~STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN~


~IT'S IN THE VALLEYS I GROW~

~Sometimes life seems hard to bear, Full of sorrow, trouble and woe It's then I have to remember That it's in the valleys I grow.~

~If I always stayed on the mountain top And never experienced pain, I would never appreciate God's love And would be living in vain.~

~I have so much to learn And my growth is very slow, Sometimes I need the mountain tops, But it's in the valleys I grow.~

~I do not always understand Why things happen as they do, But I am very sure of one thing. My Lord will see me through.~

~My little valleys are nothing When I picture Christ on the cross He went through the valley of death; His victory was Satan's loss.~

~Forgive me Lord, for complaining When I'm feeling so very low. Just give me a gentle reminder That it's in the valleys I grow.~

~Continue to strengthen me, Lord And use my life each day To share your love with others And help them find their way.~

~Thank you for valleys, Lord For this one thing I know The mountain tops are glorious But it's in the valleys I grow!~

~Have a blessed day!~

REMEMBER... ~The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. If your problem is bigger than your GOD, then you are serving the wrong god ... remember that knees that bend don't shake!~

~Author Rev. Dr. P. L. Williams~


~MY BIBLE~


~I like to read my Bible, When I go to bed each night; I like to read a chapter through, Before I turn off my light.!

~But some nights when I'm tired, And can no longer see to read, I just hold my Bible in my hands, It seems that's all I need.~

~Its nearness and its closeness, Grant wondrous dreams to me. I can visualize my Lord, As a youth at Galilee.~

~I see Jonah, I see Noah, I see Peter, even Paul. And I feel truly blest some nights, To see the Fairest One of All.~

~My heart goes out to poor, rich Job, As I hear his plaintive pleas. I am hurting right there with him, Oh, God, do help us, please!~

~Just holding onto that dear Book, Allows me special powers. I've traveled to Jerusalem, I've seen the Babel Towers.~

~I've traveled to both gardens, Sometimes they're intertwined. I've seen the place where Jesus wept, And where Satan snatched mankind.~

~I saw Jesus in His swaddling clothes, I saw that wondrous star; I shed tears for Him at Calvary, When I saw His body marred.~

~On those nights I'm over-tired, And only want to rest, And do not want to read or think, That's when holding's at its best.~

~For then the sense of calm I get, Slows down my racing mind. And I deeply sigh in my relief, To the welcome peace I find.~

~When sad, I lay my tearful cheek, Against my Bible's cover. And I sense a sweet caress, More gentle than a lover's.~

~If I am chilled, it warms my hands, My heart seems warmer, too. My twisted fingers straighten out, They truly feel renewed.~

~If my head is throbbing, From the tasks I did that day, I hold my Bible to my brow, The ache soon goes away.~

~I get a warmth or energy, When something seems to flow. Between my body and my Book, I know that this is so.~

~All I do is hold the Book, No need to turn a leaf; I get a message straight from God, And receive Divine Relief.~

~If over time my vision dims, And I can no longer look, I'll still caress it with my hand, I'll not give up my Book.~

~And, of all the years I have survived, And, of all the books I've read, My Bible is the only book, I'll want at my death bed.~

~Author Unknown~


~BLESSED~

~BLESSED are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate and considerate, loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.~

~BLESSED are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.~

~BLESSED are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber.~

BLESSED are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vows of lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.~

~BLESSED are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord.~

~BLESSED are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the Bible and for prayer.~

~BLESSED are those mates who never speak loudly to one another and who make their home a place where "seldom is heard a discouraging word."~

~BLESSED are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church and who work together in the church for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.~

~BLESSED are the husband and wife who can work out problems of adjustments without interference from relatives.~

~BLESSED is the couple who has a complete understanding about financial matters and who has worked out a perfect partnership with all money under the control of both.!

~BLESSED are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and who practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal, and loving.~

~Author Unknown~


~THE DIFFERENCE~

~I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray.~

~Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. "Why doesn't God help me? I wondered. He answered, "You didn't ask."~

~I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak; I wondered, why God didn't show me. He said, "But you didn't seek."~

~I tried to come into God's presence, I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, "My child you didn't knock."~

~I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I took time to pray.~

~Author Unknown~


~PRAYERS~

~Life without purpose is barren indeed There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed There can't be attainment unless there's a goal And man's but a robot unless there's a soul. If we send no ships out, no ships will come in, And unless there's a contest, nobody can win.~

~For games can't be won unless they are played, And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed. So whatever is wrong with your life today You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray. Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health, Not just for honors and prestige and wealth.~

~But pray for a purpose to make life worth living And pray for the joy of unselfish giving. For great is your gladness and rich your reward, When you make your life's purpose the choice of the Lord.~

~Author Unknown~


~TANGLED HAIR~

~Beth was sitting at an airport terminal, waiting to board a plane. She was sitting there with several other people who were also waiting, whom she did not know. As she waited, she pulled out her Bible and started reading.~

~All of a sudden she felt as if the people sitting there around her were looking at her.  She looked up, but realized that they were looking just over her head, in the direction right behind her. She turned around to see what everyone was looking at, and when she did, she saw a stewardess pushing a wheelchair, with the ugliest old man sitting in it, that she had ever seen before.~

  ~He had this long white hair that was all tangled and such a mess. His face was really, really wrinkled and he didn't look friendly at all. She said she didn't know why, but she felt drawn to the man, and thought at first that God wanted her to witness to him.  In her mind she said she was thinking, "Oh, God, please, not now, not here." No matter what she did, she couldn't get the man off of her mind, and all of a sudden she knew what God wanted her to do.  She was supposed to brush this old man's hair.~

~She went and knelt down in front of the old man, and said "Sir may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?" He said "What?" She thought, "Oh great, he's hard oh hearing." Again, a little louder, she said, "Sir may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?" He answered "If you are talking to me, you are going to have to speak up, I am practically deaf." So this time, she was almost yelling, "Sir may I please have the honor of brushing your hair for you?" Everyone was watching to see what his response would be.  The old man just looked at her confused and said, "I guess if you really want to."~

  ~She thought, "I don't even have a brush, but I thought I would ask anyway." He said "Look in the bag hanging on the back of my chair, there is a brush in there." So she got the brush out and started brushing his hair. (She has a little girl with long hair, so she has had lots of practice getting tangles out, and knew how to be gentle with him.) She worked for a long time, until every last tangle was out. Just as she was finishing up, she heard the old man crying, and she went and put her hands on his knees, kneeling in  front of him again looking directly into his eyes, and said "Sir, do you know Jesus?" He answered, "Yes, of course I know Jesus. You see, my bride told me she couldn't marry me unless I knew Jesus, so I learned all about Jesus and asked Him to come into my heart many years ago, before I married my bride."~

~He continued, "You know, I am on my way home to go and see my wife.  I have been in the hospital for a long time and had to have a special surgery in this town far from my home.  My wife couldn't come with me because she is so frail herself."  He said, "I was so worried about how terrible my hair looked and I didn't want her to see me looking so awful, but I couldn't brush my hair, all by myself." Tears were rolling down his cheeks, as he thanked Beth for brushing his hair. He thanked her over and over again.~

~She was crying, people all around witnessing this were crying, and as they were all boarding the plane, the stewardess, who was also crying stopped her and asked, "Why did you do that?" And right there was the opportunity, the door that had been opened to share with someone else, the love of God. We don't always understand God's ways, but be ready. He may use us to meet the need of someone else, like He met the need of this old man, and in that moment, also calling out to a lost soul who needed to know about His love.~

~Be Blessed!~

~Author Unknown~


~CHRIST'S LOVE~

~Think about this next time you go to a restaurant.  We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the highchair tray. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. He wriggled and  giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment.~

  ~It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were  too short to be called a beard and his nose was so  varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.  His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya,  buster," the man said to Erik.~

  ~My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we  do?"  Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and  looked at us and then at the man. The old man  was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from  across the room, "Do ya know patty cake?  Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows  peek-a-boo."~

~Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was  obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for  Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the  admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated  with his cute comments. We finally got through the  meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot~

. ~The old man sat poised between me and the door.  "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to  me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man,  I turned my back trying to side-step him and avoid  any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.~

~Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young  baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in  an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his  tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The  man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath  his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and  hard labor-gently, so gently, cradled my baby's  bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so  short a time. I stood awestruck.  The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened and set  squarely on mine.~

~He said in a firm commanding voice, "You  take care of this baby." Somehow I managed,  "I will," from a throat that contained a stone.  He pried Erik from his chest - unwillingly,  longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God  bless you, ma'am, you've given me my  Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a  muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran  for the car. My husband was wondering why  I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and  why I was saying, "My God, my God,  forgive me."~

~I had just witnessed Christ's love shown  through the innocence of a tiny child  who saw no sin, who made no judgment;  a child who saw a soul, and a mother  who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian  who was blind, holding a child who was  not. I felt it was God asking - "Are you  willing to share your son for a moment?"  -- when He shared His for all eternity. The  ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded  me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we  must become as little children."~

~Author Unknown~


~PRAYER FOR PEACE~

~A small group of children gathered near the look on their faces was one of fear.~

  ~A war was a-brewin' they knew not what to do but they prayed to God for a chance to renew.~

  ~"Please make this stop, let the fighting please cease. Give us the prayer, one for all peace."~

  ~So God looked down from Heaven above brought out the sun to shine all his love.~

  ~Spoke in volumes his voice did increase "Bless you my angels here is my prayer for peace.~

  ~Look to your left and then to your right hugs to the person hold them so tight,~

  ~Tell them to smile and hold them near with prayers for peace there will be no fear.~

  ~For I will watch over soon all war will cease if you just pass on this prayer for peace."~

~Author Debi Fisher~


~WHISPERING HOPE~


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