Hi All!

Just wanted to share this little story I got from Email Ministries today. I loved it!

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens
were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket."

His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"

"No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket."

"That's crazy," said the friend.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.

"That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have superhuman ears!"

"No," said the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for."

"But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise."

"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk.And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs. "See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you."

What's important to you? What do you listen for? Some people say that there is no God, and that He never speaks to us anymore. But perhaps they can't see or hear Him because they aren't listening for Him. They are living for themselves, not for God.

If you are in tune with God, you will be able to notice Him at work in your life and in the world. And you'll be able to hear Him when He speaks.

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

H98

Thank you H98,

Hope you don't mind if I use it every one in a while?

Bless you.

S&C

Last night I was sitting out on my deck, feeling pretty sorry for myself. I prayed a bit.

FWH had to go out for a bit and I was watching 20/20. Well, they had a story about 2 beautiful twin boys. One had a disease, (don't remember the medical name but it's that bubble boy disease where the common cold germ could kill him). The parents had already lost a baby to this disease. The Doctors had reassured them that they most likely wouldn't have another baby with the same disease - like being struck by lightening twice. But, it happened. This family endured so much. Their precious boy had to endure 9 days of Chemotherapy and then a stem cell transplant. How hard to see those parents holding their baby down while all this was being done to him and then to just wait and see if his life could be saved. I think it took over a year to see if his immune system had recovered.
Well, he did recover!!! He was finally able to go outside, play with other children, lead a normal life.

Here I was lying in bed with my beautiful 16 month old boy, and my other children were asleep. I said, "OK, God, I hear you". I'll appreciate what I do have - which is a lot. I have in my life the gift of healthy children.

I should focus on what I do have rather than what I don't.

To me, that's how I believe God speaks to us. Not with that 2X4 that some of us are waiting for. But, in subtle ways.

What I'm going through is terrible (being the BS). But, maybe instead of walking around feeling like the "BS" I should walk around as the proud Mama of 4 precious children.

Just my thought.