Inspirationals ------------------------------------------------------------------------ INSPIRATIONAL: "TAKE MY HAND" YOU are ushering in another day Untouched and freshly new So here I come to ask You, God, If You'll renew me, too. Forgive the many errors That I made yesterday And let me try again, dear God To walk closer in THY WAY... But, Father , I am well aware I can't make it on my own So TAKE MY HAND and HOLD IT TIGHT For I can't WALK ALONE! - Unknown (Inspirational submitted by: Unknown) INSPIRATIONAL: "What's So Amazing About Grace?" One of Jesus' stories about grace made it into three different Gospels, in slightly different versions. My favorite version, though, appeared in another source entirely: the Boston Globe's account in June 1990 of a most unusual wedding banquet. Accompanied by her fiancée, a woman went to the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Boston and ordered the meal. The two of them pored over the menu, made selections of china and silver, and pointed to pictures of the flower arrangements they liked. They both had expensive taste, and the bill came to thirteen thousand dollars. After leaving a check for half that amount as down payment, the couple went home to flip through books of wedding announcements. The day the announcements were supposed to hit the mailbox, the potential groom got cold feet, "I'm just not sure," he said. "It's a big commitment. Let's think about this a little longer." When his angry fiancée returned to the Hyatt to cancel the banquet, the Events Manager could not have been more understanding. "The same thing happened to me, Honey," she said, and told the story of her own broken engagement. But about the refund, she had bad news. "The contract is binding. You're entitled to thirteen hundred dollars back. You have two options: to forfeit the rest of the down payment, or go ahead with the banquet. I'm sorry. Really, I am." It seemed crazy, but the more the jilted bride thought about it, the more she liked the idea of going ahead with the party - not a wedding banquet, mind you, but a big blowout. Ten years before, this same woman had been living in a homeless shelter. She had got back on her feet, found a good job and set aside a sizable nest egg. Now she had the wild notion of using her savings to treat the down-and-outs of Boston to a night on the town. And so it was that in June of 1990 the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Boston hosted a party such as it had never seen before. The hostess changed the menu to boneless chicken - "in honor of the groom," she said and sent invitations to rescue missions and homeless shelters. That warm summer night, people who were used to peeling half-gnawed pizza off the cardboard dined instead of chicken cordon bleu. Hyatt waiters in tuxedos served hors d'oeuvres to senior citizens propped up by crutches and aluminum walkers. Bag ladies, vagrants, and addicts took one night off from the hard life on the sidewalks outside and instead sipped champagne, ate chocolate wedding cake, and danced to big-band melodies late into the night. - Philip Yancey (Inspirational submitted by: Jeannette Dawson) INSPIRATIONAL: "When" When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient. When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful. When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable. When you are the weakest, He is the most able. When you are the most alone, He is intimately present. When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest. When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you. When it is the darkest, He is the only light you need. When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress. When you are most humble, He is most gracious. - Unknown (Inspirational submitted by: Julie Ann Linn) INSPIRATIONAL: "Even Though" Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long As possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you Lord, That I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden. Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for My family. There are many who are lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry; Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job. Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish My circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life. INSPIRATIONAL: "The Will of God" The will of God will never take you, Where the Grace of God cannot keep you, Where the Arms of God cannot support you, Where the Riches of God cannot supply your needs, Where the Power of God cannot endow you. The will of God will never take you, Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you, Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you, Wthe Army of God cannot protect you, Where the Hands of God cannot mold you, The Will of God will never take you, Where the Love of God cannot enfold you, Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you, Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears, Where the Authority of God cannot overrule you. The Will of God will never take you Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears, Where the Word of God cannot feed you, Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you, Where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you. *Everything happens for a purpose *We may not see the wisdom of it all *now but trust and believe in *The Lord that everything is for the best. Home Page Email: slickvo@aol.com