... receive some good advice. Mom's Tip #091: They're never too rich to take home your leftovers. Mom's Tip #092: Don't remind your grown son you changed his diapers. Mom's Tip #093: If they grow up to be doctors, take the credit. Mom's Tip #094: If they grow ... in labor don't say" Now you know". Mom's Tip #242: Teenage daughters are hazardous to your health. Mom's Tip #243: Teenage sons are hazardous to their own health. Mom's Tip #244: How long CAN you put off the birds and bees lecture? Mom's Tip #245: How ... Tip #229: Do a jigsaw puzzle together. Mom's Tip #230: Ask only that they try their best. Mom's Tip #231: Your son's wife will not be pretty enough. Mom's Tip #232: Your daughter's husband will not earn enough. Mom's Tip #233: When they have kids, ...

... too big to hug. They're never too smart to receive some good advice. They're never too rich to take home your leftovers. Don't remind your grown son you changed his diapers. If they grow up to be doctors, take the credit. If they grow up to be lawyers, don't take the blame. ... think she's a better mother than you. When daughter's in labor don't say" Now you know". Teenage daughters are hazardous to your health. Teenage sons are hazardous to their own health. How long CAN you put off the birds & bees lecture? How many times can you rewrite your will? Never buy ... tears. Play Name the State Capitals. Teach them to read maps. Do a jigsaw puzzle together. Ask only that they try their best. Your son's wife will not be pretty enough. Your daughter's husband will not earn enough. When they have kids, they'll REALLY appreciate you. Grandchildren are for spoiling. ...

... ? Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a female village moneylender. The female Moneylender, who was old, fat and ugly, fancied the farmer's handsome son, Cliff. So she proposed a bargain. She said she would forego the farmer's debt if she could marry his son. Both the farmer and his son were horrified by the Proposal. So the cunning female moneylender suggested that they let ... to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. »»» (Page down to find out what the son decided to do) »»» The Son's Solution.... The son's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if he chooses the above logical answers. What would you recommend the son do? Well, here is what he did.. ...

... discard your father's heart !" He looked at the trees and then at the rock in his hands. The voice called again:" Do not discard your father's heart !"" Who are you ?"" I am the Father of every son and daughter and I tell you, the stone you hold in your hand is like the condition of your father's heart !" He looked at the rock. He could tell it was badly misshapen, that it had broken off from a larger ... has seen fit to bring us together these last years .It's not too late! I'm here. I'm here !" And they embraced. A moment later the old man straightened up, stretched out a trembling hand, laid it upon his son's head, and spoke these words:" You are a reflection of the face of God. Though I cannot see you with my eyes, I see you with my heart and the mercy you have shown me these past years is like ...

... I am no better than anyone else in this world. I may be able to do some things that they can ’ t, but their lives are just as precious and just as valuable as mine. As I watch my oldest son be a friend to everyone in his school and share his simple kindness with everyone he meets I am warmed to the depths of my being. I know too that he has touched hearts and brightened souls everyday of his life here with his ... My Sons Raising two sons with Autism has been the most difficult challenge that I have ever faced in this life. Watching them deal daily with their handicaps and trying to help them in every way I can has at times been painful, frustrating, and even heart-breaking. Through it all, though, I have gained more wisdom about living than I could have ever imagined. My two sons have been my teachers as well as my students on how to live and how ...

... have intervened because he had other uses for me on this earth. But I digress... It was a particularly devastating time in my life. I had left my own home to live in an apartment with my then 10-year-old son (who would just have been in the way of his Mother's new-found life-style )! Every day I mourned my fate, having lost my wife, my family, and my home! I was more financially strapped than I'd ever imagined possible. ... support and alimony, and now also rent on the apartment and living expenses for my son and myself. On top of it all, I was now a single parent, having to put meals on the table, look after my son's medical needs, jockeying my son hither, tither, and yon, and all the other domestic chores. Well, one night when I hit the hay, I sat on the edge of my bed and" talked to God" ( ...

... Ishmael, and Jacob had twelve sons each. We know that Ishmael had at least one daughter, (who married Esau ), as did Jacob, but Nahor apparently had none. He did have one granddaughter, however, through his son Bethuel (see Genesis 22: 20-21). It dawned on my friend that there could have been only one candidate who could fulfill the qualifications laid down by Abraham for a bride for his son Isaac," Go to my country and ... amazing phenomenon. This same friend then raised the issue of coincidence vs God's miraculous authorship in the Bible, specifically, the first book of the Bible, Genesis. He noted how the Messianic line always seemed to produce a surplus of sons, but few daughters. Nahor, (Abraham's brother ), Ishmael, and Jacob had twelve sons each. We know that Ishmael had at least one daughter, (who married Esau ), as did Jacob, but Nahor apparently had none. ...

... give love and time away-and especially to those closest to me ?" Charles Francis Adams was the United States ambassador to Great Britain during the Lincoln administration. He had the habit of keeping a daily diary. He also taught his son Brooks the value of journaling his activities in a diary. One memorable day, eight-year-old Brooks recorded," Went fishing with my father, the most glorious day of my life" It must have been a glorious day, for the next ... ," Went fishing with my son; a day wasted" He didn't get it. That one single day he generously and freely gave love and time away to Brooks may have been the one of the most important days of his son's life. Did he feel that, as a United States ambassador, his time was too valuable to be" wasted" with his children? History seems to show that a fishing trip with his son paid huge dividends in Brooks ' life ...

... our lines in the lake. Frozen corn served as our bait and from the moment we dropped our lines in the lake, the fish grabbed a hold. Shrieks of excitement announced that we had landed another pint-sized bluefish. My oldest son took responsibility for baiting the hooks and fixing some of the tangled lines. Without hesitation he got the fish off the hooks and released them. And when one of the younger boys caught a snapping turtle, he even held it while we ... he sat in the garage making sure we had everything. Before long we were ready to meet up with our friends. We met them and through a series of events we won't get into, we all drove together. Her three sons, my three sons, my friend and I all piled into the mini-van and headed to our destination. Although the boys ages varied from 2 to 10 years old, we all had one thing in common-we had never been fishing ...

... Lessons In Hugging Life's biggest lessons aren't learned all at once. They are taught and learned time and time again over years and years. I realized this today when I was with my youngest son in the store. We were walking back and forth looking for something both good tasting and good for you when he suddenly reached over, wrapped his arms around me, and gave me a hug. This made me smile with both laughter and joy. I realized then that ... children have learned this lesson so well over the years. My daughter's hugs brighten my days and uplift my soul. I have been blessed a million times over by the love and joy she so freely shares with me. My two sons ' hugs always bring happiness to my heart as well. It makes me feel good to know that they have learned two of the most important things in life: how to choose love and how to spread joy. Remember then that every ...

... He sent to be my children. They all have such beautiful spirits. They all bring joy to me and to the world around them every single day. It is always such a pleasure to take walks around town with my oldest son. He has more people say" Hi" to him in a day than I do in a week. This is because his goodness and friendliness touches the hearts of everyone he meets. My youngest son rarely speaks at all, yet ... spirit shines in other ways. His spontaneous joy and delight in the simplest things makes me smile and his wonderful laughter sounds as beautiful as an angel ’ s song. Both of my sons do have Autism, but Autism doesn ’ t have them. My boys also remind me that sometimes the brightest souls come to Earth in disguise. They come hidden in broken bodies and handicapped minds. They come needing our help and care, yet at the same time they show the ...

... are Christ's prayers. And in the Garden, shortly before He was betrayed, He prayed to the Father," may your will be done" Matt. 26: 39. Even Christ, with His high standing as the only Son of God, did not attempt to superimpose His will over that of the Father, but rather accepted the will of His (and our) Father over what He would will. And let us recall Paul's strong teaching to the church at ... blessings in life, chief among them prayer. How awesome it is to be able to pray to the maker of the universe, Father, and to remember that the Creator's will is perfect. Remind us, father, of your Son's sacrifice and that His focus was at all times on You and Your will. Help us, Father, to remain in Your Word and to seek Your will for our lives. Help us to pray as Your Son taught us: may ...

... Gift Of A Hug It was two days before Father ’ s Day and my eldest son and I were having breakfast. Just as he finished off the last bite of his Cheerios my boy caught me off guard by asking me what I wanted as a present for Father ’ s Day. I looked him in the eyes and saw his good and earnest soul shining through them. Then in a moment of inspiration and wisdom I said:" I think that a big ... dear son got right up, wrapped his arms around me and gave me just what I asked for. The precious gifts didn ’ t end there either. On Father ’ s Day I got several more hugs from both of my sons and my daughter too. Each one shared all the love they had for me and I had for them. Each one brought us so much joy. Each one made us feel connected, cherished, and whole. Those wonderful hugs made ...

... Jacob Do you know the story of Jacob? It is found in the Bible, starting with Genesis 25. Here are a few highlites from his life. Jacob was the son of Abraham, and the twin brother of Esau. Jacob was a scoundrel during the early years of his life. The first thing he did (that is recorded) was to take advantage of his twin brother when he was hungry. He made Esau trade his birthright for a tasty stew ... Jewish nation. When a severe famine occurred in his old age, Jacob moved with the rest of the family to Egypt where his son, Joseph could take care of him. He died there and was buried with honors by his sons. He had changed from the young scoundrel he had been, to a man loved and respected by many. Are you a scoundrel? A sneaky, dishonest person? God is wrestling with you to change. You may not see an ...

... , however, at just how short even the longest life here on Earth is. I see children swinging at my son's school and I can remember when I attended that same school and swung on those same swings. I give my son and daughter a hug and notice that they are almost as tall as me now. I can remember, though, when I could hold them in the crook of one arm while I rocked them to sleep. I mow the lawn near ... I am sure then that time flies even faster when you are choosing love and sharing joy. I am becoming aware, however, at just how short even the longest life here on Earth is. I see children swinging at my son's school and I can remember when I attended that same school and swung on those same swings. I give my son and daughter a hug and notice that they are almost as tall as me now. I can remember, though, when ...

... Counting Little Blessings Newly divorced, I was waiting tables at a little diner in Ponca City, Oklahoma, barely scraping by. My three-year-old son, Scott, had chronic asthma and the medical bills were overwhelming me. Worry undermined my thinking. My faith in myself and God was crumbling." Why am I going through this ?" I asked the Lord." Why aren't you helping me ?" One day my good friend Bea came over and sat at the kitchen table ... daughter's diabetes, I wonder sometimes what has been the purpose of my struggle" I know just what she needs, I thought. I dug out my old faded spiral notebook. I put it in a manila envelope along with my son's senior picture and a note that said," A wise friend once told me, 'When things are rough, you have to look for the little blessings '" A month later I received a small parcel from Bea: my old notebook ...

... the inside? Let me explain. A magazine article told about a woman in rural Florida who was recuperating from a lengthy illness. She enjoyed sitting on her front porch in her wheelchair and, on this day, she watched her son repair his automobile. He raised it on blocks of wood, removed the tires and slid on his back underneath the vehicle. Suddenly there was a loud crack and the automobile lurched to one side, pinning the young man underneath. She ... for her husband who ran to assist, but he couldn't budge the car or the young man. He climbed into his own vehicle and sped off for help. The mother, who hadn't walked in months, realized that her son's groans were growing fainter and she knew that it would be up to her to save the boy. She sensed he was dying and that she had to act immediately. She rose to her feet and walked on shaky legs to the car. ...

... other three sides are YOUR creation, and the fourth side can be HIS. And in Christ, when God looks at you he sees a perfection you could never attain on your own; he sees the perfect image of his own son. What would you pay for house paint that will last forever? What would you say if I told you that somebody had already paid for your paint AND was willing to scrape, sand, and paint your house for you? Too ... cannot conceal, God is willing to overlook. What you cannot hide, God is willing to cover over. What you cannot overcome, God is willing to dismiss. But only when it is buried deep within the covering of his son's blood. The fourth wall of your life needs some paint. Have you met the master painter? [by Mark Phillips (lovenotes-on @mail-list.com)-from 'Daily Wisdom '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... politicians and even reporters. During a 1986 speech at the University of Tennessee, Jody Powell told a story about a television reporter who grilled Miss Lillian on this topic." Is it true ," asked the reporter," that your son doesn't lie? Can you tell me he has never told a lie ?"" Well, I reckon he might have told a little white lie now and then ," replied Miss Lillian. The reporter spotted the opening." I thought you ... and fulfilled life grows from a good system of roots. No one believed in the solid" rootage" of President Jimmy Carter more than his own mother" Miss Lillian ," as she was fondly called. She was aware of her son's reputation for honesty, which had become a topic of curiosity among many politicians and even reporters. During a 1986 speech at the University of Tennessee, Jody Powell told a story about a television reporter who grilled Miss Lillian on this topic. ...

... Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her Heart ?? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time ?? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 AM to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby ... Just on more time" This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls" Mom ?" in a crowd, even thought they know their own offspring are at home -or even away ...

... time. I have never had any trouble finding God in my laundry room. He is always ready to receive my praise, my thanks, my prayers for family and friends, my joys and heartaches too. My four year old son, Jonathan, spent his first two years in and out of the hospital. My laundry room, with its reassuring routine and memories of mornings with God, became the most comfortable place for me when I could not be at my son's ... . People must have questioned my sanity when I staggered home from the hospital and made a beeline for the laundry room. How could I explain what it had become? Many prayers and loads of laundry later, I now wonder if there are other mothers like me-mothers too busy wiping peanut butter and jelly off little faces and kissing owies to maintain the practice of what the less encumbered call quiet time. I'm thinking of mommies who can't remember how it feels to sit ...

... With The Other Woman A Gift Of Giving A Glass Of Milk A Hat Full Of Spare Thots A Helping Hand A Life Multiplied A Living Sacrifice A Look Of Love A Matter Of Focus A Penny A Moment To Remember -You Are My Son A Short Time Here A Sign For Santa A Stroke Of Luck A Sure Cure For Stress A Tribute To Mothers A Walking Sermon A Winter Sunrise A Wifes Ten Commandments Abc Of A Fruitful Life Adventures Alphabet Faith Guide An Unlikely Pair And God ... Her Child Message From God Middle School Teacher Missed Opportunities Missing Lamb Moments For Love Moral Dilemma Mothers Motivational Quote Mud Puddles And Dandelions Mushrooms My 2nd Father My Moment For Finding Faith My New Watch My Next 40 Years My Old Car My Sons New -Not Improved Name Them One By One New Years Wishes Niare To A Blessing Nineteen Somethings To Say To Childern No Room Not Our Fruit Alone Not Perfect Nuggets Of Gold Nudge The Balance (Life Lessons) On Monday One Line Parables One ...

... Heaven A Little More Kindness A Little Morning Music A Living Sacrifice A Long Way A Look Of Love A Love That Changes A Loving Thought A Matter Of Character A Matter Of Focus A Miracle Morning A Moment To Remember -You Are My Son A Monster To Hug A Morning Blessing A Morning Gift A Mountaintop View A Penny A Picture A Place At The Table A Ray Of Sunshine A Second Chance A Shining Moment A Short Time Here A Short Walk A Sign For Santa A Smiling ... Mud Puddles And Dandelions Mushrooms Music Of The Heart My 2nd Father My Aunt My Dad My Daughter The Graduate My First Kiss My Moment For Finding Faith My Mom's Treasures My Nanny My New Watch My Next 40 Years My Old Car My Sons Mysterious Ways Namaste Name Them One By One Needing A Nudge Needless Worry Never Be Sorry Never Forget Never Too Late New -Not Improved New Years Wishes Niare To A Blessing Nineteen Somethings To Say To Childern No Future In The Past No Hopeless Situations ...

... Of A Hug Words To Grow On A Matter Of Character No Hopeless Situations Volunteer Victims Father Ed Let The Preacher Do It The Hitchhiker Hug That Monster Unity Room Brighteners Happily Ever After The Matchless Gift A Moment To Remember -You Are My Son Great Happiness A Walking Sermon Finding Your Note Somebody Loves You Special Olympics All Of Our Moments A Better Way To Live Listening To Our Better Angels Beatitudes For SAHMs-08 Jesus Loves Me The Meaning Of Success A Dream Jeffie And Grandpa Today I Will ... About Beatitudes For SAHMs-02 Most Important Body Part Developing My Struggle Muscles Bonds Of Love Great Teachers Seeing Through Autism's Walls Little Miracles The Fable Of Mary Lin Hand In Hand This Wondrous World A Different Brush Missing Lamb Lessons For Life Teenagers My Sons Charles Schultz Philosophy Joy Is Free Be Still Great Value In Disaster Living The Good Life Heavenly Exercise Program As Old As I Use To Be Don't Ever Stop Dreaming Your Dreams Driving Out Bad Nails The Heart Cry Of A Bruised Spirit You Are ...

... A Moment To Remember. You Are My Son I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game-a serious game: two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing-I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn't seem to care. They were having fun. In the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put ...

... And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host" Luke 2: 13 B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, Birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold." But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel" Micah 5: 2 C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, There in the stable where He laid His head." And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger" Luke 2: 7 D is for David and his ancient throne Promised forever to Jesus alone." He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David" Luke 1: 32 E is for East, where shone the bright star Which Magi on camels followed afar." Behold, there came ...

... True Healing My son was wheezing and gasping for breath. I had never seen him so sick. His face was pale and his irregular breathing pattern was very scary. I got worried and started to panic. I didn't even call the doctor's office for an apppointment-no time to waste! I just bundled-up my son, David, and rushed him to the doctor's office. All that was going through mind was" I have got to get the doctor see my son immediately" When we reached the doctor's office, I was not happy because there were so many other people waiting to see the doctor. The nurse checked my son and said he'll be okay-you'll just have to" WAIT" for your turn. Easy for her to say-David wasn't her son. So, I did wait (I had to). My son still looked very, very sick, to me. Finally, I took a deep breath ...

... to be on the roads. Snow had been falling all day long making them slick and hazardous. I would have much rather been in my warm, little home than driving along on such a windy and Wintry day. I didn ’ t have a choice though. I had to have my paper work turned in that day if I wanted to be paid for the work I had done that month, so it was a trip to the office for me and my son. The wind cut into me as I walked out of the office and got back into my car for the 15 mile trip back home. The snow continued to fall as we drove along and I slowed the car down even more. I glanced over at my son in his heavy coat and orange toboggan as he looked peacefully out the window. In the eyes of the world he was looked upon as mentally handicapped. Over the years, however, I had begun to ...

... conversation. One of them complained of family problems. Finally, the other man said," You think you have family problems? Listen. A few years ago I met a young widow with a grown-up daughter, and we got married. Later my father married my stepdaughter. That made my stepdaughter my stepmother and my father became my stepson. Also, my wife became mother-in-law of her father-in-law." Then the daughter of my wife, my stepmother, had a son. This boy was my half-brother because he was my father's son, but he was also the son of my wife's daughter, which made him my wife's grandson. That made me the grandfather of my half-brother." This was nothing until my wife and I had a son. Now the half-sister of my son, my stepmother, is also the grandmother. This makes my father the brother-in-law of my child, whose stepsister is my father's wife. I'm my stepmother's brother-in-law, ...

... Jesus Loves Me It was a very hot day, sweat and irritation was in abundance. Traffic was hectic and the A / C in my car was not cooperating either. I had to run many errands, and since the baby sitter was on leave, I had to take a day off and take my 4 year old son wherever I went. I was just hoping that he behaved well the entire day, because I was definitely not in a good mood. I had to pickup a book for my friend who was celebrating her birthday the next day, so I ran to the bookstore, (Remember, I was literally dragging David, my son along with me) and the checkout line was very, very, very long. I did not want to drive to another bookstore to avoid the long line, because I did not want to get" fried" in the heat again. The checkout line looked like a giant snail ...

... Just Call Upon Him The boy walked along the ocean shore... trying not to stray. He looked up to his father saying," Dad, I want to play" His father looked upon him, with love showing in his eyes." Do what you want to, my son... but do not leave my side"" I would never leave you Daddy, I love you way too much" But the boy took a step away, out of his father's range of touch. He walked through the surf, the waves tickling one toe." If I take one more step in.." he thought," Father will never know" His father called out to him," Son, to me remain true !" The boy thought with glee..." At the moment I don't need you !" His father felt a sadness, but he held his tongue. Sometimes lessons need to be ...

... Five More Minutes While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground." That's my son over there ," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide." He's a fine looking boy ," the man said." That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater" Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son." What do you say we go, Todd ?" Todd pleaded," Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes" The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son." Time to go now ?" Again Todd pleaded," Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes" The man smiled and said," okay"" My, you certainly are a ...

... Seeing Through Autism ’ s Walls I pulled an old photo album from its shelf yesterday and wiped the dust off of it. It is one that I rarely open, but something moved me to open it then. Inside of it were baby pictures of my youngest son from the day of his birth until he was 18 months old. Looking at them made my heart ache, not with nostalgia but with loss. You see, the reason I hardly ever look at these pictures is that I can see in them the normal child my son could of been. When I look at those happy, intelligent, and shining eyes in the photos I can see all the years of learning, growing, and becoming that my son could have had before the autism came. The severe autism that came upon my son in his second year stole his language, changed his personality, and forever clouded his mind. It left him with a life of ...

... Grandfather's Table A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his steps faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk sometimes spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess." We must do something about Grandfather ," said the son." I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor" So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as ...

... Laughing Angels My youngest son doesn ’ t talk much. He has severe Autism that hampers his ability to speak and communicate. It also locks him in his own world much of the time. Yet, when he laughs and smiles he can light up the darkest day. Sometimes he will break into a spontaneous spasm of giggles for no apparent reason at all. When this happens my daughter and I will often joke that his dearly departed Grandma and her angel friends must be tickling him. The other night while I was busy working at my desk I once more heard his musical laughter behind me. I asked," Son are the angels tickling you again ?" and got an even louder burst of giggles as an answer. I smiled and turned around to see him. There he stood under the ceiling fan with its glass globe glowing above his head like a halo. Dangling from it too was a glass angel figurine that we had tied ...

... The Sweetest Sound My youngest son doesn ’ t speak much. His severe autism has always made language a struggle for him. Even though he is sixteen years old now his vocabulary remains very limited. His sentences are simple ones that only let us know his basic needs. Even these sometimes fail and he will need to grab our hands and show us what he wants. Still, his light-hearted laughter, delighted smile, and shining eyes can speak volumes at times. Often I only have to look at him to share in his joy. He may not be Shakespeare but his heart says so much. To me he will always be a gift from Heaven. I can remember last Summer helping him to get his room ready for bed on a warm August evening. As it often can be with families dealing with autism it had been a long day full of ups and downs for us both. There had been both laughter and joy and ...

... He headed straight to the dumpster but found it within it's own fortress, locked behind tall gates. I hastily ordered an extra cup of coffee and a couple of breakfast sandwiches, hoping he hadn't gotten too far. As I pulled around, my gaze scanned the area until I saw him, on the far side by the shopping mall. I wondered where he might be heading now. As I pulled up along side, I lowered my window and called out 'Hey son, and told him I'd brought him a little breakfast. His humble reply surprised me," No, you keep that, you bought it for yourself"" Oh ," I said," I got some for myself, too. This is for you" He hesitated as he came up to the car to take the steaming cup and small bag and seemed obligated to answer a question that hadn't been asked." I've been working the carnie ," he said politely. ...

... . What did God do? God climbed into our" playpen" with us! When Jesus Christ entered into our" playpen of captivity ," He took the sin and disobedience that should have been ours alone, releasing us from our captivity... allowing us the opportunity to experience the fullness of life God has for us! The message is simple, clear and personal: God with us... He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!" For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" John 3: ...

... The Power Of Words It was 15 years ago. I was driving home with my 8 year old son after a trip to the grocery store. Traffic was light. The sun was shining. A cool Autumn breeze was in the air. I was quietly singing along to the song playing on the radio. I pulled to a stop at the intersection and looked both ways. The road was clear. I slowly started to make a right turn when suddenly a car rounded a curve at high speed and came straight at me. I stomped on the breaks of my car killing the engine in the process. The speeder zoomed past my dead car without even slowing down missing me by inches. Before I knew it a stream of profanity was flying from my lips, chasing after the car and its driver. I then looked over to my son who was staring up at me innocently. With a red face and an embarrassed smile I started ...

... 19 Horses One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and testament he had written that upon his death, half the horses he owned should go to his only son; one fourth to the village temple and one fifth to the faithful servant. The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than two weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighboring village. The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man's last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son, one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant. The wise ...

... Cookies I had just picked up my son from the sheltered workshop for the handicapped where he works part-time. We were driving home listening to music on the radio when suddenly a news break came on. It appeared that a reality television star had just wasted 10 million dollars on a wedding for a marriage that lasted 72 days. The next story predicted that BILLIONS of dollars could be spent on negative attack ads in the coming election year. I sighed and wondered about this weird and crazy world we live in." Is there any hope for us at all ?," I thought." Dad, I shared my cookies !" I turned my head to see my son ’ s sparkling eyes. He started telling me how he had shared the cookies I had put in his lunch box that morning with some of the other handicapped people who worked at the sheltered workshop. I smiled and told him what a great boy he was. Then I realized ...

... The Habits Of Love I stopped at the local gas station with my oldest son to fill-up my car the other day. I told him to go on in and get himself a can of pop while I pumped the gas. After I finished and got in line to pay I looked to see where he was. I soon found him by the front doors of the store. He was opening one for a woman with her arms full of groceries. He accepted her thanks with a cheerful" no problem" and quickly moved to the other door to open it for a little girl struggling to pull it out. I smiled when I saw this wonderful goodness, kindness, politeness, and helpfulness in my son. He was so full of the habits of love that it warmed my heart. I told him what a fine, young man he has become as we walked back to the car. It is something I can never tell him ...

... A Special Thanks My son will be graduating from High School next May. After turning 21 he will no longer be able to attend the special education program at the school he loves. Over the years, in spite of his Autism, he has grown into such a kind, happy, and caring young man. He is a joy to this world and I know too that his Mother and I aren ’ t the only reason he became the blessing he is. That is why I want to give a special thanks to so many who have helped him over the years. His beautiful sister has been a true angel in watching over him. I can ’ t thank her enough. His aide at school has been like a second Mother to him. God blessed us by sending her into his life. I thank too all of his teachers that showered him with praise and encouragement and allowed both his mind and spirit to grow. All ...

... Pause For A Moment Do you ever wish that life came with a pause button? Do you ever wish that you could just take a moment from your life and stay there forever? I was remembering a moment like that from my own life recently. It was the night I brought my newborn, baby son home from the hospital. My son was 3 weeks late in arriving and my wife needed an emergency Caesarian section to bring him into the world. She was still in a lot of pain and sleeping when I heard him wake up during the night. Gently I picked him up and carried him into the living room so my wife could sleep. Rocking him in my arms I told him how much I loved him and how I would always be there for him no matter what. Then I saw his sweet eyes gazing up at me and the smallest of smiles form on his lips. It was a moment of pure joy that ...

... YOU LOAN YOUR KIDS A FEW DOLLARS. TO BUY SOME OF YOURS-GOD LOVE IN TENNIS MEANS 'NOTHING. BUT LOVE FROM ME MEANS" EVERYTHING"-GOD WHY WAIT? GIVE THEM THE FLOWERS NOW, WHILE THEY CAN STILL KNOW, LOVE, AND APPRECIATE THEM-GOD DID YOU FIND MY" KEYS ?"-GOD CALL YOUR MOM-GOD IF YOU NEED ME. I'LL BE IN THE" LOST AND FOUND" AREA, FOR AWHILE-GOD WITHOUT THE SON, THERE MIGHT BE TOTAL DARKNESS IN THE WORLD-GOD CHILDREN OF MINE. YOU ARE A CHILD OF MINE. PLEASE CALL HOME.-GOD BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF-EVEN I COULDN'T DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY; ONE PROJECT TOOK SIX DAYS-GOD *" Will the road you're on get you to my place ?". God *" Come and meet at my house before the game Sunday". God*You know that" love thy neighbor" thing? I ...

... far in my own life. I have been fortunate too that God has given me so many great teachers who have shown me what it really means to love. I haven ’ t always been the greatest student and I know I have a long way to go. Still, with their help I keep trying to choose love and learn more about love everyday of my life. One of my greatest teachers is very different from the rest. This teacher is my youngest son. He has a severe form of Autism that limits his speech and keeps him trapped in his own world most of the time. Changes in the simplest things disturb him. The smallest difficulties frustrate him. His mood can go from extremely happy to very sad in a heartbeat. Often he cries for no reason I can see and all I can do is hold him and wait for it to stop. Even with all he has to go through, however, my son ...

... Seeing Angels Almost 9 months exactly after my Mom died my youngest child was born. I felt truly blessed by God having this new baby come after such a difficult year. I did feel regret, though, that my new son would never get to know my wonderful Mom. As my baby got older, however, I started to notice something. When I would be playing with my son he would often look past me, over my shoulder and smile. At other times it seemed like he was laughing and playing with someone I couldn ’ t see or hear. This mystery suddenly became clear one day when I showed him his Grandma ’ s picture and he giggled like he had known her all of his short life. It was then that it occurred to me that while my son may not have gotten to know my Mom in person, he had certainly gotten to know her angelic spirit watching over him. I was remembering all ...

... God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very ...

... The Difference When my earthly father says," You are nothing ", my Heavenly Father says," You are my beloved child" When my earthly father says," I'll give you the piano, if you learn how to play it ", my Heavenly Father says," Use your talents wisely" When my earthly mother says," Just wait until your father gets home ", my Heavenly Father says," Just wait until my Son takes you home" When my earthly father says," You will never amount to anything ", my Heavenly Father says," You will always be something special to me" When my earthly father says," Go stand in the corner ", my Heavenly Father says," Go into every corner of the world and tell about my Son" When my earthly father says," Clean up this mess ", my Heavenly Father says," If your life is a mess, I will clean it up for ...

... of an ache." Well, I used to wonder about that too. I guess it's so we'll appreciate the flowers, so we won't take things for granted. The boy arched his own back, working out an imaginary ache of his own." God knows everything, doesn't He ?"" Yes, he does. He knows everything that can be known, I guess"" He knows the future ?" Sam sat cross-legged on the grass." Yes, son He does" Grampa squatted down to look into little eyes." He knows all about our lives, even before He opened the heavens"" Then before He made each person He knew whether or not the person would go to heaven or hell ?" Sam pensively blew on the petals of a daisy. His Grampa watched the sight." I guess He does"" Then why does He make the ones that won't accept Jesus and go to heaven? If He's a ...

... more times and always the same answer" No. But you are getting smarter every year my young child" Then last year my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it is only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me" Do you know the most important body part yet my son ?" And I was shocked she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me" This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past I have told you that it was wrong and given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson" She ...

... Through His Eyes My oldest son is always the first to get the Christmas Spirit in our house. He usually gets it a few weeks before Thanksgiving. It is a joy to watch. With both the heart of a child and the soul of an angel he cherishes everything about this time of the year. He takes so much happiness in putting our decorations up. He takes so much pleasure in our evening drives to look at the outdoor lights on other people ’ s houses. He takes so much delight in singing in the school choir ’ s Christmas show. He laughs and smiles though every Christmas movie we watch. He enjoys all the Christmas music in the air. He always shakes the hands of the Salvation Army bell ringers while I put cash in their kettles. He always enjoys the presents we get him too, but the present he gives us is far more precious. That present is seeing the way he lives with so ...

... Worthless Or Priceless I was driving my son to the sheltered workshop for the handicapped where he works a few days each week. My seventeen year old car was cruising along while the Spring sun shined down. The trees were budding and flowers were popping up along the side of the road. I looked over at my son who was humming along to a song on the radio. He turned his head, smiled and said," I love you Daddy" I smiled back and said," I love you too son" The green light ahead turned yellow and I slowed to a stop. Suddenly, a gold Mercedes Benz screeched to a halt next to me. The owner was yelling into a cell phone and slammed his hand on the steering wheel as he glared at the now red light. After a minute the light changed and he sped away with a scowl as big as his face. I drove on shaking my head and said ...

... Works In Progress I snapped at my son today. In a moment of frustration I scolded him over something trivial that I could have easily ignored. I saw the hurt in his eyes after I did it and apologized to him. Afterwards, I gave him a hug, reminded him of what a good son he is, and told him how proud I am of him. Still, I wished I could have taken back what I said earlier. Later in the day I was in the store getting a few items for dinner. An elderly lady was stretching in vain to reach something on a high self. I walked over and asked if I could help. She said ," Yes" and I got what she needed down for her. She then thanked me for the helping hand and I told her it was my pleasure. I left the store feeling both happier and closer to God. How do I reconcile that frustrated Father I ...

... Beatitudes for SAHMs-7 Beatitudes for 'Stay at Home Moms ' (part 7)" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God" Matthew 5: 9 (NIV) Anyone who has more than one child has experience as a peacemaker! But God calls us to a deeper peacemaking in this verse. The Shepherd's Guide tells us that ‘ Jesus promised this blessing not to those who remained neutral, or to those who simply love peace, but to those who are actively involved in making peace. Christ Himself was the ‘ Prince of Peace ' (Isa 9: 6). He came to bring reconciliation between God and mankind and between individuals. Those who, through Him, are at peace with God can join Him in His work of reconciliation ' As SAHMs, we must first come to a peace within ourselves. Do we struggle with being SAHMs-of course we do. But when we sit down a ...

... faces of everyone there brightened with joy. People who were staring down at the floor looked up with sparkling eyes. Mouths that were closed and frowning quickly opened with cheerful smiles. Voices that were quiet before suddenly spoke out with both laughter and kindness greeting this beam of light by name. Spirits that were feeling a little down were soon soaring skyward again. The entire store seemed happier all thanks to this walking ray of sunshine. This ray of light is my oldest son. In the eyes of the world he is seen as mentally handicapped. In the eyes of Heaven, however, he is seen as so much more. His concern, caring, laughter, love, gentleness, and good cheer light up the lives of everyone he meets. His bright and beautiful spirit touches the hearts of so many everyday. When it comes to the essential things in life he is far less handicapped than the rest of us. In the eyes of ...

... The Night Peace Found Me My oldest son turned 24 recently. When it comes to the soul, however, time is irrelevant and memory can melt away the years in a second. When I looked at my grown son my mind took me back to one very special time only a few weeks after his birth. I had awakened in the middle of the night after hearing him stir in his cradle. My wife was still recovering from the emergency c-section that was needed when complications occurred during his delivery. Wanting to let her rest, I picked my boy up and slowly walked into the living room. Taking a bottle with me I sat down in our rocking chair and fed him while I gently rocked us both. His loving, innocent eyes gazed up at me and I smiled down at him. After feeding him and burping him I watched him fall asleep on my shoulder. I continued to rock and looked out the window at the ...

... then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted, struggled, pushed, but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers. Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently but firmly he said," Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had available? Defeated, the boy sobbed back," But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had !"" No, son ," said the father kindly." You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me" With that the father reached down, picked up the rock, and removed it from the sandbox. Do you have" rocks" in ...

... encourager. 2 Thess 2: 16, 17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Cor 1: 3, 4 When you are brokenhearted I am close to you. Psalm 34: 18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40: 11 One day I will wipe every tear from your eyes. Rev 21: 3, 4 Because I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17: 23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17: 23 He is the exact representation of my being. Heb 1: 3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8: 31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Co 5: 18, 19 Jesus died so that we could be reconciled. 2 Cor 5: 18, 19 His death ...

... I Can ’ t Thank You Enough Father I can't praise you enough For the blessings you bestow For your wondrous love and mercy For cleansing my heart and soul. Father I can't praise you enough I'm unworthy to speak your name Yet you gave your only Son for me And He willingly took my blame. Father I can't praise you enough For your sweet Spirit living in me And Father I can't thank you enough For your Son who set me free. Father I can't thank you enough That even though I sometimes stray You reach down with rich blessings And you still love me anyway.~Lora Cox~[ by: Lora Cox Copyright 2006 (bell @evansville.net)-submitted by: Lora Cox] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Stolen Checks and Stupidity This story starts with a few stolen checks but ends with simple stupidity. I had to take my son to a doctor ’ s appointment today and afterwards was hoping to pay for and pick up the new registration for my car. I took my checkbook then and tossed it into my car ’ s glove box before going to the doctors. We were running a little late so my son and I hurried into the office without locking up the car. The appointment went well and I headed off next to pay for the new car registration. It was only there that I saw that my last few checks had been stolen. I looked at the check register and the last one I had written was four short of the end of the booklet. I raced out of the building and rushed to the bank in order to put a stop payment on my stolen checks. I was angry more at myself than at the person ...

... to write you a little note to thank you for all the things you have done for me over the years, but I realized if I did that it would be a whole book. I hope you don ’ t mind then if I just hit the highlights. Thanks Dad for having the good sense to marry Mom all those years ago. You couldn ’ t have chosen a better wife or mother for all of us. Thanks Dad for not stopping at two sons or else I wouldn ’ t be here today. Thanks Dad for that stack of books you kept in the corner of the living room. It got me reading early and I haven ’ t stopped since. Thanks for taking me to church when I didn ’ t want to go and making me work in the garden when I would have rather been riding my bike. Both made me a better person. Thanks for everyone of those homemade, Italian dinners over the years ...

... Circles Of Kindness I was pushing my shopping cart loaded with a week ’ s worth of groceries out of the store the other day when I suddenly heard," Wait Dad you forgot !", behind me. My oldest son then ran up, grabbed the separate bag of groceries that we had put into our cart for the local food bank, and hurried over to the collection barrel with a happy smile on his face. As I watched him my mind flashed back to another Autumn afternoon 13 years ago. I was keeping an eye on him and his younger sister as they played in the leaves under a tree outside a local mission. Laid off from work with no money in the bank and little food in the house, I held their sleeping, baby brother in my arms while my wife went in to get enough groceries from the mission ’ s food bank to see us through another few days. I remember smiling at her as she ...

... very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass. The boy and his Father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and forth in the moonlight. The Father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 p.m.-two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy." You'll have to put it back, Son ," he said." Dad !" cried the boy." There will be another fish ," said his father." Not as big as this one ," cried the boy. He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were around in the moonlight. He looked again at his Father. Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his Father's voice that ...

... The Blessing Of Thorns Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday. Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took ...

... then, though, the light continues. Soon the moon and stars begin to shine in the warm summer night then hundreds of fireflies join in blinking on and off in their light show of love. It is a glorious sight to see. As beautiful as this Summer light is, however, it still can ’ t compare to the soul light that I see everyday. This light burns just as brightly in the Winter too. I see it shining from my youngest son ’ s smile and hear it in my oldest son ’ s laugh. It glows warmly in my daughter ’ s eyes and it leaps out from the words of an inspiring book. It travels from soul to soul on the laughter, prayers, gentle words, and caring hearts of friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers. It sails on the winds of good deeds, encouragement, and loving kindness. It sings in our music, shines in our thoughts, ...

... and barren Winter ’ s day. The latest snowstorm in a long line of snowstorms had covered everything the day before and no thaw was in sight. I huddled close to the oven while our dinner baked inside of it. Its warmth, however, had little effect on me. It had been a long and rough Winter and its coldness and bleakness seemed to be seeping into my spirit on this dark afternoon. A loud thumping noise let me know that my youngest son was bouncing down the hallway towards me. He was over 18 now but his severe Autism had frozen his mind at a 2 year old ’ s level. Sometimes the frustrations of his handicap would even cause him to cry, pinch his face, or hit himself. Most of the time, though, his energy, laughter, and delight in living were a pleasure to behold. He lived with the joy of a child even now in his adult size body. Seeing ...

... of full and complete forgiveness? I 'kinda figure that not many would. It would be too difficult, too painful. But wouldn't it also be the greatest opportunity a follower of Christ could ever have? To look into those eyes, to see that face, to hear those words," Father, forgive them !" And, unlike the crowd, we would know that the words were meant for us! Imagine! Imagine seeing love in action. Imagine seeing God's Son proclaim, through exhausted tears mixed with royal triumph," It is finished !" Well, we really don't have to imagine about either of these last two events. We can visit them anytime. In fact we must visit them every day! Why? Because we are nothing if we don't visit the cross, or look upon the empty tomb. Life is empty for me if the cross I can't see, and life's too large a cross to bear if the empty tomb's ...

... Dropping The Snake It was a glorious day to be out for a drive. The trees lining the country roads were full of green leaves. White daisies were blooming along the sides of the hills. The sun was shining, giving the whole world a golden glow. My son and I were singing along to songs playing on the radio. Suddenly, an old favorite of mine came on and my son whose memory is far better than mine at times reminded me that we had once had it on cassette, but it was stolen from our car. Quick as lightening that old memory flashed in my mind. It was 12 years ago. We had just finished shopping at a local grocery store, and when we walked out to our car we found that our cassette box, full of tapes had been taken from it while we were inside. I laughed when I thought of some young boys thinking they had stolen some great new music only ...

... A Tiny Wave Life is full of miracles. They come in all sizes too. Most people only notice the big miracles, but the tiny miracles surround us everyday. They are gentle reminders of how much God loves us and how much we can love too. I got one of these miracle reminders just the other day as I was driving my handicapped son to the sheltered workshop where he works part-time. The sky was full of gloomy, gray clouds, but they had not dampened my mood. I was singing along with the radio and indulging in a favorite past-time of mine: joy watching. I was keeping my eyes open for little things that would uplift my heart and nourish my soul. So far that day I had noticed patches of white Daises and Queen Anne ’ s Lace blooming along the side of the road, the first red Maple leaves of the year, and a smiling dog sitting on its front porch. The best ...

... to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother, in the house was looking out the window, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. >From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let ...

... seven figure incomes. Some of these people, he said, even despite the obvious tax benefits, refused to give any of their money away. Some are spending more money on grooming their pets than on feeding hungry children. They simply have not discovered the importance and power of giving. And sadly, these wealthier clients are in a position to do something significant, but they choose to do nothing at all. Author Kent Nerburn wrote a book titled LETTERS TO MY SON: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Life, and Love. In one letter, he teaches his son the value of generosity:" Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom and others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices in life no more easily made. And give ...

... Real Beauty When a first-time father cuddled his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby's ears conspicuously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might taunt his child, calling him names like" Dumbo" A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy-the ears presented only a minor cosmetic problem. But the nervous father persisted. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, or if they should consider plastic surgery. The nurse assured him that it was really no problem, and he should just wait to see if the boy grows into his ears. The father finally felt more optimistic about his child, but now he worried about his wife's reaction to those large, protruding ears. She had delivered by cesarean section, and had not yet seen the child." She doesn't take things as easily as I do ," he said to the nurse ...

... beautiful picture of the real meaning of Christmas. This was years ago when public Nativity scenes were everywhere at Christmastime. It was before the fear of offending others made most of them sadly disappear from parks and town squares. I remember taking a moment to look at one of these public Nativity scenes during a cold, December day. A snow was gently falling on each of the statues and even in the manger. About this time a mother walked up with her young son. The boy couldn ’ t have been more than three years old. As they too stopped to stare at the beautiful sight the little boy removed his scarf and walked over to the Nativity. Then he folded it and placed it over the manger. He smiled as he walked back and said," Baby Jesus looked cold" I thought that his mother would make him go back and retrieve the scarf, but thankfully she was made of wiser stuff than me at that ...

... . I don ’ t know why I kept my arms and my heart closed so many times over the years. I don ’ t know why it took me so long to realize that you can ’ t take love or life for granted. If I had it to do over I would have hugged them a dozen times a day, every single day they were with me. If I could have those moments back I would have followed the example of my own son who gives me more hugs everyday than I can count. I would have taken the lead of my son ’ s childhood friend too. She may be confined to a wheelchair but she can still hug your heart out with the squeeze of her hand or lift your spirits with a smile that is brighter than the noonday sun. If I could live those years again I would do so with my arms, my heart, and my soul wide open. Thankfully, God in ...

... Remembering Independence Day Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. These patriots signed, pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships" blasted" to the bottom of the ocean by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties ...

... Watch The Children I just love weekday afternoons in May. It is during this special time that I get to see one of the most wonderful sights in the world. It is a sight that teaches me again and again about what life truly is all about. I get to see it mainly when I go to pick up my youngest son from school. I can even hear it as I get out of my car. Its musical and magical sound floats happily through the air from the playground just off the preschool building. It is the sound of children at play. Each day just before I pick up my boy I take in this glorious and happy sight of the preschool children having one last recess before they go home. Many of the parents are there as well smiling as they watch that special joy that their children are creating. I look on as one happy boy swings and calls out for his teacher to watch. I see ...

... was probably the furthest thing from Satan's mind. Until God chimed in. He nominated Job for the job of temptee. Why? Why would God nominate Job for the job of losing all his oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels? Why would God nominate Job for a job in which he would receive painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head? Why would God nominate Job for a job whose description included burying all of his sons and daughters? Why? Because Job could take it. 1 Corinthians 10: 13 say," No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" God allowed Satan to take Job's possessions, servants, sons, and daughters because he knew Job could ...

... , loved, and protected by my unseen friends and I am so thankful to God for them. I have had far too many near misses with hurt and harm over the years for it to be mere luck. I guess my guardian angels are keeping me around for a reason and I will do my best not to make their work too hard in the future. I also believe in guardian angels because I have seen one in action over the years. My oldest son graduates from high school this Spring. Through all of his years in school he has struggled with Autism. It has made it difficult for him to learn, to relate to others, and to function in this world. Thankfully, though, he has had a guardian angel with him every step of the way. His aide has been there with him through all the difficulties, through all the triumphs, through all the pains, and through all the joys. She was ...

... You Can Change The World I changed the world today. It happened while I was driving home after going to the store with my son. I was just about to pull onto the side road that leads to my house when my handicapped son laughed in the back seat. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see his smiling face and then made the turn a little bit faster than normal. As soon as I did I saw a big dog walking down the road in my lane. Not having time to down shift I slammed on the brakes, screeched to a halt, and killed the engine in my car in the process. As I sat there waiting for my heart rate to return to normal, the yellow dog stared at me calmly. I recognized it immediately as a neighbor ’ s pet. I had often seen their little boy hugging and playing with the dog in their front yard. I rolled down my window and sternly ...

... How To Carry Your Burden A monarch of long ago had twin sons. There was some confusion about which one was born first. As they grew to young manhood, the king sought a fair way to designate one of them as crown prince. All who knew the young men thought them equal in intelligence, wit, personal charm, health, and physical strength. Being a keenly observant king, he thought he detected a trait in one which was not shared by the other. Calling them to his council chamber one day, he said," My sons, the day will come when one of you must succeed me as king. The burdens of sovereignty are very heavy. To find out which of you is better able to bear them cheerfully, I am sending you together to a far corner of the kingdom. One of my advisors there will place equal burdens on your shoulders. My crown will one day go to the one ...

... . I rejoice in the stories I read about people who stopped running the rat race and did what they loved to do. I remind you to always kiss them goodnight, tell them" I love you !," say" thanks" and mean it and smile, really smile a lot. So, what happened to me that brought all of this on? Scott Hagler. His mother wrote a review of my book" I wish you enough" She mentioned that her son had died in January and how much the book helped her. He was a young man leaving behind a wife and three children. I wrote to her and she sent me a link to his blog. I got to read in his words about the last two years of his life and the comments from friends and family. There it is. Now it's gone. Today will bring you many chances to. Say" I love you" or" Thank you !" Stop ...

... to work. I didn't fit. I was part of the" older" generation. They figured I probably never listened to anyone under the age of 30. I furtively peeked out from the book. Heads were bent at my glance and feet shuffled. Amidst the mockery and laughing they were scared children in teenage bodies. They were searching and trying to cope in what they thought was a nasty world. I thought back on my own conversation with my own teenage son, Joshua, over the weekend. Talking late into the night, he poured out his heart in a spurt of anguish. So many issues, so many stresses." What's the point of it all ?" he said." The world is all messed up anyway, and people are just nasty. I can't go through one day when some adult doesn't scream me at. Drivers are rude and I am on alert everywhere I drive, just so I can get back ...

... neighbor ’ s children were playing in her backyard with a big ball. It was such a delight seeing her toddler chasing after it with such joy. I felt a nuzzle against my leg and looked down to see my dog cuddling in for a hug. I smiled and scratched his head while the laughter of the children and the sound of crickets in the woods blended together to create a unique and beautiful music. I started to walk back inside and saw my own son grinning at me from the window. Most of the world could only see his mental handicaps, but when I looked at him then his eyes sparkled with a divine light. I waved to him and laughed when his older sister snuck up behind him and wrapped him in a loving hug. When I got back inside, I knew what to write. I went to my friend ’ s letter and wrote of everything I had just seen, smelled, heard, and felt ...

... driver. A fine and three months in jail, and he was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. Be careful. My son is all I have left. *** Bob Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted around to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and firmly hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived home. Epilogue: Lets ALL remember to ease-up on the accelerator. [By: Manfred Koehler-from Tom Ellsworth ...

... Resisting The Blame Game A mother heard the family cat yowl in pain. She knew where to look – she looked for her son, Mike." Stop pulling the cat's tail, Michael !" she chided." I'm not pulling his tail ," the boy retorted." I'm just standing on it. He's doing the pulling" He, of course, is no different than any of us. Often, our first impulse is to blame someone or something else for problems. It's the cat's fault. Or the school's fault. Or my parents ' fault. I once heard a story of a 40-year-old woman who was jogging in a U. S. state park when she was attacked and killed by a mountain lion. Her family immediately filed suit against the state because of its" failure to manage the mountain lion population" and because it didn't" react to reports of cougar activity in the area by posting warning signs" But an ...

... of the same Constitution prohibiting little Johnny from praying at graduation forbids the use of cruel and unusual punishment. So get organized. Pray at football games. Face down the persecutors. Fill the detention halls. Empty the classrooms. Overload the jails. Stand up for your beliefs. Or. sit down and shut up. People who believe in stupid stuff like animal rights seem to have more certainty in the righteousness of their cause than those who profess to believe that the Son of God came to Earth and died for their sins. The animal rights zealots will risk their liberty and property for the benefit of a lab rat. Will you not do the same for your eternal soul? I guarantee you that the civil authority will stop enforcing these laws if people break them on a grand scale. Just by writing this, I put myself on the line. In these times of thought police, hate crimes and religious persecution, people who advocate the ...

... The Young Man And The Leper There is a story from the Middle Ages that has always touched my heart. The grown son of a rich merchant was walking down the road towards his home after visiting friends. As he neared a curb he heard the ring of a leper ’ s bell coming from the other way. At that time Leprosy was a highly contagious and incurable disease. Lepers were not allowed in the towns and were forced to ring bells and warn others of their approach as they walked the roads. Before the young man could leave the road the leper rounded the curb and was suddenly face to face with him. The leper ’ s face and body had become horribly disfigured by the disease and when the young man saw him he drew back in disgust. As the leper lowered his head and began to walk on, however, the young man felt his heart breaking for the man. He quickly caught up to the leper ...

... . And the opposite is also true. Whenever we break our word and lose trust, it is like withdrawing money from an account. Except that what we withdraw is goodwill. Now imagine that you have a separate trust fund with every person you know. If you have been making regular deposits into your account with that individual, when the time comes that you disappoint, you will still have a large enough balance of goodwill to cover the debt. That friend, son or mother will realize that your account is still good. You are a person of good intent. You are reliable and trustworthy. Scottish writer George MacDonald said," To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved" Whether or not that is true, I would rather have a healthy emotional trust fund than a large bank account. Trust is more valuable than money – and it builds strong relationships. Are your trust funds growing?~Steve Goodier~[ ...

... Your Inner Angel I saw another angel recently. Sometimes it is hard to spot them because they are so good at disguises. There was no white robe on this one. She was wearing a faded, flowered, sun dress not suited for the Winter weather. Her coat too was well worn and probably older than my grown up son. She didn ’ t have a halo. Her white hair, though, sparkled when the light hit it and her smile shined with joy. There were no wings to be seen either. She was walking slowly in her scuffed up shoes while she pushed her shopping cart through the supermarket. I knew that she was an angel, however, when at the checkout she divided her groceries into 3 small piles. She apologized to me for doing so but explained that she was buying food for two other elderly people who couldn ’ t make it out in the bad weather. I just laughed and told ...

... Arkansas River where it burst into flames. Inside the broken jet, panic and fire began streaking down the aisle. But amidst the panic were pockets of calm. On board the plane, you see, were some 25 members of the Ouachita Baptist University choir. They were returning from a two-week trip to Europe, where they had entertained Kosovo refugees in Austria. In the chaos that followed the crash, the singers went to work. Barrett Barber, a 19-year-old minister's son, lifted passengers through a hole in the plane above an emergency exit that would not open. Choir member Luke Hollingsworth escaped from the tail section only to go back to help wounded passengers escape. On his own shoulders, the young man carried a woman with a broken pelvis across chest-deep water to safety. Choir director Charles Fuller got his wife out, then went back into the burning plane to help rescue an 80-year-old man with a broken hip. He was later seen guiding ...

... a ray of hope. I had nothing to live for, I felt that I hadn't a friend left in the world, that even my family had turned against me" Alarmed by his rapidly deteriorating condition, Dr. Eggleston gave Penney a sedative. However, the effect quickly wore off, and Penney awakened with the conviction that he was living the last night of his life." Getting out of bed, I wrote farewell letters to my wife and to my son, saying that I did not expect to live to see the dawn" Penney awakened the next morning, surprised to find himself alive. Making his way down the hallway of the hospital, he could hear singing coming from the little chapel where devotional exercises were held each morning. The words of the hymn he heard being sung spoke deeply to his condition. Going into the chapel, he listened with a weary heart to the singing, the reading of the Scripture lesson, ...

... need an education to be a parent. Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first. Somebody doesn't have five children. Somebody said a parent can find all the answers to child-rearing questions in books. Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose. Somebody said a parent can stop worrying after his or her child gets married. Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to their heartstrings. Somebody said your parents know you love them so you don't need to tell them. Somebody isn't a parent. Somebody said a parent's job is done when the last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren. [Author Unknown-from 'keepAhead ' (IwantTwisted @keepAhead.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... we know. Yet one day we will awaken to a new reality, an endless day in which all our values will be turned upside down. All that we have done, said, created, bought, and built will be brushed away, melted like snow under the gaze of our eternal Father. Deep within each one of us he will seek the one thing, the only thing he truly cares about: the imprint of the cross, the mark of his Son. Nothing else matters to Him. And on that day, nothing else will matter to you. Do you possess the one thing that really matters? You can see Moran's painting of the mountain at: The Mountain of the Holy Cross [Mark Phillips, Copyright (C) 2000 Matrix Development (http :// www.mcjonline.com)-from Keith Todd] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... life living the way God meant for me to. Now days you won't find me on the road quite so often then. I try to combine my errands and limit my trips as much as possible. It gives me more time to read a good book with a cat sleeping on my lap and a dog curled up at my feet. Now days you won't find me watching so much television either. I find that time better spent going for walks, hugging my sons, talking with my daughter, and writing words like the ones you are reading here. Now days you won't find me restlessly looking for more work to do as well. I find that time better spent thinking of God, watching the sunset, singing a song, and laughing with my family and friends. The funny thing too is that now that I am giving myself time to live I find myself doing better and accomplishing more than I ever did before. Most of ...

... short, heavyset body. She had a passion for life that expressed itself in so many ways. It was in the hugs she gave, the meals she cooked, and the flowers she grew. It was even in the temper she lost from time to time. I think one of the reasons I was never taught Italian by my Dad was he was afraid I might learn the meaning of some of those words Nanny said when she was upset. Nanny raised four sons and then helped my Mom and Dad raise me and my two brothers as well. I always felt blessed growing up in her home as a boy. She worked hard, laughed loud, and was never afraid of what life threw at her. Life wasn ’ t that easy on her either. She suffered from health problems all her life and even survived an operation for a brain tumor. When she fell and broke her hip in her eighties, my Dad was forced ...

... And It Came To Pass As I stared out the rear window of the bus, I thought, 'What if I die? This may be my last night ever! ' My son suggested we take an all-night bus through the Peruvian Andes down to the coast. I was prepared to be driven over high mountain passes and on winding roads. We live in the Rocky Mountains of western United States. But I was not prepared for roads so narrow that the bus had to stop and let on-coming traffic around; or the high speed at which the bus rounded hairpin curves; or roads that were unpaved for long stretches, no guardrails and almost vertical slopes just inches from our speeding wheels. Nor was I prepared to ride in something that passed anything slower than the speed of sound-even around blind mountain curves. I thought that perhaps I could sleep during the trip, but the excitement and anxiety of what reminded me of an amusement park ...

... in a lot of ways today. It started out with a thump and a slurp as my beeping alarm clock inspired my beagle pup to jump on my chest and lick my face until I sat up in bed. Next it came to me with a purr and a nuzzle as my big, gray cat refused to eat her breakfast until she had gotten her morning head scratch. The whisper came down the hall with a" good morning" and a hug from my son too. Then as I went out to get the morning newspaper it came through loud and clear with a dazzling sunrise and a chorus of birdsong. Later in the day I also heard it hiding in the sweet music coming from the radio and the not so sweet sound of my own voice singing along. As I was bringing my boys home from school it came to me once more this time in the smile and wave of my friend and neighbor who lives down the hill ...

... meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it like overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma-the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, tie sand so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoe. As the match began, I was alarmed ...

... us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today? What if, we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when GOD sent the rain? What if, GOD didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day? What if, GOD took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today? What if, GOD took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger? What if, GOD didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin. What if, the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart? What if, GOD stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others? What if, GOD would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday? What if, GOD answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service? What ...

... that I saw my happiness sitting beside me. It had been with me all along. It had been with me as I played basketball as a child. It had been with me as I learned in school. It had been with me as I worked minimum wage jobs mopping floors, doing dishes, and carrying lumber. It had been with me as I held each of my newborn children in my arms. It had been with me as I struggled with my sons ’ autism and learned to love them for just who they are. It had been with me when I was sick. It had been with me when I didn ’ t have a cent to my name. It had been with me as I raced towards that stupid banner. I just hadn ’ t had the wisdom to see it. There is an old Chinese proverb that says," Tension is what you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are" ...

... out of their car tires" Wisdom can also be found among the youngest of us. And the most elderly will share it too, if we listen. I am related by marriage to a woman who is 103 years old. During her 100th year," Aunt Pearl" was asked to speak to a group of high school students. She offered a century of wis ­ dom in a few short sentences:" Enrich your life by becoming a better per ­ son, a better student and an individual worthy of trust and faithful in your commitments. Aspire to help and not hinder in all your good and worthy undertakings. Use these words often: 'thank you, ' 'please, ' 'I'm sorry ' Af ­ ter living 100 years, I admonish you to think deeply, speak gently, work hard, give freely, pay promptly, pray earnestly and be kind" Wisdom doesn't come much better than that.~Steve Goodier~[ ...

... when his father asked him about it, he told his father the truth. George was not punished because of his truthfulness. You can figure out the moral of the story. Now, imagine if this happened in today's world..." George Washington, did YOU chop down the cherry tree ?"" No, Dad"" I think you are lying"" No, no, no! I swear I did NOT chop down the cherry tree"" Son, I saw you out here with your axe. Your punishment will be much worse for you if you lie. Now, tell me the truth !"" Dad, I answered your question truthfully. Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions. While my answer was legally accurate, I did not volunteer information." Indeed, Dad, I did cause the cherry tree to be lying on the ground. To do this was wrong. It constituted a ...

... True Love I'm not sure I can always tell love from passion. One father said of his teenaged son," I don't know if he's in love or in heat !" What teenager would know? Besides, feelings of attraction can change more quickly than a pouty expression. But love, in its truest form, is greater than feelings. It is as much a decision as it is a feeling. Love is what Mr. and Mrs. Strauss shared. Mrs. Isadore Strauss was one of the few first class women passengers to go down with the Titanic in 1912, and she drowned because she could not bear to leave her husband. They remained calm throughout the excitement of the sinking vessel. They both aided frightened women and children to find places aboard lifeboats. Finally, Mr. Strauss, who had repeatedly urged his wife to claim a spot safely aboard a lifeboat, forced her to enter one. She was seated but a ...

... earthly things which keep us grounded or tied down, the closer we can get to God. In other words, the more sin we displace or keep out of our lives, the higher the spiritual levels we are able to attain in God. When we are able to do this, it is as if we are actually sending a Valentine balloon to God. John 3: 16 says," 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" Remember, when it comes to God's love, you can rest assured knowing there are no strings attached. [by Mike Colllins-from 'Sermon_Fodder '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... item, taste it and determines it is not fit for consumption and summarily spits it to the side. I have stooped to pick up that bit of something and attempt to refeed it to the vacuum, who has already tasted and found it to be nothing short of disgusting. You'd think I'd learn, if the vacuum doesn't like something on the floor, there is no amount of coaxing that I can do to convince it to take it (Reminds me of my son). Invariably the manufacturers of these demented machines make the electric cable one foot too short. Why, there was even a time when I spent valuable time trying to locate a new electric outlet that would allow me to vacuum that one square foot of space. Since then, I just forget about the electrical outlet, and simply pick up the big pieces while brushing my hands together declaring that" it is good". One other thing I have learned about vacuums is ...

... The Hitchhiker It was the middle of Winter and I was just getting out of a training for my job. The drive home was 25 miles and I needed to get on the road quick so I could get back in time to pick up my sons from school. I pulled my coat on and headed out to my car. The temperatures were below freezing, the snow was steadily falling, and the wind felt like a punch in the face. I hurried into my car and pulled out. I had only been driving a few minutes, though, when I saw him. He was dressed in an old, thin coat. His long hair and grey beard looked frosted from the air. In one hand he held 3 grocery bags. The other hand was up, hitchhiking in the swirling snowstorm. I don ’ t usually pick up hitchhikers because with 3 grown kids and one small car there usually isn ’ t room. This ...

... The Gift Of Music" Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees. Time can break your heart, have you begging please. Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure, And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven" These lyrics were penned in response to tragedy, when guitarist Eric Clapton's son Conor fell to his death from a New York high-rise window. The music helped him heal. In 1994 the city of Sarajevo was daily under siege. Mortars and artillery fire instantly transformed once beautiful buildings into rubble. Sarajevo's citizens were frightened, weary and increasingly despondent. Then, one February day, a mortar shell exploded in the market killing 68 civilians. Many more were wounded and maimed from the blast. A cellist with the Sarajevo symphony could no longer stand the chaos. He took his cello to the market, sat down amidst the rubble and played a concert. When he finished, he simply took up his ...

... that teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And our school administrators said, no one in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued. Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and we won't even have to tell their parents. And we said, that's a grand idea. Then someone else said, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the" fun" they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents. And we said, that's another great idea. And then some of our top officials said that it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And we said, as long as I have a job and the economy is good, it doesn't matter to me what anyone does in private. So ...

... there are billions of nobodies that make a society social, a religion practcal, and a life liveable. Without the nobodies who live their faiths everyday, work their jobs with pride and conscience, and really try to" love their neighbor as themselves ," no society could survive and no great cause could prevail. The truth is that nobody is a nobody in God's eyes. Everybody is a somebody. In fact, everybody is a somebody special. God wouldn't send His Son to die for a bunch of nobodies. Neither would he entrust a mission so great to nobodies. We are all somebody special. In the church that I pastor there is a plaque that someone donated. I often read it when I think I am the" World's Greatest Nobody" The familiar quotation reads:" I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do I ought to do and what I ought to do ...

... driver the dime he said," Here. You handed me too much change" The driver replied," Aren't you the new pastor in town? I have been thinking lately about going to church somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you ten cents too much change" When my friend stepped off the bus he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, and held on, and said," O God, I almost sold your Son for ten cents" [Author Unknown-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... us have heard those words uttered again and again in our lives. They remain age old words of wisdom that go back thousands of years. They go along with" reaping what we sow" and" doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" What amazes me most about these wonderful words, though, is the truth that lies in them. I see this truth everyday in my own life. This truth shines through the actions of my youngest son whose smiles, hugs, and laughter light up the world around him in spite of his handicap. This truth glows from the life of my daughter whose kindness, friendship, and loving spirit brightens the lives of those around her. This truth flows out of the behavior of my oldest boy who is a friend to the world and never met anyone he didn't like. This truth radiates from everything I watch my wife do as she makes the world a better place for her ...

... What Is A Father? A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death. A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him) A father is a person who goes to war sometimes. and would run the other way except that war is part of an important job in his life (which is making the world better for his children than it has been for him). Fathers grow older faster than other people, because they, in other wars, have to stand at the airport and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs ...

... What Is Your Rope Tied To? You may have heard of the man who decided to repair the roof of his house. The pitch was steep, and to be safe, he tied a rope around his waist and threw the other end of it over the top of the house. He called his son and asked him to tie it to something secure. The boy fastened the safety rope to the bumper of their car parked in the driveway. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But a little while later, his wife needed to run a few errands with the automobile. Unaware of the line securing her husband, she started the car and proceeded to drive away. The rope immediately tightened and jerked the man over the roof and into thin air. Now before you become alarmed, let me assure you that this never really happened. But I chuckle at the image of the poor guy sailing over the top of ...

... best of him so he pulled on to the shoulder of the road to cry for a while. He placed the plastic box and the neatly folded flag on the hood of his truck, sat on the bumper and let the tears flow. It wasn't long before a trucker stopped to see if he was all right. My brother told him the story and showed him the flag. The trucker listened patiently, patted my brother on the shoulder, and said," Son, It's going to be all right" The trucker disappeared for a minute and was soon back at my brother's side. In a few minutes another trucker stopped to pay his respects and to listen to the story of my Father's life and passing. A few minutes later two more truckers stopped to lend their support. Within fifteen minutes there were more than thirty rigs parked along the interstate. The truckers stood in a semicircle around my Father's remains and quietly paid their respects. ...

... part of me wanted to cry out," Yes, and so do all the other people who've just shared their hearts" I've heard this phrase used many times over the last six years. Often it's been said with heartfelt passion and sincerity, but other times it's just been something to say because it sounds encouraging. The truth is that when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we automatically became a child of God. In fact, we became the son or daughter of the one and only awesome God. That's why we can have total confidence in knowing that our destiny will be a reflection of Him-in other words, awesome! The truth of this is in God's promise to the children of Israel in Jeremiah 29: 11" For I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" As adopted ...

... for him but to no avail. That night I said a little prayer that he would be found or follow his nose back home. The next day I was catching up with some friends on Facebook when I saw a picture that my cousin had posted online. There he was. His black furry face was looking sadly into the camera. I quickly let my cousin know that it may be my neighbor ’ s dog that she had found and rescued. Then my son, neighbor, and I hopped into my car and drove the half mile to my cousin ’ s house. The little pooch was waiting for us on the porch and was more than happy to get back home into his owner ’ s loving arms. Now isn ’ t it amazing that a lost little dog found his way safely through woodlands and a very busy roadway to the home of my cousin? Isn ’ t it amazing that my cousin would post his picture online ...

... it. We want God to do everything. The fact is that you have responsibility in God's sovereign world.*Accept the seating. Take the lowest seat, the seat of humility and service. If God wants you to sit higher up, He will show you that, but err on the side of humility, not pride.*Finish the meal. John 3: 16 tells us," God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" Some believe that because God has already come and died for the sins of the world, they don't have to do anything else. However, it's important to finish the phrase regarding man's responsibility:" whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" You must come to Him in order to receive the forgiveness that He purchased for you.*Read the menu. You must spend time reading what God has prepared. Read your Bible, meditate on ...

... same invisible hands that had carried the firepot and the torch two thousand years earlier. They were the same hands that had brought light into Abram's thick and dreadful darkness. They had come to do it again. So, the next time doubt walks in, escort him out. Out to the hill. Out to Calvary. Out to the cross where, with holy blood, the hand that carried the flame wrote the promise," God would give up his only son before he'd give up on you" [by: Max Lucado-received from Chris Long at 'Laugh & Lift ' (www.laughandlift.com)] Cartoons Daily Inspiration HOME Humor Poems Quotes Stories Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34: 18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close you my heart. Isaiah 40: 11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes and will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21: 3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17: 23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17: 26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1: 3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8: 31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 Jesus died so that I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 His death was the ultimate expression ...

... a lumber mill. That day, however, was my day off and I was enjoying every moment of it with my kids. Suddenly my toddler climbed on my knee for a game of" blow on my belly". His giggles tickled my soul but his arm also accidently knocked off my glasses, breaking the frames for the hundredth time that year. At that time money was tight, miracle glue was cheap, and new glasses were not. I put my son down then, glued and reset the frames, and set them on the table to dry. Sewing the jacket without my glasses, though, was no easy task. On my thirtieth try at threading the needle my little daughter came in the room. I asked her if she could put the thread through the eye for me. She did on the first try and handed it back to me with a smile." There you go, Daddy !", she said with sparkling ...

... times do I go before the Lord and ask forgiveness for the same things? Why do I feel like I have to ask, ask and ask again for God's forgiveness for past sins? It was humbling to know that my daughter needed assurance of my forgiveness and of my love for her. Is that what we are seeking when we ask God to forgive our sins again? In Matthew 7: 9-12, Jesus tells us," Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven good gifts, to those who ask him !" Jesus wastes no words in telling us that even we, with all our failings and sinful nature, love our children and give them good things. God ...

... boy. We had four of them and they took a lot of work. In the fall, however, they produced more than enough vegetables for the whole year. Every year my Dad would separate a part of them to share with friends and people in the community. One time while we were loading up a bag full of corn to take to a needy family I asked my Dad why we always gave so many of our vegetables away. He said," Son, not everyone has as much as we do. They can use our help. Besides, if we didn ’ t give these vegetables away they would just go to waste" Now that I have been on this world a lot longer I can see the wisdom in my Dad ’ s words. I can see too that they apply not just to vegetables but to our entire lives. What good are our lives, after all, if we don ’ t give them ...

... of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You to govern this great state. Grant them the wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen" [From: Phil & Sue Warren (08 Mar 1999)-Disclaimer: Posted without verification.] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Great Value in Disaster Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December, 1914. Although the damage exceeded $2 million, the buildings were only insured for $238, 000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof. Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison's 24-year old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind." My heart ached for him ," said Charles." He was 67-no longer a young man-and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted," Charles, where's your mother ?" When I told him I didn't know, he said," Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything ...

... side by side forever. To learn that even though the word" love" has many different meanings, it loses value when it is overstated. To learn that they can never do something extraordinary for Me to love them; I simply love them as my children. To learn that the shortest distance they could be from Me is the distance of a prayer. Addendum-1 John 3: 23 (GNB)" What he commands is that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us" [Author Unknown-from Amy and others.] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... awake more than once, however. William Wirt Winchester's widow Sarah built a bizarre mansion in San Jose, California, to assuage her feelings of remorse. It is a house built over a 38-year period at a cost of over five million dollars. The 160 room house has stairways that lead to blank walls, corridors that lead to un-openable doors, 13 bathrooms, 13 stair steps, 13 lights to a chandelier, 13 windows to a room.strange. Her husband was the son of Oliver Fisher Winchester, manufacturer of the famous Winchester repeating rifle. The house is referred to as the" guilt house ," and was conceived as a never-ending building project to provide a home for spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. Instead of addressing her grief and remorse in more therapeutic ways, Sarah's project occupied the rest of her life. The late Erma Bombeck called guilt" the gift that keeps on giving" (She also said she came from a family of ...

... with Slinky cannot be a mouse's idea of going home. Another woman tells of a time when she was at home with her children and the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a rug, reached out for something to hold on to and grabbed the telephone table. It crashed to the floor and jarred the receiver from the cradle. The table fell on top of the family dog, which leaped up barking and howling. The mother's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke into loud screams. The woman mumbled some colorful words and finally managed to pick up the receiver and lift it to her ear. Before she could answer, she heard her husband's voice over the phone say," Nobody's said hello yet, but I'm positive I have the right number" Now that sounds all-too-typical-from peace to pandemonium in about two seconds. Any of us who have raised children or even any of us who WERE ...

... Happy Spring Spring has definitely sprung here in the mountains of my home. As I walked in my yard this morning I heard a hundred different birds greeting the sunrise with a chorus of delight. Later as I sat on my porch swing I saw my first butterfly of the year circling down in the wind until it touched my hand and passed on its loving greeting. Then as I walked with my sons around the local lake this evening we saw dozens of yellow and purple flowers sticking their heads through the ground to soak up the warm sunshine. These were complimented by the red, green, pink, and white of the trees eagerly bursting in growth. A cool and gentle breeze kissed our faces, filled the air with sweet smells, and brought music to our ears as we heard hundreds of frogs singing together in a joyful jubilee. Spring is such a glorious time. It is a time of rebirth, new beginnings, and fresh ...

... Hand In Hand I can remember when my first born son was learning to walk. Everyone in the house was full of excitement. We cheered him on as he pulled himself up on the coffee table and walked around it keeping his palms on it for support. We applauded when he began to make his way down the halls leaning against the wall and going hand over hand as he toddled along. Every time we stood him up in the middle of the floor, however, he would only take a step or two before falling on his butt. Then he would look scared, frown, and crawl over to the safety of his favorite wall to pull himself back up. For a while there it looked like he would never walk without both palms planted firmly on it. Then one day we decided to give him a hand, literally. We began to take turns bending down and offering him a finger to hold onto while he walked ...

... Happy Moments I took my sons out for a walk at a nearby lake the other day. The weather was perfect for it. The sky was clear, the temperature was warm, the sun was dancing off the waves, and flowers were blooming along the walk path surrounding the water. Couples both young and old were walking along the path enjoying all of this God given beauty. Dozens of people were fishing peacefully along the banks and in boats. Children were running and playing with their dogs. Families were setting up picnic dinners for later. Some people were just sitting in the grass looking blissfully out on the water. I even saw one young woman praying with a joyful smile on her face as she sat under a tree. Never had I seen so many people spending their time so well. The day after the great teacher and writer Leo Buscaglia died a note was found in his typewriter. It simply said," Every moment ...

... read Latin" One educator used to say that no society can last long unless it has a quorum of" unpurchasable people" These are people of principle who cannot be bought; people who have learned to say no. I believe that these so-called unpurchasable people are the truly contented and fulfilled souls around us. In Whitney Seymour's book MAKING A DIFFERENCE (New York: William Morrow and Co, Inc, 1984 ), Arthur McArthur, General Douglas McArthur's father, told his son of such an unpurchasable man. This man was a Union general in charge of the occupied territory surrounding New Orleans toward the end of the American Civil War. He was pressed by local plantation owners to permit them to haul their cotton to the wharves in order for it to be sold for shipment to England. The general controlled all the wagons and horses, and his orders from high command in Washington were clear. He was not to let the cotton crop get to market ...

... Feeling Loved I got to hold a baby again recently. I had taken my son to the doctor ’ s office for a checkup and noticed a tired grandmother trying to fill out the office ’ s paperwork and comfort her sick grandchild at the same time. I offered to help and gently rocked the infant back to sleep. With all of my children teenagers now it had been a while since I had held someone quite so small in my arms. As I looked at his sweet, innocent face I couldn ’ t help but to think of what life held in store for him. I knew that it would be a mixture of both joy and fear, laughter and tears, growth and struggle, learning and difficulty, and love and pain. I said a silent prayer that he would learn quickly to choose the good things and not to dwell on the bad. I also prayed that he would always feel loved in this life. ...

... give me anything I can ’ t handle. I just wish He didn ’ t trust me so much" Over the years I have found myself often feeling the same way. I have had a blessed life, but it has never been an easy one. In my 45 years I have had to deal with sickness, injuries, accidents, and pain. I have had to deal with years of poverty and financial struggles. I have had to deal with my sons ’ mental handicaps, the death of loved ones, and being separated from those I love. I have had to deal with anger, betrayal, confusion, depression and at times even despair. Like so many before me I have asked the question: Why do bad things happen to good people? It is a question that has been asked throughout the ages. Books have even been written about it. It is a question that will never be answered completely this side of ...

... If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch. If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe in God's willingness to hear and answer prayer. If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, you are part of a very small minority in the world. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all. [Author Unknown-from 'Aiken Drum ' (Aiken @AikensLaughs.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... to Him. He wouldn't want. Yes, He would. He's just waiting. Waiting for what? For you to ask. Ask? Ask Him what? To forgive you, and to make you new within, And your past sins will be gone. Gone? Yes, vanished. as far. As the East is from the West. And Believe. Believe what? That Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Believe that He. Is the Son of God. But I couldn't. Why would He do that for me? Because He loves You And Yes, you can. Just say it and Believe. Just Believe it? Yes, believe it. and it's done! I woke up early Sunday morning (4: 00am) April 30, 2000, and could not go back to sleep. These thoughts kept going around in my head, so I felt impressed to write them down. When I finished I ...

... our head, then He cares enough to show us what to do as a SAHM on a daily basis. Some days that is letting the dusting slide to go outside and play catch, or volunteer at the school book fair. Other days it is getting our house in order while our child is napping. God cares for us all. The greater explanation of the verse is that when we seek to be pure in heart, when we seek God's salvation through His son Jesus, we will be eternally saved and will see God in eternity. But, we can see Him today if we just SEEK Him and his will. Take heart SAHMs! Your job is not so insignificant that God does not care. It is so important that He is willing to tell you what He wants you to do. Following His will to make a fort from blankets may not seem important at the time, but that simple act might just carry your child ...

... instead. It's for all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed-when their 14 year-olds dye their hair green, pierce body parts and ask for contraceptives. This is for all the mothers who lock themselves in the bathroom when babies keep crying and won't stop. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purses. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump-shot. This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls" Mom ?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are not with them. This is for mothers who put pinwheels and teddy bears on their children's graves. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, and who can't find the words to reach them. This is for mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. ...

... ! We are all human, and fail-we get angry, or distracted, or stressed out-but we can still model God's love by being honest with our children and admitting our failings-and asking their forgiveness if we fly off the handle needlessly. We also must model God's mercy and grace to our children. In order to do this, it is essential that we fully understand and accept the awesome gift of mercy and grace He gave us through his son, Jesus Christ. We also must long to be 'just and good. We must use God's word as a template for loving, raising and disciplining our children. As it says is Deuteronomy 6: 5-8" love the Lord your God with all our heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and ...

... if you make a mistake, resolve to try never to repeat it. The whole function of guilt is to change behavior. We underrate our mistakes as effective learning devises. When possible, welcome your mistake, learn from it and decide to do things differently next time. Second, seek forgiveness from any others who were affected. If possible, make amends. In Ernest Hemingway's short story" The Capitol of the World ," a Spanish father decides to reconcile with his son who has run away. Now remorseful, the father takes out a newspaper ad in El Liberal:" Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana noon Tuesday. All is forgiven" When the father goes to the square he is surprised to find eight hundred young men named Paco waiting for their fathers. We can't underestimate the need for reconciliation and wholeness. Finally, forgive yourself. No purpose is served in continuing to whip yourself over past events you can do nothing about. ...

... Bonds Of Love My neighbor that lives just down the hill from me has" adopted" the family that lives across the road from her. She joyously calls their children her grandchildren and the mother and father her son and daughter. Watching them together touches my heart and lights up my soul. They share more than just cookies and chores together too. They share closeness, caring, laughter, tears, goodness, and love. They are a true family through both tough times and tender moments. They show me daily that the bonds of love are greater even than the bonds of blood and that we truly are one family in this world. How glorious this Earth would be if only everyone followed their example. Wars would disappear overnight. Not a single child would go unfed. Joyous laughter would replace angry shouts. Hitting would turn into hugging. Smiles would sail from face to face, heart to heart, and soul to soul. ...

... mountains of my home. Flowers that had just popped out of the ground a week before were now drowning in a sea of white. It felt like someone had turned back the clock two months. Slowly it grew warm enough for the snow to begin to melt in the late afternoon but soon the temperatures dipped again as the cold, evening air turned the melted snow into ice. Early the next morning I walked out to my cars. I needed to take my sons to school and then had a 30 mile round trip to make after that. I wondered which car to take. My little one had the better gas mileage, but the tires on my bigger one were less worn. Just as I took a step towards my little car, however, my foot slipped on a patch of black ice and I felt my body hitting the driveway. I got up slowly and smiled." You don ’ t have to tell me twice ...

... student. Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed." These ," he said," oh, these are good" He went on to say that the young student shows much promise and should be given every help and encouragement, as he may have a great future if he will study and work hard. The old man was deeply moved. Rossetti asked," Who is this fine, young artist? Your son ?"" No ," replied the visitor sadly." It is I-forty years ago. If only I had heard your praise then. For you see, I became discouraged and gave up too soon" Mother Teresa wisely said," Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless" Sometimes it may be enough to just say," Wonderful !"~Steve Goodier~[ by: Steve Goodier Copyright 2006 (LifeSupport @yahoogroups.com ...

... A Story Of Two Boys It has been said that a simple smile can change a person ’ s life. It has been said that a single kind word can spread throughout the whole world and change history. I was thinking of these sayings recently when I remembered a story I had once heard about two boys. Both of these boys were born in the late eighteen hundreds. The first boy was the son of a poor cobbler and had contracted smallpox as a child. This left his face scarred and caused him to face teasing from the other boys. He sought solace by dreaming of a career in the church. His first job was as an altar boy but he was sharply criticized by the priest when he made a mistake during a service. This boy later abandoned the seminary as a young adult. The second boy was sickly as a child too contracting tuberculosis as a baby. He also felt drawn to a career in the church ...

... swings down trying in vain to get her own swing going. Her elderly grandmother was sitting quietly on a nearby bench and smiled at me. I gave my daughter one last big push and then walked over to the little girl and asked if she could use a push too. She smiled and said" Yes !" I soon had her feet soaring towards the clouds while she laughed happily. For the next two hours I found myself pushing swings and playing tag with my son, daughter, and the other little girl. By the time we headed home I was physically exhausted but my spirit was still flying higher than those swings. Two years later I was exhausted again after a long day ’ s work. Still, I needed to pick up my kids from the local grade school before heading home. I stood wearily in the parents ’ waiting area watching for my children. Suddenly, I felt two tiny arms wrap around my stomach. I ...

... Cake With Kai For the last several weeks my oldest son and I have been visiting our neighbor and friend, Kai every Wednesday afternoon. I always bring over my newest bit of writing to share with her and she always greets us with a hug, a smile, and a freshly baked cake. Each week she fills our bellies with another frosted delight. First it was chocolate, then lemon, strawberry, and vanilla. Everyone of them too melts in your mouth and makes your stomach sigh. After cake we all sit down for a long talk full of shared laughs and shared lives. Kai ’ s name rhymes with Hi and that is fitting because her every greeting is full of love and kindness. It doesn ’ t matter if it is me, the delivery man, or the dog next door. Kai is always ready to give a little joy to everyone she meets. Since she and her husband Sean moved here a few ...

... to carry on with his or her life? Of course, this has to happen. People have to get back to their lives. It isn ’ t expected of anyone to stop living because a friend has died. As the saying goes," Life must go on" We have all lost loved ones. It is a painful, but inevitable part of life. I remember years ago when my husband and I lost a dear one. He was like a son-our only child. He had lived with us since he was ten. He drowned at the age of twenty. Too young to die! I remember how we felt. We were angry. We looked out at the world. It was still" going around !" Cars were still driving. People were still laughing. Stores were still selling things. The grass was still green. The sky was still blue. The flowers hadn ’ t stopped blooming. The birds ...

... Then I clutched my pen and started to write check after check to pay bill after bill while the balance got smaller and smaller with each one. I finally finished and looked at what was left. The ending balance wasn ’ t much. It amazed me just how much everything costs these days. I looked down again at the tiny amount left over and sighed. It was then, however, that I felt someone behind me. I turned and saw my youngest son smiling down on me. His handicapped mind had no concept of money, yet his gentle spirit seemed to know that I could use his smile right then. I put my pen down, got up from the table, and gave my boy a hug. I rested my chin on his shoulder, patted him on the back, and thanked God one more time for giving him to me. At that moment I felt like the richest man in the entire world. I ...

... ," You're right, your brother has definitely been a father to you. Go ahead pick out a card" So I did, and on Father's Day my mother and I sat my brother down and gave him the card. As he read it, I saw the tears forming in his eye's. I felt a lump in my throat, as he threw his arms around me and my mother. I heard the crackling in mom's voice as she said," Son, your father is proud of you, seeing that he raised a good man, and that you do your best to fill his shoes. We love you, and thank you" Addendum-Philemon 1: 7" Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people" [Author unknown-Submitted by Kent Ragsdale, and Cindy] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... . Take a little child to McD's for a Happy Meal -invite some singles to your home to watch old movies -visit a nursing home -find someone to share that bike -make it a bicycle built for three -or four -or thirty-four! Find a way to bring love into another's loveless life today -and you'll find a full, happy heart yourself! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day next Saturday, celebrating with a lost and lonely world a love we can all enjoy -the love of the Son of God whose faithfulness and friendship never fails! Celebrate HIM on Valentine's Day -load down that" bicycle built for two" with some lonely, loveless people -head down the road to HIS Home -and you will have a great day! Scripture:" And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13: 13)" Prayer:" Lord, it's almost Valentine's Day -and whatever my circumstances as this day ...

... A Tap On The Shoulder A long time ago when my full grown children were still" children" I saw something that still brings a burst of joy to my heart whenever I think about it. My youngest son who was still a toddler at the time was very attached to his big sister. When she first started going to school he would stand by the window waiting everyday for her bus to bring her home. And when I would walk her up the hill to our house he would be waiting at the door to hug her. One day, however, after a particularly nasty diaper incident his Mom needed to give him a quick bath right when the bus was scheduled to arrive. When his sister and I made it to the door then he was still in the tub. His sister went into her room to put her coat up and as soon as she shut the door out toddled her brother from the bathroom and right to ...

... know how to ask you this, Lord, but could you somehow help me make Christmas this year, special for my kids? They don't need much, but they do need a little something, and right now Lord, you know I just can't do it on my own. Help us, most of all, to see You this Christmas. Amen" That was all she knew for sure-that God cared about her kids too, just as He loves his own Son. And she knew that God loved her kids even more than she did. She'd always known that Christmas Joy isn't something that can be purchased or wrapped up in pretty packages. She knew that somehow, God would provide them with a Christmas that they would always treasure. Right before Christmas, a plain white envelope arrived in the mail. It came with no return address. As she pulled out the note inside, a crisp new fifty-dollar bill fell out onto the table ...

... day when I watched an old home movie with my Mom in it. These days I even find them getting moist from certain songs I hear, stories I read, and thoughts I have. Some think I am getting sentimental in my middle years. I think I am just getting wiser and more in touch with God ’ s love. Not all of my tears are loving and joyful ones, either. I have had tears of sadness while holding my own crying son, because there was nothing I could do to ease the frustration his Autism causes. I have had tears of grief when first my Mom and then my Grandma died. I have even had tears of empathy in seeing the suffering that so many people in this world are going through everyday. Even with the moist eyes and mixed feelings, however, I wouldn ’ t change who I am today. I have more love in my heart and joy in my soul than ever ...

... Most Beautiful Of All I decided to take my sons for a walk the other day. Autumn was in the air. Rich, delightful reds painted by God ’ s own hand were coloring some of the trees. Heavenly yellows shining brightly in the afternoon sunshine were coloring others. On the ground a carpet of dry leaves had begun to form along the path. They smelled wonderful and crunched under our feet as we walked along. A light breeze swirled newly falling ones around and around until they too gently floated to the ground. High in the sky we noticed a V-shaped flock of birds heading south for the Winter. As we walked along I smiled. Beauty was all around us. It felt so good to be out in nature. I felt blessed to be watching God ’ s glorious creation at its best. As we turned a corner along the walking trail. I noticed a woman slowly making her way toward us. She was ...

... , you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice" Well, I know one Italian lady who lived up to that Cherokee saying. My grandmother or Nana came into this world in Italy right after the turn of the 20th century. In 1914 when she was only 8 years old her family braved German U-boat attacks to travel to America. There she grew up, married, and lovingly raised four sons. Then she helped to raise me and my brothers as well. I can still remember coming home after school to my Nanny ’ s old house. The dinners always smelled so wonderful. She always gave me a big Italian hug before dinner too with a smile on the side and a kiss for dessert. In the summers she would take her cooking skills across the road to work at the local 4-H camp. The campers would always give her and the other cooks a ...

... so tightly, and why I was saying," My God, my God, forgive me" I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not, I felt it was God asking-" Are you willing to share your son for a moment ?", when He Shared His for All Eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me," To enter The Kingdom of God, we must become as little children" [Author Unknown-from Chaplain 777 (chaplain777 @hotmail.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Peace On Earth In the midst of a world at war, Eleanor Roosevelt captured the mood at Christmas 1942." How completely the character of Christmas has changed this year ," she wrote in her newspaper column." I could no more say to you a 'Merry Christmas ' without feeling a catch in my throat than I could fly to the moon !" In September 1945, U. S. Navy chief radioman Walter G. Germann wrote his son from a ship anchored in Tokyo Bay to tell him that the formal surrender of Japan would soon be signed." When you get a little older you may think war to be a great adventure-take it from me, it's the most horrible thing ever done.I'll be home this Christmas" Home. To a world at peace. In 1955 a thirteen-year-old Japanese girl died of" the atom bomb disease"-radiation-induced leukemia. Sadako Sasaki was one of many who suffered the after-effects of those bombs ...

... found everywhere. It took me a while but thankfully I finally did learn this lesson. I now know that real heros aren ’ t the athletes or celebrities you see on television. They are the people who live everyday with courage, strength, faith, and love. My three children are all heros. My two boys deal with the challenges of Autism everyday but still make this world a happier place for others with their sweet laughter and gentle love. My oldest son is only the water boy for his football team, yet his contagious joy inspires the players more than a star quarterback ever could. My daughter is about to graduate high school but already has the wisdom, kindness, and love of one beyond her years. She is going to make a difference in this world even if she doesn ’ t realize it yet. My children aren ’ t the only real heros I know either. I have seen heros in all walks of ...

... they get along perfectly, I assure you. The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none. My blessed children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotrys and confusion. The whole planet is now connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry and clothe your naked, and protect your abused and shelter your poor. And just as important, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, and loving and laughing together. Now, I am not really ticked off. Not really. I just wanted to ...

... Nanny was a solid, first-generation, Italian immigrant. She came to this country with her family on a tiny ship during World War I when she was only 8 years old. During the trip she survived stormy seas, little food, and an attack by a German U-boat. After getting here her large family worked hard to build a new life in America. They never had much money but were rich in love. Nanny grew up, married, and raised 4 sons of her own. And then when my parents moved back into her home she helped to raise me too. One day when I was about 5 or 6 years old my parents and brothers went on a trip. It was just me and Nanny in the house for the weekend. Nanny seemed so happy to be taking care of me all by herself. She made me a special breakfast that first morning. I was too young, selfish, and foolish to see that ...

... , but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite" Matthew 18: 20-For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 28: 18-20-All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. John 14: 20-Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. 2 Timothy 4: 17-18-the Lord stood at my side and ...

... No Strings Attached How important is it to offer our love, especially to those closest to us, with no strings attached? Ernest Hemingway wrote a poignant short story called" The Capital of the World" In it he tells about a Spanish father who wants to reconcile with his son who has run away to Madrid. In order to locate the boy he takes out this ad in the El Liberal newspaper:" Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven. Love, Papa" Paco is a common name in Spain, and when the father goes to the square he finds 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers. What drew them to the hotel? As Hemingway tells it, it was the words" All is forgiven" I notice that the father did not say," All WILL BE forgiven IF you do this or that" Not," All WILL BE forgiven WHEN you ...

... Missed Opportunities The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded," Son, go stand out in that field and I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter" The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate. The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood-pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber- ...

... I nearly scared you to death when I got behind the wheel. You taught me well and never gave up, even when it cost you a scratched bumper and a few more gray hairs. Mom, I remember you crying with joy the first time I ever wrote something about how much you meant to me. It was the best encouragement this writer ever got. Mom, I remember how you never complained when you took me, my wife, and newborn baby son into your home when I was struggling financially the first years of my marriage. You showed me what it takes to love and raise a child. Mom, I remember all the lessons you taught me about patience, humor, and courage when you faced your long battle with cancer. It may have finally taken your body, but it never got your spirit. I also remember how you always ended our phone calls those last years of your life with those three words that ...

... special walker over the curb, but it won't budge. A well-meaning teacher offers assistance, but he brushes her away. With determination, he conquers the curb and is off to laugh and play with his friends. I weep inside for his handicap, but I am inspired by his courage. And I smile as I watch the children play, totally accepting their friend for who he is, not judging him for what he lacks. It's just another day. My son proudly presents the report he did for school. He shares with me the hopes and dreams he holds for his future. His curiosity and excitement are contagious as we unfold the limitless possibilities that lay before him. I am encouraged that no dream is beyond our reach if we want it bad enough. It's just another day. My beloved wraps his arms around me and surrounds me in love. I turn to look in the eyes that share my innermost feelings. What a ...

... Laugh Lines I try not to listen to other people ’ s conversations, but sometimes you can ’ t help but hear something that sticks with you. Sometimes a pearl of great wisdom slips into your ears and finds its way into your heart, mind, and soul. This is what happened to me the other day while I was walking in a store. I was looking for acne pads to help my youngest son ’ s teenage face. As I rounded the corner I heard a middle-aged woman with a little girl in her arms asking her grandmother what she thought about a brand new face cream that was supposed to diminish wrinkles and laugh lines. The grandmother just laughed and said," Sweetie, I am 80 years old. I have learned to love all my laugh lines. After all, I earned every one of them" Then just to prove her point she laughed again and tickled her great granddaughter. The little girl ’ ...

... Jesus Is Always With You I was blessed with my 1st son, David, 6 years ago; he is a wonderful boy. He listens to me and obeys me, whatever I teach him he never forgets, and he holds onto it like a treasure. So I felt impressed in my heart that I needed to speak with him more about the Lord, so that he can always have the fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord in him. When he was about three he use to be very scared of lightning, so I told him not to be afraid and that Jesus is in his heart, and that whenever he was afraid all he had to do was touch his heart with his hand and say" Jesus I love you and thank you for being with me" Ever since then, whenever David was scared I saw him touch his heart with his hand and then smile. Last month I was going through ...

... doctor replied," Help him! I couldn't even FIND him !" I suppose it's not always a good idea to blend too closely with your surroundings. And that holds true for the way we think and behave, too. We may not always want to be like everyone else around us. I admire those people willing to stand out from the crowd. People like a Miami mother who came to police and spilled out cash and coins totaling $19.53. Her young son added another 85 cents to the little pile. It turns out that, after two days, they were the only people to return money scooped up from an armored truck that toppled on an overpass and rained more than half a million dollars onto the street below. Police said that witnesses reported seeing rush-hour commuters loading money into their cars and driving off while the armored truck employees lay bleeding. Police had pleaded with residents to return the money, but got nothing but laughter until ...

... , obnoxious and quite drunken cowboy. The cowboy pointed his six-shooters in the old miner's direction and asked," Old man, do you know how to dance ?"" Nope ," the prospector replied." Maybe you'd better learn ," said the cowpuncher. Hot lead kicked up dust around the old man's feet and he began to dance. Soon, however, the guns were empty. Now the old prospector reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun." Son ," he said," you ever kissed a mule ?" Looking first at the shotgun, then at the spot where the mule's tail is attached to its body, the young cowboy got the message." Nope ," he answered," I never kissed a mule. But I always wanted to !" Desire is another word for wanting to do something. And in real life, desire is not something that can be given by anyone else. If there is something you want ...

... warm sunshine in a cold, dark land. It was a gift of hope in a world gone wrong. It was God putting on skin and walking among men. This baby we celebrate was not only Jesus of Nazareth, as some would say. A good man. A teacher. Maybe a prophet, but at any rate, at the very least a wise and just rabbi. No. He was much more than that! He was the Christ; the son of the living God. And he still is! Addendum-See Luke 2: 1-20. Have a true Merry Christmas everyone. [Author Unknown-from Anonymous] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the doorway with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's." I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed ," she said, as she got into the car." They can't wait to hear about our meeting" We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Halfway through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there ...

... . One can never fully enjoy today while dwelling too much on past successes, either. People never succeed while resting comfortably on their laurels. As Ivern Ball has said," The past should be a springboard, not a hammock" The fact is, sometimes our successes hold us back more than our failures! I once heard a story about the actor Clark Gable. A friend paid Gable a visit one afternoon at the actor's home. She brought along her small son, who amused himself by playing with toy cars on the floor. He pretended he was racing those cars around a great track, which in reality was an imaginary circle around a golden statuette. The small statue the boy played with was actually the Oscar Clark Gable won for his performance in the 1934 movie It Happened One Night. When his mother told him the time had come to leave, the little boy asked the actor," Can I have this ?" pointing to ...

... Making A Living And Living The best on the job training I ever got in my life came from a very special woman: my Mom. It happened when I was in my early twenties. I had just recently graduated from college but couldn ’ t find that well paying job I had been hoping for. With a wife and baby son to support at home I found myself reluctantly taking a job as a busboy in a local restaurant. I was bitter, sad, and depressed to find myself working there to say the least. God works in mysterious ways, though, because that restaurant was the same one that my Mom had recently started working at after years of being a stay at home Mother. The first time I saw her come in the kitchen it was like an extra light had been turned on. Her smile was returned by everyone of the cooks and her gentle laughter and sweet good humor made the shift go by quickly ...

... he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can't stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and ...

... , I saw something that truly warmed my heart. The baby had finally taken his eyes off the shattered jar and looked up at his Mom. Instead of scolding him or even giving him an angry look she smiled down at him with eyes full of gentle understanding and unconditional love. Her tender gaze and kind smile never changed either not even when a friend gave her some good natured teasing about the mess. I knew then that this Mom was going to give her son a lifetime full of laughter and love. I think that God must smile down on us with that same look at times. We are His beloved Children and yet as hard as we try we often make a mess of things too. We want to learn to love. Still, we stumble, fall, let important things slip through our fingers, and even break a few hearts along the way. God never gives up on us, however. He forgives us and ...

... A Choice It was a beautiful, sunny, Spring day. I had just finished driving my daughter to the airport to catch an early morning flight. My sons and I then went to a fast food place for breakfast before heading back home. After eating we all got into the car and pulled out of the parking lot. The restaurant was at the very top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill was a stop sign so we found ourselves at the end of a long line of traffic waiting while the cars at the bottom turned onto the main road one at a time. As I looked down to the bottom of the hill my eyes saw an elderly man standing by the stop sign. His clothes were old and worn. He held a cardboard sign with the words:" Need Help Please !" written on it. My heart went out to him and I imagined myself in his situation. As car after car ...

... day I gained a new respect for the power of yeast; it doesn't take much to make a big difference. Little things make a big difference. Little things like yeast. Little things like kindness. Douglas, a fifteen year old boy who lived in Missouri (USA ), had been feeling badly for several days. His mother Donna took him to the emergency room where blood tests revealed one of the most frightening things a parent can learn about a child. Her son was diagnosed with leukemia. Douglas ' life changed. He began a routine of blood transfusions, spinal and bone marrow tests and chemotherapy. The physical trauma was one thing, but he also became depressed. And who wouldn't? He lost is former life, his healthy self. All of those exciting dreams and plans a young boy has for his future vanished, and in their place all he could see was somebody with cancer. Somebody who may or may not live long ...

... your circumstance. Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. James 1: 2-4 You are loved! Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship. God does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you." He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lords ' favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty ...