I asked God

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.


I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.


I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.


I asked God to give me happiness..
God said, No.
I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.


I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.


I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.


I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.


I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

THIS DAY IS YOURS ~ DON'T THROW IT AWAY
May God Bless You,

Excerpt from: The Heart of a Teacher

The child arrives like a mystery box...
with puzzle pieces inside
some of the pieces are broken or missing...
and others just seem to hide
But the HEART of a teacher can sort them out...
and help the child to see
the potential for greatness he has within...
a picture of what he can be
Her goal isn't just to teach knowledge...
by filling the box with more parts
it's putting the pieces together...
and creating a work of art
The process is painfully slow at times...
some need more help than others
each child is a work in progress...
with assorted shapes and colors
First she creates a classroom...
where the child can feel safe in school
where he never feels threatened or afraid to try...
and kindness is always the rule
She knows that a child
can achieve much more
when he feels secure inside
when he's valued and loved...
and believes in himself
...and he has a sense of pride
She models and teaches good character...
and respect for one another
how to focus on strengths...not weaknesses
and how to encourage each other
She gives the child the freedom he needs...
to make choices on his own
so he learns to become more responsible...
and is able to stand alone
He's taught to be strong and think for himself...
as his soul and spirit heal
and the puzzle that's taking shape inside...
has a much more positive feel
The child discovers the joy that comes...
from learning something new...
and his vision grows as he begins
to see all the things that he can do
A picture is formed as more pieces fit...
an image of the child within
with greater strength and confidence...
and a belief that he can win!
All because a hero was there...
in the HEART of a teacher who cared
enabling the child to become much more...
than he ever imagined...or dared
A teacher with a HEART for her children...
knows what teaching is all about
she may not have all the answers...
but on this...she has no doubt
When asked which subjects she loved to teach,
she answered this way and smiled...
"It's not the subjects that matter...
It's all about teaching the CHILD."

Halloween

cool idea for the cuttlebug folder, even though I hate spiders just as much as I hate snakes, kwim?

clipped from colorfuldesigns.blogspot.com

Christmas

love this set everytime I see someone else use it, kwim?

clipped from mirrorimage.typepad.com

Clippings

i-stamp website

clipped from webmail.aol.com

Wow

so cute!

clipped from dianagibbs.typepad.com

Daddy's Chair

*DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed.
The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. I guess you were expecting me, he said. No, who are you?' said the father. The minister told him his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up.' *
Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden man. Would you mind closing the door?' Puzzled, the minister shut the door I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the man.' But all of my life I have never known how to pray. *
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.' I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old man continued, until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.** *
Here is what I suggest. *
'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.*
It's not spooky because he promised,
'I will be with you always'. 'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.'
So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church. *
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?' he asked. *
Yes, when I left the house about **two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, *told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, *
*I found him. *
But there was something strange about his
death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?' The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'


Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*

I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.*

I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.*


Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.