Seven Wonders of the World

A group of students was asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:

1. To See

2. To Hear

3. To Touch

4. To Taste

5. To Feel

6. To Laugh

7. And to Love."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous! A gentle reminder -- that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

Paula R Richardson...is amazed at how much Facebook has changed our lives.

Anyone else amazed at how Facebook has changed our lives?

It's unbelievable how often FB comes up in conversation nowadays. "Did you see the news about 'so-and-so'"? I rarely look at news websites any more...just look on FB and you'll find all your world news. And many days, the news feed is better than the funny papers for laughs. :] Also, I find myself saying, "I need to take a picture of that for Facebook!" And then check email in anticipation for friend comments about said picture.

Does anyone else "think" in Facebook status sentences, too?

...is wondering what we did before Facebook?

...is praying that we get our car papers signed today!

...is blessed with so many wonderful friends! All around the world!

...thinks a bag of Cheese Puffs and a Take 5 candy bar would taste VERY good right about now.

...thinks that as much coffee as was in that demi-tasse of coffee I had for lunch - I should NOT be yawning!

...should really be up working instead of sitting here blogging about Facebook.

...is awed by the amazing grace of God.

...thinks the love of God is pretty awesome, too!

...is privileged to be a part of His kingdom...and any small part I can have in reaching the lost is worth every sacrifice!

Two Boxes

I saw this online today and thought it might bless you like it did me. Kinda ties in with my last blog. For sure...the joys in life far outweigh the bad WHEN you have Jesus on your side.

This poem is titled: Two Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes

Which God gave me to hold

He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,

And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes

Both my joys and sorrows I stored

But though the gold became heavier each day

The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black

I wanted to find out why

And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole

Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,

"I wonder where my sorrows could be."

He smiled a gentle smile at me.

"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,

Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"

"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

the black is for you to let the sorrows go."

My source online said: Author Unknown.

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

Oops!

Well, good thing the blogworld does not depend on me for posts!! =) My intentions are good...and numerous...but alas, I often think of "good blogs" when I'm away from my computer. Ha!

Here is a thought for today:

"We have no right to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" when a sorrow comes unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way."

Saw this quote today and it made me think. So true. We rarely question the good days. It is only on the hard days that we want to sob and moan, "Why me?" and mumble about "Job" and "patience". Why is it we think we have a "right" to the GOOD any more than the BAD? Did God not promise to make ALL things work for GOOD in our life?

So there you go. My determination for the day. To take the good and the bad with a smile.

And to blog more. :)

While You Were Sleeping

This is an amazing song -- I have it on the Casting Crowns Christmas album. May the lyrics remind us of the true reason for the season of Christmas! I do not want to miss the coming of the Savior!

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you're lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His throne

And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we're sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night.

Give...and it shall be given! (Part 1)

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)

We all know and love this scripture. I cannot even count the number of sermons I have heard using this verse. This passage is a particular favorite when someone is encouraging people to give in a special offering (Faith Promise, anyone??). I mean, what's not to like?? Give - and it will be given! But not just any ole "given". God is going to press it down, shake it together, and fill it to overflowing! And whatever measure you use, be it big or small, that's the same measure He will give it back to you.

Awesome promise!

However, this past Sunday, my husband reminded us that scripture is clarified by reading the CONTEXT of the verse. Hmm. Okay.

Back up to verse 37:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Oh, wow!

That puts a whole new light on "give and it shall be given", doesn't it? If you back up even farther you find scriptures that say things like "love your enemies" and "bless those who curse you" and "be merciful". And if you continue to read, you find the wonderful "plank" and "sawdust" passage. But that is a whole 'nuther blog. *smiles*

So, do you want mercy? Then GIVE and it shall be GIVEN to you.

Do you want love? Give and it shall be given.

Do you want forgiveness? Show forgiveness to others.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Part 2 of "Give...and it shall be given!"

Now, back to the plank and speck of sawdust verse. How many times do we do this? We are all concerned with making sure everyone sees this little speck in our brother or sister’s eye...all the while, we are straining to see around the big 2x4 in our own eye.

I mean, maybe if everyone is focused on that speck, they won’t notice the plank in our eye, right?

It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. And it is human nature to try and make ourselves look good and to find someone who did worse than we did. I mean, this goes back as far as the Garden of Eden. Isn’t that what Adam did? And Eve? All throughout the Bible and history, people have pointed fingers at specks of dust, all the while straining to see through a plank.

The statement is made that “everyone is tall if standing next to the right person”. How true this is! We like to ‘cut’ others down so that we look taller. We like to make others look bad so our own sin is not quite so bad.

What would happen if we traded that “self-righteous garment” for a “robe of righteousness”. If, instead of trying to make ourselves look good, we reached out to help a brother or sister who is in need of some encouragement? Instead of throwing stones, we grab a first aid kit and help to bind some wounds? Instead of grabbing the phone to be the first to start spreading the “news”, we fall to our knees to pray for our brother or sister who has fallen into temptation?

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."