Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A Time To Believe

To believe is to know that every
day is a new beginning.
It is to trust that miracles happen,
and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see Angels
dancing among the clouds.
To know the wonder of a stardust
sky and the wisdom of the
man in the moon.


To believe is to know the value
of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child's eyes and the
beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings
we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength
and courage that lies within us.
When it is time to pick up
the pieces and begin again.

To believe is to know we are not alone,
That life is a gift and this is our
time to cherish it.

To believe is to know that wonderful
surprises are just waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams
are within reach.
"If only we believe"
Author Unknown

Mother's Day

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.

He asked her what was wrong and she replied, “I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother and I don’t have enough money.”

The man smiled and said, “Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose.”

He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers.

As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, “Yes, please! You can take me to my mother.”

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother’s house.

Author Unknown

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Five Honorable Ways to Finish Our Earthly Race


Enoch (Gen.5:22-) Enoch just took one step at a time in faith, walking with God. He allowed God to set the pace, the direction and the destination. God didn't walk with Enoch. Enoch walked with God.
Moses (Deut 34) Moses finished his earthly race still climbing. It's from the mountain top that we see the panoramic view. We see more and more of the beauties of God's Kingdom from climbing to the mountain top. Keep putting forth the effort to climb to the top.
Simeon (Lk.2:25-32) Simeon was faithful in waiting. He was waiting to see the Lord's Christ and then departed in peace. How would he have felt if he'd decided to not go to the temple that particular day when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus there! He would have missed it. Simeon recognized this baby as the Lord's Christ. How would you feel if you were hungry and somebody showed you a seed!! God didn't show Simeon the grown Jesus, God didn't show Simeon the crucified Jesus nor the resurrected Jesus. God showed Simeon the infant Jesus. So many people miss recognizing the Christ in the SEED of the Gospel.
Peter ( 2 Pet.3:1) Peter finished his days by encouraging the Lord's people of all that they had in Christ. It's wonderful to end our days being an encouragement to our brethren.
Jesus (John 19:30) A worker was asking the children how did Jesus die. He expected to hear, "He was crucified". A little girl raised her hand and when called upon she said, "Jesus died with a bowed head". We too, want to die with a bowed head to the will of God. It was the final expression of submission to His Father's will.

B. Simonton

Friday, April 25, 2014

Inspirational Thoughts On Prayer

Prayer is the key to the day and belt to the night.

Watching makes it easier to pray and praying makes it easier to watch.

It is useless to fight without praying, but it is useless, too to pray without fighting.

Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? 

If you pray for the harvest field, it will help us have a heart of compassion.

If we would worship while we wait, we would not complain of waiting.

Things we live for determine what we pray for.

Our lives give meaning to the words we pray.

Prayer should be the environment for God's children not only an emergency measure but a daily necessity.

Pray, pray more, pray everyday, pray more earnestly,and pray as if your life depended on it; because it does.

When we are unable to stand, because we haven't been able to kneel.

In Ecclesiastes it mentions a time for many things, but not prayer,we must take time for prayer.

In the morning, begging for His Spirit and in the evening pleading for His forgiveness, we know not what we should pray for us we ought, but we know we ought to pray.

It is our feeling of need and desperate weakness that appeals to God, not our words.

Prayer is like dressing, reading is like eating, we can go without eating, we only rob ourselves, but we would not think if going without dressing.


Prayers of righteous people keep God's servants where they are.

When you pray, pray the devil will sow other thoughts.

Put a praying person is an impossible position and he will come out a victor with a song.

Pray with desperation, fight with determination, serve without reservation, casual reading(no meditation ) and casual praying (no seeking) lead to casualties.

Very few people in the world today even think of God every day, even fewer pray to God; but those who wait for Him, He knows by name.

When we are praying it is hard to criticize.

Prayer doesn't prepare us for battle. It is the battle.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Let Go - Let God


As children bring their broken toys,
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because He is my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back again and cried,
“How can you be so slow?”
“My child”, He replied, “What could I do?
You never did let go.”

-unknown

B. Simonton

God's Wish

George Walker - Gods Wish

You don't have to be clever to please me, all you have to do is want to love me. Just speak as you would to anyone of whom you are very fond.

Are there any people that you are concerned for? Say their name to me and ask as much of me as you like, I am generous, and know all their needs, but I want you to show your love for them and me, but trusting me to do what I know is best.

Tell me about the poor, the sick, the suffering, the sinners and if you have lost friendship or affection for anyone, tell me about it too. Is there anything that you want for your soul? If you like you can write out a list of all and come and read it to me.

Just tell me about your pride, your tenderness, self-centerdness, prejudice and laziness. Do not be ashamed, there are many saints inn Heaven too who had the same faults as you, they talked to me about them and little by little their faults were corrected.

What is it that you need today? Tell me for I long to do good. What are your plans? You’ll discover as you share your deepest thoughts and feelings with me, that I will become closer friends than you ever dreamed possible.

And you don't want to do anything for me? Don't you want to do a little good for the souls of your friends who have perhaps forgotten me? Tell me about your failures and I will show you the cause of them What are your worries? Who has caused you pain? Tell me about it and that you will forgive and forget and I will bless you.

Well go on now and get on with your work. Try to be more thoughtful of others you meet, and come back and share the days experiences with me. Then I will give you a better start tomorrow.

May 20. 1975. (Aged 95 years.)

LET GO – LET GOD
As children bring their broken toys,
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because He is my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back again and cried,
“How can you be so slow?”
“My child”, He replied, “What could I do?
You never did let go.”

-unknown

Thursday, April 10, 2014

An Adoption Story That Started at Saks

A chance conversation at a lunch counter led me around the world—and to the child who was meant to be mine.


stranger who changed my lifeAna Juan for Reader’s Digest
On my many excursions into Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City over the years, I’ve bought countless pairs of shoes that brightened my mood, picked out dresses that (sometimes) flattered my figure, and turned over my credit card for too many cosmetics that I’d hoped would make me look like a fresher, prettier version of myself.

But one afternoon in October 2002, I walked out of the store with something more valuable than anything money could buy. I found hope in the unlikeliest of places after months of despair, thanks to a woman who decided to strike up a conversation with me in the store’s café.

It was a painful time for me. Married a little over two years, I’d suffered three devastating miscarriages in nine months and, at 42, was slowly coming to terms with the idea that I might never be able to have a child.

Up until that point, I never really gave much thought to being a mother, and suddenly I could think of little else. My husband and I had been together for ten years before we decided to get married because neither of us was in a hurry to do so. My parents’ marriage had ended disastrously, leaving my mother in deteriorating health and dire financial circumstances. After her death a few years later, I vowed to maintain my independence, and I threw myself into my work as a freelance marketing consultant and fledgling writer. Motherhood just wasn’t part of the plan.

As my 40th birthday approached, I began, for the first time, to notice babies and their happy, smiling mothers wherever I went. I wished I could talk to my own mother about the yearning, hurt, and confusion I was experiencing.

On that fateful day, I’d been trudging around the city sleepwalking through meetings with clients while the voice inside me cried out, “It’s too late! You missed your chance to be a mother! You wanted an all-consuming career, and now you’ve got one.”

A light mist turned into a heavy rain. Perfect, I thought. Just the thing to match my mood. With an hour to kill before my next appointment, I ducked into Saks, hoping to distract myself with some retail therapy. When scouring the sale racks did little to lift my spirits, I decided to head to the ninth-floor café.

An elegantly dressed, slightly older woman wearing a tweed blazer and oversize pearls was seated a few stools away at the half-empty counter.

“Would you like to see a picture of my daughter?” she asked me.

“Sure,” I said, not at all sure why I was remotely interested.

She reached across the counter and handed me a photo of a smiling Chinese girl. The child was about seven years old and was wearing a Snow White costume.

“That’s Melanie. She’s in the first grade,” she said. I could hear the motherly pride in her voice.

“She’s pretty,” I said. “I love her costume.”

We were still chatting when our salads arrived. My new acquaintance told me she was exhausted, having been up half the night worrying over the news that some boys on her daughter’s bus had teased her about the “funny-smelling” Chinese snacks she had in her lunch box.

The woman explained that she felt strongly about teaching her daughter about Chinese customs and maintaining ties to her heritage.

“What made you decide to adopt her?” I asked, uncertain whether I’d ventured into too-personal territory.
“I didn’t want work to be my whole life,” she said.

I’m not sure if she saw the tears welling up in my eyes as I replied, “I don’t either, but I’m afraid it’s too late.”

“I was 51 when I adopted Melanie,” she said with more than a hint of reassurance in her voice. “And it’s the most rewarding, exciting thing I’ve ever done.”
When our checks came, she handed me her business card, and I finally learned her name—and in that minute, I saw a happier, more fulfilled version of myself. Jill Totenberg was a public relations consultant and a happy, loving adoptive parent. Could I ever hope to have that kind of life? 
That night, I dreamed of my mother, remembering that she once had wanted to adopt a child from Vietnam, but my father hadn’t felt the same way. It was the first time she’d ever appeared in my dreams. I woke up knowing I could be—and would be—a mother. I also knew how that was going to happen.

A few days later, in the car on our way to dinner, I told my husband that I wanted to look into adopting a girl from China. “You’re enough for me,” he said. “But if you want to find out more about that, we can.”

In early 2003, we registered with an adoption agency and began an 18-month “paper pregnancy.” During that time, I kept in touch with Jill, e-mailing her occasionally. I promised to visit so I could meet her daughter, but as often happens, life got in the way. Still, the little girl in the Snow White costume and her mother were never far away in my thoughts.

When my husband and I returned from China with our nine-month-old daughter, Madeline Jing-Mei, in November 2005, Jill was one of the first people I e-mailed. “I did it!” I wrote. “I’m a mother, and she’s beautiful!”

“Congratulations,” she wrote back. “You’re embarking on the greatest adventure of your life.”

We recently reconnected on Facebook, and I reminded her that meeting her was the single most important encounter I’d ever had with a stranger. “I can’t imagine my life without Madeline. She’s the happiest child, and I adore her. I would have never really thought about adopting a baby from China if I hadn’t met you that day,” I told her. “You changed my life.”

“You were just ready to hear what I had to say,” said Jill. “It was meant to be.”

 Source: rd.com / readersdigest.com

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Elephants Knew


Some will say there is no God, try and tell that to the elephants.....

THE ELEPHANTS' JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller, The Elephant Whisperer.

He bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageousrescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.

On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons, and numerous elephants. Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved 'man-friend'. A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 milesto get to his South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way: Walking slowly, for days, making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house. Lawrence 's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years! But yet they knew where they were going. The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything. Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE IS GREATER AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.
IN GOD WE TRUST

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Crucifixion – Pink Dogwood

The white and pink dogwood are symbolic of Jesus' Crucifixion. The markings on the outer edge of the four petals are symbolic of the nails driven through the hands and feet.
http://kyeos.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/crucifiction.jpg
The Crucifix - Pink Dogwood
Source:  Keeping My Eye On the Sparrow Photography

The Way You Look

When people see you, they see much more
Than the clothing that you wear
Your eyes are the window to your soul
You can't hide what's lurking there.

So if you find yourself below
I hope it's something that is good
But if it's not then it's not too late
To change things if you should.


Love Looks Happy

Sorry Looks Back

Satisfied Looks Content

Unhappy Looks Down

Happy Looks Glowing

Guilt Looks Troubled

Worried Looks Around

Faith Looks Up

Today I Smiled

undefined
Today I Smiled
Today I smiled, and all at once
Things didn't look so bad.
Today I shared with someone else,
A little bit of hope I had.
Today I worked with what I had,
And longed for nothing more,
And what had seemed like only weeds,
Were flowers at my door.
Today I loved a little more,
And complained a little less.
And in the giving of myself,
I forgot my weariness.
~ author unknown ~

Source: mamarocks.com

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Christianity


In the home, it is Kindness,
In business, it is Honesty,
In society, it is Courtesy,
In the Work, it is Thoughtfulness
In play, it is Fairness.


Toward the unfortunate, it is Compassion,
Toward the weak, it is Help,
Toward the fortunate, it is Congratulations,
Toward the wicked, it is Resistance,
Toward the penitent, it is Forgiveness,
Toward God, it is Reverence, Love and Obedience.

Unknown

B. Simonton

A Blessed Thought


There is promise in each sunrise,
There is hope for each new day;
There’s a sunbeam for each raindrop,
There is help along the way.


There is grace for all life’s problems,
There is strength for trials you face,
There is mercy and compassion
Even in life’s darkest place.

There is love that can’t be measured,
That makes all life’s sorrows dim,
When you place your hand in God’s Hand
And walk Life’s Path with Him.

--unknown

B. Simonton

Friday, April 4, 2014

It Matters Not

It matters not, my friend,
How painful partings be
What really matters is,
“Is His hand leading me?”
As from thy shores I turn,
I look to Him anew,
And trustingly I plead,
“God, help me to keep true.”


It matters not how far
We’re scattered on the wall,
What matters is “Fight on,”
Though shades of darkness fall.
And as you struggle on,
I keep you in my heart
Thankful God keeps His own
E’en though our ways must part.

- Unknown

B. Simonton

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

To This Earth

To this earth to live and labor In His Father's name,
Poor and homeless, unknown stranger, Jesus came.

Foxes have their lair for shelter, Birds their leafy nest,
But the loving Saviour had not Where to rest.

From this lowly Man of Sorrows Many hid their face:
Shame and scorn were heaped upon Him, And disgrace.

Oh that life so pure and holy, Sacrificed each day,
Giving freely life and service All the way!

At the close is blood so precious, Shed for all mankind;
Still His foes were mocking, scoffing- They were blind.

God has raised up this same Jesus, Made Him Lord of all;
Sons of men, O now receive Him: Hear His call.

If We But Knew

If we but knew the cost at which He came,
The price where-by the veil was rent in twain,
Would we not praise as an-gels praise His name?
If we but knew! If we but knew!

If we but knew the sorrow and the loss,
The lonely hours, the gar-den, yea, the cross,
Be-fore such love all else would be as dross,
If we but knew! If we but knew!

If we but knew the joy His heart had planned,
The strength and mercy of the out-stretched hand,
Not long would He rejected, waiting stand,
If we but knew! If we but knew!

If we but knew! O Jesus, Lord of all,
Before whom angels bow and nations fall,
Lest we resist Thy sweet, insistent call,
Help us to know, Help us to know.

Is There No Light?

"Is there no light," some anxious soul is asking,
"To guide my steps into the path of life?
Is there no light? For I am growing weary
Of this vain world with all it's sin and strife."

The Light of Life through Jesus still is shining,
And unto you He says, "I am the way."
O doubting soul, there is no need to wander:
Turn unto Him- He will not let you stray.

He came to be a light to those in darkness,
To all who have this vale of shad-ow trod.
If you receive Him, He will be your Saviour
And give you pow'r to be a child of God.

A little while the Light of Life is with you;
O follow Him, and He will lead you on;
Do not delay, lest darkness over-whelm you
And, turning  late, you find that He is gone.
 

Precious Seed

The living words of Jesus to me are precious seed.
They offer peace and guidance, True comfort in my need.
With warmth of true submission, I'll gladly do my part;
Then comes first bloom of spring-time new life within my heart.

Chorus:

Divine is that blest mess-age, Like living seed to me.
I'd cherish and obey it, Reap life eternally

My heart is soil for sowing; What will it's reaping be?
Do stones there have possession? Do thorns now rule in me?
The evil one would rob me, The precious seed would steal;
No fruit will ever sweeten In hearts with hardness sealed.

Chorus:

The sowers at His bidding Have left their homes behind,
The precious seed to scatter, Impelled by love devine.
With promise of the harvest, The gospel is made known;
Come sunshine or come storm-clouds, A hope of heave'n is sown.

Chorus:

Strong In The Strength

Strong in the strength of gentleness, of meekness, faith and love,
I take Thy hand in weakness and press on toward things above;
The Morning Star will be my guide: it's lustrous rays I see
Shining along the highway, marking the path for me.

Strong radiant light assuring, my hope is set in Thee;
The gleam from off the mercy seat must always help me see
The precious things Thou hast in store for yielded lives and true,
Striving to serve the Master, doing what He would do.

Strong in the strength which He supplies, my store-house is complete;
I feast upon the living bread and drink the water sweet.
My every need He doth supply, secure with-in the fold;
His promises are ever sure: rare treasures man-i-fold.

How do I prize my calling, since Christ hath made me free?
The hand of time must test me as I journey out to sea.
Mid surges of temptations wild and murmurs of self will,
Is the Master at the helm? Hear Him whisper "Peace be still."


Sweet Is The Rest

Sweet is the rest that comes with dawn at last,
After the night of dark defeat is past,
And breaks the day: the triumph of Thy will-
Thy purpose in my life, Lord to fullfill.

Chorus:

This blessed rest, O Master give to me,
That I may find my peace, my all in Thee.

Sweet is the rest in bearing of the cross:
Death to a life that brings me only loss;
But from this death a resurrection sure:
A Christ-filled life, acceptable and pure.

Chorus:

Sweet is the rest when after weary toil,
I do not glory in the battles spoil.
The victor's crown, all honors, let them be
To Thee alone who gives the victory.

Chorus:

Sweet is the rest that come at close of day,
When life departs, the spirit flies away
To be with Thee, the One whom I adore,
And live with Thee and Thine forever more.

Chorus:

"Don't Drop The Baton"

JOHN STERLING - "Don't drop the baton"

Just before I left the [San Francisco] Bay Area to go into the ministry in Oregon, I was with my aunt and we were going to go see Auntie May Carroll, who was in an apartment and was old and sick and being taken care of. We went over to see her, not knowing that she died in route. When we got there, my two nieces that were taking care of her told us Auntie May was dead. The coroners were slow in getting there, so my niece said, "Let's open her Bible. Maybe she can't talk to us, but maybe she can speak to us from her Bible."

Maybe by something she had marked or underlined. One of them started going through her Bible, and out fell a newspaper clipping. It was yellow with age. The headline was, "Don't Drop the Baton." It told about the 1948 Olympics and a relay race that was being run. As always, the Americans were favored, but for some reason the Italian team had strong runners that year, and when the first runner took off, he gave the Italians the lead. And the second runner held the lead. The third runner increased the lead with each stride. Then he handed off to the anchor runner, and he dropped the baton and the race was lost.

The baton is that 17" cylinder they hand to each other. Spiritually speaking, the baton is faith. "The righteousness of God is from faith to faith." Faith is handed to another. When Jesus came into the world, He brought into the world the baton of faith and committed it to faithful men who passed it onto others. We don't know what happened in history since that time, but we found in our experience and in our day that the baton of faith is still in the world, and I believe God is, and will help under any circumstance. Our responsibility now is not only to hang onto it carefully and firmly, but it is our privilege to be able to pass it on to other people, to commit it unto faithful men and women.

Some of you who are young in school and haven't served God very long, and you don't know God very well, and you feel like you are weak and barely toddling along in faith, remember there is no one else even taking a step in it. Under no circumstance, even though you are young, don't drop the baton. Those of you out there, probably the majority, who are in your middle years, trying to keep body and soul together, and your family, and you have many cares, and you have business and lots of work to do and many distractions, and you're probably tired more than you aren't tired, don't drop the baton. What about your children? Then there are those of you who are old, and you're running out of time, and it's just an effort to put one foot in front of the other and it takes a lot of energy to even read the Bible, let alone come to a meeting, and sometimes you can't, and the finish line isn't very far away, don't drop the baton.

Uncle Willie told me one time, "Johnny, I'm 91 years old, and when I walk down the street of a big city, the devil is still telling me to turn into this place or that place, and ruin my life and testimony." He was old and he was tired, and we are thankful that he didn't drop the baton. When a faithful person finishes this life, particularly the old, it is such a wonderful encouragement to us that are younger, and to those that are younger than us, to see that it can be done.

If we hold fast the profession of our faith, it will help us believe to the saving of the soul. Call to remembrance the former days when you suffered, and God delivered you. God will not keep you from being destroyed by one enemy to have you destroyed by another enemy. Don't cast away your confidence, no matter what anybody says, no matter what anybody does, no matter what the world comes to, don't cast away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. And we would say to you all, above everything else, above everything else, “Don't drop the baton.”

B. Simonton