A Jonah Experience 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 ================ >-->3 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our too hot to handle new page is from our friend Fran. The ocean is a wonderland of unexplored areas. They speculate that there may be over 230,000 species we have yet to discover that are residing in its deep dark depths. This page shows us some you may never have seen before. Check it out here: ,'""`. / _ _ \ |(@)(@)| ) __ ( /,'))((`.\ (( (( )) )) hh `\ `)(' /' Ocean's Rarely Seen Species! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ocean2.html --- ...Wow! Most interesting! Thanks Fran! Our sizzling hot new page is from our friends Sharon and my daughter Tammy. It is a funny page where the artist captured just the exact photo image to give us laughs. Be sure to check it out here: ___ / ,_\ _____ / _)/ /o \ | \ /_ ` \__________ | \____ >__,_ \ | | ____, | \,___________ | \ | \ ( \ |__ \ \ \ \ _)_ __________\/ \ \____/ | ) \ | _________ , | | / | / | / | / | /_ | / %%%% %%%%% | ) | \ %%% ,, %%%%%%%% \ / | / (< ?%%%% | / | / ^ .' /_/ | (_ ___ /(___ | ) /\ ~ /_\ \ / _/\(\_)(_/)\ \_ | / /\_/ \ x / \_/\ ____ /_/_____ \_/ ) x \ \_/ |_____________| __// /==o==\ \\__ ) _________ (____/__/___( - \___\__\___________ || ||____ ____| __\ ________ _____ || || \// \ / \_ \// || || //\ \ / \ //\ || b'ger || \\/ \_/ \ \\/ || || /\\ \ / | /\\ || || \// / _ | \// || ||____//\________| |_____//\______ ||_________||______________/ |______________ )___________( /\_________\ |_____________| / | | \ \=/ \=/ .. . Right Angle Photography 12! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/anglephoto12.html --- ...This series is so much fun! Thanks Ladies! This next pipping hot new page is from our friends Sharon and Julie. If you are a cat lover, you'll want to see this page. Japan has lots of stray cats that this photographer has spent years capturing their most fun and adorable moments. Be sure to check this one out here: _ |\___/| \\ ) ( |\_/| || =\ /= )a a `,_.-""""-. // )===( =\Y_= / \// / \ `"`\ / / | | | \ | / / \ \ /- \ \ \ / || | // /` jgs_/\_/\_/\_ _/_/\_/\_/\_((_|\((_//\_/\_/\_/\_ Street Cats By Masayuki Oki! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/streetcats.html --- ...Wow! Love the variety here! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .-------. !_______! (((`\\\ ))) (((_o___o_))) ((! !)' !_______! l l unknown >UNEXPECTED SPOTLIGHT Several years ago, I worked as a nurse manager for a satellite office of a local hospital. It was a job that I really enjoyed because there was a lot of diversity -- filling in for staff, meeting with physicians to help promote programs for their patients, ordering new equipment, and general day to day problem solving. I was a jack of all trades, as most nurses are. However, I was soon to have one extra job on my agenda that particular day, which was above and beyond any nurses's imagination. The day started out like any other. When I got to the office there was the usual routine of assuring that the doctors' schedules had been posted and that there was sufficient staff to work with each one. Our medical clinic shared space with the oncology outpatients from our hospital and there was sometimes a squeeze for exam rooms. On this particular day, I was faced with more than exam room issues. I noticed some unusual paraphernalia in the halls that resembled television cameras. As I was walking through this maze of equipment, I was stopped by the oncology nurse manager who said she had an urgent request. After settling the patient I was attending to, I went back to see what she wanted. She informed me that the hospital was filming a public service commercial to let everyone know about our outstanding oncology program. They decided that it would be easier if they shot the commercial at the clinic, rather than the hospital. I said, "Well, I guess we will do our best to work around this and still be able to promote patient safety." Besides, we did have an unusually light schedule that day. Then she told me that the nurse who was originally slated to be part of the production had backed out at the last minute. She asked me if I would be kind enough to STAR as the nurse in the commercial. I don't quite remember my initial reaction, but I must have been dumbfounded! I was in our church drama group, but filming a commercial for national television was beyond my acting ability. I was quickly assured by the director of this production that my lines would be very few, and that unlike my live drama performances, we could easily do retakes. Duty called! How could I say no? I suddenly realized what I had done. What did I look like today? Had I known I was being filmed I would have had my hair done or worn my best uniform. Oh well, I guess they would just get the real me. After my initial shock subsided, I was introduced to a lovely lady who was a cancer survivor -- the real star of the show. We were told our lines, and introduced to the lights, cameras, and action. It was quite an exciting experience and an honor once the ball got rolling. As the normal work hours started to wind down, a few more members of the staff were recruited for scenes that required hallway activity. It was a long day for just a 60-seond commercial, but during the down time I was able to engage in conversation with this patient and her family. They were a tremendously fun group. It wasn't long before the commercial started to appear on television. It was great fun when I ran into a friend, who said she had been getting ready for work when she heard a familiar voice coming from her television. She couldn't believe who she saw when she looked at the screen. Or when my sister told me that my niece from California phoned her and said she saw a nurse on a commercial that looked and sounded just like her aunt. No, I never received fame or fortune, but did have an experience I will never forget. You just never know what may suddenly happen to you during an otherwise ordinary day. -- Annettee Budzban ___________________________________________ Annettee is a mother and grandmother and lives in Wildwood, Illinois. She is a former registered nurse and has started a writing ministry called, Writings From The Heart. She sends short devotions to friends and others. Her first book, Life Changing Inspirations, was just published and can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1591291348/heart =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >We Are One 'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.'1 Basketball coach Pat Riley in his book The Winner Within tells about the 1980 World Champions Los Angeles Lakers. They won the NBA Championship that year, and they were recognized as the best basketball team in the world. They began their 1980-1981 season considered likely to win back-to-back championships, but within weeks of the season opener, Magic Johnson tore a cartilage in his knee, and needed a three-month recuperation period. The team and the fans rallied, and the remaining players played their hearts out. They were determined to make it through that period without losing their rankings. They were winning seventy percent of their games when the time began to draw near for Magic Johnson to return to action. As his return grew closer, the publicity surrounding him increased. The public address announcer would always say, 'Do not forget to mark your calendars for February 27th. Magic Johnson returns to the lineup of your World Champion Los Angeles Lakers!'ť During that announcement, the other players would say, 'We are winning now. What is so great about February 27th?' As the day approached, fewer and fewer things were written or said about the players who were putting out so much effort. All the media attention was focused on the one player who had not been doing a thing. Finally, the 27th came and every one of the 17,500 ticket holders was handed a button that said the magic is back! At the mention of the name Magic Johnson, the arena rocked with a standing ovation. Meanwhile, the other players who had carried the team for three months were seething with jealousy, resentment, and anger. They were so resentful that they barely won the game that night against a bottom-of-the-bucket team, and eventually the morale of the entire team collapsed. The players turned on each other. The coach was fired. And they eventually lost their opening game of the playoffs, having the most disastrous record ever. Riley said, 'Because of greed, pettiness, and resentment, we executed one of the fastest falls from grace in NBA history'.2 The sin of pride is not just found in sports teams and secular organizations, but it is often found in the Church! Pride has divided congregations and hindered the growth of Christians. How amazing would it be if the church acted as the body of Christ? Everyone doing their part and working together for the Kingdom of God. Imagine how many people would come to know Christ because of the unity they saw in the church being one. In the eyes of God, we are all equal. He has given us all different gifts, and they are all needed in the work of the church. Suggested prayer: Dear God, forgive me for allowing pride to enter my thoughts and influence my actions. Please remove anything in me that is hindering your work. Make me usable. I want to bring YOU glory in all I say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 1. Proverbs 16:18 (NIV). 2 www.sermoncentral.com Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >God Fulfills What He Promises 'Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son'.1 Sometimes the promises that God makes seem to take longer than we expect. Time passes, circumstances change, and the heart begins to wonder if it will really happen. In Genesis 18:14 it says, Is there anything too hard for God? Sarah knew that question well. God had promised that she would have a son, but the years passed and the promise seemed more and more unlikely. Sarah and Abraham were already elderly, and the possibility of having a child seemed to have been left behind. When she heard the promise again, Sarah even laughed, but God had not forgotten what he had said. At the appointed time Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the promise that seemed impossible, became a reality. True hope does not depend on our possibilities, it depends on the faithful character of our God. What seems too difficult today can become a witness to his faithfulness tomorrow. Reflection: What promise of God do you need to remember today with renewed hope? Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, nothing is impossible with You. Lord, help me to persevere in prayer and thanksgiving as I wait on You. Beloved Father, my hope does not depend on what I can do, but on what You have already done, because I have the victory in Jesus Christ. Lord, help me to remember your promises, with renewed hope. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 1. Genesis 18:14 (NIV). Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See these teachings here: The Promises of God Index: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/Promises.htm =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: :\ ;\\ ; ;; __ :/ :-",dP _.ggp. : (*).-"" :$$$$; ; T$$$; : _,- `TP ; `. _ ; ; "" \ / ; `-+' : .-' ; \; ; : `--+'-. .---. ; ;` :_ `. : ; "-, ; / "-. : ; : .p""-. ""--..: ; : .-T$$P ""--..___l-, ; : .-" "" :\()l ; ; _________.-" $$ ;`-' ; ; bug .--""$$$$$$$P : ; '._____.-"_. 'T$$P^' : : .-" \ : '.___...-" ; : / ; ; : . / / / ; .J__ : / .' ; .; "-. ; j.-" : .'/ "-. ; : : ; .' / "---: ; ; : .-" / : : : ; .-" .-" ; ; ; / .' .-" : : : / .' .' : | ; : /\ : : ;: ; : ; ; : : ; : ; : :__ ; | : ; _L__J -`, : : '--. : l l l____l \ _`-,-: ( l ;_:-' / l |`; """ :_l :_;_l " >Only A Dog? by Bill Walker wildbill6807@yahoo.com How often have you heard this dumb remark? I will place a wager that each dog lover has heard it at least ten times. Sometimes by what you once called a friend. Could even be a spouse. I think a true dog lover after hearing the dumb remark starts to think, is this a real friend? Maybe even says I believe my four footed friend is a lot better friend. Now I believe sometimes the one that makes the dumb remark is in a way doing it too mean some kind of well I'm sorry your dog is sick or died. They are just doing the dumbing thing you know. Brain has a short in the wiring dept. Maybe the brain stepped out for a tea break you know. Something like that. On the other hand the one with the dumb remark may even use it if his mother in law was sick or died. Only change a word or two. May not even do that. I have a friend, she has a four year old little Chinese Pug. The little girl went through a operation a couple weeks ago on her back. Had a lump, it was removed, and yes it is cancer. Well here we go. It is only a dog. I don't know how old the pup was when this lady brought her home. Could have been days, more like 6 to 8 weeks old. But she has a love for "Buttercup." That is the name. "BUTTERCUP." Now most people has a love of something. Some love to go to some sporting event. Let us use football. It is football season again. I know of people that will spend the last nickel to go to the game on Saturday. What for? It is just a dumb stupid game. 22 nits fighting over a dead pig skin. Plus you have about 6 guys running around in stripped shirts and baseball caps. They may have just came from playing baseball somewhere. They seem to be always dropping a yellow hankie here or there. Once in a great while they not only loose hankie, baseball cap gets into the mess. Guess head got hot. They blow a whistle too. Sometimes before anything happens, sometimes in middle of something, and sometimes at the end of whatever. But this is what some people love. They will travel all over to watch these games. OK what for? I guess it boils down to they are fighting to see who gets to keep the dead pig skin. That is the 22 nits on the field. The stands are full of people having a fit one way or other. Now I know I got off the path of the story about, It is only a dog. But I was only trying to use something to compare two types of love. How I have no idea what kind of love you can get from a pig skin, dead or alive. But I know what kind of love you can get from a puppy, young or old puppy. Out of history about 1880. A lawyer gave a closing in a court case. Warrensburg, Missouri. It was about the love one has from a dog. There was not a dry eye in the court room when he sat down. The judge was ready to order the sheriff to hang a certain fellow for killing a dog. The only problem was it would have been a first. There is also in history a story. The greatest story ever told. The love of our Father Which is in Heaven for his children, US. He gave his only begotten son to cleanse us of our sins,. That would be GOD. God turned around is DOG. Dog is a refection of GOD. I know not what God looks like. We see peoples ideas of his likeness, Jesus too. The picture is what the artist thinks. I know what a dog likeness is. I also know what the love is from a dog. A dog is just like the love of the man on the cross. It will give all. Like Senator Vest of Missouri said in his closing. A dog will ask no more then to stand by your side, share with you the times you are going through. No difference if you be rich or poor. No matter if you are a king or a pauper. No matter if your family has turned their back on you. There the dog will be at your side. As true a friend as the Heavenly Father. A refection of God.. A Dog.. Buttercup may be only a dog to you. But to my friend.. "Why that is Buttercup, she is family." And you get this too. "Some day I will meet with Buttercup, and all the other four footed friends and cross the Rainbow Bridge together. Jesus will welcome all of us home." Oh what a happy time that will be. Yes there will be animals in Heaven, animals and birds. Did not Jesus say in Mark 16,15.."Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Is not the Dog one of the creatures of this world??? I have read where dogs are welcome in churches. And they do go to sleep along with the master, while the preacher is on a long windy sermon. No my Dear Lady. Buttercup is not just a Dog. She is family. --- /\ ,'.' ',' _.,._ _,.-+`'+-._ .|. _.+'` `.' \ (___) ,' \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ _.-~`'~-._ _\_.-+'`'`+-._\ ag `,' `---` ...The Trump Administration gets it All creatures great and small need to be treated with respect: 'President Trump signed the bipartisan PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) into law, making certain animal cruelty offenses a federal felony. The Senate passed it unanimously on Nov. 5, and the bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Ted Deutch and Rep. Vern Buchanan.' https://tinyurl.com/37bhas33 -<>- .--._..--. ___ ( _'-_ -_.' _.-' `-._| - :- | _.-' `--...__| .-' '--..___ / `._ N O T U R N L E F T \ `. `._ | `. `._ / '. `._ :__________....-----' `..`---' |-_ _- |___...----..._ |_....--' `.`. _...--' `.`. _..-' _.'.' .-' _.'.' | _.'.' | __....------'-' | __...------''' _| '--''' |- - _ | _.-''''''''''''''''''-._ _.' |\ .' _.' | `._ N O T U R N L E F T :.' `._ _.' | `..__ | | `---.._.--. _| | | _ - | `-.._|_.' .--...__ | - _| .'_ `--.....__ | .'_ `--..__ .'_ `. .'_ `-. `--..____ _`. ```--...____ _..--' ;;;:::. (\| - _ ```---.._.' .. ;::| - _ |/) ;;;:::. (o) ;;::., |_ - - |;;;: (\'/) ::;; (o) | -_ -_L ``::;;;. .;;' (\ '/) | -_ _ G (o) ..;; ''' ;:;;.,|(o) _-B(\'/) ;;;;::: ;::(\'/);;:|;:; ;' >NO LEFT TURNS by Michael Gartner President of NBC News My father never drove a car. Well, that's not quite right. I should say I never saw him drive a car. He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet. "In those days, he told me when he was in his 90s,"to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it or drive through life and miss it. At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irishwoman, chimed in: Oh, bull----! she said."He hit a horse. "Well, my father said, "there was that, too." So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car. The neighbors all had cars the Kollingses next door had a green 1941 Dodge, the VanLaninghams across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth, the Hopsons two doors down a black 1941 Ford but we had none. My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines, would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home. If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together. My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we'd ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none. "No one in the family drives, my mother would explain, and that was that. But, sometimes, my father would say, "But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we'll get one." It was as if he wasn't sure which one of us would turn 16 first. But, sure enough, my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown. It was a four-door, white model, stick shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and, since my parents didn't drive, it more or less became my brother's car. Having a car but not being able to drive didn't bother my father, but it didn't make sense to my mother. So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive. She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving. The cemetery probably was my father's idea. "Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?" I remember him saying once. For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family. Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps though they seldom left the city limits and appointed himself navigator. It seemed to work. Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn't seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage. (Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.) He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin's he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish's two priests was on duty that morning. If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home. If it was the assistant pastor, he'd take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church. He called the priests "Father Fast and "Father Slow." After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. (In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored." If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream. As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me,"Do you want to know the secret of a long life?" "I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre. "No left turns," he said. "What?" I asked. "No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn." "What?" I said again. "No left turns, he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer. So we always make three rights." "You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support. "No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works." But then she added: "Except when your father loses count." I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. "Loses count?" I asked. "Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again." I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked and he said, "If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week." My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90. She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102. They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom as the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.) He continued to walk daily. He had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died. One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news. A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer. "You're probably right," I said. "Why would you say that?" he countered, somewhat irritated. "Because you're 102 years old," I said. "Yes, he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day. That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night. He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet. An hour or so later, he spoke his last words: "I want you to know, he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have." A short time later, he died. I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long. I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life. Or because he quit taking left turns! -<>- hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses& & hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hu &hugs&kisses s&h es&hugs&kisses&hugs&kiss gs&kisse es&h sses&hugs&kisses&hugs&k s&kiss ses& isses&hugs&kisses&hugs &kiss s&kis sses kisses&hugs&kisses&hu ugs&kiss s&ki isse &kisses&hugs&kisses&h &hugs&kiss gs&k kiss s&kisses&hugs&kisses& es&hugs&kis ugs& &kis gs&kisses&hugs&kisses sses&hugs&k hugs s&ki ugs&kisses&hugs&kisse kisses&hugs &hug gs&k hugs&kisses&hugs&kiss s&kisses&hu s&hu ugs& &hugs&kisses&hugs&kis ugs&kisses& es&h hugs s&hugs&kisses&hugs& i hugs&kisse ses& &hug es&hugs&kisses&hug k hugs&kis sses s&hu ses&hugs&kisses&h & hugs& isse es&h sses&hugs&kisse s& &kiss s gs&ki hugs&kis s ugs&kisse sses&hugs&ki i ses&h k k sses& & &kis gs&kisses&hug isses&hugs s&hugs&kisse s s&kis gs&kisses&h &kisses&hug es&hugs&kisses g gs&ki ugs&kisses& s&kisses&hu ses&hugs&kisses u ugs&ki ugs&kisse ugs&kisses&h sses&hugs&kisses h hugs&k hugs&kiss hugs&kisses& isses&h gs&kisses& &hugs&k hugs&ki s&hugs&kisses kisses ugs&kisses s&hugs& &hugs&k es&hugs&kisse hugs&kisse es&hugs& &hugs sses&hugs&kiss s&kiss &hugs&kiss ses&hugs s&hug isses&hugs&kis gs&kiss s&hugs&kis sses&hugs s&h &kisses&hugs&ki ugs&kisses&hugs& i isses&hug es& s&kisses&hugs&k hugs&kisses&hug k kisses&hug e ugs&kisses&hugs& &hugs&kisses&h & &kisses&hu hugs&kisses&hugs s&hugs&kisse s s&kisses&hu s&hugs&kisses g gs&kisses&h es&hugs&kisse u ugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&h -- Matt Ryan >Love Story Today I went next door. The man of the house was home, wife was not. She is away. You see she is in a home, has been for some time. He came home for a bit of rest I guess, and to get the mail in. Today is the same as yesterday, and the day before. He gets up, and about 8 AM he heads out for the home. He spends the day with his wife. Comes home maybe sometime in the day. Looks at the empty house and goes back. At about 9 PM he comes home to the empty house. His wife of lot of years had a stroke. A very bad one. She can not talk so that he understand a thing she is trying so hard to say. But he sets and reads to her, tells her things that is going on. Holds her hand. While all the time he is crying inside. He told me today about the ramp he had a fellow to build. So his wife could come home. Yes I know all about the ramp. I know of his hopes and dreams. You see I watched the ramp work. So I asked is she getting better. He said, "No but in a way she is getting stronger.".... "Good, but you are not going to bring her home are you." Was my remark. Well he went on to tell me he thought if he could bring her home for say two or three hours once in a while. How she would be so happy. I said something about the fact, I thought that was a good idea, but there is another side to that. When it came time to take her back, would not her heart be crushed. She may have the idea home at last, I'm in my own home at last. Also can he handle her. She is unable to walk without a lot of aid. Standing up for a minute is a big job. I went on to say if and when you do make the move to bring her home. Please let me know ahead of time. I will try to help. I figured I had learned something in my ambulance time..Maybe I could still do it. Well today we talked about it again. No she has never came home. I really think it is better that she don't.. not till she can stay home. I hope that day will come. Now you know I think this man is doing right by his wife. This has cost him so much,. Not only the money for her care, but his life is nothing any more. He spends about ever hour that he can with her.. I will now tell about two other cases.. I said two cases. No I think one is enough. Both are about the same kind of deal. This woman was in a bad car accident. She lived, but she had a brain injury. It left her in a state of confusion. She no longer can do things for herself. Now this man tells that it is a bad day if he don't take in 500 a day. This was I'm thinking about 15 years ago. He a big money man. God only knows what today is a bad day. Well my friends, guess what?? He needed a wife, not a has been wife. So he got rid of this woman, like yesterdays newspaper. I remember the little dove, It lost it's mate. This little dove set in the tree, waiting for the return.. Year after year. That little dove was true to it's mate, even unto death. I thought it says, in that old old book I look at once in a while something about this. I'm not sure. I also think I have heard it is said at weddings [I don't go to them things myself].. Till death do you part.. MIKE.. You have been true to your wife of many years. And now in her time of need... YOU ARE THERE. GOD BLESS YOU. ********************** Update on the story I wrote about 5 years ago. Both is now dead and gone. You see one cold snowing morning Mile woke up to find he too was suffering from a stroke. This I will never understand. He had relation in town, never called them. I would have been glad to have got him help or to the hospital. The hospital is about 4 blocks south of my house. He walked best he could. His condition went from bad to worse. Both laid in same room side by side, till death took one and then the other. True to one another to the bitter end. Yes a love story. -<>- \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >Lest We Forget These men and women Soldiers all; They served us proud Their duty call. They gave their lives For us to be Safe from harm And living free. Don't ignore peace; Lest we forget The greatest gift From each honored Vet. Keep their spirit close In memory; They died protecting Our liberty. --- ^ ,' \ L""/ ` | J | J L | | . , | |.`v_L.' // ,>-(-\'_ \`' \ - /-. / /`""| ),' `- ( ,-' \ ) ,' ,' h / / / `)--.. \/ / \ <) < , L<' F/ _/ ,' L ,-' \ | ___L / ( F J ___,' L | ,' | F ,' | (_,--..__ mt-2|_ ,' `"`--.._\ ,' / \ / (_ (diddled by b'ger} ...So true Don't give it away to some Democrat Socialist that wants to control everything in your life! Don't give your freedom our Vets fought, died and lost limbs for away to big government socialists communists! DSA want to do away with private ownership so that they control what you drive, where you live, what you eat and even what you are able to buy. With Capitalism we have all sorts of companies competing for your favor giving us many choices. With Socialism, you get only what the socialist leaders determine is good for you to have. They say they want to get rid of the police and prisons - your family won't be safe at home or to walk your own streets. They want to get rid of the Senate and make it like the UK Parliament. They want to pack the Supreme Court all so they have full control of you while they bask in their luxury mansions, cars and private jets - all paid for by your money they confiscate, regulate and tax. Once the rich run out of money for them to steal, they only have the middle class to steal from. Soon even the middle class go broke and all the people wind up poor, suffering and dying - except for the fat-cat leaders. That is what happened to Venezuela and Cuba! Don't let these smooth talking thieves fool you! Vote RED! Look how North Korean people live under communism: North Korean Life! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/northkoreanlife.html -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Moses And The Red Sea! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mosesredsea.html 86 Year Old Grandma Gymnast! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/grandmagymnast.html A Little Froggy! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frogart.html Scientists Unveil New Species 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/newspecies2.html World's Fastest Cars! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastcars.html North Korean Life! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/northkoreanlife.html The REAL Mowgli! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/realmowgli.html Indian Paper Sculpture! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/indianart.html Trucks! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trucks.htm Moon Photography Art! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/moonart.html Pay It Forward! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html Transparent Butterfly! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterfly.html God's Night Lights! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/night.html Weird Old Vehicles! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oldvehicles.html Chalk Art 7! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chalkart7.html Silly Veggies! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/veggies.html Sweets For The Sweet! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sugar.html Old Used Car Lots! https://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oldusedcarlots.html Whale Rescue 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whalerescue2.html Deer Rescue! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/deerrescue.html Beaches In S.Korea! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/beaches2.html Morons At Work! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mwork.html Life's Little Oops 10! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops10.html Germany's Water Bridge! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wbridge.html Best Buddies! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestbuds.html Think Positive! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html Semper Fidelis! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/semperfi.html Thank You Lord! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html Are Angels Real? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Animal Friends 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalfriends3.html Rescued Squirrel! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html Maria The Goose! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Detroit Autorama! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/detroitauto.html Akiane Child Prodigy! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Most Beautiful Mushrooms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mushrooms.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: Latest White House News: BOMBSHELL: Trump Reveals China Stole 220M Voter Files + $110B in New Investments And More: https://tinyurl.com/5n72zeur 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 '---' >Promotion to Servant (edited) In the business world, a good job title and description can be extremely valuable. We often evaluate one another, and evaluate our own level of "success," by the significance of our title and the importance of our description. We seem to have a great need to be esteemed, and employees have even been known to trade an increase in pay for a more important title. The Apostle Paul received his call into God's service in a very dramatic fashion. While traveling on the road to Damascus, "A light from Heaven flashed around him" (Acts 9:3). Jesus spoke directly to Paul and told him exactly who He was. A few days later Jesus said Paul was "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). With this endorsement, Paul could have chosen any title he wished - maybe "God's Chosen Instrument" or "Chief Name Bearer of The Almighty." After all, Paul's new boss was the only begotten Son of Creator of the Universe! But once Paul developed a close relationship with Jesus, he saw Him as one who was, "In very nature God" (Philippians 2:6). But at the same time, Paul saw Jesus as one who "made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). With this type of role model, Paul was proud to receive his new title. Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God." There is no greater title in God's Kingdom than, "Servant of Christ Jesus" - no more significant job description than, "Set Apart for the Gospel." Once Paul understood how Jesus lived and obediently served all the way to the cross, he rejoiced and devoted himself to serving with every last breath; "I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well" (2 Corinthians 12:15). It's understandably difficult to maintain the walk of a servant. All our worldly training tells us to climb higher and achieve more; but God calls us to love Him and humbly serve as His spirit leads - nothing more, nothing less. We have been set apart for the gospel, and our lives are to be lived as Christ living through us. We always fall short of God's plan when we attempt to promote ourselves and take control. There are many openings in the Kingdom of God, but there can be only one job title and only one job description. Our Heavenly Father has called and offered a permanent promotion which far surpasses anything this world could ever offer. Let's put aside our "need" to be in charge. Let's humbly bow and proudly accept the promotion to Servant. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14; Romans 9:1-24; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 20:1 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...This tells it perfectly Every day in every way... Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. You are working for Christ Jesus! Be happy and do the best you can do - just as if you are doing it for Christ himself! Our Lord is whom we serve. That gives 'whistle while we work' all the more meaning. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >From A Pure Heart As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny. Mark 12:43-44 "Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.'" This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances, but the real message actually goes much deeper. We have all been blessed in so many ways, and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. God created us (the complete package of who we are) for a purpose. And though we may need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda! Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our "offering" is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God's Kingdom, but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). How we give is much more important than what we give. God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value. If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See these teachings TITHING AND THE LAW http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/TITHING_AND_THE_LAW.htm GIVING EQUALS RECEIVING http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/GIVING_EQUALS_RECEIVING.htm PROSPERITY AND HEALTH http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/PROSPERITY_AND_HEALTH.htm The Law Of Believing Teachings: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Believing/Believing.htm ========================================================== ______________________________________________________ [[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]]-[[]] .-.`| `-/-.__/.-'\_.-._,'/`-._'\_.-._`-'_/-._.'|/.-'\- \_.-`./`-._'\__.-`-.__.-`--._/--.`-._\`-._\__.-)`-'._/ `._-'.\_.---._-.\_`-..`\_.---._`-.__.-`'._.--./`-'._,' __/`.-/ `.'_`./`.' '.\__.-`.' (_.-\_,-. `._-/' |._.-| |.'`.| `(_.`-._ .-',`) | /`.| |`-/`| ;.-'_/ `\,-/ |\.-'| |\-'`| ;\_,- -./`._ [[[[[[[[ [[[[[[[[ .',-' `.`--.~~-^_~-/.`-._`-.\^~-_~-^/`-.'-,.'\^~-~_^"'`-.'_ -,.'"-"~^-~_~- - - _- -~^-_.~ - -_ - - -~- . "'"-"-"" ""-'"-""-"~- _~.^-~-^.-^_.- .^~.- ~-. ~^_-""-""-"'-" jgs ""-'"-" ~- ^. - ~ -~^ - ~ ^~- ~ ""-"'-' >-->Hero alert: A 14-year-old Montana boy just saved a drowning man with a lasso on his very first throw. Jory Thomas was camping with his family near Greycliff on July 5 when a raft and paddleboard slammed into a bridge pillar. Four people went into the river. Three made it out. One man kept drifting downstream, clinging to a cooler and calling for help. Jory emptied his pockets, ran through a waist-deep channel, and sprinted down the bank. This year, for the first time, he had brought his 12-foot lariat. He threw. “Luckily, I caught him first try.” He roped the man and pulled him through chest-deep water all the way to shore, holding on until first responders arrived. His dad and brothers serve on the local fire department. Jory knew waiting wasn’t an option. His grandmother said they had camped at that spot for years and he had never brought the rope before. “And that day he did.” A kid who spends his free time practicing on a dummy in the backyard just became the reason a man is still alive. And as the teenager is being hailed as a hero, he is giving all of the glory to God. Jory says he could hear guidance from the Lord during the rescue, and feels as though God had put him in there that day – with lasso in hand – to save someone’s life: “God was basically putting me in the place of all this. God was just telling me all of this at the time and saying, ‘Go get him, you got it, and I believe in you.’ I just thought I could help with cattle. Not really helping humans and stuff like that. But I’m glad I was here to help.” Not only did he help... he saved someone’s life. This is the America that still exists. Make this kid famous. See the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/4mcsmajz ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >THE REDEEMING FREEDOM OF CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31 When A. J. Gordon was pastor of a church in Boston, he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, “Son, where did you get those birds?” The boy replied, “I trapped them out in the field.” “What are you going to do with them?” “I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home.” Gordon replied, “I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds.” “Okay, it’s a deal, but these birds are worthless!” The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the sky. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ’s redemptive work. “That boy told me the birds were not songsters,” said Gordon, “but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, ‘Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!’” Apart from Christ, we’re all held captive to sin with no hope of escape. But Jesus purchased us with His own blood and redeemed us from the punishment of captivity. Because of that, we can be set free in Him! Prayer Challenge Thank Jesus for His redemptive work in your life and for the freedom He’s purchased you on the cross. Questions for Thought Before Christ, what did bondage to sin look like in your life? How should life lived in freedom be different from life lived in the captivity of sin? LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT OUR WORLD WILL SEE THERE IS AN ANTIDOTE TO EVIL, JESUS CHRIST! as seen in Daily Living For Seniors -<>- >STRETCH OUT Carmen de Gasztold has written this "Prayer of the Little Ducks": .-"""-. _.---..-; :.) ;"" \/ __..--'\ ;-"""-. ;._ `-.___.^.___.'-.____J__/-._J bug Dear God, Give us a flood of water. Let it rain tomorrow and always. Give us plenty of little slugs and other luscious things to eat. Protect all folk who quack and everyone who knows how to swim. Amen. Don't we all tend to live with narrow perspectives on life? Someone who grows up in a small town is intimidated when going to New York or Paris or Islamabad for the first time. And what is true of geography is even truer for our intellectual horizons. So long as one chooses to swim only in a tiny little pond, the fresh-water delights of stream, river, and ocean are simply unreal. One of the things Jesus came to do was to break the shackles that come from living in too narrow a spiritual world. Jesus taught that life's most important thing is to love God with one's whole being. God is Creator, and we are his beloved creatures. The true and ultimate meaning of our lives is found in him and his will. To lose our lives in his is to find life; to stay on our own little ponds of self-interest is to miss life. The second most important thing is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Escaping our stagnant ponds of selfishness, we can learn to see others. Having seen them, we can care about them - especially the most fragile among them. A cup of water, a warm coat, the message of God's love - sharing these things with any one of them counts as doing them for Jesus himself. So stretch the envelope. Read. Get to know people from backgrounds different from your own. See some of the places you have only read about. Eat, skydive, or do something different and exciting this week. Rather than feel threatened by someone with an unconventional point of view, learn from her. Try to figure out how that person came to a conclusion different from your own. Then, if you see something you never saw before, be honest enough to admit it. To embrace it. To delight in it. Life is meant to be a high-seas adventure. What a waste yours would be, if you were to let its joy pass you by like water running off a you-know-what's back. as seen in The Fax of Life --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...Just be careful The devil likes people to experiment into his realm - which God tells you not to. See these teachings: Taking things to EXTREMES http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Taking_Things_To_EXTREMES.htm THE CHRISTIAN WALK http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/The_Christian_Walk.htm -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >RECONCILE WITH ONE ANOTHER (By Steve Troxel, God's Daily Word Ministries, www.gdwm.org) Malachi served as a prophet to Israel about four hundred years before the birth of Jesus. He brought a message from God which reminded the people of His love, and rebuked them for their disrespectful worship. But through Malachi, God ended the Old Testament with a prophesy about future restoration. Malachi 4:5-6 "I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Just over four hundred years later, John the Baptist, "the Elijah who was to come" (Matthew 11:14), began to preach a message of repentance. The purpose of John's ministry was to prepare hearts for the coming of Jesus; "Prepare the way for the Lord" (Matthew 3:3). But according to Malachi, John would also cause the hearts of fathers and children to turn toward one another. When the spiritual fellowship between man and God was broken, a basic void was formed in man's heart which led to a breakdown in his earthly relationships. The moment we lost the ability to walk in perfect harmony with God, we also became filled with self- importance and pride, and lost the ability to truly love one another; "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have {true} fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). Walking close to God, through faith in Jesus, allows us to walk close with others; "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). God created us to be in fellowship with other people - even imperfect, hard to love people. Our quiet and peaceful times of study and prayer are essential for our Christian walk, but some of God's most important truths can only be learned as we stumble through difficult situations with others. Only there can we learn the difficulty of true grace and forgiveness; only there can some of our own deep sin (like pride, jealousy, and anger) be revealed. Many relationships are filled with past pain - particularly the relationships between husband and wife, and parent and child - but God's Word still stands as truth. He has provided the path to restoration; a path which begins with repentance, requires the cleansing of sinful pride, and leads to true love and forgiveness. Who do we need to reconcile with today? Full restoration requires the cooperation of both parties; but as a child of God, we can now cross the desert and begin to mend what is broken. Jesus died as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins in order that we may be reconciled with our Heavenly Father. He crossed ALL the way and completely mended our shattered heart! Let's walk in the light of His love and take the necessary steps to cross over and humbly reconcile with one another. as seen in Laugh and Lift -<>- ,="=-. ,`'oo' \o`. ( .88 |^||^)) ) , ) ) `@ (@' (. ( ` , `C ' ) `) `-=' ,/ ._c/ `-=' ,-( `-.,')-. gpyy `( ) `' '` >TODAY I TAUGHT MY CHILD When I got mad today and hit my child "For her own good," I reconciled, and then I realized my plight... Today, I taught my child to fight. When interrupted by the phone, I said, "tell them I'm not home." And then I thought, and had to sigh... Today I taught my child to lie. I told the tax man what I made, forgetting cash that was paid, And than I blushed at this sad feat... Today I taught my child to cheat. I smugly copied a cassette, To keep me from one more debt, But now the bells of shame must peal... Today I taught my child to steal. Today I cursed another race, Oh God, protect what I debase, for now, I fear it is too late... Today I taught my child to hate. By my example, children learn That I must lead in life's sojourn In such a way they are led By what is done and not what is said. (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro Today I gave my child his due By praise for him instead of rue. And now I have begun my guide; Today I gave my child his pride. I now have reconciled and paid to IRS all that I have made. And now I know that this dear youth, Today has learned from me the truth. The alms I give are not for show, And yet, this child must surely know That charity is worth the price: Today he saw my sacrifice. I clasp within a warm embrace My neighbor of another race. The great commandment from up above. Today I taught my child to love. Someday my child must face alone This fearsome undertone, But I have blazed a sure pathway: Today I taught my child to pray. Yours in Christ, Stanley Varghese -<>- __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >FREE AT LAST Mary Southerland, Director of Networking, Member of Speaker Team and author Key Verse: “So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. (NLT) Devotion: I read of an Indian village that held an annual bazaar where villagers came to sell the crafts and wares they had made during the year. Others brought the animals they had raised. One year a man brought a covey of quail to sell. In order to display the birds, he tied a piece of string to their legs and the other end of the string to a stake in the ground. All day long people passed by, watching the birds walk in a circle around the wooden stake. No one seemed interested in buying them until the end of the day, when a religious man approached the weary merchant. He asked the merchant how much he wanted for the birds. Hoping to make a profit, the man named an exorbitant price and was amazed when the religious man immediately paid it. As soon as the transaction was completed, the man instructed the merchant to set the birds free. Those instructions stopped the merchant in his tracks. “Let me get this straight,” he said. “You have just paid a lot of money for these quail. And now you want me to let them go?” The religious man’s answer was simple but profound. “They were created to be free,” he offered. The merchant did not understand but a sale is a sale. He simply shrugged his shoulders and cut the strings, setting the covey of quail free. The quail flew a short distance, then landed several yards away – but continued marching in a circle around the now invisible stake. The determined owner stepped into the middle of the circle, scattering the birds, which flew a few yards, landed and once again began to march in a circle. Yes, the quail were free – but they did not know it. Like the religious man paid the price to set those birds free, Jesus Christ has paid the price of giving His life so that we can live in freedom. Yes, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ sets us free. Yet, many of us live as if we are still tied to the past. We walk in the same old paths of oppression. We entertain the same destructive habits and allow sin to establish a foothold from which it can dispense defeat. That is not God’s plan. Many of us are professional “leaf turners”, thinking that in order to be free we must be perfect. Every January the leaves turn over in an attempt to make this year different from the rest. Surely, the other side of that leaf is better than the one we have been living. When a crisis comes, promises are bartered for deliverance. Old habits – old patterns of behavior – old paths leading to destruction are relegated to the ever-growing pile of broken promises. The good news is that more than we want to be free – God wants to give us freedom. Because freedom is a God-given need and longing, he always provides a right way for every need to be met and ever longing to be filled. His plan for us is freedom and God always resources His plans. It is time for us to cut the strings of bondage. It is time for us to choose freedom. _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ My prayer for today: Father, forgive me when I settle for bondage instead of freedom. Please show me what it means to be truly free in you. Right now, I choose to lay down anything that would keep me from knowing your freedom in my life. Right now, I choose you – I choose freedom. Amen! Application steps: Accept the truth that you were created to be free. Believe that God is the source of that freedom. Give God permission to work in these areas of bondage. Choose to leave the familiarity of bondage and walk in new freedom. Reflection points: What areas of my life need to be set free from bondage? What is the source of that bondage? How has it affected my life? What changes do I need to make in order to begin my journey from bondage to freedom? Am I really willing to pay the price for freedom by surrendering all control to God? Power Verses: James 2:12 So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. (NLT) Titus 2:14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things. (GWT) John 8:32 You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (NIV) Timothy 2:6 He gave himself as a payment to free all people. (NCV) as seen in Growthtrac 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: "If God says 'Jump through the wall', it is my job to jump and God's job to provide the hole." - Jim Sylvester .-------------'```'----....,,__ _, | `'`'`'`'-.,.__ .'( | `'--._.' ) | `'-.< \ .-'`'-. -. `\ \ -.o_. _ _,-'`\ | ``````''--.._.-=-._ .' \ _,,--'` `-._( (^^^^^^^^`___ '-. | \ __,,..--' ` ````````` `'--..___\ |` jgs `-.,' >A JONAH EXPERIENCE (By Dawn ?) [Edited] Jonah 1:1,2 "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah...saying, Arise, go to Nineveh...and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me." As I was reading in our church bulletin the request for someone to give their testimony on the Christian radio station I felt the prompting of the holy spirit by the pounding of my heart in my chest! I have come to learn that the pounding in my heart is NOT the leading of the holy spirit, but my earthly body's response to the battle that takes place within upon His prompting beyond that which I feel comfortable with! This was later confirmed by my Pastor when he said "have I got an offer for you!" as he walked by, when I was later sharing with his wife on how God had blessed me in the past week. I was expressing how I wished I had the gift to speak in front of a group of people. I am not at all a public speaking person. After getting home I then e-mailed him writing that I was greatly considering his offer for it would be selfish of me not to share what the Lord has done in my life. Jonah 1:3 "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord...." I was then greatly relieved shortly after when a dear Aunt (who also suffers from chronic muscle pain) called me asking if I wanted to go with her to a day seminar in Toronto on 'pain control' - the exact same date I was to give my testimony live on radio. I accepted her offer. Jonah 2:3&5 "For Thou hast cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows and the waves passed over me. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:..." The relief was short lived. I then tried to explain why I needed to attend the seminar with my aunt in another e-mail to my pastor. His words jokingly "so there's a selfish motive to it", stayed with me, but it was not my pastor that I needed to convince - the issue was between me and God - alone. There was nothing wrong with wanting to attend the seminar BUT the real issue was 'I was trying to run' and the spiritual storm was raging within! Jonah 2:7&9 "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; ..." I passed by the piano and on it was a book of hymns with the cover torn off that belonged to my grandfather. The hymn in view was " There Shall be Showers of Blessing". I sang the chorus in my mind 'Mercy drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead'. In my heart I prayed "no mercy drops Lord, no showers Lord, just let it all POUR down on me! Let it POUR down on me!". SARS by then had broken out in the Toronto area and because of a seminar on pain control would be mostly registered to medical professionals we decided it would then not be a wise decision to attend. It was now a week before the testimony and in conversation with my pastor's wife again, and he in listening distance, I 'slipped' that I was not going to the seminar in Toronto. He informed me that no one else had yet volunteered. The pounding in my heart returned. Jonah 2:10 "And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." Two days before the testimony, in the middle of the night, sleep evaded me. I then realized 'the call of the Lord' and humbled myself in prayer to do the testimony He had called me to do. As I then laid there in the night, heart full of joy that God was going to use me for the message He had given me I visioned ( in a dream?), I was drowning and as I looked up I saw large waterfalls. I then caught myself trying to focus my mind and immediately the mercy drops, the showers, my request for the "pouring down" came to mind. I felt like I was drowning in the spiritual blessings being poured down from heaven above! Jonah 3:1-3 "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord....." I had an unusual calmness the day of the testimony until I arrived at the station where it was set up in town. It was coming closer to my time to be on and I suddenly had these thoughts "I'm going to faint, I have to get out of here!" Sensing my nervousness the hostess then brought 2 people to me; and said that they really wanted people to pray before going on the air and then asked if I would go with them to a room to pray before going on. As I shared with the two women how I ended up there, one of them said "with the story you just told us we believe there is someone out there who really needs to hear what you need to share". She then prayed that the childness in me would come out and then after explained "I sensed a little girl". Thinking about that later I thought I am a child - a child of the King, and even she could see that! The holy spirit lead my voice during my testimony as my heart was pounding so hard I'm sure one could see my chest moving. What a joy I had in my heart after in following through on the leading of the spirit in everyday life and know within my heart I was used by God. What I learned from this experience: Never put God in a box. We sometimes give God the allowance to do certain things within what we think He is only capable of. Never put yourself in a smaller box. We sometimes only allow Him to do in us what we believe our limits are. With God there are no limits. God does not always keep us comfortable. In fact He will try us beyond that which we are comfortable with, to test our faithfulness to Him. Sometimes it is not always what we want to do but what we have to do for His names sake. Why do we run when we know we can't hide? Our repentance with God's forgiveness gives peace. Being a child of the King and with the holy spirit dwelling within us, we have NOTHING to fear! So what about you? Are you having a "Jonah experience?" Are you trying to "run from God?" 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 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...I've had a few of these When I first went to the Way Ministry as a teen with my girlfriend, I learned about something I had never heard of before. I had been to the Methodist church and was saved as a small child. My mom had us go every Sunday. But what they were talking about here surprised me. After the regular teaching service, we separated into small groups of about 6-8. We each had a counselor to go over the teaching and see if we had any questions. The first thing they did was to pray. The leader went one by one calling on each of us to speak in tongues and give an interpretation. This was very foreign to me. But each one did so. When it came to being my turn, I wasn't about to let anyone know I was not as good as they were as a Christian. So I did it. Granted it was very small compared to the others, but I didn't back down. Later, the leader apologized to me for putting me on the spot since I hadn't even taken their beginning Foundational Class. My mom pretty much taught me to be strong. She had been in a car accident and the doctors all told her when she lost her right arm below her elbow and had extensive leg damage, that she'd never be able to walk again as well as return to her factory job. She had four children to raise all counting on her so she determined to do what they said she couldn't. She walked and she used an artificial arm with a hook to be able to go back to work. She learned how to do custom sewing, crochet and even did furniture upholstery with her primary hand gone. She was featured in our newspaper for her outstanding seamstress abilities. So was I going to show others that I was not as good of a believer as they were when told we are like they were on the Day of Pentecost when we are born again? Absolutely not! So I did it. And I am glad I did. I learned much from going to the Way International. I took their Foundational Class and became the leader in my area for bible teachings. We had a lot of fun. The founder of the Way International had originated in my home town. I was told that he wished to speak at our school auditorium. That was such a blessing! We had the Way Corp here along with him. The school auditorium was jam packed with people coming to hear him speak. Then I was told something shocking. I was supposed to introduce him. Really? Get on stage in front of all those people and introduce Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille to them? No one had told me this ahead of time. I was put on the spot. I was as the person in this story. Very Scared! But 'when God tells you to 'Jump!' - you don't ask how high - you JUMP! That was what Dr. Wierwille had taught me. So I went to the mike and introduced my Teacher in the Word. I don't recall what I said, but I'm sure I didn't say much - but I did it. Sometimes you have to do what is scary because you know it is what God wants you to do! _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Visit here for these teachings mainly by Dr. Wierwille: Speaking in Tongues: What It Is Not (Part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJCpOEuw-g Part 2 of 4 Speaking In Tongues: What It Is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3N3hmaHLTE Part 3 of 4 Speaking in Tongues: What Is It For https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nptK7vYy0yA Part 4 of 4 Speaking In Tongues: How to Do It https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqyiVuDMeE Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm Bible Articles https://thewayinternational.com/english/ ========================================================== >-->From InspiraedBuffalo: ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >Read each sentence slowly and think about it. Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. You can only go as far as you push. Actions speak louder than words. The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else. Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while you might miss it. A BEST FRIEND is like a four leaf clover, HARD TO FIND and LUCKY TO HAVE. Some people make the world SPECIAL just by being in it. BEST FRIENDS are the siblings God forgot to give us. When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your BEST FRIEND will be there. TRUE FRIENDSHIP "NEVER" ENDS. Friends are FOREVER. Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile. What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry? Nobody is perfect until you fall in love with them. Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. Most people walk in and out of your life, but only friends leave footprints in your heart. >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 **********************************************************************