~INTERVIEW WITH GOD~


~So, you would like to interview me?" God asked. "If you have the time," I said.~

~God smiled. "My time is eternity; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?"~

~"What surprises you most about humankind?"~

~God answered: "That they get bored with childhood they rush to grow up and then long to be children again.That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither or the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..."~

~God's hands took mine and we were silent for while and then I asked... "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"~

~God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons one loves, and that it may take many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that there are persons who love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it very differently. To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they must also forgive themselves. And to learn that I am here -- always."~

~Author Unknown~


~A LETTER~


~Got a letter from Aunt Martha the other day. She writes... The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk If You Love Jesus" bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.~

~Boy, I'm glad I did! What an uplifting experience that followed! I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is... and I didn't notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!~

~I found that LOTS of people love Jesus! Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! Jesus Christ, GO!" What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!~

                   Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn few times to share in the love! There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a "sunny beach"~

~I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. Then I asked my teenage son in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back. My son burst out laughing...why, even he was enjoying this religious experience!~

~A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.~

~So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.~

~Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!~

~Author Unknown~


~A FRIEND FROM ABOVE~


~I prayed for you before we met, not knowing who you'd be. I asked the Lord to send a friend. One chosen just for me.~

~I asked that they'd be Godly, with wisdom of His ways. A friend to help and guide me in the troubles of these days.~

~So often in life, we need someone to listen while we talk. Someone who will not condemn or judge, but encourage us as we walk.~

~The narrow road we choose to follow may sometimes make us stumble, but to have a friend to catch our fall, teaches us to be humble.~

~When I asked the Lord to send a friend, though many came and went, He gave much more than I ever asked, for you are the friend He sent.~

~Author Unknown~


~My FRIEND IN CYBERSPACE~


~We've never met face to face. But, we share our Lord's grace.~

~I know you are a gift from above. Your love for me is sweet as a dove.~

~You are always ready to lend your ears. And you gently wipe away my tears.~

~We share a bond of love and pain. Your friendship is a blessed gain.~

~I love you my cyber friend. Our friendship has no end.~

~by Sandy Weiss~


~IF TOMMOROW NEVER COMES~


~If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.~

~If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.~

~If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back for days.~

~If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would KNOW I do.~

~If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slipaway.~

~For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right.~

~There will always be another day to say our "I love you's", and certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"~

~But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget, Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, and today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.~

~So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day, That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.~

~So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear, Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay", And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.~

~Author Unknown~


~THE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS~

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.

~Author Unknown~



~UNFOLDING THE ROSEBUD~



~It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of GOD's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine.~

~The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die.~

~If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of GOD's design, Then how can I think I have wisdom To unfold this life of mine?~

~So I'll trust in Him for His leading Each moment of every day. I will look to him for His guidance Each step of the pilgrim way.~

~The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows. I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose.~

~Author Unknown~


~COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS~



~Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses.~

~Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes.~

~Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.~

~Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.~

~Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.~

~Author Unknown~


~THE PEARLS~



~Some inspirational words for you this morning. Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50.~

~How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.~

~Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere-to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower-her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!~

~Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said. "Well,then, give me your pearls."~

~"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?" "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."~

~A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story,"Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you." "Well, then,give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father. "No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."~

~Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.~

~Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so he can give us beautiful treasure.~

~Isn't God good? God bless, you guys. This made me think about the things I hold on to and wonder what God would have me give up.~

~Author Unknown~


~TEACH THE CHILDREN~



~Late one Christmas Eve, I sank back, tired but content, into my easy chair. The kids were in bed, the gifts were wrapped, the milk and cookies waited by the fireplace for Santa. As I sat back admiring the tree with its decorations, I couldn't help feeling that something important was missing.~

~It wasn't long before the tiny, tree lights lulled me to sleep. I don't know how long I slept but all of a sudden I knew I wasn't alone. I opened my eyes, and you can imagine my surprise when I saw Santa Claus himself standing next to my Christmas tree.~

~He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him, but he was not the "jolly old elf" of Christmas legend. The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed. And there were tears in his eyes. "Santa, what's wrong?" I asked. "Why are you crying?" ; "It's the children." Santa replied sadly. "But Santa, the children love you." I said. "Oh, I know they love me, and they love the gifts I bring them," Santa said, "but the children of today seem to have somehow missed out on the true spirit of Christmas.~

~It's not their fault. It's just that the adults, many of them not having been taught themselves, have forgotten to teach the children." "Teach them  what?" I asked.~

~Santa's kind old face became soft, more gentle. His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas.   Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear, and touch is much more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas which we now observe. Teach them what it is they truly represent."~

   ~Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on my mantle. "Teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen, with it's unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. It's needles point heavenward as a reminder that man's thoughts should turn heavenward as well."~

~Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at the top of the small tree. The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills his promises, and that wise men still seek Him."~

~"Red" said Santa, "is the first color of Christmas." He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree. "Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave his life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red it should remind them of that most wonderful gift."~

   ~Santa found a silver bell in his pack and placed it on the tree. "Just as lost sheep are guided, to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep."~

   ~Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room. "The glow of the candle represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of God's son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ's footsteps. To go about doing good. Teach them to let their light so shine before men that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkle lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see."~

~Again Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped cane. As he hung it on the tree he spoke softly. "The candy cane is a stick of hard white candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and   the firmness of God's promises. The candy cane is in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.~

~It also represents the crook of the Good Shepherd, which He uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes, which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus, so that we can have the promise of eternal life.   Teach these things to the children.~

   ~Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh, fragrant greenery and tied with a bright red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection, which is love." "The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle, without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children."~

~"But where does that leave you Santa?" I asked. The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa's face. "Why bless you, my dear," he laughed, "I'm only a symbol myself. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things there is no danger that I'll ever be forgotten." "I think I'm beginning to understand at last." I replied. "That's why I came," said Santa. "You're an adult. If you don't teach the children these things, then who will?"~

~Author Unknown~


~SEE NEXT PAGE ON DEATH OF MY WIFE~




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