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Interesting material that I come across in my travels...

Thanks For Putting Up With Me

(Anon)

Dear God,

I'm writing to say I'm sorry

For being angry yesterday

When you seemed to ignore my prayer

And things didn't go my way

First, my car broke down

I was very late for work

But I missed that awful accident

Was that your handiwork?

I found a house I loved

But others got there first

I was angry, then relieved

When I heard the pipes had burst!

Yesterday, I found the perfect dress

But the color was too pale

Today, I found the dress in red

Would you believe, it was on sale!

I know you're watching over me

And I'm feeling truly blessed

For no matter what I pray for

You always know what's best!

I have this circle of E-mail friends,

Who mean the world to me;

Some days I "send" and "send",

At other times, I let them be.

When I see each name download,

And view the message they've sent;

I know they've thought of me that day,

And "well wishes" were their intent.

I am so blessed to have these friends,

With whom I've grown so close;

So this little poem I dedicate to them,

Because to me they are the "Most"!

So to you, my friends, I would like to say,

Thank you for being a part;

Of all my daily contacts,

This comes right from my heart.

God bless you all is my prayer today,

I'm honored to call you "friend";

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until we write again.

Information, Please

(Author Unknown)

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person - her name was "Information, Please" and there was nothing she did not know. "Information, Please" could supply anybody's number and the correct time.

My first personal experience with this genie-in the-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone!

Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, Please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear, "Information."

"I hurt my finger," I wailed into the phone. The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me." I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open your icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information, Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was.

She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk, that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary died. I called "Information, Please" and told her the sad story. She listened, then said the usual things grown-ups say to soothe a child, but I was inconsolable.

I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone. "Information, Please."

"Information," said the now familiar voice.

"How do you spell 'fix'?" I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. "Information, Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home, and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall.

As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a

little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour or so between planes. I spent 15 or 20 minutes on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then, without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said,

"Information, Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well,

"Information." I hadn't planned this but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell 'fix'?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed. "So it's really still you," I said "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."

I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children, and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, "Information."

I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" She asked.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally has been working part-time the last few years because she was sick.

She died five weeks ago."Before I could hang up she said,

"Wait a minute. Did you say your name was Paul?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant. Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Whose life have you touched today?

He Knows Your Name

(Author Unknown)

When you are having problems

And feel there's no help around.

First take one step forward,

To get to higher ground.

If you think that God doesn't hear you

Then that, is really a shame

Not only does He hear every prayer you say;

But He knows you, by your name.

It does not matter just where you are

When you call upon the Lord.

He will be listening with a well-tuned ear

And will understand every word.

Be ready to listen to what He says,

As He tells you what to do.

For that will be your instructions

Because the rest will be up to you.

You should thank Him for His kindness,

Because He was standing by.

And not as you thought; He had turned away

And would never, hear your cry.

Even though you have made so many mistakes.

He will not hold you to blame.

For now, you are fully forgiven.

And remember, He knows your name.

The 7-Ups

( Author Unknown)

1. WAKE UP - Decide to have a good day. "Today

is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice

& be glad in it" Psalms 118:24

2. DRESS UP - The best way to dress up is to

put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way

to improve your looks. "The Lord does not

look at the things man looks at. Man looks at

outward appearance but the Lord looks at the

heart" I Sam 16:7

3. SHUT UP - Say nice things & learn to

listen. God gave us 2 ears and

1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do

twice as much listening as talking. "He who

guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs

13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence avoid men who

talk too much" Proverbs 20:19 "Listen to

advice, accept instruction and in the end,

you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20

4. STAND UP - For what you believe in. Stand

for something or you will fall for anything.

"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at

the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we

do not give up. Therefore, as we have

opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. LOOK UP - To the Lord. "I can do everything

through Him who gives me strength"

Philippians 4:13

6. REACH UP - For something higher. As Jiminy

Cricket sings "High Hopes" Always try to

better yourself. Have FAITH. "Now faith is

being sure of what we hope for and certain of

what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

7. LIFT UP - Your Prayers. "Do not worry about

anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING"

Phillipians 4:6

God's Boxes

(Author Unknown)

I have in my hands two boxes

Which God gave me to hold

He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,

And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes

Both my joys and sorrows I stored

But though the gold became heavier each day

The black was as light as before

With curiosity, I opened the black

I wanted to find out why

And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole

Which my sorrows had fallen out by

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,

"I wonder where my sorrows could be."

He smiled a gentle smile at me."

"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,

Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"

"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

The black is for you to let go."

Every Day

(Author Unknown)

Every day I need you Lord

But this day especially,

I need some extra strength

To face what ever is to be.

This day more than any day

I need to feel you near,

To fortify my courage

And to overcome my fear.

By myself, I cannot meet

The challenge of the hour,

There are times when humans help,

But we need a higher power

To assist us bear what must be borne,

and so dear Lord, I pray -

Hold on to my trembling hand

And be near me today.

Run Through the Rain

(Author Unknown)

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.

We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child

come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.

"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day!

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

"AND GOD SAID"

I said, "God I hurt."

And God said, "I know."

I said, "God, I cry a lot."

And God said,"That is why I gave you tears."

I said, "God, I am so depressed."

And God said, "that is why I gave you sunshine."

I said, "God, life is so hard."

And God said, "that is why I gave you loved ones."

I said, "God, my loved ones died."

And "God said, "Mine did to."

I said,"God, it is such a loss."

And God said,"I saw mine nailed to a cross."

I said,"But God, your loved ones live."

And God said, "So does yours."

I said,"God, where are they now?"

And God said,"Mine is on my right and yours is in the light."

I said, "God it hurts."

And God said,"I know."

Words to Live By...

1. Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind.
2. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over the future.
3. Love ......and you shall be loved.
4. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
5. All people smile in the same language.
6. A hug is a great gift..one size fits all. It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange.
7. Everyone needs to be loved...especially when they do not deserve it.
8. The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity.
9. Laughter is God's sunshine.
10. Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.
11. It's important for parents to live the same things they teach.
12. Thank God for what you have, TRUST GOD for what you need.
13. If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today
      to be thankful for.
14. Happy memories never wear out.... relive them as often as you want.
15. Home is the place where we grumble the most, but are often treated the best.
16. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within.
17. The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow.
18. Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul.
19. If anyone speaks badly of you, live so none will believe it.
20. Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.
21. Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together.
22. The best thing parents can do for their children is to love each other.
23. Harsh words break no bones but they do break hearts.
24. To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it.
25. We take for granted the things that we should be giving thanks for.
26. Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished.
27. Happiness is enhanced by others but does not depend upon others.
28. You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven.
29. For every minute you are angry with someone, you lose 60 seconds of happiness that you can
      never get back.
30. Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, and where you are.
31. THE BEST GIFTS TO GIVE
       To your friend - loyalty;
       To your enemy - forgiveness;
       To your boss - service;
       To a child - a good example;
       To your parents - gratitude and devotion;
       To your mate - love and faithfulness;
       To all men and women - charity; and
       To your God - your life.

Author Unknown

36 Stress Reducers For Christians

Author Unknown

Pray
Go to bed on time.
Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
Say No, to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
Delegate tasks to capable others.
Simplify and unclutter your life. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often
too many.)
Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
Take one day at a time.
Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety.
If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut.) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
Get enough exercise.
Eat right.
Get organized so everything has its place.
Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
Write thoughts and inspirations down.
Everyday, find time to be alone.
Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until its time to go to bed to try and pray.
Make friends with Godly people.
Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus!"
Laugh.
Laugh some more!
Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
Sit on your ego.
Talk less; listen more.
Slow down.
Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

"THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE"

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is

the best day of my life, ever!

There were times when I wondered if I would make it to

today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life

I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings,

and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to

make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and

a happy heart.

I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning

dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with

other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of

my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for

someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who

seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and

I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for

them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't

have and start being grateful for all the wonderful

things God has already given me.

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time

because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures

everything will be just fine.

Tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and

raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe

at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will

praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow,

I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life.

And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child,

excited with expectation because I know tomorrow

is going to be ......

The Best Day Of My Life!

--Author Unknown

The Road Of Life

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die,

He was our there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture but I didn't really know him.

But later on, when I met Christ

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride.

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was that He suggested

we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way

It was rather boring and predictable...

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts

up mountains and through rocky places at break-neck

speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you

taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, " I'm scared!" He'd lean back and

touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of

healing, acceptance, and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.

And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away;

they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did to the

people we met, and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life,

I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to make sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal

in the strangest places,

and beginning to enjoy the view,

and the cool breeze on my face,

with my delightful constant companion,

JESUS CHRIST.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,

He just smiles and says . . . .

"Pedal."

--Author Unknown

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