~UNCONDITIONAL LOVE~

~"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."~

~At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.~

~The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.~

~Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift! Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.~

~Author Unknown~

~TEN CHILD COMMANDMENTS TO PARENTS~

~Author Unknown~

~THE CENTER OF THE BIBLE~

~What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalm 117~

~What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalm 119~

~Which chapter is in the center of the Bible Answer - Psalm 118~

~There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118~

~There are 594 chapters after Psalm 118 Add these numbers up and you get 1188~

~What is the center verse in the Bible? Answer - Psalm 118:8~

~Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?~

  ~The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His Will, just send them to the center of His Word! Psalm 118:8~

  ~"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."~

~Now isn't that odd how this worked out  (or is God, THE AUTHOR, the center of it)?~

~A NEAT VERSION OF JOHN 3:16~

~The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in."~

~So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16."~

~The lady said, "Come on in, Son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off.~

~The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: "John 3:16....I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm."~

~Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?" He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food." The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: "John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full."~

~She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: "John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out."~

~The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: "John 3:16... I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested."~

~The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. "Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently.~

~He replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it."~

~She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: "John 3:16. .. .. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe."~

~You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.~

  John 3:16 ~For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.~

John 3:17    ~For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.~

John 3:18    ~He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.!

~If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father." I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savoir. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I would be nothing. Without Him, I am nothing. But with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. (Phil 4:13) If you love God and are not ashamed of all the marvellous things he has done for you, send this on.~

~Take 60 seconds & give this a shot! Let's just see if Satan stops this one. All you do is:

~1. Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this, (Father, God bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day!)~

~2. Then send it on to five other people.~

~Within hours five people have prayed for you, and you caused a multitude of people to pray to God for other people. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know He loves.~

~Author Unknown~

~THE AWAKENING~

~You come to terms with the fact that you are neither Prince Charming nor Cinderella. And that, in the real world, there aren't always fairy-tale endings (or beginnings, for that matter). And that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you -- and in the process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate, or approve of who or what you are...and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.~

~And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself -- and in the process, a sense of new-found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.~

     ~You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you, and that it's not always about you. So you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself -- and in the process, a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.~

~You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and overlook their shortcomings and human  frailties -- and in the process, a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.~

~You realize that much of the way you view yourself and the  world around you is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.~

     ~You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with -- .and in the process, you learn to go with your instincts.~

~You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.~

~You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.~

     ~You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.~

     ~You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.~

     ~You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.~

     ~Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be.~

~You stop trying to control people, situations, and outcomes. And you learn that alone does not mean lonely. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.~

~You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK, and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want -- and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.~

~You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect  -- and you won't settle for less.~

     ~And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced  diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.~

     ~You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.~

     ~You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve -- and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.~

~You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen.~

~More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone -- and that it's OK to risk asking for help.~

~You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself.~

~You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.~

~You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve, and that bad things sometimes happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn to not personalize things.~

  ~You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state -- the ego.~

     ~You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy, and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.~

~You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.~

     ~Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.~

     ~And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.~

     ~Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design as best you can the life you want to live.~

~Author Unknown~