You can't steal my happiness

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“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours. ”

― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Father’s Love Letter

My Child ~

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb ~ Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me ~ John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32

"You Can Save Your Soul: In 140 Characters or Less"

"You can save your soul: In 140 characters or less." So headlines USA Today. The subtitle explains: "Indulgences will be offered via Twitter." The story announces that Pope Francis "plans to grant plenary indulgences by Twitter during the World Youth Day 2013" which starts next week in Brazil. So, what are "indulgences"? Why would the pope offer them via Twitter? Why does any of this matter to the rest of us?

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines "indulgence" as "a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin." The article explains that an indulgence is not permission to commit sin, pardon of future sin, or exemption of any law or duty.

Here's how the theology works: First, the sinner confesses his sin through the "sacrament of penance." The guilt of his sin and its eternal punishment are then removed, but the temporal punishment required by divine justice remains. However, Jesus' death and the merits of the saints have created the "treasury of the Church," a depository from which indulgences can be granted to remove temporal punishment. In response to good works on the part of the sinner, the Church can dispense such indulgences.

The upcoming World Youth Day is an opportunity for participants to receive indulgences, but those who cannot travel to Brazil would miss their chance. However, if they participate in World Youth Day broadcasts or perform other spiritual acts, they can now receive indulgences. These will be made available to the pope's nearly 7.5 million Twitter followers in all languages.

Indulgences have been a significant bone of contention between Catholics and Protestants for centuries. The Catholic Encyclopedia clearly states, "Least of all is an indulgence the purchase of a pardon which secures the buyer's salvation or releases the soul of another from Purgatory." Nonetheless, under the rule of Pope Leo X(1475-1521), such sales to finance the building of St. Peter's Cathedral became common. Johann Tetzel was especially infamous for his promise, "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs." Martin Luther's objection to this corruption sparked the Reformation.

Here ends your theology lesson. Why is this issue important whether you're Catholic or not? As a Protestant, obviously I do not affirm the doctrine of indulgences. But as a Christian, I'm glad that so many people are seeking to know Christ and make him known. More than 300,000 have already registered for this year's World Youth Day; their theme is "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations," from Matthew 28:19.

Christians can disagree on matters of faith and practice while agreeing that the world needs Jesus. Someone told Dwight Moody, the famous evangelist, "I don't like your soul-winning methods." Moody said, "I don't like them much, either. What are yours?" The man admitted he didn't have any. Moody replied, "I like mine better than yours."

Would he like yours?

Source: http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/775-you-can-save-your-soul-in-140-characters-or-less

Can You Give Me Directions To Heaven Please?

If I Stand-Rich Mullins

If I stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through 

And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You 

Everything I Own - Bread

For Daddy


You sheltered me from harm.
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, Set me free
The finest years I ever knew
were all the years I had with you

You taught me how to love,
What it's of.
You never said too much,
but still you showed the way,
and I knew from watching you.
Nobody else could ever know
the part of me that can't let go.

Is there someone you know,
you're loving them so,
but taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day,
someone takes them away,
and they don't hear the words you long to say:

I would give anything I own,
Give up my life, my heart, my home.
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again.
Just to touch you once again.

Lyrics written by: David Gates

The Road Not Taken

I have always loved this poem. 

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

All This Time- Britt Nicole

Yes He has. 
                                                        All this time
From the first tear cry
To today's sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there
You were always there
It was You and I
You've been walking with me all this time

Ever since that day
It's been clear to me
That no matter what comes
You will never leave
I know You're for me
And You're restoring

Every heartache and failure
Every broken dream
You're the God who sees
The God who rescued me
This is my story
This is my story

I hear these people asking me
How do I know what I believe?
Well I'm not the same me
And I saw the proof I need
I felt Love I felt Your grace
You stole my heart that day

Youve been walkin with me all this time

All this time
From the first tear cry
To today's sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there
You were always there
It was You and I
You've been walking with me all this time

Roller Derby Queen - Jim Croce

When my daughter Marisa was growing up she practiced and competed in figure skating for 8 years. Once she got into high school and started wanting to be involved in other activites it got harder and harder for her to find the time to practice so eventually she had to give up her love for figure skating but I knew in my heart that one day she would return to it. Fast forward 10 years. She has since moved to Boston, graduated college and still no ice skating. Then one day she called to tell me she's going back to skating. I was thrilled. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think she meant roller skating! Yes, my daughter  plays Women's Flat Track Roller Derby.  This song is for her. So proud of my Roller Derby Queen.                         

Gonna tell you a story, that you won't believe 

But I fell in love last Friday evening 

With the girl I saw on a bar room TV screen .

Well I was just getting ready to get my hat 

When she caught my eye, and I put it back 

And I ordered myself couple of more shots and beers 

 The night that I fell in love with a roller derby queen around and round, a round and round 

The meanest hunk of woman that anybody ever seen 

Down in the arena

 She was 5 foot 6, two fifteen 

A beach blonde mama with a streak of mean 

She knew how to knuckle and she knew how to scuffle and fight 

And the roller derby program said that she was built like a 'fridgerator with a head

 Her fans called her Tuffy, but all her buddies called her Spike 

 Well I could not help it, but to fall in love

 With this heavy duty woman I've been speaking of

 Things were kinda bad, untill the day she skated into my life 

Well she might be nasty, she might be fat

 But I never met a person who would tell her that

 She's my bleach blonde bomber, my heavy handed Hackensack sack mama 

 The night that I fell in love with a roller derby queen around and round, a round and round 

The meanest hunk of woman that anybody ever seen 

Down in the arena

Lyrics written by: Jim Croce

Jar Of Hearts

To all those whose jar were filled with a pieces of my heart.

Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

I know I can't take one more step towards you

'Cause all that's waiting is regret

Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore

You lost the love I loved the most

I learned to live half alive

And now you want me one more time.

And who do you think you are?

Runnin' 'round leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

And tearing love apart

You're gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?

I hear you're asking all around

If I am anywhere to be found

But I have grown too strong

To ever fall back in your arms

And I've learned to live half alive

And now you want me one more time.

And it took so long just to feel alright

Remember how to put back the light in my eyes.

I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed

'Cause you broke all your promises

And now you're back

You don't get to get me back.

And who do you think you are?

Runnin' 'round leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

And tearing love apart.

You're gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Don't come back at all

Who do you think you are?

What price are you willing to pay for Jesus today?

There's a story about a group of Christians in Nazi Germany who were meeting in secret. Suddenly a band of soldiers broke through the door, rifles at their shoulders.

They herded the believers against a wall and ordered them to deny their faith. Those who renounced Christ could leave, but those who remained would be shot. Most of the group chose to save their lives; only a handful stood against the wall, ready to die for Jesus.

The soldiers herded the others out, locked the door behind them, dropped their weapons, and embraced the shocked believers. "We have been looking for genuine Christians," they explained. "We want to join you."

What price are you willing to pay for Jesus today?

The One Flaw In Women

I personally find these traits to be a blessing of humility not a flaw. - J

 Women have strengths that amaze men…..

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don’t take “no” for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH. 

-author unknown

The Last Song

“I have faith that God will show you the answer. But you have to understand that sometimes it takes a while to be able to recognize what God wants you to do. That's how it often is. God's voice is usually nothing more than a whisper, and you have to listen very carefully to hear it. But other times, in those rarest of moments, the answer is obvious and rings as loud as a church bell.” 

 - Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song