Chicken Soup

[HisDaughter]

Wisdom From Andy Rooney

By Andy Rooney

I've learned:
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
That when you're in love, it shows.
That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
That being kind is more important than being right.
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
That money doesn't buy class.
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
That love, not time, heals all wounds.
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheek.
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve you looks.
That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
That it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

[HisDaughter]

How I learned to believe in Angels

I didn't always believe in angels. It seems we get to this place not believing in anything, it's an acquired taste.

I joined the Army shortly after the Tet offensive in 1968, not out of a strong sense of patriotism but for more personal and admittedly selfish reasons. In no time I found myself in the 1st Calvary division, a unit that had earned it's reputation as a can do savage band of warriors. It was a 1st cavalry colonel that immortalize the absurdity of war when he said," we had to destroy the village in order to save it."

After three months in country I had reach the low ebb of my life. Six months earlier pimples on my chin had been my most pressing life concern, and now I was watching myself, my buddies , my world rapidly descending into a hellish terrifying madness. This is where I was as I enter the outhouse at the base of the Phouc Vin air traffic control tower in the spring of 1969, despairing, the river of hope run dry. When I sat down to do my business I notice a small pile of news papers on the floor in the corner. I grabbed randomly into the stack knowing any diversion would be welcome. Miracle of miracles I pulled out my home town newspaper, The Sacramento Bee! You could have bowled me over with a feather. I could hardly believe it, I hadn't even seen a domestic newspaper in the three months I'd been in this God forsaken place.

So I dove in, reading each article as if it was the next delectable in a nine course meal. I was already feeling much better when the hammer hit. I opened the A section to page four and starred down in utter disbelief at a picture of my grandfather Elliot and his twin brother, my great uncle Ervin. The article was about them being the oldest living identical twins on the west coast.

It was if the cleansing waters of Eden had washed over me, transmuting the angst that was my life into a lightness of being better than any springtime morning growing up, I was rescued.

I'm pretty sure I didn't walk out of that outhouse, I floated.

I didn't know what had happened to me, I really wasn't doing much thinking, but I was changed. The feeling of wholeness I had, renewed me. I had no idea how but I sensed me and my world were going to be all right.

When this happened I had no thoughts of angels, that came years later, and grew, as I pondered the possibilities and considered the odds. The event itself was staggering as it rolled around the analytics that are my mind, but the timing was another matter, it kept leading me back to one irrevocable conclusion, Angels! I feel comfortable with that idea now, but it didn't find fertile ground until every other cause had been meticulously considered. It's blossomed into an optimism that permeates my world view. In some sense angels must be farmers, their crop being hope that matures into a greater fruit.

[HisDaughter]

THE SNEEZE

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium.  With their rich maroon gowns flowing .. and the traditional caps, they looked almost .. as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears..

This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!

The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said,

'GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!' And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

This is a true story; it happened at the University of Maryland. 

[nChrist]

THE SNEEZE!

YEAH!  --  AMEN!  --  LET'S ALL SNEEZE!

GOD BLESS YOU!

[HisDaughter]

GOD Is Busy

 If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks!

 A Canadian Serviceman was attending some college courses
 between assignments. He had completed several missions Afghanistan . One
 of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist.

 One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He
 looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, GOD if you are real then I want
 you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 min.' The
 lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went
 by and the professor proclaimed, 'Here I am, GOD, I'm still waiting.'

 It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Serviceman
 got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him;
 knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The
 Serviceman went back to his seat and sat there, silently..

 The other students were shocked and stunned, and sat there
 looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably
 shaken, looked at the Canadian Soldier and asked, 'What in the world is
 the matter with you? 'Why did you do that?'

 The Serivceman calmly replied, 'GOD was too busy today
 protecting Canada's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid
 stuff and act like an idiot. So He sent me.'

 The classroom erupted in cheers!

               

[nChrist]

GOD Is Busy

 If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks!

 A Canadian Serviceman was attending some college courses
 between assignments. He had completed several missions Afghanistan . One
 of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist.

 One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He
 looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, GOD if you are real then I want
 you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 min.' The
 lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went
 by and the professor proclaimed, 'Here I am, GOD, I'm still waiting.'

 It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Serviceman
 got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him;
 knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The
 Serviceman went back to his seat and sat there, silently..

 The other students were shocked and stunned, and sat there
 looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably
 shaken, looked at the Canadian Soldier and asked, 'What in the world is
 the matter with you? 'Why did you do that?'

 The Serivceman calmly replied, 'GOD was too busy today
 protecting Canada's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid
 stuff and act like an idiot. So He sent me.'

 The classroom erupted in cheers!

               

ATTABOY!

YEAH!

[HisDaughter]

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

   Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

   This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in  Salina ,  Kansas ,  USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in  Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.   
    8th Grade Final Exam:  Salina ,  KS - 1895
                                                 Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
                                        Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft.. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt
                                     U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U..S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of  America by  Columbus 
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the  United States 
5. Tell what you can of the history of  Kansas 
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney,  Fulton ,  Bell ,  Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.
                                   Orthography (Time, one hour)
                             [Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
                                    Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in  Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of  North America 
5. Name and describe the following:  Monrovia ,  Odessa ,  Denver ,  Manitoba ,  Hecla ,  Yukon , St. Helen a, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and  Orinoco 
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of  Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the  Atlantic  Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole new meaning, doesn't it?!   Also shows you how poor our education system has become and, no, I don't have the answers!

[HisDaughter]

BEING A MOTHER

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me
to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.

She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would
Love to spend some time with you.'

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has
been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children
had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
'What's wrong, are you well,' she asked?

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a
surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

'I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I
responded 'just the two of us.' She thought about it for a moment, and
then said,'I would like that very much.'

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I
was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too,
seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her
coat on.

She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to
celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was
as radiant as an angel's.


'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were
impressed,' she said, as she got into the car. 'They can't wait to
hear about our meeting.'

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and
cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu.


Her eyes could only read large print. Half-way through the entrees, I
lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me.

A nostalgic smile was on her lips..

'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she
said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I
responded. During the dinner , we had an agreeable conversation nothing
extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much
that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said,
'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed. 'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very
nice,much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack.

It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for
her.
Sometime later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant
receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined.

An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that
I could be there; but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you
and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for
me.

'I love you, son'

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I love
YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.

Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time
they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till some 'other'
time.

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to
normal after you've had a baby... somebody doesn't know that once
you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the
first... somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and
delivery....somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the
first day of kindergarten... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'

Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...
somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to
a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home... somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell
her... somebody isn't a mother.

This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the
people in your lives while you have them.... no matter who that person is!

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, for it
becomes...your destiny.

'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind
of battle'.


                             

[HisDaughter]

Now I Understand

Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a Scrooge. He was a very kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men.

But he didn't believe all that stuff about God becoming man, which churches proclaim at Christmas. Why would God want to do anything like that?

So when his family left to attend midnight services on Christmas Eve, he stayed home.

Shortly after the family drove away, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. Sometime later, as he was reading his newspaper by the fire, he was startled by a thudding sound that was quickly followed by another. Then another.

When he went to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through the window.

"I can't let these poor creatures lie there and freeze," he thought. "But how can I help them?"

Then he remembered the barn. It would provide a warm shelter. He quickly put on his coat and boots and tramped throught the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on the light.

But the birds didn't come in.

"Food will bring them in," he thought. So he hurried back to the house for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn.

To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction -- except into the warm, lighted barn.

"They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself, "and I can't seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me."

"If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety."

Just at that moment, the church bells began to ring. He stood silently for awhile, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.

Then he sank to his knees in the snow. "Now I understand," he whispered. "Now I see why You had to do it."

~ Author Unknown ~

[HisDaughter]

IMPORTANT!!!
Recall Notice

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units, code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S-I-N, as it is primarily symptomized by loss of moral judgment.

Some other symptoms:

Loss of direction

Foul vocal emissions

Amnesia of origin

Lack of peace and joy

Selfish, or violent, behavior

Depression or confusion in the mental component

Fear

Idolatry

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable or at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service, free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The number to call for the recall station in your area is:

P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN by pressing: R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E.

Next, download J-E-S-U-S into the heart. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, the JESUS repair will replace it with:

Love

Joy

Peace

Long-suffering

Gentleness

Goodness

Faith

Meekness

Temperance

Please see operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction, voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

For free emergency service, call on J-E-S-U-S.

DANGER: The human units not receiving this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect must not enter heaven or else heaven will be infected.


~Author: The Creator

[HisDaughter]

THE OLD PATHS

I liked the old paths, when   

Moms were at home.

Dads were at work.   

Brothers went into the army.

And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

 

Crime did not pay;

Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;

Dads would work;

Children would behave.

 

Husbands were loving;

Wives were supportive;

And children were polite.

 

Women wore the jewelry;   

And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;

Men looked like gentlemen;

And children looked decent.

 

People loved the truth,

And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN,

Not to get OUT!

 

Hymns sounded Godly;

Sermons sounded helpful;

Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere.

 

Cursing was wicked;   

Drugs were for illness;

And divorce was unthinkable.

 

The flag was honored;

America was beautiful;

And God was welcome!

 

We read the Bible in public;   

Prayed in school;

And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for;   

To be called a Christian was worth living for;   

To be called a traitor was a shame!

 

Preachers preached because they had a message;

And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible;

Singers sang from the heart;

And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

 

A new birth meant a new life;

Salvation meant a changed life;

Following Christ led to eternal life.

 

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;   

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

 

Laws were based on the Bible;

Homes read the Bible;

And churches taught the Bible.

 

God was worshiped;

Christ was exalted;   

And the Holy Spirit was respected..

 

Church was where you found Christians

on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,   

on the creek bank, on the golf course,

Or being entertained somewhere else.

 

I still like the old paths the best!

(Written by a retired minister who lives In Tennessee.)


           

[HisDaughter]

                                    MAGNOLIAS
   
 I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute
trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty
miles away.
 
 As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I
felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle .. .
 
 So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was
away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister
down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years
before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she
was about three years old!
 
 To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large
magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green
leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood
inside the church.
 
 After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the
podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before
midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any
bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and
especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.
 
 The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her
bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé(c) Tim walked with me to
the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a
rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the
beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm
during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that
hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.
 
 I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown,
gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding..
 
 Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away
these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.'
 
 I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff
links.
 
 Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in
the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'please help me. I don't know
anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in
a hurry!' I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white
magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any
dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a
shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.
 
 As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I
approached a house...No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older
man answered. So far so good . ..No shotgun. When I stated my plea the
man beamed, 'I'd be happy to!'
 
 He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to
me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I
said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'
 
 'No, Ma'am,' he said. 'You don't understand what's happening here..'
 
 'What?' I asked.
 
 'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I
received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday .. . . He paused.
I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He
looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back
home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.'
 
 I nodded.
 
 'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud.
I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse,
she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs
an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder.
'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need
you.'
 
 I stood with my mouth open.
 
 He asked, 'Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head
into my dark living room...'
 
 I assured him I was no angel.
 
 He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those
magnolias?'
 
 'No.'
 
 'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a
flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the
funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and
I have lots of them.. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to
hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do?
I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'
 
 I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day,
if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have
said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake!
There is no way I can minister to anyone today.'
 
 But God found a way. Through dead flowers.
 
 'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way
you cope with it is what makes the difference.'


                           

[HisDaughter]

                                                                       The Eyes Of Love

A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo.

The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a boy in the line cried.
 
Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head. Her grandmother knelt down next to her. "I love your freckles," she said.
 
"Not me," the girl replied.
 
"Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles" she said, tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"

The girl looked up. "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little girl peered into the old woman's smiling face. "Wrinkles," she answered softly.

-Author Unknown


                                                                         

[HisDaughter]

I Watched


As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to Me, asking My opinion or thanking Me for something good that happened in your life yesterday.

But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.

At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair.

Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to Me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead.

I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities, I guess you were too busy to say anything to Me.

I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to Me, that is why you didn't bow your head.

You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to Me briefly before they ate, but you didn't.

That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to Me yet.

You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do.

After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show.

I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to Me.

Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family, you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time.

That's okay, because you may not realize that I am always there for you.

I've got patience, more than you will ever know.

I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.

I love you so much that I wait every day for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart.

It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you.

Hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day!

Your friend,

GOD


By the way, YES, I do love God! He is my Source of existence and Saviour. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing; but with Him ... "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." Phil 4:13

~ Author Unknown ~

[nChrist]

AMEN GRAMMYLUV!

When we think about portions of Scripture like Philippians 4:13, we should also be thinking about what a "REASONABLE SERVICE" would be for HIM who gives us all good things. GOD'S WORD gives us instructions for a start:

Romans 12:1-2 ASV  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.  2  And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


In terms of the word "service", "WORSHIP" is a more appropriate translation in Verse 1. "Service" is a term that's too mild for the circumstances being talked about. "WORSHIP" is the root word, and Paul is talking about what we do for our LIVING GOD - ALMIGHTY GOD - OUR CREATOR. What type and amount of "SERVICE" would be appropriate, reasonable, and acceptable?

We must know that there is NO WAY that we can ever become "JUSTIFIED" before GOD without the shed Blood of JESUS CHRIST on the CROSS. We must also know that our labor, service, or WORSHIP will never be enough to JUSTIFY us. We are JUSTIFIED because of the GRACE and LOVE of GOD through our faith in HIM. SO, our labor, service, and WORSHIP is simply out of hearts of appreciation for what HE'S already done for us. SO, how much is ENOUGH? ENOUGH doesn't exist! Our love and WORSHIP is just a token in comparison to what HE'S done for us!

I thought this was beautiful and wanted to explore it some more. I also want to share so that others can also explore this more.

Romans 8:31-39 ASV  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?  33  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth;  34  who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  39  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 11:33-36 ASV  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!  34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?  35  or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  36  For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.


Ephesians 3:14-21 ASV  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,  15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  16  that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;  17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  18  may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  19  and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.  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,  21  unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.


Love In Christ,
Tom