March 15, 2010

 

Good morning!!!

 

Every now and then someone crosses our path that deserves a special embrace. Here is a perfect example.

 

"Christian Voices" would not have a web page (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net) or be sent to thousands of subscribers around the world if it wasn't for Mike Hodapp through Yeshua's Ministries. Mike has helped us with "Christian Voices" for many years and we are indebted to him for all he has done for us. "Christian Voices" is only one of the many Christian lists that he maintains. We think you would enjoy and appreciate knowing more about Mike and Yeshua's Ministries. Please take some time and visit the following web sites to know about the man who sends our "Christian Voices" to your email addresses around the world. You will be absolutely amazed:

 

http://www.greeting-cards-4u.com/music/Videos/Hodapps/

http://www.fishermansnet.com/FamilyPictures/

 

I can assure all of you that there absolutely would not be "Christian Voices" arriving in your email without Mike and Yeshau's Ministries. Our most sincere thanks and deep gratitude to him for allowing us to keep placing some God's "SONshine" in the lives of others.

 

 

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HUMOR

 

Going Fishing

Saturday morning I got up early, dressed quietly, made my lunch, grabbed the dog and fishing equipment, slipped quietly into the garage to hook the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.

The wind was blowing 50 mph. I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day.

I went back into the house and slipped back into bed, where my wife was turned away from me. I whispered to her, "The weather out there is terrible."

My loving wife of 20 years replied, "Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that mess?"

I still don't know to this day if she was joking, but I've stopped fishing.

.....Received from Vickie Freeland to Doc's Daily Chuckle (pkaine@woh.rr.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

 

 

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THOUGHT PROVOKING – INSPIRATIONAL

 

 

Drippy and Drizzly

Drippy and drizzly, precisely how it was for several days. When you’re on vacation, rain’s the last thing you want. But you know what they say, can’t do much about the weather.

 

As I sat watching the clouds drip onto the water, making hypnotic little circles that merged into other circles, how the years melted away, and in my memory I was transported to an earlier time.

 

At a remote spot, at the end of a long dirt road, was the clearing with a pretty spring-fed lake. A sprinkling of cottages; one where my parents honeymooned, then later purchased. I spent summers there, as a child.  Rustic hardly describes it.  Today, I believe camping would be more sophisticated than life at our cottage was, back then. And it was the best time of my life. Well, one of the very best, for sure. Life was so simple. We enjoyed reading stories and books, did lots of puzzles. Outdoors there were limitless opportunities for creative play. And sunny afternoons, we could swim.

 

Every summer we would borrow a farm dog, and he’d be our friend for the months we were there.  He, my sister, and I had many an adventure in the old rowboat, scouting bullfrogs on lily pads.

 

Today I am thankful for time to be still, like this.  To just ‘be’, and not ‘do’.  I am too often guilty of operating as a ‘human doing’ and not a ‘human being’.

 

God can really use our drippy, drizzly days, to quiet our minds, minister to our souls, and settle our spirits.

 

That is good news.

 

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)   Be still, and know that I am God
Psalm 55: 6-8 (MSG)   Get me out of here on dove wings; I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country. I want a cabin in the woods. I'm desperate for a change  from rage and stormy weather.
Psalm 4:4 (ASV)   Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
Ps 131:2 (NKJV)   Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul

 

.....Sally I. Kennedy (sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net) (http://www.sallyikennedy.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net) Sally publishes IRISH THURSDAYS: More little parables from Ireland, 52 LITTLE PARABLES from Ireland: A One-Year Weekly Devotional With Inspirational Writings, Scripture Verses and Prayers, Words from the Heart©, Poppy the Penguin®, and Kwackie the Wonder Duck©

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"Running on Empty"

 

"I've been running on empty," the man said.

 

"Not possible," his daughter corrected him.

 

"Sure it is," he replied.  "I am simply going through the motions."

 

"Something's keeping you going.  You can't go through the motions without the energy to do so," she responded.

 

"I just don't care.  I just have no interest in life."

 

They sat quietly for a few moments just looking out at the world around them.

 

"Apparently life has interest in you," the young woman said softly.

 

He looked at her without saying a word, his eyes blinking periodically as they filled with tears.

 

"You're just like her," he said.

 

She turns her head toward him and says, "That's a good thing.  She's just what you need."

 

A small bird flutters in from the nearby tree landing in front of them.

 

"Can you imagine if birds felt the same way?" she asked.

 

"What?"

 

"Birds.  Imagine if birds woke up and said, "I don't feel like flying today.  I just don't feel like being a bird."

 

"That's silly," he said.

 

"It's silly that you don't feel like living, too.  What right do you have to decide that?"

 

Shaking his head and flailing his hands about, he struggled for a response.

 

"Look, Mom's gone.  The same God who called her home is responsible for you remaining here.  You're not "running on empty," you're running on His will, His time, His reason for ever having created you.  There's still life left in you and you're wasting it," she said.

 

"You are just like her," he said.  Then as he stood up he added, "Thank God."

 

"And you're just like Him.  Live up to it."

 

No one runs on empty who has God in their life.

 

If you are feeling uninspired, without a purpose or direction, take time to reconnect to the Source.  God is ever present even when you feel alone.  God is never ending even when you think you have come to a dead end.

 

Simply call on Him and listen.  He will always respond. It may not be what you want to hear but it will always be what you need.

 

He is the source of your joy and the resource for your emptiness.

 

 

.....Bob Perks - "I wish you enough!" (http://www.IWishYouEnough.com) (2believe@comcast.net) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

 

 

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The official web site for "Christian Voices" is

 

www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net

 

Please don't be confused by others

who have web sites of similar names.

 

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