October, 2000

Also see... Prophecy Ministries

Spirit Gardens, poetry and art about the gardens of our soul. In Him, Iona

We Are Blessed!
Submitted by Phyllis Coats

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful...you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder...you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to
remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

What Love Can Do
By Dixie Phillips

Editor's Note: The following two pieces are songs written by a lovely friend, Dixie... enjoy!

I tried to live my life my own way, I only gave You a part of me,
I hid the rest so no one could see,
No one knew but You & me.

I felt alone all the time, blinded by the darkness I was in,
Tangled up in my web of sin.
I never thought I'd see again.

Oh, I wasted precious time,
When Jesus could have been mine.
Still I held back that part,
He deserved right from the start.
Oh, how empty I felt,
When at an altar I knelt,
Then, the LIGHT shone through,
That I should give my all to You!

Then, You charmed my cold, cold heart,
Your love melted my foolish fears.
You never mentioned those wasted years.
You loved me from the start!

What a friend! What a friend!
You'll go with me to the very end.
I never knew what love could do,
'Til I gave my all to you!

I'm finding out what Love can do,
As I give my all to YOU!

Got the Son in My Eyes
By Dixie Phillips

Here's a little song I wrote one day when I was struggling with the blues ~~~~~~

GOT THE "SON" IN MY EYES

1. Troubles come & troubles go,
Some leave us feeling kind of low,
Hiding the ONE ~ God's only Son who can show us the way,
He's our only true Guiding Light
His love expels the blackest night
He'll see you through
Here's what to do ~~ Keep the "SON" in your eyes!

CHORUS

Got the "SON" in my eyes today
Doesn't matter what comes my way.
Been in battles before
Here's one more
As I kneel to pray
I don't care what's said or done,
I've got my eyes upon the SON!
The victory is sure,
For those who endure.
Got the "SON" in my eyes!


2. Dark clouds rise and strong winds blow
There is only one place to go!
Run to the "SON"
God's Holy One
Who can show you the way.
He will turn your night to day.
Just for you ~ He'll make a way.
He'll set you free,
Bring victory,
Keep the "SON" in your eyes!

AMEN............ Lord, help us to keep our eyes upon YOU!

What Do I See?
Sent to me by my friends, Carol and Dorothy

I look in your eyes and what do I see?
A beautiful child designed by Me.
The person you are is My work of grace;
I chose your laugh and colored your face.

I look at your life and what do I see?
A perfect reflection of plans sent by Me.
Your steps I have chosen along with your feet;
You'll walk a path you alone can complete.

I look at your future and what do I see?
A beautiful place prepared by Me.
The hope in your heart will one day unfold
By a crystal sea and streets of pure gold.

I look in your eyes and what do I see?
A reflection of love and all that is Me.
Look to Me and I'll lead you each day,
Shining My light to show you the way.

Cherished Friend
Sent by Carol Skipper of Apron Strings

Our Creator must have known there would be times
We'd need a word of cheer
Someone to praise a triumph
Or brush away a tear.

He must have known we'd need to share
The joy of "little things"
In order to appreciate
The happiness life brings.

I think He knew our troubled hearts
Would sometimes throb with pain
At trials and misfortunes
Or some goals we can't attain.

He knew we'd need companionship
Unselfish...lasting...true,
And so the Creator answered the heart's great need
With CHERISHED FRIENDS....like you.

To YOU, An Exceptionally Beautiful Woman
Submitted by Phyllis Coats

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears
The figure that she carries, Or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen within her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!!

Cute Church Signs
From Karen http://www.geocities.com/ckaren2/link.html

1. Church Parking Lot Sign..."FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Trespassers will be baptized."
2. "No God-No Peace...Know God-Know Peace."
3. "Free Trip to heaven...details Inside!"
4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."
5. "Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"
6. An ad for one church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads,"For fast, fast relief, take two tablets."
7. When the restaurant next to a church put out a big sign with red letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
8. A singing group called "The Resurrection" was scheduled to sing at a church. When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, "Resurrection is postponed."
9. "People are like tea bags-you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."
10. "God so loved the world that He did not send a committee."
11. "Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!"
12. "When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright."
13. "Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday."
14. "Fight truth decay-study the Bible daily."
15. "How will you spend eternity-Smoking or Non-smoking?"
16. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives":
17. "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."
18. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."
19. "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."
20. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."
21. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."
22. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain
eternal fire insurance soon."
23. "This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?" (U R)
24. "Forbidden fruit creates many jams."
25. "In the dark? Follow the Son."
26. "Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up."
27. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

In a Cocoon
By Staff Writer Janet Davis

Webster's New World Dictionary describes a cocoon as 1. the silky case which the larvae of certain insects spin about themselves to shelter them during the pupa stage, or 2. a protective covering.

While sitting in my living room one evening I felt a very wonderful warm and fuzzy feeling.I was chatting with a good friend and we where discussing God, Jesus, Heaven, and The Holy Spirit. We started to pray when suddenly, I felt as if I were in a cocoon, safe, loved, and very close to the Holy Spirit. It surrounded me - a peace, contentment, and love that was so overwhelming it was absolutely incredible. I have had this experience before, but could not put a name to it, and each time the feeling becomes stronger, deeper, closer to Jesus.

It is not that this is a time of crisis, stress, the loss of loved ones, etc. We know Jesus is here, seated right next to us - giving me these words to share with you now.

The cocoon seems to be everything combined. A safe haven the Lord provided His children until THAT day comes. We all know that one day we must emerge, and that it will be an exhilarating new beginning. This beginning will be eternal. As the insect is protected, it must also emerge from its cocoon for a new start. However, unlike the insect we have the knowledge to understand we will die.

Live every second and be prepared for the One who knows when that time will come. And be not afraid, for your father has provided a secure place for you.

I remain in that cocoon, listening and waiting for Christ's return. My voice is being heard... I try to set good examples from my heart. My writing will continue...

Still in production.
In Christ's Love and Joy,
Janet

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