INDEX
When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I
created man I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.
But you, woman, I fashioned. I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate.
Of all that lives and breathes you are the most like me. That is why I made you the mother of life. You see, you, woman, reside in me. Adam walked with me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see me, or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me I fashioned in you.
My holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are the extension of me. Man represents my image, woman, my emotions. Together you represent the totality of God. So man treat woman well. Love her, respect her for she is fragile. In hurting her you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me. In crushing her you only damage your own heart and lungs.
Peace and Love to all of "us" God-fashioned beautiful Sistahs!!! And much love to our strong and handsome God-created Brothers!
Author Unkown
I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.
From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the strong yet delicate rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do.
Your characteristics are as the rib, strength yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organs in man, his heart and lungs. His heart is the center of his whole being, his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to his heart and lungs.
Support him as the rib cage supports the body. Around this one bone I fashioned you. I shaped you. I created you perfect. Your eyes, don't change them, your lips how lovely when they part in prayer, your nose so perfect in form, your hands so gentle to touch. Oh yes, I've touched your hands, I've held your heart.
Woman, support man as the rib cage. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given to you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love,
show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.
Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the
road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints
go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But
your prints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts,
stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.
For much of the way it seems to go like this. But
gradually, your footprints come more in line with the Lord's,
soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking
as true friends. This seems perfect, but then an interesting
thing happens: your footprints that once etched the sand
next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps.
Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sandprint', safely
enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles. But gradually you notice
another change. The footprint inside the larger footprint
seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether.
There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.
Again, this goes on for a long time. But then something
awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. And
this time it seems even worse. Zigzags all over the place.
Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of
prints. You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of
your dream. Now you speak.
'Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits
and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning.
But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn
to walk with you.'
'That is correct.'
'Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours,
I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed
You very closely.'
'Very good. You have understood everything so far.'
'Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in
with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much
that I was becoming like you in every way.'
'Precisely.'
'But this is my question. Lord.. Was there a regression or
something? The footprints went back to two, and this time
it was worse than the first.'
The Lord smiles, then laughs. 'You didn't know?' He says.
'That was when we danced.'
Author Unknown
...the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
I was an onion before Christ set me free. Layers upon layers of iniquity. An ugly old onion whose fragrance was strong; That my Jesus bought and loved all along. Unknown to me what He was going to do. Of what He was planning, I had not a clue.
Pulling each layer off one by one. In order to make me more like Jesus the Son. The first layer wasn't so bad. I saw all the sins that I knew I had. They were easy to fix, just change the way I talk. And learn more of how He wanted me to walk. Reading His Word, and learning again; How to put aside my life of sin.
But the next layer was pulled which hurt more. He was getting closer to the core. Unknown what He would find there. I simply gave it to Him in prayer. As another layer was removed, He started to cry; Pulling this layer brought pain to my Father on High. And I was crying over the sadness I felt; The brokenness and all of the guilt. Past memories that I thought were gone; But they were buried under layers disguised in a fragrance so strong.
As onions peel more and more; And they put tears in our eyes as we get close to the core; So my father wept over my pain; Giving me a balm of comfort and strength to sustain.
"NO MORE LAYERS_" I would scream. As he continued to peel them off of me. "I'll have nothing left my Lord, what will I do? I'll be nothing but a worthless core to you. " But He just said "Trust me," and continued to peel I was sure He was blinded to my pain that was so real.
Year after year I shrunk more and more; Until all that was left of this onion was a core. It was then that I began to understand; As the Lord embraced me in His loving hand. He said, now and only now can you be; The creation that will minister before me. Clothed with the righteousness only from above; Gone are your layers of self so you can be filled with my love.
He took my layers of sin, hurt and pain; And clothed me with love, truth and mercy in His name.
Yes, we are all onions, learning with each day; How to overcome as each layer is taken away. Some layers tear and pull at our heart; While others grieve us to our innermost part. But we are nothing but an ugly onion without Christ. Layers upon layers of pride, sin and strife.
Only God can take those layers away. And clothe us with His righteousness in that final day.
Author Unknown
Bare foot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.
She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed,but
never did one person stop.
Just so happens the next day I decided to
go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.
Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high,
with the saddest look in her eyes.
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.
As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young
children to play alone.
As I began walking towards her I could see
the back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help.
I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked 'til darkness fell and the park
was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we at once were alone.
The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I know." "Little
girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She
looked at me and smiled, slowly she stood to her feet, and said,"Really?"
She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see
me, and you believe it in your heart." And She was gone. And with
that my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you
have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
Mine was... :o)
Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you, like the story says we all need someone.
As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.
I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me
and with a sad face and said "Because I'm different." I immediately
said "that you are!" and smiled.
"Yes, ma'am, your like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all
those people walking by." She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said, "I am. I'm your guardian angel," with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless, sure I was seeing things.
She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself, my
job here is done." Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait,
so why did no one stop to help an angel?"
I've learned - that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I've learned - that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back. I've learned - that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I've learned - that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned - that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something. I've learned - that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do but to the best you can do. I've learned - that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it. I've learned - that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned - that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I've learned - that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think. I've learned - that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I've learned - that you can keep going long after you think you can't. I've learned - that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I've learned - that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I've learned - that learning to forgive takes practice. I've learned - that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it. I've learned - that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I've learned - that my best friends and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned - that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I've learned - that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I've learned - that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. I've learned - that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned - that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it. I've learned - that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned - that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. I've learned - that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to. I've learned - that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned - that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions. I've learned - that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I've learned - that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. I've learned - that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I've learned - that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process. I've learned - that there are many ways of falling and staying in love. I've learned - that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life. I've learned - that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I've learned - that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. I've learned - that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains. I've learned - that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon. I've learned - that although the word "love" can have many different meanings, it loses value when overly used. I've learned - that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.
Updated: December 14, 1999
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