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GIFTS TO GIVE:
THE GIFT OF LISTENING... But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
THE GIFT OF AFFECTION... Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER... Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE... It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT... A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.
THE GIFT OF A FAVOR... Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE... There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.
THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION... The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to say, “Hello” or “Thank You”.
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.
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ATTITUDE DETERMINES ATTITUDE
I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses. Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul. Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have! Have a Great Day -- unless you have other plans
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Who Gets The Credit?
Who invented the telegraph? God did. God used Samuel F. B. Morse. One day Samuel seemed to be at a dead end in his electronic experiments. Whatever he tried, didn't work. Do you know what he did?
He says in his own words: "I prayed for more light". God gave this humble inventor the answer to his electrical problems. God gave that answer to that man. It is as if God wanted the world to have the telegraph at that specific time: 1844.
Morse later said: "That's why I never felt I deserved the honors that came to me because of the invention associated with my name. I had made a valuable application of the use of electrical power, but it was all through God's help. It wasn't because I was superior to other scientists."
And then, Samuel Morse makes this statement: "When the Lord wanted to bestow this gift on mankind. He had to use someone. I'm just grateful He chose to reveal it to me."
God wanted the world to have the gift in 1844. Because in 1844, something was happening. The end of the world was predicted by some.
No wonder the inventor's first message over the telegraph was: "What hath God wrought!" God invented the telegraph. Samuel Morse thanked God. He gave all the credit to God.
He thanked God for using his mind to bring a technical blessing to the world. We ought to have that type of a spirit of thanksgiving. Giving the credit to God. Being thankful to God. Not taking the credit ourselves. -- Copied
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If I had My Life to Live Over - Erma Bombeck (Written after she found out she was dying from cancer.)
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more of watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute ...look at it and really see it ... live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.
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Gumption God may be saying to some of us, "You have compassed this mountain long enough, turn northward." We must realize that our own initiative and will power are necessary to any real breakthrough. Gumption is important.
We cannot expect God to do everything for us while we do nothing.
Dr. E. Stanley Jones tells about time in his life when he faced a heavy drain on his physical resources, with a six-month speaking tour where he was to address large audiences. He would be speaking four or five times a day, and almost every day.
A friend of his had been doing research with vitamin pills. He had discovered that when wheat was four inches tall, it seemed to have the highest concentration of vitamins that could be found in any plant.
So the research scientist told Dr. Jones that if he would take 20 of those grass pills every day, he would have all the vitamins that he needed. Dr. Jones took them religiously, and ended the six-month speaking tour in abounding health.
When asked for the secret of his amazing vitality, he would answer: "Grace, grass, and gumption -- the grace of God which enabled me to do more than otherwise I could have done, my own gumption and will power, and the grass pills."
Dr. Jones said that the people in his audiences never asked about the grace or gumption, but where can you get the grass pills?
We want everything easy and fast. We would like to do things without expending any effort. Gumption is important. God will not do everything for us while we do nothing.
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Elizabeth Elliott wrote a story of the irrational love of 5 men who gave their lives in what many believe was a foolish venture. Her book is called, Through Gates of Splendor.
Her husband, Jim, and four other missionary friends were determined to reach a hostile tribe of Amazon people. The Aucas were fearfully hostile, killing whites that entered their territory. But these missionaries would not be deterred. For months they flew their little plane over the villages of the Aucas, dropping gifts.
Finally, they believed that they had established enough trust to make contact. They landed their little plane on a riverbank and set up a base camp. Sometime in the next day or so, for reasons never really known, after initial contacts that seemed friendly, the Aucas attacked and killed all five men.
That was in the early 1950's. Were those men fools? In the eyes of many, YES! They gave up promising careers, comfortable lives, and security to take God's Gospel to people who didn't want to hear it, and died in the quest.
But a few years before, Jim Elliott penned a motto that he lived and died by: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!"
By the way, the sacrifice of those men's lives became a front page story here in the US and spurred thousands of young people to consider full time missionary service as their career and the Auca people were converted and became a peaceful, Christian people.
And Jim Elliott surely was welcomed into heaven, walking through gates of splendor!
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THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED GRANDMA The computer swallowed grandma. Yes, honestly its true. She pressed 'control' and 'enter' And disappeared from view. It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm. She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm. I've searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I've even used the Internet, But nothing did I find. In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found 'online.' So, if inside your 'Inbox,' My Grandma you should see, Please 'Copy', 'Scan' and 'Paste' her And send her back to me! Author Unknown I am sending this as a tribute to all the Grandmas & Grandpas who have been fearless and learned to use the computer..
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Search For The Illustration That You Need
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On Sermon Illustrations
Attitudes One More Round Lost The Job Adversity They Will Never Optimism of Matthew Blind To The Truth A Smile Is Important Enthusiasm Can Overcoming Obstacles No Need To Worry One Makes The Difference
Attitudes Page 2 Gratitude Pays Don't Panic Fear Of People Baby Brought Peace Challenge Of Commitment Find What You Expect Happiness Is Not… Coping With Change Forget each kindness Teens Idea Of Happiness Missed opportunity
Attitudes Page 3 Passing The Test How Much Worry Keeping Your Word Importance Of Little Things Love Makes A Difference Integrity's Worth
Attitudes Page 4 Rather Be Right Indifference I Came To Fight Self Respect What Really Matters Futility Of Ambition Words Can Mean Wrong Assumptions How To Be Miserable Some Things We Cannot Do!
Religious Page 1 Disciples' Resume Spiritual Power God's Grace Begin With Faith If Not, Be In Church Days To Be Absent Church Members Are Like… Even If There Is No Road Board of Absentee's Meeting Commitment Through Difficulties Ancient And Present Gods
Religious Page 2 Horse Or Donkey Ideal Pastor Trust In God Stumbling Block Ten Little Christians No Excuse Sunday Real Commitment God Cared For You Influence Of Christianity Staying Away From Church God's Wonderful World
Religious Page 3 Join Hands Hold The Rope His Son's Art With God's Help Just For One Day Direction Of Life Keeping Hope Alive Paul And Grace Important To Communicate Will Not Get Involved Heaven By Grace Never Pray Again
Religious Page 4 Which Religion? Then Ask He's Coming Back God, The Greatest Giver Members That Never When The Spirit Comes Take Them To The Bank I Am A Prayer Warrior
Religious Page 5 Now Weep Christ's Heir Well Done! Put Christ In Control Atheistic Professor Let Go! Let God!
Poems Page 1 Second Chance Blessed Indeed Through It All His Mistake God Was In The Foxhole No Hands, But Ours Do Better Now, My Child Selfish To Want To Live It Is Better Farther On Looking For The Limp Pass It On
Poems Page 2 I Met The Master Breathe On Me High Flight The Weaver Touch Of The Master's Hand Are All The Children In? God Uses What We Have Christ Lives In Me God, Give Me Courage God Will See You Through
Poems Page 3 Little Eyes Obedience Hell Is Real A Man Must Live Birds Don't Worry Where God Ain't
Poems Page 4 So Much More Jesus Only What Then? I believe in God Throw Out The Lifeline When I Say I Am A Christian The Man In The Glass God Did A Wonderful Thing When We See Christ Saved By Grace
Poems Page 5 Jim Died Today Only A Branch Spirit Power Step By Step Children Learn By… Written In Red What Can I Give Him? Raised Up With Jesus
Life And Death His One Mistake What Time Is It? Safe At Home! The Juggler Facing Death Grandmother Dying Life Is Too Short No Need For Grief No Going Back! Daddy, Save Me! If You Could Live Over Shadow Of Death Never An Ache The Way Home Day Of Death
Family Life Challenge To Teens Son's Outlook What It Was To Be Six Keep On Believing It's My Brother
Interesting Murphy's Law Take a stand We Do Reap Result Of Sin Not That Kind Of Person Just Wouldn't Listen It Pays To Listen Hymns For Everyday Feeling Your Age How Will You Run? Interesting Facts
Jesus Follow The Blood Blood Of Jesus The Glory of Jesus
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Home of Special Sermons ... Revival, New Year, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day Sermon Storehouse ........... Expository and topical sermons from Genesis to Revelation Pastor’s Pipeline ..................NEW! Resources for pastors and church leaders by Dr. John Brackin Sermon Files ......................Sermon series from John 15, Acts, Romans 8, Ephesians, and Psalms Sermon Humor ....................Over 200 jokes suitable for the pulpit Family Sermons ...................Sermons and articles on marriage, parenting, children, and teens
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