I.O.U.

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass:

$5.00

For cleaning up my room this week:

$1.00

For going to the store for you:

50¢

Baby-sitting my brother while you went shopping:

25¢

Taking out the garbage:

$1.00

For getting a good report card:

$5.00

For cleaning up and raking the yard:

$2.00

Total owed:

$14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I nurtured you here

while you were growing inside me there:

No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you,

doctored and nursed and prayed for you:

No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears

that you've caused through the years:

No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread,

and for the worries I knew were ahead:

No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes,

and even wiping your runny nose:

No Charge, Son

When you add it up,

the cost of my love is:

No Charge

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you."

And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:

"PAID IN FULL"

* ~ Author Unknown ~

Source: heartwarmingstories.net

The Deck of Cards

Comrades, This is Vaughn Moore, with a strange story about a soldier boy and a deck of cards...

During the North American Campaign, a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike, and arrived in a little town called Kasinok. The next morning being a Sunday, several of the boys went to church. A sergeant commanded the boys in church, and after the Chaplain had read the prayer, the text was taken up next. Those of the boys who had prayer books took them out, but this one boy had only a deck of cards, and so he spread them out. The sergeant saw the cards, and said "Soldier, put away those cards."

After the services were over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the provost marshal.

The marshal said, "Sergeant, why have you brought this man here!"

"For playing cards in church, sir."

"And what have you to say for yourself, boy?"

"Much, sir," replied the soldier.

The marshal replied "I hope so, for if not, I will punish you more severely than any man has ever been punished."

The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on march for about six days, and I have neither Bible, nor prayer book; but I hope to satisfy you, sir, with the purity of my intentions."

And with that, the boy started his story.

"You see, sir, When I look at the ace, it reminds me that there is but one God. And the deuce, it reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts, the Old and the New Testaments. And when I look at the trey, I think of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

"When I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel: there were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five virgins who trimmed their lamps. There were ten of them: five who trimmed their lamps, five were foolish and were shut out.

"And when I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this great Heaven and Earth. When I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from His great work. And when I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons that God saved when He destroyed this earth. There was Noah, his wife, and their sons and their wives.

"And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our Savior cleaned, because it was nine out of ten who didn't even thank Him. When I see the ten, I think of the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on a table of stone.

"When I see the king, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven - God Almighty. And when I see the queen... I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus. And when I see the jack of knaves, it is the devil.

"When I count the number of spots on a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year. There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year. There are four suits, the number of weeks in a month. There are 12 picture cards, the number of months in a year. There are 13 tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.

"So you see, sir, my pack of cards serves me as a Bible, almanac and prayer book."

With a tear, the marshal just waved the soldier away.

~ Author Unknown ~

Source: heartwarmingstories.net

35 Ways to Add More Inspiration to Your Life

Here is a basic list of 35 Ways to Add More Inspiration to Your Life. Give them a try and come up with more on your own:

1. Dream bigger than you think is possible
2. Exercise everyday
3. Laugh and play
4. Have goals
5. Share your love
6. Share your talents
7. Share your strengths
8. Give value to others
9. Try something new
10. List 5 things that you ate grateful for
11. Smile at a stranger
12. Spend time in nature
13. Play with a puppy or kitten
14. Hold a baby
15. Do something that scares you
16. Pamper yourself - get a massage
17. See your chiropractor
18. Shut off the TV
19. Breath deeply
20. Start a journal
21. Host a party for people you enjoy spending time with
22. Learn something new
23. Spend time with your grandparents
24. Spend time with your parents
25. Read inspirational quotes, books, biographies
26. Dance
27. Give someone a hug
28. Spend an afternoon daydreaming
29. Fly a Kite
30. Catch a butterfly - then let it go
31. Sit quietly and listen to yourself breath and your heart beat
32. Build a snowman, knock it down
33. Shovel a neighbors driveway
34. Call an old friend to catch up
35. Tell someone you love them

Hope you enjoyed reading this list. Hope you have even more fun doing some of the inspiring activities above.

Source: greatest-inspirational-quotes.coms

Our Father who Art in Heaven

"Our Father who art in Heaven..."

" YES?"

"Don't interrupt me. I'm praying...

"BUT YOU CALLED ME."

"Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven..."

"THERE YOU DID IT AGAIN."

"Did What?"

"CALLED ME. YOU SAID, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN...". HERE

AM I. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?"

"But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.

I always say the Lord's Prayer. makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done. "

"ALL RIGHT. GO ON."

"Hallowed by thy name."

"HOLD IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

"By what?"

"BY "HALLOWED BE THY NAME."

"It means...it means...good grief, I don't know what it means. How should

I know? Its just part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?"

"IT MEANS "HONORED," "HOLY", "WONDERFUL"."

"Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what Hallowed meant before.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

"DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?"

"Sure, why not?"

"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?"

"Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be neat if you

got control of everything down here like you have up there."

"HAVE I GOT CONTROL OF YOU?"

"Well, I go to church."

"THAT ISN'T WHAT I ASKED YOU. WHAT ABOUT THAT HABIT

OF LUST YOU HAVE? AND YOUR BAD TEMPER? YOU'VE REALLY

GOT A PROBLEM THERE, YOU KNOW. AND THEN THERE'S THE

WAY YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY...ALL ON YOURSELF. AND WHAT

ABOUT THE KINDS OF BOOKS YOU READ?"

"Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those

phonies at the church."

"EXCUSE ME...I THOUGHT YOU WERE PRAYING FOR MY

WILL TO BE DONE. IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL HAVE TO

START WITH THE ONES WHO ARE PRAYING FOR IT. LIKE YOU,

FOR EXAMPLE."

"Oh, all right! I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now

that you mention it, I could probably name some others."

"SO COULD I."

"I haven't thought about it until now, but I really would like to cut

out some of those things. I'd like to, you know, be really free."

"GOOD, NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WE'LL WORK

TOGETHER...YOU AND ME. NOW, SOME VICTORIES CAN TRULY

BE WON. I'M PROUD OF YOU."

"Look Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it

usually does...Give us this day our daily bread."

"YOU NEED TO CUT DOWN ON THE BREAD TOO...YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT

AS IT IS."

"Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize Me Day?" Here I was doing my

religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang- ups."

"PRAYING IS A DANGEROUS THING. YOU COULD WIND UP CHANGED

YOU KNOW. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO YOU. YOU

CALLED ME, AND HERE I AM. IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW. KEEP ON

PRAYING. I'M INTERESTED IN THE NEXT PART OF YOUR PRAYER.

WELL, GO ON."

"I'm scared to."

"SCARED? OF WHAT? I KNOW WHAT YOU'LL SAY. TRY ME AND SEE."

"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."

"WHAT ABOUT JOE?"

"See, I knew it? I knew you would bring him up! Why he's told lies about me, cheated

me out of money... He never paid back that debt he owes me. I've sworn to get even."

"BUT YOUR PRAYER...WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRAYER?"

"I didn't mean it."

"WELL, AT LEAST YOU'RE HONEST. BUT IT'S NOT MUCH FUN CARRYING

THE LOAD OF BITTERNESS AROUND INSIDE, IS IT?"

"No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I made some plans for

ol' Joe. He'll wish he never did me any harm."

"YOU WON'T FEEL ANY BETTER. YOU'LL FEEL WORSE. REVENGE ISN'T

SWEET. THINK OF HOW UNHAPPY YOU ARE ALREADY. BUT I CAN CHANGE

ALL THAT."

"You can? How?"

"FORGIVE JOE. THEN I'LL FORGIVE YOU. THEN THE HATE AND SIN WILL

BE JOE'S PROBLEM AND NOT YOURS...YOU MAY LOSE THE MONEY, BUT

YOU WILL SETTLE YOUR HEART."

"But Lord, I can't forgive Joe."

"THEN I CAN'T FORGIVE YOU."

"Oh, you're right! You always are. And more than I want revenge on Joe, I want to

be right with you... All right! I forgive him. Help him to find the right road in life,

Lord. He's bound to be awfully miserable, now that I think about it. Some way,

somehow, show him the right way."

"THERE NOW! HOW DO YOU FEEL?"

"Hmmm....not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty great. You know, I don't think

I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can't remember. Maybe

I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest."

"YOU'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOUR PRAYER...GO ON."

"Oh, All right...And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

"GOOD...GOOD. I'LL DO THAT. JUST DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A

PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED."

"What do you mean by that?"

"QUIT HANGING AROUND THE WRONG PLACES, WATCHING

INAPPROPRIATE MOVIES AND TELEVISION, LISTENING TO SINFUL

CONVERSATIONS; HANGING AROUND THE PLACES WHERE PLAYBOY

AND PLAYGIRL ARE SOLD. CHANGE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.

SOME OF YOUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS ARE BEGINNING TO GET TO

YOU. THEY'LL HAVE YOU COMPLETELY INVOLVED IN WRONG

THINGS BEFORE LONG. DON'T BE FOOLED. THEY ADVERTISE THEY'RE

HAVING FUN, BUT FOR YOU IT WOULD BE RUIN. DON'T USE ME FOR

AN ESCAPE HATCH."

"I don't understand."

"SURE, YOU DO, YOU'VE DONE IT...LOTS OF TIMES. YOU GET CAUGHT

IN A BAD SITUATION, YOU GET INTO TROUBLE AND THEN YOU

COME RUNNING TO ME. LORD, HELP ME OUT OF THIS MESS, AND I

PROMISE YOU I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. YOU REMEMBER SOME OF

THOSE BARGAINS YOU TRIED TO MAKE WITH ME?"

"Yes, and I'm ashamed Lord. I really am."

"WHICH BARGAINS ARE YOU REMEMBERING?"

"Well, when the guy next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood

bar... I told my wife I was going to the store... I remember telling you, "Lord,

don't let him tell her where I've been. I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."

"HE DIDN'T TELL YOUR WIFE, BUT YOU DIDN'T KEEP YOUR

PROMISE, DID YOU?"

"I'm sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Lord's

prayer everyday, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to

happen like it did."

"GO AHEAD, FINISH YOUR PRAYER."

"Oh yes...For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever

and ever. Amen."

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY? WHAT WOULD

MAKE ME REALLY HAPPY?"

"No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made

out of my life, and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers."

"YOU JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION."

"I did?"

"YES, THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY IS TO HAVE

PEOPLE LIKE YOU TRULY LOVE ME. AND I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING

BETWEEN US. NOW THAT SOME OF THESE OLD SINS ARE EXPOSED AND

OUT OF THE WAY...WELL, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WE CAN DO

TOGETHER."

"Lord, let's see what we can make of me."

"OK? YES, LET'S SEE."

Contributed by Tim and Lori

Source: believing-christians.com

The Gallon of Milk

A young man had been to Wed. night Bible Study. The pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After service, he wentout with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."




As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest
thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said
out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on
toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.




"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem
like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He
stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will."




He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop.
He pulled over to the curb and looked round. He was in a semi-
commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst
of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the
houses looked dark like the people were already in bed. Again, he
sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house
across the street."




The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are in bed and asleep, and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid."




Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door. "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here. He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and t-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk. "Here I brought this to you."




The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway, speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen, the man following her, holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half-crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I asked him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.

Contributed by Jim and Evelyn

Source: believing-christians.com