faith-full treats from life is a buffet

Be at Peace – on the Loss of a Little One

2008-07-18T12:58:00.004+02:00

Two weeks ago, during school holidays, one of the little boys from my children’s school lost his battle with cancer. His private funeral was during the school break, and as I write this, the school is holding their own memorial service to say goodbye to him.

I have felt compelled to stop my work and spend a few minutes concentrating on what's taking place right now at school.

So many people become angry at why a nine year old would be made to suffer and die. Meditating on this, a couple of insights have come to mind:

All children go to heaven. I believe that if a child is taken before they reach a time where they can make a decision for themselves, they are children of God. WHY they are taken remains a mystery and only God knows.

Not knowing the faith or religion of his family, the thought came to mind that perhaps this little boy is one of God’s chosen ones whom God decided to take before he had to go through the searching process we all have to to find Him.

As a parent myself, I am forced to ask God if this is in any way fair? The immediate response that came to mind was this: Would you rather watch a child bearing pain, or would you prefer to carry the pain of grief knowing that your child is now at rest and no longer suffering?

This poem by Edgar Guest has put it in perspective: [Read it substituting the gender]

A Child On Loan

"I'll send you for a little time
A Child of Mine," He said
"For you to love the while she lives,
And mourn for when she's dead."

It may be one or seven years
Or twenty-two and three,
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you,
And should her stay be brief,
You'll have her lovely memories
As solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay
Since all from earth returns.
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over
In search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's loves
I have selected you.

Now will you give her all your love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
And take her back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done
For all the joy Thy child shall bring
The risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter her with tenderness
We'll love her while we may
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we'd planned
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."

~ Edgar A. Guest ~

I pray that God will comfort the family, and bring them strength, understanding and ultimately peace.

~ Be blessed ~

Installing Love (Tech Notes)

2008-07-06T13:42:00.000+02:00

Tech Support:
Yes, .... how can I help you?

Customer:
Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?

Tech Support:
Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer:
Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support:
The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer:
Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support:
What programs are running?

Customer:
Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support:
No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memorybut it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override LowSelf-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer:
I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support:
With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer:
Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support:
Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer:
Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components" What should I do?

Tech Support:
Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer:
So, what should I do?

Tech Support:
Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer:
Okay, done.

Tech Support:
Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer:
Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support:
Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer:
Thank you, God

[source unknown]

Be blessed
-c-

The Celebration of My Birthday

2007-11-27T19:39:00.000+02:00

[This invitation arrived in my in-box today. Makes you think...]

"As you well know, every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.

During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.

At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration.

Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.

But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited.

I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.

They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor!

At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me.

Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if , maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one?

I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me.

I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.

I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.

Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements..

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you.

I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters, in my great guest book.

Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party.

Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon.
I Love you!
Jesus"

Be blessed
-c-

A Reason for Pain and Suffering

2007-10-24T11:30:00.001+02:00

Here is a short story that helps explain the reason for pain and suffering in this world:

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

(author unknown)

Be blessed.
-c-

Dealing with Hard Times - PUSH On

2007-10-17T09:14:00.001+02:00

Here's a short little story with some great advice at the end.

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.
The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to
enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:
"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't
moved."
Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that
he was a failure.
These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just
the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately,
"My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done."
"Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?"
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have."
Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when usually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong ...
just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down ...
just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should ...
just P.U.S.H!

When your money is "gone" and the bills are due ...
just P.U.S.H!

When people just don't understand you ....
just P.U.S.H.

P = Pray

U = Until

S = Something

H = Happens

~ Be blessed ~

(author unknown)

Life Coping Tools

2006-09-12T10:56:00.000+02:00

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God keeps You Going!

8 Year Old's Explanation of God

2006-09-10T20:51:00.000+02:00

This was written by 8 year old Danny Dutton of Chula Vista, CA, for his third grade homework assignment. The assignment was to explain God. Could you do as well???

EXPLANATION OF GOD

"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.

"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your Mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in town. At least there aren't any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."

"His dad God appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."

"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong and besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

"But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases. And that's why I believe in God."

Photos from Heaven (01)

2006-09-06T13:32:00.000+02:00

Aren't these pics awesome!

teddy in the sky:

sleeping cat:

crocodile:

Three things in Life

2006-08-31T09:57:00.000+02:00

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back -
Time, Words & Opportunity

Three things in life that may never be lost -
Peace, Hope & Honesty.

Three things in life that are most valuable -
Love, Self-confidence & Friends

Three things in life that are never certain -
Dreams, Success & Fortune

Three things that make a man -
Hard work, Sincerity & Commitment

Three things in life that can destroy a man -
Wine, Pride & Anger

Three things in life that are truly certain -
Birth, Life & Death

Three things that are truly constant -
Father, Son and Holy Ghost

A S A P

2006-08-30T09:21:00.000+02:00

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way...

There's work to do, deadlines to meet;

You've got no time to spare,

But as you hurry and scurry-

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,

"Quality time" is rare.

May every second count,

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather-

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;

He wants to ease our cares,

And He'll respond to all your needs

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

The Centre of the Bible

2006-08-24T08:39:00.000+02:00

This is pretty strange how it worked out this way.
Even if you are not religious, you should read this.

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalm 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalm 119

Q: Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible?

A: Psalm 118

Facts:

There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118.
There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

Q: What is the centre verse in the Bible?

A: Psalm 118:8

Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the centre of His will, just send them to the centre of His Word!

Psalms 118:8 (NKJV): "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Now isn't that odd how this worked out… or was God in the centre of it?

Why Faith-full Treats?

2006-08-23T15:59:00.000+02:00

We all receive the most inspiring words via our inboxes. Here is where you can catch up on any you may have missed.

Here you will find a collection of specifically faith-related tidbits - if you spend just a couple of minutes a day reading through these words of insipiration, you'll be off to a great start, knowing that you are never alone, and that God always has the best in mind for you!

Faith is the basis for achieving anything. Let this page inspire you.
Be blessed
-c-