Chicken Soup

[HisDaughter]

His Name Is Bill

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant, kind of esoteric and very, very bright.

He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair… The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now, the deacon is in his eighties, and has silver-gray hair, and wears a three-piece suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified and very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is thinking that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor? It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Be careful how you live. You may be the only 'Bible' some people will ever read.

I asked the Lord to bless you
as I prayed for you today,
To guide you and protect you
as you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
and when we give Him all our cares,
He always sees us through.
Amen

[Soldier4Christ]

What you have just seen, you will never forget."

And may those that read this never forget. We are all ambassadors for Christ and it does matter how we treat others. Keep in mind that John the Baptist was a man dressed in a simple camels hair garment that most of the Jews would not have touched. Would we have turned him away?


2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

[HisDaughter]

Just This Once

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle, of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours,and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children,the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day.............

[HisDaughter]

Friends

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." Winnie the Pooh *****

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost." Charles Caleb Colton *****

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." Unknown *****

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies." Mencius *****

"Friends are God's way of taking care of us." Unknown *****

"If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend." Stone Temple Pilots *****

"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay." Dave Matthews Band *****

"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them." Unknown *****

"Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say." Unknown *****

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." Tim McGraw *****

"My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life." Lee Iacocca *****

"Hold a true friend with both your hands." Nigerian Proverb *****

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Unknown

[HisDaughter]

I Wish You Enough

At an airport, I overheard a father and his daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door she said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too, Daddy."

They kissed good-bye and she left. He walked over towards the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough, may I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone."

He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them"

He continued and then, turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hellos" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

He then began to sob and walked away.
They say, "It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire lifetime to forget them"

[HisDaughter]

Realization

To realize
The value of a sister
ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask two lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed a train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one

Time waits for no one, treasure every moment you have.

[HisDaughter]

A Child's Explanation Of God

THIS was written by an 8 year old from Chula Vista, CA, for his third grade homework assignment. The assignment was to explain God:

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers. God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this.

Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off." God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere, which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K." "His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."

"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And that's why I believe in God."

[HisDaughter]

My Quilt

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

[nChrist]

AMEN! - That was beautiful!

[HisDaughter]

Keep your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order" she contacted her Priest and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Priest was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What' that?" came the Priest's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand,"

The Priest stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Priest.

The young woman explained. "In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them, 'Keep your fork...the best is yet to come.'

The Priest's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She knew that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Priest heard them question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the Priest told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.

The next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share. After all, being friends with someone is a sweet responsibility. And above all, don't forget to keep your fork.

[nChrist]

Hello Grammyluv,

Sister, this really is a beautiful illustration that applies to all Christians, and it's the complete TRUTH. As Christians, we should know that GOD didn't promise that anything in this short life would be easy or pleasant. In fact, the opposite is promised, but this is not our HOME, and this is NOT the life we were designed for. The Promised Land and Kingdom for Israel is another good and completely true example. As Christians, our Promises from GOD are better than the Promises GOD made to Israel. This short life will most certainly involve trials, illness, sorrow, and eventually physical death. As Christians, we already have our blessed HOPE, JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOUR FOREVER. HE'S already our KING, and HE'S gone on before us to prepare a place for us. Our HOME is in Heaven with JESUS CHRIST for Eternity. Our REAL HOME will be an Eternity of Joy and Peace. YES - much better is yet to come.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Christian Quotes 147 -
The soul's hardest lesson
"Not my will, but Your will," is the soul's
hardest lesson; and, when learned, it is
its highest achievement.
 -- John MacDuff  1895

[HisDaughter]

As Christians, we already have our blessed HOPE, JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOUR FOREVER. HE'S already our KING, and HE'S gone on before us to prepare a place for us. Our HOME is in Heaven with JESUS CHRIST for Eternity. Our REAL HOME will be an Eternity of Joy and Peace. YES - much better is yet to come

Amen to that Brother Tom!

[HisDaughter]

Was it a dream?
By Mary Watson

It all happened at a time in my life when I was homeless and 19 years old. My grandfather had passed away that week and I was with someone that I didn't love. I was lying awake in a homeless shelter, feeling alone and like I had lost everything. I cried myself to sleep.

I awoke standing on top of a very giant rock surrounded by water and a beautiful sky with all kinds of colors and with a cool ocean breeze. Then suddenly, I began to lose my balance and I fell. I managed to hold on to the edge of the cliff. I looked down and I could see the water hundreds of feet below me and I became dizzy.

Holding on for dear life I felt my hands losing their grip and that breeze had turned into a nasty heavy wind. Then for some reason, I looked up and at the edge of the cliff I saw an 8 ft cross. It was very transparent but I could still make out what it was. On this cross, hanging over the beam, was a rope. It wasn't tied to the cross, just hanging over it. Then I heard someone say, "Grab the rope." I thought, "Yeah, and then I'd fall. No way!" Then again, the voice said; "Grab the rope." So, closing my eyes real tight I quickly grabbed the rope.

When I opened my eyes I was back on the rock, safe. I couldn't believe it! I was shaking so bad, but I was so relieved that I just sat down and cried. At that moment I felt someone holding me and rocking as if I was a child. Then I felt a hand brush my hair aside and wipe my tears away. I looked up to see who was holding me when I noticed the hands. They were pierced, then I knew who it was. He said, "Shh, it's okay. I told you I'm always here."

Then I woke up. It was only a dream. Or was it?

[HisDaughter]

Computer Users Prayer

Dear Lord:

Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.

God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do.
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's not normal
To bless a mother board,
But listen just a second
While I explain to you 'My Lord.'

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds & ends
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my FRIENDS.

I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendship grew.

Please, take an extra minute
From your duties up above
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love!

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
bless each e-mail Inbox
And the person who hits Send.

When you update your heavenly list
On your own CD-ROM
Remember each who've said this prayer
Sent up to God.com.
Amen.

[HisDaughter]

Nothing of Value is Ever Lost

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of the rock.

Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather and as she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens. Here she was on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet of cliff below her and hundreds of feet above her. She looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there. As she hung on a sheer rock cliff, her sight now blurry, she was justifiably upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find the lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with some of the climbers, waiting for the rest of the group to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, you can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and you know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" That alone would be startling enough, but she was astonished to learn how the other climber found it? It seems an ant was moving slowly cross the face of the rock, carrying the lens!

Brenda told her father (a cartoonist) the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens. He drew her a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for you."

It would probably do most of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no earthly good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."