Play Your Position, The Watchman 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 ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our too hot to handle new page is from our Friends Linda and LouiseAu. This page introduces us to many animals we didn't know about or rarely get to see in person. Be sure to check out this fascinating page and its video here: | [ | v': : | |_,;c | ] |/; |, | | [ ( __,/ | ,-'/ ;\ ,< _',\.-._,; | ] | n | -' / _;'; '=_'-' ,) ,\ | ,; | ] / \,'__/--,_,-- 'mm'J -"_ ] '-,+_ | / / "''-.,;"---''--'"" \ ] __ "-' ;' [ / : : _c / / ",_,' | [ | v| , '/ c c \ | \ ] | \ /| : __,-,v;|] . \| [ /"--'/ | (7_ c@ ) )/| \ ] ,-"'<': '--, ( /^ | | ] / : '| \ | ) | | | / | | ;,-;, \ ,)( ]| | \^ | | : |\ ,' \ / \ [ | | ? / \_ | /|: | , \ | | | ('. "--' |:, ; :\ ,\ [| | ;\~) _ \_) ',_| , | ), \_ : | |/ [ /""-,_ '-'( /.' | \ | '-_ | [ | | "---,__"'=';=,_ | \ /|\ '"-,__ | ] | : | ""'^.\ | | | \ | [ ]| | : | ] \ \ / _AsH Rarely Seen Animals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseenanimals.html --- ...Quite intriguing! Thanks Ladies! Our next red hot new page is from our friend FranB. With AI becoming more predominant, it is refreshing to see real images from skilled photographers around the world. These photos help to open up our ocean world for you. Be sure to check it and its video out here: ___ .-' `'. / \ | ; | | ___.--, _.._ |0) ~ (0) | _.---'`__.-( (_. __.--'`_.. '.__.\ '--. \_.-' ,.--'` `""` ( ,.--'` ',__ /./; ;, '.__.'` __ _`) ) .---.__.' / | |\ \__..--"" """--.,_ `---' .'.''-._.-'`_./ /\ '. \ _.-~~~````~~~-._`-.__.' | | .' _.-' | | \ \ '. `~---` \ \/ .' \ \ '. '-._) \/ / \ \ `=.__`~-. jgs / /\ `) ) / / `"".`\ , _.-'.'\ \ / / ( ( / / `--~` ) ) .-'.' '.'. | ( (/` ( (` ) ) '-; ` '-; (-' Ocean Photo Winners 2025! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oceanphotos2025.html --- ...Most interesting! Thanks FranB! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarming: I want to share with you this beautiful story. Times are difficult but I think we are all so lucky and blessed with what we still have today. In your heart, think of our less fortunate brothers and sisters and let us share in our own way to lift their hearts and spirits this next Christmas. Don't you always feel better giving and seeing the smiles on their faces than buying something for yourself? I do.... and I want to brighten up their day! / / / / / / / / / / / / / / .-. / / / / / __) / / / / / \| @( / / / / / / / .' \-/ / / / / / | \' / / / / \ \ / / / / \/) / (____\ /U\ ---._____________________/ \ \\__)-------.___________ -- '`--` VK Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have any money to spend." Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the household in their mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn't fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to. Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment. As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could not buy anything with only a dime. He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you." As Bobby waited, he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers. The sound of the door closing as the last customer left, jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box. "That will be ten cents young man." the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime! Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?" This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son." As he returned inside, the shop keepers wife walked out. "Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?" Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime. When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars. __ _ / /| |\\ \/_/ \_\| / __ \/_/__\ .-=='/~\ ____,__/__,_____,______)/ /{~}}} -,------,----,-----,---,\'-' {{~}} jgs '-==.\}/ When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses." The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all. =======HeartWarming======= >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Play Your Position 'But in fact, God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.'1 A father was having a particularly stressful day at work, so he decided to leave a few hours early to watch his son play soccer. The team was made up of boys and girls who were still trying to learn how to play. After a few minutes, the coach blew the whistle and called the players over to talk with them. He said, "Look guys, you cannot win if everybody runs after the ball. You have to play your position, then wait for a teammate to pass the ball to you." The Lord used the words of that soccer coach to help that businessman understand that he had been so busy trying to solve all the problems for everyone else, that he was not playing his own position. The next day he went back to the office and suggested some new ideas, and after passing them back and forth from their different positions, these men and women were able to find solutions and new approaches to their business goals.2 There is a common saying that goes, 'If you want something done right, then do it yourself.'¯ However, this was never the plan God had for His church. This mentality will only cause us to feel completely stressed and overwhelmed! God has given each of us special gifts and talents for us to use for Him, but if we are not allowing these talents to be practiced because we feel we can do it better, then we are only being an obstacle in the growth of others. God makes no mistakes, therefore, our individual strengths and weaknesses were given with purpose. They are meant to compliment others, and in turn, the gifts of others will compliment us as well. If we want to learn to work efficiently within the Kingdom of God, then each of us must learn to play our position. Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Thank you, also, for my weaknesses because this is where I can see you work through others! Help me always show patience and grace as my gifts, and the gifts of others, are developed for your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 1. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NIV). 2. www.sermoncentral.com Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Keeper of the Springs 'Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.'1 There was once a little town sheltered in the protective heights of a mountain range. High up in the hills, a quiet forest dweller had taken it upon himself to be the Keeper of the Springs. He patrolled the hills and whenever he found a spring, he cleaned it of fallen leaves, mud, and mold so that the water which bubbled up ran down clean, cold, and pure. It flowed over rocks and dropped in crystal cascades until, swollen by other streams, it became a river of life to the busy town. Mill wheels were whirled by its rushing stream. Gardens were refreshed by its waters. Swans sailed on its sparkling surface, and children laughed as they played on its banks in the sunshine. The Town Council, a group of stubborn businessmen, scanned the civic budget and found in it the salary of a Keeper of the Springs. The Keeper of the Purse said, Why should we continue to pay someone we have never seen? It is unnecessary. Let us build a cement reservoir just above the town, we can dispense of his services and save his salary. And so they did. The Keeper of the Springs watched from the heights while they built the reservoir, all the while neglecting the pools that had now turned brown. When it was finished and filled up, the water did not seem to be the same. It did not seem to be as clean, and a green scum soon covered its stagnant surface. The machinery of the mills often became clogged with slime. The swans left for a cleaner pond. And soon, sickness found its way into every home. Sorrowfully, the town council met again. In the face of their plight, they acknowledged the mistake of the dismissal of the Keeper of the Springs and sought him out to beg him to return to his former labor. Gladly he agreed, and began, once more, to make his rounds. It was not long until pure water came flowing down - sparkling in the cleansed reservoir. Mill wheels turned freely again, sickness waned and convalescent children playing in the sun laughed again because the swans had come back.2 Are the springs of your heart so cluttered that they are making you spiritually sick? Today is a good day to make rounds and clean up those springs so that the living water of God can run freely, pure and clean, refreshing your soul. Suggested prayer: Dear God, I have allowed worry, doubt, and stress and other sins into my life and it has become stagnant. Cleanse my heart so that the springs of my life run clean and pure, and so your love can flow freely, blessing all those around me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. 1. Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV). 2. The Keeper of the Springs¯ by Peter Marshall (paraphrased) Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _________ _________ _,.,-----''''---.. _,--' '-.. __ ___________ _,' '-."+_ .-"""+.-' .- ___.' \ L )-.__ _/---"""""' .-'\`\ __ `-..-' """"---------""(____ ___.-'\ \\ \ \ / .:----'\___\ \_\ |/_/ _.---. ( :" _ ( `\ ( \_.\ __________ / `--.'.==< . `G \.\`'/`. ________ __ ______ ( \_.--/ '/ | /_ __/____/ /_ ____ ____\ _a8a._/_.---:-..`,+| ' ,' / / / ___/ __ \/ __ \/ __ \`---'_ _ \|'('|| ,-'. / / (__ ) / / / /_/ / /_/ /__ _/_)_ _,+'|.;' /.:::. /_/ /____/_/ /_/\____/\____/ _ _`-:-=_/`---;',/|\|' ,-'.::::: _______ ` _ -,/://:|/|_/.|,/++/\--'.:::::::' _________ ` _\.,-';'),;//(_+:|:,_+.:'.::::::::::' - :./-;/'=\,;/.',|;|','/'/.:::::::::::' -,-/','/;|;,'//,,/|'/:/-.::::::::::::' - : -/'/'/',';:/,|,//:+'|',:::::::::::::' _.-,,/-//.=,'/:'|//+;-.::::::::::::::' /';_'-'/:/ ;'|-::::::::::::::::::' _+..::':::/:::::::::::::::::::::::::' .:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' .:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: '''''':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ''''::::::::::::::::a:f::::' >THE SNEEZE They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing .. and the traditional caps, they looked almost .. as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements---- not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine... until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!! The student on stage. simply looked at the audience and said, 'GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!' And he walked off stage... The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval. Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends... and GOD BLESS YOU!!!! This is a true story; it happened at the University of Maryland. Oh, how I wish THIS one would take off and FILL the whole Country! --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...Isn't it wonderful? As a student, we had to go to the park or a neighboring church to hold a prayer meeting before school. No prayers were allowed. Thanks to the Trump Administration, prayer is again allowed in our public schools... "The Trump Administration is proud to stand with students, parents, and faculty who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights in schools across our great nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "Our Constitution safeguards the free exercise of religion as one of the guiding principles of our republic, and we will vigorously protect that right in America's public schools." U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Schools https://tinyurl.com/yud8tw9h -<>- ,n888888n, .8888888888b 888888888888nd8P~''8g, 88888888888888 _ `'~\. .n. `Y888888888888. / _ |~\\ (8"8b ,nnn.. 8888888b. | \ \m\|8888P ,d8888888888888888b. \8b|.\P~ ~P8~ 888888888888888P~~_~ `8B_| | ~888888888~'8' d8. ~ _/ ~Y8888P' ~\ | |~|~b,__ __--~ --~~\ ,d8888888b.\`\_/ __/~ \_ d88888888888b\_-~8888888bn. \8888P "Y888888888888"888888bn. /~'\_"__) "d88888888P,-~~-~888 / / ) ~\ ,888888/~' / / / 8' ( / / / |) ) / '"88(/ ~ / / | ( /_/ /~ \( _/ / (_(_ ( /~~\/ , O,/~\___/_/' ~~~ | \_ ( )( \_| -- by Gordon M"uller __--~"mb ,g8888b. _/ 8888b(.8P"~'~---__ / ~~~| / ,/~~~~--, `\ ( ~\,_) (/ ~-_`\ \ -__---~._ \ ~\\ ( )\\ )) `\ ) "-_ `| \__ __/ ~-__ __--~ ~~"~ ~~~ >People Pleaser I have always been a people pleaser. I have always tried to fit in, to be one of the crowd. At school I was everybody's friend. I fit in with the Preps and the Goths and every other stereotype you can imagine. It seemed to me that everybody else had something I wanted. No matter what I did, I couldn't find it. I have gone to church just about my whole life. I sang the songs and talked the talk, but I never really bought into it. I always thought that since other people in my family believed, I didn't have to--I was covered. I loved going to church and hanging out with my friends on Sundays, but on Monday I was the girl who always fit in. About God I always thought, How I am I supposed to love a person I don't know? Like if someone said to you, "I know a guy, and he's madly in love with you. Don't you love him, too?" If you had any common sense, you'd want to know who the person was - at least I did. People always say, "I found Jesus." That's not how it was for me. I didn't find anything, no matter how hard I looked. The bottom line is that Jesus came looking for me. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't like, "Oh, I know Jesus now," and everything was all hearts and flowers. I wish it worked that way. But about a year and half ago, I started to run after God for real. Some of my friends from church talked me into going to a conference with them, and one of the speakers talked about how if you fit in perfectly with the world, you have a problem. I didn't think of it as a problem. I just thought the speaker didn't have any friends in high school and was still bitter about it. The other speakers were all about change-the-world-this and change-the-world-that. I was doing just fine in my little corner of the world not changing anything. They weren't hitting me like a lightning bolt: boom, change the world for Jesus. Then over the weekend I was praying one of my packaged prayers: you know, "Bless Mom, bless Dad, thanks for everything I own, it would be nice to have world peace while you're at it." But during my prayer, the speaker's voice kept playing in my head. It hit me that out of all the people I knew, maybe two knew I was a Christian. I'm always trying to fit in--not make waves, I thought. Exactly what kind of impact am I making? I knew if I were to speak up, people would look at me like I'd escaped from a place with padded walls--but if I didn't, then one day I'd have to try to explain to God that I was too embarrassed to let people know that I loved him. I didn't want to have to imagine that. ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) So I switched off of my "bless everyone" prayer and began to talk to God for real. I asked for boldness and courage every night, but in the morning I didn't wake up feeling like Wonder Woman. Then I remembered how my older sister once told me that courage only comes after you face what you fear. You have to challenge your fears in order to defeat them. I decided to speak up about my faith, although I knew that it wouldn't be easy for me. I was really scared of what people would think. Remember, I had never been an individual; I had always tried to blend in. It was a huge stretch for me. It is never easy being the only one standing for what you believe. I discovered that my sister was right. After I told one person what I believed, telling one more wasn't difficult. Believe it or not, other people saw that I was making a stand for Jesus, and they stood up right next to me. For the first time in my life, I didn't try to fit in with anyone. In the process, I lost some of my friends because of my honesty. But faithful to the end, God soon sent good, strong Christian friends--people I didn't know well and really didn't want to know at first, I'll admit. Now that they are my friends, I see how judgmental and wrong I was. I would have missed so much not really knowing them. Things are not easy; I don't think they ever will be. There are times when I know I am supposed to witness, but I back out. I kick myself for it, but I know that God forgives me every time. He's working with me. I no longer fit in with every group, but how can you be passionately in love with Jesus and still play the field? You can't. If it comes down to a choice between "be welcomed on this earth" or "be welcomed in heaven," I will choose heaven any day. -Lauren Alyson Schara, 16 -<>- , |"-,_ I--(_ ,I?8, d|`888. d8| 8888b ,88| ?8888b ,888| `88888b ,8888| 8888g8b ,88888| 888PX?8b ,888888| 8888bd88, o8888888| ,888888888 d8888888P| d888888888b _.d888gggg8'| 8gg88888888, '\==-,,,,,,,,|/;,,,,,-==;7 _ \__...____...__ __/ _ seal _ ~ ~~~~ ~~ >The Sailor's Decision After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life... to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son! He threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered." By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me." "You see... I was the son's friend." -Author Unknown -<>- ______________________________________ | | _.---------|.--. | .-' ` .'/ `` | .-' .' | /| | .-' | / `.__// | .-' _.--/ / | | _ .-' / / | | ._ \ / ` / | | ` . / ` / | | \ \ '/ / | | - \ / /| | | ' .' / | | | ' |.'| | | | | | | | |______________________________________| | |.' | / | / | / ) /| .A/`-. / | AMMMA. `-._ / / AMMMMMMMMA. `-. / / AMMMMMMMMMMMMA. `. / AMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMA.`. / MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMA.`. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMA.`. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMA. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMA. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMV' VK >The Master's Card MASTER'S CARD. Let me tell you about it. There are no finance charges, no payments due. My bill has already been covered... it's a prepaid deal. I couldn't afford the price, so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me. My Name is written on the card for all to see. It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world. The MASTER'S CARD has so many benefits it's hard to list them all. Let me share some of them with you... you might want to apply for a personal card yourself. Just for starters there is UNLIMITED GRACE. That's right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from the MASTER'S CARD. Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Then, look no farther than the MASTER'S CARD. It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered. The MASTER'S CARD gives you access to many "members only" benefits. Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam? The MASTER'S CARD is perfect for you. Another great thing about the MASTER'S CARD is that it never expires. Once you're a member, you're a member for life... eternal life, that is. Membership has its privileges, you know. How do you receive the MASTER'S CARD? Dial 1-800-ROMANS10:9 "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Say out Loud, Jesus Christ is my Lord - While you believe with all your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.) Jesus is standing by right now to take your call. Don't delay. This great offer won't last forever. Peace, joy and hope: Invaluable. Faith, contentment and assurance: Inestimable. Salvation: Priceless. There are some things money can't buy. For those, there's the Master's Card. Christians, why not be an advertisement for the MASTER'S CARD? Let your life be a commercial today for Jesus Christ and live it as though you expect Him to return tomorrow, for "no man knows the day, nor the hour". I await His coming with eager anticipation, how about you? -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Christ's Life! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Miniature Wonderland! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/modeltrain.html Earth In Perspective! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/earth.html The Bible! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html I Believe In You! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ibelieveinyou.html Attitude Is Everything 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude3.html Proud Of Our Troops 12! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Believe In Your Dreams! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/dream.html BibleStudy: Our Valuable Anchor! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Love Thoughts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html Face Of Christ! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faceofchrist.html I Believe... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Bible:Walking In Power! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Bible:Who Is Jesus Christ? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/whoisjesus.html Lighthouses Of The World! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lighthouses.html Salvation Mountain! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/salvation.html Amazing Blind Artist! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindartist.html Akiane Child Prodigy! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Journey Through Life! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/journey.html Important Life Truths! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetruths.html Church Mouse Wisdom! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Small Thoughts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smallthoughts.html Worms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worms.html Old Barns, Old People, Old Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/barns.html More Abundant Life! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abundantlife.html Spring Index: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/springindex.html -<>- The Mystery Revealed http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Word/THE_MYSTERY_REVEALED.htm 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 The Christian's Position In Christ https://tinyurl.com/y9prceu9 Our Christian Stand http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Our_Christian_Stand.htm Witnessing and Undershepherding https://tinyurl.com/5czubxp7 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/ 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 '---' >The Watchman "I have made you a watchman; so hear the Word I speak." Ezekiel was called to be a prophet after being taken captive to Babylon. Since the beginning of his ministry, Ezekiel knew his path would be difficult; he knew the people would not be receptive to his message; "The people to whom I {God} am sending you are obstinate and stubborn" (Ezekiel 2:4). And yet, from the very beginning, God made it clear that Ezekiel was accountable to speak the truth. Ezekiel 3:17-18 "I have made you a watchman; so hear the Word I speak and give them warning from Me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him... that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood." God called Ezekiel and clearly gave him a message of truth that was expected to be shared; "whether they listen or fail to listen" (Ezekiel 3:11). Ezekiel was not responsible for how many people obediently followed God's Word, but he was definitely accountable for sharing the message God gave. God's call is not just reserved for pastors, missionaries, or ministry leaders; His call goes out to each of us who hear His message of forgiveness. Yes, the world is still full of "obstinate and stubborn" people (we probably need look no further than the mirror), but God's truth is good news which can save lives and give hope - it's a truth which must be shared! Now here's the difficult part: Sharing God's truth is not an optional part of our walk. Each of us have been called and given a mission field in which to minister, and we are each held accountable for our ministry into this field. Notice we are not accountable for the response, only for our action or inaction; "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:17). Failure to respond to God's leading is sin! What field has God called you to today? What message has He placed on your heart? There are family, friends, and coworkers who desperately need to hear the gospel message. There are people all around us who need to be encouraged to draw closer to God, encouraged to forgive and restore relationships, encouraged to live according to who they are in Christ. This is our mission field and this is our message! We must obediently share, in love, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, even if no one listens!! We are God's watchman over whatever field He provides, and we must proclaim His truth wherever He leads. Let's draw near and love Him with all our heart, so near to His side that His message and direction are absolutely clear. Then, let's follow His leading and accept the responsibility, and accountability, of the watchman. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Exodus 21:22-23:13; Matthew 24:1-28; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 7:6-23 <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >A Taste of Eternity 'Let's rejoice as we are allowed a taste of eternity.' We need to consider our life on an eternal time scale and to weigh our current burdens against the eternal glory of Heaven. But there are many believers who are unable to gain strength or comfort from this view of life. Although they know the concept, they lack anything on which to base their hope. This lack of tangible hope is unfortunate, but understandable. If our view of Heaven contains no real foundation, the thought of eternity will never make our troubles seem "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17). And while it's true that "faith is the substance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1), we still need some understanding or our faith will never generate the hope which can truly impact our life. When Jacob was looking for a wife, he found Rachel. Jacob quickly fell in love and promised to work seven years in exchange for receiving Rachel as his wife. Genesis 29:20 "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." Jacob worked hard for many years, but the hope of being with the one he loved eased any burden he might have felt. Jacob had a good understanding of the one he hoped for, and this brought him great comfort. He saw Rachel's beauty every day and was certainly permitted to talk with her often. He knew Rachel and probably spent many hours dreaming of her and holding her in his arms. There was undoubtedly a longing inside Jacob which he knew only Rachel could fill. God gave His Son so we could be brought back to a full and right relationship with Him for all eternity. But God did not leave us with an empty view or ask us to cling to a blind hope. He allows us into His presence and gives us the ability to know Him NOW! We will never grasp all that Heaven has to offer until we see Him face to face. But God allows us to taste eternity if we will remove the competing distractions, draw near to His side, and ask for our hunger to be satisfied. Let's dedicate our lives to knowing the One with whom we will spend eternity - the One on whom we base our hope. Let's commune with our Father in prayer and learn of His nature through His Word. Let's strive for an all-consuming love - a love complete with the empty ache which only His presence can fill. Let's rejoice, receive comfort and gain strength, as we draw near and are allowed a taste of eternity. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Judges 1:1-2:10; Luke 21:29-22:13; Psalm 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 13:24-25 ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: _____________________ | _________________ | | | JO 3.141592654 | | | |_________________| | | __ __ __ __ __ __ | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | |__|__|__|__|__|__| | | ___ ___ ___ ___ | | | 7 | 8 | 9 | | + | | | |___|___|___| |___| | | | 4 | 5 | 6 | | - | | | |___|___|___| |___| | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | x | | | |___|___|___| |___| | | | . | 0 | = | | / | | | |___|___|___| |___| | |_____________________| >IT IS FINISHED While two visitors were visiting Annapolis, they noticed several students on their hands and knees assessing the courtyard with pencils and clipboards in hand. "What are they doing?" one of them asked their tour guide. "Each year," he replied with a grin, "The upperclassmen ask the freshmen how many bricks it took to finish paving this courtyard." "So what's the answer?" one of the visitors asked the tour guide when they were out of earshot of the freshmen. The guide replied, "One." That brings up an interesting theological question. How many sacrifices did it take to finish paying for our sins? The Jews would have needed lots of pencils and clipboards to make the calculation. "Let's see, let's take all the sin offerings, all the guilt offerings, the bulls, the goats, the lambs, the turtledoves..." So what's the answer? How many sacrifices did it take to finish paying for our sins? Only one. "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown After thousands and thousands of sacrificial animals had been sacrificed, Jesus Christ gave his own life on the cross. Only then could it be said, "It is finished." -author unknown -<>- ___________ \ / )_______( |"""""""|_.-._,.---------.,_.-._ | | | | | | ''-. | |_| |_ _| |_..-' |_______| '-' `'---------'` '-' )"""""""( /_________\ `'-------'` .-------------. jgs/_______________\ >STOP CONDEMNING YOURSELF! Written by Bob & Debby Gass 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' - Romans 8:1 KJV The word for you today is - stop condemning yourself! God says, 'I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins' (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). When God says He forgets your sin and you insist on remembering it, it's like saying your standards are higher than His. That's akin to idolatry! The Bible says, '...God in Christ forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). In the Old Testament when someone sinned they brought a lamb to the priest and he would shed its blood on the altar as payment for their sin. Once that was done the record was expunged and the issue was settled. You say, 'But I don't feel forgiven.' Forgiveness comes by faith, not feelings. As long as you live by feelings Satan has a weapon he can use against you at every turn. You say, 'But what I did was so wrong.' As long as you truly repent whatever you have done can be pardoned. You say, 'But Satan keeps bringing it up.' That's because he is called the 'accuser' (Revelation 12:10). But notice how you overcome Satan the accuser: 'They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...' (v11). Next time Satan accuses you, say, 'I'm glad you brought that up.' Then tell him what the blood of Jesus has accomplished on your behalf. If you do that, he will flee. Learn from your failure, grow stronger through it, use it to bless others, move on with your life and stop condemning yourself! SoulFood: Rev 10-14, Matt 24:26-35, Ps 116:12-19, Pr 8:10-13 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- .', ,`/ _.' _.- / `---' \;/\ \\`. \\ `. / /\ `. /, \ \,' \\ `.`. \\ `,`, ejm -`-' -' >ANYTHING GOES - EXCEPT FAITH A pervasive and dominant spirit of contemporary culture is its ability to tolerate practically everything that was once deemed intolerable. It is a mood. A climate. An all-encompassing frame of mind. In textbooks, this theory of human action is labeled "relativism." It holds that the rightness or wrongness of behaviors is relative to each person's individual opinion or to the social custom of her time and place. Stated negatively, it holds that moral truth is not the same for all people. Everything is up for grabs. Relativism became palatable and eventually gained the upper hand because of its polar opposite - dogmatism. There have always been individuals or groups that are willing to dictate beliefs and behaviors to others. These dictators, tyrants, and authoritarian parties claim to know what is true and yield to no request for proof. It is true because they say so! Questioning is simply not allowed. But a strange thing happened on the road to non-judgmentalism and tolerance. All points of view came to be tolerated except the one which holds that truth and falsehood are real categories, that some acts are good and others bad. Faith may have suffered the most in this great cultural shift. About the only thing that will not be tolerated in today's super- tolerant world is a Christian claim to truth or the public presenta- tion of one of its moral claims. So "God exists" is allowed as a private belief; it just can't be offered as a public truth. "Lying is evil" or "fornication is wrong" may be held as a private standard; it mustn't be stated as a norm by which character is examined. Ironically, there can be no genuine tolerance unless one is committed to a strong view of truth and morality. You don't "tolerate" people with whom you already see eye to eye. You can only "tolerate" those with whom you disagree. Authentic tolerance means treating someone with fairness and respect - even though you disagree. It means extending to others the right to disagree with your beliefs. More than that, it means trying to see the other's point of view and granting anything of value it captures. It means being willing to offer support for your views, not simply asserting something and expecting others to accept it on your word; it means listening to other points of view with fairness. Respectful discussion produces understanding. It even leads to changed points of view. So don't apologize for having an opinion or strong belief about something. Don't be intimidated when someone calls you an old stick-in-the-mud (or worse) because of your attitude toward promiscuity or cheating on taxes. Jesus never said it was wrong to make ethical judgments, only that we should not judge carelessly. Don't be so open-minded that you let all your common sense fall out. "Stop judging by mere appearances," Jesus said, "but instead judge correctly" (John 7:24 NRSV). And he was not being a bigot when he said it. as seen in The Fax of Life -<>- .-"|"-. .' | `. .' | `. | | | | /|\ | `. / | \ .' `./ | \.' `-.|.-' itz >SOME GREAT PEACE Weathered souls of time gone by seek for peace through Adonai. Seasoned hearts of there and to might be found torn through and through. Yet those hearts of seasoned places can be found with smiling faces for through Jesus God's Own Son some great peace will be begun and those weathered times about will find ways of different route. By Bill Pearce Mar 3, 2012 -<>- .-. ## ) * _.-+*'`*+-._ ,## _ _ #. ;### ((.;;.)) ##: .=._.; ,-*:;;:*-. *##:._.=, >##; *-')_@@_(`-* ;###< ---------------`****------(o `` o)-----*****'-------------e:l `-""-' >WHY JOHNNY LINGO PAID EIGHT COWS FOR HIS WIFE When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of flora and fauna, native customs and costumes. But the only note that still interests me is the one that says: "Johnny Lingo gave eight cows to Sarita's father." And I don't need to have it in writing. I'm reminded of it every time I see a woman belittling her husband or a wife withering under her husband's scorn. I want to say to them, "You should know why Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for his wife." Johnny Lingo wasn't exactly his name. But that's what Shenkin, the manager of the guest house on Kiniwata, called him. Shenkin was from Chicago and had a habit of Americanizing the names of the islanders. But Johnny was mentioned by many people in many connections. If I wanted to spend a few days on the neighboring island of Nurabandi, Johnny Lingo could put me up. If I wanted to fish, he could show me where the biting was best. If it was pearls I sought, he would bring me the best buys. The people of Kiniwata all spoke highly of Johnny Lingo. Yet when they spoke they smiled, and the smiles were slightly mocking. "Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and let him do the bargaining," advised Shenkin. "Johnny knows how to make a deal." "Johnny Lingo!" A boy seated nearby hooted the name and rocked with laughter. "What goes on?" I demanded. "Everybody tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Let me in on the joke." "Oh, the people like to laugh," Shenkin said, shrugging. "Johnny's the brightest, the strongest young man in the islands. And for his age, the richest." "But, if he's all you say, what is there to laugh about?" "Only one thing. Five months ago, at fall festival, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. He paid her father eight cows!" I knew enough about island customs to be impressed. Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four or five a highly satisfactory one. "Good Grief!" I said. "Eight cows!" She must have beauty that takes your breath away. "She's not ugly," he conceded, and smiled a little. "But the kindest could only call Sarita plain. Sam Karoo, her father, was afraid she'd be left on his hands." "But then he got eight cows for her? Isn't that extraordinary?" "Never been paid before." "Yet you call his wife plain?" "I said it would be kindness to call her plain. She was skinny. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked. She was scared of her own shadow." "Well," I said, "I guess there's just no accounting for love." "True enough," agreed the man. "And that's why the villagers grin when they talk about Johnny. They get special satisfaction from the fact that the islands' sharpest trader was bested by dull old Sam Karoo." "But how?" "No one knows and everyone wonders. All the cousins were urging Sam to ask for three cows and hold out for two until he was sure Johnny'd pay only one. Then Johnny came to Sam Karoo and said, 'Father of Sarita, I offer eight cows for your daughter.'" "Eight cows," I murmured. "I'd like to meet this Johnny Lingo." I wanted fish. I wanted pearls. So the next afternoon I beached my boat at Nurabandi. And I noticed as I asked directions to Johnny's house that his name brought no sly smile to the lips of his fellow Nurabandians. And when I met the slim, serious young man, when he welcomed me with grace to his home, I was glad that from his own people he had respect unmingled with mockery. We sat in his house and talked. Then he asked, "You come here from Kiniwata?" "Yes." "They speak of me there?" "They say there's nothing that you can't help me get." He smiled gently. "My wife is from Kiniwata." "Yes, I know." "They speak of her?" "A little." "What do they say?" "Why, just..." The question caught me off balance. "They told me you were married at festival time." "Nothing more?" The curve of his eyebrows told me he knew there had to be more. "They also say the marriage settlement was eight cows." I paused. "They wonder why." "They ask that?" His eyes lighted with pleasure. "Everyone in Kiniwata knows about the eight cows?" I nodded. "And in Nurabandi everyone knows it too." His chest expanded with satisfaction. "Always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Sarita." So that's the answer, I thought: vanity. _ / } /'.\ _/ ) (`- ( ,) |/ /| ' ` Elb And then I saw her. I watched her enter the room to place flowers on the table. She stood still a moment to smile at the young man beside me. Then she went swiftly out again. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The lift of her shoulders, the tilt of her chin, the sparkle of her eyes all spelled a pride to which no one could deny her the right. I turned back to Johnny Lingo and found him looking at me. "You admire her?" he murmured. "She ... she's glorious. But she's not Sarita from Kiniwata," I said. "There's only one Sarita. Perhaps she does not look the way they say she looked in Kiniwata." "She doesn't. I heard she was homely. They all make fun of you because you let yourself be cheated by Sam Karoo." "You think eight cows were too many?" A smile slid over his lips. "No. But how can she be so different?" "Do you ever think," he asked, "what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought? And then later, when the women talk, they boast of what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two? This could not happen to my Sarita." "Then you did this just to make your wife happy?" "I wanted Sarita to be happy, yes. But I wanted more than that. You say she is different. This is true. Many things can change a woman. Things that happen inside, things that happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks about herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any woman in the islands." "Then you wanted--" "I wanted to marry Sarita. I loved her and no other woman." "But--" I was close to understanding. "But," he finished softly, .-. (/^\) (\ /) .-'-. /(_I_)\ \\) (// / \ \ | / \|/ /|\ \|/ jgs /Y\ "I wanted an eight-cow wife." Condensed from WOMAN'S DAY magazine fiction feature - Nov. 1965 By Patricia McGerr Courtesy of http://www.mountainwings.com 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: "A great many think because they have been filled once, they are going to be full for all time after; but O my friends, we are leaky vessels and have to be kept right under the fountain all the time in order to keep full. Let us keep near Him." - D. L. Moody _______ / ) /_____ | ______ ( ' ) / / __\ _____ |. '| / | \ | / )) |____|/ |`-----' /_____)) `-----' `------' cf >The Challenge of a Little Boy's Lunch (By Rev. Eric McGrath, 2003) [Edited] This Sunday we are beginning a new feature during our morning services called Children's Corner. I will be sharing a children's story with a biblical truth tucked away in it. This Sunday we are hearing a 1st person account of the little lad who gave his lunch to the Savior. His concluding remark is: "Just think - if he can make so much of my lunch, what will he do with my life?" Have you ever stopped to think about that? I have to confess it stopped me where I was to reflect on it's impact. What if I gave my life to the Savior, what could He do with it? Maybe like me, your first thought is - but I am giving my whole life! But when we step back from that for a moment and evaluate it, are we really? Does God really have all of our life or just parts of it? Am I really sold out to God? Am I truly seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousnesses, and allowing Him to add all of the other things to my life? The challenge of a little boy's lunch - how will you and I respond? Lovingly, Pastor McGrath -<>- "We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man." - D.L. Moody T \`. T | T .--------------.___________) \ | T ! | |//////////////|___________[ ] ! T | ! `--------------' ) ( | ! mn '-' ! >The Master Carpenter (Author Unknown) Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this." Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top." The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that." The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way. 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 ========================================================== _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >-->The Complete Prayer For Protection The Light of God surrounds me. The Love of God enfolds me. The Power of God protects me. The Presence of God watches over me. The Mind of God guides me. The Life of God flows through me. The Laws of God direct me. The Power of God abides within me. The Joy of God uplifts me. The Strength of God renews me. The Beauty of God inspires me. Wherever I am, God is! This beloved prayer was written by James Dilate Freeman for all soldiers during WW II -Sharon Coles White Dove Ministries * May God Bless Our Troops And America Through Christ Jesus! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah, Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://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: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe **********************************************************************