Happy National Prayer Day 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 ================ >-->3 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) I've updated our Moms And Dads Index page Here: ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! Mothers And Dads INDEX: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html Note - you may have to refresh your browser to see the new page changes. Enjoy! :) Our piping hot new pages are from our friends PatDeE and Geniann. This gives us adorable children from around the world with their best friends. Be sure to get your SMILE quota for the day and check these two out here: _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' Kid's With Animals 4! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidswithanimals4.html Kid's With Animals 5! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidswithanimals5.html --- ...So Precious! Thanks my friends! -<>- ()_()()_() / ..)(.. \ __/ ( || ) \_ (_/ * * (_) | | | || | | | \_/| \__/ | | > \ / <__,--,__|/|_> unknown *~* Last Month We Had A Wonderful Month Of Giving And Sharing! Be Sure To Check Out And Please Do Share All Of These: Birds Being Bad! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/birdsbad.html Witty Comebacks 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/comebacks2.html Top State's Humor! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/statehumor.html Forest Man! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/forestman.html Ocean Photo Winners 2025! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oceanphotos2025.html Rarely Seen Animals! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseenanimals.html World's Famous Animals! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/famousanimals.html , ----. - - ` ,__.,' \ .' *` / | | / **\ . / ****. | mm | ****| \ | ****| ` ._______ \ ****/ \ /`---' \___( /~~~~\ / \ / | \ | | \ , ~~ . |, ~~ . | |\ ( |||| ) ( |||| )(,,,)` ( |||||| )-( |||||| ) | ^ ( |||||| ) ( |||||| ) |'/ ( |||||| )-( |||||| )___,'- ( |||| ) ( |||| ) ` ~~ ' ` ~~ ' * May God Abundantly Bless All Our Contributors Through Christ Jesus! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: "When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." -- Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty ___ ((((\\\ 9_9 3)) \= (( __) (__ ,' \_/ `. / :|: \ / / :|: \ \ \ \..:|:../ / `._\_, __/_.' .-)\\-///-. || L || || ^ || |/-->&<--\| | (._.) | | ( @ ) | | /|`"'|\ | //(_\___/_)\\ \\_()___()_// `+---I---+' |\(_)|(_)/| _|j"""""""|j_ | |_______| | |_| |_| hjw >MOTHER'S DAY OUT OF CONTROL by Joseph Walker West Virginian Anna Jarvis is universally credited with coming up with the idea for an American Mother's Day in 1908. What isn't as widely remembered is that nine years after the first official Mother's Day in this country, Anna Jarvis became the nation's most publicly outspoken opponent of -- what else? -- Mother's Day. This is roughly akin to Santa dissing Christmas, or Punxsutawney Phil being a conscientious objector to Groundhog Day. This is Henry Ford urging the automobubbling public to park their Model T's, or Wilbur and Orville Wright coming back from Kitty Hawk and saying, "Never mind. They'll just start charging people extra to check their luggage." By all accounts (i.e., Wikipedia), Jarvis led a six-year campaign that eventually led to President Woodrow Wilson making Mother's Day an official national holiday in 1914. Her concept was a day to honor mothers in general -- and her own mother in particular -- in quiet, intimate and deeply personal ways. Within a few years, however, the commercialization of Mother's Day soured Jarvis on the whole idea. She hated Mother's Day greeting cards, which she felt were the lazy person's way out of writing a personal, heart-felt letter. She protested - literally - the growing influence of florists and jewelers on the holiday. In 1948, the same year that she died, records show that she was actually arrested while protesting against Mother's Day commercialization. It was as if the Easter Bunny had been jailed for protesting the coloring of Easter eggs. Jarvis' fight against Mother's Day lasted four times longer than her fight to make it a national holiday, and consumed whatever fortune she had accumulated in life. To her dying day she is reported to have said that she regretted the creation of Mother's Day because "it became so out of control." I know. In an era that features "Bad Girls Club," "Desperate Housewives" and "Girls Gone Wild," it is difficult to put the words "Mother's Day celebration" and "out of control" in the same sentence. But let's just assume for a second that Jarvis was on to something. Let's assume that the estimated $2.6 billion Americans will spend this year on Mother's Day flowers and the $1.53 billion they will spend on other miscellaneous Mother's Day gifts and the $68 million they will spend on greeting cards is... well... you know... out of control. Is there a better, more under control way to honor mothers on Mother's Day? A few months after my mother died, I spent a few evenings with my father sorting through some of Mom's things. It had taken him that long to reach the point where he felt he was ready to face the feelings and emotions that surely would come. We smiled a lot and we both shed a few tears as we made our way through a box of precious things that Mom, for one reason or another, had decided to hang on to. Among the keepsakes and souvenirs within that box were a dozen or so Mother's Day cards from her children and grandchildren. Keep in mind that Mom had eight children and 54 grandchildren -- she had received hundreds of Mother's Day cards through the years. But for some reason, she chose to save these particular cards. After examining them, it became clear why they were treasured. It had nothing to do with the design or intrinsic value of the card itself. In every case there was a hand-written message -- sometimes in childish scrawl, sometimes in careful adult script -- that expressed profound feelings. There were no cards that just said, "Love, Kathy" or "Love ya, Mom!" or even "Happy Mother's Day!" The cards she cherished were cards that explained, in the giver's own hand and words, why SHE was cherished. So, OK -- I'm not fully on board with Anna Jarvis. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy the Mother's Day flowers and gifts. Heaven knows, the economy needs that multi-billion dollar jolt right about now. But don't let your money do your talking for you. Don't assume the mother you honor will know how you feel by the simple fact of your gift. Tell her, in your own words, why you love her. Your message doesn't have to be long and flowery -- it just has to come from your heart. Write it. Speak it. Text it. Pray it. But for heaven's sake, share it. Those words, expressing those tender emotions, are what makes Mother's Day so sweet. And not quite so out of control. -- Joseph Walker -<>- ,.,. ((((^)) d e_# b \._./ ,---i`-'i---. / | `-' | \ |__| |__| \ | | | \ \______ | | \/ ) \|| \ |- | |'//\ |___|___| | | | ( | ) {_ |__| (__|__} _>= | =<_ hjw (__._|_.__) >ALWAYS BY MY SIDE by James Colasanti Jr. "Hey Mom, I'm on my way." The florist had your Mother's Day bouquet of white roses ready for me -- bundled in bright blue tissue paper. I will put them in water immediately when I arrive. I know they are your favorite and these are especially grand. I picked them out myself. And you know, there's nothing quite like the sweet scent of rose petals perfuming the car as I drive. I can remember our house at 15 South Chase Street being the showplace of our neighborhood. The tall three-story house with gray asphalt shingles and white painted trim was kept immaculate by you and Dad. Tulips of various colors bloomed early every spring -- tall gladioluses were in blossom during the summer, and patches of big brightly-colored orange pumpkins filled the side yard in the fall. People would slow down to a crawl in their cars and sometimes stop just to get an eyefull of the splendor. And they would always see you out there with your scissors, cutting a fresh bouquet for the house. Every Sunday afternoon I would sit with you and Aunt Tina in the kitchen eating lemons -- still one of my favorite fruits. It was always a calming and reflective time when we would talk about the problems in the world and we would then devise a plan to solve them. Often a simple solution would be found for what we thought was an insurmountable problem. And you would often tell me, "There is not a problem that doesn't have a solution." Do you remember the Dracula cape you made for me for Halloween when I was 12? Your best friend, Minnie, helped you cut it out, fit it, and sew it up for me in our dining room/sewing room two weeks before the day I was to wear it to school. The black satin lining on that cape looked especially scary during trick or treat. I can still wear it but the collar is too small for my neck without an extender. And then there was the time I was the mummy in third grade and my bandages unravelled long before the school day had finished. That ancient Singer sewing machine cranked out a slew of costumes for me, dresses for you, and shirts, coats, and even a tie or two for Dad. Halloween was always one of my favorite holiday occasions with Christmas being the first. And you always did your best to make them special for us. And who could forget the Halloween night that Karl and I spent sleeping in the Johnstown Cemetery with my first dog, Butchy. I don't think two guys and a dog have ever been more scared. But most of all, Mom, I remember the food. The great Sicilian country-style meatballs with the cheese centers that oozed in your mouth when you bit into them. The many, many layers of lasagna stuffed with different meats and cheeses and smothered with homemade tomato sauce. I miss the pickled pepper salad, also homemade, with hot peppers, cauliflowers, carrots, broccoli, and celery stalks -- all freshly picked for our backyard garden. It was the fitting appetizer to any meal you served. I miss the melt-in-your-mouth breaded veal cutlets as well as your hazelnut canoli-cream cake. My mouth is beginning to water just thinking about them. But most of all, I miss the "culinary smells." I miss the pungent aroma of garlic wafting under my bedroom door early on Sunday mornings; the tangy steam of freshly-made tomato sauce bubbling on the stove; and the hearty smokiness of meats and bacon roasting in the oven. Over the years, all of these have made an indelible impression on my mealtime memories. I can remember the day I left for Syracuse University. I was the only one in our family to ever attend college. You took me aside and whispered in my ear, "Everything you do is a self-portrait of the person doing it. Make it a picture you'll want to hang in your gallery forever." Thank you for sharing that, and I want you to know that I have always tried to live up to your expectations. And Mom, I know I have told you this many times before, "Thank you for getting me Butchy." She was the best dog a fella could ever have. She was my big sister, my best friend, and a companion like no other. I always cherished the moments growing up with her. She was always by my side -- my guardian and my shadow. I waved to Mr. Parker as I pulled into the drive. It's good to see he is still here taking care of the place for you. He does a wonderful job keeping the grounds manicured neatly with everything in its place. I am always impressed every time I come here. He has left some water in your vase so I can quickly unbundle your roses and freshen them up. I know they will shimmer and sparkle against the cool gray granite headstone. It has been so many years since I last saw you but every time I'm here I get that uplifting feeling of joy as though I had just been talking with you and solving any problems that I might have had when I arrived. And Mom, I'm sure you really do know what I mean when I say, "I miss you and your love will be in my heart forever. Thanks, Mom, thanks." -- James Colasanti Jr. __________________________________________________ James is the recipient of the Maxwell Medallion given by the Dog Writers Association of America for the Best Essay for 2010. A past president of the Animal Rescue & Foster Program of Greensboro, NC., James shares his home with a housemate and 9 dogs. He is a lead clerk with Barnes & Noble Booksellers. His stories have appeared in Cesar's Way Magazine and many others including the archives of Petwarmer and Heartwarmers. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Be Still The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.1 I like to have a plan. I write things down, maintain my calendar, and set reminders, so that I can know what is going to happen next. I do not typically like surprises. When I do not have a plan, I feel a bit insecure. In a way, this is a good trait to have as it keeps me organized and on track with our busy schedules. However, this has often been a challenge as I choose to trust God and allow him to lead and guide me. Perhaps that is why I love reading the Israelites journey. They remind me of me! If you take a moment to read the entirety of Exodus 14, we see the context of what is happening in this Scripture. God has just delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and has restored their future. God had a plan and all they had to do was follow. Remember all the wonders that God had just shown them in Egypt by keeping them safe from each plague that affected the Egyptians as well. They experienced the power of God firsthand. But what happened as soon as they saw the Egyptians coming after them? Terrified they started crying out to God and questioning Moses about why he took them out of Egypt! Despite their unbelief, God takes them across the sea on dry land, once again proving that He is still in control. Then God fights against the Egyptians for them just because He can. The Bible says, And the Egyptians said, Let us get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.2 I can just imagine how amazing this must have been to witness in person! This is certainly not the last time the Israelites questioned God and tried to take control themselves, but I love how each time God shows them that He is still there and worthy of all glory and their trust. This is true for you and me as well. There will undoubtedly be times in our lives where we do not understand what God is doing or why He is allowing certain things to happen. In those moments, we may find it easy to try and take control of the situation. However, let me encourage you, instead, to take a moment to be still. The Lord is fighting for us and will complete His perfect plan for His glory. We can rest knowing that our lives are in the hands of our Almighty Father who loves and cares for us. Suggested prayer: Dear God, you are so amazing! Thank you for your infinite love and mercy towards us. Whatever happens, thank you that we can be still knowing that you are in control of our lives and working everything for our good. I choose to trust you and follow your plan. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 1. Exodus 14:14 (NIV). 2. Exodus 14:25 (NIV). Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...This reminds me The Pope got into it with President Trump because he said he shouldn't be fighting Iran because God doesn't approve of fighting. President Trump of course felt that he was doing what was best for America and the world by making sure these radical leaders in Iran didn't have nuclear weapons. They had boasted to him right beforehand that in a matter of a couple weeks they had enough uranium to have 11 nuclear missiles! Pres. Trump ran and was elected to keep America safe. Iran has for 47 years spouted "death to America" and "death to Israel" (and anyone else that do not believe as they do.) Seven Presidents before him all said the same thing - "Iran can never have nuclear weapons". So Trump did the right thing and took action to keep America safe along with the rest of the world. For this along with his stance of ridding America of the criminal illegals Biden let in, the Pope decided he will shun visiting the USA on our 250 anniversary celebration in July. This is the same Pope that a nun recently condemned for opening up the Vatican to Muslims for their prayer. Christians do not have the same beliefs as Islam Muslims. The nun was appalled that he was letting the 'devil' into the sacred area. Of course the Catholic church has a positive viewpoint for this... https://tinyurl.com/w9tcd85y However, why open your Chrurch library to non-Christian believers? 56,000 killed in Nigeria’s ethnic and religious violence; Christians disproportionately affected https://tinyurl.com/4xudtvbw Thousands of Christians killed or abducted for their faith in last two years - report https://tinyurl.com/53v7ttv3 I agree with Prsident Trump. End the threat once and for all. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Heroic Optimism Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.1 Superheroes are known for their strength, bravery, and super skill, but they are rarely recognized for their optimism. In the face of danger or disaster, it is rare to see (on TV, of course) a superhero say, It cannot be done! or This is much too difficult. A superhero will normally run or fly into a dire situation because they have full confidence in their powers. They can feel positive in negative situations, trusting that their strength will not fail. In the end, they are superheroes because in the face of their enemy, they knew they would prevail. In the Bible, we also have heroes - the men and women who were empowered by God with great strength, divine wisdom, or infallible faith to accomplish the extraordinary plans God had for them. In 1 Samuel 17, the people of God were under the attack of the Philistines, namely the giant Goliath. Young David arrived on the scene and upon seeing the Israelites hiding in fear, braced himself with courage (and five stones) and defeated the enemy. He never doubted that God was with him and his optimism saved the day. In the Book of Esther, we see a story of faith over fear when Esther, clothed in royal garments also donned courageous optimism and risked her own life to save her people. She told the people to pray and trusted in her faith in God for the rest. Others like Noah, Samson, Daniel, Paul, and so many more have similar stories where their profound faith in God left no room for doubt or negative thinking. They prevailed because they were filled with the power of God and there was no room for fear. Spiritual optimism is not about having positive thinking, but about fully trusting in the Holiness of God and resting in the knowledge that He will fill you with the power of His Might. Remain strong and courageous in the face of your fears. Choose joy in the Lord and allow God to make you a hero! Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, too many times I allow my fear to overwhelm me and find myself running from my problems instead of trusting in you. My negative thoughts have consumed me too long and today I claim your power to make me stronger in my faith so that my thoughts are always centered on you. In the Mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. 1. Psalm 31:24 (NKJV). 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. --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...Yes, Mind renewal. I remember my Teacher in the Word telling us this same thing. He often said - "If God tells you to "JUMP!" don't sit there and ask him 'How high?' - You "JUMP!" and you do it Now! Don't stop and think about it. You don't sit and wonder IF you Can jump or if you will jump as high as God wants you to or if you even Want to jump. All you need to know is - God told you to Jump! So that tells you that You CAN Jump and You will jump jump as high as God wants you to because God Knows you. Eph.3 [20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Think about that. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly ABOVE all that you or I can even think about to ask Him to do! Do you think he doesn't know your capabilities? So if God asks you to do something - He KNOWS you can do it. Would you call God a liar and say, "Sorry God, I can't do THAT!" It is a mind renewer for sure! Scared of public speaking? If God calls you to do it - guess what? You Can Do it! Scared of teaching a group of people God's Word? If God calls you to do it - guess what? You Can DO It! We need to put our trust in God and do the best we can for Him every single time! See these Teachings: Doubt http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/DOUBT.htm Doing All Of The Word all Of The Time! http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Word/Doing_All_The_Word.htm =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,=""=, c , _,{ /\ @ ) __ / ^~~^\ <=.,__/ '}= (_/ ,, ,,) \_ _>_/~ ~\_(/-\)'-,_,_,_,-'(_)-(_) -Naughty >Before I was a Mom Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone. Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted. And never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday. Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important. Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much... before I was a Mom. -Author Unknown And remember that behind every successful mother... Is a basket full of Pride and Joy and dirty laundry. -<>- _ /' `\ k___y th j /`Y'\ .,--,. \___/ ... ,' __ ', _ ||| j /' `\ t f | t j f | | j t_| T j \ / t Y| | ', `--' ,' || U '~--~' LJ kth >Breakfast at McDonald's This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two! poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting s pot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >Love Lessons From a Mother's Heart By Lorraine V. Murray I remember my first clumsy efforts at cutting hearts from red paper to create a valentine for the person I loved most in the world, my mom. No matter how crooked the edges, she always praised my efforts as if they were priceless pieces of artwork. Although my mom died over 20 years ago, each Valentine's Day I recall all the lessons about love that she taught me. When I was an infant, my mother revealed her soul of tenderness, as I perched in the bathroom sink and she ran a soapy washcloth over my tiny body, all the while telling me stories and singing to me. In elementary school, she told me it was all right to be different, and I really needed to hear those words because I didn't fit in anywhere. I was a fat, awkward little girl and always the last chosen for teams. While other girls boasted of boyfriends who slipped them valentines, my mailbox was conspicuously empty. In high school, when all my friends were spinning elaborate fantasies about the senior prom, I was heartbroken because I didn't have a date. I remember standing on the front steps with my mom, a big Miami moon smiling down at us, as I confessed my certainty that no man would ever love me. And I remember the way she took me in her arms and assured me that sweethearts would come in time. She taught me that you stick by the people you love, no matter what. My dad had a gambling problem, and the money he earned as a cabdriver had a way of slipping through his fingers at the racetrack. In the days before gambling was recognized as an addiction, my mom simply did what had to be done. She got a job to keep the family financial ship afloat, but she never pointed an accusing finger at my dad. I learned from my mom that people you love sometimes are so vexing that you have to take dramatic measures to get them to toe the line. When my sister and I were toddlers, we sometimes were so rambunctious that my mom would quietly pack a small suitcase, climb into Annabelle, our old black Chrysler, and drive around the block a few times, leaving my dad to contend with the chaos. We always knew she would return, but the gesture shook us back into obedience. My mom taught me that love is deeper than blood. She cherished her best friend, whom we called Aunt Madeline, with the same fervor she bestowed on her two sisters. That lesson rings in my heart today, when my best friend's little children, who call me Aunt Lorraine, reach for my hand as we cross the street. She also taught me that love transcends time. I remember walking into the kitchen one morning and seeing her weeping as she was making a batch of cookies from her mother's recipe. When she told me the tears were for her mom, I was at first baffled. Her mother had died 25 years earlier, and it took me a while to understand that the bond between mother and child is eternal, and whether a child is 10 or 50, memories of mom always tug at the heart. One memory is engraved on my soul forever. I see myself pulling out of the driveway of her Fort Lauderdale home, heading back to college, and there she is, standing in the driveway in one of those flowery cotton shifts and waving, until my car disappears from her view. More than anything, though, my mom taught me about compassion. When she was in the final stages of cancer, I rushed home from college to see her at the hospital. When she noticed that I was coughing and sneezing, she pressed her lips to my forehead in a way that was infinitely familiar and declared weakly that I had a fever. I wanted to stay with her in the hospital, but she insisted that my dad take me home so I could get a good night's sleep. For the rest of my life I will remember that on the night she died, my mother's deepest concern was for me. I still miss her, especially on Valentine's Day, but I believe she's in heaven, and I believe it's a blissful place where she can peek into my life now and again and nudge me gently in the right direction. And this Valentine's Day, I will give my mom the most precious thing I have, the same gift I gave her as a child. I will give her my heart. -<>- .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs >Mother The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned faith & fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength." And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the Light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was frail and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and the heavenly golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates. "And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; And she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you......Not time, not space...not even death! -<>- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >"The Miracle" Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and ounted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question. "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick... and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs." The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money." "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago. "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to." "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents--the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery," her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?" Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents... plus the faith of a little child. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Give Me Flowers! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/flowers.html For All Mothers And Fathers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mum.html Miracle Baby! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html Price Of Children! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/child.html Animal Moms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalmoms.html Baby Thoughts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babythoughts.html Best Parents! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestparents.html Kid Lessons! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidlessons.html Kids Being Kids! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kids.html Mother Horses Love! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/motherslove2.html Mother Squirrel's Love! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/motherslove.html Pucker Up Baby! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babypucker.html Garden Roses! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gardenroses.html Italy Gardens! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/italygardens.html Full Mother's Day INDEX: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html -<>- How to Become a Christian - How to Get Born Again / How to Get Saved / Romans 10:9 & 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzblR8YDQ0 Bible https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/ Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm The Way Bible Articles https://thewayinternational.com/english/ Spirit & Truth Index: https://stfi.org/ Bible Teaching Videos - John Schoenheit Spirit And Truth https://tinyurl.com/2gyn3f35 The Lion Weekly Digest is a newsletter delivering the week's top articles from The Lion straight to your inbox. Find all of the stories: https://readlion.com/ Latest From PragerU: https://www.prageru.com/ -<>- >In The Worldly News: President Donald J. Trump https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ 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 ========================================================== /:""| .@@@@@, |: 66|_ @@@@@@@@, C _) aa`@@@@@@ \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ ) / =' @@@@" /`\\ \(``` || |Y| //`\ ."~~~~~". || |#| / | || | .:. | || |#| \ | || A | /6 6\ | || |#| / | || |~|_|_\ e /_|_ .@@@@, :| |=: / | |\ |_|)___`"`___(8 aa`@@@, ||_|,| | |_| \ |~~~~~~~~~| = `@@@ \)))|| | ((( | \_________/ )_/`@' |~~~`-`~~~| `~\~~~~~~| |/ /_\ \| / || @ | | `\ / ()/___\() | || @ |_________| ( || ||~~~~~|| /~|| "` |_________| | || || || /__W_\ | || | || || || ||| |_||__ __|_|| ||_____|| _||| jgs (____)) (:;:;)) ||-----|| ((___) >-->From ViraLife for Mothers and Fathers: >Life is so Precious! 9 months of pregnancy in just 4 minutes This video shows in just four minutes how a child comes into the world, from the stage of conception and until birth. It shows the development of the uterus in 3D and is interesting for both women and men. Ultrasound for pregnancy began in the mid-1950s, with the first clinical use occurring in 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. By the end of the 1950s, it was routinely used in hospitals for prenatal care. Back then they could only dream of creating such a video! Sit back, relax and enjoy this video! 30,076,557 views Jan 13, 2015 Life is truly wonderful! In fact, the development of human life in the womb is just amazing. Did you know that everything about you — including how tall you would be, the color of your eyes, and the color of your skin-- was all determined at the time of fertilization? Month-by-month you grew in the safety and comfort of your mother's womb until the big day of your birth finally arrived! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7kaw40pPYw -<>- o#######o o###########o o#############o ################# ###### \########o '#;^ _^,/---\#####! ,` /^_ .-~^~-.__\# / ^\/,,@@@,, ;| | \!!@@@@@!! ^, #. .\; '9@@@P' ^, ###./^ ----,_^^ /@-._ ^--._,o@@@@@@ ^;@@@@@@@@@ ^-;@@@@ >7 household tips and tricks that will make your photos professional and amazing! Photographic equipment, accessories, and other tools can be very expensive, unless you succeed to return the investment. But you can be very creative with objects that are available at your own home. From additional camera tools and cool effects, amateurs and beginner photographers don't have to buy expensive lenses or authoring tools to capture spectacular images that look like out of a magazine. In the video below, the photographer Marcus Berger demonstrates tips and tricks that every photographer, beginner or professional can use himself. 7 DIY photography tips using household objects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0wVcpDCok ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Hear The Call (edited) We've considered Peter as he responded to Jesus' call: "Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29). We saw that Peter needed great faith to step out of the boat, even though his faith quickly faded "when he saw the wind" (Matthew 14:30). But we also saw that before Peter could even get out of the boat, he first needed to hear and recognize the clear call from Jesus God; "Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water" (Matthew 14:28). It wasn't faith alone which allowed Peter to walk on the water; he had to apply his faith to the call of Christ. It was Jesus who provided a firm foundation under Peter's feet as he stepped. Peter wasn't specially gifted at water walking - he simply heard the call and obeyed in faith. If Peter would have sailed to the exact same spot the following day and stepped out of the boat without being called, he would have sunk like a heavy stone - guaranteed! Peter could not have commanded the water to hold or "claimed" a solid foundation for His feet, no matter how loudly or sincerely he made his claim! His faith would not have kept him on top of the water for even a fraction of a second. His "success" on the water was not due as much to the magnitude of his faith as it was to properly hearing and then applying his faith to the call of Jesus. John 10:27 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." We seem to spend much of our life wandering without direction, but it is God's desire that we follow closely after His Son; "He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice" (John 10:4). Do we really know His voice? How often do we set aside time to listen? If we only occasionally listen to the voice of our Lord, how will we even recognize His call? We live in a world so filled with distractions that we must not wait until the crisis of a storm. If we haven't learned to filter out the competing noises of the world, God's call will be lost in the crashing waves. We must spend time away from the "noise" where we can be alone with God and learn to recognize His voice. We must establish times of quiet to read His Word and talk with Him in prayer; "Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). As we meditate on the truth of His Word and pray for understanding, our spiritual filter will become tuned. Then, when we enter a storm, the noise may still surround us, but our filter will only allow a single voice to enter. Let's develop the discipline of listening along with the spiritual ability to filter and recognize the voice of God. Our faith will be strong enough to respond - strong enough to step - but we must first be able to hear the call. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:4; Psalm 104:25-35; Proverbs 14:22-24 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See This Teaching First Thought: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/FIRST_THOUGHT.htm <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Step Toward Jesus In the last several messages, we considered the faith of Peter as he stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. We saw the importance of properly hearing the call and of keeping our eyes focused on our Lord as the waves are crashing at our feet. This story contains many lessons for our walk with Christ. But a lesson which is often overlooked is the motivation of our heart. We know that the heart contains our true character and true relationship with our Heavenly Father. When God was showing Samuel who to anoint as king of Israel, He reminded him: "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Our outward actions are a "reflection" of the condition of our heart, but they are not a true image and they can most certainly deceive! God saw this deception long ago in the hearts of His children. We are all susceptible to the trap of going through the motions of worship without really having a heart devoted to God: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" (Isaiah 29:13). Yes, without considering the heart we lose the real message of Peter getting out of the boat. This story becomes just another self-gratifying motivational speech for those who want to climb up another rung of the ladder: "If you want to go further and accomplish more, you must leave the security of the boat!" Taking a "step of faith" will often lead to "successful" advancement in worldly as well as ministry endeavors, but neither are pleasing to God without the proper heart. We sometimes forget that there was another time when Peter got out of the boat, but this time Jesus was a little distance away standing on the shore. John 21:7 "As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord,' he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water." Peter wasn't motivated by the thrill of walking on the water, not by the praise he might receive from the other disciples or even by the thought of doing something wonderful for God. Peter got out of the boat simply because that's where Jesus was; and walk, sink or swim, he desired to be with the one he loved. Let's pray for an increased faith which allows us to follow more closely after Jesus. Let's pray for the courage to leave the confines of our worldly security and follow where Jesus is calling. But let's diligently examine our heart and make sure that with EVERY step, we abandon all and step toward Jesus. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** ? Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-38; Proverbs 14:26-27 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See this teaching Walking With God http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Walking_With_God.htm ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: .-=========-. \'-=======-'/ _| .=. |_ ((| {{1}} |)) \| /|\ |/ \__ '`' __/ _`) (`_ jgs _/_______\_ /___________\ >THE WINNING STREAK (By Roy Irwin) [Edited] It was a long time coming, but it finally happened! It probably wasn't big news where you live but it made the headlines of the papers here. It was even mentioned on television during the evening news! What did you miss? What was this milestone event??? My old high school football team finally won a game! For the first time in 35 games, a span covering 4 years, the longest losing streak in NC high school football finally came to an end! As I read the details the next day in the newspaper, what caught my attention wasn't the final score or the action photo from the game, it was something that the coach had told his players when the contest was over. He told his team, "...we need to be a lot more interested in starting a winning streak than ending a losing streak." What was important to the coach was that his players not worry about the past, but rather focus on today and the future. I couldn't help but think about how true this is in our lives as well... Someone once concluded that 92% of the things that people worry about fall into one of three categories: things that have already happened, things that haven't yet and may not happen, and things that we have no control over. Perhaps you can relate to that... But Jesus gave us a different example. With Jesus, what was important was today with a focus on the future! As Jesus was dying on the cross, there on either side of him, were criminals who were also being crucified. One of these men acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, and asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth TODAY, you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43 (NIV - emphasis mine) In that defining moment, what was most important wasn't the man's past - it was his future! And so it is for each of us! By the shed blood of Jesus Christ, our past - our sins - have been forgiven! It no longer exists! The Bible describes it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (NIV) How about you? Ending a losing streak or starting a winning streak. Frederick W. Faber said it this way: "They always win who side with God." Are you living in the past or looking toward the future? Are you ready to start a winning streak in your life by living for the Lord? It can happen today! "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for forgiving our past, and giving us a hope and a future. Help us to be more like you each day. Amen." (Copyright 1999 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) as seen in Laugh and Lift -<>- `;.`;'. `;);.(~;(`; `(;);;;;;);(::` ;)(; ; ;;~;;;(; `(`;;~- -~(;~;)`) ;(`;) ' ;);;; ; `;);;(;`\ ^_/(;)~;;); (;);.;) ':);( ..(; `'((;); )(.');`: ;.' );("'(""/; ;`.) | | / / \ \;);: | |/ /WwW\ \;`' \ /) .X.\ \ \_/ .X. \_/ TS >WOMEN WEEPING Matthew 27:55-56 - Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him, among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. (NASB) Standing at a distance from the cross, I found myself in a group of three women who were gazing at the man who was hanging there for His sin of blasphemy, as ordered by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The mob at His trial had insisted that He be put to death by crucifixion, an ancient method of painful execution. The man on the cross was representing Jesus in an elaborate musical Easter presentation at our local performing arts theatre. My involvement was to depict one of His friends who had followed Him in His long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (eighty to one hundred miles). As I stood there, literally weeping, I felt some of the deep emotion that the woman I portrayed must have felt seeing her friend being crucified. The company of women boldly followed Jesus to the cross when the rest of His disciples had deserted Him. They identified with Him in His sufferings, having followed Him every step of the way out of their great love for Him and their desire to hear Him preach. Although they were prevented from ministering to Him now, they resolved not to forsake Him. Therefore, they followed Him -- all the way. The women were important to Jesus, for at one point along the way, He found the time and compassion to recognize their tears: "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23:28 NASB) The Master was speaking of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Let us contemplate our past services and offerings for Christ. Do we have a strong, irresistible desire to faithfully preserve to the end our attention on Him? Have we followed Him so far and so long, done so much, and laid out so much for Him, only to forsake Him now? We need to be resolute in our service for Him, not with tears but with joy, knowing that through Christ's death and resurrection we have eternal life. I will glory in the cross, in the cross Lest his suffering all be in vain I will weep no more for the cross that He bore I will glory in the cross - Dottie Rambo Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we with the eye of faith behold Christ and Him crucified, and be affected with that great love with which You have loved us. May our tears be shed for those around us who have yet to come to faith in You. Help us to show the compassion of Christ toward those who need Your love today. In Jesus Christ's name, we pray. Amen. Parise Arakelian Arcadia, California, USA as seen in PCCWeb Daily Devotional -<>- /)_(\ ______( 0 0 )______ /_/_/_/\` ' `/\_\_\_\ )'_'( ____.""_"".____ |___|___|___|___| |___|___|___| Darn! why am I always |- | the last one to hear about these things... | | / _|_______|_ ___ |___|___|___| / \ |' | || )'__/ | | \(\\ | | _\\__ | | /,_ \--\ | - | ____// \ | \ | | /,-' ` _)/ |\_ | | `` ,o_:) ``` | | . / \ . | | / \ | | | . ( c c ) . | | ( ) \ / ( ) | | ( ) ' | | ' ( ) _|_______|_ _#, . ...,:o o:,.. . ,#_ ,, ,,,|___b'ger___|,,, >NECESSARY WORDS (edited) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." —Matthew 7:13 A person cannot fully appreciate the message of the gospel until they fully understand how desperate their situation is. If we present Jesus Christ as a mere additive to a person's life, then we are missing the point. The message of the gospel is not, "Become a Christian, because you will have a happier life and your teeth will be whiter." Jesus is far more than someone who merely enhances our lives. Jesus saves us from eternal separation from God. And that is the situation of every person. So we have to broach the subject of sin. Yet we are afraid to do this sometimes. When he preached at Pentecost, the apostle Peter called sin just what it is: sin. So if something is a sin, we need to say it is a sin, because we do not want a person to be separated from God and end up in hell. And yes, there is a hell. No one in the Bible talked more about hell than Jesus. That may come as a shock to some: Well, I thought Jesus was all about loving us - and He talked about hell? Yes. Why? Because He is all about loving us, and with God, He knows the horrors of it. The last thing He wants is for anyone to die in their sins separated from Him and God. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Just as there is an eternal heaven, there is also a hell. You can't have one without the other. as seen in Davily Devotions with Greg Laurie -<>- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >50 PROMISES GOD GIVES YOU AS YOU STEP INTO THE DIGITAL WORLD TODAY (NOTE: I share this with you because I was struck with the application of Biblical truth to something that most of us face everyday. Being on the Internet can challenge our integrity these days as few other things can. However, this list can be applied in many different ways: 50 promises God gives you as you enter a new day, as you enter a new year, or just 50 promises! The first ten are: 1. He will go with you, sustain you, and strengthen you. (Psalm 89:21, 22) 2. You are His beloved, He believes in you. (Rom. 1:7) 3. He will be your confidence. (Prov. 3:21, 26) 4. He has set you apart from the world. (Psalm 4:3) 5. He will deliver you—no matter what. (Psalm 18:19) 6. He will increase you mightily. (Deut. 6:3) 7. He will hear you if you ask for help today. (Prov. 3:21) 8. Even if chaos abounds, you will experience perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3) 9. The waters may rise; but they won’t overtake you. (Isaiah 43:2) 10. You do not labor in vain. (Isaiah 65:23) --By Toni Birdsong. -<>- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >OMNISCIENCE (The quality or state of being omniscient; the quality of knowing everything; -- an attribute peculiar to God.) Psalm 139 One of the biggest everyday trials for a parent can be keeping track of what's going on in the lives of his or her children. Our seven span 16 years in age, three time zones, four states, and a foreign country, and a lot of activities. There are times that we don't hear from the kids for weeks, the oldest married child likes to go camping in hard to reach places and we often have to check the calendar to find our local teens. It would certainly be easier if we could be in more than one place at a time or at least know what is going on in other places! However omniscience is a trait only God possesses. So, we have to trust God to keep track of them for us. In Psalm 139 David quietly sits in worship of the Lord Who knows everything. The Creator of all is never surprised, overwhelmed, late, frustrated or absent in mind or presence. David wrote, "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar" (v. 2). David is comforted by these thoughts, as we should be. He sits in awe as he says, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it” (v.6). God not only watches over me but I know He is watching over my far-flung children. That knowledge takes a lot of the trial out of parenting. All you and I have to do is trust that the Heavenly Father will take care of these concerns as He knows everything! --Michael Ullrich, The Circuit 'Riter. The Circuit 'Riter is published several times a week by Michael Ullrich and Circuit 'Riter Ministries, P.O. Box 635, Kittredge, CO 80457 (The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.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: "Integrity is keeping my commitment(s) even if the circumstances when I made the commitment(s) have changed." - David Jeremiah _.~._ ,~'.~@~.`~. / : _..._ : \ { :,"''))`".: } `C) 9 _ 9 (-'.._,-"7o-.__ ( )(@)( ) /o `. `-.___.-' `-._ / \ \ / `-' ;`-._,-. y ,' `---t.,-. \_____ ,' /---.__\ _( \--------' _,\ ,' `-.__.--' `. \_____ '///,-`-' `-------' hjw >The History of Mother's Day (By Ron Friedrich) If you were to research the history of Mother's Day in the United States, you would see the names of three women who played a prominent role in the creation of the national day of recognition. Julia Ward Howe was an ardent abolitionist in the days of the Civil War. Both she and her husband, Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, devoted their lives to social reform. Dr. Howe established the Perkins School for the Blind, later made famous by a student named Helen Keller. After the Howes met President Lincoln at the White House in 1861, Julia wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which became the theme song of the Union army. When you read the words of Julia Howe's hymn, you would never guess that she was a pacifist. Not only did she oppose slavery, she opposed war even more. Julia organized women's groups to advocate an end to military conflict worldwide and to fight for women's rights. In 1870 Julia Howe's name became synonymous with the cause to establish a national Mother's Day when she published her Mother's Day Proclamation. Her proclamation had nothing to do with gratitude to mothers. Rather, it was an appeal to "convene a general conference of women" to take up the cause of military disarmament." Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause," she wrote. "As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel." Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis also lived during the Civil War. She organized women's associations in Virginia churches, which she called "Mother's Day Work Clubs," for the purpose of promoting community health and safety, women's rights, an end to war, and care for wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Throughout her life, Mrs. Jarvis was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a teacher in the church school. Once when she taught a lesson on mothers in the Bible, she ended the lesson with a prayer which included this wish: "I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it." One student in that class who never forgot her prayer was Ann's twelve-year old daughter... Anna Jarvis. In 1905, at her mother's graveside, Anna remember that prayer. There she vowed, "...by the grace of God you shall have that Mother's Day." Anna campaigned vigorously to have the second Sunday in May designated as Mother's Day. She advocated commemorating the day with carnations -- her own mother's favorite flower -- white carnations to honor mothers who have died and red to honor the living. Anna's cause received a boost with support from a prominent Christian retail businessman, John Wannamaker. The movement finally caught on in city governments. Eventually governors of several states offered Mother's Day proclamations. Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson gave official national recognition to Mother's Day. In later years when Anna Jarvis saw the commercialism that became associated with Mother's Day, she regretted having started the tradition. She felt that merchandisers were detracting from the original purpose of the day. Anna, her mother, and Julia Howe all understood that it takes more than a dinner, a card, and some flowers one day out of a year to give mothers the sincere recognition that they are due. Our true appreciation is seen in what we say and do on the other 364 days of the year. 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 ========================================================== (\ \'\ \'\ __________ / '| ()_________) \ '/ \ ~~~~~~~~ \ \ \ ~~~~~~ \ ==). \__________\ (__) ()__________) unknown >-->To My Mother by Edgar Allen Poe “Because I feel that in the heavens above The angels, whispering one to another, Can find among their burning terms of love, None so devotional as that of “Mother,” Therefore by that dear name I have long called you, You who are more than mother unto me, And filled my heart of hearts, where death installed you, In setting my Virginia’s spirit free. My mother — my own mother, who died early, Was but the mother of myself; but you Are the mother to the one I loved so dearly, And thus are dearer than the mother I knew But that infinity with which my wife Was dearer to my soul that its soul-life.” "What an amazing moving ode to the love of a mother! The term 'Mother' is given the highest honor by Poe because of the extraordinary importance he places on it. Although he pays tribute to his mother, who died at a young age, he also has a soft spot for another maternal figure whom he learned to love more than his own life." https://blog.loveable.us/blog/christian-mothers-day-poems/ >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 **********************************************************************