... Perfect Peace There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture ... that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. ...

... not harmed your cubs or taken your mate"" It would prove that I am the strongest"" Okay ," said the bull, smiling." I'll buy that. You are strongest. Now leave and let me graze in peace"" Just one cotton-pickin ' minute. What do you mean by that ?" The bear raised a club-like paw." I will tear you to shreds. Defend yourself"" What you do is up to you ," the bull answered ... at the edge of the woods, watching the bull. The bear was known as the strongest, most fierce creature for miles around. No other beast in the forest dared to tangle with him. As the bear watched the bull peacefully gazing, he wondered which one of them would win a test of strength. He thought about this for many days. Then one morning he decided to challenge the bull to a fight to the finish. The bull had just chomped down ...

... with me, even in that foreign place." The Lord is my Shepherd ," I reminded myself as I read." It is He Who led me to these particular 'green pastures ' at this precise time. He'll give me peace, and calm my fears. This path is the one He has chosen for me" The" shadow-of-death" verse was hardest. I could die during surgery! But I didn't want to die and leave my beloved family. Could they ... the Mom, the one who abandons the dishes in the sink to go look at a horrible bug with Billy. I trim and arrange myriad bunches of wildflowers and weeds picked by Carol. Bill and I walk through our green, peaceful valley and talk together. I patiently listen to Amy's diet talk. Cindy and Sue come for lunch and share the problems of their working world with me. I love them. I pray for them. How could they manage if I ...

... cross as payment for my sins. I accept Him as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you God. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. Peace be with you, and. Have A Jesus Filled Day. [by: John H. Arney, Copyright 2005-submitted by: John H. Arney (johnarney @starnetok.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... , and then on to Muskogee to shop for a few groceries. Nothing exciting happened or came into view until I had left the Post Office and was well on my way to the grocery store. No traffic, just a quite peaceful drive, at a time when there is not much traffic and a person can putter along at a no-hurry speed. Here is where the preface ends and the goodie part of the story begins, so let's forget the Post Office, bills ...

... This whole place could have gone up in flames"" We should make him an honorary fireman" another said. ********************************* The smell of fresh mowed grass filled the air. Below my house, the sound of a chainsaw disturbed the peace. John was cutting the trees, to give him a view of the cove below our house. I pushed my mower toward the shed. As I crossed the road leading to his house, I heard the snap of a tree trunk ... . Smoke from my barbeque drifted into the air. Steaks sizzled on the grill. I put my feet on an adjacent chair, picked up my book, draped my bookmark over my thigh, and quietly read. It was another peaceful spring evening in Nova Scotia. Out of the corner of my eye I sensed movement-a large white cat. I watched it approach my flowerbed, sniff at the newly turned soil, and begin to dig." Hey !" I ...

... tantalizes our taste buds. Dogs bark, children play and is the distance the sound of mooing cows. Each distinct sound harmonizing into a summer symphony of praise. As the chilly air begins to warm, we start to enjoy the peaceful, pastoral scenes we have come to see. The road weaves a pattern through the cornfields as a tapestry in the hands of a master weaver. Tassels on ears of corn ripe and ready for picking are almost near enough to touch. ... praise of it's Creator. As God with His palette paints the vibrant colors of sunset, we search out our favorite spot to watch windmills cut silhouettes against the last rays of the setting sun, now, wrapped in a blanket of peace-filled stillness, we watch the moon casting ghostly shadows through the trees. The smoldering embers of our campfire glow as if sentinels of a sleeping city keeping watch with us into the darkening hours and the end of the day. A day that ...

... fragrance lifted from a flower. It lingers there until the wind decides to steal it away. Praying is a gentle breeze that passes from you to God and with it flows hope for an favorable reply. In doing so you can declare," I never knew what hope was" until now" You cannot be truly happy until you make others happy, too. Happiness is a feeling that cannot be measured by weight, length or time. It is comparable to peace. Either can be found in solitude, but enjoyed more when it has no limits or boundaries. Happiness is peace with giggles. In making peace you can declare," I never knew what happiness was" until now" I never understood time accept for the hands on a clock and the pages of a calendar. I measured it by marking beginnings and endings, births and deaths, winning and losing, building up and taking down and remembering and forgetting, too. ...

... . I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority" Blue interrupted:" You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing" Yellow chuckled:" You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun" Orange started next to blow her trumpet:" I am the color of health and strength ...

... minister paced back and forth on the platform." We do not know how much longer our earthly probation will last. Tonight you are living; tomorrow may be too late. Ask yourself, I beg of you, 'Am I ready to meet the Lord?" The miner, touched to the quick, slipped into the back pew. I am not ready to meet God, he thought. I have lived a careless, godless life. How can I make peace with Him? The meeting ended, and the people filed out. Still the miner remained in the pew, his head in his hands. Finally, the minister touched him on the shoulder." Brother, are you ready to meet the Lord ?" Blindly, the miner shook his head." I know I am not. Oh, help me find peace !" An hour passed as the minister shared the plan of salvation; yet something held the miner back from full ...

... transcends the depth of our human understanding and calls us to unite in our love for one another. That call is not the singular call of Christianity. Virtually every religion in the world is based on that single premise-that our earthly world is made more perfect through our love and caring and commitment to each other. Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims all believe in the inherent goodness of man and search for a way to a more perfect life of peace and harmony. They all strain for peace and for the fellowship of human kind. So why can't religion act as a unifier instead of a divider in our world? If music can provide musicians with a universal language of beauty and harmony, why can't our belief in peace, our commitment to lead ethical and moral lives and our dedication to the love of humanity serve the same function? Why does religion, instead, serve to divide the people of our country and of ...

... and they came down in a swift glide. Again, Helena got up and ran as fast as she could. Again the sky caught up with her and this time, it wrapped her like a blanket. Helena had the strangest feeling of being given an enormous blue, shiny, soft hug. She closed her eyes and felt herself being propelled backward. She toppled over and landed on her back in the grass. Helena fought, but the feeling of love and peace that now surrounded her stopped her struggles. It took a few moments before Helena opened her eyes. She was covered from head to foot in a flowing robe of the finest, heavenly blue. Though it was thin and there was now quite a strong wind coming from the black hole in the sky, Helena felt warm and comfortable. She felt loved and happy and safe. Helena smiled and looked up at the sky. Softly she called up," I don't understand ...

... wrestling tournament. It looked like man against boy, because it was." Look ," he said," you know I've never been much good at this school stuff. About the only thing I'm any good at is fighting in the parking lot after football games. So I figure I might as well go someplace where they don't give you detention for fighting-they give you medals" For the first time in the six years I had known John, I saw peace in his eyes. Peace-because he was going to war. It didn't make sense, but then, few things did those days. I just knew that John, the parking lot warrior, had found his nobility. He was willing to go someplace and do a job that a lot of us were unwilling to do. In fact, just the thought of going there and doing that scared some of us to death. And that made him a hero-at ...

... while my husband drove us to our honeymoon suite, I reached for a pillow in the car to rest my head. It felt lumpy. I unzipped the case and found, wrapped in wedding paper, the yellow shirt. Inside a pocket was a note:" Read John 14: 27-29. I love you both, Mother" That night I paged through the Bible in a hotel room and found the verses:" I am leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do ...

... Manila for tests at the heart hospital. My thoughts drifted to Dennis, my husband of ten years, and our two children who were staying in the mission guest house in Manila while I was making my three-day trip. Dennis would be spending most of his time resting while other people watched Tim, six, and Rachel, three. Lord, be with them today; keep them safe. Over the past few days I had looked at dozens of Bible verses on peace and comfort. I had been praying constantly, but God's peace still eluded me. My one question was: would I be a widow at thirty-nine? Lord, I know You want me to trust You, but I'm finding it hard. You'll have to help me. I'm so afraid. Don't let Dennis die." I recognize that corner ," said Helena, seated next to me. Her words jolted me back to the present." The bus station will be ...

... instantly. My father-in-law was more of a challenge. Behind his serious manner, he attempted to hide a soft heart. Few grew close enough to see his tenderness. I like to think I was one of those who did. They'd been through a lot in their lives. They immigrated to Canada during the Hungarian revolution. With two young girls in tow, they crossed the heavily guarded border into Austria and immigrated to a country they knew little about. They sought peace and found it in Canada. My mother-in-law suffered with cancer for many years, and although it was in remission, we knew her time was short. During one visit, as we left their hotel room on the night before their departure, I glanced back to see her standing in the hall, staring after us. Her look of sorrow brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I knew what she thought," Will this be the last time ...

... a pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings. Art glanced up at her face, and before he realized it, he found himself reaching for the" gold-foil crane" he'd labored over the night before. Carefully he picked up the gold crane, and gently placed it in the woman's hand. Art said:" I don't know why, but a voice told me to give you that golden crane. The crane is the ancient symbol of peace ," Art said simply. The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes. Finally, the woman took a deep breath and said," My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I've been out. Today" She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. ...

... " But Bill said he had no regrets. For the rest of his life, he believed he had made the better decision. Bill Havens knew what was most important to him. Not everybody figures that out. And he acted on what he believed was best. Not everybody has the strength of character to say no to something he or she truly wants in order to say yes to something that truly matters. But for Bill, it was the only way to peace; the only way to no regrets. There is an interesting sequel to the story of Bill Havens. The child eventually born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read:" Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for ...

... Balance Comes with Patience There is balance in nature. I find peace there. I also find stress. Through the years we have tried to create a backyard garden which expresses that natural balance. We grow flowers throughout and have a small fenced in section where we attempt to grow vegetables. The key word being" attempt" Right outside our back door we have a small pond with ten gold fish and at least one frog. At the far end of the property now sits our" H.O.P.E. House" our converted shed, where we can let go of life and express our love of it through art and music. Sounds pretty snooty doesn't it? Okay, we have paint and colored pencils along with XM radio, a hand drum and a ukulele. Balance. It is the area of the pond that has given me much stress. Our frog disappeared. This has happened before. One day we had a frog, another day ...

... " You can't see it, but you believe it's there"" Ah, but I can feel it"" You can feel faith, too"" How ?"" Faith was there when I found out both my wife and son had cancer. I felt it in my heart. I touched it when I touched their faces in the last moments before they went into surgery. I couldn't see it. I could feel it soak deep into my being giving me peace. A peace only a man of faith can have"" But that was faith in the doctor. You saw the doctor, you heard him speak. That's not faith that's fact"" But I had faith in his abilities. My faith told me to trust the man God inspired to be a doctor and all the nurses who found their place in life helping others"" That's not the same"" But there's something about the wind ," I repeated." ...

... the" Fire on the Mountain" tree. What a miracle it was. Grandmother told us that it was almost Christmas because the flower was blooming. As far as she could remember this only occurred at Christmas time. My spirits were lifted perhaps for a few minutes as I saw the flower. Soon I became sad again. How could Christmas come without my parents and my village? How could this be Christmas time when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, because since April we have not known any peace, only war and suffering. How could we celebrate as grandmother instructed us to do before she died. Those were the last words she spoke before she died last night. As I continued to think about past joyous Christmases and the present suffering, we heard the horn of a car and not just one horn but several cars approaching our village. At first we thought they were cars full of men with machine guns so ...

... groundhog, disappeared under the ground. We shuffled beneath the concrete and into the stifling humidity of the subway station. People growled in protest, as others pushed past them to reach their train. Somewhere up ahead, a guitar was played by someone collecting donations. Trains screeched to a stop, unloaded and loaded passengers and in minutes, rumbled out of sight into the tunnels that hollowed the underbelly of the city. There was no sun to enjoy. There was no peace, no quiet and no nature. Ginny and I had enough of the rush and expense of New Jersey and New York. We moved to Idaho, with it mountains, rivers and a slower pace. One early July morning, we stood at the edge of crystal clear mountain stream and tossed our lines. The trees were alive with the yellow, red and black of the western tanager, a small mountain bird. Towering over all, were the snowcapped peaks of the ...

... . receive forgiveness. Somewhere along the line we are going to have to do that. We're all bound to forgive" Fr. Jenco has forgiven and can attest to the power of forgiveness. And though our hurt may not be the same as his, it is no less real. We, too, are" bound" to forgive. For when we covenant with life to earnestly forgive whatever hurts come our way, we see amazing results. We find inner peace and, often, improved physical health as well. As Dr. O. A. Battista says," One of the most lasting pleasures you can experience is the feeling that comes over you when you genuinely forgive an enemy-whether he knows it or not" I've come to realize that genuine forgiveness is crucial if any of us will find peace. Whether or not it restores a broken relationship, it sets our own hearts free. Those who will be bound by ...

... " We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?" We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown." But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of ...

... leave that here if you wish. You see all these burdens? They're the ones others have left at My feet. Joan's, Paula's, Debra's, Ruth's. When you leave your burden here, I carry it with you. Remember, My yoke is easy and My burden is light" As I placed my burden with Him, the light began to fade. Yet I heard Him whisper," I will never leave you, nor forsake you" A wonderful peace flooded my soul. Addendum-John 16: 33 (NIV)" I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" [1997 jesus_freak8 @hotmail.com] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... friend and she was praying for me. And so I let it all go again-I sent all those desperate concerns back to heaven." God, you know I only have a dollar fifty-six left ," I told him, as if we were sitting having coffee together." I need your help; I can't do it alone anymore" There was no bolt from heaven, no sudden rush of the Spirit filled my soul, but somehow I felt more at peace. God had turned off that leaky faucet of worry and I wasn't going to twist the handle out of his grasp again. The internal peace I experienced would have been enough of an answer, even if nothing changed. But a day later I went down the stairs and across the street to my mailbox and pulled out a letter from another friend of mine. Why would she write to me, instead of call? I wondered as I tore open the envelope and pulled ...

... tugged on her dad ’ s sleeve." But Daddy" Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose baggy, outdated trousers and faded flannel shirt had dusted too many park benches." Don ’ t stare at him, honey ," he whispered, and hurried her inside. Soft music filled the high-ceilinged sanctuary as churchgoers settled into their usual spots. The choir sang an opening chorus," In His presence there is comfort. in His presence there is peace". Sunlight suddenly flooded the center aisle. The double doors swung open and the homeless man, sloppy and stooped, headed toward the front." Oh no, it ’ s him !" somebody muttered." What does he think he ’ s doing, anyway ?" snapped an incredulous usher. The stranger set his bagful of dumpster treasures on the very first pew, which had been upholstered in an expensive soft teal fabric just three months ago. The music stopped. ...

... A Tug In some circles it is not" politically correct" to be considered a" bloody" Christian who believes in eternal salvation, but I am guilty of believing that once saved, always saved. I have been cleansed by and washed in the blood of Jesus. Knowing this, gives me a peace of God and peace with God to pillow my head every night knowing that whether I go or whether I stay, I'm a winner either way. Because I don't deserve His salvation and did not do anything to earn it, sometimes, though, I wake up not feeling saved and wondering why God it would please God to bruise His Son for me. When I do, I am reminded of a young boy, an older man, and an out-of-sight kite. The story goes of a young boy flying a kite in the park one windy afternoon. The kite was so small and so high that an elderly man sitting on ...

... me that he wanted to give me ten dollars. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses" The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all. May this story instill the spirit of Christmas in you enough to pass this loving act along. Have a Joyous and Peace-filled season. [Author Unknown-from Douglas B. Boebinger] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... joined in harmonizing. The words heard were these:" Stille nacht, heilige nacht" British troops immediately recognized the melody as" Silent Night" quickly neutralized all hostilities on both sides. One by one, British and German soldiers began laying down their weapons to venture into no-man's-land, a small patch of bombed-out earth between the two sides. So many soldiers on both sides ventured out that superior officers were prevented from objecting. There was an undeclared truce and peace had broken out. Frank Richards was an eyewitness of this unofficial truce. In his wartime diary he wrote:" We stuck up a board with 'Merry Christmas ' on it. The enemy stuck up a similar one. Two of our men threw off their equipment and jumped on the parapet with their hands above their heads as two of the Germans did the same, our two going to meet them." They shook hands and then we all got out of the trench ...

... The Cliff ’ s Edge The toes of my battered shoes hang over the edge of the cliff. Below, I see not what lies there in reality, only what I want to see. Peace. Solitude. No more pain. A life free of heartbreak and disappointments. A tranquil place, conjured up from the depths of my sorrowed mind. A place where only I know exists. A place where I can go on the wings of the night to escape my despair. Forever. I don ’ t know how, or why, I survived last summer. I really didn ’ t want to, I really didn ’ t care. The Lord deemed it appropriate to take from me my pony and three dogs, in only a few months, without ever giving me a chance to discuss it with him. I didn ’ t get to negotiate; I didn ’ t get to beg for more time. I have cried ...

... could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself" Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his mother smiling through her tears." Why didn't you tell us? We didn't understand. We are so proud of you, son" The carols came over the air again filling the room with music:".. .Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth" The Christmas Scout's sacrifice gives us a little peek at the sacrifice of the Father when He gave up His Best, His Son to be born to die to pay for our sins on the cross, to save His needy people from their sinful poverty of righteousness." I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is ...

... Where I'm Supposed To Be I could have gone to a couple of gatherings at the homes of friends and family on Boxing Day. I could have stayed home and curled up with a good book all day. The last thing I intended to do with a perfectly good stretch of peace and quiet, was join the throng of post-Christmas shoppers. Yet, when my husband called and asked me to meet him at the mall, I went. Long lines of loud shoppers stood outside most of the stores. Everyone was noisy and animated. They couldn't get into those stores fast enough to spend their money. We were surprised by the number of young people in the mall. They outnumbered the adults 2 to 1-easy. After my husband found what he was looking for, we grabbed a quick bite to eat in the Food Court. I felt a little restless and decided to stay behind and do some research at the book store. ...

... face." Then you must sleep well at night. You see, my mind doesn't stop. I often awaken in the middle of the night with visions of people and places I've been. I scramble to make sense of them, but fail most every time. It's then when I tuck my head under the covers that I see them. Little flashes of light caused by static. I love when that happens. I'm creating my own personal lightening. I find peace under the covers. To this very day, whenever I want to hide away from the world, I pull the cover up over my head and think," No one knows where I am right now" It's great! Well, the other night I rediscovered lightening ," I said. Then spinning around on my heal, like a fancy magician, I said" Ta Da!" That's where the story begins. Like a spark in the dark part of my mind ...

... we usually don't understand why. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it could hurt our growth. Then we would not be as strong as we should be-and it could keep us from soaring to the wonderful heights that HE has planned for you and me. Addendum-Hebrews 12: 11 (NIV)" No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" [Anonymous-from Roma] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Life But nothing and no one would ever stand in his way." I must say that I thought that was the worst day of my life ," Silas later recalled," but that wasn't the only setback I experienced as destiny handed me my fate" Indeed, Silas spent the next forty years spanning the globe, living in exotic places, and putting deals together. However, he was overtaken with illness, dishonest business partners, and other misfortunes. He sought peace and contentment by eventually finding his way back home. The old homestead had been boarded up for many years, and the farmhouse was in desperate need of repair. But Silas enjoyed the company of his old friends, and he invested what he had to fix the place up. One spring day, Silas was relaxing in his rocking chair on the back porch of the old farmhouse. It was a nice day. But something was about to happen that would make it very ...

... one who meet me at the road-side and rescued me from certain eternal death in hell. I prayed a simple prayer of faith that went like this; Dear God, Forgive me, I m a sinner. I place my faith in you to be my Lord and Savior. Amen. I invite you to join this eternally rescued biker and put your faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus sacrifice on the cross was the means for my access to eternal life and hope, peace and purpose in this life. How do I thank someone for such a great gift?~Tim Manzer~[ By: Tim Manzer Copyright 2008 (tim @soulrehab.org)-submitted by: Tim Manzer] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... So she and the children left, and he stayed home. While they were gone, the wind and snow grew stronger until it was a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire. He knew his wife would not venture back on the road till the storm abated and he knew there were good snow tires on their SUV. So, nothing to do except enjoy the peaceful evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They ...

... it on the tree." Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds ' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper" He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL." Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men" Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL." Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return" Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said," Remember, teach the children ...

... toward the front entrance. He could hear the click-click of other resident ’ s walkers, and doors opening as more residents stepped into the halls. Soon, the hall was lined on each side with nurses, aids, family members and residents. He steadied himself a moment to catch his breath, and gazed out the corridor window. A lone white dove had made a perch in the nearby tree. Glittering diamond eyes watched him through the glass, filling him with peace. Sunlight played through its alabaster feathers, as a light wind ruffled the golden leaves. He smiled at the bird, caught his breath, and determinedly made his way to the line of residents as they formed on each side of the hallway. He gazed down the corridor once more. The back doors were locked, as they should be. No more whisking out a resident who had passed in the night in secrecy. No more silence as the deceased was covertly taken ...

... fingers double-crossed on each hand. Ohhh !!-A reprieve from that Spelling! PLEEEASE !!!!!! Then, the happiest words on earth! He said it! Schofield... all schools closed! Ohhhhh! A Snow Dayyyy !!!!! The cheers went up! They yelled with the sheer joy of only the young! Whoooppeee !!!! Watching from a safe distance, the cat sat with a haughty look on his face, as if to say," Oh good grief, my peaceful day is shot !" (No one seemed to notice or care !) A snow day! A snow day! They came bounding down the hall and onto my bed! Laughing, cheering, and barking as they scrambled around me, just in case I had not heard the fantastic news! I thought," What a transformation! Are these the same slugs that I heard only moments earlier, dragging their half dead carcass's down the hall and into another grueling day of homework ...

... than I. He is the Great Burden-bearer. He even carries St. Christopher, yet on His shoulders there is always room for one more. Then Jesus said," Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11: 28 NLT)" Lord, thank you for inviting me to come to you, especially when life is getting too difficult for me. I find comfort and peace in knowing that you are going to help me get across my river of difficulties if I just rest on Your shoulders. Remind me always of my limitations so that day by day I will remember that without you I can do nothing. Lord Jesus, please lift me up and carry me through this day" [Author Unknown-from d le lee, via 'inspirational_msgs '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... , asks her if there is anything that she wants such as toys, books, or dolls. Mary ’ s reply takes him by surprise when she simply asks him, “ Might I have a bit of earth ?” When Mr. Craven asks the reason for her unusual request she says, “ To plant seeds in -to make things grow -to see them come alive ," Perhaps that is why we yearn for Spring. It could be that we all long for a peaceful, verdant garden. After all, life began in a garden. It could be that we, like Mary Lennox, want a bit of earth “ to plant seeds in — to make things grow — to see them come alive ”, and to observe the miracle of Spring. The year's at the spring And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hillside's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven-All's ...

... ?? Could I do it ?? No, I knew in my heart that I could not give up smoking and I also knew that this broken promise to my son, would stay with both of us for years to come. So. I prayed and said" Look Jesus I am sorry for jumping the gun here but I made this promise to my child and now I need You to help me keep it". Suddenly I was filled with a deep sense of peace but I still didn't realize that, because I had stepped out in faith (led there by grace alone) I was on my way to a miracle. I jumped up and we all had a ball going from room to room gathering everything to do with cigarettes. There were packs hidden everywhere and five in the freezer alone. We took the cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays and either gave or threw them away. Then I went from room to room taking down curtains and ...

... folks holler because they want life easy! They took the old barn down today and hauled it away to beautify a rich man's house. And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch. And I suspect we'll be more beautiful then for the seasons we've been through here. and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house. May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. [Author Unknown-from 'E-Mail Ministry ' (EMailMinistry @yahoogroups.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... For The Wind. My nephew's 10 year old son came for a visit one hot, July weekend. I was enticing him to stay inside by joining him in a nintendo game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player, I suggested that we relax awhile. I collapsed into my favorite recliner to let my neck muscles relax and my ego recover from such a beating. He had slipped out of the room and I was catching a few relished moments of peace and quiet." Look, Alice ," he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering." I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it ?" Glancing out a nearby window, I noticed there was not a breeze stirring." I'm sorry, Tripper ," I said, sad to see his disappointed eyes, but thankful for the respite from more activity." The wind is not blowing today. The kite won't fly" ...

... tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said" Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that ...

... their watch. A week or two later, Ginny and I watched as they carried worms to the newly hatched babies. Again, they took turns, sacrificing their own needs for the babies God blessed them with. We watched three little beaks rise above the rim of the nest, and reach for Mom or Dad, as they delivered their meals. One morning I sat, drank my tea and read a book. The morning sun warmed me. The day was peaceful. No one stirred. I heard a bird chirp in front of me. I looked up. No bird was in sight. It chirped again." OK! I hear you, but where are you ?" I stood. The yard was empty. The chirping stopped. I gave the yard one more look, scratched my head, and sat to read. Out of the corner of my eye, I detected movement. One of the young robins hoped over my ...

... home, feed him, offer him my clothes or new ones of his choice. Still, there was little I could say or do." I will see her in my prayers and you, my friend, can call me any time and I will be there ," I told him as we embraced one more time. We said our goodbyes and I watched him walk away, fade into the busy street life and without explanation or understanding, a odd sense of peace came over me. Perhaps he would be alright eventually. I can't say a miraculous turn around in Abbey's condition would occur. But, maybe the answer lies in her waiting for the Hummingbird.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2008 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring strayed sheep back to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper. He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang" Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will" Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should bring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. Santa looked around and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said," Remember, TEACH THE CHILDREN the ...

... love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples ' worries and fears. 'Learning How to Live. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God's arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of live. I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest ...

... always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home. Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of ...

... earth. He made the same journey that all snowflakes make, but because of who he is, he defeated the foe of the snowflakes and took away his power. And, if you will but trust in him and in me, and keep us at the center of your hearts, and if you will remember that we are with you at all times, a special wind you haven't known will keep you safe, guiding you, teaching you, and giving you peace along your way. Then, no matter what tactic your enemy may use to try to destroy you, when your traveling days are done, you will make your landing in a new and better world. I myself will be there to welcome you. At that point your life here will be at an end, but you will have fulfilled your purpose and you will have joy, for from the clouds I will lift you up to myself once more as I did the ...

... of yellow flowers. I could hear the soft, soothing sounds of the bees as they flew from flower to flower. There was a yellow haze over the flowers as pollen filled the air, and its fragrance was sweet and refreshing. I realized that was God's way of helping the bees do their never ending task of pollinating the flowers of the meadow. As I looked closer I could see the small birds that were clinging to the golden rods. They seem so peaceful as they rode back and forth on the stems, almost as if God had created this motion just for their enjoyment. What was actually happening was, they were being fed by God's handiwork. The wind was causing the bugs that lit on the flowers to become airborne and as they did the birds would feast upon them. It was as though they knew that all this was being done, just for them. At the extreme end of the meadow I noticed several raspberry ...

... I don't know, but she knew. When I pondered all these things in my heart, the verse of Scripture came to me," Suffer not the these little ones to come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" I cannot explain how she knew what she knew, nor can I explain the conversations she had with someone I sincerely feel she saw. But I do know that these two years have brought so much laughter, peace and joy to our home, when there was nothing but arguing, lies, and deceit before she was born. I have to believe with all my heart that it was for this very purpose that we were suppose to keep her instead of giving her up. Through this child, God has restored my own child to me and He has restored our family. I thank God everyday for the wonderful gift He has given us and I pray He continues to use Destini Gabrielle ...

... face as I listen to her, and see her with new eyes. We are enjoying womanhood together, and although I am still her Mom, she considers me “ her best friend ” as well. Our relationship has flourished and she knows I want only the best for her. I thought I had lost her, but when I learned to let go, I found her heart again. When I gave up trying to control her life, I found my own peace. It's not the completed “ happy ending ” I was hoping for, but I trust God to take care of the rest. The empty nest is a tough transition, no doubt, but there really is life after it happens. I may not always agree with what our kids do, but I agree with who they are. Doesn ’ t God feel the same way about all of us? Recently, a card came in the mail from my baby girl, ...

... of all loving. Adding more would be necessary, but not required. She lived in a log cabin style home on a hill in the center of town. The yard of the home was as long as your legs could carry you. The gate to the steps, that led to the home, always reminded me of the gates to heaven. And the climb to the top of them seemed like an endless journey. The appearance from the outside spoke tranquility and peace. The inside was tastefully decorated in mostly antique furnishings. Always a rainbow of colors and everything that accessorized the home was cause for wonder and fascination. I would spend some weekends at this home and typically one week every summer. For me, even now as an adult, I do not recall being in a greater place than Wee Pine Knot, the sign that hung above the doorway entrance. The large dining room table was hardly ever used for a meal. It ...

... to the spot so it could be found? Only He knows the answer. But to this little girl all she knew was that for the first time in her young life, she actually felt like she was loved; loved by the One who promised to love her and be with her always and be her friend, Jesus whom she had asked into her life maybe 6 months before. I cannot describe to you the gentle joy, the stillness and warmth, and peace in the heart of this little girl as she knocked on the door of her home and asked to be let in, knowing she had her mitten in one hand, and an extraordinary experience from God in her heart; a gift from Him that would be a light to her for the rest of her life. How do I know this to be true? I know because I am the little girl, now grown up with children of my own. It is still ...

... just the rich and the powerful. He came to offer salvation to all. Could the lowliest of people have accepted Him had He been born into splendor and hobnobbed only with the rich? The mistake of many people today, as it was then, is to expect God to conform to their expectations. The Jews expected a king, a great sword-wielding warrior who would be their salvation from the pagans of Rome. Instead, they got a gentle man of love and peace who taught that the way to salvation was repentance of sin and trust in God. What they got was totally unexpected, and Jesus went largely unrecognized by the powerful Jewish rulers except as a clear and present danger to their authority. It was mainly the lowly and the humble who followed Him, who listened to His words and were ultimately saved. The powerful Jews of the Temple, with few exceptions, considered Jesus a dangerous, itinerate preacher from Nazareth who uttered blasphemy and ...

... and gazed at the rocks below, shimmering my reflection against the wavy waters in the moonlight. The stream ran perfectly clear as it journeyed undaunted through the river stones, as my pony had in years gone by. Its inhabitants lay unseen beneath in sleepy slumber, waiting to awaken come the breath of spring ’ s golden glow. I mouthed words of hope, then tied a string to the little gems, and gently dropped them into the flow. I watched in peaceful tranquility as the frigid water churned and tossed them to a glistening shine. They were one with the river again, from whence they had come. I left as quietly as I had arrived, leaving nature ’ s gentle beauty undisturbed in its winter slumber. The moon guided me back across the river, and led me up the frosty bank. The hoof prints I had followed in moments past materialized into a pony, her tail frozen with ice from her journey across the ...

... not for food, but for love, companionship, and understanding. We do not need those who would tell us where we went wrong and we sure don't need anyone telling us what to do and how to do it. What we need is someone who will listen, someone who will accept us for what and who we are and not throw the punch of judgment towards us. We need someone who will speak gently with us, who will sing with us bringing peace to our souls, minds, and to our hearts. We need that special someone to reach out with a gentle hand of trust and reassurance, to understand that each individual is created differently, and to lovingly stand by us. As time went on Lightning became uncontrollable towards the owners and they eventually sold him. I remember the day I said good-bye to him, there I stood face to face with this gentle beast. I felt his hunger for attention and love. ...

... wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it NOW rather than to wait until we're on our death bed to lament. <>< For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16: 26 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 [Author unknown-submitted by OurCherokeeRose, via Charlotte (GAgirl @flash.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... to be able to speak. I guess we'll just have a song service"" Please let me speak ," I butted in." Something happened to me this afternoon I've got to share"" Okay, you're on ," he said. During the opening moments of the service I prayed fervently that God would use my words to help someone realize their need for Jesus. As I began to share some of the stories previously mentioned in this email, I felt a peace and strength I have never felt before. It was not me talking up there. Even though I had zero preparation for this" sermon" my words seemed to flow like never before. Everything was coming together. In sports terms, I was" in the zone" I pleaded with the young people who had never committed their lives to Jesus to do so. I told them they didn't have to know everything at first. That's what being born again is all about ...

... not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name" And the Lord asked," Do you really love Me ?" With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly," Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God !" I thought I had answered well, but God asked," THEN WHY DO YOU SIN ?" I answered," Because I am only human. I am not perfect"" THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY IN EARNEST ?" {No answers-only tears.} The Lord continued:" Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully ?" The tears continued to roll down my cheeks." Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of ...

... the gifts of this love in the setting sun, the shining stars, the colorful rainbows, the falling snow, and the glowing moon. We can hear these gifts in the songs of a thousand birds and in the wind whistling through the trees. We can feel these gifts in the hugs of our loved ones and in the smiles of strangers. We can even share these gifts ourselves by choosing to give our own soul's love, joy, laughter, delight, peace, goodness, kindness, and happiness to everyone we meet. God's glorious love for us makes everyday holy. God's endless love for us makes everyday a gift. Let's all join God then in giving the gifts of love and joy to the world. [By: Joseph J. Mazzella-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... fear it would leave prematurely. What was it? An eternal instant. An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in mid-frame, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the time line and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty. An eternal instant. A moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you. Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health. A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality. A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and perspective to the darkest life. Eternal instants have dotted history. It was an eternal instant when the Creator smiled and said," It is good" It was a timeless moment when Abraham pleaded for mercy from the God of mercy," But ...

... year, was to be greeted by the spicy scent of geraniums. It seemed as if the house had been holding its breath all that time, and when the door was opened, it exhaled. The powerful scent of geranium washed over my very soul like a crashing wave from the Atlantic at the height of a storm. The night before Grammie's passing, a strong wind shook the cement walled house we lived in and caused me a restless night. The morning was peaceful, sunny and bright. When I noticed our Spanish neighbor across the street, I commented about the howling wind of the night before. He looked at me rather strangely and told me he'd been up several times during the night and added in broken English," No Honey, calm. No wind last night" When the news of Grammie's passing came, I wasn't surprised. I felt the wind had been forewarning me of the sad news to come. Had the geranium ...

... a swimmer. Tired, yet invigorated, I am bursting with accomplishment." I am going to do twenty laps on Thursday !" I boast to my husband over lunch later that day." I think I will try a few strokes of front crawl, too" What started as therapy for my back quickly turned into a workout that I actually enjoyed. Tuesday and Thursday mornings become my time. With my youngest daughter in preschool, I find myself looking forward to peaceful morning swims. Gradually, I begin to complete greater distances. Ten laps become twenty, and remarkably, even thirty. Splashing forward, I am surprised to feel so free. My spirit soars with each stroke. Who cares if my form isn't the model of Olympian perfection? In the water I am powerful and strong. Adjusting my goggles, I dive beneath the surface. Insecurities are washed away as I set and reach new goals, like actually swimming under water! ...

... from fair to fair selling goodies. Perhaps one day. It certainly isn't a priority in my life. Perhaps it should be. After I'm there a while I need to get away to a quiet spot on the fair grounds. Most of the time I can find that any where the farm animals are kept. They need the quiet. Milk production goes down in the dairy barns I am told if there is too much ruckus. So I go there to find peace with the cows, goats, horses, pigs and yes, the turkeys. Some would think I would be very much at home with the turkeys. You'd think being this close to" Thanksgiving" they'd be a little on edge, but they are not. It was in the dairy barn where I found my oasis this time. I so admire the young folks who tend to farm animals. I think they have a greater appreciation for life. They participate in it ...

... and turning to my right I saw it. A grand cathedral. A holy place .in the woods. As if directing a movie, a documentary of sorts, starting where I stood, my eyes panned across the water. Pausing for a moment, I captured images of rushing water and followed the source. Upward, higher and higher, the image surrounded now by green, lush, pillars, my eyes took in the grandeur of this perfect place of solitude and peace. The water honestly appeared to be pouring from the heavens. Lost in the presence of God's creation, I, now disconnected from the worries, pain and sadness of my day, felt as if I had been called home and did not know it." When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze"*Tears, like the water fall before me, ran endlessly down my face. Looking up I whispered" thank ...

... my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night. Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that ...

... No joyful skips through the meadows. No healthy hikes up the mountain. Just day after day of walking into the storm, shoulders bent against the wind, and feet dragging through all the muck life has delivered. Is this the way you are coping with your hurts? Are you allowing your hurts to turn into hates? If so, ask yourself: Is it working? Has your hatred done you any good? Has your resentment brought you any relief, any peace? Has it granted you any joy? Let ’ s say you get even. Let ’ s say you get him back. Let ’ s say she gets what she deserves. Let ’ s say your fantasy of fury runs its ferocious course and you return all your pain with interest. Imagine yourself standing over the corpse of the one you have hated. Will you now be free? The writer of the following letter thought she would be. She thought her revenge ...

... did it look like the elusive butterfly of love, in fact, this butterfly's markings and colors were quite different. And so, the fair maiden would go about her errands, and the odd-looking butterfly would follow her, returning each day to flutter about her head. It was not long before the fair maiden and the butterfly formed a unique relationship. For some odd reason, the butterfly seemed to enjoy the maiden's company, and the fair maiden felt a sense of peace and comfort, knowing her winged companion would never leave her side. Many years passed, and one day, for some strange reason, the fair maiden recalled how she used to search for the elusive butterfly of love. In fact, the more she looked at her faithful winged companion, the more she wondered about the validity of the story of the elusive butterfly. Curiosity soon began to turn into discontentment with the butterfly she had devoted so much of her life to. ...

... air at your back reminds you the night is over. It's all behind you. Having been in the darkness for so long, the light is new to you. You tilt your head left and then right. Squinting, rubbing your eyes releasing the last tear drop left behind from all too many tears shed over this. It is, as they say, a new dawn, a new beginning. You rise up, stand taller to face the sun. A peaceful smile appears freed from all the pain and your arms spring upward suddenly without explanation. Then words slip out, quietly at first, and you marvel at the idea that you can finally say something good, something liberating, that frees you from the ugliness and desperation. You whisper," Thank you !" as the sun now warms your very being blanketing you from head to toe. You shout," It's over !" Your body slowly sways back and forth to the rhythm ...

... to always remember how I was and how I am now. Those who haven't experienced what I've been through won't know the difference and with all I've learned, I have to remember how I used to feel when I deal with them and I have to remember to understand. Monetary things are the next. I recently listened to a speaker at a conference and one of the questions she asked was," If given the choice, would you choose 30 million dollars or peace and happiness ?" I was in a room with close to 30 parents who had children with disabilities and not a one of them raised their hand for the 30 million. (Although I briefly thought that 30 million would buy some quality child care and help further the cause for equality) However, I did realize that it wouldn't make my daughter see, nor would it replace things many other children needed. Ten years ago I would have been convinced that the money was my ...

... . The hilltops were capped with snow, and the valleys were blanked with a deep white layer, drifting sometimes even deeper. The trees were laden with snow, their limbs drooping under the weight. As I topped the highpoint, I stopped the truck just to look out over the landscape. The winter scene spread out before me like a giant painting. With the white trees, and everything covered, and the gray sky background, it gave everything a quiet and peaceful setting. I was surprised to see a beam of sunshine break through the clouds, and shine in to the crystals of ice and snow. The light broke into thousands of tiny rainbows from the natural prisms. A small stream wound it's way down and around the hills, it's crystal water bubbling over the stones and gravel, and ran by close to the road. Just down and off to the right, a deer had stopped for a drink from the stream, and ...

... and will teach you how to pray. I've heard that on earth there are bad people. Who will protect me? Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life. But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore. Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you. At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly: Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name. Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy. [Author Unknown-'E-Mail Ministry '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him," What did you do today that made you so happy ?" He replied," I had lunch with God. You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen !" Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked," Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy ?" She replied," I ate Twinkies in the park with God. You know, He's much younger than I expected" [By: Julie A. Manhan-from Aiken Drum (Aiken @AikensLaughs.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... It joined Georgia's ring on the chain. My hand felt empty without its comforting weight, but the combined rings hanging around my neck soothed me-a reminder of our years together.****************** Almost a year later, I stood with Ginny in a New York City court house. She took my hand and placed a new band of gold around my finger. The Justice of the Peace smiled." I pronounce you man and wife. Michael, you may now kiss the bride" Ginny slipped into my arms. Our lips met. I hugged her to me. On her shoulder, I saw my hand and the ring on my finger-a band of love.****************** Ginny and I sat on our deck reading. I held my book in my right hand ...

... Christmas Love Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. But once again, despite my plans, chaos prevailed. I had cut back on nonessential obligations-extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and yes, even the all American pastime, overspending. Yet, still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old filled with hopes, dreams and laughter. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's" Winter Pageant" I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome ...

... a trampoline. My husband's talk with the Lord was already being answered. Marty and I grinned at each other through our tears, and waited for Noah to be released from the hospital. Finally, in the middle of the night, our own doctor came in and told us that it was fine to take Noah home. We couldn't pack fast enough! A few days later, I was cooking dinner. Noah was healing, slowly but surely. I felt at peace and knew my husband was the greatest father I could ever want for my children. I peeked around the corner into the living room, and chuckled at the picture I saw. There was my husband, sitting in his" daddy chair ", Noah in his lap. They were reading a book, dad taking Noah's teeny hands to help him form the signs for the words in the book. They both looked up and caught me watching them, and my husband and I ...

... summer. I was out of college for the summer and it was the perfect summer job! Maddie and I would walk to the park everyday after lunch. Maddie loved to swing on the swings and go down the slide. She was a very good hearted little child and she always amazed me at the love she felt for other people. She had such goodness in her little heart. Both of her parents were the same way-- they always had such a peace about them-I always wondered-why are they so different? That day at the park as I was pushing Maddie in the swing, we heard a bunch of kids laughing. We looked over and all the kids were crowded around one of the park benches. Maddie wanted to stop swinging and go over there and see what they were laughing at. We walked over and a little boy ran up to Maddie and said," Come over here and look at this ...

... toward the front entrance. He could hear the click-click of other resident ’ s walkers, and doors opening as more residents stepped into the halls. Soon, the hall was lined on each side with nurses, aids, family members and residents. He steadied himself a moment to catch his breath, and gazed out the corridor window. A lone white dove had made a perch in the nearby tree. Glittering diamond eyes watched him through the glass, filling him with peace. Sunlight played through its alabaster feathers, as a light wind ruffled the golden leaves. He smiled at the bird, caught his breath, and determinedly made his way to the line of residents as they formed on each side of the hallway. He gazed down the corridor once more. The back doors were locked, as they should be. No more whisking out a resident who had passed in the night in secrecy. No more silence as the deceased was covertly taken ...

... important. But today the rain had stopped and only memories of it remained. So I grabbed a chair and sat on the front porch. I challenged myself to sit still. I rocked and wiggled at first, nervously changing my position to find a comfortable spot. Then suddenly it happened. It wasn't the first time and I pray it won't be the last. I felt a part of everything around me. I immediately connected with the world. I felt at peace, rested and a part of something bigger. I tuned into the sounds of the birds sharing their early evening chatter. I watched each car pass and seeing the driver, wondered who they were and how their life was going. Was that red car a reflection of their personality? Did that expensive convertible shout" look at me, I have money ?" Or was I reading into things that didn't necessarily mean a thing? I hardly moved at all. Yet, the ...

... heavy as mountains weighing down upon him. Would God forgive him?" While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5: 8, explained the chaplain. Jack fell on his knees in earnest prayer and confessed his sins to God and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ who died for him. Romans 10: 9 When he rose to his feet, he knew his load of sin and guilt was all gone! He was forgiven! He was filled with peace and joy! Later tears of joy filled his eyes as he knelt to pray beside the blooming lily in his cell. Someday he would meet Lily in Heaven. Jack was not alone now. He felt the sweet presence of his Savior who promises to" never leave you nor forsake you" Hebrews 13: 5. [Author Unknown-from '2TheHeart ' (editor @2theheart.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... material possessions, but one rich with appreciation for small things. Events turned the pages of each year. As I grew up in America, life changed. Prosperity visited our marriage, we hurried to indulge our children and we began accumulating stuff. Life became easier, but far more complicated. Gifts cost more and their purchase rang urgent. Eventually, our wants turned to nagging needs. Sadly, what we cherished as children now painted a sorrowful scene. And the peace each Christmas season had previously brought subtly ushered tension instead. But, as weather changes and seasons offer variety, this writer believes we can also change by taking a step back to the simpler life, easier routine and lighter burdens. Let ’ s ask our children to list the things they already have before jotting their wants for Santa. Cross off your list a few social gatherings and replace them with quiet moments, long enough to savor the calmness that screams to be heard ...

... ‘ Make do, use it up, wear it out ?’ ‘ We ’ re going to be in the poorhouse if you buy another mower !’” I teased borrowing expressions handed down by his frugal Wisconsin father and mother. Old Seven Dollar, thank you for your many years of dependable service. Even Roy believes you have finally earned your well deserved retirement. There is a special niche in the left hand corner of the barn just for you. May you rust in peace!~Kay Seefeldt~A tribute to my husband for Father's day. [by: Kay Seefeldt, Copyright 2005, (birdnest @megalink.net)-submitted by: Kay Seefeldt] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated ?" I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said," Yes, of course !" He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed. There were things like," peace ,"" joy ,"" blessings ,"" confidence ,"" assurance ,"" hope ,"" love ,"" faith ," and" mercy" I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was at." God's Grace ," was the name of this place! The man returned and said," I recommend the 'Special of the Day. With it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on ...

... On The Shores Of Life I see life like the ocean. I have stood on the edge and looking out I was overwhelmed by the enormity of it. I can see the horizon but until I set sail I will never know what lies ahead. Some days it comes gently lapping at my feet. Its gentle roll and sway brings peace and tranquility. But some days it comes crashing over me knocking me down. I stand on the shore of life with a deep respect for it. Respect is a part of love. I do love life! I've come to realize that the ocean, like life, is never at fault. In the past I have blamed life for my failures and cursed the ocean when knocked down by an unexpected wave. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. That's the ocean. The sun comes up and the sun goes down. That's life. The ocean is just the ocean, a ...

... know who I was, but I did. I knew exactly who I was, I just needed to find a place, friends, family and strangers who understood me and accept me for who I am. This might appear trite, as silly, foolish thinking, but it's not. It makes perfect sense to me. Maybe to you, too. If you are feeling lost, confused and thinking you may be going out of your mind, you may find peace in believing that you are not out of your mind, you are simply out of place. Oh, I know I can fit in places when I need to. I know I can hold a conversation with anyone I don't particularly enjoy speaking with and make them feel like I really do. That's who I am, too. I can honestly say that no one in my life really knows who I am but me. They think they do .they don't. Like the ...

... body may lie mouldering in the ground, Jesus, whom the Father raised from the dead, gives me eternal life. Ultimately, we Christians believe, our bodies, too, will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter Him today. You can know Him through a personal relationship. I could point to lots of people who can testify what Jesus has done in their lives to bring them from the brink of disaster to peace and meaning and joy. He changes people for good. If you're not sure, and can't really say you've met this risen Jesus, this Easter Sunday why don't you slip into a church to seek Him. And perhaps in the midst of our celebration, you'll find Him for yourself. I hope so-for your sake! He's alive, you know. HE'S RISEN! That's what Easter is all about! Reference-( 1) John 20: 25 (NIV ...

... gentle on the eye." Some say love it is a river" I stood across the room mesmerized. When she finished I cheered. I ran over to thank her, praise her and hug her for what she had given us. Later she asked if she could sing again. Without hesitation I said," Absolutely! Pick out another song"" I want to sing one I wrote. There's no music ," she said. My body sank into a peacefulness that warmed my heart just knowing she was so much more than her environment. The home we were gathered in was for those with mental challenges. Not some spiffed up, spit-shine facility, but a real home-like atmosphere. New people expect more when they walk in but I have learned to see it with a more forgiving eye. Like when you visit grandma's house. Old age, poor vision causes her to miss a few spots here and there, while the paint fades ...

... with a fire that can never be quenched. I am special to him, even if I am not special to anyone else, including myself. I have tried to perfect myself, and I have failed. I have tried to believe the world ’ s message, but I have found no answers. I have followed the paths forged by others only to find disaster at every bend in the road. Only God has given me the answers that I have sought. Peace. Love. Fulfillment. The change in my life is not a complicated one. It ’ s not about how good I am or how I pray or how often I go to church. It ’ s not about money or fame or popularity. I cannot speak for others. They must decide for themselves. I only know that the world has given me no happiness. After searching my entire life, I have only been able to find the answers to my questions ...

... soul from an eternity in Hell" There were now no dry eyes in the church. As shouts of praise and honor to the Lord resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are a lot of hurting people in the world, searching for that thing which will make them complete, but the answer to true peace and happiness can only be found in Jesus Christ. Lets all do our very best to help reach these people. Matthew 5: 16 (NKJ)" Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" For those that have not been" saved ," or don't know about Christ's love: Be encouraged and know that Jesus Loves You, no matter what sin or past mistakes you have made. He will ...

... you will not remember every detail of every moment. That's why whatever pain or tragedy you may be facing today, at this very moment, there will be days ahead that will smooth the edges, round out the cutting remarks, the piercing tone of an argument or the loss of your job, home or income. There are days ahead when the sun will shine reflecting off the fresh fallen snow or the quiet flow of a spring fed pond and you will stand peacefully by and God will gently wash away the pain but not the memory of it ever happening. There are moments ahead when the tiniest thing will fill your mind with joy, buffering, not totally replacing, the images of this day, with calm and tranquility. You will know the soft caress of a friend or loved one. The warm, heartfelt words spoken by a stranger, who seeing your anguish, offers a smile, a touch, as he says," ...

... UNhappy. Life is too short and I know you don't want me to be UNhappy !" He'd whisper" Make yourself happy with him, Sue"" I can't live with him another minute, Lord. You're up there watching the whole vast universe and I don't think you see me down here, miserable !"" Oh, I see you. I'm here, always and forever. Speak to me"" I am speaking to you! I want to have some peace in my life, you know, Lord .but I don't want you mad at me! He's driving me crazy !"" And he's doing what ?"" First of all .he's breathing my air !"" THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SUE !" I spent so many years praying for God to change him. God doesn't play fair sometimes. It seems that all along God was changing me. I had to come face to face with the fact that 'submissiveness ' just isn't my best ...

... blanket until they find a way in. All three of them join me. That thought is so satisfying, too. I want you to know that at times we all wish that we could be left alone. That's okay. The fact that you can be alone with yourself and enjoy it speak volumes about who you are. Really. Imagine for a moment being locked in a room with someone you disliked. It would be torture. So, if you find peace with being with you, that comes across as self confidence. But if you are trying to build a wall so no one can ever get in, it can't happen. God is there with you and the light of love finds a way through the tiniest cracks. You are loved even when you are not lovable, even when you don't want to love in return and even when the pain of love feels greater than the joy of love. You can pull the covers ...

... The joy of helping others. Joy Thief A woman that I had just met told me an incredible story yesterday. She was 74 years of age and her husband had passed away recently. One of the things that she did to keep active was clean the church. I am sure it was also a way to fill in the time; a void that her late husband had left. She had an amazing peace that her husband was now with Jesus and she rejoiced in the fact that he would never feel pain again. She described that the church paid her $25.00 per visit to clean the church. But, that she would not be getting paid any longer. She cleaned twice per week so, that came out to around $200.00 per month. In the short amount of time that we talked, she made it a point to let me know the incredible part of this story. The church had not decided to quit paying ...

... first one out, the second busted past me in a surprisingly slick move and she was gone. I called for her to return, but she had travelling on her mind and although she paused to acknowledge hearing me, she chose to ignore my commands and headed off for a day of frolic. (One day I would love to attach a mini cam just to see what she gets into, on a full day run) Despite my best efforts at calm and peacefulness, having a dog disobey me, (the supposed master ), did not contribute to my positive mental attitude. I went about my business but I said goodbye to the dog; telling it through mental telepathy that I would not bail her out if the puppy patrol put her away. If she received my signal, she revealed no confirmation. Anyway, when I picked my daughter up from school I just happened to mention that Cady might be missing once we got home. ...

... complimenting them." I love that tie !" or" Your child is beautiful !" I don't just make it up, I mean it. It was while wandering that I saw him. The store was packed with parents and children because, believe it or not, Santa was there. I should have known something was up when we were greeted by five or six young ladies wearing reindeer and elf hats. Most times you can browse through a book store in relative peace and quiet. Not this time. Children darted in and out of the aisles, parents lagged behind trying to keep after them. For whatever reason my eye caught a young boy, who didn't seem as enthused as the others. I heard one woman say," Is he okay ?" She didn't stop to find out. I did. I carefully followed him in and around the children's section. I sadly say carefully, because in times like this, a perfect stranger ...

... may be, we find little comfort in it. Our pain is real, it's happening now and we demand an answer. When the tears dry up and the pain fades to an acceptable level we then begin to reconnect with our Creator. He was there all along. We let go. Suddenly the light breaks through the darkness. Comfort and warmth embraces us. It is then we hear His voice more clearly. We move beyond the" Why ?" in the peace of His love." I wish you enough !" J~Bob Perks~Good news-Bob Perks ' first book," I Wish You Enough ," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments. is now available for ordering. Here's the" Link" to get your copy of Bob's book: I Wish You Enough from Amazon.com. [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2012 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Cartoons Daily Inspiration HOME Humor Messages Poems Quotes Inspirational ...

... relief at finding a parking space closer to the grocery store. Our villa is situated in a perfect location-a short walk takes me to a lovely little shopping area that holds a Post Office, several shops and restaurants, and my hairdresser. A short bike ride in the opposite direction takes me to work; on the way, I pass a few lagoons and a tidal creek, where I always check for alligators or various coastal birds. It's a slow, peaceful life that I love with a surprisingly deep passion. You see, I'm a city girl. I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I loved the energy and yes, even the noise that comes with city living. I never imagined that I would fall in love with the natural beauty of a small barrier island in South Carolina, of all places! But fall in love is exactly what I did-hard. And forever. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. ...

... looked over to where she had been, she was gone. But the warm, wonderful feeling of our brief exchange was still there, and continues to this day whenever I think about it. We all carry bitter, discomforting memories of deeds done or undone, and words said or unsaid. And we all bear wounds-some slight, some not-so-slight-that have been inflicted upon us by others. The healing balm of forgiveness can soothe a troubled conscience and bring peace to an injured soul-even years after the fact. Of course, it isn't enough to just say" I'm sorry" and" You're forgiven" While there is indeed great power in those simple words, it is not available to those who are insincere, or who are only looking for a way to control, manipulate or exploit. But when those words are truly felt and sincerely expressed, they can open the door to miracles of the heart and soul-miracles ...

... ?" I learned that the huge bell, as well as the others they had throughout the ranch, was very symbolic. Every time a guest did something special it was met with the clanging bells. Possibly the cowboys on the ranch were trying to borrow some psychology with Pavlov's behavioral therapy techniques. I don't know, but I just wanted to have the bells ring one time for me. I was beginning to thoroughly enjoy the ranch, as well as the slow, peaceful, beauty of the Don K. When we were not riding, we were relaxing, reading in hammocks while the children were busy playing with each other in the fields. I was beginning to love the Don K. Each morning after breakfast the entire group of guests would break up into four divisions for our morning ride. One group was for the superior riders, a second group was for good riders, a third group was for the beginners. The fourth group- ...

... Mousetrap Mothers Day In Georgia Mrs Waterford My Child My Next Husband Will Be Normal My Hero And The Old Swiming Hole My Quilt Never Stood So Tall New Perspective (Count Your Blessings) No Jacket Required No Body Made It Nothing All That Special Old Lady -Television Interview Old Seven Dollar Our Greatest Gift One Person Paid In Full Pao -Senhor Pampers Pappy Parable Of The Merchant And His Wives Parable Of The Pencil Pass The Bee Spit -Please Paths To Ponder Pearl Pearls Philosophy 101 Perfect Peace Pinewood Derby Planting Prayer Weight Power Of Prayer Puppies Rain Washed Regret City Request For Transfer Rich'poor Family In Church Resurrection'prove It To Me Ring The Bell Road Of Life Robbies Special Piano Recital For His Mother Room At The Table Sacrifice Play Saint Nick Sandbox Rock Saved At Sea Saying Goodbye To Summer Searching For Miracles Shackleburg -Parable Shake It Off Shmily (Grandma And Grandpa's Game) Shep -A Dog And Childern's Love Silver What Simply The Best Sleeping Through The Storm Something Special For My Granny Spiders ...

... The Visit God Is Under My Bed The Little Grape Stem On Being A Flake Wanna Borrow A Jack Sparkling Jewels Million Things She Gave Me Little Piece Gods Prayer Scales Shmily (Grandma And Grandpa's Game) A Daily Sprinkle Big Feet'big Heart The Powers Of Love I Saw God Today Behold -A Flower Is Coming Mousetrap The Perfect Heart -Parable How Was Your Life Three Trees Burdens Give Us Wings -Parable The Last Steps Promise In The Woods Burdens Give Us Wings A Pot Of Jam Perfect Peace Some Huge Gifts Quite A Character Honest Labor Better 40 Things (No Baby) The Day Light And The Dark Night A Lasting Impression Bonded With A Whale The Teacup Finding A Voice Something About The Wind Cruiser Bruiser God How Can You Use Me In The Condition I Am In Saved At Sea No One Lives Forever Fisherman A Special Child And The Tuck-stop The Living Tree Easy As 1 2 3 Fast Food Faith Becoming Howard Nothing We Can Do The Cab Ride Balance -Patience The Miracle ...

... On The Shore On The Shores Of Life Once You Have One Afternoon One Day To Live One Minute Can Change A Life One Miracle One Mountain At A Time One Person One Piece At A Time Other Side Of The Glass Our Greatest Gift Our Time Out Of Place Paid In Full Pain In The Neck Pampers Pao -Senhor Pappy Parable Of The Merchant And His Wives Parable Of The Pencil Parent Talk Party For A Friend Pass The Bee Spit -Please Paths To Ponder Pearl Pearls Perfect Peace Phenomenon Of Yellow Snow Philosophy 101 Pinewood Derby Planting Planting Happiness Poor Little Butterfly Porch Sittin Power Of Prayer Pray For The Firefighter Prayer Weight Pretzel Medicine Promise Proudly Displayed Puppies Puzzled Quality Of The Harvest Quarter Mile Pappy Quilt Of Holes Quite A Character Rain Washed Real Liberation Red White And Blue Regret City Remembering Remembering The Feeling Request For Transfer Resurrection'prove It To Me Rich'poor Family In Church Riding Tandem Ring The Bell Rise To Meet The Sun Road Leading To Home Road Of Life Robbies Special Piano ...