God Gives Us Strength

~Searching~

2012-01-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

Is there times when your mind is so cluttered with thoughts that are of useless waste. Ask God, he'll show the way.

~The Way of Suffering~

2012-01-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

~I Love You, Lord~

2012-01-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

~The Hot Water Bottle~

2012-01-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

This Is A Story Written By A Doctor Who Worked In Africa.

Isaiah 65:24

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?' As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?' 'Of course,' I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.' 'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)

When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all I ask. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another. This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.

Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal your love and release to them Your courage.. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen

P. S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.

~God's Three Little Words"~

2012-01-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

This is a story about a man who was saved from a horrible life that he was leading. He was addicted to drugs. He joined the Marines to try to straighten out his life.

His name is Michael Thornton. He even became a male prostitute to pay for his drug addiction. Beyond the pain and the shame, he found a Love which could truly redeem him. Watch and listen to his testimony and how Jesus Christ saved his life from cocaine, suicide, drugs and depression.

Put God's three little words in your life and find out how great life can be.

~The Yellow Shirt~

2012-01-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

The baggy yellow shirt had long sleeves, four extra-large pockets trimmed in black thread and snaps up the front. It was faded from years of wear, but still in decent shape. I found it in 1963 when I was home from college on Christmas break, rummaging through bags of clothes Mom intended to give away.

“You’re not taking that old thing, are you?” Mom said when she saw me packing the yellow shirt. “I wore that when I was pregnant with your brother in 1954!”

“It’s just the thing to wear over my clothes during art class, Mom. Thanks!” I slipped it into my suitcase before she could object.

The yellow shirt became a part of my college wardrobe. I loved it. After graduation, I wore the shirt the day I moved into my new apartment and on Saturday mornings when I cleaned.

The next year, I married. When I became pregnant, I wore the yellow shirt during big-belly days. I missed Mom and the rest of my family, since we were in Colorado and they were in Illinois. But that shirt helped. I smiled, remembering that Mother had worn it when she was pregnant, 15 years earlier.

That Christmas, mindful of the warm feelings the shirt had given me, I patched one elbow, wrapped it in holiday paper and sent it to Mom. When Mom wrote to thank me for her “real” gifts, she said the yellow shirt was lovely. She never mentioned it again.

The next year, my husband, daughter and I stopped at Mom and Dad’s to pick up some furniture. Days later, when we unpacked the kitchen table, I noticed something yellow taped to its bottom. The shirt! And so the pattern was set.

On our next visit home, I secretly placed the shirt under Mom and Dad’s mattress. I don’t know how long it took for her to find it, but almost two years passed before I discovered in under the base of our living-room floor lamp. The yellow shirt was just what I needed now while refinishing furniture. The walnut stains added character.

In 1975 my husband and I divorced. With my three children, I prepared to move back to Illinois. As I packed, a deep depression overtook me. I wondered if I could make it on my own. I wondered if I would find a job. I paged through the Bible, looking for comfort. In Ephesians, I read, “So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attaches, and when it is all over, you will be standing up.”

I tried to picture myself wearing God’s armor, but all I saw was the stained yellow shirt. Slowly, it dawned on me. Wasn’t my mother’s love a piece of God’s armor? My courage was renewed.

Unpacking in our new home, I knew I had to get the shirt back to Mother. The next time I visited her, I tucked it in her bottom dresser drawer. Meanwhile, I found a good job at a radio station. A year later I discovered the yellow shirt hidden in a rag bag in my cleaning closet. Something new had been added. Embroidered in bright green across the breast pocket were the works “I BELONG TO PAT.” Not to be outdone, I got out my own embroidery materials and added an apostrophe and seven more letters. Now the shirt proudly proclaimed, “I BELONG TO PAT’S MOTHER.”

But I didn’t stop there. I zigzagged all the frayed seams, then had a friend mail the shirt in a fancy box to Mom from Arlington, VA. We enclosed an official-looking letter from “The Institute for the Destitute,” announcing that she was the recipient of an award for good deeds. I would have given anything to see Mom’s face when she opened the box.

But, of course, she never mentioned it. Two years later, in 1978, I remarried. The day of our wedding, Harold and I put our car in a friend’s garage to avoid practical jokers. After the wedding, 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, you will believe in me.”

The shirt was Mother’s final gift. She had known for three months that she had terminal Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mother died the following year at age 57.

I was tempted to send the yellow shirt with her to her grave. But I’m glad I didn’t, because it is a vivid reminder of the love-filled game she and I played for 16 years. Besides, my older daughter is in college now, majoring in art. And every art student needs a baggy yellow shirt with big pockets.

- Author Unknown

~God's Perfection~

2012-01-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

True Story of Shaya

(Turn On Your Sound)

Watch Dr. Wayne Dyer Read The Story Of A Disabled Young boy, Shaya. He Is A Mentally Challenged Young Man Who Was Able To Hit A Grand Slam Home Run Because of The Kindness And Generosity Of 18 Baseball Players.

Many Times It Can Be Hard For Anyone To See God’s Perfection In Something We Don’t Really Understand. Why Would He Leave A Child Severely Disabled? In This Story We See That You Can Find God’s Perfection Not In Just The Child But In Ourselves as well. God’s Perfection Lies In The Way Others Treat Those Who Are Not As Fortunate.

~Tony Davis was Risen from the Dead~

2012-01-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

Tony Davis was brutally shot in the street by a gang of thugs. A bullet went through an artery and Tony bled to death that day on the ground. He describes how his soul went to Heaven. But it wasn’t his time to go yet and Tony’s spirit was sent back to his body just as doctor pronounced him dead and was pulling the sheet up over him. God performed a blessing that day as Tony was miraculously healed. Watch the video as Tony describes what happened.

~A New Year Full of Wishes~

2012-01-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

I wish for a year full of joy, laughter, hugs and kisses. A year that you will always remember filled with accomplishments-not near misses.

~A Time of Thankfulness~

2011-12-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

I want to say Thank You to all my subscribers for supporting and helping me spread God's word this past year and in the years to follow. Keep sending my emails and web posts to your friends and relatives. You and I have made a difference. Lets keep up the good work and make 2012 even better. God Bless you all, Wally

~College Girls Softball Miracle~

2011-12-30T15:27:00.000-08:00

College softball player Sarah Tucholsky hit the only home run of her life and while she was rounding first base missed touching the bag. She quickly turned to return to touch it when she fell to the ground. She tore her ACL in her knee. No one on her team could help her complete her home run trot to touch the other bases. It would have been called just a single and not a home run. No one knew what to do until Liz Wallace and Mallory Holtman, from the opposing team, stepped in to help. Watch what happened next. This is undoubtedly the best act of sportsmanship, kindness, mercy, and grace. I really believe that Jesus was on the field that day!

~The Kindness Boomerang-What Life Is All About~

2011-12-30T07:29:00.000-08:00

Watch this video and follow how it flows. One act of kindness from a construction worker starts the video and is transferred on to each person and back to where it all started. It's like a boomerang and comes around full circle. This is what life is all about. A little kindness can go a long way.

~A Time to Pray~

2011-12-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

What is prayer? Prayer is talking to, listening to, and enjoying the presence of God. There is nothing this country needs more right now, than for a regeneration of prayer. This would change the lives of our children and our children’s children. So please, make an investment in our futures and pray!

~A Christmas Letter From Jesus~

2011-12-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

If you look for Me at Christmas, You won't need a special star I'm no longer just in Bethlehem, I'm right there where you are. Love Jesus

~A Silent Night Thank You~

2011-12-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

First of all, I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and all my subscribers. I Just wanted to say thank you for opening my emails, forwarding them and helping me spread the word of God. My subscriber list has grown because of Your efforts. So Lets make 2012 even better and get more people excited about God's presence in our lives. Together we can make a difference.
God Bless you all, Wally

~Signs of Christmas~

2011-12-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

Candles Flicker Causing Shadows On The Wall. The Fragrance Of Pine Cones Fill The Air. The Holly And Mistletoe Hanging Through The Hall Means That Christmas Is Abound, Everywhere.

~Happy Birthday Jesus~

2011-12-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday! Boy you’ve aged very good. For 2011 years old you look remarkable. You’re still as active as you were when you were young and I can’t believe how your family has grown. So at Christmas, Jesus, I wanted to thank you once again. You see, you always give us so many gifts but what do we do for you? Maybe if we all work together we can use all our little gifts to make big ones for the world. Thanks for being so patient with us. Sometimes you probably wonder if we “get it”. I think we’re still working on it.
Happy birthday Jesus. Oh, I don’t think you’d mind if I say Merry Christmas too!

~Christmas Through The Eyes of a Child~

2011-12-22T22:28:00.000-08:00

She Walked to the table where the Nativity was displayed. She smiled at baby Jesus in the Manger where he laid.

~MY CHRISTMAS WISHES FOR YOU~

2011-12-21T16:01:00.000-08:00

May You feel God's presence in the candles, that softly spread their glow at Christmas and may you experience the wonder of His abiding love, as He guides you, through each day of the coming year. May God's Blessings be with you. At Christmas and New Year!

~Christmas in Heaven~

2011-12-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

This is a video about what Christmas would be like in Heaven. It reminds us that having Christmas with Jesus is a privilege.

~Not Just A Baby~

2011-12-17T17:02:00.000-08:00

'Eternal God, This Holy Night Is Radiant With The Brilliance Of Your One True Light. May That Light Illuminate Our Hearts And Shine In Our Words And Deeds. May The Hope, The Peace, The Joy, And The Love Represented By The Birth In Bethlehem This Night Fill Our Lives And Become Part Of All That We Say And Do. May We Share The Divine Life Of Your Son Jesus Christ, Even As He Humbled Himself To Share Our Humanity. Amen.

~Fallen Soldier's Puppy Gives Hope To A Grieving Family~

2011-12-16T18:13:00.000-08:00

Amazing. The parents of a fallen soldier adopted the dog that spent his final days with him in Iraq, and while being interviewed about it, heavenly lights shined down on the dog. Is this a sign from Justin? I believe so. This is so beautiful...praise God.

~The Nativity Story-What Child Is This~

2011-12-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

This Is A Song By Andrea Bocelli & Mary J Blige. What Child Is This (From His Christmas Album ) The Pictures Are From The The Nativity Story Is A 2006 Drama Film. Very Well Done!

~10-Year-Old Blind Autistic Boy Sings Open The Eyes Of My Heart ~

2011-12-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

Some people would say that a 10 year old Christopher Duffley doesn't have much of a future… He's blind, he's autistic. We say that Christopher is going on to do VERY BIG THINGS! God has blessed him with an amazing musical talent. Watch here as Christopher sings his favorite song, 'Open the Eyes of My Heart' to an electrified crowd. Some people seem like they have the deck stacked against them. But then you realize that God has really blessed them.

~No More Night By 8 Year Old Rhema Marvanne ~

2011-12-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

(Reminder: Turn on your sound)

Rhema Marvanne and her God-given, beautiful voice continue to astound and bless our lives. Here she is singing No More Night, a song that could easily bring you to tears. Wow.