bestofwords16.html

God is the final authority here, and I thank Him for you,
and allowing me to share with you in this way.
Lord, please continue to use me to do Thy Will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak and unsaved.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
May the Holy Spirit always continue to guide me.
I ask for your continued prayers, and please pray for each other

Bunny's Words © 1999-2004 All rights reserved

Gard61@aol.com

Song Playing is: "The Potter's Hand" by Chonda Pierce

Music is for evaluation purposes only.
If you like the music, please support the artists by purchasing the CD.

I absolutely do not receive any monetary gain for anything.
Everything I do is freely given, as it was freely received.

One Last Thought (Gen1:1)
God is the Master Craftsman, just look all around you.
"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth"

Now take a look in the mirror.
He knew you before you were born.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jer 1:5)
Just like the crafter knows, or visualizes the craft even before it is made.
"Yet, O Lord, You are Our Father;
You are the Potter;
We are all the work of Your hand" (Isa 64:8)

The Potter

He's the God of the sunshine and the God of the rain.
He knows what to send us of gladness and pain.
For He is the Potter and we are the clay.
He's patiently molding our lives everyday.

Sometimes He sends us blue skies, and other times gray,
Then He blends them together in perfect array.
So we must not question His plan or delays,
For great is His wisdom, and best are His ways.

The Potter is working in your life and mine
To make us vessels through which His love shines.
Oh, may we stay yielded, His will to obey
To come forth perfected in His chosen way.

Sometimes in the silence of the night, when all is quiet
and we are alone, emptiness can overcome us.
And as we sit in the silence, we begin to feel as if we are all alone.
We long for someone to reach out to us and show us they are there.
Well my dear friend, I am here and I am thinking about you!
So, whenever you start feeling lost, alone, and empty, remember,
that even though you can't see me I am there, right beside you

************************

"The Most Beautiful Flower"

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the weeping branches of an old willow tree,
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And as if to ruin my rare quiet day,
A young boy approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all faded, from no rain or light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat by my side
And sniffed at the flower and declared with surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The poor weed before me was dying or dead,
No bright vibrant colors, no yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached out my hand and said, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see, he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps in his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world, it was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind
I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate what's mine.
I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose,
And smiled as the boy, another weed in his hand,
Went to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

************************

God's Power Exuded Everywhere

I walked beside the cooling stream and watched the fish so small;
I remembered that God said He made them, one and all;
The tiny fish, the large ones, too, and every bird that flies,
Not mentioning all the creatures that tread the earth, day and night.
I walked beside a winding stream and saw the flowers bloom;
I glanced at wild grapes climbing trees and felt the raindrops, too.
I gazed into the deep, dark woods and viewed the towering trees;
God's power exuded everywhere...how could one not believe?

Loise Pinkerton Frit

His Faithful Care

When life gets you down with its troubles and cares
And you're tossed by the waves and the winds in the air,
You need only to look at the places you've been,
The storms and the trials and the days with no end,
For they each will remind you how you made it through
And each will bring hope and with it comfort, too,
For God's care is for always, not just now and then,
Each yesterday and tomorrow, each and everyday my friend.

Gina Mazzullo Laurin

Faith Is Stronger Than My Fears

Sometimes my cross is hard to bear for there is darkness everywhere, and troubles pile around my door like autumn leaves forevermore.
The morning light seems far away, like I am stuck in yesterday.
My heart is beating like a drum, I try to pray, but words won't come.
But then the sun begins to rise and hope is born within my eyes.
A rainbow forms among my tears for faith is stronger than my fears.

Clay Harrison

Great Spirit Prayer

"Oh, Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the wind, Whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me; I need Your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things You have made and my ears sharp to hear Your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things You have taught my people. Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me. Let me learn the lessons You have hidden in every leaf and rock. Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others. Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy, Myself. Make me always ready to come to You with clean hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame.

************************

Dusting

Once again I move about within my heart
Trying to clear away all the dust of disorder
That hides Your beauty and chokes my spirit.
With fierce detail I check each corner
Each secret space in this endless job
Of cleaning and re-cleaning and re-cleaning
To keep my soul from surrendering
To the ever-accumulating film of unpleasantness
That freely floats in even the most guarded existence.
I see another place of talent
Once more left unused and once more
Its life and grace grow silently
Softly buried amid this cover of death
To which all must return
Who cease to thrive.
And yet
O God let me yield and simply believe
That in spite of my sin, my imperfection
You, who makes all things new
Can form for me from this dust a miracle.

Ray McAllister

"Forever Young"

Youth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind, it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.
Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair - these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.
Whether they are sixteen or seventy, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars and starlike things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing childlike appetite for what is to come next, and the joy and the game of life.
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear, as young as your hope, as old as your despair. When the wires are all down and all the innermost core of your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then you are grown old indeed.
But so long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from the earth, from man and from the Infinite, so long you are young.

Batman Kisses

My four-year-old son, Caleb, thinks he's Batman.
Not a day goes by that he doesn't put his Batman suit on and try and make the world a safer place for us to live. It all started last Halloween when we took him shopping to pick out a costume, and he insisted that he must be Batman. We found one that fit him for $19.95, but it was not the Batman suit of the recent blockbuster movies with its reinforced armor and
sleeked-down aerodynamic look. No, this was the kind that Adam West wore in the TV series some thirty years ago. You know, the one where his not-so-athletic belly stuck out and it looked like he was wearing a pair of tights?
Caleb has used it so much that it is torn, stained, and won't even tie around his neck anymore, but the worse the suit has become, the more he has grown to love it. I'm sure that one of our favorite memories years from now will be Caleb throwing his arms and one leg back, pausing dramatically,
and then "Whooshing," into the next room, cape billowing out behind him as he fights crime in our Wisconsin home.
He is constantly bugging me to play Batman and when I am able to, I play along with him. I would like to claim that I only do it because I love my son and want to spend time with him, and most of the time this is the reason. However, to be totally honest, I was also a four-year-old who loved to play Batman back in the early 70's, and I must admit that I have as much fun as my boy does.
There is one thing I love to do while we play Batman. It doesn't
matter what villain I am either. Sometimes I am a traditional bad-guy like the Joker or the Penguin, however, sometimes I am the tickle-monster, and sometimes he just calls me the daddy-monster. Regardless of what bad-guy role I take, there is one "trick" that every villain plays on him. In the
middle of the "fight", I throw him down on the waterbed, get on top of him, and then plant about a thousand kisses on his face.
The first time I did it, he gave me a look of pure shock. I guess it
was the last thing he expected the Joker to do to him. He can deal with play punches and kicks -- he blocks them or tries to roll out of the way.
Pillows sent flying his way can be avoided by ducking... But Kisses!!
Kisses from his arch enemy!? How does Batman deal with that?
There is no kiss repellent on his utility belt! After the look of
shock passes, another look takes over, a look that could only be described as total and outright BETRAYAL!
I am guessing the following thoughts went
through his young mind: "Daddy, how could you?! How could you defile something as sacred as playing Batman by kissing me?!"
When I planted the last daddy kiss on his chubby cheek, he just froze, looking up at me with that stunned look on his face, then rolled his eyes at me and screamed,

Daaadddyyy!!! You Don't Give Kisses While You Are
Playing Batman!!"

Oh, how I laughed! He has since become smarter in his dealings with my villainous kisses during our Batman sessions. Now, whenever I start to kiss him, he points to the Batman logo on his chest, and shoots a Bat-ray out of it at me.
"I'm turning you back into the Joker, Daddy!"
He figures that these lapses back into daddy hood can be reversed by his special Batman powers. I usually play along with him and immediately switch back to the traditional role of the villain, unless I am especially in the kissy mood.
Sadly, the Batman costume has seen its last days. We will be retiring it very soon, and most likely replacing it with a new one. In fact, we may look for the suit that is based after the Batman movies of today and hopefully it will be better-made this time. However, when we do, I will be taking the old, ripped-up, stained, and worn-out suit, and will be setting
it aside in a special place -- the special place reserved for magical
childhood memories... and for things to show his first girlfriend. (Hee hee).
While I realize that these precious times with my children are flowing through my cupped hands like water, I know that in the future I will take the suit out from time to time, to try and recapture the early years of my kids' lives. When I am done reminiscing, I will place the suit back in its hiding place, but not before rubbing the wetness from my eyes. I am
determined that the tears that appear there will be drops of happy remembrance, and not of regret, wishing I had spent more time with my children.
Here's one last kiss, Batman...

Michael T. Powers

1 Corinthians 13:2
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all
mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have a
faith, that can move mountains, but have not
love, I am nothing.

No matter how sad you may feel at times, be confident that hope will awaken with you tomorrow.

We can no longer afford to throw away even one "unimportant" day, by not noticing the wonder of it all.

Sarah B. Breathnach

Journey's End

Today the journey is ended, I have worked out the mandates of fate;
Naked, alone, undefended, I knock at the uttermost gate.
Behind is life and its longing, its trial, its trouble, its sorrow;
Beyond is the infinite morning with a day without tomorrow.
Go back to dust and decay, body, grown weary and old;
You are worthless to me from today. No longer my soul can you hold.
I lay you down gladly forever for a life that is better than this;
I go where partings ne'er sever you into oblivion's abyss.
Lo, the gate swings wide at my knocking, across endless reaches I see
Lost friends with laughter come flocking to give a glad welcome to me.
Farewell, the maze has been threaded. This is the ending of strife;
Say not that death should be dreaded. Tis but the beginning of life.

By Wenonah Stevens Abbott

"Father, in Jesus’ name,
I repent of any sin that brings You displeasure.
I ask You to forgive me.
I want to hear from You.
I need You, Father.
I need to hear from You.
Pull me away and help me stop and do the necessary
Preparation to hear from You.
Help me to relate to You as a spirit.
Slow me down to seek after You.
Calm my spirit.
Help me draw near to You.
Increase my trust in You.
Help me to be disciplined to read Your word and do my part.
Lead me to anyone that would help me find my way.
Help me make that connection.
Give someone concern for my well-being.
I know You promise Your sheep hear Your voice.
Pull me close Father, say it again if I missed hearing You correctly.
Father, I want to know I am loved by You and I want to feel loved by You.
I draw near to You Father, send Your love over me.
Let this love give me the courage to change.
Let this love make me feel secure as a branch.
Let me desire sap from the vine.
Give me a gift of being able to abide in You,
Of being able to trust Your timing and ways.
Father, give me an attitude of expectancy.
Let me live and act like I serve a God who is strong and mighty,
One who promised His children provisions but let me never forget
Your children must walk in faith."

In Jesus’ Name.....Amen

Oh Great Spirit, give me a vision for today. Let me see truth. Let me walk in beauty. Let my heart guide me in truth. The law says the truth shall set you free.
Let me be free today.

By: Don Coyhis

Unsinkable Soul

Deep within ourselves, deep down to the very fibers of our spirits exist an unsinkable soul. Unsinkable, for the trials and sacrifices that it has had to endure in this thing we call our lifetime. So many times, storm clouds and the ripping of thunder has gripped our very lives to the point where we just want to stop what we're doing and allow the darkness to swallow everything we stand for.
It's times like this, times when our souls are vulnerable and weak from the many battles that are fought in this war our souls have to struggle against.
Times like this, our soul gathers all its strength and becomes stronger to fight off everything that is thrown our way. It has become stronger with every blow that is cast upon the fibers that have been spoken of, to the point where it has become a warrior that will not know defeat, casting its own brand of punishment onto those that dare threaten its existence.

Darkness and the flashes of lightning, can, and will, always be seen in the future. For there are many more battles that lie before us in this ongoing struggle of ours. But no longer will we stand aside and allow our souls and our spirits to be covered in a sea of misery and pain.
For our souls are unsinkable for every challenge and journey that is placed before our paths of life

Lost WoIves 38

There Are No Shortcuts.
Every tree must grow according to the growth plan of the Creator.
Every flower must grow according to the plan of God.
The moon must make its trip around the earth according to God's plan.
Every human being must grow according to the plan of the Creator.
Sometimes we look at ourselves and we think we are not growing but we are always growing.
Because we cannot see it with our mind does not mean it is not happening.
We must be patient with ourselves and let the Creator direct our growth.

My Creator, let me be patient.
Let me realize that You are in charge of all things.
Let me realize that I must grow my roots a little at a time to become strong.

Don Coyhis

Great Spirit, let my visions today be Your vision.
Put within me a vision of the being You would have me be.
Then help me to keep the vision in my mind.

By: Don Coyhis

We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be. May the Great Spirit Bless you with the knowledge of your inner strength and wisdom.

Thank You God

Dear God, have I said thank You today?
Let me speak with You Lord I have somethings to say.
There are many blessings I want to thank You for.
You provide all I need and You give me so much more.
You woke me up this morning, it didn't have to be,
And for living in a country where we all can be free,
For flowers in bloom and the grass so green,
To awaken each morning from a night of sweet dreams,
For oaks, elms, and giant redwood trees,
For the cooling relief of a soft summer breeze,
For birds whose singing make each day sound so sweet,
For the water I drink and the food that I eat,
For the gift of sight Your creation to adore,
For the majesty of the eagle that we love to watch soar,
For taste, touch, smell, and the ability to hear,
For the laughter of a child like music to the ear,
For parents who taught us right from wrong,
For the privilege to praise Your name in a song,
For the air that we breathe each and everyday,
For a time to work and a time to play,
When something goes wrong or things don't go our way,
For the privilege to get down on my knees to pray,
For a measure of health and yes for illness too,
For days we are happy and days we are blue,
Into each life some problems must fall
To remind us of our need on Your name to call,
For our jobs and the ability to earn our own keep,
To provide for our families with some left over each week,
For the sadness of death and our joy at a birth,
For giving us all a sense of self-worth.
You gave me a sound mind, the ability to decide,
To serve or reject You, to be truthful or to lie,
For moments of silence and moments of peace,
For the Joy of salvation where my soul finds release,
For the right to be called children of light,
For knowing dear God, I'm never out of Your sight,
For the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and the End,
Knowing that my Savior and Lord is also my friend,
For Your Word that sustains me, I know it is true,
For Your Holy Spirit that comforts me all the day through.
Most of all Father thank You for Your Son,
For the life that He lived and for all He has done.
He did through the cross what no man could do.
He became the perfect sacrifice for me and for you.
He offers salvation. He gives us mercy and grace.
His gift is for all of every color and every race.
You give me so much and all of it's free,
So thank You dear God for listening to me.

"Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means."

Robert Louis Stevenson

"The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings."

"The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see,
and knows what the mind cannot understand."

************************

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.
For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.
For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it."

"I mean by a picture, a beautiful romantic dream
of something that never was, never will be
in a light better than any light that ever shone
in a land no one can define, or remember ...
only desire and the forms divinely beautiful."

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves and not to twist them to fit our own image.

A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys,
and keys to fit our locks.
When we feel safe enough to open the locks,
our truest selves step out, and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are
and not for who we're pretending to be.
Each unveils the best part of the other.
No matter what else goes wrong around us,
with that one person, we're safe in our own paradise.
Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings,
our sense of direction.
When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up,
chances are we've found the right person.
Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life.

Blessing

I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love.
May you love, honor, and cherish the preciousness and
uniqueness of your own being and of each other being in this world.
May you see your own goodness and beauty reflected
wherever you look.
May you be contented and appreciative of all life's
bountiful gifts.
May the splendor and majesty of your being guide
your thoughts, words, and actions.
May your pain and fear be transformed into strength,
understanding and compassion.
May the shining light of your being radiate peace and
harmony wherever you are.
May you be suffused with happiness, joyfully
celebrating each day you are alive.
May you be abundant in all wealth and rich in generosity,
sharing your blessings freely.
May you be a soothing balm of kindness and a fragrant
blossom of love to everyone you meet.
May you be well, whole, and healthy.
May the great love and compassion of your heart
embrace the suffering of all beings everywhere.
May the inner light of your purity and perfection
dissolve the clouds of discord, despair, and conflict.
May the intelligence and wisdom of your infinite mind
give you clarity in a confusing world.
May you trust that you are loved, cared for, and supported
by the infinite -always.
May you possess the precious magic jewel of gratitude
that transforms all life into a paradise.
May you pause for a moment each day to remember
this blessing upon you, and calling forth the full power
and magnificence of your own being, may you pass it
on to all beings everywhere.
I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love.

Without, Within
It's loud without and loud within
As cares in number roar
And make me pray to leave the din
That crashes through my core.
It's calm without and loud within
Where peace might wander near
But ever waves of tumult spin
Amid my mind of fear.
It's calm without and calm within
As Heaven stops to speak
So noiselessly to silence sin
And save this spirit weak.
It's loud without and calm within;
At rest by faith I stand.
Against all clanging foes I win
Held safe in Shelter's Hand.

Supper Time

It is supper time in Heaven, don't you wish that you were there?
As an angel blows a trumpet, and the Good Lord says a prayer.
There is Grandpa and Grandma, who held us on their lap,
And treated us so well, when we were just a little chap.
My Father and my Mother, we will be glad to see,
My brothers and my sisters, all gather there with me.
All other relations and my friends from below,
Have come to this reunion, with their sins as white as snow.
When it's supper time in Heaven, and the Good Lord breaks the bread,
With all His loving children, He will see that all are fed.
Just to be with all our loved ones and walk the golden street,
It is only by His shed blood that life will be complete.
But there is something I think we all should know;
If we expect to get there we must live right here below.
Do not break the Ten Commandments or have any other sin.
Accept the Lord as your Savior and have His peace within.

Sometimes I cannot tell you, "I know how you feel" I have not been where you are
But sometimes it's ok to walk by faith and not by sight
Sometimes it's ok to ask why, even if we get no immediate answer
Sometimes it's ok to wonder, how others lives can seem so normal when ours have been ripped apart
Sometimes it's ok to wonder where we failed, where we went wrong
Sometimes it's ok to ask God, "Please don't let me go crazy."
Sometimes it's ok to be hurt, and lonely, and sleepless, and sad, and mad
Sometimes it's ok to look for someone to blame
and to blame yourself, or even to blame God
But those sometimes won't last forever
The Great Healer will begin to put you back together!!!! AMEN!
never the same...but complete in His love
Then He will lead you to others that need to know about the "Sometimes"

Her Son

While pregnant with her Son beneath her heart within,
She'd often feel His hands moving inside her skin.
He'd stretch His arm and hand and push out on her side
She'd lovingly push it back with a smile so sweet and wide.
She could hardly wait for His upcoming birth
To touch His tiny hands and welcome Him to Earth.
Then it finally came,
The night that He was born.
With joy she couldn't contain,
She held Him until morn.
She explored His tiny fingers.
She counted all His toes.
She wanted to get to know Him,
His ears, His cheeks, His nose.
The wonder of it all,
At this new baby boy!
She could not hold back.
She wept with tears of joy.
She touched His tiny hand,
A miniature of her own.
He squeezed it tight on her finger.
Such joy she had never known!
The time passed and He grew.
As a toddler, it was grand
To walk along and hold
His fleshy little hand.
She taught Him many things.
Together they spent hours.
She'd take His little hand
And touch it to a flower.
When she would hold Him close,
He soon developed the knack
Of hugging her 'round the neck,
His tiny hand patting her back.
As her Son grew older,
His young hands also grew.
He learned many ways to use them.
Each day brought something new.
She helped Him learn to read.
She helped Him learn to write.
Then, as the day was ending,
She'd pray with Him at night.
He learned to use a hammer
With which to drive a nail.
He'd sometimes strike His finger
And let out quite a wail!
Her Son continued growing
And soon became a Man.
She loved Him just as much
As when His life began.
His hands were now full grown,
So strong, yet tender, when
He, with deep compassion,
Comforted a friend.
She was extremely grateful
When His hands would fold;
And bowing His head in prayer,
To His Father in Heaven He'd hold.
As the years flew swiftly by,
She watched her Son with pride,
His strong but gentle arms
And hands there at His side.
She then thought her life was over.
She suffered unspeakable loss
When her Son's beloved hands
Were nailed to a wooden cross . . .
But that was just the beginning.
For He died and rose again.
Her sorrow then was ended,
And joy replaced her pain.
For, you see, her Son was Jesus,
God coming to earth as Man,
To save us from our sins
According to His plan.

"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 3:16)

Love . . . the most powerful force in the Universe.
You were created by it.
All of creation was created by it.
Not one thing can exist without it.
A newborn baby will grow ill and possibly return to spirit without it.
A marriage will die without it.
Nothing can thrive without it.
Love . . . the most powerful force in the universe.
It can wipe away tears, turn a frown into a smile.
Give hope where there was none.
It can turn enemies into friends.
It can turn the darkness into the Light.
Love is the Light.
Love removes all judgment.
It accepts and does not condemn.
It has compassion and understanding.
With love there is no anger, no fear and no suffering.
There is only peace.

I did not know His love before, the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care, the "self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship, I found I had no hold.
The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name and bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day or when I'd smile again.
Yet through the pain and endless tears, my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light, His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could Jesus' love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can't go on." I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side. He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood, He helped me all the way.
And now I see as never before, how great His love can be
How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear, and then He said, "Enough!"
He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.
And now I know more storms will come, but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow as nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more, that's where I want to be!

Sam

A lady from Germany came over to the United States to visit some family she had not seen in years. While here in America she decided to take some sky diving lessons along with one of her family members.
On the first day she was nervous as you might expect, but, she went ahead with the lessons, any way. Her sky diving teacher was named Sam.

On the way up in the plane he explained some other things to her besides what they had learned in the class the previous three days.
"Don't worry he said, I will be with you all the way down."

Well, the big moment finally came and up together they went. While holding hands he said, now on the count of three pull your rip cord and I will pull mine a moment later.
As fortune would have it a very large gust of wind came and blew
across both parachutes and entangled them beyond repair. Why did I say as fortune would have it? Here is the rest of the story!

Later on after she landed she recounted the things she had been told by Sam. "As we were falling he told me this is what we are going to do." He told me to get on his back like we were going to piggyback. Then he told me how he was going to land and which way to roll and to be sure and stay loose and do not tighten up.
Then he told me something I will never forget. I will more then
likely be killed but it is important that you listen to me the last few seconds we have.

He began to explain to me about the love of the Lord and how there was no greater love then this that a man lay down his life for his friends.
He told me how if this was the only way GOD could reach me he was more then glad to be the one to die so I could live. He led me in the sinners prayer and I know now that there is nothing that will ever make me afraid again. I actually had peace when it came time for that final impact.

The last thing Sam told me was, no matter what happens in your life remember how the Lord brought you through this and know that He will always be with you, and I will be waiting for you at the Father's side.

It has been three and a half years since Sam died and I began to
really live. I never stop thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving His life for me that I could live.

Your soul, the essence of

"Who you are",
still searching the lost, forgotten rainbows of silver and gold
The thread lining of all that life had offered you
still only threads of what could of been

Only A Man . . .

At first glance she looked like any other old woman. Plodding along in the snow, alone, neglected, head bowed. People passing on the busy city sidewalk averted their eyes, lest she remind them that pain and suffering did not stop to celebrate Christmas.
A young couple, smiling, talking, laughing, arms loaded with Christmas presents, took no notice of the old woman.
A mother with two small children hurried by, on their way to grandmother's house. They took no notice.
A minister walked by proudly carrying his Bible in his right hand, like a well armed Christian soldier. But his mind was stayed on Heavenly things, and he took no notice.

If these people had noticed, they would have seen that the old woman wore no shoes. She walked barefoot in the ice and snow.
With both hands the old woman gathered her worn button-less overcoat at the collar to keep out the wind. She stopped and stood bent and bowed at the bus stop. A red and blue scarf covering her head, she waited for the downtown bus.

A gentleman carrying an important looking briefcase waited near her, not too closely. After all, she could have something contagious.

A teenage girl also waited for the bus. She glanced repeatedly at the old woman's feet, but said nothing.

The bus arrived and the old woman slowly, painfully boarded. She sat on the sideways seat just behind the driver. The gentleman and the teenage girl hurried to the rear. The man sharing the seat with the old woman shuffled uneasily and twirled his thumbs. "Senile," he thought.

The bus driver saw her bare feet and thought; "This neighborhood is sinking deeper and deeper into poverty, I hate to see it, I'll be glad when they put me on the College Park route."

A little boy pointed at the old woman.

"Look, Mother, that old lady is barefoot."

The embarrassed mother slapped his hand down. "Don't point at people, Andrew. It's not polite to point." She looked out the window.

"She must have grown children," a lady in a fur coat suggested. "Her children should be ashamed of themselves." She felt morally superior, because she took good care of her mother.

A teacher seated near the middle of the bus steadied the bag of gifts on her lap. "Don't we pay enough taxes to handle situations like this?" she said to a friend seated beside her. "It's this tax-cut crazy Republican administration," her friend replied. "They rob the poor and give to the rich." "No, it's the Democrats," a gray -haired man behind them interjected. "These Democrat welfare programs just make people lazy and keep them in poverty."

"People have to learn to save their money," a well-dressed young college man added. "If that old woman had saved when she was young, she wouldn't be suffering now. It's her own fault."

And all these people beamed with satisfaction that their acumen had delivered such trenchant analysis.

But, a kind businessman felt offended by this murmuring detachment of his fellow citizens. He reached into his wallet and took out a crisp twenty-dollar bill. He strode proudly down the isle and pressed the bill into the old woman's unsteady, wrinkled hand. "Here, Madam, get yourself some shoes."
The old woman nodded her head in thanks. The businessman strode back to his seat, feeling pleased with himself, that he was a man of action.

A well-dressed Christian lady had noticed all of this. She began to pray silently. "Lord, I don't have money. There is no way I can help. But Lord, I can turn to You in every need. Lord, I know that You are a loving God. You make a way out of no way. Now Lord, let Your blessing shine on this old woman. Let shoes fall like manna from Heaven, so that this old woman can have shoes for Christmas." And the Christian lady felt supremely spiritual.

At the next stop, a young man boarded the bus. He wore a heavy blue jacket, a maroon scarf around his neck, and a gray woolen cap pulled down over is ears. A wire running under the cap and into his ear was connected to a Walkman. The young man jiggled his body in time to music only he heard. He paid his fare and plopped down on the sideways seat directly across from the old woman.

As the young man's glance caught the old woman's bare feet,

His jiggling stopped. He froze.

His eyes went from her feet to his. He wore his expensive, new, brand name sneakers. For months he had saved from his minimum wage pay to buy these sneakers. Everybody in the gang would think he was "so cool."
The young man bent down and began to untie his sneakers. He removed his impressive new sneakers. He removed his socks. He knelt down before the old woman.
"Mother," he said, "I see you have no shoes. Well, I have shoes."
Carefully, gently, he lifted the old woman's crusty feet in his hands. He placed his socks and his fine sneakers on the old woman's feet. The old woman nodded in thanks.

Just then the bus arrived at the nest stop. The young man left the bus and walked away, barefoot in the snow.
The passengers crowded at the windows to watch him as he plodded barefoot through the snow.

"Who is he?" one asked.

"He must be a prophet," said another.

"He must be a saint," someone suggested.

"He must be an angel," said yet another.

"Look! There's a halo around his head," somebody shouted.

"He must be the Son of God," said the Christian lady.

But the little boy who had pointed, said, "No Mother, I saw him clearly,

He was only a man."
_____________________________________________________

I talked with the writer of this story. He's a physicist. We are in the same university class. This class: http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1120.htm

The class felt his story was a MountainWings Moment.

I agreed.

The funny thing is, and the thing that surprised me, he said the story was true, he witnessed it. He embellished the writing but the essence of the story is true. It stayed with him for years until The Mountain Wings Moment.

The writer: Earnest Thompson

Thank you Earnest

************************

Best Friends

Once in a small farming town in Oklahoma, there lived a poor fourth grade boy named Andy who would follow this route to school everyday. He had to cross the rugged plains and a dangerous highway where vehicles recklessly drove to and fro.

Once past this highway, the boy would take a shortcut by passing by the church every morning just to say hi to Jesus and faithfully say his morning prayers. He was being watched by the pastor who always found the boy's sincerity and innocence so uplifting in the morning.

"Hello Andy, how are you today?" he would say, greeting the child.
"I'm fine Pastor Thompson, how are you?" he would say flashing his innocent grin.
Seeing the way that Andy went to school, the pastor was so concerned, so one day he talked to him. "From school...," he advised "Do not cross the highway alone. You can pass through the church, and then I will accompany you to the other side of the road. That way, I can see that you get home safely."

"Thank you, pastor."

Why don't you go straight home? Why do you stay in this church right after school?"

Andy replied, "I just want to say "hi" to my friend, Jesus." So, the pastor would leave the boy to spend time praying by himself beside the altar. But one day, out of curiosity, he hid behind the altar to listen to what this boy had to say.

"You know, my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat - although my seatmate was bullying me for notes.
You know Dad's had a bad farming season so far this year. So, we don't have much food, but I ate some bread and drank my water. Thank you for this!
I saw a poor kitten who was hungry. I know how he feels, so, I gave some of my bread to him. Funny, but I am not that hungry.
Look, this is my last pair of shoes. I may have to walk barefoot next week. You see, this is about to be broken. But, it is okay, at least, I am still able to go to school.
Some say we will have a hard season this month and some of my classmates have had to stop going to school to help with the farms. Please help them get to school again. Please, Jesus!
Oh, You know, Dad hit me again. It is painful, but I know this pain will pass away. At least, I still have a Dad. You want to see my bruises? I know You can heal them ... here ... here and ... oh, blood. I guess, You knew about this one, huh? Please don't be mad at Dad. He is just tired and worries about putting food on our table and my schooling. That is why he hits me.
Oh, I think I am in love. There's this pretty girl in my class. Her name is Anita. Do you think she will like me?
Anyway, at least I know You will always like me. I don't have to be anybody just to please You. You are my very best friend!
Hey, Your birthday is just one week from now!!! Aren't You excited? I am! Wait 'til You see. I have a gift for you, but it is a surprise! I hope You will like it! Ooooops, I have to go..."

Then, he stood up and called out, "Pastor, I am finished talking to my friend. Can you accompany me to the other side of the road now?"

This routine happened everyday. Andy never failed to visit the church. Pastor Thompson shared this every Sunday to the people in his church because he had never before seen such pure faith and trust in God and such a very positive outlook in such negative circumstances.

The day before Christmas, Pastor Thompson became very ill and was sent to the hospital. The church was left to a substitute Pastor who had little patience for children or for any interruptions in his work. He would not smile and would always find fault in what other people were doing.
On Christmas Day, he was in the pastor's study when Andy, coming from his Christmas party, playfully dashed into the church calling, "Hi Jesus!!!!"

"Who are you child and what are you doing in here," the pastor yelled out angrily.

Poor Andy was so terrified. "Where's Pastor Thompson? He always helps me cross the street...and not only that, I have to greet Jesus. It's His birthday. I have a gift right here."

Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the pastor grabbed Andy by the shoulder and pushed him out the door of the church. "I cannot be bothered right now. I am preparing my sermon for the Christmas service tonight. Also, next time, be more reverent when you come into the church," the man yelled as he closed the door behind Andy.

So, the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church by himself. As he crossed, a fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time.

Andy died on the spot.

As people crowded around the body of the poor, lifeless, young boy... suddenly, out of nowhere, a tall man appeared in a pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle but with eyes full of tears. He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying.

Curious bystanders nudged the man in white and asked, "Excuse me, sir, are you related to the child? Do you know him?"

The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, answered, "He was my best friend," was all He said. He took the badly wrapped gift from the shirt of the lifeless boy and placed it near His heart. He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared from sight.

The crowd was curious...

On New Year's Eve, when Pastor Thompson returned home from the hospital, he learned of the shocking news. He went to visit Andy's parents and to ask them about the man in white he had been told about. He consulted the parents of Andy, "How did you first learn of your son's death?"

"A man in white brought him here," sobbed the mother.

"What did He say?"

The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know Him and yet, He was very lonely at our son's death, as if He knew our son very well. But, there was something peaceful and unexplainable about Him. He gave me my son and then He smiled peacefully. He rubbed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead. Then, He whispered something."

"What did He say?"

"He said to my boy," the father began, "Thank you for the gift. I will see you soon. You will be with Me." The father of the boy continued, "And you know, for a while, it felt so wonderful. I cried, but I do not know why. All I know is, I cried tears of joy. I could not explain it, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me. I felt a deep sense of love inside. I could not explain the joy in my heart.

I know my boy is in Heaven now. But, tell me, who was this man that my son talked to everyday in your church? You should know, because you are always there ... except at the time of his death."

Pastor Thompson suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes. With trembling knees, he murmured, "He was talking to Jesus."

Then shall He answer them, saying Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
Matthew 25:45

************************

I Have

Have you ever marveled at the dawning of a new day
and stood in awe of how perfectly God painted it that way?
I have.
Have you wondered at the wisdom God does impart,
or ever wrote a story or poem from the heart?
I have.
Have you ever felt so blessed your joy is overflowing,
because of all God's love for you, He was gently showing?
I have.
Have you ever stood in the mist of a beautiful waterfall,
and wondered what would life be like, without anything like this, at all?
I have.
Have you ever held a newborn close for just a little while.
Or listened to a child's giggle, or felt a warm smile?
I have.
These are just a few of the pleasures we experience each day.
Let's never forget to thank God for them, each day, as we pray!
I have!

by DeAnna Carter............4-4-2000

Twelve Gifts of Birth

Once upon a time, a long time ago, when princes and princesses lived in faraway kingdoms, royal children were given twelve special gifts when they were born. You may have heard these stories. Twelve wise women of the kingdom, or fairy godmothers as they were often called, traveled swiftly to the castle whenever a new prince or princess came into the world. Each fairy godmother pronounced a noble gift upon the royal baby. As time went on, the wise women came to understand that the twelve royal gifts of birth belong to every child, born anywhere, at anytime. They yearned to proclaim the gifts to all children, but the customs of the land did not allow that. One day when the wise women gathered together they made this prophecy: Some day all the children of the world will learn the truth about their noble inheritance. When that happens a miracle will unfold on the kingdom of Earth. Someday is near. Here is the secret they want you to know: At the wondrous moment you were born, as you took your first breath, a great celebration was held in the Heavens and twelve magnificent gifts were granted to you.
The first gift is Strength. May you remember to call upon it whenever you need it.
The second gift is Beauty. May your deeds reflect its depth.
The third gift is Courage. May you speak and act with confidence and use courage to follow your own path.
The fourth gift is Compassion. May you be gentle with yourself and others. May you forgive those who hurt you and yourself when you make mistakes.
The fifth gift is Hope. Through each passage and season, may you trust the goodness of life.
The sixth gift is Joy. May it keep your heart open and filled with light.
The seventh gift is Talent. May you discover your own special abilities and contribute them toward a better world.
The eighth gift is Imagination. May it nourish your visions and dreams.
The ninth gift is Reverence. May you appreciate the wonder that you are and the miracle of all creation.
The tenth gift is Wisdom. Guiding your way, wisdom will lead you thru knowledge to understanding. May you hear its soft voice.
The eleventh gift is Love. It will grow each time you give it away.
The twelfth gift is Faith. May you always believe.

Now you know about your twelve gifts of birth.
But there is more to the secret that the wise women knew.
Use your gifts well and you will discover others among them, a gift that is uniquely you. See these noble gifts in other people.
Share the truth and be ready for the miracle to unfold as the prophecy of the wise women comes true.

For you this day . . .
May you always find your treasure in the blessings that life sends, in the beauty of each season, in the company of friends.
May you grow in faith and wisdom, gather strength from every storm,
May you always have a smile to share, and one to keep you warm.
May each path you choose bring promise, of the things you're dreaming of,
May your world be filled with peace and joy, and your heart be filled with love.

Index	Ten	Twenty	Thirty
One	Eleven	Twenty-One	Remembering One
Two	Twelve	Twenty-Two	Remembering Two
Three	Thirteen	Twenty-Three	Remembering Three
Four	Fourteen	Twenty-Four	Animals One
Five	Fifteen	Twenty-Five	Animals Two
Six	Sixteen	Twenty-Six	Animals Three
Seven	Seventeen	Twenty-Seven	Heroes
Eight	Eighteen	Twenty-Eight	Holidays
Nine	Nineteen	Twenty-Nine

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	This site is owned and maintained by Bunny