A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough."
May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR ALL E-MAIL RECEIVED FROM MY FRIENDS. BECAUSE IT MEANS GOOD FRIENDS ARE THINKING OF ME.
SEND THE ADDRESS OF THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT! Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!
September 11th and the Hospitable People of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks, our Canadian neighbors sprang into action to help clear American airspace of any other potentially dangerous flights. The action was known as Operation Yellow Ribbon, and in those uncertain first hours after the attacks, it was hugely helpful. The mission also made a tiny town in Newfoundland world-famous for its hospitality.
Canadian authorities began diverting flights heading into the U.S. to various locations around Canada to help neutralize any lingering threats, but the task was a tricky one. It wouldn’t have made much sense to pull flights away from American airspace only to route them to Canada’s major centers, so the ideal landing spots for these planes had to be relatively remote, while also having a large enough airport to accommodate all the traffic.
As luck would have it, Canada had just such an airport in Gander, Newfoundland.
The tiny town only boasted 10,000 residents, but what it lacked in population size, it more than made up for in airport capacity. Gander International Airport had previously served as a refueling stop for transatlantic flights and had served as a staging point for U-boat hunting flights during World War II. Gander ended up receiving 38 flights in the wake of the September 11th attacks, second only to Halifax’s 47 diverted flights.
Landing all the planes in Gander was easy. Figuring out what to do with the 6700-plus passengers and crew members who were stuck on the ground until flights resumed was quite a bit tougher. Towns of 10,000 people aren’t exactly built to accommodate sudden 66 percent population surges, so they didn't have the hotel or restaurant capacity to take in all these stranded flyers.
Gander’s population may have been small, but the town was also immensely hospitable. To say the locals bent over backwards to accommodate their unexpected guests would be a gross understatement. When flyers stepped off of their planes, Gander’s citizens met them with homemade bagged lunches. The town converted its schools and large buildings into temporary shelters, and when those lodgings filled up, citizens took strangers into their own homes. Medical personnel saw patients and filled prescriptions free of charge.
When the stranded passengers finally got to fly home a few days later, they couldn’t believe how wonderful their Canadian hosts had been.
How to Show Kindness at a Restaurant: During my college years, I worked as a waitress and one night I spilled an entire pitcher of ice water on a lady in my booth. I was mortified and did my best to help her dry off. I couldn’t stop apologizing. She was very gracious and kept telling me, “It’s O.K. sweetie.” At the end of the night, I went to clear off her table. She had left me a note on the back of her ticket that said, “You did a great job. Remember God Loves You.” Along with my biggest tip of the night! I was finishing my internship at Walt Disney World so my mom flew down to spend a few days with me before we had to pack my things and fly back. We had a reservation at one of the park restaurants, and as we were seated, we began talking to this family at the table next to us. They were extremely nice and asked all kinds of questions about my internship. They were finishing up so our conversation was a brief five minutes. Mom and I had a nice dinner, and when we requested the bill, our server informed us that the family next to us paid for our entire bill. My mom, bless her heart, broke down with tears of happiness, and I shed a few myself. I will never ever forget that moment. (Facebook) My granddaughter (10 years old) and I were Christmas shopping and stopped at the Mall’s food court for a quick lunch. We wanted different things so she when to get Pizza. She struck up a conversation with the woman in front of her. When she got to the front of the line the woman had paid for her food. My granddaughter was amazed and tried to insist that she pay for her own. The woman simply told her to study hard and pass it on when she got the opportunity. A friend of mine and I went to lunch together and we could see our waitress was struggling. So we asked how she was doing. She said she was fine at first, but after some persuasion, she told us she was a single mom and didn’t have the money to cover her electric bill due that day. We asked how much she owed. We relayed our sympathies to her and went back to eating lunch. However, we both felt God tugging at our hearts to help her. I left the restaurant to go get cash and my friend spoke to the manager. The manager said she was a hard-working, honest person and he would allow her to take a break so she could go and pay her electric bill. When we gave her the money, her face was priceless. She told us how grateful she was as tears welled up in her eyes.
The Man at the Market When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, I was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags, when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” —
Jim and the Job My neighbor, Jim, had trouble deciding if he wanted to retire from the construction field, until he ran into a younger man he’d worked with previously. The young man had a wife and three children and was finding it difficult to make ends meet, since he hadn’t worked in some time. The next morning, Jim went to the union office and submitted his retirement paperwork. As for his replacement, he gave them the name of the young man. That was six years ago, and that young husband and father has been employed ever since. —
Aaron Collins passed away just three weeks after his 30th birthday, but he left a legacy that has touched thousands of people. One of his final wishes was to give a waiter or waitress a $500 tip. When his brother Seth fulfilled his wish, giving a waitress a $500 tip at Puccini's, in Lexington, Kentucky, he recorded a video and put it on YouTube. Within days, the video was viewed over one million times, and thirty thousand dollars had been donated to continue the cause, now known as "Aaron's Last Wish."
In the video, Collins gave the waitress, Sarah Ward, the $500 tip, explaining that his brother had just passed away and that giving a $500 tip was his final wish. Ward told him, "I'm going to be telling this story for the rest of my life."
Over a hundred waitresses have now received $500 tips, all of which are chronicled on the Aaron's Wish website. At first, Collins was only visiting restaurants in Lexington, but he has since given a $500 tip in every state in the U.S. He told NPR, "People have been programmed to think that good things can't happen...and it makes me happy too, at least for a few of them, show that can."
High school friends Rob Westerman and Mike Lewis went to the Kroger store with four hundred dollars in their pockets. The money wasn't meant to buy eggs and milk, however. Instead, the two friends used it to surprise 15 shoppers by buying their groceries for them.
You could see the shock and happiness in the shoppers' eyes as they realized that this stranger just paid for their groceries. One woman offered to pay for the next person's groceries. Another blew him a kiss and said, "I love you!" A third told the cashier, "That just gave me chills!" The final woman in the video cried so hard the cashier went around the counter and gave her a hug. "Now you're going to make me cry," she said.
"Let's truly love our neighbor, whatever that looks like for you. We did this with no strings attached," Westerman told Today. Lewis added that one of the women they helped that day later contacted them and shared that she had asked God for a sign because she was going through a rough time.
Westerman explained to Today, "Our goal is that people see this video and go out and be nice to people. Let someone over, in traffic, or smile at someone."
The Old Man........... Yes John sings about his own dad John McDermott
The tears have all been shed now We've said our last good-bye His soul's been blessed and he's laid to rest And it's now I feel alone He was more than just a father A teacher my best friend He can still be heard in the tunes we shared When we play them on our own
I never will forget him for he made me what I am Though he may be gone memory lingers on And I miss him... The old man
As a boy he'd take me walking By mountain field and stream And he showed me things not known to kings And secret between him and me. Like the colors of the pheasant As he rises in the dawn And how to fish and make a wish Beside the holly tree
I never will forget him for he made me what I am Though he may be gone memory lingers on And I miss him... The Old Man
I thought he'd live forever He seemed so big and strong But the minutes fly and the years roll by For a father and his son And suddenly when it happened There was so much left unsaid No second chance to tell him thanks For everything, he's done
I never will forget him for he made me what I am Though he may be gone memory lingers on And I miss him... My Old Man
The man was standing on the corner, holding up a sign reading "U.S. Vet in need, please help." Riceman went up, gave the man some change, and told him that his brother was missing and to let him know if he saw him. When Riceman walked away, instead of holding up his own sign to passing cars, the man held up the sign with Riceman's missing brother on it. He deliberately chose to stop asking for money for himself, in order to help Riceman.
When Riceman returned, he told the homeless man about the experiment and asked him why he chose to hold up the missing person's sign rather than continuing to ask for money. The man told him, "What kind of a person would I be if I didn't help someone else?" Riceman then gave him some cash and a hug, moved by his desire to help someone in need.
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Don't let The Candle of Love, Hope, and Friendship die
Jesus Christ, You are alive. You have given the good news. Life is abundant, and now life is eternal to those who know You and that includes me. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten, Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
You have promised it, Lord. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." You have promised that if I have faith as the grain of a mustard seed, I can say to my mountain, "move and nothing will be impossible. Jesus Christ, look at me. You know who I am. You know where I come from. You know what problems I carry in my heart, and my mind, and in my physical, organic body.
O Lord, you know a lot more about me than I do. A lot more about me than any doctor, any psychiatrist, or any counselor knows.
O God, give me the gift of faith. I receive this gift, and I feel a warm glow. Your faith is flowing from my mind, across my face, across my lips, down my neck, and through my body. I am feeling the healing prescence of the God of all eternity. In the name of my Lord, I praise You, and I thank You, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Psalm 91-11 is a prayer I use every day. This is a prayer a promise but only good if you claim it. When going out in the car alone or together, I pray, Father I come to you in Jesus' name. (this is how Jesus told the disciples to pray) I claim Psalm 91-11, for us to come home safely thank you Lord.
Having asked the question; "How do you see God?' The answer often is; An old man, something like a Santa figure, who holds a book in his lap and watches what we do, good or bad, and then writes it all down in that book. He, God must have no time for anything else as we all must keep Him very, very busy. Well numero uno, God is Spirit . On the day of Judgement standing before the Lord, all that you have ever done good or bad is shown. No, not from the pages of a non-exciting book but by the Hard Drive that is in your own brain. Yes, your brain is just like a computer hard drive.....................
Hi Itchy, Mr. String has been missing now for some time, unfortunately, I am not able to email him. Maybe you can do so? Glad to know you are enjoying the blog. I do try to bring a variety ...............
Dear Mr. God I'm sorry for keepin' ya up late. But, I wanna know If'n you're too busy, I can wait.
You see grandma's been forgettin' A lot of things. Mamma says so. She forgot my name, today, Mr. God, And she's a walkin' kinda slow.
Yesterday, she jest left Without even sayin' bye. Daddy brought her back and He had a tear in his eye.
So, I was wonderin', can you fix her? She has somthun' called 'all tizers', daddy said. She forgets who we are sometimes, And she forgot that grandpa's dead.
Mr. God, you give her a new brememberer 'Cause I miss her playin', and stuff, with me And the cookies she used to bake. And, she was so smart, wasn't she?
She used to talk 'bout you a lot. Now, she jest talks to herself and, Mr. God, she don't know herself From the pictures on the shelf.
Sometimes, she calls me 'little boy' And pats my cheek or hair. And she don't seem to care.
Please, Mr. God, Will ya fix her, all new again, A'fore she gets lost and Can't bremember where she's been?
She ain't sang a Jesus song Like I like to hear her to do. Daddy says 'cause she is getting old. But, she's not as old as you.
Daddy says you never forget and You are older than anyone, anywhere. Mamma says, "All we can do is Bremember her in prayer.
So, Mr. God, I'm jest askin' 'Cause I don't know how to pray. 'Cause you un'erstand what I try to say.
Does Jesus have a grandma And does she forget people, too? I guess she would be your mommy And wouldn't she be older than you?
Well, I gotta go to bed. Would ya keep grandma safe, O please, So as she won't wander off and get lost? She forgets her hat and coat, and she could freeze.
I love her lots and I wish she bremember I'm her little Andy And bake some good cookies for me, And even share my candy.
Tell my friend, Jesus, I was here and Give Him a hug from grandma and me. She used to know Him and I heard her say, "Thank you, Jesus, for little Andy."
Good night, Mr. God. Are ya tired? You work, so hard, all day. I'll be back a'morrow, to visit, Before I go out to play.........Andy
If everyone would just light one little candle, what a bright world it would be
It is better to light just one little candle Than to stumble in the dark Better far that you light just one little candle All you need is a tiny spark If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free A wonderful dawn of a new day we'd see... And if everyone lit just one little candle What a bright world this would be
When the day is dark and dreary And we know not where to go; Don't let your heart go weary Just keep this thought in mind...
It is better to light just one little candle Than to stumble in the dark Better far that you light just one little candle All you need is a tiny spark If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free A wonderful dawn of a new day we'd see... And if everyone lit just one little candle What a bright world this would be
POLICE OFFICERS When the Lord was creating police officers, he was into his sixth day of working overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You sure are doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order?
A police officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform. "He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day. "He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, "May I see what's in there, sir?" (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.)
"Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety.
And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, " why don't you rest and work on this tomorrow."
Victory Over Fear ................... Heavenly Father, you are the guard and guide of all who place their trust in you. Give us believing minds and trusting hearts. You know the cares that often beset us and torment us. You see the path that stretches out before us more clearly than our eyes can discern it. Forgive the anxieties that cloud our minds and consume our energies. In you and your promised word, may we rest and be strong. Save us, Father, from undue self-concern from dark fears, from distrust in your care. Into your hand of love, we place our hands, and we face the future unafraid. So shall your peace, which passes all understanding, be our strength and joy. Then each passing day will bring new proof of your love and faithfulness. At this moment, we rise to discover your plan, and this we pray in the name of him who is the victory, Jesus Christ our Lord................
Jesus Christ, You are alive. You have given the good news. Life is abundant, and now life is eternal to those who know You and that includes me. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten, Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
You have promised it, Lord. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." You have promised that if I have faith as the grain of a mustard seed, I can say to my mountain, "move and nothing will be impossible. Jesus Christ, look at me. You know who I am. You know where I come from. You know what problems I carry in my heart, and my mind, and in my physical, organic body.
O Lord, you know a lot more about me than I do. A lot more about me than any doctor, any psychiatrist, or any counselor knows...................
Most people are bothered by scriptures they don't understand. I am bothered by those scriptures I do understand........Mark Twain ......................,
PRAYER FOR SELF-CARE Prayer For Self-Care Prayer for healing Lord, lift me up for Your blessings today. I pray that you will anoint me with strength and self-care today, tomorrow, and always. I pray that You will grace me with patience and wisdom. I pray that You will encourage me throughout the day to take the correct steps to walk proudly and behave well. I pray all of these things in Your name. Amen.
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What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he waspreparing to leave the examination room and said,
"Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on
the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know
what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on
the other side came a sound of scratching and
whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang
into the room and leaped on him with an eager show
of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you
notice my dog? He's never been in this room before.
He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing
except that his master was here, and when the door
opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of
what is on the other side of death, but I do know
one thing... I know my Master is there and that is
enough."
May today there be peace within you. May you trust
God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us
to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering
how to fly.