Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now,
But I don't worry about that much 'cause I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I sow,
I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches and sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loving ones around me and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings and the mercies He's bestowed,
I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Oh, remember times when things went wrong my faith wore somewhat thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke and sun peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed,
I'm drinking from my saucer cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings 'cause I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads,
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

- Author Unknown

Pumpkin Prayer

As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:



Open my mind so I can learn about You.

(Cut the top of the pumpkin)



Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.

(Clean out hte inside)



Open my eyes so Your love I will see.

(Cut eyes shapped like hearts)



I'm sorry for turning up my nose to all You've given me.

(Cut a nose in the shape of the cross)



Open my ears so Your word I will hear.

(Cut ears shaped like the Bible)



Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near.

(Cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)



Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.

(Place a candle inside and light it.)

The Lord's Prayer - Revisited

I cannot pray "OUR," if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray "FATHER," if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN," if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME," if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.

I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME," if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.

I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE," if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN," unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.

I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD," without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.

I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US," if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION," if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL," if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM," if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY," if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

I cannot pray 'FOREVER AND EVER," if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.

I cannot pray "AMEN," unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be.



"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him. Matthew 6:7-8

"If God Talked Out Loud..." by Clyde Lee Herring pg.13-21. 1977 Broadman Press
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-27479.

Savor the Coffee

SAVOR THE COFFEE

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.

During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

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 alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it 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: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life.

The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of Life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”

God makes the coffee, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Enjoy your coffee!

Author Unknown

The Lord's Test

THE LORD'S TEST

I woke up this morning and knew that today,
The sun would not be shining and the clouds would be gray.
As I stepped outside, rain fell upon my head.
My car wouldn't start so I walked to school instead.
I forgot all of my assignments
I failed all of my tests.
I dropped my head in disgust and asked the Lord for one request.
"Lord, why is it that things won't go my way?"
He gently replied, "Dear child it is because you didn't thank me yesterday.
I woke you up and enabled you to see the sun again.
I gave you shelter, protected your family, and even let you make a new
friend.
I blessed you far greater than I ever had before.
But you were too busy to thank me once more.
You didn't feel sick because I maintained your health.
You had money in your pocket because I maintained your wealth.
You had shoes on you feet and clothes to wear, too.
You had plenty of food to eat and what did you do?
You ignored me and went about your tasks.
But when you wanted something you never hesitated to ask.
I was there when you needed me and that wasn't too long ago.
But when things started going your way, it was me you did not know.
As if that weren't enough, I provided your favorite luxuries.
This was something I didn't have to do-they weren't even necessities.
And when it was time to get on your knees and show your gratitude,
You decided that after such a fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood.
So I decided to give you just a little test.
To show you how it would feel to stop being blessed."
I began to realize what the Lord was saying..
He said, "My child, you have learned and you know I do forgive.
But remember to remember this day as long as you shall live.
I love filling your life with joy, and your pain I'll alleviate it.
But just a simple thank you would show how much you appreciate it."

Author Unknown

It is All in the Resumes

IT IS ALL IN THE RESUMES

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph

The Woodrcrafter' s Carpenter Shop

Nazareth 25922

FROM: Jordan Management Consultants

Jerusalem 26544

RE: Personnel Evaluations

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests, and we have not only run the results through our computers, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocation aptitude consultant.

It is the opinion of the staff that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capacity. We have summarized the findings of our study below:

Simon Peter is emotional, unstable and given to fits of temper.

Andrew has absolutely no quality of leadership.

The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interests above Company loyalty.

Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.

We believe it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.

James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, definitely have radical leanings. Additionally, they both registered high scores on the manic depressive scale.

However, one of the candidates shows great potential. He's a man of ability and resourcefulness; he is a great networker; has a keen business mind; and has strong contacts in influential circles. He's highly motivated, very ambitious and adept with financial matters. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your Controller and Chief Operating Officer.

All the other profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you the utmost success in your new venture.

What if Jesus had chosen the twelve based on the modern methods of
leadership selection? Most of them would have never had a chance to
participate. Jesus chooses people not for who they are, but for what they can become in Him. Aren't you glad that when Jesus looked at you, He didn't take you for what you were (a sinner); but He took you for what you could be? Jesus sees the potential in all of us, and has called us to be disciples. Jesus is still saying, "Follow Me!"

Author Unknown

I asked, He Gave

I asked, He Gave

I asked for Strength.....And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.......And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity...And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage......And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.......And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed.

Author Unknown

Take my Hand

TAKE MY HAND

Are you troubled, burdened, blue?
Take my hand.
I've been troubled, too,
I understand.
Where you've fallen, once I fell --
Let me help the clouds dispel --
Take my hand.

Others helped when I was weak,
Took my hand,
Helped me face toward the peak,
Helped me stand.
What they did, now let me do --
Pass the kindness on to you.
Someday you'll help others, too.
Take my hand.

Author Unknown

Roses and Thorns

Roses and Thorns

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom and also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. This is the characteristic of love, to look at a person, and knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns.

Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them their roses and not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden.

Author Unknown

7 Wonders of the World

I am continually amazed how more and more of the great "forwards" that are sent by e-mail are being put into video. Even more than that, you can find them on YouTube!

Each time I get a video in an e-mail forward, I'm beginning to search YouTube for it and there they are!

Here is a wonderful one I just got today that I am sharing.

I am creating a new label/tag for videos.