"GOD ONLY TAKES THE BEST"

GOD saw that Dad was getting Tired,
And a Cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around Him,
and whispered, Come With Me.

With Tear-Filled eyes we watched Him,
Suffer and Fade away.

Although We Loved Him Deeply,
We could not make Him stay.

A Golden Heart stopped beating,
Hardworking Hands put to Rest.

GOD broke our Hearts to Prove to Us,
That He Only Takes The Best.

In Great Honor and Memory of:  Benjamin E. Jackson
Written and Submitted By His Son: Paul E. Jackson Sr

Once upon a time......
there was a child ready to be born.
So one day he asked GOD:
 
"They tell me you are
sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live
there being so small and helpless?"
 
Among many angels.
I have chosen one for you
She will be waitng for you.
and will take care of you.
 
"But tell me, here in Heaven,
I don't do anything else but sing
and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."
 
Your angel will sing for you
and will also smile for you everyday.
And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.
 
"And how am I going to be able
to understand when people talk to me,
I don't know the language that men talk?"
 
Your angel will tell you the most
beautiful and sweet words you will
ever hear, and with much patience and care,
your angel will teach you how to speak.
 
"And what am I going to do when
I want to talk to you?"
 
Your angel will place your hands
together and will teach you how to pray.
 
"I've heard that on earth there
are bad men.  Who will protect me?"
 
Your angel will defend you even
if it means risking its life.
 
"But I will always be sad because
I will not see you anymore."
 
Your angel wil always talk to you
about me and will teach you the way
for you to come back to me,
even though I will always be next to you.
 
At that moment there was much peace
in Heaven, but voices from earth
could already be heard, and the child
in a hurry asked softly:
 
"Oh GOD, if I am about to leave now,
please tell me my angel's name?"
 
Your angel's name is of no importance,
you will call your angel,  "Mommy."

Submitted By:  Karen Henton

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived:
Happiness, Sadness, and all of the others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so
all repaired their boats and left.

Love was the only one who stayed.  Love wanted to persevere until the  
last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking Love decided   
to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love    
said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No I  
can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place  
for you here." 

Love decided to ask Vanity, who was also passing by in a beautiful      
vessel, "Vanity, please help me!" I can't help you Love. You are all wet 
and might damage my boat, "Vanity answered.
 
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness let me go with
you."  "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even
hear when Love called her!

Suddenly there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder.
Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder
his name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.

Love, realizing how much he owed the elder, asked Knowledge, another
elder, "Who helped me?" "It was Time" Knowledge answered. "Time?" asked
Love, "But why did Time help me?

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is
capable of understanding how great Love is."

Submitted By: Mardene McCarrey      

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.  One man was allowed 
to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to 
help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed
was next to the room's only window. 
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end.  They spoke of their wives and families,
their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where
they had been on vacation.
And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he
would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could
see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his
life would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the
world outside.  The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and
swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.  Young
lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow.
Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline
could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on
the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque
scene.  One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing
by.  Although the other man couldn't hear the band he could see it in his
mind's eye as the gentleman by the window protrayed it with descriptive
words.  Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to
find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in
his sleep.  She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the
body away.  As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he
could be moved next to the window.  The nurse was happy to make a switch,
and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look
at the world outside.  Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for
himself.  He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall.  The man asked the nurse what could have compelled
his deceased room-mate who had described such wonderful things outside this
window.  The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see
the wall.  She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Submitted By: Karen Henton

A four year old was at the pediatrician for a check up. As the
 doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you
  think I'll find Big Bird in here?"  The little girl stayed
  silent.  Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down
  her throat.  He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster
 down there?" Again, the little girl was silent.  Then the doctor
 put a stethoscope to her chest.  As he listened to her heart
 beat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh,
  no!" the little girl replied.  "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on
 my underpants."

Submitted By: Mardene McCarrey

"THE STRAY DOG"
 
 Dear God please send me somebody who'll care!
 I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair.
 My body is aching, it's so racked with pain
 And dear God I pray as I run in the rain.

 That someone will love me and give me a home
 A warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.
 My last owner tied me all day in the yard
 Sometimes with no water and God that was hard!
 
 So I chewed my leash God and I ran away
 To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
 But now God I'm tired and hungry and cold
 And I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.
 
 They've chased me with sticks hit me with stones
 While I run the streets just looking for bones!
 I'm not really bad God, please help if you can
 For I have become just a "victim of man!"
 
 I'm wormy dear God and I'm ridden with fleas
 and all that I want is an owner to please!
 If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good
 I won't chew their shoes, and I'll do as I should.
 
 I will love them, protect them and try to obey
 When they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay!
 I don't think I'll make it too long on my own
 Cause I'm getting so weak and I'm Oh so alone.

 Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry
 Cause I'm so afraid God, that I'm gonna die!
 I've got so much love and devotion to give
 That I should be given a new chance to live.
 So dear God please, please answer my prayer
 and send me somebody who will really care.

 Submitted By: Maggie Zimmer

"In the Father Eyes"

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a
very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench,
his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very
clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But
the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was
determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to
play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a
practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His
faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of
encouragement for him.
 
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the
football team as a "walk-on."   Everyone was sure he could never make
the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster
because he always puts his heart and soul in every practice and at the
same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they
badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much
that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.   His
father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the
college games.

This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four
years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end
of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field
shortly before the big play off game, the coach met him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent...
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning.
Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently
around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And
don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter,
when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped
into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto
the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their
faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just
got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear
him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff
game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the
kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not
believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was
doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he
passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The
score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran
all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His
teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never
heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left
the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting
quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I
can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you?
How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you
knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man
swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today
was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I
could do it!"

Submitted By: Martha Burrough

"Under God's Wings"

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a
penetrating picture of God's wings...
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, Forest Rangers began
their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found
a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground
at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked
over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried
from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of
impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and
had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic
smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to
abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched
her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been
willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live...
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find 
refuge;..."  (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember The
One who loves you and then, be different because of it. 

Submitted By: Mardene McCarrey

" A HEALING PRAYER "

I said a Prayer for you today 
that GOD would help you in every way.

That you would be Blessed with His Greatest
Wealth, the gift of Life and the Best of Health.

No matter how down and bad you may feel
the power of Prayers has the strength to Heal.

So just call on GOD 24 hours a day and
He will be with you and never go away!

Written and Submitted By: Paul E. Jackson Sr.

"Keep The Fork"
There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and
was given 3 months to live. As she begin getting her things "in
order", she called her pastor and asked for him to come to her house
to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what
scriptures she wanted read, and what dress she wanted to be buried in.
She also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible in her left
hand. Everything was in order and as the pastor was preparing to
leave, the woman suddenly remembered one final request that was very
important to her.  "Please Pastor, just one more thing", she said
excitedly. "Sure, what is it" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important to me," the woman continued....."I want to be
buried holding a fork in my right hand."
The pastor gazed at the woman, with a loss for words.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked.  The pastor
replied "Well to be quite honest, I'm puzzled by the request." The
women explained. "You see, Pastor, in all my years of attending
church socials and potluck dinners, I remember that when the dishes
were being cleared after the main course, someone would inevitably
lean over to me and say, 'Keep your Fork'... it was my favorite part
because I knew that something better was coming, like velvety
chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with
substance to end the great meal".
The pastor listened intently and a smile came upon his face. The
woman continued, "So, I just want people to see me there in the casket
with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder.... 'What's with the
fork?'...  then I want you to tell them: "Keep your Fork......the
best
is yet to come". The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he
hugged the woman goodbye. He knew that this would be one of the last
times that he would see her before her death. But he also knew that
the woman had a better grasp of Heaven the he did. She KNEW and trusted
that the best was yet to come.
At the funeral, everyone that walked by the woman's casket saw her
wearing a beautiful dress with her favorite Bible held in her left hand
and a fork held in her right hand. Over and over the pastor heard people
ask the question, "Why is she
holding a fork?" and his smile began to get larger and brighter each
time. During his message, the pastor told the people about the
conversation that he had with the woman shortly before she died. He
explained the fork and what it symbolized to her. The Pastor told
everyone how he could not stop thinking about the fork and how he
hoped that they would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
That fork and the meaning of it to the woman had quite the impact on
everyone and they are still sharing the story with people they meet.
And now it has been shared with you......so the next time you reach
for your fork, let it remind you, oh so gently, that the best is yet
to come...
May God Bless you & your family and keep everyone of you safe.
Please share this story with someone you know.

Submitted By: Karen Henton

"Heaven's Grocery Store"
 
I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. 
One day I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE".  
As I got a little closer, the door opened wide, 
and then I found myself, standing inside.  
I saw a host of ANGELS.
They were standing everywhere.  
One handed me a basket and said, 
"My Child, shop with care."
 
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store. 
And if you couldn't carry all, 
you could come back the next day for more.
 
First, I got some PATIENCE. LOVE was in the same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING; you need that everywhere you go.
 
I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH.
I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place.
 
I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE 
TO HELP ME RUN THIS RACE.
 
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered 
I needed some GRACE.
 
I didn't forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free. 
So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
 
Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill.
For I thought I had everything to do the MASTER'S will.
 
As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER; 
and I just had to put that in, for I knew when 
I stepped outside, I would run into sin.
 
PEACE and JOY were plentiful; they were last on the shelf.
 
SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?" 
He smiled again and said, 
"MY CHILD, GOD PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."

Submitted By: Mardene McCarrey 

You Are Valuable!

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands
started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you
but first, let me do this. "He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well, "he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground
and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up,
now all crumpled and dirty.

"Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends,
you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the
money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was
still worth $20. 

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt
by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel
as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will
happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or
clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless!

Submitted By: Linda Wideman

"If You Come Across An Angel"

Everyday in the world around us,  Real-Life Angels are doing the things
they do and bringing more smiles to the world around them. They build
bridges instead of walls. They don't play hide and seek with the Truth,
they do whatever they can to help and they understand difficulties and 
always give the benifit of the doubt. They don't hold others up to the
standards they can't lives by themselves.

Real-Life Angels are what inner beauty is all about,  they don't hold
things against you,  the only thing they hold is you. They take your hand
in theirs when you could use a little reassurance. They walk beside you
when you could do with a little guidance and direction in your life and
they support you in your attempts to do what is right.

Real-Life Angels multiply your smiles and add to your integrity. They
make you feel like, "Hey,I really am somebody who matters" and then they
quietly prove to you how beautiful and true that feeling really is. If
you can come across an Angel like this, you are one of the luckiest
people of all. If someone in your life is wonderfully like an Angel to
you, it's important to let them know. It's the nicest compliment you could
ever give in all the days of your life and all the years that you live!

Submitted By: Carolyn Reiber

"The Empty Chair"

The man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her
father. When the pastor arrived he found the man lying in bed with his
head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed, The
pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.      
"I guess you were expecting me," he said. "No, who are you?"
I'm the new associate pastor at your local church, the pastor replied.
When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. Would you mind closing the
door? Puzzled the pastor shut the door. I've never told anyone this not
even my daughter, said the man.

But all my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear
the pastor talk about prayer but it always went right over my head. I
abandoned any attempt at prayer, the old man continued, until one day
about four years ago my best friend said to me Joe, prayer is just a
simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here's what I suggest. 
Sit down on a chair place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith
see Jesus on, the chair. It's not spooky because He promised," I'll be
with you always." Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way
you're doing with me right now. So, I tried it and I've liked it so much
that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my
daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous
breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.
          
The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old
guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him and returned to
the church. Two nights later the daughter called to say that her daddy
had died that afternoon."Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked. 

Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock he called me over to his
bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When
I got back from the store an hour later I found him dead. But there was
something strange, in fact beyond strange-- kinda weird. Apparently just
before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside
the bed.

Submitted by: Melanie Restrepo

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