... rose branch from the water. This sign of land renewed their hope for survival and gave them the courage to continue their journey. The rose is the official National Floral emblem of the United States since Nov. 20, 1986. It is the state flower of 4 states and of Washington, D.C. According to one legend, the rose was born from a smile of Cupid, but we know it is one of God's finest gifts to humanity. Its combination of beauty and fragrance are seldom surpassed by any other bloom. A rose has been fashioned by God, who was not content with making one kind of flower. No, God, in His amazing creativity, has made probably thousands of varieties of flowers, each one unique. How much like His creativity in fashioning people! I'm thinking of you as roses today, each one beautiful in your own way. Some are sweet and fresh little rosebuds; some in the full bloom of ...

... the sound. He heard a small boy's voice saying," what a pleasant morning" but he, could not make any difference for the day and the night is the same for him. Then he heard a man saying to his neighbor" Ain't you coming to church this morning ", and continued," the day is beautiful and the church is decorated with great tidings for the son of David, JESUS is coming today". His mind was thinking about the beauty of the day." What is beauty ?" Said he, to himself. For he know not what it is. After a while, he heard a couple of by passers talking to each other about the new pieces of dress materials available in the market. The colors, make and the model, by then he were thinking about the variety they were talking which he can't see. He called them and asked about the price, they laughed at him and said, ...

... "" My child ," He said," if you trust Me, I will renew your strength, and if you allow Me to fill you with My Spirit, I'll give you patience" Then He took some pebbles from my burden." Yes, Lord ," I said with a sigh." Those are small. But they're important. I hate my hair. It's thin, and I can't make it look nice. I can't afford to go to the beauty shop. I'm overweight and can't stay on a diet. I hate my clothes. I hate the way I look !"" My child, people look at your outward appearance, but I look at your heart. By My Spirit you can gain self-control to lose weight. But your beauty should not come from outward appearance. Instead, it should come from your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in My sight ...

... set me to thinking. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off he was crazy. He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked. He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale. I told him he had a funny idea of beauty. Sure, it was a handsome building in its day. But then, there's been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and howling wind. The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's gone, and the wood has turned silver gray. Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired. Yet, that fellow called it beautiful. That set me to thinking. I walked out to the field and just ...

... created them to be. But I see it alone" he said now lowering his head and turning away from me." Let me ask you something. I plant a seed and the flower grows. At the same time my neighbor down the street plants the same flower and it grows. Mine is thin, with few blooms. Hers is full and healthy looking. The same seed, different gardener. I would guess then that the gardener is reflected in the beauty of the flower, right ?" I asked." Yes, I guess so"" Then you are not alone, my friend, for the beauty of your wife is reflected in your children. God provided the seeds, you and your wife made them to grow, and when her harvest came early, she left the garden in good hands ," I said." I never thought of it that way. You are right. The beauty that I see in my ...

... The Parable Of The Two Screws Once upon a time there were two screws fastening a vital part of a gasoline engine. One of the screws was haughty and proud of it's shining head. The second screw was quiet, intent only on doing its job to the best of its ability. One day a speck of rust appeared on the head of the second screw. Filled with vain pride of its own beauty, the first screw began to laugh at the second." Your head is tarnished ," the first said to the second." Look at you. Your perfect luster is gone" The second screw said nothing. Instead, it concentrated on what it was doing." How ugly you have become ," the first screw chortled," and how beautiful I have remained" Then it began to laugh so hard at the second screw that it failed to notice that it was working itself loose. Finally it dropped off the engine and ...

... 000 bulbs ," it read. The second answer was," One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain" The third answer was," Began in 1958" There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun-one bulb at a time-to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time-often just one baby-step at a time ...

... the children brought caps, scarves, sweaters and mittens. Kristie, like a little mother, helped Mary bundle up before she went outdoors, and she insisted on walking to and from school with her. In spite of our efforts, we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary as the cold, dreary March days dragged by. Even my faith was wearing thin. My heart ached so desperately, wanting this child to come alive, to be aware of the beauty the wonder, the fun-and, yes-even the pain of living. Dear God, I prayed, please let one small miracle happen. She needs it so desperately. Then on a late March day, one of the boys excitedly reported a robin in the schoolyard. We flocked to the window to see it." Spring's here !" the children cried." Let's make a flower border for the room !" Why not? I thought. Anything to lift ...

... time to see God's colors in the darkness of winter. You must be the sunshine. You must help those who have forgotten how beautiful life is, to see the color of God's love for them"" Oh, grandmother. I don't know how to ," she said." It is simple. Be yourself. People believe only what they see. Like the flowers and butterflies. But God makes people beautiful inside. It is up to us to bring that beauty out by loving each other, helping each other and when we find someone who has fallen, just like that butterfly, it is up to us to pick them up, carress them and care for them. For one day it may very well be His Chosen One left behind" The child moved closer to her grandmother as they sat admiring God's messenger. Take time to see the beauty, the colors of God in the people around you. You, too may find ...

... mix of characters come together, bond and blend their talents through the universal language of music. It was one of those movies that makes you feel strangely good about having seen it. In thinking about the movie, I was taken by the extraordinary gift that is music. Even when language separates, music unites. The hero plays a beat-up old guitar and sings sad dirges of love lost. The heroine plays Mendelssohn on the piano with gifted fingers. They recognize the beauty in each other's song and they blend their talents to make the song even richer. And somewhere along the way, it made me thing that religion is supposed to do the same thing. The moral core that is our essence is also the essence of most religions throughout the world. Our understanding of a just and loving God transcends the depth of our human understanding and calls us to unite in our love for one another. That call is not the singular call of Christianity ...

... palette paints the vibrant colors of sunset, we search out our favorite spot to watch windmills cut silhouettes against the last rays of the setting sun, now, wrapped in a blanket of peace-filled stillness, we watch the moon casting ghostly shadows through the trees. The smoldering embers of our campfire glow as if sentinels of a sleeping city keeping watch with us into the darkening hours and the end of the day. A day that has been filled with the quiet yet exploding beauty of our Father's world. A day filled with memories of a symphony of summer praise. [by Shirley Iaria (shirleybear @webtv.net)-from 'CMI '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... did you do ?"" I learned to be thankful for thorns" Sandra's eyebrows lifted." Thorns ?"" I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me? But, when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers ' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others" Sandra gasped." A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God" She started to ask Jenny to" go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention." Hey, Phil !" shouted Jenny as a ...

... and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time. Grandpa stepped up to my grandmother's casket and, taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her. Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty lullaby. Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment. For I knew that, although I couldn't begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty. S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see. [By Laura Jeanne Allen-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... learned that the huge bell, as well as the others they had throughout the ranch, was very symbolic. Every time a guest did something special it was met with the clanging bells. Possibly the cowboys on the ranch were trying to borrow some psychology with Pavlov's behavioral therapy techniques. I don't know, but I just wanted to have the bells ring one time for me. I was beginning to thoroughly enjoy the ranch, as well as the slow, peaceful, beauty of the Don K. When we were not riding, we were relaxing, reading in hammocks while the children were busy playing with each other in the fields. I was beginning to love the Don K. Each morning after breakfast the entire group of guests would break up into four divisions for our morning ride. One group was for the superior riders, a second group was for good riders, a third group was for the beginners. The fourth group-well, ...

... Three Trees Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said," Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty" Then the second tree said," Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull" Finally the third tree said," I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me" ...

... truck and decided to try and locate a telephone to see if the Florida Barber College had moved to a new location. Hopefully it was sill in business. As it was rather cold, I put on my coat and began searching for a telephone. After walking about a block I saw an open shoe store. I walked inside and asked if I could use their telephone book. Not finding a listing for the Barber College I picked out the number of a local beauty salon, hoping their might tell me if the barber college was still in business. The number was busy so I decided to wait and try again in a few minutes. “ How about moving on down the road ?” said the salesman, in a loud, harsh tone. I turned to see if he was talking to me." Damn homeless guy always wanting to use our bathroom ,” he replied. I saw a poorly dressed man standing outside the store, gazing ...

... began to pound. I held it in my hand like a newborn child. My fingers slid over the front cover rising slowing across the raised letters of the title. I held it silently for a few minutes as I flipped through the pages pausing here and there in recognition of words I wrote. There is an incredibly beautiful picture of a young child making a wish with a dandelion and the poem from the story on the opposite page. My words. her innocent beauty. Later, after having dinner with Marianne, I told her that I had something special for dessert. She closed her eyes in anticipation of some velvety chocolate dream. Placing it in her hands and watching her response brought tears to my eyes. I have not given her much in life as far as security, wealth or lavish gifts. This was something I held as more valuable than any of that. Her reaction showed that she felt the same way. Later I ...

... in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2: 10)" Prayer:" Lord, thanks for working on me! You never discard or throw me away as junk; you restore, renew and reveal to me Your everlasting skill in" making it over" with Your skillful hands .I place myself in YOUR carpenter shop this Christmas -fix what's wrong, make ME anew, and may I display the beauty of your work, In Jesus ' Name, Amen" [by Peggie C. Bohanon. Copyright 2002, Springfield, MO-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... back the gray every time it dawned over the horizon, even with Night not far behind, with its fingers of chill. Day would not be there at night to hear Night smite the land and its fruit with terror, but when Day flamed hot at the noon hour, it would hear the flowers say to the bees," What will we do when the sun shines no more? How will we get the power to open up our petals and present our beauty to add to the glory of life ?"" I don't know ," The bees would retort as they butted in to take their nectar." How will we gain our food to give us the power to carry the pollen as is our job ?" All of nature wondered what their fate would be. But all decided that they would continue to give their all for as long as they could, and in doing their job so well, someone would surely come to rescue them ...

... it blew past, be it a breeze or gale, the little green leaf waved a joyful greeting to Wind-like the hand of a happy child to a loved one." I will love you for all time ," Leaf whispered to the moving air around it." I could not be happier" Hearing this promise Tree itself shook and emitted a deep chuckle." I am glad you are happy now ," the tree said." Enjoy your youth and beauty while you can, for soon enough you will be withered and brown, dry as dust and blown away with by the same breeze that stirs your heart today" Leaf stiffened at these words. The other leaves said nothing. One or two fell like tears before their time, so stricken were they by the sadness." That is not so !" Leaf cried. Tree shook again and said," Oh but it is true. I have seen many, many leaves ...

... another sunset lover"" Yes, but the great part about sunsets is, you not only remember how beautiful the sunset was, you remember when and where you saw it"" And the flowers ?"" When I hang my flower paintings on the wall my home fills with the fresh scent that lingers in my soul from years of loving them up close. Again just like raising kids ," she said." Just like meeting you, my friend. You added beauty to my day and will brighten the dark corners of my memory just when I need it most ," I told her. The tomato was perfect with dinner.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2007 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... took them as well through seemingly endless freezing cold and darkness. Sometimes the north wind blew them along their way so hard she could scarcely breathe. At these times, as much as the bracing wind would permit, Christiana huddled close to her parents, Celeste and Chaucer, completely unaware that they were as uncomfortable as she. At other times they were assailed by a gust of warmer air up in the atmosphere that threatened their very lives. Afraid, the little crystalline beauty would bow her minuscule head and cry. Celeste and Chaucer tried to shield and protect their little progeny as best they could. Sometimes however, it was all they could do to hold on themselves. The beloved but naive little snowflake was oblivious to everything but observances from her youthful perspective and her own unreliable emotions and feelings. Life seemed to her a series of events: those that made her feel good, the ones she relished with great glee, and those that were ...

... remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges-giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is ?" The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as ...

... world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun" Orange started next to blow her trumpet:" I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you" Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:" I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood-life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, ...

... tomorrow." There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter" The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth." Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation"" Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter" A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed," What is it ?" The Creator spoke only one word:" Selfishness" The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly ...

... I said." Your job is to teach us what to look for ," he added. He then shook my hand, placed his hand on my shoulder, smiled and walked away. I sat down and thought about what he said. It's easy to see the light but we need to value the darkness, too. There you will find the lost and lonely who are always left behind. Anyone can find a rose in a field of dandelions, praise its beauty and bathe in its perfume but who will see the value in what appears to be weeds? We can celebrate the first one to cross the finish line, but who will see the magnificent effort of the one who finished last? You can stand in awe of the master architects who built the Taj Mahal but who is moved by the maintenance workers who clean and shine it daily? You can climb to the top of a mountain and pound your chest for having accomplished the ...

... So what did you do ?" asked Sandra." I learned to be thankful for thorns ," answered the clerk quietly." I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and never questioned the good things that happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask questions! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers ' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others" Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her." I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God" Just then someone else walked in the shop." Hey, Phil !" shouted the clerk to the balding, ...

... time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, 'Blue Roses ' are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a 'Blue Rose ' and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God. She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, 'Who are you? ' Without thinking I said, 'Oh, I'm probably just a 'daffodil or maybe even a dandelion, ' but I sure love living in God's garden. ...

... . We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow Him, the Lord will use us, in spite of our flaws, to grace His Father's table in some way. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister, and as God calls you to the job He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to use them, so you too can help add beauty along the pathways He has chosen for you. Addendum-2 Timothy 2: 21" Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" [Author Unknown-From: Al] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... , because they had each seen but one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are-and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life-can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. [From Big Al, via 'The Inspired Buffalo ' (the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe @yahoogroups.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... , I think I found the solution"" Excellent, what's wrong with them ?"" I need to appreciate the leaves more ," I said. Upon my return home I walked out by the pond and took a second look at those plants. There springing up from the water was a whole bunch of potential. That evening Marianne and I sat on our deck and talked for about an hour. I told her we need to love the plants more and appreciate the beauty of their leaves." So, you're saying we won't have flowers again this year !" she said with a smile." Well, let's be grateful for how tall this one grew. It has potential ," I said. When we came out to feed the fish this morning one of the tallest, tightly wrapped shoots started to open. Behold, a flower is coming!~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2006 (2believe @comcast.net ...

... say something to him, bent his head towards hers. He had been used to being looked at scornfully. He had heard the remarks of both adults and children alike. He had learned to ignore them. But he was not expecting what Nancy had to say." Mr. Lionel ," she said, smiling up at him." I don't think that you are ugly anymore. I think you have a beautiful face" Isaiah tells us that Christ had no beauty that we should desire Him. He would not have been an attractive sight, hanging on the cross, His face scarred from the piercing of the crown of thorns they had placed on His head; His body bloody from the whip lashes; His hands bleeding from the nail wounds. In the natural we would hide our face from Him, as Nancy did from Lionel. But when we accept the fact that Christ got those scars to save us, we no longer look ...

... “ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord ’ s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn. And provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor ” [By: Tim Manzer Copyright 2006-submitted by: Tim (tim @soulrehab.org)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... failed to find something worthy to do. I fear that now it's too late" But just then the cactus felt a strange stirring and unfolding, and it knew a surge of joy that erased all despair. At its very tip, like a sudden crown, a glorious flower suddenly opened in bloom. Never had the desert known such a blossom. Its fragrance perfumed the air far and wide and brought happiness to all passing by. The butterflies paused to admire its beauty, and that night even the moon smiled when it rose to find such a treasure. The cactus heard a voice." You have waited long ," the Lord said." The heart that seeks to do good reflects My glory, and will always bring something worthwhile to the world, something in which all can rejoice-even if for only a moment" [Author Unknown-from Nancy Cantafio (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... granddaughter ,” I thought. I turned around, walked back to the end of the porch and opened the dog gate. Then I walked down the three stairs, took out my keys and opened the garage door. Madison ran past me, grabbed the little treasures, which she had picked but moments before, and she stood there smiling. I knelt down and looked through the green, now drooping, limp, sagging lifeless weeds and I smiled as I saw the beauty of a dozen beautiful red roses reflecting in her eyes.~Roger Dean Kiser~True stories from The Life and Times of Roger Dean Kiser http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2007 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... God's Love Story One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah, the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me," Do you love me ?" I answered," Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour !" Then He asked," If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me ?" I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do-the things that I took for granted? And I answered," It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You" Then the Lord said," If you were blind, would you still love my creation ?" How could I love something without being able to ...

... magnificent item, nearly 15 feet long. but it, too, dated from a long vanished era. Who, today, had any use for such a thing? There were a few halfhearted bids. Then the pastor was seized with what he thought was a great idea. He bid it in for $6.50. He carried the cloth back to the church and tacked it up on the wall behind the altar. It completely hid the hole! And the extraordinary beauty of its shimmering handwork cast a fine, holiday glow over the chancel. It was a great triumph. Happily he went back to preparing his Christmas sermon. Just before noon on the day of Christmas Eve, as the pastor was opening the church, he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop." The bus won't be here for 40 minutes !" he called, and invited her into the church to get warm. She told him that she had ...

... . New pages have been added to my album. I hang my personal album for all to see, sit back and relax. For several weeks, I search my magical tree, until I find my special spot. I don't know where it is, but I know it's there-a spot where light shines perfectly on one or two balls and reflects off a length of tinsel. It's perfect in every way. I lock my eyes on it and enjoy its beauty. I relive my life. It's there for all to enjoy. I invite you to share it with me. Look at the ornaments. Flip the pages. Share my life. It's my memory tree.~Michael T. Smith~< mtsmith at qwestonline.com >Michael lives in Fort Lee, New Jersey He works as a project manager in telecommunications and writes for a hobby. You can sign up to recieve his weekly stories at: http :// visitor.constantcontact.com / d.jsp? ...

... ; reveling in a new appreciation of what surrounds me. Even in blindness, I can see the world with more passion and gusto. Knowing who is God, gratitude lifted my veil of gloom as it shone emphasis on what I can do, what I have, on the treasures that enrich my life, and on the potential that is yet to be explored. Most of all, the spirit of gratitude sparked soothing contentment, trickled in joy, and rekindled the beauty of hope. My wish for you is that you take a look at the simpler season — Jesus did — a manger housed his birth, but His life determined our destiny. This Christmas, leave out your shoes. The gift you find might determine a more profound outlook, yet simpler and uncomplicated.~Janet Perez Eckles~jeckles at cfl.rr.com Janet Perez Eckles is a conference speaker, free lance writer, contributor to ten books including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series ...

... half-hour later, I had the windshield cleared and backed up to the door to load. By five, the bread was loaded and ready to roll. Everything went pretty well, considering the parking lots were far from being cleared. Everything that was taken in was either packed or dragged. Around seven o'clock, it started getting light. I was headed down a two-lane highway, going to the" country" part of the route, and just starting to see the beauty of the first snowfall. Just a few more stops, then I'd turn and head North, to the top end of the route. Just a few miles out of town, the countryside starts changing. The rolling hills and valleys are considered to be the foothills of the Ozarks. With the snowfall fresh on the landscape, it was a quite a sight. The hilltops were capped with snow, and the valleys were blanked with a deep white layer, drifting sometimes even ...

... your name and number ?"" Yes" This got me to thinking about the world today. I understand the need for all the rules, I just don't want to accept that the world is such that we need to investigate, probe, test and train someone who wants to play music for someone who is dying. But we do. The way the world is today, we need to protect those who are at a most vulnerable time. Still, here's the beauty of it all. God is unregulated. If my neighbor's spouse dies, I can go across the street and bring them food so that they don't have to cook. If a house burns down in my area, I can go to that family with clothes, furniture, or money. If an old man falls on the side walk, I can run over and lift him up. If my co-worker is sad, I can make him smile. If my heart feels ...

... Memory Lane By Kristi Powers (From the book: Heart Touchers" Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter ") One morning, when I was twenty-two years old, I jumped out of bed and ran to the window to gaze out over" The Lane ," as I called it. I loved everything about my walks down this special path, for my journeys were full of beauty, solitude, and communion with my Maker. This particular morning, as the sun peeked her head over the horizon, I was overcome with emotion and memories. I had a favorite Calico cat named Missy, who was my constant companion. More than anything, we shared a love for taking strolls down The Lane. I would gently pick her up, and she would make her way up to my shoulders to wrap herself around the back of my neck. Oh, how I loved those beautiful summer days, feeling the lush soft grass under my ...

... . As the stained-glass portrait was assembled, that little piece remained on the floor. Only the big colorful pieces of glass were used. On the day of the window's completion, the little piece of clear glass was still lying on the ground. The entire city gathered to witness the unveiling of the brilliant and beautiful stained-glass portrait. The artist stood in front of the crowd, made his speech, and dramatically pulled down the cloth cover. The crowd gasped at the beauty of the colorful window glowing in the sunlight. After a few seconds, however, the crowd grew silent. They sensed that something was missing, that the portrait was unfinished. The great artist then walked over to where the little clear piece of glass lay, picked it up, and placed it in the portrait, right in the center of Jesus ' eye. As the sun hit that little piece, it gave off a dazzling sparkle. The magnificent stained glass window ...

... Holding Hands My sons and I decided to go walking around the lake near our home the other day. It is such a glorious place to spend an afternoon in the Springtime when the leaves are coming out on the trees and the flowers are coming up through the ground. It has a well worn gravel path that circles the entire lake. You can walk at your own pace and delight in all the natural beauty that surrounds you. It is the perfect place to get back in touch with God and to fill your soul with joy. The only problem is that with the path being so near the water, erosion sometimes causes holes to develop along the walkway. It was while we were walking along it the other day that one of these holes caught my oldest boy unawares. He stumbled and almost fell but thankfully was able to reach out and take my hand. I steadied him and we walked on for awhile holding hands and feeling ...

... their gentle encouragement helped me to keep going. It is amazing what can happen when God restores a broken life. It can be beautiful like the portrait that my mom is now, the shattered pieces of her life assembled together in a beautiful picture of God's mercy. Today I am a mom, an author, a speaker, and a wife. I have the opportunity to minister to teens and women across the nation, sharing the story of my life and the beauty of purpose and the fact that God loved us from the beginning. My mother and father were saved when I was in my junior year of high school. I found a note from my dad under my pillow one day. I still carry it with me, the tattered pieces a reminder of what God has done. My quiet father, who very rarely shared the depth of his emotions, said in that letter," I have watched you and I see that you ...

... is the difference. It's what I call the" Spiritual Connection" The" Spiritual Connection" remains a part of who we are forever. In a sense it stays on our" hard drive" and cannot be removed or deleted. It's God inside each of us. In the darkest of days it's the little spark that ignites within us a desire for a better outlook. It causes us to reach out for that bright spot on the horizon or to touch the beauty of the moment longing for a return to happier times or hope for a better future. While visiting a State Park recently I saw along the edge of the still ice covered lake, a red ladder, rope and a long stick mounted on two poles. At first I thought it odd. Could they be leftovers from summer days or maintenance tools for park employees? No, they were mounted there as rescue equipment for the possibility of someone falling through the ice. As ...

... we let Him. The true value of the pearl is not seen from the outside. To the world around it the pearl is just another barnacle covered nasty looking shell. Oh, friends the Lord looks upon the heart. Are you doing the same, to others? Only the Lord sees us as complete in Him. If the world knew what we will look like when our Bridegroom comes for us, they would surely want to come! To see the true beauty of the pearl the oyster must die. The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed. The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death, so that all who trust in Him will be able to see and be with Him in His beautiful Kingdom, for eternity. It's His desire that all should accept Christ as their personal savior, so that they too shall receive their salvation, and live with Him for eternity ...