Moms Pumpkin Soup

Happiness...............Deep down within

Serenity................With each sunrise

Success.................In each facet of your life

Friends.................Close and caring

Love....................That never ends

Knowledge...............Of the grace and love of God

Special memories........Of all the yesterdays

A bright today..........With much to be thankful for

A path..................That leads to beautiful tomorrows

Dreams..................That do their best to come true

And appreciation........Of all the wonderful things about you!

GOD wants us to live like the GRASS
It's stepped on,
It's crushed,
It's burned,
and cut..
Yet, it PERSISTS and GROWS back,
even greener and stronger,
That is the PROCESS.

A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather one morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the day progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning.

The mother of the little girl was worried that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Following the roar of the thunder, lightning would cut through the sky like a flaming sword.

Being concerned, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. Soon she saw her daughter walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop,look and smile.

One followed another, each with the little girl stopping, looking at the streak of light and smiling.

Finally, the mother called her over to the car and asked, "What are you doing?"

The child answered, "God keeps taking pictures of me."

There are little eyes upon you, And they're watching night and day;

There are little ears that quickly, take in every word you say;

There are little hands all eager, to do anything you do,

And a little fellow who is dreaming of the day he'll be like you.

You are the little fellow's idol, You are the wisest of the wise,

In his mind, about you, no suspicions ever rise.

He believes in you devoutly, holds that all you say and do,

He will say and do in his own way when he's a grown-up like you.

There's a wide-eyed little fellow, who believes you are always right,

And his ears are always open and he watches you day and night.

You are setting an example everyday in all you do,

For the little fellow who's watching to grow up and be like you.

I have a true story that happened to me. I awoke one morning to tell my husband about a dream I had the night before.

I dreamed about a man I had known twenty years before and I could not imagine why. He was standing in the dusty window of a vacant store and holding a box of Carnation Instant Breakfast. I went into the store and remarked that I had not seen him in ages, but that he looked wonderful. He stated that he had recently seen my mother. I told him that was quite impossible because my mother had died four years before that time. He insisted that he had talked to her and she was wonderful and happy. Then, he simply vanished.

In telling the story to my husband we surmised that it was a sign that my mother was happy in her heavenly home and this was her way of telling me.

That evening I opened the paper that had come that day to read that the man in my dream had been buried the day before. I was amazed to say the least. I
immediately called his daughter to express my sympathies. I could not believe he was gone. Heavens, he was only about 58 years old.

She told me he had died of AIDS just a few days before but had been sick for a long time. I felt I had to tell her about my dream. In going through the steps of the dream I came to the part about him holding box of Carnation Instant Breakfast and there was an audible gasp on the other end of the phone. I asked what was wrong and she told me that for the last six months of his life, Carnation Instant Breakfast was the only food her father could keep down.

We both feel we were blessed with a message. If I had not discussed my dream with my husband the morning after it came in my sleep, I would not believe it
myself.

God sends messages in the strangest ways.

~ Barbara Blodgett ~
Note: This article was published in The Motivational Mailer on March 7, 2000

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone.

Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.

Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave,
his host said,

"Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.

Someone ask me not long ago after missing church, "Did I miss anything?"

After I thought about it I came up with a few things. If you don't attend Worship Service regularly, here's a few things you might be missing. I didn't put the following in any particular order, I just wrote them as I remembered what happened that Sunday.



* the smile on that little girl's face when she came out of Sunday School.

* the joy of sitting together with your wife and family.

* seeing someone give their heart to Christ.

* singing your favorite hymn with the congregation.

* the chance to smile at someone and encourage them.

* the meaningful worship chorus that's our favorite.

* pausing for a moment to say thanks to God for all he has blessed you with.

* the opportunity to learn something from the scripture. (when was the last time you did that?)

* the feeling of being a part of something bigger than we are.

* the chance to pray for our government.

* the minister's new haircut.

* the opportunity to financially support a ministry right here in our community.

* the chance to encourage personally, someone who is struggling.

* the beautiful song the choir shared with us.

* the joining together in congregational prayer.

* the special testimony someone shared.

* the opportunity to say hello to your neighbor.

* that uplifting feeling that makes you ready to face the week.

* the reality of being spiritually encouraged in a discouraging world.

* realizing you're not alone in your problems.

* the chance to mention someone's name that needs prayer.

* learning of all the ways you can join in and actually help in the Lord's work.

Did you miss anything last Sunday?


~ Pastor Randy Cosner ~
November, 1999

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart.

It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you.

Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get
the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one
side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work -- handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the
middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his
toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

"God gives every bird its food,
But He does not throw it into the nest."

"Anger is only one letter short of danger."

To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.

1. You will receive a body.
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons.
You are enrolled in an informal school called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons.
Growth is a process of trial and error. Experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately "works".

4. A lesson is repeated until learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. You can then go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end.
There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better than "here."
When your "there" has become a "here," you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Others are merely mirrors of you.
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you either love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you.
You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie inside you.
The answers to Life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

~ Cherie Carter-Scott ~

"Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and Justice for all! Amen!"

"Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentle man approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked

"Cross my heart." Then in theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

"Naturally, I bought my kid's ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already."

One day as I was picking the toys up off the floor
I noticed a small hand print on the wall beside the door.

I knew that it was something that I'd seen most every day but this time when I saw it there I wanted it to stay.

Then tears welled up inside my eyes, I knew it wouldn't last for every mother knows, her children grow up way too fast.

Just then I put my chores aside and held my children tight.

I sang to them sweet lullabies and rocked into the night.

Sometimes we take for granted all those things that seem so small.

Like one of God's great treasures..... a small handprint on the wall.

Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food.

According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses
would have to have 1,500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that
much food each day, two freight trains each a mile long would be required!

Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, and they would have to
have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4,000 tons of wood
and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day.

And just think, they were forty years in transit. Oh, yes, they would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11 million gallons each day, and a freight train with tank cars 1,800 miles long, just to bring water!

And then another thing: They had to get across the Red Sea in one night. If
they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and
would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be a space in
the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5,000 abreast to get over in
one night.

But then another problem: Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a
total of 750 square miles. Think of it! This space just for nightly camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not!

You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him.

Now, do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs??

All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Noah's Ark.

1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something
REALLY big.

3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.

4. Build on high ground.

5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

6. Two heads are better than one.

7. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were
the snails.

8. If you can't fight or flee -- float!

9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.

10. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.

11. When the doo-doo gets really deep, don't sit there and complain -- shovel!

12. Stay below deck during the storm.

13. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.

14. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.

15. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the
storm outside.

16. Don't miss the boat.

17. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.

You may have noticed that there is an additional box at the bottom of the right column in this blog. Yes, I decided to add a new tool to allow all of my blog readers reading quotes and thoughts in their native language.

I personally think that somehow, reading this kind of stories in my own language leads me to a new journey of exploring a different point of view when compared to the original rhyme found in the raw text. As a result, I could find some new invaluable values hidden somewhere inside the actual text and that's one thing that makes me enjoying quotes and inspirational words.

What about you, friends?

PS: Special thanks to Sodeve for his excellent tips on how to use this translator tool.

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign."How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.


The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind.

Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said "What's wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."

The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace.

He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

I am posting a little bit different stuff this time. A friend of mine has just created her very first song album. Well done, my friend. After so much pain and sorrow, her album apparently has been giving me so much blessings and encouragements while walking in my hard days and difficult moments.

I put one of the song here with the same hope, you'll be blessed and will have a brighter day from now on.



It's a combination of jazz, indie, and pop rhythm by the way. Very nice song!

If you like this song, please send her some comments to her email. I also welcome you to post your comments in this blog.

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that encircle you.

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good of buddies he is with his children.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home.

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength in a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart...that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be true to one woman.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Springs here; time to plant!!

Plant Three Rows of Squash:

1. Squash gossip and criticism
2. Squash negative thinking
3. Squash indifference and intolerance

Plant Seven Rows of Peas:

1. Prayer
2. Promptness
3. Persistence
4. Politeness
5. Preparedness
6. Purity
7. Patience

Plant Seven Heads of Lettuce:

1. Let us be unselfish and loyal
2. Let us honor our commitments
3. Let us see the good in others
4. Let us be sure of ourselves
5. Let us be obedient to the truth
6. Let us share our good fortune
7. Let us love and support one another

No Garden is Complete Without Turnips:

1. Turn up with a smile, even when things are difficult
2. Turn up with determination to do your best.