Chicken Soup

[HisDaughter]

Hello Grammyluv,

These new graphics are great. They show a lot of imagination and tell a good message - Bible Verse and all. I'm happy that we have artists doing things like this for the LORD'S WORK.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Deuteronomy 20:3-4 NASB  3  "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them,  4  for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'

Thanks Brother Tom.  A girl friend sent these to me in an email and I just had to share them!

[HisDaughter]

[HisDaughter]

[HisDaughter]

[HisDaughter]

[HisDaughter]

[HisDaughter]

Be A Kid Again

 - Dot all your "i"s with smiley faces.
- Sing into your hairbrush.
- Grow a milk mustache.
- Read the funnies; throw the rest of the paper away.
- Dunk your cookies.
- Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
- Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
- Give someone a hug around the neck.
- Blow the wrapper off a straw.
- Refuse to eat crusts.
- Make a face the next time somebody tells you "No."
- Ask "Why?" a lot.
- Have someone read you a story.
- Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants even if they don't match.
- Eat dessert first.
- Say "duh" when stuff is obvious.
- Put an orange slice in your mouth, peel side out, and smile at people.
- Innocently say your prayers.
- Ride a roller coaster two times in a row.
- Run through the sprinkler with all your clothes on.
- Lick all the cream out of an Oreo before you eat the cookie part.
- Eat just the chocolate stripe out of your Neapolitan ice cream.
- Start thinking now about what you want for your next birthday.
- Lie on your back in a field and look at pictures in the clouds. 
 


                         

[HisDaughter]

I Forgot My Security System

A horrible thing happened to me today. A thief broke into my house. It happened shortly after I awoke this morning. I got up and began rushing about. I had a thousand things on my list and was already running behind. Quickly, I gulped down breakfast, took a shower and got ready for work. In my rush, I forgot to turn the security system on at my house. It was just about a half an hour later that the thief broke in.

Of course, he didn't make a sound. Just kind of snuck inside, not drawing any attention to himself. In fact, none of the neighbors ever saw him. But, I did. You see, I WAS HOME when the thief broke in. He naturally startled me, as I was unprepared for his visit. He, of course, didn't announce that he was coming and I certainly had not invited him over. And yet, I found myself face to face with danger and I felt so powerless. I also felt so very stupid, because this whole incident could have been avoided if I had just taken the time to turn the security system on. You better believe I'll be turning it on tomorrow morning! I thought I'd warn you about this guy, because he's still on the loose.

Chances are, he's in your area. Possibly even headed for your house. His name? Satan.

You see, this morning when I jumped up in my haste to get started on my busy day, I skipped my prayer time ~ opting to "pray later today." In other words, I DIDN'T TURN ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM. My defense wasn't on, my guard was dropped . . . and when the thief came into my home to attack me, I was unprepared to do battle. He tempted me and I felt powerless. Like I said, I also felt so very stupid, because I could have avoided the incident if I had just taken the time to pray.

My friend, the thief has come to "steal, kill and destroy." And, as a Child of God, you are on his "hit list." He'll probably pop over to your house today. He may be lurking outside your door right now, just waiting to catch you off guard. Take time to pray in the morning. Ask God to protect you and empower you to do battle. In short, don't forget to turn your security system on.

LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT COULD BE THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR ETERNITY.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR ETERNITY? YOU ONLY HAVE 2 CHOICES.

~ Author Unknown ~

[HisDaughter]

Above You

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not ever realizing that the answer is right there "Above" them.

~ Author Unknown ~

[HisDaughter]

Rhythm of the Rain


Things I learned from Noah's Ark...

One: Don't miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

~ Author Unknown ~

[HisDaughter]

Murphy's Laws For Parents

1. The tennis shoes you must replace today will go on sale next week.

2. Leakproof thermoses will.

3. The chances of a piece of bread falling with the grape jelly side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.

4. The garbage truck will be two doors past your house when the argument over whose day it is to take out the trash ends.

5. The shirt your child must wear today will be the only one that needs to be washed or mended.

6. Gym clothes left at school in lockers mildew at a faster rate than other clothing.

7. The item your child lost, and must have for school within the next ten seconds, will be found in the last place you look.

8. Sick children recover miraculously when the pediatrician enters the treatment room.

9. Refrigerated items, used daily, will gravitate toward the back of the refrigerator.

10. Your chances of being seen by someone you know dramatically increase if you drive your child to school in your robe and curlers.
 
 

[HisDaughter]

ONE ... CAN

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.

One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.

One life can make the difference,
You see it's up to "You"

~ Author Unknown ~


 

[HisDaughter]

INSTALLATION LOVE v4.0

SERVICE REP: Hello, you have reached the Heart Systems Software Company help desk. How may I help you?

CUSTOMER: I just received your latest program, LOVEv4.0 . . . you know . . . the freeware. I don't understand it. Can tell me how to install it?

SERVICE REP: Sure thing, ma'am. Do you have the installation disk and instructions with you?

CUSTOMER: Yes I do, but first can you tell me what the program does?

SERVICE REP: Sure thing, ma'am. LOVE is a unique program, there is no other like it in the world. LOVE attaches to your operating system and runs silently in the background. You will never see LOVE on your monitor or your toolbar, but you will notice its effect on every application you may have. It makes the good programs run smoother and greatly restricts and/or deletes the bad ones.

CUSTOMER: Wow! That sounds great. How does LOVE make my machine run smoother?

SERVICE REP: Well, good sound files, like COMPLIMENT.WAV, ENCOURAGEMENT.WAV, and KINDWORD.WAV will play frequently. Also, FORGIVENESS.EXE will be invoked every time there is an external violation, including the ever-popular syntax errors. Also, all those aggravating errors that say "unable to connect" will be avoided. LOVE allows for a smooth connection with external devices, regardless of what country it is manufactured in, the brand name, or the age of the model.

CUSTOMER: That's exactly what I need. My machine has been isolated for too long. But what about the bad programs?

SERVICE REP: Good question. LOVE searches your memory for programs like HATE.COM, BITTERNESS.EXE, SELFISH.COM, and SPITE.EXE. These programs can't be entirely deleted off your hard drive, but LOVE overpowers those programs. LOVE stops their commands from being executed and runs its own instructions. You will no longer hear INSULT.WAV and you wont be able to write with the fonts "BADWORDS12" or "HARSHNESS10."

CUSTOMER: That's a fantastic program you have. Are the upgrades free too?

SERVICE REP: They sure are, ma'am.

CUSTOMER: How do I get the upgrades?

SERVICE REP: That's easy. Once you have LOVE installed and running, it automatically copies a module, or a piece of itself, to every external Hard-drive E-mail And Remote Terminal (H.E.A.R.T.) that it comes in contact with. In turn, those external devices run whatever version of LOVE they have and return a module to your H.E.A.R.T. You will be upgraded with each and every module that you receive. But you have to remember, to receive the upgrades, you have to be running LOVE and you have to come into contact with other computers while it is running.

CUSTOMER: I can do that. I'm not very technical, but I think I am ready to install now. What do I do first?

SERVICE REP: The first step is to open your H.E.A.R.T. Have you located your H.E.A.R.T. ma'am?

CUSTOMER: Yes I have, but there are several programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?

SERVICE REP: What programs are running, ma'am?

CUSTOMER: Let me see . . . I have PASTHURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

SERVICE REP: No problem. LOVE will automatically erase PASTHURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGHESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off, ma'am?

CUSTOMER: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

SERVICE REP: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

CUSTOMER: Okay, I'm done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?

SERVICE REP: Yes, it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your H.E.A.R.T. Do you see that message?

CUSTOMER: Yes, I do. Is it completely installed?

SERVICE REP: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other H.E.A.R.T.'s in order to get the upgrades.

CUSTOMER: Oops . . . I have an error message already. What should I do?

SERVICE REP: What does the message say?

CUSTOMER: It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS." What does that mean?

SERVICE REP: Don't worry, ma'am. That's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external H.E.A.R.T.s but has not yet been run on your H.E.A.R.T. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in nontechnical terms, it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before it can "LOVE" others.

CUSTOMER: So what should I do?

SERVICE REP: Can you find the directory called "SELF-ACCEPTANCE"?

CUSTOMER: Yes, I have it.

SERVICE REP: Excellent. You are getting good at this.

CUSTOMER: Thank you.

SERVICE REP: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the "MYHEART" directory: FORGIVESELF.DOC, SELFESTEEM.TXT, REALIZEWORTH.TXT, and GOODNESS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete SELFCRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

CUSTOMER: Got it. Hey! My H.E.A.R.T. is filling up with really neat files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that WARMTH.COM, PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my H.E.A.R.T.!

SERVICE REP: Then LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go . . .

CUSTOMER: Yes?

SERVICE REP: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.

CUSTOMER: I will. Thank you for your help.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

~ Ruth Carter-Bourdon ~

[HisDaughter]

God Lives Under the Bed
 by Mo Siegel

 I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed.'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite Macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

[HisDaughter]

Little Gentleman

Like a lot of 11 year old boys, Michael can be a handful. It’s not that he is a bad kid, it’s just that if there is some way to get into trouble, Michael seems to easily find it. When Michael was six he broke his first window. When he was nine, he completely ruined our neighbor’s prized rose bush while trying to do wheelies on his bike. Just last year he tried to help his little sister see what it would be like to be a NASCAR driver on her tricycle. She ended up with two skinned knees.
 
Last week when I went to pick Michael up at school for a dentist appointment, Mrs. Heintz, a teacher’s aid, came up to me and asked to talk to me about Michael. What was it this time, I thought. A fight? Something broken? Disrupting a class?
 
Mrs. Heintz began to tell me of how she walked to school each day and that her route took her to the street corner where Michael was on safety patrol. Each day, she said, when Michael would see her walking to the street corner, he would stop all traffic, "Throwing his hands up in the most authoritative way" she said. He then walks over to the corner where she is standing and puts out his arm "like a gentleman" she told me. "He asks me to put my arm through his, and escorts me safely across the street". "When we reach the other side, he wishes me a wonderful day," she said.

She then told me that two weeks ago, her father passed away and she had taken some time off from teaching. "I was very close to my father and it has been very hard for me" she said. She explained that today was her first day back and that as she approached the street corner, she saw Michael flash a big smile and walk over to the corner with his arm out ready to escort her again safely across the street. "Glad you are back Mrs. Heintz," he said. "Have a wonderful day." "It was the first time I had smiled since my father died," she said. "You must be very proud". I am. It’s a wonderful thing to know your child shines when you’re not even looking and has the power to bless others’ lives.

Based on a true story as told by Kathleen