Chicken Soup

[David_james]

I am sorry but this story is misleading.

Just because we pray and have God with us, doesn't mean nothing bad will happen. This might ruin ones faith if they pray and something bad happens.

The story implies that God will only protect those who pray. This isn't true.

[nChrist]

I am sorry but this story is misleading.

Just because we pray and have God with us, doesn't mean nothing bad will happen. This might ruin ones faith if they pray and something bad happens.

The story implies that God will only protect those who pray. This isn't true.

Hello Brother David,

I think that you might be reading too much into the story. It is true that bad things happen to Christians, including to Christians who pray. However, it's also true that God answers prayer when it's within His Perfect Will - God does as He pleases in Heaven and on earth. Many other things are true about prayer and God, and none of them contradict each other.

Romans 8 is the best explanation I know for this:

Romans 8:1-39 (ESV)1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Read Romans 8 carefully because God's Word gives us many answers. Now, go back and take a strong look at:

Romans 8:28 (ESV)28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The "working together for good" is by God, and we might not consider it good at the time. We many times see the small picture of "right now", but God always sees the big picture of Eternity. Romans 8 has much to teach us, and it's one of the most beautiful portions of Scripture in the Bible.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

[HisDaughter]

Why God Allows Pain

A man went to a barbershop 

to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. 

 As the barber began to work, 

they began to have a good conversation. 

 They talked about so many things and various subjects. 

 When they eventually touched on the subject of God, 

the barber said,  'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.

'Well, you just have to go out in the street 

to realize that God doesn't exist.'

Tell me, if God exists, 

would there be so many sick people? 

 Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, 

there would be neither suffering nor pain. 

 I can't imagine a loving God 

who would allow all of these things.' 

 The customer thought for a moment, 

but didn't respond because 

he didn't want to start an argument. 

 The barber finished his job 

and the customer left the shop.

After he left the barbershop, 

he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, 

dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. 

 He looked dirty and unkempt.. 

The customer turned back 

and entered the barber shop again 

and he said to the barber, 

'You know what? 

Barbers do not exist.' 

'How can you say that?' 

asked the surprised barber. 

'I am here, and I am a barber. 

And I just worked on you!' 

 'No!' the customer exclaimed. 

'Barbers don't exist because if they did, 

there would be no people with dirty long hair 

and untrimmed beards, 

like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! 

That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 

'That's the point! 

God, too, DOES exist! 

That's what happens when people 

do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. 

That's why there's so much pain 

and suffering in the world.'

[HisDaughter]

This is from an email that I recieved this morning...

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday MorningCommentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.    I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.   I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitutionand I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show andJane Claysonasked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regardingHurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem. We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay. (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide)

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

[HisDaughter]

I Love You Child

I would like to share with you a memorable story that I was once told which demonstrates God's unfailing love for His children.

There was a little American girl, very young, who was on a flight back to her home where her father was to meet her. I forget why she had gone away. The stewards were giving out free sweets to all the young children and the girl, for the whole flight home, ate sweet after sweet after sweet.

When they had almost got home the girl was sick all over her seat and her dress. The stewardess who had given her all the sweets was so disgusted she refused to clean up the mess.

As the plane landed the father was waiting patiently for his little princess who he hadn't seen for such a long time. He had just come from work and was wearing his newest, smartest suit. A suit he loved so much to wear.

As the plane door opened the little girl, wanting her daddy ran out of the terminal. Excited at the sight of her daddy she runs straight for him. The father immediately notices the horrible mess that covers his daughter's dress as she runs straight for him but as she reaches him he snatches her up in his arms and hugs her tightly to his chest, running the clothes he wore. He loved his new suit. But the love he had for his daughter was unbeatable, and even though she was a mess, and would ruin his suit, he cared too much about her and just wanted to hold her in his arms.

Jesus Christ too wants that relationship with us. Our lives are in a mess. But he does not care. He loves us. Every single one of us and waits with open arms for us to run to him and embrace him, where he will clean us up and never turn us away. PLEASE RUN INTO HIS ARMS TODAY! IF YOU ARE ALREADY THERE, HELP THE OTHERS REACH THIS WONDERFUL GOAL!! God Bless.

[nChrist]

AMEN!

[HisDaughter]

God Is...

God is Lord Almighty, Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider, Protector, Paternal Leader, Ruling Lord and Reigning King of all the universe.

He is Father, Helper, Guardian and God. He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all He keeps. The Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.

He always was, is, and will be: Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone. He was bruised and brought healing. He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and brought freedom. He was dead and brought life. He is risen and brings power. He reigns and brings Peace.

The world can't understand him, the armies can't defeat Him, the schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him. Herod couldn't kill Him, the Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, the people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him. Hitler couldn't silence Him, the New Age can't replace Him and Donahue can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness, gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me! His is my redeemer, He is my saviour, He is my guide, He is my peace, He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord and He rules my life.

I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and the sovereign Lord of all that was, is and is to come.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size. His goal is a relationship with ME! He will never leave me, forsake me, mislead me, forget me, overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives me. When I am weak, He is strong. When I am lost, He is The Way. When I am afraid, He is my courage. When I stumble, He steadies me. When I am hurt, He heals me. When I am broken, He mends me. When I am blind, He leads me. When I am hungry, He feeds me. When I face trials, He is with me When I face persecution, He stills me. When I face problems, He comforts me. When I face loss, He provides for me. When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way. He is God, He is faithful, I am His, and He is mine. My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world, and so, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this: He said it, and that settles it.

God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

[HisDaughter]

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation
THIS MAN SURE HAS A GOOD VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY!

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics... We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' before he died and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God...'

[HisDaughter]

A TEENAGER'S VIEW OF HEAVEN

   

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em,' he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote..' It also was the last.

 Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. 'I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,' Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. 'I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.'

Brian's Essay: The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

 This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

 A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at ' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

 Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

 When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

 When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

 I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it,seemed newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. '-Phil. 4:13 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' If you feel the same way forward it so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also. My 'People I shared the gospel with' file just got bigger, how about yours?

[HisDaughter]

Untimely Death

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this......
 
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man sow,  that shall he also reap..

Here are some men and women who mocked God :

 
John Lennon (Singer):
 
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that.. I am certain.
Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
 

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil:
 
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes
from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.
 
Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
 

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
 
During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you.'
 
He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.
 

The man who built the Titanic:
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe
the Titanic would be.
 
With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic
 
 
Marilyn Monroe (Actress)
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
 
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:

'I don't need your Jesus'.
 
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment

 
Bon Scott (Singer)
 
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he
sang:
'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.
 
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.
 
Campinas (IN 2005)
 
In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick
up a friend.....
 
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about
the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter
holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:
'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.'
 
To which she replied, "Okay, but only if he sits in the trunk
Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full '
 
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal
accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.
The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact.
To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other
name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.
 
Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still
ALIVE!

                               

[HisDaughter]

And God Said No...

I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, "No".
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grand me patience, and God said, "No".
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation, it isn't granted, it's earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, "No".
He said He gives blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain, and God said, "No".
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, "No".
He said I must grow on my own, but he would prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, and God said, "Yes".
He gave me His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
And God said, "Ah, finally, you have the idea".

[nChrist]

AMEN!

Sister Yvette, it's great to have you back. We missed you. I'm hoping that you're getting settled in and have most of the work of moving done. I'm praying that your new place will be nice and comfortable.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[HisDaughter]

Thank you Brother Tom!  It's good to be back!  Hey!  I love that graphic!  Is it one of yours?

[HisDaughter]

Being Followed?

Timmy was a little five year old boy whose Mom loved him very much.  Being a worrier, she was concerned about his walking to school when he
started Kindergarten. She walked with him the first few days, but he came home one day telling her he did not want her walking him to school every day. He wanted to be like "big boys." He protested so
loudly that she had to find another way to handle it. 

She asked her neighbor Nancy if she would surreptitiously follow her son to school at a distance, but close enough to keep a watch on him.  Nancy said that, since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise so she agreed.  The next school day, Nancy and her little girl set out behind Timmy as he walked to school with his friend Ronnie. This went on for a whole week. Timmy's friend noticed that this same lady was following them every day. Finally Ronnie asked Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is." Ronnie asked, "Well, who is she?"
"That's just Shirley Goodnest an' her little girl Marcy," Timmy said.

Ronnie inquired further, "Well, why does she follow us every day like that?"

"Well," Timmy explained, "every night Momma makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers cuz she worries about me so much. And in it, the prayer says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.' So, I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

[nChrist]

Thank you Brother Tom!  It's good to be back!  Hey!  I love that graphic!  Is it one of yours?

I wish that I could do graphics like that, but I really don't know how they do that. I don't remember where I got that graphic, but the site specialized in patriotic graphics. The programs I use for graphics are very simple and free. I feel quite sure that one would need a high-powered commercial graphics program to make graphics like that. I can do animations with what I have, but nothing complicated.