Salt Tips, Did God Really Say And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: bcrsystems@earthlink.net Shangrala Family Fun: http://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 ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our too hot to handle new pages are both from our friend LouiseAu. This first one is for those of us who love photography. Here are some great contest winners sure to give you plenty of eye-candy for your day. Be sure to check this one out here: ,_ :`. .--._ `.`-. / ',-""""' `. ``~-._.'_."/ `~-._ .` `~; ;. / / / jgs ,_.-';_,.'` `"-;`/ ,'` Best Of National Geographic 8 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestnatgeo8.html --- ...So beautiful! Thank You LouiseAu! Our next flaming hot new page is on the lighter side. As humans, we are prone to making mistakes. After all, only God is perfect. This humorous new page details some of the more costly mistakes people have made. Be sure to check it out for some chuckles for your day! ____________________________________________________________________ |.===========[_F_E_D_E_R_A_L___R_E_S_E_R_V_E___N_O_T_E_]============.| ||%%&%&%_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ %&%%&%&|| ||%.-.&/||_||_ | ||\||||_| \ (_ ||\||_(_ /\|_ |\|V||_|)|/ |\ %&.-.&|| ||&/ |\ || ||_ \_/| ||||_|_/ ,_)|||||_,_) \/| ||| ||_|\|\_|| &// |\|| |||| | |% ,-----,-'____'-,-----, %| | |||| |||| | |&% """""""""" [ .-;"`___ `";-. ] &%| || ||| ||&\==// `).'' .'`_.- `. '.'.(` A 76355942 J \\==/&|| ||&'-'%/1 // .' /` \ \\ \%''%|| ||%&&%/` d8888b // / \ _ _;, \\ .-"""-. 1 `&%%%|| ||&%%& 8P |) Yb ;; ( > a a| \ ;; //A`Y A\\ &%%&|| ||&%%| 8b |) d8 || ( ,\ \ | ) || ||.-'-.|| |%%&|| ||%&&| Y8888P || '--'/` -- /-' || \\_/~\_// |&&%|| ||%%&| || |\`-.__/ || '-...-' |%&%|| ||%%%| || /` |._ .|-. || |&%&|| ||%%&| A 76355942 J /;\ _.' \ } \ '-. /;\ |%&&|| ||&.-; (, '. \ } `\ \' ,) ,.,.,.,., ;-.&|| ||( | ) 1 """"""" _( \ ;...---------.;.; / )_ ```""""""" 1 ( | )|| ||&%'-'=================\`------------------`/================='-'%&|| ||%&%&%&%&%&%&%%&%&%&%%%&)O N E D O L L A R(%%&%&%&%&%&%%&%&&&%&%%&|| ||%JGS%&%&%%&%&%&%&%&%&&/_.----------------._\%&%&%&%&&%%&%&%&%&%&%&|| '""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""` Expensive Mistakes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mistakes.html --- ...I love these pages! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: There are only two kinds of people on earth today Two kinds of people, no more I say. Not the rich and the poor, for to know a man's wealth You must first know the state of his conscience and health, Not the happy and sad, for in life's passing years, Each has his laughter and each has his tears. No, the two kinds of people on earth I mean Are the people who lift and the people who lean. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox __ .'/\'. .'-/__\-'. .'--/____\--'. .'--./______\.--'. .'--../________\..--'. .'--.._/__________\_..--'. .'--..__/____________\__..--'. .'--..___/______________\___..--'. '========'================'========' [_|__] [_|__] =[__|_]=====""=====[__|_]==. [_|__] '| [_|__] | [__|_] |' [__|_] | [_|__] .--JL--. [_|__] '===O [__|_] \====/ [__|_] [_|__]_.-| .; |-._[_|__] [__|_]'._ \__/(_.'[__|_] [.-._] [_.-.] [_.-.'--..____..--'.-._] (o) [(_.' .-. .-.'._)\ (o) (\'/) [ .-. (_.'.-. (_.' .-.](\'/) ;: [ (_.'.-. (_.' .-. (_.'| ;:' ;: [ .-. '._) .-. '._).-. ] ;:. [(_.' .-. '._) .-.'._)] (o) /.-. (_.'.-. (_.' .-.];:(o) (\'/)['._).-. (_.' .-.(_.'] (\'/) [ (_.'.-. .-.'._) \ ;: ;:' '-._ '._) '._) _.-' LGB `---..____..---' ;:` ;:' ;:'.:; ;;" >KEEPER OF THE SPRING The late Peter Marshall was an eloquent speaker and for several years served as the chaplain of the US Senate. He used to love to tell the story of the "Keeper of the Spring," a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps. The old gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town councilman to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description. Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man's eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn't necessary any longer." By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man's services. For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped of and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A few days later, the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left, as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village. Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring, and within a few weeks, the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps. Never become discouraged with the seeming smallness of your task, job, or life. Cling fast to the words of Edward Everett Hale, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do something I can do." The key to accomplishment is believing that what you can do will make a difference. _________ ,:',:`,:' __||_||_||_||___ ____[""""""""""""""""]___ \ " '''''''''''''''''''' \ ~~jgs~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~~^~^ >TRAGEDY OR BLESSING? Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States. The entire family was filled with anticipation and excitement about their new life. However, seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days. The family's dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, stomped to the dock to watch the ship leave -- without the Clark family. The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and God for their misfortune. Five days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland. The mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because the son had been bitten by a dog, they were left behind in Scotland. When Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning what he had felt was a tragedy into a blessing. --- ...A good reminder We need to put our trust in God and... Eph.5: [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Learning to Be Content "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."1 Philippians 4:13 is often used as a motivational verse when trying to reach new goals, entering a new season of life, or preparing for an academic or athletic event. However, when Paul wrote this, he was in prison. During this time Paul had found that basing your contentment on your circumstances is deceptive, but he had learned that his joy and contentment were found in the One who transcends any and all circumstances. He knew that he could do all things, in any situation, because Christ was the source of his strength and was in control. This is how he could truly be content. I think the key point in today’s passage is that Paul learned how to be content. Our human nature may find it easy to complain when we face difficult situations, but we, too, can learn to be content wherever we are. Being content doesn’t necessarily mean that you resign to the fact that you may not get what you hoped for; instead, it means that we are willing to continue working faithfully where God has us, knowing that He is always teaching us and working through us. I am sure there are things we would like to see change in our present circumstances, but can we be content in them and allow God to fulfill his purpose for us? If we trust that his plan is perfect, we know that he will give us all we need, be our strength wherever we are, and we will learn to be content. Suggested prayer: Dear God, like Paul, we have also experienced good times and hard times. I ask that you help my response imitate his, and that I would learn to be content where I am, knowing that you are in control and that you will walk with me always. I can do nothing without you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus Christ's name, amen. 1. Philippians4:11-13 (NTV). Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...It is important We need to keep God first and learn to be thankful, even when things seems bad, there is something to be thankful to God for even if the only thing you can think of is the fact that you are still living and breathing! See these teachings: GOD FIRST http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/GOD_FIRST.htm Be Ye Thankful http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Be_Ye_Thankful.htm Be Anxious or Distracted for Nothing https://tinyurl.com/4h53r42h DON’T Criticize, Condemn, or Complain https://tinyurl.com/9u3upd9a <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Courageous Trust "The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident."1 Fear is something that all of us have encountered at one time or another, and David was no different. As a young shepherd, David was chosen by God to be the king of Israel. King Saul became jealous of David and sought to kill him, so David found himself running for his life! After he became king, David was consumed by the sin of lust, and took Bathsheba as his wife after having her husband Uriah killed. Despite all the heartache and battles David faced, his heart for God remained. Psalm 27 was a reminder to him, and all of us, that our confidence is in the Lord. Trusting God, especially in times of fear, takes courage. Our feelings can seem overwhelming, and our mind starts to wander when our focus drifts from our Protector. The battles we face may be different than David’s, but every day we are fighting temptations and striving not to be consumed by this world. Doing the right thing will always come with oppression, but we can be sure that when our confidence is in the Lord, our enemies will be defeated! Hebrews 4:16 reminds us to “Come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Perhaps this is why David was a man after God’s own heart, because even when he was afraid or when he failed, he never stopped coming back confidently to our gracious God. Suggested prayer: Dear God, when fear wants to consume me, please let me come to you in confidence, like David, knowing that you will give me the victory. Help me have courageous trust in you and remain steadfast. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus Christ's name, amen. 1. Psalm 27:1,3 (NLT). Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...I found During my worst tribulations, I found that reciting this scripture helped me to stay focused and have faith in God... 1 John 4: [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. There were times all I could remember was the first part... 'There is no fear in love' I'd repeat that over and over to help me win over my fear. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _.--. ;.-'i.`._.--, {(;{} y`-.`,_`--. <`~;`-( _.'`.~`.' \ \ `i.' ` Y },-,) .j~. | ; / _j\ <_ `! ;_.'( / >-, `---.,' .'-j / `. ,<_ ( `. \ `=-j\ `-Rosebud A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rose bush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing any of the petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every petal intact .. . It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the young preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem: It is only a tiny rosebud A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, Then, in my hands, they die. If I cannot unfold a rosebud, The flower of God's design, Then how can I have the wisdom To unfold this life of mine? So, I'll trust in Him for leading Each moment of my day. I will look to Him for His guidance Each step of the Pilgrim's way. The pathway that lies before me Only my Heavenly Father knows. I'll trust him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, and an entire lifetime to forget them. Take the time to LIVE!!! Distance and time may separate us, but friendship and memories won't. --- ...We have this beautiful poem page here: .=====__ /==Z' .===_ ~~=,_===\ _/ | | YZ, `\, ~\ | | | _/=j'\ !, d __====_| | b/ V`; /' .M , `5\==/~~ W, t d+, .D4| / /'|/~~~\=__ .- `\ t~\ | |t`~~T/'|Z :/ | ~~\=/V \ | \4, | ~/~' :Z -! | | \, /\__| \\.! :XG \ / ._, ./' `L | ~; V; _//' | \ .f~' `~; .b_ ./ \\__JL `; Y7~ | / / d //' \, .! `D\, `\, | .! .t/ .(_/=~ \ / `;`~~~=+=qLb, jK_L==f' j'' `; ./ .(r, `~\5' ~\\,._r/ | ~=m! ./D' `\, \, !G~ t ~==___===/'/ .!`\__ /! __=~\\~=_ TG= | .| ~\=\=r@/~5 \ !, ~=_, __//' |./~V || `| \, t ~~~~\==~~ t| | | | | !\, \=_, ! t .! !, \ `\/~~~ | / !\/\ `; ./ `~- t .! N, ./' `\/' unknown Rose Petals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/rose.html -<>- _ , (_\______/________ \-|-|/|-|-|-|-|/ \==/-|-|-|-|-/ \/|-|-|-|,-' \--|-''' \_j________ (_) (_) hjw >Two Women Who Taught Me Kindness --posted by Tikit in http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=8366 This is a story about a wonderful little snippet of life I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in. I write about it here, not to toot my own horn, but to give others an idea of how easy it is to perform a simple random act of kindness, and what a positive effect it can have. I was standing in line at our local Wal-Mart with one item in my hand at the express lance check out. The lady in front of me was a fragile looking senior citizen. Since I had been widowed fairly recently, and was still walking around in that pervasive fog that is a combination of ennui and sadness, I was so self-absorbed in my own little world of gloom that it wasn't really registering in my brain that the little old lady was having trouble getting her items out of her shopping cart and placing them on the counter. I stood there blankly watching her, pretty much numb to what was going on around me to take any action and lend her a hand. She slowly managed to get her purchases on the checkout counter, then began to fumble in her purse, and seemed to get more and more rattled and frustrated. I was also oblivious to the fact that the lady in line behind me was obviously disgruntled with the speed at which we were not moving forward. What finally woke me out of my self absorbed reverie was the rather loud pronouncement of the woman behind me, stating in a peeved tone of voice "This is the express lane, that girl (the checkout person) should tell her to go to some other checkout!" I then noticed that the little white haired lady in front of me, indeed, had more than the allotted 10 items one was supposed to have. Then the woman behind me breathed a huge audible sigh and said "God, I can't believe this." Of course, both statements were said loudly enough for the check out person and the old woman to hear. The teenager at the cash register looked a little panic stricken, as if it were her fault, and the senior in front of me startled; her palsy worsened and she seemed even more rattled, if that were at all possible. At that point I turned to the woman behind me and said in my sweetest, most condescending tone (oh yeah, I was being a totally sarcastic hypocrite at this point), "Oh yes, she does have too many items, doesn't she?" Then I added, "I think that can be easily remedied." And smiling, I moved seven or eight of the old lady's items back to where my lonely bottle of something or other lay on the counter, and said "Put this on my tab, but you can bag it for her." "There, problem solved." The complaining woman behind me never breathed another word. The senior in front of me looked like a deer caught in the headlights for a moment, then broke into the most amazing smile. Since she was still rattled and fumbling around for her money, I just whipped out my credit card and told the girl to just ring it ALL up as my bill. Of course I got a big thank you from the little old lady in front of me, but what it did for my own psyche was way more than what her little inexpensive assortment of purchases came to. What it did for me was way beyond the simple "feel good" of the moment. I had learned an important lesson. One of the best ways to move beyond our own problems in life, is to step outside of our comfort zone, forget about ourselves for a moment, and do something for somebody else. In hindsight, I owe a thank you to both of those women; one for giving me the opportunity, the other for being the catalyst that prompted me into action. --- o \ o `. o o o o \ ` -. .-.-. .---. .-.,-.,-. ..-. / )| | `'____\' o _____\|| ` `' | |-._--.| |----.| | o |o ||-.| ||,-. || | o o | ||_|| |/ oo\ || | | || || C ._)o || | o o| || ||o|\`-/ || | ,. o | ||_|| ,'\,\ || | _\('') | ||o||/\ \ .: o|| | (; .) | || |( \_\||___|| | _,.(|___)-. | o||_|||`-`,\)----' | o o | | ||..|.| o _ |-. _.-. `.-.|._|_.-:|__|_|-.-' `-'.__ o o '--`-` o - SSt ...This reminds me This winter storm we had recently caused some people to shine. I saw one of my friends posting that he was helping people he would see that needed help shoveling. He was driving and seeing a home that needed help, he would stop and spend 5-10 minutes shoveling them out and be on his way. I responded to Doug that he was being very thoughtful and to keep warm in this frigid weather we were having. Not long after that, I saw a social media post saying 'Let me tell you about my Jesus...' Her husband wasn't in too great of health and he was going out to shovel. She asked God to make sure he was OK. Almost immediately a car pulled up to him and the man they didn't know offered to shovel for a small fee. They were very blessed! Two 'Praise the Lord' feel good real stories. .-----. ( #-...'`\ \ # | _ )"===="| _ (_`"======"`_) /`""""""""`\ | o _o\ ,_ | (_>| ___ {` `}__ \ '.___/--# _ ."` `"=, `;"` `"=, '. ;-._:'\ { }:`'=='` _,==""=,\ / _.-'`\ )===\ <>_/ __ `'--.=" _.====,`| ; _.'` _.;` .---""`====`-'\__.' `| `'_(| ^.^ |)/ ;'` _.:_^} / ()\ / )';_'='_/.' _ .'=_._\___.-;`|| || _ \___..--' \_.-' .'` '.=/(__/` | _`-.=||_||_||_||_|/` | | () | / / o| \ \_/ .=`-`/ \\_/ ; ; /`-,_/ o| |-' /`-..-' ~~ |/ \ ()/ `(`___ o/__/ \_/` / \ '. / _`\ \`""` \ __ __\ \ '-./ __, _.'`\ `; || `'.'._ /-"// {{o '.'. //" // ( `\ \_ || ,/`-.`./ // {{ \/`.`.// // \ .-`\ `\ jgs `\\_/ `'-.// `\\_/ `'; o// \___) `._____.' `"` `"` God is good ALL of the time! :) -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Amazing Photos 7!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/amazingphotos7.html Piglet The Pink Puppy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/piglet.html Twin Baby Elephants!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/twinelephants.html Firefighter Animal Rescues!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/firefighters.html Cute Panda Bears!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panda2.html Nature Is Amazing 2! - http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/natureamazing2.html World's Royal Palaces!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/palaces.html Wiener War Dogs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wienerwardogs.html Funny Food Memes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/funnyfoodmemes.html Animals Acting Weird!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/strangeanimals.html Biblical Advice!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bibleadvice.html World's Fastest Cars!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastcars.html Awesome Bikes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/awesomebikes.html Our Valuable ANCHOR!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Origami Dollar Art 2!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dollarart2.html Grand Canyon Skywalk!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/skywalk.html Birth of An Island!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/island.html Creatures We Love To Hate!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creatures.html Dangerous Critters 4!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dangerouscritters4.html VALENTINE Index!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valentineindex.html -<>- Is Your Toddler Gay? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/toddler.html Gay Agenda! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/gayagenda.html Crossed The Line!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/crossedtheline.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: President Donald J. Trump https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ 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 ========================================================== >-->Tips And Hints: .:::. .:::. /:::::\ /:':':\ | _ | | _ | | (_` | | |_) | | ,_) | | | | | | jgs | | /`'---'`\ /`'---'`\ `'-----'` `'-----'` >Biblical Meaning Of 'Covenant of Salt' Numbers 18: 19 -- All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute forever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee. II Chronicles 13: 5 -- Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? The covenant of salt is an extremely important concept in the East. It is mentioned various times in both the Old and New Testaments. The covenant of salt means that you have pledged or promised fidelity to someone. By eating a salted meal with another person, the covenant is accomplished. Even if the other person is a thief or a murderer, he will not steal from you or hurt you. To Easterners, breaking a covenant of salt means death. God had a covenant of salt with His people of the Old Testament, and we also have it in the Age of Grace in which we live. Every day we eat God's salt, because we live by His grace. Some of us dishonor Him, however, and break the covenant by our actions and our words. Matthew 5: 13 -- Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. In the Eastern household, salt was kept in a large stone jar on the floor. Every day the floor was washed with water. The jar would continually absorb some of the water, and the salt at the bottom would leach out and lose it's 'saltiness'. When the household reached the lower level of 'unsalty' salt, it would be tossed out onto the street so the jar could be refilled. The record in Matthew relates this to our commitment to God and His Word. Non-commitment is bland and tasteless. Those who are not committed will soon find themselves trodden underfoot by the world. Colossians 4: 5, 6 -- Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. If our words are salted, they will be gracious and truthful. We will mean what we say and say what we mean. The covenant of salt is a promise of allegiance between us and God. God has never broken His covenant with us, and we must strive not to break our covenant of salt with Him. From: Orientalisms of the Bible (Part Three) https://tinyurl.com/mpu4m6jp -<>- >SALT Cleaning Tips * Cleans a broken egg Did you accidentally drop an egg on the floor? Cleaning the mess will probably require a lot of paper towels unless you use the following tip: sprinkle salt over the broken egg and let it soak for a few minutes. Then you can clean it with just one paper towel. * Removes sticky dirt from the iron Something sticky melted on your iron? Turn on the iron and set it on maximum heat for a few minutes. As it heats up, take a wax paper or a newspaper and generously spread salt on it. Now move the iron in circular motions over the salt, which will catch the sticky scraps and stick them to the paper. * Cleans wine that spills on the carpet Have you spilled wine on the carpet? It doesn't matter if it is red or white, you can easily clean it if you pour some baking soda on it, and cover it with salt. Let the salt soak up as much liquid as possible, and when the area dries, simply clean the salt with a vacuum cleaner. * Cleans lipstick marks from glasses Have you finished drinking the wine and now your glass has a lipstick mark on it? If the stain persists and doesn't wash up in the dishwasher, just rub some salt on the mark and watch it disappear as if by itself. * Cleans and disinfects cutting board A cutting board can be a source for diseases if not cleaned properly. It is therefore recommended to rub half a lemon over it, pour salt on it, wait 10-15 minutes and then rub with lemon again. If the lemon dries, squeeze it and continue to clean. * Turns off fires in the kitchen If a fire suddenly breaks out in one of your pans, water would not necessarily help, as chances are it has burning oil. Instead of using water, quickly open your salt jar and simply pour its contents onto the pan. The salt will choke off the oxygen from the fire and will suffocate it quickly so that both you and the kitchen can remain safe and clean. * Cleans burnt pans Did you burn your food and now its got stuck on the pan and won't be removed? The simple way to clean it is by pouring salt over the pan and add water. This mixture will help loosen all the burnt stains that got stuck, and after 10 minutes you can easily wash the pan. Use this method also on food stains or burnt oil in the oven (without the water) while the oven is hot to prevent them from hardening, and clean them off easily when cooled. * Cleans sponges Did you clean the pan, but now the sponge is dirty and blackened? The salt will save you again in this case too, just as it helped with the burnt pan. Just fill a small bowl with 2 cups of water and a quarter cup of salt, put the sponge in it and leave it there for the night. When you take it out in the morning, it will be just like new. We recommend doing this at least once a week, whether or not there are black spots on it to disinfect it. * Get rid of stains in the bath room Sometimes the usual detergents we buy are not enough to clean the ceramic effectively. If you want to thoroughly clean the bath, mix a cup of turpentine and a cup of salt, put on protective gloves and open the windows (you should also cover your mouth and nose, as it is not recommended to breathe in the turpentine's gases). Spread the pulp you made on a sponge (which you cleaned earlier) and scrub the bath. After about a minute you will see that the stains you have been used to for years are disappearing as if they were not there. * Unclogs drains Did you clean the bathtub and just remembered that it has a little clogging? Here's what you need to do. First, remove hair that is stuck in the drain and mix a quarter cup of baking soda powder and a quarter cup of salt. Pour this powder mixture directly into the drain, and quickly pour another half a glass of vinegar on it. The solution will start to foam and release in 15 minutes. Then simply pour hot water over the drain hole to get rid of the powder residue. -<>- _ (_) |\ |\ |\ .-'''''-. |'> |'> |'> .'_ / _ \ _'.____ | \ |\ | \ |\ | \ /\ / _/ _ | _ \_ \ _.'. ||(\|/ ||(\\/ ||(\|/ __/_/___/___\___\_\_|_|______________ddc.'_____ddc.'__ddc.'____ldb >Out Of Rock Salt? If you suddenly find yourself out of rock salt... this homemade ice melt will help you avoid slipping and sliding on your front porch this winter. You can create a homemade de-icer with items you already own. This magical homemade ice melt is easy to make, too. In a bucket, combine a half-gallon of hot water, about six drops of dish soap, and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol. Once you pour the homemade ice melt mixture onto your sidewalk or driveway, the snow and ice will begin to bubble up and melt. Just keep a shovel handy to scrape away any leftover pieces of ice. -<>- .---------------. / oLo \ O/_____/________/____\O /__________+__________\ / (#############) \ |[**](#############)[**]| \_______________________/ |_""__|_,-----,_|__""_| | | '-----' | | APC'97 '-' '-' >Defrost your windshield in one minute, too. This easy to make solution can clear your windshield in less than a minute and get you on the road fast. Simply mix 1/3 part water and 2/3 part isopropyl or rubbing alcohol. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and in the morning, spray it on your windshield. The ice will disappear almost instantly. You can also spray the solution on your car handles and doors if they are frozen shut. Still keep your scraper handy, though, as you may need to scrape off some excess chunks of ice. This works because isopropyl doesn't freeze until it reaches 128 degrees F below 0. Therefore, you can also keep the spray bottle in your car without worrying about it freezing over night." ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Did God Really Say The first two chapters of the Bible tell how, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and created Eve as his companion and helper. Life in the garden was good, but it didn't take long for the deception of the devil to really mess things up. God had given Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from any tree in the garden - any tree except one; "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). God's instructions were clear and His consequences for disobedience severe. But when the devil first confronted Eve, he began by slightly changing God's Word in order to cause doubt. Genesis 3:1 "He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?'" This slight shift from a single tree to ANY tree put Eve immediately on the defensive: "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden'" (Genesis 3:2-3). The devil continued his attack by giving Eve a different interpretation of God's Word: "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God" (Genesis 3:4-5). Eve clearly knew the truth; but without a firm conviction to obey at all cost, she evaluated the merit of the devil's lie and, being unable to refute his reasoning, gave in to sin. Since that first confrontation, the tactics of the devil are still pretty much the same. His attack always begins with getting us to shift from the absolute nature of God's Word, causing us to doubt and defend against his deception. God's Word says: "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). But the devil says: "Did God really say there is only one way? Surely God wants everyone to go to heaven and will accept many beliefs as long as they are good and sincere." This deception pulls people from God's path every day. Jesus clearly said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The one and ONLY way is Jesus! If we are not firm in our conviction that God's Word is true, we too will become vulnerable to the devil's attacks of doubt and will soon begin to believe his twisted lies. God's Word says our most important "duty" is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Let's prepare by studying His Word, praying for wisdom to know His truth, and loving Him with our absolute ALL. Let's hold firmly to God's Word and not be even slightly shaken when the enemy asks: Did God really say? Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35 Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See This Advanced Teaching The Enemy's Traps! http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Advanced/The_Enemy's_Traps.htm <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Boundary Line of Truth In the message "Did God Really Say" we saw how the devil began his deception by causing Eve to doubt what God said; "Did God really say, 'You must not eat...'?" (Genesis 3:1). He then said God had lied and was actually keeping Eve from something beneficial; "God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). The devil convinced Eve that disobeying God (in just this one instance) would be the right thing to do. After all, she would become more like God... and that MUST be the proper path to follow. Genesis 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it." Eve had seen the fruit before this encounter with the devil, and she already knew it looked good. But God had established a boundary line which, until now, she had never crossed. However, when the devil presented his twisted version of the truth, this line began to shift. Eve became unsure about absolute right and wrong and saw the line as something she could control. She adjusted God's path to align with her own desires and, in the process, she violated God's command. God has shown each of us the boundary line between right and wrong - we KNOW the truth. God's line is not subject to our control, and we are not given the freedom to cross the line depending on our circumstances or perceived benefit. We are often deceived by simple justifications: "I know this is wrong, but my increased wisdom from this experience will eventually be used to help others." Or, "I know this is wrong, but what else can I do? God surely wants me to eat and pay my bills." Or, "I know this is wrong, but at least it's not as bad as...." Or the common s%xual deception; "I know this is wrong, but we really love each other." It's God's desire that we trust Him with all our heart and follow His path each and every day, without ANY shortcuts or deviations. As we follow His leading, we will face many decisions - many places where the path divides - and we must decide which direction to turn. Fortunately, we can depend on God to NEVER direct us into sin. If a path contains sin, we can be sure it is NOT God's path, not the path we ought to follow! Let's trust Him to absolutely direct our every step. Let's draw so close to our Heavenly Father that all deception is exposed. Let's walk His path without compromise and refuse to shift, or cross over, His boundary line of truth. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:13; Psalm 18:16-34; Proverbs 4:7-10 --- ( ) |\ _,--------._ / | | `.,' `. / | ` ' ,-' ' \/_ _ ( / (,-.`. ,',-.`. `__,' |/#\ ),-','#\`= ,'.` | `._/) -'.\_,' ) ))| / (_.)\ . -'// ( /\____/\ ) )`'\ \ |V----V|| ' , \ |`- -- -' ,' \ \ _____ ___ | .' \ \ `._,-' `- `.__,`---^---' \ ` -' -.______ \ . / ______,- `. ,' ap ...Yes. That is what the devil does. He knows the bible inside and out. He therefore knows how to change it to fit what he wants and make a person doubt what the true word of God says. He does this with every different church denomination - they separate because they do not agree on what the bible says - what God says. They doubt if God said this or meant that and in the end, they wind up with the devil's version of God's Word - which is worthless. ---_ ......._-_--. (|\ / / /| \ \ / / .' -=-' `. / / .' ) _/ / .' _.) / / o o _.-' / .' \ _.-' / .'*| \______.-'// .'.' \*| \| \ | // .'.' _ |*| ` \|// .'.'_ _ _|*| . .// .'.' | _ _ \*| \`-|\_/ / \ _ _ \*\ `/'\__/ \ _ _ \*\ /^| \ _ _ \* ' ` \ _ _ \ ASH (+VK) \_ You see the devil coil and hiss as he says, 'Did God really say...' and rebuke God's red line by saying - 'thou shalt not surely die!' Adam and Eve did die. They lost their eternal life spirit from God that very day - just like God had warned them. Rom.5 [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. [17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. It took many more years for the second Adam, Jesus Christ, to be born to allow mankind to have eternal life once again. __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown 1 Cor.15: [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: >QUOTES If God sees that my spiritual life will be furthered by giving me the things for which I ask, then He will give them, but that is not the end of prayer. The end of prayer is that I come to know God Himself. -- Oswald Chambers No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once. -- Oswald J. Smith God has huge plans for the world today! He is not content to merely establish a handful of struggling churches among each tongue, tribe and nation. Even now He is preparing and empowering His Church to carry the seeds of revival to the uttermost ends of the earth. -- David Smithers -<>- __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >MEANT TO SHARE When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Acts 18:26 I have said it before, and I will say it again. You have a choice before you as a Christian: evangelize or fossilize. I fear there are many believers who know God's Word, yet they pretty much think that everything revolves around them. It is all about them being blessed, all about them growing, and all about them learning. Obviously there is a place for that. But it is also about our taking these newfound truths and sharing them with others. The truth God has given you is not designed to be hoarded; it is designed to be shared. You have been blessed to be a blessing to others. And if you only take in and don't give out, you are running the risk of entering into a place of spiritual stagnation. We have a new baby in our family, the daughter of our son Jonathan and his wife Brittni. I am just amazed at the things she does. She claps her little hands, and when she sees me, she starts jabbering. It is so fun hanging around with a baby. It is fascinating to me how much babies learn every single day. It is also exciting to watch my older grandchildren grow and mature. I like to hang around kids. You see things differently when you are around a little one, things that you maybe would take for granted otherwise. That is how it is with a new believer. You are sharing things that, quite frankly, you are starting to take for granted. And as they are discovering them for the first time, you rediscover them again. We all have a part to play. You may think, Well, I just don't know all that much. But you know more than a brand-new believer. And God can do a lot with a little. as seen in Daily Devotion with Greg Laurie -<>- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >LABOR ALONE WILL NOT SATISFY "All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied" (Eccl. 6:7 NKJV). How would you feel about yourself if your job was removed from you tomorrow? Let's imagine that your income wouldn't change, just what you did everyday. One of the schemes that Satan uses in the life of the Christian worker is to get him/her to view their value solely based on the type of work they do and how well they do it. We call this performance-based acceptance. It says "As long as I have a good job and I do it well, I have self-esteem." This is a "slippery slope" and can be used by Satan to keep our focus on our performance versus Christ. We are never to find our value in what we do. Instead, our value is solely based on who we are in Christ. The apostle Paul wrestled with this after he came to faith in Christ. He had grown to the top of his field as a Jewish leader. "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith" (Phil 3:4-9). You'll never really know to the degree that your self-esteem is rooted in your work until your work is removed. Unemployment, illness, or a financial crisis can lead to job loss. Why not evaluate where you are in this area of your life. Affirm with God your desire to be known by Who you know versus what you do. as seen in Today God is First -<>- \ | / -- o -- / | \ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ \/'-'\/\/'-'\/\/'-'\/\/'-'\/\/'_'\/\/'-'\/\/'-'\/ \_;_/ \_;_/ \_;_/ \_;_/ \_;_/ \_;_/ \_;_/ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ >TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are and who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential strength, will power, or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whether they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience create who you are, and even the bad experiences can be learned from, In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart... If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again... Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high... Hold your head up because you have every right too. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself... for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. Create your own life and then go out and live in it! "Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last... Tomorrow is Not Promised" -- Author Unknown <>< <>< <>< <>< -<>- __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >A LETTER FROM JESUS ABOUT CHRISTMAS (edited) My Dearest Loved Ones, It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was my Father who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8. If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it: 1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time. 2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them. 3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... it will be nice hearing from you again. 4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need - spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them. 5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. 6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. 7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families. 8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary - especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. 9. Here's a good one... There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you. 10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. Don't forget - I am God's only begotten Son and can take care of Myself. Just love God and Me and do what I have told you to do. We'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. Plan for Easter and next Christmas too! And do have a most blessed New Year with all those whom you love and remember... I Love You, Jesus Christ 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. You can find me on Facebook as Kimberly B. O'Brien Quiggle. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: It's not what you think, it is what the Bible says! "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" - Jesus (John 11:25-26) _.--._ \ ** / (<>) . ) ( . )\_.._/ /\ \_.._/( (*_<>_ _<>_*) )/ '' \ \/ / '' \( ' ) ( ' ( ) ) ( (<>) / ** \ /.-..-.\ >The Image of the Cross (Author Unknown) Nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains of North America stands a rugged peak. For nine months each year it lies robed in snow, indistinguishable from a dozen others surrounding it. But as summer arrives and the air warms, the mountain slowly sheds its blanket of white, revealing a massive emblem. High above the neighboring valleys, an 1100 foot vertical gouge bisects a 400 foot horizontal groove, forming an almost perfect image of the cross of Christ. This sight is so impressive that famous American artist Thomas Moran visited the mountain to paint it in 1875. The peak is aptly named "The Mountain of the Holy Cross." In winter, only an expert could single out this particular peak from those around it. But in summer, any child could look at these mountains and easily choose "the one with the cross on it." The only real difference in this mountain and the all the others is the enormous image etched into its face. We spend much of our lives creating a thick layer of "achievements." We climb the career ladder, push our kids to excel, move to a better neighborhood, pursue another degree, all in the hope that we will somehow become more popular, wealthy, powerful, or influential. Like a thick blanket of snow our conquests and achievements cover us, deposited one tiny flake at a time until we are totally obscured. For many of us, self-esteem and self-worth come from what we have accomplished or how much we can buy or who we know. Yet one day we will awaken to a new reality, an endless day in which all our values will be turned upside down. All that we have done, said, created, bought, and built will be brushed away, melted like snow under the gaze of our eternal Father. Deep within each one of us He will seek the one thing, the only thing He truly cares about more than anything else: the imprint of the cross, the mark of His Son. And on that Day, nothing else will matter to you. Do you possess the one thing that really matters? -<>- "There is no substitute for the written Word of God. No matter how precious a personal word may be to us, no matter how cool some insight may be, it doesn't compare to the written Word. I've seen too many immature Christians chase after "revelation" and go wacky because they are not rooted and grounded in the Scripture." - John Eldredge , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The God of Truth (By Alan Smith) There once were four preachers who had a series of theological arguments, and three were always in agreement against the fourth. One day, the odd preacher out, after the usual "3 to 1, majority rules" statement that signified that he had lost again, decided to appeal to a higher authority. "Oh, God!" he cried. "I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong! Please give me a sign to prove it to them!" It was a beautiful, sunny day. As soon as the preacher finished his prayer, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four. It rumbled once and dissolved. "A sign from God! See, I'm right, I knew it!" But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds form on hot days. So the preacher prayed again: "Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong. So please, God, a bigger sign!" This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning slammed into a tree on a nearby hill. "I told you I was right!" cried the preacher, but his friends insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes. The preacher was getting ready to ask for a *very big* sign, but just as he said, "Oh God...," the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice said, "HEEEEEEEE'S RIIIIIIIGHT!" The preacher put his hands on his hips, turned to the other three, and said, "Well?" "So," shrugged one of the other preachers, "now it's 3 to 2." It's a serious problem. The problem of putting God's words on an equal level with man's words. But spiritual truth is not determined by taking a vote. In fact, even if 1,000 people agree with us, it makes no difference unless we agree with God. As Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17) That's why Paul was so determined that the Thessalonians know the source of his teaching. "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." (I Thess. 2:13) Father, in the confusion of so many voices telling us what is right and what is wrong, may we look to Your Word for truth. Thank You for being a God of truth, one in whom we can place our utmost confidence. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. 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 ========================================================== ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >-->A Golden Chain Friendship is a Golden Chain, The links are friends so dear, And like a rare and precious jewel It's treasured more each year... It's clasped together firmly With a love that's deep and true, And it's rich with happy memories and fond recollections, too... Time can't destroy its beauty For, as long as memory lives, Years can't erase the pleasure That the joy of friendship gives... For friendship is a priceless gift That can't be bought or sold, But to have an understanding friend Is worth far more than gold... And the Golden Chain of Friendship Is a strong and blessed tie Binding kindred hearts together As the years go passing by. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah, Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $35 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. 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