by Inspiration | Nov 5, 2024 | Inspiration, Archives
I liked the old paths when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children! Crime did not pay;… I liked the old paths when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children! Crime did not pay; Hard work did, And people knew the difference. Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive, And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry, And Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen, And children looked decent. People loved the truth And hated a lie. They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT! Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal, And crying sounded sincere. Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness. The flag was honored; America was beautiful, And God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house. To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called an American was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame! I still like the old paths the best! Author Unknown Meditation: Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left
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by Inspiration | Nov 4, 2024 | Parenting, Archives, Family
When Dad was Coming Home One of my earliest childhood memories was that of waiting outside our house for my Dad to come home from work in the evening. We… When Dad was Coming Home One of my earliest childhood memories was that of waiting outside our house for my Dad to come home from work in the evening. We had a long gravel driveway leading to the side of our house and on that same side yard stood a big tree. The tree had some low limbs that we could climb even when we were young – 4 or 5 years old. My brother, Bob, and I would wait for our Dad by climbing up and sitting in a branch of that tree until we could see Dad’s car start to pull into our driveway and hear the sound of the gravel beneath the wheels. When that time came, we would jump down from our tree branch as fast as we could and run over to Dad’s car. We couldn’t wait for him to get out of his car! I still remember the excitement I felt each night anticipating Dad pulling into our driveway, then getting out of the car and giving us, first, his big signature grin and then, quickly after, scooping us up in his arms for
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by Inspiration | Nov 3, 2024 | Attitude, Archives
Lord, I Thank You A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven. Both of them walked side by side inside… Lord, I Thank You A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven. Both of them walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with angels. St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received”. The soul looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all the people of the world. They walked again until they reached the 2nd section, and St. Peter told the soul, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are packed and delivered to the persons who asked for them down on earth.” The soul saw how busy it was. There were so many angels working in that room since so many blessings were being packed and delivered to Earth. Finally, at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the surprise of the soul, only one angel stayed
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by Inspiration | Nov 2, 2024 | Inspiration, Archives
The Wings of Burdens An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which He wished to have carried from one place to another on earth,… The Wings of Burdens An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which He wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so He asked the animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on. Finally, the birds came to God and said, “If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we’ll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we would like to help.” So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter until the loads seem to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens. When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings that enabled them to fly to the
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by Inspiration | Nov 1, 2024 | Spiritual Growth, Archives
Voice Like His Pastor Mark Thompson of Faribault, Minnesota, suffered terrible knife wounds from an assailant in his home, in October 1988. One of the many consequences of his difficult… Voice Like His Pastor Mark Thompson of Faribault, Minnesota, suffered terrible knife wounds from an assailant in his home, in October 1988. One of the many consequences of his difficult recovery was being forced to miss watching his son Chris run in the state cross-country championship meet. Pastor Thompson commissioned his brother Merv to go in his stead. According to the account in the St. Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch, Mark told his brother, “I can’t be there to see Chris run. So I want you there at the beginning of the race. Holler a lot… Then at the end, I want you to really cheer loudly. And I want you to make your voice sound like mine.” Merv heeded the advice, and Chris ran a strong race, finishing second. Merv, also a pastor, discerned the theological truth in the story. “That’s what Jesus wants us to do.” he said. “Make your voice sound like mine.” — Author Unknown Meditation: Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not
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