On September 11, 2001 at 8:42AM, a great tragedy struck the cities of New York, and Washington D.C., that will have a longlasting affect on this GREAT NATION.
As a FIRE FIGHTER myself, my heart and my prayers go out to my HEROIC BROTHERS and SISTERS,
who sacrificed their lives answering the call to rescue and save those who were in harms way.
I ask that you pray for the FAMILIES OF ALL who died in The World Trade Center Towers, The Pentagon, and in their Surrounding Areas. Pray also for the INNOCENT SOULS aboard the airplanes, that were used to cause such destruction, and loss of lives. Pray especially, for the INNOCENT SOULS & HEROS OF UNITED, FLIGHT 93, who fought back on that fateful day, and crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03AM.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, WE WILL NOT FEAR".......Psalm 46:12
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CLAY BALLS
A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him.
As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock.
Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.
Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them. I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you.. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel. APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE THING YOU HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUR FRIENDS! LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND FRIENDS ARE TOO FEW!!!!
DO NOT ASK THE LORD TO GUIDE YOUR FOOTSTEPS, IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO MOVE YOUR FEET.
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DEAR GOD,
I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I`m blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I will do, say or think, that is not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every hour.
Clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
I know that when I can`t pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may always have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can`t find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those that don`t believe and don't know of You intimately in their lives.
But I thank you I do believe, and that I do believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers and for each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace,love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this, knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in His hands for Him to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it. In the Blessed Name of Jesus, I pray....Amen.
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SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE:
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Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
Don`t major in minor things.
Be kinder than necessary.
Take charge of your attitude. Don`t let someone else choose it for you.
Laugh a lot. A good sense of humor cures almost all of life`s ills.
Focus on making things better,not bigger.
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God.
(These are excerpts from, God`s Little Instruction BookII and Life`s Little Instruction Book)
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