Happy Blessed Thanksgiving! ... :) 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! ================ __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP * Don't forget to follow us on social media for our latest updates and uproarious funny and inspiring pages! On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y8dcm8x7 On Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/n5uf3dxv ================ H A P P Y T H A N K S G I V I N G T O Y O U A N D Y O U R S ! ____ : : ___ :____: ___ ---\ ~~ /---___ : []: \ \ ~ \~ /~~~/~~~/ ----,------- ,' \~~ \~~ \/ ~~/~~~/ `, ,' 0 0 __ -_~~ \ \,------, / ~ _` ; _____\ ; - _ \,'^^^^^^^ ""`,_- \ `, `--'; u ; ~~ ,'^^^^----------- / ,'`,,,' ;~ ---, ^^^,`__----, ..`,/ ,'..,' `, ~ ,^^ <_'__--__ `, .. `,/ .. ` `,---` ^<________-- `, .. .. ,' ___ [] ___ `,---` <__ -__ ___ ,' .. . ,` _/ \)(/ \_ `, --` <__ __ _ ,' ... _,` / / \ \ `--,___<___ ,'`-___,' ,' : | `, <___,'(||) : : : || || : : | ; __||_ _||_ \_ : _/ // ;;\\ ;;\\ \_ \ | / _/ ~~ ~~ ~~ \__________/ *~* HAVE A SAFE, HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING! :) Here we have some Great Thanks Living Bible Teachings From our friends at www.TruthOrTradition.com: _.-/`) // / / ) .=// / / / ) //`/ / / / / // / ` / || / \\ / )) .' jgs // / / 1 of 2 Thanks: The Joy of Thanksgiving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lifogbJpowo 2 of 2 Thanks: The Benefits of Thanks Living https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRJVZ3wN2FU A Key to Being Thankful: You Can Never Go Back, Don't Live in the Past, Be Present Minded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJt78NfS69E Joy and Thankfulness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxIF-Qbr51g --- ...I Thank God For ALL Of You! Blessings My Sweet Friends! :) .-""""-._.'| / '.| | / | / ( | -= | /| ) ( | |/`< ) ) ; -=| _| ______ \ \ / .' `. /) '._ _.-""-.< .' `\/) / / \ / ___ .--'`/| _ / | '-._( ____\ (____/_/=, ( \| \ -=/ /--;==============` ._,;'\==='-,..__/__/__.' `'--/,/ || ' \ / | / || ' \ \/ . || ; jgs / / || | | . || | / '=------| / ' ; ; ;| `-.___.___.___.___._/ turkey diddled by llizard... May God Shower You And Yours With Abundant Blessings Through Jesus Christ Our Most Beloved Lord And Savior! :) --- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.---------------. .'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__,` . ____ ___ \ |\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ _:\ |:. \ \___ \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\_`.__| `. \ \___ \ \\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __: \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\ \__\'\_;-----------------` hh \\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ : | \|______________________;________________| We have a new recipe. This is for all our chocolate lovers. You can use this on ice cream, in milk for hot chocolate or chocolate milk, or as a dip. Or eat with a spoon! You'll find it here under Desserts: Chocolate Sauce http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html Our too hot to handle new page is from our friends Linda and Fran. It was quite surprising to me. Seeing these most beautiful and varied shorelines filled me with awe and wonder over God's great creation! Be sure to give this a little time and check out this eye candy for yourself here: | \ _ / -= (_) =- .\/. / \ .\\//o\\ ,\/. | ,~ //o\\|,\/. ,.,., ,\/. ,\//o\\ |\ | |//o\ /###/#\ //o\ /o\\| /| \ ^^|^^|^~|^^^|' '|:|^^^|^^^^^|^^|^^^""""""""("~~~~~~~~/_|__\~~~~~~~~~~ .|'' . | '''""'"''. |`===`|'' '"" "" " (" ~~~~ ~ ~======~~ ~~ ~ jgs^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ "" """( " ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~ World's Most Scenic Shores! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/scenicshores.html --- ...Most stunning! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From NPT: ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) >Show Your Gratitude Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! – Psalm 107:8 Do you live a thankful life? Would the people who know you best say that you seem to have a calm, appreciative spirit? Is your life fueled by the knowledge that God loves you? Do you show courage in the face of adversity? What are you grateful for? If you read the entirety of Psalm 107, you will see, as Matthew Henry says in his commentary, “The psalmist specifies some of the most common calamities of human life, and shows how God succors those that labor under them, in answer to their prayers.” Henry cites issues of banishment and dispersion, captivity and imprisonment, sickness, danger, and distress. “These are put for all similar perils, in which those that cry unto God have ever found him a very present help.” The psalm is a reminder that, in your every circumstance, God is there. Therefore, you are to be thankful to Him for his steadfast, solid, ever-present love for you. And you are not to keep your gratitude to yourself. The remainder of today’s verse reminds you that, as Henry says, “It is expected of those who receive mercy from God that they return praise to him. We must acknowledge God’s goodness to the children of men as well as to the children of God, to others as well as to ourselves.” So ask yourself, do those around you know of your gratitude to God? Pray that your relationship with Almighty God might be transparent. Intercede for members of Congress who are believers in Christ, those who are departing, those who are entering in, and those who have been reelected, to be grateful to God in a way that is apparent to those around them. https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/2024/11/26/show-your-gratitude/ --- !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ ...And Pray That Congress all may lead the USA with God's wisdom, strength and humbleness through Christ Jesus our Lord. -<>- _ _.-'`-._ _ ;.'________'.; _________n.[____________].n_________ |""_""_""_""||==||==||==||""_""_""_""] |"""""""""""||..||..||..||"""""""""""| |LI LI LI LI||LI||LI||LI||LI LI LI LI| |.. .. .. ..||..||..||..||.. .. .. ..| |LI LI LI LI||LI||LI||LI||LI LI LI LI| ,,;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;,;;;,;;;,;;,, ;;jgs;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; As we lift up the federal government of United States of America, each day we will highlight one elected or appointed federal official serving in office. Pray with us for each of them as they tackle their unique responsibilities and fulfill their oaths of office. https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/ =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Smell of Thanksgiving 'Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.'1 Don't you just love the smells of the holidays? I was cooking the other day, when my daughter walked in the kitchen and said, 'It smells like Thanksgiving, I want some of that!'ť I can't remember what I was making that day, but I do remember thinking of all the smells that Thanksgiving brings, not just the turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, but the smell of warmth and the comfort of home, the scent of laughter and memories. I love all the smells of the season, from the delicious food baking in the oven to a fire crackling in the chimney; the suffocating scent of grandma's perfume to the sticky kisses freely given by the youngest of the family. The smell of togetherness, joy, and love. A simple aroma has the power to bring all of those memories to the surface, and you just can't help but smile at all the emotions they bring. God, knowing how powerful smells would be for us, used it many times throughout Scripture as a reference to our own lives. His desire is that our lives giveoff a sweet-smelling perfume that draws others to Christ. Does our sweet and gentle spirit remind others of God's love? He wants us to live our lives in away that brings honor and glory to Him allowing our perfume to reach the Heavens. Does your life exhibit a joy and peace that makes others feel thankful? This Thanksgiving season, allow your kindness, love, and patience to be the smells that turn heads to say, 'I want some of that!'ť SuggestedPrayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to live my life leaving the sweet-smelling aroma of you everywhere I go. Let the smell of Your Love in me turn heads and make others desire more of you, In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. 1. 2 Corinthians 2:14b-15 (NLT). Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B. --- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * arm * ...Like the verse says Our love is perceived differently - sometimes our aroma to others may be like 'grandma's suffocating scent'... Depending on who is doing the smelling. To God and the Body of Christ let us always be a sweet scent. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Jesus Understands Us (edited) 'So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.'1 When disaster strikes a friend's life, it's natural to try to offer comfort. But have you ever felt like you said something wrong? Sometimes, expressions of comfort create even more pain. For example, an "I understand you" may sound empty if you haven't really experienced a comparable situation. However, most of us yearn to feel understood, and that helps us get to know others who have faced similar circumstances (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Today's passage assures us that Christ truly understands us, as He experienced struggles like ours. In today's passage, the author of Hebrews refers to Jesus Christ as our High Priest. The priest, the bridge of the Jewish people to God, offered sacrifices for the sins of the nation. Christ not only took on this role, but He also became the sacrifice when He died on the cross. In doing so and dying in our place, the Lord endured great suffering for us. He is now seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father and intercedes on our behalf. He also understands our pain and weakness. Although He was fully supported by God, He was also fully human and faced the same temptations, needs, and hurts that we all experience. Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your only begotten Son Jesus, who is our High Priest and understands our weaknesses. Thank you, Lord, that we can approach the throne of grace with all confidence to receive mercy and find grace that will help us when we need it most. I pray in Jesus Christ's name, Amen. 1. Hebrews 4:14-15 (NLT). Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N. Â Â When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== ____ / __ \ __/==LI==\__ `"///""""\\\"` ( . . ) \ __ / ;.__.; /` /\ `\ | /::\ | /\ / :: \ /\ / \/ :: \/ \ /\/`>==::==<`\/\ (_/ / :: \ \_) /__________\ | || | |- || -| jgs \.-||-./ /LI/\LI\ (__/ \__) >-->From The Oxford Communique': Practice "Thanksliving" This Year by Alexander Green Last year around this time, I suffered a home invasion. Twenty-two of my relatives showed up for Thanksgiving. (Some of them were actually invited.) We gathered to give thanks for our health, our friends, our family... and a 26-pound bird stuffed with cornbread dressing and surrounded by cranberry sauce, squash souffle', parmesan-garlic green beans with almonds, and sweet potato casserole. _..----...__ .-" `"-. | | |__.==========.____| | | .======. | | ____ | | | | | | _.-' ""--.._ |__| '======' |___ | .' '-. _.-'`` '==========' ``""'--.._ / \' '. / ,,,,,,,,, |._.,,;;;''''''''';;;;;;;;;, | ; .;;;;;;;;;;;\ | ,;;;;;| .) .) `;;;;;;;;, / | /;;;;;;;;;;;;;;| ;;;;;/ (_ ';;;;;;;-'` | /;;;;;;;;;;;;;;|| ;;;;;| `;;;;;; | |;;;;''' '/| ';;;;\ '----' ;;;;;' | |;;;' (' (' \\ `''''`---.___.- __;;''` ; |;;' _) \`) |~\ .-' '---'` ``"-. \ |;;;, .___. |/ / \_/__ _/\ _..,/`\ '-._ \"` `-' .'--"----"; `; '-..-/ \| `;;,--`-._____...-' ; ; ; `; \| || / `\ ; ' . ; \ || / / .-""-.\ . ; ; . ; || /`-./ // \\ ; ' . ; | || ; | `'--./| \'. ; ; ' | || | | | \-' ' ; | || | \ \ \ _ ; ' . | |/ \ >--------'. ` `''-._ , ; ; ;'-. _/' \/ '-._ \`'--. / `, / `'---...___/ / ,/---. /\ / \ ; `"""` ; \`- / / \ / \ ; ,-' /-' \ / \'----'----{ .' \ / \ `""` __..-' / \'----..------'''`` / / \ | .-' / \ | | \ / / \ ) '. .'----; ;------; '-._ _.-'___ | |____ | `'--..._______...--'` //__//__| //__//__| jgs | _| _|_ .--'`---` .--'`---` \ |__.\|___.\\_\ ( ( | / / `""\_____..__'.______..___/ \___.-\___.-._____/ (No wonder the Pilgrims had the Wampanoag tribe over.) With all our blessings, however, is one day of thanks ever enough? Of course not. In his book Discovering the Laws of Life, the famed money manager and philanthropist Sir John Templeton recommended a different approach. He called it thanksliving. Thanksliving means practicing an attitude of perpetual gratitude. That's not hard when times are good. But for many, it's tough out there right now. Yet Templeton offered a radical solution. Don't just give thanks for your blessings. Be grateful for your problems, too. This seems wildly counterintuitive at first blush. But facing our challenges makes us stronger, smarter, tougher, and more valuable as parents, mates, employees... and human beings. Calm seas never produced a skilled sailor. Solving problems is what we're made for. It's what makes life worth living. Says Templeton... Adversity, when overcome, strengthens us. So we are giving thanks not for the problem itself but for the strength and knowledge that will come from it. Giving thanks for this growth ahead of time will help you to grow through - not just go through - your challenges. Circumstances alone never decide our fate. We have the ability to shape our destiny. And it starts with believing we can. Worries, regrets, and complaints solve nothing. They change nothing. Rather, they undermine your health, your social environment, and your quality of life. Difficult situations are rarely resolved with positive thoughts or gratitude alone, however. It takes another crucial ingredient: sustained action. Even then, some problems are intractable. Others - like the death of a loved one - are insoluble. In certain circumstances, only an attitude of acceptance moves us forward. Most of our day-to-day problems, however, are created by the person in the mirror. We made them. And we can fix them. But it starts with thinking about them differently. This lesson is best learned at an early age. Once when I was about 7, my father asked me to load some heavy-looking boxes into his car. I looked them over doubtfully. "I can't," I said. It was one of the few times I ever saw him angry. "What was that word you just used?" he demanded. "Can't?" I asked, sheepishly. "I don't want to hear that word again," he said. Then he strode off as I (ahem) loaded the boxes. Journalist Sam Levenson had a similar experience... It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm." I'm not suggesting it's wrong to ask for help. Under certain circumstances, you won't succeed without it. We could all use a boost from time to time. But it's much more satisfying - and dignifying - when we solve our problems ourselves. In addition to demonstrating what we're made of, working through our setbacks makes us more sensitive to - and more compassionate toward - the problems of our fellow man. Look around and you'll see plenty of good people with more troubles than you. And this is the season to remember them, incidentally. (Although the true spirit of thanksliving means remembering - and giving - all year round.) Whatever problems you're grappling with - personal, social, or financial - the best course is always to face them with courage, patience, and equanimity. And, if possible, be grateful. Opportunity often shows up disguised as hard work. On occasion, of course, our problems are simply bigger than we are. In an address in 1859, Abraham Lincoln recounted the tale of King Solomon: It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! That's something worth keeping in mind. Whatever your problems, few of them can withstand the onslaught of optimism, persistence, and a genuine spirit of gratitude. So get moving. As the poet Robert Frost put it, "The best way out is always through." Good investing, -Alex https://oxfordclub.com/ =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,sdPBbs. ,d$$$$$$$$b. d$P'`Y'`Y'`?$b d' ` ' \ `b / | \ \ / / \ | \ _,--' | \ | /' _/ \ | \ _/' /' | \ `-.__ __/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__ /' / | / \ \ `-. `\ / /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-. / |;;;;;;;\ \ _|_ | /^\ /^\ /___\ /^\ \/^\ | # |__________ /^\/ \| | | # |__________\ . |_|/ | _ | # # # # | X | H | | >Tomorrow Will Be Anxious for Itself An ancient Chinese parable tells of Old Tan Chang who had a small farm overshadowed by a towering mountain. One day he got the notion to get rid of the mountain. With the help of his wife and sons, he began to hack at the rock around its base. A neighbor walked by and scoffed, "You will never finish the job, old man! There are not enough days in the year for you to do this." But Tan replied confidently, "I am not as foolish as you think, my friend. I may be old and feeble, but after I am gone, my sons will continue to peck away at the mountain. Then their sons and their sons'' sons will do the same. Since the mountain cannot grow, someday it will be level with the ground, and the sun will shine upon our land." Many of the problems we cannot eliminate instantly can be moved one piece at a time, one day at a time. Did not Jesus share in Matthew 6: 25-34 read a few moments ago, "So do not be anxious about tomorrow, tomorrow will be anxious for itself." - Eric S. Ritz, www.Sermons.com -<>- ) ) __ ( __ (~( __ (~( \O\ )~) )O) )_) (O( (_(__ ( )_) ) >THE MOST GIVING TIME OF THE YEAR In an article Jackie Cohen of CBS Market Watch wrote that: "Americans are apparently in a festive mood and they want their houses to join in the merriment." In an interview with Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing Danziger said, "People are spending more money on holiday decorations this year than they did in 2006: Nearly $8 billion will be spent on holiday decorations, this represents a 4.5 percent gain over last year". According to Danziger, 90 percent of consumers decorate their homes for Christmas or Hanukkah. And the average household will spend about $119 on winter - season decorations this year". Wow! 8 billion dollars for Christmas decorations! I really can't picture in my mind how much money that is, but it is a larger pile of money than I have ever seen. What if no one bought Christmas decorations and instead spending their $119 (average per family) to help those less fortunate? Yes, I know that some of the department stores would go under because they are counting on the money from your Christmas decoration purchase, but just what if you did something different with the money? People all over the country are crying about the needs of the homeless, the poor, those without health care, the national debt, the cost of the war. There are many who are crying about the fact that the Social Security system is in shaky shape or that unemployment is the highest it's been in years. We all cry at one time or another about not having enough money and tend to blame others or the government, yet we as a nation spend $8 billion on Christmas decorations! Something just seems wrong about that to me! Let me say that I am not criticizing Christmas decorations! I love Christmas and love to decorate as can be seen by the 8 rubber maid containers of decorations we store each year. I also understand the fact that it is not a biblically based or authorized holiday. We celebrate it as a national and traditional holiday. But getting past that, what if for each dollar we spend on decorations we match it in giving to our churches, someone less fortunate, or a charity. Can you imagine all of the good that would be done in our world if we did that? Can you imagine all of the missionaries we could support with that money? Someone once said, "The church has the money to do anything we want to do, the problem is that it is still in our pockets". A couple of years ago Phil Ware wrote an article in which he said something like this, "Why don't you do something special for someone, without expecting to be patted on the back for it! Take food to someone and leave it on the doorstep with a note that simply says, 'from a friend of Jesus'." I thought about that suggestion and believe he is on to something we need to do far more than we do. My wife and I do practice this and it's one of the most rewarding things we do through the year. You see, it's almost impossible for us to not know or know of someone who is less fortunate than us! They may not necessarily be even really poor, but maybe just having a hard time at the moment and could use a little extra help, financially or spiritually. Eight billion dollars, $119 per family, are we really as hard up as we say as a country and as individuals, if we can spend money on lights, ribbon, Christmas trees, yard sculptures and all of that other stuff we put in boxes for most of the year? I wonder what the one that our nation is remembering at this time of year thinks when he sees what we do and how we spend our money? Understand that I am not telling you stop buying Christmas decorations, but rather to think seriously about at least matching that money you spend on that new string of lights with money you give to help others when and wherever you can. The apostle Paul had this to say about helping others in Galatians 6:9-10, "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." What about it? How about matching your purchases with an equal contribution either through your church, some organization or just get involved personally with someone else in need! Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the outside, but what about in our hearts? --- ...Check out this site for today's averages: https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/holiday-shopping-statistics/ -<>- ####### ##[_]## ,;###########;, <<:{{\|@___@|/}}:>> <<:{{| ( /___\\) \}}:>> <<:{{/\ \\___/( /\}}:>> <<<<:{{| \ _.| |(_\/ |}}:>>>> <<<:{{|`\,'| '-' |'./`|}}:>>> <<<:{{|`\/ \___/ \/`|}}:>>> <<<:{{ \// ) ~ ~ ( \\/ }}:>>> <<:{{`{///' ~ ^ ~ '\\\}`}}:>>> <<:{{,=`. ~ ^.~.^ ~ .`=,}}:>> `-,__.__,-' \ | / jgs // \\ .---'( )'---. `---'-` `-'---` >Be Advised... Out of necessity, Thanksgiving at our house has required last-minute change. Please be advised the following notes are to help you arrive fully prepared. 1. Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect. 2. Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea. 3. The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas. 4. Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey. 5. We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 AM upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds. As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are dramatizing too much. 6. We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table... in a separate room... next door. 7. Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat. 8. I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with warm tasty bread. 9. Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of you diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains. 10. Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it. Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either. I am thankful. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Thanksgiving Story - Alices Restaurant http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/alices.html Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html 150 Religious Leaders signed it http://manhattandeclaration.org/ The Giver And The Gift http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/givergift.html Give Praise http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/praise.html Directions Home http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/home.html Human Chameleon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chameleon.html Mountain Biking http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mountainbiking.html Until We Write Again http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/write.html Fall And Thanksgiving Index http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanksgivingindex.html -<>- Andrew Ripp "Love's Got A Way" Lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQYXkHEfIjI Somebody Prayed (with Lyrics) - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUrvBHgYn0I Cody Carnes, Benjamin William Hastings – Take You At Your Word https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbZEVNjSgkY Made For More (Lyrics) - Josh Baldwin, feat. Jenn Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOhOVl-ZKb4 Mathew West - Don't Stop Praying (Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdkJ6n8ZIdM 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/ Truth Or Tradition.com Index: https://www.truthortradition.com/ 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/ Latest From Mommy Underground: https://mommyunderground.com/ Latest From Christian Life Daily: https://www.christianlifedaily.com/ -<>- >In The Worldly News: President Donald J. Trump https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ Tucker Carlson On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/TuckerCarlson Latest Eric Bolling: https://ericbolling.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 Billings Report: https://billingsreport.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 Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ^^ .-=-=-=-. ^^ ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ ( `-=-=-=-(@)-=-=-` ) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ jgs (`-=-=-=-=-`) `-=-=-=-=-` >-->From Our Friend BrendaH :) My dad has bees. Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and drowning. I asked him if we could help them and he said he was sure they wouldn't survive. Casualties of honey collection I suppose. I asked him again if we could at least get them out and kill them quickly, after all he was the one who taught me to put a suffering animal (or bug) out of its misery. He finally conceded and scooped the bees out of the bucket. He put them in an empty Chobani yogurt container and put the plastic container outside. Because he had disrupted the hive with the earlier honey collection, there were bees flying all over outside. We put the 3 little bees in the container on a bench and left them to their fate. My dad called me out a little while later to show me what was happening. These three little bees were surrounded by all of their sisters (all of the (worker) bees are females) and they were cleaning the sticky nearly dead bees, helping them to get all of the honey off of their bodies. We came back a short time later and there was only one little bee left in the container. She was still being tended to by her sisters. When it was time for me to leave we checked one last time and all three of the bees had been cleaned off enough to fly away and the container was empty. Those three little bees lived because they were surrounded by family and friends who would not give up on them, family and friends who refused to let them drown in their own stickiness and resolved to help until the last little bee could be set free. Bee Sisters. Bee Peers. Bee Teammates. We could all learn a thing or two from these bees. Bee kind always. ~author unknown ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >He is Our Joy (edited) Jesus knew His purpose long before He was crucified: "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31). But He also knew the pain He must endure... and the pain would be very real! In the hours before His death, Jesus was beaten, whipped, spit on, laughed at, yelled at, and made to wear a crown of thorns. The Son of the Creator of the Universe was required to lay bloodied and disfigured as nails were hammered through His hands and feet. His chosen people had turned against Him and demanded His death, and those He loved the most had deserted Him. Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus endured more humiliation, disappointment, and pain than we can imagine. But the "joy" that allowed Him to endure the cross was the very reason He came to the world. He came to bring God's children back into a relationship with their Heavenly Father. The sacrifice of His death allowed a bridge from death to life. His joy was knowing that God's children would be able to come to Him and truly know God; that they could talk with Him and worship Him; that they could sit in His presence and be comforted in His loving arms. We are those children. We are the joy that allowed Him to "endure the cross." How much love is wrapped up in this deep sustaining joy? Enough love to walk with us through the hottest fires, enough love to carry us when we are weak, and enough love to NEVER let us go! "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). We all face various kinds of trials, but the One who "endured" continues to walk by our side today. He has given us Himself - a true joy which allows us to endure even as He endured. He has given us the joy of an eternity to worship in His throne room, an eternity to be comforted and praise His Holy Name! He has given us the joy of a love and an unequaled strength which this world cannot begin to understand! We too can face our "cross" with great hope. We WILL endure any and all trials. We can and will endure because He is our joy. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17 Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 27:18-20 Ezekiel 33:1-34:31; Hebrews 13:1-25; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 27:21-22 Ezekiel 35:1-36:38; James 1:1-18; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 27:23-27 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See This great teaching FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/joy.html ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: _.-._ /| | | |_ || | | | | || | | | | _|| ` | \\`\ ; \\ | \\ / jgs | | | | | | >QUOTES God’s richest blessings often require not only sacrifice, suffering and hard conflict, but long delay and patient waiting. But the blessing grows with the delay. The interest gathers with the extended time, and God’s ratio is always compound interest. -A. B. Simpson "It's hard to trust God during the refining process of life, but that is what God longs for us to do. Trust comes down to believing that God is good even when life is terribly hard. Trust comes down to believing that the One who is refining you, loves you and has only your best in mind." - Kathy Troccoli Christ loves to show His hand through the unexpected. Often He keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then immediately it is all unfolded, and we find that He was walking by our side in this very thing long before we even suspected its meaning. -- A. B. Simpson -<>- ,_('--, (.--; ,--')_, | ;--.) .-. |.| .-. \|\|/ .-. .-.`\|/|/`_ `\|/|/` ' `^jgs`^^`^``^``^``^``^`` >LET 'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.' (NIV) Colossians 3:15-16 Thoughts Let, a verb meaning to allow. I let that bird go (meaning, I missed). I let that buck get away so he can grow up some (meaning, I couldn't get the shot off quick enough). I let my lab chew things up in my back yard (meaning, I can't catch her in the act to discipline her). I let my son take my truck and go camping with his friends for the weekend (meaning, he's grown up and doesn't need me there with him and his friends; they know what they're doing). We all let things happen in our lives. It's a part of life that we don't often think about, but we live it every day. Or, should I say, we let it happen daily. (Cliff S) Action Point For the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we must let it. For the word of Christ to dwell richly in us, we must let it. We have the power to allow God to be our primary influence, or to keep Him on the back burner of our lives. We let so many other things influence us daily, why not allow God to work in our hearts and let Him show us how to walk with and trust Him, how to teach and admonish others, and how to sing and worship Him. He will, if we'll let Him!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When the time comes, let your children head off into the outdoors without you. It's hard, I know, I've been there. But, if you've trained them right, you can have confidence that they'll do things right. And, who knows, maybe they'll let the old timer join them once in a while. as seen in Sportsmen's Devotional -<>- , |\ | `-._,="""=, \ //o.-)-.\ \ ||/:/:\:\-. `. \\\:\:/:/o_), jgs `->>>8888>;(_)o.-' >FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS! Psalm 103:2 NKJV Author Philip Yancey writes, "On my first visit to Yellowstone National Park flocks of tourists surrounded the geyser, Old Faithful, cameras trained like weapons, while a big digital clock predicted the next eruption. We were in the dining room of the Inn overlooking the geyser when the clock showed one minute to go. So along with every other diner, we rushed to the window to see the big event! We 'oohed' and 'ahhhhhed' and clicked our cameras; some even applauded. But glancing back I noticed that not a single waiter or busboy even bothered to look up! Old Faithful had become so familiar that it had lost its power to impress them!" So here's the question: WHY do we lose our sense of gratitude and begin to overlook God's goodness? For three reasons: 1) Problems... If you close one eye and hold a penny close enough to your other eye, you can actually block out the light of the sun! Getting the point? 2) Pressures... Some times the perks we thought would bring us pleasure end up wearing us down! 3) People... When they disappoint us we turn sour and forget all that God has done for us! What's the solution? "The (unfailing) love of the Lord never ends... Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning" (Lam 3:22-23 NLT). God's mercies begin each morning, and your gratitude should too! Indeed, your days should be saturated in it! Continual gratitude comes from looking beyond your blessings to their unfailing Source, the Lord! His love, His faithfulness and His mercy are already at work when your eyes open each day! ~Claud Bowers~ -<>- ,-=-. / ) ( c/=( `-( _/ _/ (_ / `-- ) < , ) )> / \/ \ (/\ / ,' ) \ \ -=` / / | \ \-` / | '\| <_./ \ / | / , \ <,_./ | / | /_ | | ``--.__.-='! | / \ ! '`'"' ("" '`'`"' `) \_'"'`"" "``''"''`" "'"`''' (_ \_ '"`=-'`" `" " '"" `-'`" '"'`' '`'"' '""`'" >STEPPING OUT IN FAITH By Mary Southerland Key Verse: “Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.” (NCV) Devotion: I grew up in a small Texas town where tornadoes were a fairly common occurrence. When the clouds turned a peculiar shade of green and gusts of wind bullied their way across our little town my family would gather around the radio, waiting for news from the local weather man - hoping and praying that it was just an ugly storm headed our way. A few times, however, we were forced to climb down into the damp, musty storm shelter buried in our back yard. I hated those storms and with great conviction vowed that when I grew up I would live in a place that had no storms! But then we moved to South Florida. While living in Fort Lauderdale, I was introduced to hurricanes and saw first hand the devastation that these monstrous storms can bring. Hurricanes sweep brutally over their prey with a vicious strength, leaving nothing but destruction and terror behind. Homes are reduced to useless rubble, memories are washed away and lives are often lost. I had always thought of hurricanes as something that mankind could certainly do without but have recently learned that they are necessary phenomena in order to maintain a certain balance in nature. Scientists tell us that hurricanes are extremely valuable because they break up a large percentage of the oppressive heat that builds up at the equator. Hurricanes are also indirectly responsible for much of the rainfall in North and South America. As a result of these findings, meteorologists no longer feel the need to use cloud-seeding techniques to prevent hurricanes from being formed. In fact the world of science is convinced that hurricanes actually do more good than harm. The storms of life are much the same. Trials, pain, difficult circumstances and hard times are here to stay. We cannot stop the occurrence of storms but we can change our response to those storms. With every storm comes the opportunity to trust God and see faith grow. If you are like me, when the storm hits, my natural first response is a fervent plea for deliverance. Every day things happen that are beyond my understanding and out of my control. I often turn to God and ask, “Why?” What I really want to know is why me, why this, why now? That is where faith comes in. Faith is a natural by-product of trust and follows the choice to believe God no matter what! He wants us to wholly trust Him even when we do not understand and cannot explain the stormy circumstances swirling around us. When absolutely nothing makes sense and everything seems completely wrong He asks us to trust Him. Oh, it is easy to sing praises when the seas are calm and the boat is still. But the strength of our faith is justly measured in the midst of the raging storm. A job is lost – a marriage is destroyed – a child has strayed – a dream has died. It is in those bleak, seemingly hopeless moments that the value and depth of our faith is computed. A crisis always reveals what is really inside. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us! Anything – any trial or pain – that drives us to God can be counted as a blessing. Faith sees the storm as a chance for God to work in a new way. Faith sees the darkness as an opportunity for His light to shine brighter. Faith sees pain as an opportunity for God to comfort and encourage His precious child. The next time the storm churns around you step out of that rocking boat and walk by faith toward your waiting God. My Prayer for Today: Lord, my faith seems so small. I confess that when a storm hits my first thought is to find a way out. Please give me the faith to walk through my fear to you, trusting you to see me through. Help me to learn the lesson of the storm and share it with others. Amen. Application steps: Choose to believe that God is in control of today. Determine to face the storms that come with faith. Thank Him now for the trials that drive you to Him. Reflection points: What is the greatest storm in my life right now? How can I face that storm with faith instead of fear? What is keeping me from wholly trusting God? Read James 1:1-8. How do these verses tell me to view trials? Read Hebrews 11. List the rewards of faith. How did faith influence the men and women listed in this passage? _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Power verses: Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. (NLT) James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. (NLT) 1 Peter 5:9 Refuse to give in to him (the enemy) by standing strong in your faith. (NCV) Habakkuk 2:4 Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith. (NLT) 2 Chronicles 20:20 Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld. (NIV) 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: "Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day." - Robert Caspar Lintner ______ '-._ ```"""---.._ ,-----.:___ `\ ,;;;, '-.._ ```"""--.._ |,%%%%%% _ , '. `\;;;; -\ _ _.'/\ .' `-.__ \ ,;;;;" .__{=====/_)==:_ || ,===/ ```";,,,,,,,;;;;;'`-./.____,'/ / '.\/ '---/ ';;;;;;;;' `--.._.' / ,===/ '-. `\/ '---/ ,'`. | ; __.-' \ ,' jgs \______,,.....------'''`` `---` When Good Christians Act Like Atheists and Idolaters >A Thanksgiving Day Reminder (By Rev. Kerry S. Doyal - Grace Bible Church - www.GetGraced.org) [Edited] Want to act and look like an unbeliever? Care to have core traits that make you indistinguishable from atheists or agnostics? Good news! It doesn't take becoming a serial killer, a suicide terrorist or a child abuser. According to Romans 1:21-23 all it takes is... well, read it for yourself: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (NIV). It is one small step for man yet one giant leap for mankind from not honoring and thanking God to becoming foolish and functional idolaters. To know about God and not give Him due credit (glory) or properly thank Him is to be no different than your run of the mill atheist or blatant idolater. Ouch! Arguably, the fearful pagan sacrificing chickens to appease an unknown Creator is closer to true worship of God than we educated, technology driven, pure materialists who live without properly praising or thanking Him. To ascribe credit for one person's work to another is to be guilty of lying. In this case, it is bearing false witness about our Ultimate Neighbor. It is to misrepresent the one (or impersonal forces) who did not do the work - giving them undue credit. To not laud the Lord is to strip away His deserved praise and thanks - the One who did the work. Me taking credit for the Mona Lisa or the Magna Carta is beyond funny. It is insulting to all involved. One of the dangers of pure atheistic evolution (life came from time, chance and non-living matter) is to ascribe some of God's best work to nothing but cosmic luck. To assert that our beautiful mountains, that awesome sky and those humbling oceans "just happened" is to mute their testimony of their Creator. In rejecting the work of the Creator, we become deaf to the heavens when they declare the glory of God (see Psalms 19 & 8). Nature's songs of praise cannot be heard because there is no One to whom it would sing. Even if it were left up to the rocks to cry out, we could not hear them if they did. Beyond sad and tragic, that is blasphemous - if not by design then by default. It is not the loss of Adam and Eve to evolution that is most tragic - though the biblical / theological magnitude of that cannot be overstated. It is that God is banished from the garden of our weedy hearts, leaving us less than fig-leaf clad. And we are left to turn the created into the Creator. Seeing God for Who He is - His awesome character - is the basis of praise. We give or "ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name" (Ps. 29:2). To understate His greatness in any realm naturally limits and minimizes the rightful praise we offer Him. Thanksgiving focuses on what God has given or provided us. It flows from our acknowledging that every good and perfect gift has indeed come down from our heavenly Father (James 1:17). We thank Him for gifts He bestows because of Who He is, for what He has done for us, or mercifully, not done or allowed to happen to us. _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ Is gratitude a struggle for you? Could some of it be dealt with by remembering Who is Whom and whom is not? Do you need in any way to re-enthrone the Creator, knowing our rightfully jealous God will not share His glory with anyone? Careful meditation on passages like John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16, 17 might help refocus your heart. A focus on God - rather than mere gratitude or guilt for all our stuff, health and "blessings" - will best restore us to being people who are truly thankful in ways that give Him more glory. It is then we will do as the psalmists says: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." (Psalm 105:1-3 - NIV) "Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength." (Psalm 29:1) .-""-._ / ___/ \ _&_ _.--""|/ `\| // \\ .' ( ^/ ^ )'. / / \ \ / | _ | \ // / \ \\ | _\____/ | /_/_/_\_\_\ | .' \____/-._ | .-"-. | / `; /# \ | / / _|_.---\ | | |.-.; :--.-(_/.____/.-""\___/"-. / \ / ~~/ /\ \{"=.______.="} /--. ; /___/_~~/ ; .--\"=...__...="} / \-/ `\______|/ \-.______..-; | /`| | \ | |||| || | /_ | |_______/ | |||| || | \_/| |-------' |--'||'--._|| | | | | || |> |______| |____________|._ || _..-;| | [___] | `||() || |______ |\/|____________|jgs|| () (__) \__/ (__) () Portions of the Original Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from Abraham Lincoln: "In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed." [Signed] A. Lincoln No wonder that Mr. Lincoln was so greatly used of God in a critical time in American history. --- !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ ...Praise God! THANK you God for your grace and mercy toward us by upholding newly- elected Donald J. Trump to lead America back into Your arms through Christ Jesus our beloved Lord and Savior, so that we may again have freedom, unity, peace and prosperity - not only in these United States but also world wide. In Jesus Christ's name, thank you. Amen! -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >Your Beloved? by Henry Mahan (edited) Every soul has a beloved; something or someone in which to glory, rejoice, and enjoy. With some it is THE WORLD. (its vanity, materialism, and honors) . With others it is THE FLESH. They live to entertain the flesh, to satisfy the flesh, and to pamper the flesh. With others it is THE FAMILY. Close and distant relatives, family trees, family reunions make up their past, present, and future. With others it is RELIGION and works of righteousness. Their religion is not a PERSON; it is a CAUSE to which they are devoted in hope of a suitable reward. And with some it is SELF, pure and simple; what can we do for me? To a believer, it is GOD and CHRIST! He worships, loves, rejoices, and glories in God through the Lord Jesus above all things. God through Christ is my Beloved and I am His. God; His fellowship, His love, and His approval, are preferred above people, possessions, pleasures, or pursuits. Could One so illustrious and supreme deserve any less? "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside You!" {Psalm 73:25} 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 ========================================================== a. ---._ _`8P . ` \`| ___.8 / ( / __(P --. \ \( ( _. \\\ ___ |/_ ` \ `_,/ \--( ">'__.(-' `-/ `- \_( _____..stuMBLE (__.----. (_ ] `\__(\|/ | `" | [________________a:f____________________ >-->THE QUITTER Fate handed the quitter a bump, and he dropped; The road seemed too rough to go, so he stopped. He thought of his hurt, and there came to his mind The easier path he was leaving behind. Oh, it's all much too hard, said the quitter right then; I'll stop where I am and not try it again. He sat by the road and he made up his tale To tell when men asked why he happened to fail. A thousand excuses flew up to his tongue, And these on the thread of his story he strung, But the truth of the matter he didn't admit; He never once said, I was frightened and quit. Whenever the quitter sits down by the road And drops from the struggle to lighten his load, He can always recall to his own peace of mind A string of excuses for falling behind; But somehow or other he can't think of one Good reason for battling and going right on. Oh, when the bump comes and fate hands you a jar, Don't baby yourself, boy, whoever you are; Don't pity yourself and talk over your woes; Don't think up excuses for dodging the blows. But stick to the battle and see the thing through. And don't be a quitter, whatever you do. - Edgar A. Guest --- ...See this teaching: Never Give Up! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html |_| _, _ _ ___ | |(_||_)|_)\_| .'=:-\ ___ | | ._| /.='( ` | |_ _ ,_ |/ , _ . .,_ _ /. ^=.'-._..---. | | |(_|| ||\/_)(_|||/|| |(_| | =^.'=.'^//"(_`\\)8, ._| ._| |^.'=' .=||/' `\||;8.-' \'.^,=^'.||; ; ||8/:_,_ Always Give Thanks './-`\= \\\.-./;//,_/`- \ jgs \__/-/'-\888::((()),_ /:. .O__/ (_88:::(())):. `8':. 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