18 Things We Can Learn from a Dog
1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be
pure ecstasy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
6. Take naps, and stretch before rising.
7. Run, romp, and play daily.
8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. Be loyal.
10. Never pretend to be something you're not.
11. If what you want is buried, dig until you find it.
12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by,
and nuzzle him or her gently.
13. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
14. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
15. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
16. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
17. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
18. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt
thing and pout... run right back and make friends.
-- Author Unknown
5 Fingers of Prayer
1. Your thumb is nearest to you.
So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.
They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones
is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger.
Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers,
doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing
others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger.
It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in
business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our
nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger.
Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger;
as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for
those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers
day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all.
Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and
others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you."
Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you
have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put
into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more
effectively.
God Bless You!
-- Author Unknown
Who's Packing Your Parachute?
Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat
missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile.
Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured
and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived
the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a
man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet
fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were
shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.
"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in
surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said,
"I guess it worked !"
Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I
wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb
said, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform:
a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder
how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good
morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a
fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many
hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of
the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each
chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he
didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it
through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds
of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy
territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental
parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute.
He called on all these supports before reaching safety.
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what
is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you,
congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened
to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.
As you go through this week, this month this year, recognize people
who pack your parachutes.
I am sending you this as my way of thanking you for your part in
packing my parachute. And I hope you will send it on to those who
have helped pack yours.
-- This is Rex Barker C.S. (Cruising the Skies)
wishing you sunny skies and a light breeze.
The Lord's Baseball Team
Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's
team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the
score was tied zero to zero. It was the bottom of the ninth inning
with two outs.
They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose
name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single,
because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who
also got a single, because Faith works with Love. The next batter
up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.
Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass; Ball one. Three more
pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings
at what Satan throws. The bases were now loaded.
The Lord turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in
His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, "He sure
doesn't look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won
the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of
everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But
Satan wasn't worried; his center fielder let very few fly by. He
went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him
on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued
over the fence for a home run!
The Lord's team won. The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love,
Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the
game. Bob answered that he didn't know why.
God explained, "If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game
you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith, and wisdom
will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."
-- Author Unknown