Bible Verses For The Day..............

[2manytears]

Originally Posted by mountainlion20032003

Anytime for you!

aw that's sweet

[mountainlion20032003]

Originally Posted by 2manytears

you're very welcome hun, that's the way I always look at things and I have always told my boys that. I know that sometimes it's hard, especially when you have bad luck a lot!! But then when I feel like I'm lost and can't take it anymore, then that's when I know that's it's time for me to take some time to myself and think things through. I always feel better after that because I come to realize how much I really have.

You are so right! I agree! I would also like to add that you and some others here that are true friends to me are a blessing and a gift from God! You are gems of priceless value to me! Thank you!

[mountainlion20032003]

Originally Posted by 2manytears

aw that's sweet

[2manytears]

Originally Posted by mountainlion20032003

You are so right! I agree! I would also like to add that you and some others here that are true friends to me are a blessing and a gift from God! You are gems of priceless value to me! Thank you!

thank you Doug, I thank God for friends like you

[2manytears]

Matthew 16:1-16
1) And the Pharisees and Sad'ducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2) He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, `It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' 3) And in the morning, `It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4) An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed. 5) When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6) Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees." 7) And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." 8) But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9) Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10) Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11) How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees." 12) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees. 13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16) Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

[2manytears]

John 2:1-11
1) On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2) Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3) When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4) And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5) His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6) Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7) Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8) He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9) When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10) and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11) This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

[2manytears]

The Changed Prayer
=============


This is an actual Prayer Request. Notice how the writer changed
as she wrote her prayer. We would all do well to heed her spirit.
-------

Please pray for families in turmoil, especially my own.
I sit here at my desk, breathless and on the verge of tears,
typing this request.

I'm thinking of what my heart, my family needs, and I realize
that in this world there are so many other families in far worse
condition than mine.

All I can think of is how blessed we are and that although we are
in turmoil, we have our faith and each other. The past two days
have been really trying, but putting it in perspective, it
hasn't been so bad. We've gotten through it. It may get worse
before it gets better, but that's ok.

The orthodontist office messed up our insurance and my son's
braces aren't covered. I spent precious time and money for
something that has to be redone elsewhere. But that's ok
because there are families who don't have access to healthcare
at all. We're blessed.

I just got a call from his teacher complaining about his being
unprepared for class. She was yelling at him over the phone and
I heard it. I realize he's at fault and so am I for not double
checking his book bag. I don't have time, but there's really no
excuse. Who truly has time? We make time for things that are
important to us. I need to make that a priority. So does he.

His teacher needs patience and support in her efforts also.
Yet, we are blessed. Thousands, millions of children go
uneducated every day, yet here is my son, blessed to have a
teacher who cares enough to call his mom and tell her he's
missing a pencil.

Yes, we are truly blessed.

This prayer request was originally for me and my family. I'm a
single mom at my wits' end, tired and exhausted. I thought I
needed prayer, but I know that by thinking about what I need I
realize there are others out there far worse off than myself.

Please pray for those families in turmoil. Father, I ask that
You grant them strength to go on and the occasional bit of
harmony to catch their breath!

[2manytears]

The Things I Have
==================

Reading "The Changed Prayer",
I was reminded of something I wrote and sent to my four children
on the verge of coming out of a deep depression - right before
Christmas.

Dear Children;

As I was lying in bed last night unable to sleep, I remembered
a song from an old movie I had watched last night on TV. The
chorus went something like this, "If you're worried and you
can't sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep."

I started thinking about that, and as I have been so depressed
the last few months, I realized that all I have been thinking
about are the things I DON'T have.

So last night, I started counting my blessings. This is
only a partial list as I would have to write a ten volume book
to hold all of them.

Instead of thinking about how small this house is, I thought
about how I have a bedroom, kitchen, living room, and office
(as opposed to being homeless).

Instead of thinking about the fact that I have no warm boots, I
thought about how many good pairs of shoes I have (as opposed
to wearing shoes with holes in the bottom or not having any to
wear at all).

Instead of thinking about the fact that I have no meat in my
freezer, I thought about all of the cans of vegetables and soup
I have in my cabinets (as opposed to not knowing where my next
meal is coming from).

Instead of thinking about the fact that I have no car, I thought
of the fact that I am healthy and can walk (as opposed to
people who are house bound in a wheelchair).

Instead of thinking about not having presents to give this year,
I thought about the fact that my family, including myself,
already have the best gifts in the world... health, love, and a
great God who protects us all (as opposed to having no family,
no God, or having an incurable disease).

Instead of thinking about how ugly the blankets look that I have
draped over the doors and windows to keep out the cold air, I
thought about how warm and cozy the two rooms I have left open
are and the fact that I have the money to pay the electric bill
(as opposed to some who have no heat at all and are sleeping
with a cardboard box for a blanket).

I have hundreds of books to read. I have a TV that allows me to
receive 15 channels. I have a computer that allows me to do my
job, play games, and visit with my family and friends online
(as opposed to people who have nothing).

Instead of thinking about missing my children this Christmas, I
thought about the fact that I raised them to be independent and
responsible; and I raised them so someone else would be able to
live with them and fulfill their lives when the time came for me
to step aside as caregiver (as opposed to so many who are
alone and can't or won't work to take care of their families,
and can neither give nor receive love).

Instead of thinking about not being surrounded by my
grandchildren this Christmas, I thought about the fact that they
all have wonderful parents and homes filled with love (as opposed
to the so many children who have no one to care for them).

I have a VCR and many photograph albums that allow me to see my
family when I want to relive the "good old days" in my memory
bank (as opposed to being senile or not having any good
memories to look back upon).

I have a telephone to use when I need to hear, "I love you,
Mom."

So...since I have everything I need and more, in lieu of gifts
for me this year, make sure a homeless family has Christmas
dinner.

Take home a tag off the "Angel Tree" so that some child more
unfortunate than yours will have a nice gift from Santa under
the tree.

And think about me on Christmas Day as I will be thinking about
you...

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THE GREATEST BLESSINGS A MOTHER COULD
EVER HOPE TO HAVE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I LOVE YOU!

MOM.



by Sue Weindorf, Lincoln, IL~

[2manytears]

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first.
George Matthew Adams

[2manytears]

Galatians 3:1-14



O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain? -- if it really is in vain. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."

So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them." Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for "He who through faith is righteous shall live"; but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them shall live by them."

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree"--that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.