A very, merry Christmas to you too and your family. This picture is beautiful and inviting. It looks so 'warm' with lots of love inside.

Merry Christmas to everyone. . .
. . . may you all have the gift faith
the blessing of hope
and the peace of His love
now at Christmas
and always. . .

http://www.cryofthespirit.com/thankyou.html

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq' After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country.

I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life,

Wrote a blank check

made payable to 'The United States of America'

For an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people

In this country who no longer understand it.

I send this one out for a friend who I pray for strength and patience to continue to "take it" one day at a time. Some days may seem impossible to get through. This is because God wants us to come closer to Him. We all stray away at some point in our lives, noone is perfect. God knows this. . . why He puts these trials and tough times before us . . . to build our faith in Him. He wants to eagerly help and we only need to ask.

Trust . . . Faith . . . Patience . . . my dear friend . . . we'll get there -- one day at a time.

It is necessary for us to suffer patiently the dark night of sorrow and death,
if we are to enter the brilliant new light of Easter...
-Unknown


Luke 15:26-49
The Crucifixion of Jesus

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of JesusIt was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

I know it's hard to keep caring day after day when all you get is disrespect and thanklessness, but this world needs more people who truly care no matter how much it hurts . . . no matter how much anger we feel . . . I was asked one time "why I cared so much?"
Someone has to . . .care. In a de-sensitized world that's getting worse with each passing day . . . someone has to care enough . . . no matter how much it hurts.

It's never easy being the one who cares so much . . . but it will be worth it.
I pray for patience for you to wait on that moment and the strength/endurance to get there.

take care
always


Just Stay

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake,but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.

When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."


The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.

**************

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE,
WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

It's so amazing how children have a stronger grasp of what's to come. One would
think they would be so aftraid of the 'unknown' yet what is unknown is very well
known to them. If we could only feel as children feel . . .
Faith Like a Child.mp3

born of innocence. . . believing . . . trusting . . .
If you knew you only had moments of life left....what would you choose as your last words?....

The verse at the end of this video sums it all up perfectly . . . Psalm 91:10. What an awesome God we serve, forever and ever amen.

There's a new movie based on Philip Pulman's book "Northern Lights." The first book in his trilogy depicting his hatred towards God. The movie is a watered down version specifically to draw unsuspecting parents with their children into the theaters in the hopes they will read his books and draw them away from God and His kingdom. Follow this link and avoid this movie this Christmas. Do not see this movie.

There is a light within us all

though it may look dim to you

it just may be the brightest beacon for someone else.

. . .don't hide it

let it show . . . it just may be the hope they need

. . . so . . . when you want to give up just remember . . .

Follow your dreams and

You are one-of-a-kind,

unique

and special

Cast yourself in the arms of God

and be very sure that if He wants anything of you,

He will fit you for the work

and give you strength.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time on and forevermore.

. . . and praise Hm through your 'storm

Below is a message I sent to a friend who thinks God has left and will not give the help desired. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. . . . always with you through anything. . . .if called upon for help . . . trust . . . faith. . . and the patience to wait upon God to act within your own situation . . . .praise Him through your storms as He leads you through to the Light beyond . . .

there's a message in here for you. . . the OnePlace for help . . . (if you will listen) . . . You think God abandons you and leaves you in your times of trials . . . He doesn't . . . He is with you at all times. . .He can do so much -- show you so much if you only believe and have the faith in Him to call an Him in these trying times. . . If you carry with you a bitterness and can't let go then it keeps eating away your faith. . . maybe you are asking God for the wrong thing. . . expecting Him to give you "things" when you should be asking Him to lead you along the path He wishes you to go . . . You can't go forward if you can't let go and let God. . . sometimes it's 'blind faith' but He knows what He is doing . . . but you must 'let go' and let God. . .

each trial -- each hurdle He places in from of you is a test of your faith to make you stronger and help you endure what is to come. . . He never gives you more than you can handle . . . and you need to find something to rejoice in as you go over these hurdles . . . HE CAN HELP YOU OVER THEM . . . but you have to let go of the bitterness that is choking the faith out of you . . . He is speaking to you, just listen . . . if He places one hurdle in front of you then He will provide a 'ladder' to get over it but you have to find it

Talking to men for God is a great thing,

but talking to God for men

is greater still.

When I read this and I knew God was speaking to me and no matter how much I am rejected or pushed away, I will always pray for those close to me . . . God knows the way into their hearts and He will position Himself at their "door" . . . I don't give up on anyone. . .because He wouldn't either.

the new silent night . . . 9-11-01 remembered to never forget