Susan Boyle

You’ve already heard about her. Perhaps you have even seen her. If you haven’t you should.

Above all the roar and thunder. Above all the praise and cheering. Far above all else, there is a message here for all of us.

I love happy endings. I love when the under dog wins against all odds. The David and Goliath stories take my heart and squeezes it until I can no longer restrain myself. I will jump up and cheer. I will shout to roof tops in celebration.

Every once in awhile the world is reminded that we put frivilous, fake and superficial ahead of reason, compassion and dignity. Then God steps in and says “look…you are a masterpiece. You are a bright shining example of my work. Lift up your head and hold it high! Your gifts may not be obvious to the world, but who are they to judge my creation!”

Today, break the bonds that tie you down. Loosen the grip you have held on words like “not good enough,” “failure,” “ugly,” “useless,” “unworthy,” and “hopeless.”

You may indeed need to work harder. You may have to fight prejudice. You may be ridiculed and mocked for even thinking you can succeed. But you are His child. You are better than all of that. You are more than you ever imagined and greater than all you believe. Stand up! Get moving! Start planning! Discover today what God sees in you, by asking Him to reveal it in all of its glory.

You need not stand on a stage, in a spot light, write an epic novel or discover the cure for cancer. But you must, I repeat, you MUST, live up to your full potential. Perhaps as a wife, mother, husband, father, teacher, mechanic, singer, dancer, painter, friend, lover, janitor, plumber or anything you believe is your gift to the world.

For as the ugly duckling became the graceful swan, you will develop into the perfection only you can be. The greatest, shining example of YOU!

Now, go and watch this ordinary, simple, woman who is mocked by the crowd and judges until…until God said “Shut up and listen! She is my Child!”

And the self centered opened their hearts. The cynical became believers. The world was reminded that everyone is a gift given by God. Yes, that includes you, my friend. Watch, listen and then thank God, for this day. It is “Your Wake Up Call!”

Thank you, Susan Boyle!

“I believe in You!”

~ Bob Perks ~

Be a Visionary

“The vision is yet for an appointed time…” – Habakkuk 2:3.

God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of you, and He has predestined that those things in your heart come to pass. You may have had more than your share of unfair things happen in your life. You probably have plenty of reasons to just settle where you are. But understand, the depth of your past is an indication of the height of your future.

If you’ve been through a lot of negative things in the past, it just means that your future is bigger and brighter and greater than you can even imagine. It’s your time to step out and embrace all that God has for you! Are there dreams and promises that you’ve let go of? Are there things that God has placed in your heart, but because of time, because of disappointments, you’ve given up on them?

Today is the day to give your dreams a new beginning. Today is the day to allow faith to rise in your heart. Remember, what’s happened to you is not nearly as important as what’s happened in you, and you are stronger and wiser than ever before. It’s your time; it’s your season to move forward into the destiny that God has prepared for you!

Laus Deo

On the aluminum cap atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC are two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact … most visitors to the monument have no idea they are even there and … for that matter … probably could care less!

But there they are … 555 feet, 5.125 inches high … perched atop the monument to the father of the nation. Overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America. Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words … out of sight and, one might think, out of mind … but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the world.

And what might those two words … comprised of just four syllables and only seven letters … mean? Very simply … “Praise be to God!” Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848 when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with the tribute Laus Deo!

“Praise be to God!”

From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure … a visitor can take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. And from that vantage point one can also easily see (whether plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l’Enfant , or Divine Intervention ) a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape … with the White House to the North. the Jefferson Memorial to the South … the Capitol to the East … and the Lincoln Memorial to the West.

A cross … you say? How interesting! And … no doubt … intended to carry a meaning for those who bother to notice. “Praise be to God!”

Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. “Praise be to God!”

When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of unique democracy …

Soul Food

I love the taste of T-bone steak,
Delicious every bite,
But there’s nothing like the Word of God,
For my spiritual appetite.

The Word of God has milk and meat,
And even ice cream and cake.
Take a slice of the Bread of Life,
And coffee to keep us awake.

Open your Bible and turn to Psalms,
For David’s famous buffet.
You can drink all the wine of the word you want,
And still feel fine the next day.

There’s enough of the Word for everyone,
And no one has to cheat.
The Word of God is a smorgasbord,
So take all you are able to eat.

Let’s have a little longsuffering,
Job gives the recipe.
Patience is the main ingredient,
Self denial is the fee.

Wrap that up in temperance,
It may not make much sense,
Cover that with contentment,
Then add some joy for strength.

Let’s have love for dessert,
Jesus made this dish,
Cream of joy and peace together,
Sift out all selfishness.

Add some deeds of righteousness,
Enough to make it sweet.
Humility is the frosting,
That makes the dish complete.

Or are you on a diet,
Cause the race seems hard to run.
For a weight losing menu,
try Hebrews 12 and 1.

Are you suffering from malnutrition,
And don’t know what to do?
Your spiritual growth seems hindered,
Try 1 Peter 2 and 2.

If when every time you battle,
the enemy always wins,
Try some Holy Spirit Protein,
And spiritual vitamins.

God’s Word can feed millions,
And still have plenty left.
Because the Word of God is Soul Food,
Sent from the World’s Greatest CHEF.

God’s Time

A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write a essay about what they would like God to do for them…

At the end of the day while marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional. Her husband, that had just walked in saw her crying and asked her: What happened?

She answered – Read this. It’s one of my students essays

“Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television. I want to take its place. Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, And have my family around ME. To be taken seriously when I talk…. I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me… And… I want my brothers to fight to be with me… I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least make it that I can make them all happy and entertain them. Lord I don’t ask you for much… I just want to live like every TV”

At that moment the husband said: – ‘My God, poor kid. What horrible parents! She looked up at him and said: ‘That essay is our son’s!!!

If you agree, TV or Internet is robbing quality time with in families today.