Give God The Reins And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: https://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: bcrsystems@earthlink.net Shangrala Family Fun: https://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ ================ *~* 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!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! ================ __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP * Don't forget to follow us on social media for our latest updates and uproarious funny and inspiring pages! On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y8dcm8x7 On X (Twitter): http://tinyurl.com/n5uf3dxv ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) . . . . ,-,--. __| //``-, \ \_`\ )\a-a-? \ \ \_`(_=_/_-`__ \__, , \| | _ _,' ___7 ) | (_)(_`__(_,---' | ( _( ) | / /_| |________| __/__/__|__|_________) _________(__,_|)/ (__)|/____\(_______________ mic I am very pleased to announced we have a new sponsor for the website www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com. { } } { { { } } } }{ { _{ }{ } }_ ( }{ }{ { ) |""---------""| .-, | /""\ /#/ | | _ | _---------//_ | / | | ( / ) | |/ | /""=========""\ | / / (///////////////) | | / \ / | "T" C===========O cww ""---------"" -Bungle- Fellow was started in 2013 with a vision of bringing the cafe experience home, but without the clunky equipment. They wanted your home brewing gear to be beautifully functional and fully intuitive, tools that anyone could use to make the kind of coffee you love to drink. After eight months and countless prototypes, Duo Coffee Steeper was born: a unique brewer that combined the best of pour-over and French press in one elegant and easy design. They put it on Kickstarter and received enough backing to make it real. Walking into a specialty cafe can feel like immersing yourself in a new language. Baristas talk about washed process, body, or crema like everyone already knows what they mean. This guide is your cheat sheet - so you can order with confidence, understand what you're tasting, and figure out what you actually like. Use it as a reference... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ## .. #### ##.............## ## ##.............## ## ##.............## ## ##.............### ##...........## ############# ############# ################# -Berry- Mastering Coffee Lingo: A Comprehensive Glossary Here: https://tinyurl.com/4cf76r88 Be sure to check out this fine company! You can always be assured that I only go with the best for you! Why? Because I care About you! (¯`v´¯) `*.¸.*´ ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. Huggums!... :) Shangy! -<>- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) We have a too hot to handle new page from our friend Karen. This photographer lets us see the small ones in our back yard and garden. He brings them up close so we can see them in astonishing fine detail. Our hidden world comes alive! Check out his photo art work here: .-=--. .' .--. '. : : .-.'. : _ _ : : : .': : (o)o) : '. '-' .' //// fsc _'.__'--=' '-.//i' .-' / '---..____...---'' Tiny Creatures Art! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tinycreaturesart.html --- ...Wow! Sweet! Thanks Karen! -<>- *~* We Had A Tremendous Month Of Sharing And Caring Last Month! *\o_ _c/* / * * \ <\ *\o/* /> ) c/* / > *\o <\ /> __o */\ /\* c__ * /> <\ * /\* __o_ _c__ */\ * / * * \ * <\ /> *\c/* ejm97 __)__ >Please Be Sure To Share These With All Your Friends... Bird Photography Winners! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/birdawards.html Places Then and Now! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/placesthenandnow.html Car Show 3! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/carshow3.html Comedy In Nature 7! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/comedyinnature7.html Got A Nanosecond 14? https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nano14.html Right Angle Photos 12! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/anglephoto12.html Street Cats By Masayuki Oki! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/streetcats.html Ocean's Rarely Seen Species! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ocean2.html Rare Historical Photos 5! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/historyphotos5.html , ----. - - ` ,__.,' \ .' *` / | | / **\ . / ****. | mm | ****| \ | ****| ` ._______ \ ****/ \ /`---' \___( /~~~~\ / \ / | \ | | \ , ~~ . |, ~~ . | |\ ( |||| ) ( |||| )(,,,)` ( |||||| )-( |||||| ) | ^ ( |||||| ) ( |||||| ) |'/ ( |||||| )-( |||||| )___,'- ( |||| ) ( |||| ) ` ~~ ' ` ~~ ' ~ May God Super Bless All Our Sweet Contributors Who Add Spice To Our Lives With Their Thoughtful Sharing! :) =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Imagine if every Thursday your shoes exploded if you tied them the usual way. This happens to us all the time with computers, and nobody thinks of complaining. -- Jeff Raskin Do you have a shoe obsession? Do you become a different person when shoes go on sale? Are you knocking people over in the mall to get to those shoes you have to have, regardless if they fit or not? Kathy gives us a close up view of those who suffer from "shoe obsession disorder". Thanks Kathy! /`. ( .\ ejm97 \ |`\___ + a:f _._ )| \__`-. /`.-.) .--=' /\ / : |/ d ` --' >SHOE OBSESSION DISORDER by Kathy Gibson Shoes. Contrary to popular belief, Cinderella's stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming -- they were desperate for her glass slipper. Unlike shopping for jeans (which is about as much fun as going to the gynecologist), shopping for shoes is an exhilarating experience. Feet don't have hips, feet don't have thighs. After all, feet are "our friends." And what's better than shopping for shoes? Shopping for shoes on sale! Nothing can compare to crossing the threshold of a shoe store or the shoe section of a department store and seeing signs of 20, 30, 40 or 50 percent off original price. It's useless to fight it. Once inside the compound, women wander aimlessly. Loyal husbands and boyfriends sit like gargoyles and loyally guard coveted pyramids of shoeboxes piled high in their laps. The call to shop is even more powerful when you see a shoe department that looks like the aftermath of a war -- mismatched shoes, smashed shoeboxes and crumpled disposable foot stockings abandoned in empty chairs and strewn over the floor. For an area to look like this, the sale has to be extraordinary. It wouldn't be surprising to learn store employees actually fly through the store knocking down boxes and hiding the mates of shoes because they know the effect it has on serious shoe shoppers. All the shoes look perfect when they're on sale. Even psychedelic-patterned, neon-colored, five-inch stack heel misfits look promising when they're 50 percent off. "Hey, I bet I could wear these with black!" Or worse, you decide to buy an outfit just to go with some bargain you can't pass up, which cancels any benefit of the shoes being so cheap. Just open any woman's closet, and you'll find a shoe "Hall of Fame" -- an entire Smithsonian of shoes only worn once in a while, or only once. Occasionally, however, you spot it. Perched on a pedestal, high above the others, is the perfect shoe, illuminating the whole area like the North Star. Making your way toward the "shoe promised land" you hear a choir of angels and euphorically glide to the nearest sales person, shoe in hand. Snap out of it! The chance of the store having the perfect shoes at the perfect price in the perfect size is about as likely as Amelda Marcos donating her shoes to Goodwill. What were you thinking? In cases like this, women have been known to buy the "perfect" shoes a complete size smaller than needed. Like Cinderella's stepsisters when they tried on the glass slipper, women with distorted looks on their faces hobble back and forth in front of mirrors, but nine times out of 10 they'll compromise comfort for cute. Other than having to tolerate a few cramps, swelling and the sensation of prickling needles from the lack of blood flow, having the envy of every woman you know because the shoes are "so cute!" overshadows any excruciating pain. But women do have limits. No woman would buy shoes a whole size too large. No matter the shoes, women are not willing to sacrifice style for everyone thinking she has big feet -- unless she's a size 5. However, there's good news. Whether you wear a size 5 or a size 10, it's guaranteed that at least one supermodel or other famous diva wears the same shoe size as you. In fact, the odds are overwhelming that many drop-dead gorgeous, "Women love to hate me," celebrities share your exact shoe size. You can say that you wear the same size as Cindy Crawford, and you would actually be telling the truth. And if the store has the perfect shoe at the perfect price as well as in the perfect size, women are willing to knock over senior citizens and defenseless children to get them. Furthermore, senior citizens are just as likely to knock over defenseless children or anyone else in their path for the same reason. Shoe obsession disorder is no respecter of age or infirmity. Even the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz was probably a loving, beautiful woman until her obsession with Dorothy's shoes took its toll. The glistening ruby red pumps were the envy of Oz and the last pair in town! No doubt the Witch was simply sick over those shoes and positively green with envy. Even little girls are struck by this obsession over shoes in Kindergarten or before. Just think about their Barbie doll accessories. She has more shoes than any other article of clothing. And how many "practical" pairs of shoes does Barbie own? None! She only owns wild colors and styles because, they too, were probably on sale. -- Kathy Gibson ___________________________________________ Kathy lives in Kingwood, Texas. She is a freelance journalist and covers community news for the "ThisWeek" section of the Houston Chronicle. She is married to Kevin, and mother of two wonderful sons, Wesley, 14, and Kyle, 12. You can reach her here: mailto:kathygibson@kingwoodcable.com =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Masterpiece of God 'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.1 In 1983, The Joy of Painting, debuted on televisions across America. During the 30 minute segment the host and instructor, Bob Ross, would present a blank, prepped canvas and proceed to bring it to life by painting diagonal and vertical strokes here and there, which at first seemed to be only smudges of color. As more lines were added and his paintbrush created more blotches, a landscape would begin to emerge. Within half an hour a beautiful outdoor scene had come to life before your eyes! Bob Ross had a peaceful demeanor with a voice so calm that it captivated your attention and drew you in. One might think that the way Bob lived was always as tranquil as the sceneries he mastered. But he knew a life of chaos too. For 20 years, Bob Ross served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force where his job required a lot of yelling, sternness, and strict discipline. One day, he promised himself that if he ever left the military, he would never yell again! His quiet stillness and soft spoken manner are what defined him and what Bob Ross is remembered for. Trusting in God is much like one of these blank canvases. God has already prepared the backdrop and begun to paint lines and smudges on the canvas of our life. We try to guess at His next stroke but nothing seems defined. Then He surprises us by adding color and beauty begins to emerge. What once looked like blurred colors is coming together and His masterpiece takes shape. When we are still and allow the chaos to remain in the past, our hearts become attuned to the will of God for our lives. In the peaceful silence we can hear His still small voice as He creates beauty from nothing. It may take 30 years instead of 30 minutes, but God will continue perfecting His work of art in you until He is finished and can sign His name on the canvas of your heart. While you watch God work, may you be blessed. I wish you every single one happy painting and God bless, my friend. - Bob Ross Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me for allowing the chaos to distract me from you. Thank you for choosing to create beauty out of the nothingness of my life. Help me to be still so that I may enjoy all that you have prepared for me. May it all be for your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. 1. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT). Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Never Useless So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.1 William Carey wanted to translate the Bible into as many Indian languages as possible. He created a large print shop in Serampore where they continually worked on translation. Carey spent hours upon hours in that shop translating Scripture. Then one night his print shop completely burnt to the ground. Instead of becoming discouraged, Carey persevered and in the end accomplished his goal with steadfast determination. He once wrote: "There are grave difficulties on every hand, and more are looming ahead. Therefore, we must go forward." Had he not continued with the work God had laid on his heart to do, countless people would have not had access to the Bible in their language! I have been in ministry for over 25 years, and I would be lying if I said there were not times when I asked the Lord why was I even doing it. Whether it was because of the lack of participation or interest, the negative attitudes, or simply feeling exhausted or overwhelmed by my workload, there were times when my attitude was less than enthusiastic! However, God has been so good in showing me the fruit of some of my labor often YEARS after the fact. But the truth is, our job is not to know in what ways our work will impact others, our job is to be obedient to what the Lord is calling us to do, and trust that He is using that for His glory! If you are feeling discouraged today, I want to tell you to take heart. Keep trusting that if God is calling you to complete a task, it is part of His perfect plan and the larger picture we cannot see. Whether it is in Your current ministry or a new form of service God is leading you to, know that the work you do for the Lord is important and NEVER useless. Suggested prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times that I want to give up because I am not seeing the results I want to see. Thank you for reminding me that it is not about me, but ALL about You. I want to be obedient to Your will and be used for Your glory. Here I am. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. 1. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT). The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See this teaching How To Avoid Being A Failure https://tinyurl.com/muczcpxc When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: /\ ejm97 '\/ ' + ' + ' + ' + ' + ' + ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' __ ' \o . ' \\/ /\ / / >Free To Soar One windy spring day, I observed young people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds darting and dancing in the heady atmosphere above the earth. As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check. Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the restraining string and the cumbersome tail kept them in tow, facing upward and against the wind. As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say, "Let me go! Let me go! I want to be free!" They soared beautifully even as they fought the imposed restriction of the string. Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose. "Free at last" it seemed to say. "Free to fly with the wind." Yet freedom from restraint simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic breeze. It fluttered ungracefully to the ground and landed in a tangled mass of weeds and string against a dead bush. "Free at last" -- free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to lodge lifeless against the first obstruction. How much like kites we sometimes are. The Lord gives us adversity and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength. Restraint is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition. Some of us tug at the rules so hard that we never soar to reach the heights we might have obtained. We keep part of the commandment and (pardon the pun) never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground. Let us each rise to the great heights our Heavenly Father has in store for us, recognizing that some of the restraints that we may chafe under are actually the steadying force that helps us ascend and achieve. -<>- _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >CONTENT A funny thing happened in Sunday school a few weeks ago. The teacher asked how many of us were contented in our lives. In a class of about 40 middle aged people, I was the only one who raised my hand. I wondered, did I misunderstand the question. Everyone was looking at me and I found myself defending why I am content. How silly that I have to defend that. They should be defending why they are not. Content, according to the dictionary means: satisfied Content does not mean that I have no problems and that I am rich and live in the lap of luxury, no, no no. I do have problems, many of them, just like everyone else, some small and some large and burdening. I am by no means rich and I work very hard. My life is by far from perfect, however I feel content. I am content with who I am and what I have. I have a wonderful husband, 3 great kids, 3 funny dogs, and a terrific group of good friends. I love my home, it is not a big mansion, just a simple comfortable home. My husband has a good job and I work part time at an alternative high school. I keep very busy with many hobbies like quilting, cross stitch, decorating, and embroidery. It may sound dull to you, but it is shear heaven for me. Life is what you make of it, if one is constantly looking for something bigger and better to come along, then you will never be content. It is all how you look at things. Maybe you should look at things through my eyes. Content, yes satisfied. That is not to be confused with settling, I am not settling, I am very happy and extremely contented, and yes satisfied. -Carol Brosowske --- ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' ...Reminds Me Years ago a friend of ours was trying to sell my husband and I on a get rich proposal. We weren't interested and he couldn't understand why. We told him we were OK and content with our modest lives. He was flabbergasted and couldn't understand us at all. We had already gone thru many different money making plans over the years and had finally settled on being content with not pursuing countless new schemes. We were happy. God was giving us all that we needed. _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` See these teachings: The Love Of Money http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/BODY_SOUL_SPIRIT.htm Need Versus Greed http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Need_Versus_Greed.htm Financial Stewardship https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/financialstewardship.html -<>- "The master said there is one thing in this world which must never be forgotten. If you were to forget everything else, there would be no cause for worry, while if you remembered, performed and attended to everything else but forgot that one thing, you would in fact have done nothing whatsoever. It is as if a king had sent you to a country and you perform a hundred tasks, but if you have not performed the task you were sent for, it is as if you have performed nothing at all. So man has come into the world for a particular task, and that is his purpose. If he doesn't perform it, he will have done nothing." -Rumi. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...Reminds me of this Ecclesiastes 12: 13 -- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. We were designed by God to respect Him and to keep God's commandments. This verse near the end of Ecclesiastes contains a great truth, but many do not understand it. The word 'fear' is a stumbling block to many Christians. We must realize that in the King James Version of the Bible, the word translated as 'fear' in this verse does not mean to be afraid of God. It means to reverence or venerate, or in simpler terms, to regard someone or something with awe and respect. Another word to watch out for in this verse is 'duty'. It is in italics, which means it was a word added by the translators. A current translation of this verse could be: Ecc.12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Have awe and respect for God, and keep His Word, for this is the whole of man (the reason he was made)." -<>- _ ,'.`. ,_ :_ _: _. .'\o) \ _ / (o/`. : / _,-`-'-._ \ : : \_,' `._/ ; \ , ! . / `-.-'|LET GO|`-.-' | ! | | RELAX | ;-------: / _ \ / ,' `. \ ( ( ) ) \ `. ,' / `. > ,' `-.'`,' /_,`._\ SSt >Letting Go Of Control by Brian Jones (edited) Jesus doesn’t work on our timetables. He doesn’t check with us before he makes decisions. Following Jesus is more like driving a taxicab than being a librarian—you never know who you’ll meet or where you’ll go next. Following Jesus means giving up control. It means pulling your life over to the side of the road, tossing your keys to Jesus, hopping into the passenger’s seat, and saying, “You take it from here.” This is the only way you’re going to see God at work in your life, because God can’t work in a situation until we get out of the way. As long as we continue to meddle with a problem and try to fix it ourselves, we haven’t turned it over to God through Jesus Christ so he can work on it. -mark zen- o, o__ o_/| o_. ; " | / | " " " -Tua Xiong ...True - Give God The Reins! We have to let go of the reins. If I was him, however, I would have given the whole ride to God in prayer before even stepping into that boat! Sure is calming knowing you've given God the reins instead of totally trusting in the guide who admitted he dumped some people previously. -<>- ,;;;, ;;;;;;; .-'`\, '/_ .' \ ("`(_) / `-,.'\ \_/ \ \/\ `--` \ \ \ / /| | /_/ |_| jgs ( _\ ( _\ #:## #:## #:## #:## #:## #:## #:## >Golden Footprints. Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah who lived in the village below the Mountain of the Golden Footprints. She was feeling very sad and depressed. Nothing or no one could make her happy. She had been very unhappy and depressed for a long time. What is the use of going on, she asked? Nothing anyone said seemed to make a difference. Her best friend went to visit Sarah and told her the story of the Mountain of the Golden Footprints. It is a special place whereas the sun sets you can look out over the city and see sparkling golden footprints on the places and people where you have made a difference. But I haven't made any difference in anyone's life, she said. There won't be any golden footprints for me to see. So why should I bother to go here? But, said her friend, If you don't see any golden footprints, there is a special village on the other side of the mountain. That is a place for all those people who haven't made a difference. It is comfortable and very pretty and there you can be happy. So you see, you have other options besides not going on with your life. If you went to the village on the other side of the mountain, I would miss you, but it would be better than your not being alive. You have nothing to lose. So Sarah decided to give it a try. After all, she only wanted to do something. She could not go on the way she was. Besides, although she was sure she would not see any golden footprints, she had a little glimmer of hope that going there would make a difference in her life. The village on the other side of the mountain also sounded like it could be a place where she could be happy. She walked up the path to the top of the Mountain of the Golden Footprints. It was a long walk and sometimes very difficult, but she had made the decision to go to the top and continued on, although sometimes she just wanted to stop climbing and curl up and cease to exist. She reached to top and came to the lookout point. She was greeted by a woman called Faith who watched over the Mountain of the Golden Footprints. Sarah sat on a rock at the top of the mountain and looked out over her village far below. Although the sun was not setting yet, she felt inside as though she were looking out over her life. She could see her house and the house of her friend, the house of her parents, her school, and many places from her childhood. She remembered many things as she looked out over these places, some sad and some happy. And as she was thinking about her life, the sun began to set. She did not really pay any attention since she did not expect to see any golden footprints. But soon a golden twinkling light began to appear in the park in the middle of the village. She did not still believe it could possibly be a Golden Footprint. Look, Faith said excitedly, There is your first Golden Footprint!" But how could that be, asked Sarah? I don't ever remember anything I did in the park that could have possibly made a difference. That is my department, answered Faith. I have watched people make Golden Footprints from this mountain top for many years. I remember all the Golden Footprints happenings. One day a long time ago, when you were a little child, you went laughing through the park. There was a man sitting there who had just left his wife and child over a silly argument. He heard your laughter and missed his child so much that he returned to this family and lived with them happily ever after. Well, that was kind of accidental. I certainly didn't know I had done that, said Sarah. As she finished speaking, another golden sparkling footprint appeared on the house of her friend. Well, you have loved your friend very much. Remember when she was very sick? You went to see her and brought her flowers and stayed with her and talked many hours and you held her hand. If you had not done that, she would not have survived. But how could that be, asked Sarah? I'm not a doctor. I do not give medicine. How could I have saved her life? The doctor gave her good medicine, but you gave her hope. You gave her strength and courage, so that her body could make the medicine work. And as she finished speaking, the valley below was aglow with Golden Footprints. There was one on the school where her smile and love for learning had inspired a fellow student to stay in school and become a great philosopher. There was one over a tree that she had planted in the yard of her house, and one over the flowers that she had planted. There was one over the place where her stubbornness had convinced the King that the village needed a smoother road for travelers, and he had smiled at her outspokenness and feisty nature. There was a footprint right on top of the roof of her house. That was where she had taken her children one night to watch the stars. There was one over the pub in the village. There was where she had met her husband and where they had fallen in love. I had forgotten all those things, said Sarah. I was so depressed that I only remembered the sad things and not the good things. I guess I have made a difference. And you will in the future said Faith. There are stars to show your grandchildren and a birthday to share with your friend. And your husband needs a romantic evening at the pub. Sarah sat for a long time until the sun had set and the Golden Footprints disappeared and the lights of the village were lit in the streets and homes below and flickered, not as Golden Footprints, but as tiny footprints of fireflies. Soon Sarah would start the climb down the mountain, guided by the tiny lights below. Sarah smiled and thanked Faith. She started on her way down the mountain and knew that someday she would tell others about the Mountain of the Golden Footprints and make a difference in their lives too. Always remember you DO make a difference to many people whose lives you touch every single day. . . including me. ~ Author Unknown -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Silly Veggies! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/veggies.html Miracle Baby! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html For Coffee Lovers! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/coffee.html Old Barns, Old People. Old Friends! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/barns.html Angel Falls! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angelfalls.html Car Show 2! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/carshow2.html Largest Steam Trains! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/steamtrains.html World's Fastest Cars! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastcars.html Watermelon Art 2! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/watermelon2.html Just Have Faith! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faith.html Directions Home! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/home.html Proud Of Our Troops! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Attitude Is Everything!- https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html God's Water Paintings!- https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Bible:Walking In Power! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Bible:Who Is Jesus Christ? https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/whoisjesus.html Lighthouses Of The World! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lighthouses.html Fun Science Ads! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/science.html Bible Study: Our Valuable Anchor! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html SUMMER Index! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/summerindex.html -<>- How to Become a Christian - How to Get Born Again / How to Get Saved / Romans 10:9 & 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzblR8YDQ0 Bible https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/ Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm The Way Bible Articles https://thewayinternational.com/english/ Spirit & Truth Index: https://stfi.org/ Bible Teaching Videos - John Schoenheit Spirit And Truth https://tinyurl.com/2gyn3f35 The Lion Weekly Digest is a newsletter delivering the week's top articles from The Lion straight to your inbox. Find all of the stories: https://readlion.com/ Latest From PragerU: https://www.prageru.com/ -<>- >In The Worldly News: VA starts GLP-1 trials for alcohol use disorder And More: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/423c424 President Donald J. Trump https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ TrumpRx doesn't sell medications. Instead, it connects patients directly with the best prices, increasing transparency and cutting out costly third-party markups. https://trumprx.gov/ White House Actions - 2026 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ Trump executive orders and actions, 2025-2026 https://tinyurl.com/musd7m3x DOGE Latest News https://doge.gov/ DOGE Latest Savings https://doge.gov/savings From The Daily Acorn: Positive News https://www.thedailyacorn.com/ Latest From Lifezette: https://www.lifezette.com/ Latest From Hannity: https://hannity.com/ Latest From American Action News: https://americanactionnews.com/ Latest From Reliable News: https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Latest From Newsmax: https://www.newsmax.com/ Latest From Expose: https://expose-news.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://greatergood.com/clicktogive/ggc/home ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >We Are The Created (edited) We spend a great deal of our time and energy attempting to create various areas of our life. We strive to create the ideal work environment in order to provide the necessary resources to create the ideal social and home life. We plan the details of our free time in hopes of creating the ideal leisure. We even go so far as working hard to create the ideal "religious" experience. Psalm 100:3 "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture." No amount of our own effort will ever create the "ideal." For if we are striving to create, we are chasing after the world's elusive, ever changing, false definition of what is really ideal and fulfilling. Our only hope at finding the true ideal is in understanding we are the created, not the Creator. The absolute best in life begins with knowing whose life we really live; "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Our life belongs to Christ, and it must be left with Him to create the life He desires. God is the only One who has ever truly been in the creation business; "All things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). We were created by God because of Jesus Christ for God's sovereign purpose; "We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Somehow, we have begun to consider ourselves as the work of our own hands. We try to create a life according to the world's system and fulfill "needs" and "rights" based on this false world view. Not only is this self-centered world view wrong - not only does this value system pull our heart away from God and grieve the holy spirit as we fail to follow His leading - but it can also send us into bondage as we chase a lie which will never satisfy. The truth that will set us free is that our needs are extremely small, and we actually have NO rights - at least not in this world; "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We have been purchased with the blood of Jesus and given eternal life as joint heirs with Christ in God's Kingdom. We have the right, the privilege, and the great honor of praising Him for all eternity. We need and deserve nothing more. If we truly want the ideal, we will stop trying to create our life and place every area in the Hands of a loving Creator. God defines and shapes the ideal, and His ideal is ours for the asking. The ideal job, home, marriage, ministry, fun, and friends are all ours; but only through releasing our rights, redefining our needs, and humbly understanding that we are the created. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** ?2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; Romans 13:1-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 20:11 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-11; Proverbs 20:13-15 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:7; Psalm 25:12-22; Proverbs 20:16-18 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See these teachings Body Soul Spirit http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/BODY_SOUL_SPIRIT.htm Jesus Christ Is Not God http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Advanced/Jesus_Christ_IS_NOT_God.htm <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Created To Do His Will In the message "We Are The Created" we were reminded that God is the Creator and we are the clay being molded by the loving hands of the Potter; "We are all the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Our Father is shaping us into the likeness of His Son, but what is our purpose during this shaping process? Our transformation begins the moment we trust in Jesus, and we soon learn that our Salvation is never earned by "doing" anything; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). But we also learn that eternal life is for those who do God's will; following Him is not an optional part of the Christian walk. We cannot truly accept Jesus as Savior without also beginning a journey of trust while walking in His steps. Faith means trusting Him enough to follow! 1 John 2:17 "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." We generally like the idea of "new birth" when we think of being born into God's Kingdom as His child. But we become uncomfortable when we hear, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We get uneasy when we read, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God" (Romans 6:22). There is no Salvation without a willful transfer of ownership, and we need to face the difficult truth that this means a transfer of control. Giving up control is never easy. It can be extra scary to face the unknown from the passenger seat, and it can be an offense to our pride to allow someone else (even God!) to take the lead. The roots of "self" go very deep! But as we learn to completely trust, God brings us to that wonderful place of peace where we can say, "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You" (Psalm 73:25). Though sometimes difficult, there is great joy in a complete surrender to the will of our Heavenly Father. As we give Him control over every area of our life, He will show us how to use ALL for His glory; "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10). He will give us the tools to accomplish His will and, in the process, meet every need and fulfill our deepest desires. He is the Potter and we are the clay. He is the Creator and we are definitely "the created." But we have been created with an awesome purpose. We have been given gifts, talents, and abilities, which when given back to God are used to bring Him glory and honor. This IS our purpose! We have been created to glorify His Name as we love Him and trust Him with all our heart. Let's bring Him glory and honor as we walk in the understanding that we have been created to do His will. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** ? 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19 ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: ,%&& %&& % ,%&%& %&%& %& %& %&% &%&% % &% % &%% %&% &% %&%&, &%&% %&%& %& &%& % %%& %&%& %&%&% %&%%& &%&% %&% % %& &% %%& && %&% %&%& %&% %&%' '%&% %&% %&&%&%%'% % %& %& %&% &%% `\%%.' /`%&' | | /`-._ _\\/ |, |_ / `-._ ..--~`_ |; |_`\_ / ,\\.~` `-._ - ^ |;: |/^}__..-,@ .~` ~ `o ~ |;: |(____.-' '. ~ - ` ~ |;: | \ / `\ //. - ^ ~ |;: |\ /' /\_\_ ~. _ ~ - //- jgs\\/;: \'--' `---` `\\//-\\/// >THE ONE NO ONE EVER HAD You've heard endless tales of "the one that got away." The baseline stories of this genre are about fish. But there are varieties ranging from perfect mates to ideal jobs to model churches. I am a bit suspicious of them all. It isn't that I am a cynic or less than willing to strive for an ideal. Instead, it is that I believe I have seen people paralyzed by a romantic search for some person, thing, or situation that doesn't exist. Do you really think you know someone who has the perfect work situation, family, or church? The more realistic truth is that every job has challenges, and every company has to deal with threats to its personnel and market. The family that looks happiest and is genuinely solid probably got that way through hard work over a long period of time - and still has setbacks. People who are looking for the perfect church to join are doomed to spend their lives in frustration - or denial. It was a newspaper article that got me to thinking about this the other day. It was an interview with a woman about a marriage enrichment program she and her husband had attended. She allowed that her biggest takeaway from the weekend was the shattering of a myth she had picked up somewhere along the way in her life. The myth she named was thinking that the key to a happy and lasting marriage was finding "the perfect mate" who would make her happy. She was determined to live differently from her discovery that such a delusion actually complicates and undermines happiness. Finding that her first husband was a less- than-perfect male of the species, she had divorced him after three years. Now, only two years into another marriage, she and her second husband were in trouble. Thus they had attended the seminar. I don't want to be overly simplistic here. It isn't enough to acknowledge that the world is imperfect, and it isn't a noble thing to take whatever is dished out to you. There are times when the right thing is to leave a job or company, protect oneself from an abusive mate, or leave a troubled church. But some people may be looking to find what no one has ever had - or ever will attain. Because we are fallible humans in a complex world whose history is polluted with a horrible accumulation of foibles, the delusion that one's goal for living is to discover and live the idyllic state is simply that - a delusion. Your wiser course may be in finding a way to make the present situation a bit better, instead of abandoning it in search of non-existent perfection. as seen in The Fax of Life -<>- C WALKING WITH PETER Okay, he ended up sinking like a rock, but for just a moment Peter did something amazing. He walked on water. As amazing as that feat was, perhaps just as remarkable is that he left the boat not in shallow water, not on a beautiful, calm lake day, but in the midst of a storm. Some argue that an act like that takes stupidity. But really it takes confidence. Not just a loud, self-aggrandizing, boastful kind of confidence, but the kind that truly believes a miracle is going to happen. For Peter, that belief was centered on Jesus. He had seen what He had done before and he trusted He would do it again in his life. How is your sense of trust? Are you ready to walk on water when the next storm comes? Heavenly Father, I do trust You and put myself in Your hands. I know You can do amazing things in my life! Amen. from Inspired Faith news@inspiredfaith.com as seen in Da Mouse Tracks -<>- .-' \\". /` ;--: | ( (_)== |_ ._ '.__.; \_/`--_---_( (`--(./-\.) `| _\ | | \ __ / /| '.__/ .'` \ |_ jgs '-__ / `- >Three Feet From Gold During the gold rush, a man who had been mining in Colorado for several months quit his job, as he hadn’t struck gold yet and the work was becoming tiresome. He sold his equipment to another man who resumed mining where it had been left off. The new miner was advised by his engineer that there was gold only three feet away from where the first miner stopped digging. The engineer was right, which means the first miner was a mere three feet away from striking gold before he quit. The Moral: When things start to get hard, try to persevere through the adversity. Many people give up on following their dreams because the work becomes too difficult, tedious, or tiresome–but often, you’re closer to the finish line than you may think, and if you push just a little harder, you will succeed. -<>- _..--""-. .-""--.._ _.-' \ __...----...__ / '-._ .' .:::...,' ',...:::. '. ( .'``'''::; ;::'''``'. ) \ '-) (-' / \ / \ / \ .'.-. .-.'. / \ | \0| |0/ | / | \ | .-==-. | / | \ `/`; ;`\` / '.._ (_ | .-==-. | _) _..' `"`"-`/ `/' '\` \`-"`"` / /`; .==. ;`\ \ .---./_/ \ .==. / \ \ / '. `-.__) | `" | =(`-. '==. ; jgs \ '. `-. / \_:_) `"--.....-' >Elephant Rope When walking through an elephant camp, a man noticed that the elephants were only secured with a small rope that was tied around one ankle. He wondered why the elephants didn’t break free from the rope, as the elephants were certainly strong enough to do so. He asked a trainer why the elephants didn’t try to break free, and the trainer responded by saying that they use the same size rope for baby elephants all the way up to adulthood. Because they’re too small when they’re babies to break free from the rope, they grow up being conditioned that the rope is stronger than they are. As adults, they think the rope can still hold them, so they don’t try to fight it. The Moral: The elephants in this case are experiencing learned helplessness. This phenomenon occurs when someone has been conditioned to anticipate discomfort in some way without having a way to avoid it or make it stop. After enough conditioning, the person will stop any attempts to avoid the pain, even if they see an opportunity to escape. If you go through life thinking that you can’t do something just because you have failed at doing it in the past, you’re living with a fixed mindset. You have to let go of your limiting beliefs in order to make the breakthroughs that are required for your ultimate success. Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something, and don’t hold onto an assumption that you can’t grow and learn from past failures. Available Free by E-mail every other day. To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: _---~~(~~-_. _{ ) ) , ) -~~- ( ,-' )_ ( `-,_..`., )-- '_,) ( ` _) ( -~( -_ `, } (_- _ ~_-~~~~`, ,' ) `~ -^( __;-,((())) ~~~~ {_ -_(()) `\ } { } "Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can't trust my own thinking, of course I can't trust the arguments leading to atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an atheist, or anything else. Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God." - C.S. Lewis _.--""""--.._ _."" .' `-._ ."; ; ; `-. / / .' ; `. / ; ; ; \ ; : : : `-.\ ; ; : `. `; : : : \ : : \ `: \ `.; \ \ `; ; ; \ : .' ; | ; `>' : `.; ) / _.' `. ;/ _( ;,' ; `. `.; `-. ;' .' : `. `. / \, \ \ \ :,' : `. `. \ ; ::\_/_/_/:: .-=:.-" -,- "-.,=-.\ ;.; :::; ; ;:: |(`.` : .')| \: `. ::::::: \\/ : \// ; \ _____ : .:. : _/ ; \hjw: / ; ; ; | \""" .' : _ _ ; / ; /| / `. \; ;/ .' .' / /:| | ! : : !_.' / .--::/ |\___ `.: :.'/\ ; ____.':|:|/ \:::|\ \ _ / | : : ___/|:::|:'""" `""|:\ ;"^" | ! :__/|::|/"""" \::\_____ .-' | ; |::|/"" \:|::::|\ / / / / / /""" \|::::|:`--\_\_\__.'-| ; """" \::::::::::::/ .' """"'"""".-' ( __,------.__.--/ , , , |/--._ / :\| | |v' \_ |\ :::v-;v-':: \ \:\ ::::::::: \ \|`-. /| `: \ ____ ____/:/ \|:-.______/|__|\ /|:::|/ |::|:::::|:/ \\_____/:/"""" `-:|:::::|/ \|::::|/ """""' `""""' >I'll Be Back (By Charles L. Paddock) [Minor editing] When the great explorer Shackleton was on his quest for the South Pole, he was at one time driven back, and was compelled to leave some of his men on Elephant Island, though he promised that he would return for them. But when he endeavored to get back, he found a sea of ice between him and the island. What should he do? He had promised, and he must keep his word. He tried to reach them, but failed. He tried again and again, but without success. Beyond the ice were his trusting companions, who had every confidence in him. They had only a few supplies with them. At that time of the year it seemed folly to hope for any favorable change in the weather, and he was told that there was absolutely no hope of getting his little boat, the "Yalcho," through the great ice barrier to Elephant Island. He could not be inactive. He must reach his men; so at the risk of losing his boat and the lives of his crew, he pushed in nearer to the island; and unexpectedly there came an opening in the ice. He hurried in, rescued his men, and in an hour was back again with all on board. Had they been delayed only a few minutes, their frail vessel would have been destroyed by the crashing of the ice as it closed in. When they were sure they were beyond danger and the nervous tension was over, Shackleton said to one of the rescued companions, "Well, you were packed and ready, weren't you?" "Yes," came back the reply, "we never lost hope. We believed you would come for us, even though circumstances were unfavorable. You had promised, and we expected you; so each morning we rolled up our sleeping bags and packed all our equipment, that we might be ready." And now they were all safe and homeward bound, happy that they had been prepared daily. __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown Before Jesus departed from this world, He left a definite promise in John 14:1-4: "'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.'" (NIV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promises. Make sure you're ready. SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->Pss.136:1-26 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah, Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $35 will get your ad message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO Foundational Teaching Seminar NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: https://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe **********************************************************************