Just sharing.

[beensetfree]

Father's love letter

By Barry Adams

The words you are about to experience are true. They will change your life if you let them. For they come from the very heart of God... He loves you...and He is the Father you have been looking for all your life. This is His love letter to you...

My Child…

You may not know me, but I know everything about you …Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up …Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways …Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered …Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image …Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being …Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring …Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived …Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation …Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book …Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live …Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made …Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb …Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born …Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me …John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love …1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you …1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father …1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could …Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father …Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand …James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs …Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope …Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love …Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ...Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing …Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you …Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession …Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul …Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things …Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me …Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart …Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires …Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine …Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager …2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles …2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you …Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart …Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes …Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth …Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus …John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed …John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being …Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you …Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins …2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled …2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you …1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love …Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me …1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again …Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen …Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father …Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? …John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you …Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad... Almighty God

----

 

[septuagint]

[video=youtube_share;d_24IdbJ0Tw]http://youtu.be/d_24IdbJ0Tw[/video]

 

[beensetfree]

Mature Slap

You know that you've matured

when you’d rather be slapped with the truth
than kissed with a lie.

 

[beensetfree]

from the desk of god
Author Unknown

Effective Immediately:

Please be aware that there are changes you need to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill my promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. I know, I already gave you the 10 Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines as well...

1. QUIT WORRYING

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST

Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to me. And, although my to-do-list is long, I am, after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME

Once you've given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE

Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME

I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please don't forget to talk to me - OFTEN! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH

I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in me that I know what I'm doing. Trust me, you wouldn't want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE

You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes me a little longer than you expect to handle something on my to-do-list? Trust in my timing, for my timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for my sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF

As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only - to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes my heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget that!

With all my heart, I love you,

GOD

 

[septuagint]

[video=youtube_share;v6ojnuHuTa8]http://youtu.be/v6ojnuHuTa8[/video]

 

[beensetfree]

Young Pastor
============

An older preacher told the story of a young minister
interviewing for his first pastorate. The Pulpit Committee had
invited him to come over to their church for the interview.
The committee chairman asked, "Son, do you know the Bible pretty
good?"

The young minister said, "Yes, pretty good." The chairman asked,
"Which part do you know best?" He responded saying, "I know the
New Testament best." "Which part of the New Testament do you
know best," asked the chairman. The young minister said,
"Several parts." The chairman said, "Well, why don't you tell us
the story of the Prodigal Son." The young man said, "Fine."

"There was a man of the Pharisees name Nicodemus, who went down
to Jericho by night and he fell upon stony ground and the thorns
choked him half to death.

"The next morning Solomon and his wife, Gomorrah, came by, and
carried him down to the ark for Moses to take care of. But, as
he was going through the Eastern Gate into the Ark, he caught
his hair in a limb and he hung there forty days and forty nights
and he afterwards did hunger. And, the ravens came and fed him.

"The next day, the three wise men came and carried him down to
the boat dock and he caught a ship to Ninevah. And when he got
there he found Delilah sitting on the wall. He said, "Chunk her
down, boys, chunk her down." And, they said, "How many times
shall we chunk her down, till seven time seven?" And he said,
"Nay, but seventy times seven." And they chucked her down four
hundred and ninety times.

"And, she burst asunder in their midst. And they picked up
twelve baskets of the leftovers. And, in the resurrection whose
wife shall she be?"

The Committee chairman suddenly interrupted the young minister
and said to the remainder of the committee, "Fellows, I think we
ought to ask the church to call him as our minister.

He is awfully young, but he sure does know his Bible."

 

[beensetfree]

The Kindest Hearts

The kindest hearts expect no reward
and deserve it all the more.

 

[beensetfree]

God created the teacher

Author Unknown

On the 6th day, God created men and women. On the 7th day, he rested. Not so much to recuperate, but rather to prepare himself for the work he was going to do on the next day. For it was on that day - the 8th day - that God created the FIRST TEACHER.

This TEACHER, though taken from among men and women, had several significant modifications. In general, God made the TEACHER more durable than other men and women. The TEACHER was made to arise at a very early hour and to go to bed no earlier than 11:30 PM with no rest in between.

The TEACHER had to be able to withstand being locked up in an air-tight classroom for six hours with thirty-five "monsters" on a rainy Monday. And the TEACHER had to be fit to correct 103 papers over Easter vacation. Yes, God made the TEACHER tough... but gentle, too. The TEACHER was equipped with soft hands to wipe away the tears of the neglected and lonely student... those of the sixteen-year old girl who was not asked to the prom.

And into the TEACHER God poured a generous amount of patience. Patience when a student asks to repeat the directions the TEACHER has just repeated for someone else. Patience when the kids forget their lunch money for the fourth day in a row. Patience when one-third of the class fails the test. Patience when the text books haven't arrived yet, and the semester starts tomorrow.

And God gave the TEACHER a heart slightly bigger than the average human heart. For the Teacher's heart had to be big enough to love the kid who screams, "I hate this class - it's boring!" and to love the kid who runs out of the classroom at the end of the period without so much as a "goodbye," let alone a "thank you."

And lastly, God gave the TEACHER an abundant supply of HOPE. For God knew that the TEACHER would always be hoping. Hoping that the kids would someday learn how to spell... hoping not to have lunchroom duty... hoping that Friday would come... hoping for a free day... hoping for deliverance.

When God finished creating the TEACHER, he stepped back and admired the work of His hands. And God saw that the TEACHER was good. Very Good! And God smiled, for when he looked at the TEACHER, he saw into the future.

He knew that the future is in the hands of the TEACHERS. And because God loves TEACHERS so much... on the 9th day God created... SNOW DAYS!

 

[beensetfree]

Diligence

The expectations of life depend upon diligence;
the mechanic that would perfect his work must first
sharpen his tools.

~Confucius (551-479 B.C.)~

 

[beensetfree]

The Boss

We were discussing life-changing statements.

You know, the type of statement that hits home so hard that it
changes your thinking, forever steering you on a different path.

Some movies have that quality, some sermons, some people, some
moments. They literally drill
their way into your spirit. You enter one person and exit
another, forever influenced and changed by the encounter.

My mother and I were having dinner with a lawyer.
It was not business but a friendly dinner with the lawyer, his
wife, and two of their children.

He told a personal story about a life-changing statement and its
effect that I feel will change the life course of at least one
person that reads this.

This lawyer is the kind of man about whom I would say,
"I want my son to turn out like him."

He is the kind of man that if I were forced to choose another
father I would say, "I would like a father like this man."

I have a great respect for this lawyer. He is the reason that I
have never used a lawyer joke on though lawyer
jokes seem to be the most common kind on the net. His character
is one of the best that I have seen among men, and each time I
read a lawyer joke, I could never imagine him as that lawyer.

As I heard Attorney Bill Merritt speak, I knew that at least one
reader would be affected by what he said,
possibly for life.

Maybe it's you.

Attorney Merritt began to tell the tale:

I had a professor in business school that, like a marine drill
sergeant, constantly drilled one thing into us. I didn't think
it was that significant at the time but the drilling was so
constant that when I graduated I automatically followed his
advice (or drilling, whichever you want to call it).
It's amazing what repetition will do.

We were all eager students, ready to conquer the world,
ambitious, motivated, smart, loaded with dreams, and impatient
to make our mark in the world.

The instructor's constant repetition was, "When you leave this
school and look for a job, don't choose your job based on the
salary. Don't choose your job based on the city. Don't choose
your job based on the benefits or the prestige of the company.

Choose your first job on one criterion and one criterion only.

Choose it based on the character of your boss."

I thought that was a strange thing.
Not only strange but also difficult to determine.
I trusted my instructor and his voice wouldn't leave my head,
so his advice ultimately guided my job search.

I ended up out in the middle of nowhere working for a diesel
engine manufacturing company in the Midwest, Cummins Engine.

My boss was the CEO, Henry Schacht.

I didn't realize it until years after I started my own law firm
that how I handled my business was exactly the way Schacht
handled things.

I related to my secretary, to the other partners, to the
paralegals, even to the clean-up crew, in the exact way that
Henry Schacht did. We called his quotes and ways, Shockisms.

I remember most vividly a meeting held by Schacht.
The CEO's of some major Fortune 500 companies were there.
Most had flown in on private jets.

You've read about those types of jets. Multi-million dollar
chariots with private bathrooms, couches, bars, large screen
TV's, stereos, bedrooms, telephones, gourmet meals, you name it
and they have it.

Most have never seen the inside of such luxury jets much less
flown in them. These were the air cars these men flew in on.

There were eight or nine of some of the most powerful men in
America around that table. Henry Schacht sat at the head.

I was awed and somewhat humbled being in the presence of such
power, success, and wealth. These companies were blue chip all
the way and here I was in the midst of them.

In the middle of the meeting, Schacht suddenly looked at his
watch and said, "it's 4 o'clock, it's time for my son's soccer
game," and he got up, excused himself, and left.

I saw the jaws drop of every CEO at that table.

I could hear them thinking-
"The nerve of this man to leave such an important meeting
because his son has a soccer game. Doesn't he realize how many
thousands of dollars per hour it costs just for my plane to fly
me here? Doesn't he know how much my time is worth? All for a
soccer game?"

Henry Schacht never missed a game that his son played.

Henry Schacht had his priorities in order.

I now understand the wisdom of my instructor. What seemed so
silly at the time, as I look back at it, makes so much sense.

My first boss influenced me to a degree that I would have never
thought possible. I act so much like him, that I now see why
the instructor insisted that we choose our first full-time job
based on the character of the boss.

That was Attorney Bill Merritt's story.

We were at his house because he wanted his children to meet my
mother. My mother wanted his children to meet me. The point is
we were there because Attorney Merritt wanted his children to
meet someone that he felt would add positive influence in their
lives.

His children are doing great. Of the two present at the dinner,
one had just graduated from Princeton and the other is a
sophomore at Princeton, majoring in aerospace engineering.

Both had a peace and maturity of spirit that far exceeded youth
of their age and most older adults.

Do you know what it felt like?

It felt like the children of a father that hadn't missed any
soccer games, no matter what the cost.

The first boss's influence went beyond the boardroom.

For the student or person that has yet to enter their first
career full-time job, this may be for you.
It's not something that you are generally taught, especially
with the tight job market.

Maybe you don't need to think of leaving school and getting the
first job that you can.

Maybe you need to think of school as making you really ready to
learn and be shaped, like soft putty.

Maybe your first boss is the main sculpturer.

Be careful whom you allow to shape you.

Henry Schacht is now Chairman of Lucent Technologies.

I am willing to bet that he still has his priorities in order.

I am willing to bet that he still knows the true cost of a
missed game and that it is too high of a price to pay.

 

[beensetfree]

God's cake

Author unknown

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.

"Yuck" says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

-------

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Life may not be the party we expected... but while we are here we might as well dance.

If you really like this story... share it with the people you really care about.

Hope your day is a "piece of cake!"

 

[septuagint]

[video=youtube_share;UJZirc3w7VQ]http://youtu.be/UJZirc3w7VQ[/video]

 

[beensetfree]

The Expense Worth The Lesson


After having six bosses in 4 1/2 years, I decided it was time to
leave my job. Who needs to put up with this? Despite the
economic hard times, I found a new position doing something that
I thought I would really enjoy.

At first it was fun being in a new and challenging environment.
Then I found out I'd have the health care coverage I was
promised - after 90 days, and I'd have a 401(k) - after six months.

Since the office had mainly younger people working there, heavy
metal music would blare through the speakers in the sales office
during most of the day. Further, the company wanted me to make
sales through a "bait and switch" technique.

Suddenly, I found myself missing the pay, benefits and friends
of my old office. And I realized that I could apply this lesson
to other areas of my life.

I remembered cursing and wasting the day many times during those
cold, dreary, sleety days in February. Oh, I would think, if I
could only be living somewhere warm and sunny! How fun it would
be then to call and taunt my friends back home with, "It's 20
degrees there? Well, here it's 70 without a cloud in the sky!"

But now I realize that I'd miss the change in seasons and
running on frosty mornings like the one we had today.

I've also thought that if my wife ever left me, either by choice
or by death, that I could find another mate. Maybe even someone
young and pretty! Now I realize that it might be fun, for a
while. But it might take years (or even longer than forever) to
find a wonderful, thoughtful, intelligent, loyal, resourceful
all-around good person like the one who lives with me now.

The choice I made leaving my job has cost me dearly, both
financially and emotionally, but my former company has offered
to take me back. I am now a humbler and more appreciative
person. The expense may have been worth the lesson.
I learned to avoid an even bigger mistake in my life.

 

[beensetfree]

God's coffee


A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this," he continued... "Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups... Enjoy your coffee!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything they have."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly... and leave the rest to God.

 

[beensetfree]

Bright World

Do not expect the world to look bright,
if you habitually wear gray-brown glasses.

~Charles Eliot~

 

[beensetfree]

Crowd Control

A rookie police officer was assigned to ride in a cruiser with
an experienced partner. A call came over the car's radio telling
them to disperse some people who were loitering.

The officers drove to the street and observed a small crowd
standing on a corner. The rookie rolled down his window and said,
"Let's get off the corner."

No one moved, so he barked again, "Let's get off the corner!"

Intimidated, the group of people began to leave, casting puzzled
glances in his direction.

Proud of his first official act, the young policeman turned to
his partner and asked, "Well, how did I do?"

"Pretty good," replied the veteran,

"especially since this was a bus stop."

 

[beensetfree]

God's hands


Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

-----

Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. And He'll always be there to love and guide you on to great things. Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than the things you acquire.

 

[septuagint]

[video=youtube_share;JEBAHFFJdW8]http://youtu.be/JEBAHFFJdW8[/video]

 

[exobay]

Thanks, I remembered this song being one of my favourites in church.

 

[beensetfree]

hi....you are welcome.

Thanks, I remembered this song being one of my favourites in church.