Life is too short: 04/01/2007

" THEN HE AROSE...THERE WAS A CALM "

May 1, 2007

The adverse winds blew against my life;
My little ship with grief was tossed;
My plans were gone--heart full of strife,
And all my hope seemed to be lost--
" Then He arose" --one word of peace.
"There was a calm" -- a sweet release.

A tempest great of doubt and fear
Possessed my mind; no light was there
To guide, or make my vision clear.
Dark night! 'twas more than I could bear--
"Then He arose " I saw His face--
" There was a calm " filled with His grace.

My heart was sinking 'neath the wave
of deepening test and raging grief;
All seemed as lost, and none could save,
And nothing could bring me relief--
" Then He arose " -- and spoke one word,
" There was a calm" "IT IS THE LORD. "
L.S.P.

" The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, it's in what direction we are moving. " Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Willie McCool GK Legacy Village"

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" From one man's death, hundreds will now gain new life," this is what his mother-in-law, a Filipina, Atilana Rambayon, said when she donated her one-hectare piece of land to Gawad Kalinga (GK) in Moncada, Tarlac in his honor. Willie's dream is "to see a borderless world- a world without poverty-where people, especially the poor, are given equal opportunity. "

Elenor Roosevelt said " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

"GK's vision is a slum-free, squatter free Philippines by providing land to the landless, homes to the homeless, food to the hungry, thus giving dignity and peace to every Filipino. Because kindness begets kindness, GK volunteers Filipino-American Tony and Marietta Pascua built 50 homes on the donated lot and the community was named to the astronaut..' Wille McCool GK Legacy Village. " (The Phil Star. Patricia Esteves 4-29-07)

The Ramayons with daughter Lani wife of Willie McCool vowed to keep the astronaut's legacy by providing the poor of Moncada with land they could call their own. It is said, today, the residents live harmoniously and productively in the Moncada village. And they are also saying "that there are plans to build a mini-science museum in the village that will harness the science and math skills of the children..... It is not impossible to dream that the first Filipino astronaut to conquer space might even come from this GK Village as they continue and get inspired by McCools legacy. "

On Jan. 16, 2003, McCool joined seven crewmembers for the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, of which he was the pilot. The Columbia crew perfomed 80 experiments during the 16-day scientific mission. But before landing at the Kennedy Space Centerin Florida, Columbia exploded during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

His way

Stephen Merritt

Sunday School Times

God sent me on when I would stay

('Twas cool within the wood);

I did not know the reason why.

I heard a boulder crashing by

'cross the path where I had stood.

He had me stay when I would go;

"Your will be done," I said.

They found one day at early dawn,

Across the way I would have gone,

A serpent with a mangled head.

I ask no more the reason why,

Although I may not see

The path ahead, His way I go;

For though I know not, He does know,

And He will choose safe paths for me.

Sorrow is God's tool to plow the depths of the soul, that it may yield richer harvest.

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April 28, 2007

A flood victim sits atop the ruins of his home a day after the tropical depression Winnie hit the village of San Jose in the province of Rizal November 30, 2004. About 200 people died after flash floods and landslides devastated several coastal towns and left swathes of the northern Philippines under water.

I stumble in an old newspaper this picture taken 3 years ago and I suddenly remember the story I once read about a man who lost everything because of the flood. Some of its spiritual insights I am just beginning to understand. Take this..." Blessed is sorrow, for it reveals God's comfort." In the same way, they say.." Blessed is the night, for it reveals the stars to us."

Well here is the story, A flood once washed away a poor man's home, taking with it everything he owned in the world. He stood at the scene of his great loss, brokenhearted, discourage, confused, and a little bit angry deep inside. " How can this happen to me? I have not done anything wrong.... Lord. " His spirit is broken, deep sorrow sets in and tears begun falling in frustration. He was at this stage when he noticed the waters are subsiding. He saw something shining near the riverbank that the flood had washed bare. "It looks like gold," he said. And it was gold. The storm that impoverished him made him rich. Most often in life, sorrows reveal hidden depths within, which were never before known or suspected. It takes sorrow to expand and deepen the soul. from the heavenly life.

The dark brown soil is turned

By the sharp-pointed plow;

And I've a lesson learned.

My life is but a field,

Streched out beneath God's sky,

Some harvest rich to yield.

Where grows the golden grain?

Where faith/ Where sympathy?

In furrow cut by pain.

Maltbie D. Babcock

Thanks! L.B. Cowman and James Reimann. My life's journey is getting lighter.......ty. We have a very mysterious God.....

Special Kind of Beauty

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April 27, 2007

If you missed the beautiful sunrise this morning. It's ok you can still see the most beautiful creation of God when you take a bath and look at the mirror.

Yes, its you. Exercise and be happy. Old man needs it to loosen up those hard veins. Besides it is good for the heart.

listen.....

There's a special kind of beauty

In the ones the Lord God chose,

And we know we have assurance

That He sees how each one grows.

Weve been planted in God's garden

And we'll never be alone,

For the Father is the gardener

Gently caring for His own.

We been planted in God's garden

Where we're learning still to grow-

There's so much He wants to teach us,

So much we have to know.

It is certain we will blossom

With His tender love and care,

For He's placed us beside others

That He knows will help us there.......

Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes it grow. ( 1 Cor. 3.7)

WHO COULD STOP THE SUN FROM SETTING

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April 26, 2007

When nothing on which to lean remains,
When strongholds crumble to dust;
When nothing is sure but that God still reigns,
That is just the time to trust.

It's better to walk by faith than sight
In this path of yours and mine;
And the darkest night, when there's no outer light
Is the time for faith to shine.
(F.B. Meyer)

Christmas Evans once said: " Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but simply taking God at His word.

THE CATCH-BASIN OF GRACE

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APRIL 25, 2007

Everyday we stand at the threshold of the unknown. Each day is new, uncertain, vague. We don't know how it will turn out for us. For everyday is a new experience, an adventure. a journey. These unknown are our mountains, our hills, from the valley of grace from heaven. If the world is flat the boring sameness would weigh us down as we journey through this life. We need these hills, these mountains, these difficulties encountered in our journey to bring us to that " throne of grace " that will sustain us, till the end.

....till the end.

JOB'S NEIGHBORS

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April 24, 2007

Lisa:

" Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets...
so love the people who treat you right, forget the ones who
don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason...
know a good thing when you see it and don't let it slip away...
if you get a chance take it... if it change your life let it....
nobody said it would be easy, they just said
it would be worth it... "

Boljick:

" In life, there are lots of people watching our next move,
desperately waiting for us to fail and even praying for us
to give up...But don't mind them...it just doubles the fun of
living and surviving...let's keep in mind that failures and
problems are not things we should be scared of...they could
lead to breakthroughs and great discoveries...see life as an
adventure and enjoy every moment of it! "

Winnie:

" Ever wonder what ASAP means? Maybe if we think of
it in a different manner, we'll begin to find a new way to
deal with those rough days along the way. If there's work to
do, deadlines to meet and you've got no time to spare
but as you hurry and scurry...asap, ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER...

Au-au:

" Those who joyfully leave everything in GOD'S HAND will
eventually see GOD'S HAND in EVERYTHING. Worry ends
when FAITH begins. "

Jesus: ( Mathew 6: 25-27 )

" Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life
more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do
not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life."

FROM THE WINDOW:

After the rain, the clouds that veil the blinding rays of sun will slowly
open..green leaves will become greener... brown earth will become browner.
Raindrops that clings on leaves and rocks will glitter like diamonds sprinkled
all over the earth at the touch of the sun. And what was once gloomy and
sad will become bright and beautifull.

THE COMFORTER

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April 23, 2007 Comforters

i love this and meditate on it everyday.... hear...

They tell me I must bruise
The rose' leaf,
Ere I can keep and use
its fragrance brief.

They tell me I must break
The skylark's heart,
Ere her cage song will make
The silence start.

They tell me love must bleed,
and friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep.

Must it always so
With precious things?
Must they be bruised and go
With beaten wings?

Ah, yes! by crushing days
By caging nights, by scar
Of thorn and stony ways,
These blessings are!

(John Henry Jowett)

HIDDEN SPRINGS IN OUR LIFE

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April 23, 2007

They say there are hidden springs in the desert of our life that drinks rain from heaven the reason the supply is endless. They say that this hidden springs are sources of life, of faith, of hope and cause us to endure our suffering and finally love them, because it cleanses, it heals our spirit and body as well. They are powers that pushes us to go on and on until we reach our final destination..the end of our road. Now as I stand at the threshold of the unknown. I must find this spring, these life giving power that will bring me to that happy eternity they are talking about.... heaven.