeping their eyes on the Lord Jesus. How about you? If you can't find a way out, try looking up. --- ...Great Advice! Thanks LouiseA! ============================ "If you can't find a way out, try looking up." >-->That is exactly what this man did... Miracle In The News! ~~ ::::::::: o _|| :::::::::---------[|<[___] :::::::::| | | | (_) o >Oregon man pinned under 3,000-pound tractor saved by teen daughters An Oregon man says his teenage daughters saved his life last weekend after they somehow lifted a 3,000-pound tractor off him after his boot slipped off the tractor's clutch and flipped. Jeff Smith, who was tending his yard at the time, was pinned to the ground by the steering wheel. He could not breathe. He told The Democrat Herald, "I was losing more and more breath every time I screamed. He grew more and more desperate. Smith said he pleaded to God with whatever air he still had left. His two daughters, Hannah and Haylee, 16 and 14 respectively, had just come home from school in the town of Lebanon, which is northwest of Eugene. They were out walking the family's dog when they heard the cries. The teens ran to their father's side. The teens say they called 911, but decided they couldn't wait for emergency crews. They each grabbed a side of the tractor and started lifting. They made headway around the seventh try. "We just kind of braced ourselves on the tire and just lifted it up," Hannah said. The girls were able to lift the tractor enough so Smith could wiggle out. His arm remained pinned. One of the teens raced to a neighbor's house and the neighbor was able to use his tractor to free his arm. Smith suffered a broken left wrist and some nerve damage to his arm. "I don't know how I lifted it, it was just so heavy," Hannah said. "And I could feel it, I could just feel all the weight. But we just did it. We both did." One fire official told The Democrat Herald that he's never seen a pair of girls lift a heavy piece of farming equipment off someone. "They're great girls, but that's a lot of weight," the father said. "Honestly, I'm a big guy-- I don't know if I could do it." Video Here: http://tinyurl.com/d5ezcwh --- ...My Two Cents... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Prov.3: [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. This is a good lesson for us. "Smith said he pleaded to God with whatever air he still had left." He trusted in God to get him out of his situation. God came through. Somehow his daughters had decided to walk the dog just when they needed to and even though their Dad had little breath left to scream for help, they were able to hear his cries. Not only was this amazing, but then the two girls kept trying to lift the tractor, though clearly it was way too heavy for them. They didn't give up. Their believing that they could lift it and their 'just doing it' without thinking - leaning not unto their own understanding - managed to do the impossible and they indeed did lift the tremendous crushing weight off of their Dad. This is why the bible instructs us... Phil.4: [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. When God is involved, Miracles happen! Let God get involved in your life and see what miracles happen when you Trust in Him! ============================================================= >-->From Our Friends Linda And LouiseA :) ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" This is said to have been written by an 8-year-old from Chula Vista CA. One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers. God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off. God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere, which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have. Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista ... At least there aren't any who come to our church. Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK. His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important. You can pray any time you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time. You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God! Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway. If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. But ... you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases. And ... that's why I believe in God.' --- ...Aww, Teehee! Thanks Ladies! ============================================================ >-->From Our Friend Linda :) , ."". , , # |()| # , _#_#___|__|___#_#__ [__________________] |-_ -=__=-_ -==_-| |_.------------.=| |=| o o |=| _|-| ! `( ! |-|_ /==_| ! _(_.)_ ! |=_-\ |jgs|/^\^=^^=^/^\| _=| >The Silent Sermon A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one, lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon, it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday. We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken. --- ...Amen! Thanks Linda! =============================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >He Took My Place "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." According to Doug Batchelor in his book, Broken Chains, "There's a story about two Filipino brothers, identical twins, who lived in Manila and made their living by driving jeepneys, Filipino taxis.* Though they were twins and had similar jobs, they lived very different lives. One was married and had children; the other was single. Then one day, the married brother accidentally struck and killed a tourist with his taxi. Accused of reckless driving, the twin was sentenced to twenty years in the notorious Manila prison--a devastating fate that would leave his wife and children without an income. "One day, his twin came to visit him in prison. He said, 'Brother, your family desperately needs you. Put on my clothes and take my visitor's pass and I will put on your prison uniform and serve the rest of your sentence. Go to your family.' So, while the guards were not looking, the twins exchanged clothes, and the married brother walked out of the prison unchallenged. Do you think the twin who was freed could ever stop thinking about the sacrifice that his brother made in trading places with him?" Though having limitations it is still a powerful illustration of what Jesus Christ did for you and me at Easter time 2,000 years ago when he exchanged places with you and me and died in our place on the cross of Calvary. He did this out of his great love for us to pay the penalty for all of our sins, so we could be freely forgiven by God and receive his gift of eternal life in Heaven to be with him forever. -<>- >The Coat Hanger. A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this." She bowed her head and asked God to send her help. Within five minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car? He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man." The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour." .-----. / '. ' .\ |_.__'_.|} (=(_)^(_)=) ;, > ,; ;;;~~~;;; ___.';;;;;'.__ /'`\ `\ /` /`'\ / | | | | \ jgs( | |\_/| | @~ ) | | | | | | | /| | | |\ | \ || | | || / ( || | | || ) | || |___| || | \ ||___|[_]|___O| / | | / \O| | The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!" Is - GOD GOOD - or what!? -<>- .-"""-. _.---..-; :.) ;"" \/ __..--'\ ;-"""-. ;._ `-.___.^.___.'-.____J__/-._J bug >The Duck & the Devil There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's... he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you." Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face ...whatever it is....You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing..... He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets..... It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a friend and always remember: God is at the window! -<>- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >You’re in Good Hands “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:28 “You’re in good hands with All State” has been one of the most effective advertising slogans ever written for over 50 years. The coin of this phrase has been billions of dollars worth of business for All State Insurance. The truth that we are in good hands with Jesus is the Good News of the Gospel that has been spread throughout the world for over 2,000 years. When we take Jesus’ hand by faith and submit to His lordship of our lives, we receive not only the bright hope for everlasting life in the sinless perfection of heaven tomorrow; but the very present strength and resurrection power of the Holy Spirit for living a life worth living every day of our lives on this earth. We will experience Jesus’ hands of healing for all our diseases and His hands of comfort for all our sorrows. His hands will be continually lifted up to the Father on behalf of all our needs. When “take my hand, precious Lord”, becomes our daily prayer we are promised that He will lead us beside the still waters, that He will restore our souls, and that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life. When we realize that our time is in His hands, we will have the all surpassing peace and security of being in the hands of The One who loves us unconditionally with an everlasting love, and Who is committed to working all things for our good now and forever as He conforms us into His image. The good hands of the Good Shepherd are the hands that keep us safe and secure unto life eternal. We dare not leave this earthly home without Him. Father, keep me in Your good hands as I walk with you and seek to abide in You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,”1 Peter 5:6 - Robert VanHoose -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Mystery http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/mystery.html World's Largest Rodent! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/caplin.html Microscopic! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/micro.html Rolling On The River http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/river.html Keukenhof Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kgardens.html Why God Gave Us Pets! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpets.html Shangrala's Animated Gallery! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs.html Driftwood Horses! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/horses.html Word/Phrase Origins http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/origins.html Three Old Men http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oldmen.html Why Dogs Bite People http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogsbite.html Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Greetings! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/greetings.html -<>- >From Our Friend Kay :) Greeting: Happy Spring! http://tinyurl.com/chxfw3w --- ...Awww, sweet! I love the birds! Thanks Kay! -<>- >From Our Friend Johanna :) ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!! ...keep it moving so that many may enjoy it! YouTube - On My Father's Side by The Barn Again Gang http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=N5ddoyfn6g4 --- ...Beautiful! Thanks Johanna! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann Canadian Rockies http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4CMb7yj8Cyk?rel=0&%3bhd=1 --- ...Breathtaking! Thanks Geniann! 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 ========================================================== ,,, _,_ _@_ _(_ _?_ >*< _/. .\_ _/- -\_ _/, ,\_ _/' '\_ _/a a\_ _/. .\_ (.\_o_/.) (.\_-_/.) (,\_e_/') (.\_^_/.) (.\_~_/') (.\_c_/.) (.`,.`'.') (.`,.'.'.) (.`'.,'.') ('.,'.`'.) (.'.,'.`.) (.,'.,'',) ('.`,'`,) ('.`,'',) ('.','.`) ('.,'.',) ('.,'.`.) (',.'`.,) ('.`,'`) ('.','`) (.'.,'.) ('.`.,') ('.','') (.'.'.') jgs `--'"` `--'"` `--'"` `--'"' `--'"' `--'"' >Many Heroes, One Goal Story Editor: by John Elliott Joyce Schowalter Missouri, USA Two days before September 11, 2001, our youngest child was born. He had health problems immediately, and had to be Life-Flighted from the Army hospital at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Children's Hospital at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. This was an hour and a half trip by car. But my wife and I didn't have a car. Our previous car had blown up, so I rode with a guy in my unit to work every day. I had been talking with another member of my unit, to buy a car he hadn't driven for two years. But he wanted all the money up front, as he'd been burned by other people before, and lost money. That evening I called him up, and explained our situation. He immediately agreed to take payments I could afford -- $150 a month. He was still paying $250 a month for the car, with nine payments left. He said to make the balance up with my tax refund. I asked him if he would make money on it, and he said no, and it didn't matter. The next morning I packed up a week's clothes for my wife, our two children, and myself. I picked my wife up at the hospital, and headed up the highway for Oklahoma City. About 20 minutes outside of Oklahoma City, we had a flat tire. I was stuck on the side of the highway, no spare, no jack, in almost 90-degree weather, with my wife and two children. About 30 cars passed, no one stopped, even with the hood raised to signal car trouble. Finally, a dump truck (of all things) pulled over. He took me a mile up the road to Newcastle. It was another mile to the tire shop. Once there, I explained my predicament of neither jack nor spare, and they handed me a jack to borrow. Newcastle is a small town, with no taxi service, so I asked where the police station was. I walked a few blocks to the police station, and explained the situation to the officer there, who was very rude. He said they weren't a taxi service. I resigned myself to walking the two miles back to the car, and started on my way. I got about a half mile down the road when a police cruiser with two officers stopped me. It was the officer who was so rude to me and his police chief, who had learned about the situation through the dispatcher. They drove me to the car and waited while I took the flat off. Then they took me to the tire shop for the repair, and finally back to the car to install the repaired tire. I then returned the jack to the tire shop. My son spent three weeks in the hospital, and is now a healthy 5-year-old. I wish I could go back and thank all those who helped us to be by his side when he was so ill. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY xx / .|_ /(_)_< --- cack cack! / ( ((____.-' ) \\ / \'-.-.-'`/ -Miss.Kitty- _ \______/ (_) _|_\_ '''''''''''''''' For Easter, Gregory, 8, received a plastic wind-up chicken that laid bubble-gum eggs. After chasing the chicken back and forth for about 10 minutes, Gregory decided to eat some of the bubble gum. After a few chews, he looked astonished and said, "Grammie! You HAVE to taste a yellow one. It tastes like the beach!" Of course, Jane dutifully threw a yellow piece of egg-shaped bubble-gum in my mouth and said, "Wow! You're right! It does!" He shook his head, staring at another yellow bubble-gum egg in his hand. After a long pause, Gregory turned to Jane and asked, "How do they get the memories into the gum?" -- Jane McKinnon of Wilmington, Delaware Kortney, 8, was very nervous about starting softball because she had never played before. At the first game her mother said, "Honey, you better get in the dugout because your team's getting ready." Kortney asked, "Where's the dugout?" After the game was over the coach said, "Good game. I'll see you Monday." Kortney asked, "What for?" The coach said, "We have a game." Kortney replied, "ANOTHER game?" That was last year. Kortney loves softball now! -- April Bednarczyk (mother of Kortney) of Auburn, Indiana Here is another story from April. She and her daughter Gracey, 4, were watching a movie. The couple kissed. Then the guy said, "I want to see you again." And they kissed. And then the guy said, "Can we go to the dance together?" Then they kissed. Then he said, "I really like you." Gracey got impatient and said, "You know they could kiss a lot more if they would quit talking!" _,_ __ __ ._(@I@)_. / \-/ \ .--{___}--. ._\ | /_. .-/ Y \-. .__\__Y__/__. / | \ _{___}_ jgs \__/-\__/ ' (@I@) ' ~^~ When Sabrina was beginning to speak her first words one thing she understood was that things people do not need any more and throw away are called "trash." So once when she was annoyed with a fly her comment was: "Fly. Off. Trash!" -- Franziska Eber (aunt of Sabrina) of Germany Here is another story from Franziska. When Sabrina was about 2 she was notorious for taking off her socks all the time. (Now, at age 8, she still prefers to run around barefoot.) Once she was caught red-handed -- sitting on the floor, her hands already firmly clutching her socks -- and warned not to go ahead. She did not miss a beat and replied, "But I was not taking them off, I was only holding them so they would not fall off." Koen, nearly 3, loves to swing, especially when PawPaw pushes him. Koen yells, as he reaches the top of his arc, "Look out birds!" -- Dennis Smith (Koen's PawPaw) of Oak RRidge, North Carolina . ,-; . , ________i_,',// _odHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHbo_ dP^' ;.| ||,; `^?b |H ))`'||/'; H| ?bo. .=;' |||.' ,odP `?oo.-',' ||'oodP' /' / / |/ | | _-' || || | ,' J| | \ | | / | |_\ L L .-' | \.)`-.;-;__./ "-._;_.-" || || || ||| || || || |||||| || || || |||||| || ,| || | || || || `|| || | || || `| J || || ||== ||| ==||=' ||=|| ||== || || || || || ||== || `|| || bodom Gary and Sarah were attending a girls high school all star game in conjunction with the Women's Final Four activities in Cleveland. John, 3, who has attended numerous sporting events in his short life asked Sarah, "Mom, are there going to be puppets at this game?" Apparently puppets are how he thinks of mascots! -- Gary and Sarah Housholder of Avilla, Indiana When he was a little boy Lita's brother Leonard had been invited to have supper with his friend Jimmy Connors. Jimmy's aunt lived with him and was an active member of his family. When Leonard came home his mother asked him if he had a good time. He said, "Yes, but Jimmy's aunt is really dirty." "What do you mean?" his mother asked. Leonard replied, "She was getting supper and she kept washing her hands all the time." -- Sr. Lita Camozzi of Toronto Beverly was playing Mario Brothers (Nintendo) with her grandson Andrew who was about 4. Beverly came to a bad guy and Andrew said, "Oh, you're going to get killed." Beverly said, "Oh, he's a piece of cake." And she beat him. Later Andrew was playing the same game and getting beat. He exclaimed, "Grandma, this piece of cake is killing me!" -- Beverly Sparkman of Rome City, Indiana _._ _._ //\\\ ///\\ |. . ) ( . .| \_=_/ \_-_/--' `\ /_) `\-| | \ /_| |_\| |_| \\___// |---|/ | | | | | | | | | | | |_|_| |_|_| jgs (__/__)(__\__) One day when Matthew, the brother of Andrew, was about 2 he got mad and said, "I hate Andrew." Andrew answered, "I hate you." Beverly said, "Andrew, don't say that to your brother." Andrew said, "Well, he said it first." Beverly replied, "But he is little and doesn't know any better." Matthew gave Beverly a withering look and said, "Oh, yes, I do know better!" Beverly's daughter Sharon was in the tanning bed. Andrew knocked on the door and she didn't let him in. So Matthew came to the door and said in a gruff voice, "Let me in. This is Dad." When his mother was telling Beverly the story Matthew overheard the laughter and he said, "Mom, I still don't know how you knew it was me!" A co-worker of Patrick Snow's at Hayden Honda was talking to an Indiana State Police officer, Steve Malone, who had his son Daniel with him. Daniel is 4. Patrick asked the little boy, "What does Daddy do at work all day?" The boy was silent for a little while and Patrick said, "You just think about it and let me know." The little boy perked up, smiled, and said very matter-of-factly, "He writes tickets!" -- Alicia Snow of Kendallville, Indiana | \ ' / '-. | .-' --= --|-- =-- _. | ._ ' __|__ ' d88888b Stacy and Mike were talking to their son Lukas, 5, about Easter. Mike asked Lukas, "What do we celebrate on Easter?" Luke's reply was, "Eggs!" Mike said, "No, who do we celebrate on Easter?" Luke said, "Jesus! Because that's when He died on the cross!" His dad said, "No, Jesus died on Good Friday, but what did He do on Sunday?" Luke's eyes lit up and said, "He watched the race?!" -- Stacy and Mike Fry of Kendallville, Indiana Here is another one from Stacy. A few weeks ago she was on the phone with one of their pastors from church. Their kids play together and used to go to pre-school together, so Stacy was calling to see if his wife would be home so they could all get together. They hadn't been to church for a couple of weeks so Luke was really missing his friend, Trey. Luke started crying because he wanted to talk to them. So when Luke got on the phone, the pastor asked why they hadn't been at church. Luke replied, "Well, we don't need church today." The "making up" story in the April 2 Kidwarmers reminded Leah of something her daughter Sarah said. Leah's bedroom and Sarah's bedroom are only about 10 feet apart. Leah and her husband are very careful to wait until Sarah is dead to the world before anything romantic happens. There have been some nights, however, when everyone's gone to bed at the same time and the doors are open, when Leah and her husband have gotten into a tickling contest or told funny stories before going to sleep, and they laugh a lot. Was Leah's face red the day Sarah said, "Hey Mom, can you and Max keep it down when I'm trying to go to sleep?" Leah was mortified, until she realized Sarah meant they were laughing too loud one night. ========================================================== God made us sisters, Hearts made us friends. .--. /`\| / .;;.;;;;. '-.""""-./;;;;;;;;;\ / / \ \;;;;;;;;;;| / | \;;-;;;;;/`\ .' / | \ '| \()| ;. __'._/ | \__.\ _/;;`--/ } / '.-'`"""`'-._ \;;;-'\.' \ __\'-.__-' /`-' _.' \ ;\-_- //`''-'-._.-' | __|_'---'`-..______,.____.../__ |_.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._| __| || || || || || || || || || || | |\ | || || || || || || || || || || | \\ | || || || || || || || || || || | |\\|_||_||_||_||_||_||_||_||_||_||_| ||\|.---..---.--.---.--..--.---..-.| || ||jgs \ / / | || | || || || || \/_ / _|==||==| || || || | |`\ ( `-| '-| || || \ _\_/ '.__/\__/ || >-->A MOTHER'S PRAYER Lord, for my children I would pray That they may seek Thee every day Through life, with all its storms and stress Its sorrows, grief and bitterness. In disappointments fly to Thee For comfort, strength and sympathy. And never find a truer friend, But love and serve Thee to the end. That they may take Thee as their Guide, To lead them all the way beside; Their Counsellor when troubled o'er The many problems at youth's door. If overwhelmed by dark despair, Oh teach them how through faith and prayer To crush this subtle devil's snare And rest within Thy loving care. For them no dizzy heights of fame I crave, nor great and worldly gain, In humble service let them aim To spread the honor of Thy name. That in this dark world may they shine Their lives reflect Love Divine Their object now their pleasure then, Obedience to Thy will. Amen. -Author Unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 andd 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? 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