Image by Sandra Kuck ~TO MY SECRET FRIEND WITH LOVE~ May our friendship last forever; May I sail upon your sea. May we go through life together; May there always be a "we." May I be your endless sky; May you breathe my gentle air. May you never wonder why Each time you look for me, I'm there. May we be for each a smile Like the warm, life-giving sun; Yet when we're in pain awhile, May our suffering be one. May we share our special days, The happiness of one for two; And if we must go separate ways, Let my love remain with you. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME....... Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!" Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won! The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Freddy answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you Home. Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." The Path I've Chosen I have a dream of charity to help my fellow man; I pray the path I've chosen is a part of Heaven's plan. I have a dream of comforting each ill soul in my scope, of touching them with promise, with peace and joy and hope. I have a dream of sharing in the core of living and I hope to ease man's hurt and fears with skilled and caring hands. The morns, the days, the evenings and the nights pass quickly by; I learn and strive and minister, yet only God and I can fully know that as I start each day my prayers all rise toward Heaven as I ask that He will let my heart and eyes, my ears, my voice, my every way be filled with gentleness, and that He'll lead me rightly and help me do my best, I pray that as I touch each one as ably as I can, they'll see a heart that's filled with love for my fellow man. --Deborah O'Toole- "Oh how desperately we need to look up in the balcony of our minds. We need to see and hear the Lord and people who by their presence and their words lift our discouraged spirits and urge us onward in the race we run. For, "we are at times, fragile". --Joyce Heatherley There are two types of people: Evaluators and Affirmers. Evaluators are those who judge and are critical. An affirmer is one who builds you up. "Let me ask you. Who is the affirmer in your life, who by one small sentence or more has changed and lifted your opinion of yourself? Who was the person early in your life who recognized the first sparks of originality in the labyrinths of your mind and soul, and saw what no one else saw? And who is the special affirmer who catches quick glimpes of the flames from the fires of your potential and tells you so? Who, by his or her words, helps you to respect and believe in your own value as a person? And who is the affirmer who encourages you to stretch and dream beyond your self-imposed limits and capabilities?" I know their name. They are called Affirmer. Look up into the balcony, Evelyn, and see the Affirmers of your life. Blessings, Evelyn's angel Your laugh is like a silver bell: Clean and light and free; Just like the hours of happiness Your friendship brings to me. You're like a room of sweet wind chimes Enlightened by a breeze, Or like an open, grassy field Dotted with old trees. I'm grateful for the things you do, But more for what you are: A breath of clear, bright open sea, Of life beyond the bar. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon Thank you for you: for who you are, However far away; And for the words you send to me, Near glad for what you say. Knowing simply that you're there, Yet thinking much of me, Opens up my happiness, Undone for all to see. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon Heavenly Garden God has a lovely garden In His mansion up above, He tends the garden every day With tenderness and love. The flowers that are in it Are the sweetest and the best, To get into God's garden They have to pass a test. He goes around them every day Treating them with care, You're really very lucky You have a flower in there. And when you reach the garden You'll look at it with pride, Knowing God, He'll probably put you At your loved one's side. ~ Author unknown~ Another Mother's Day is here, Bringing joy and pleasures new, On this special day, Evelyn dear, I want to remember you. I cannot give you costly gifts, And I've told you this before, No matter what I give to you, You give back much, much more. I'm giving you a pure, sweet rose, Dew kissed, full bloom, and new, This rose you planted in my heart, The day that I met you. In kindly, loving thoughts of you, And with the faith you still impart, The rose I give to you today, Is the love that's in my heart Author Unknown "Happy Mother's Day" means more Than have a happy day. Within those words lie lots of things We never get to say. It means I love you first of all, Then thanks for all you do. It means you mean a lot to me, And that I honor you. But most of all, I guess it means That I am thinking of Your happiness on this, your day, With pleasure and with love. Friends are God's way of keeping us rich in family Friends are our Earth Angels 21 Wise Sayings 1. The best way to get even is to forget... 2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death. 3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts... 4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight... 5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth... 6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea. 7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up... 8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways. 9. Words are windows to the heart. 10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery. 11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt. 12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person-it's being the right person. 13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground. 14. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them. 15. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can't hold it. 16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you. 17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive. 18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done. 19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck... 20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher. 21. And last but not least -- God gave the angels Wings, and He gave humans CHOCOLATE!!!!! Keep smiling, and ...if you see someone's missing one.... give them one of yours!! BEST FRIEND QUOTES : "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus "If you should die before me, ask if you can bring a friend." - Stone Temple Pilots "Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say." - Anon "We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." -Tim McGraw "Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart." - Anon "Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher." Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it is a comfort to go hand in hand." ~Emily Kimbrough~ "People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross~ If you have one true friend, you have more than your share. ~Thomas Fuller~ When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." ~Walter Winchell~ If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I would not follow, I would be at the bottom to catch them when they fall. ~Source Unknown~ "If I had one gift that I could give you, my friend, it would be the ability to see yourself as others see you, because only then would you know how extremely special you are." ~B.A. Billingsly~ This one is very true, Evelyn "A true friend is someone who knows there's something wrong even when you have the biggest smile on your face." The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had. ~Unknown~ The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember... Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer Rahab was a prostitute Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt John the Baptist ate bugs Peter denied Christ The Disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Zaccheus was too small Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer... AND Lazarus was dead! ~ FRIENDS ~ As we walk our path of life, We meet people everyday. Most are simply met by chance. But, some are sent our way. These become special friends Whose bond we can't explain; The ones who understand us And share our joy and pain. Their love contains no boundaries. So, even we are apart. Their presence enhances us With a warmth felt in the heart. This love becomes a passageway, When even the miles disappear. And so, these friends, God sends our way, Remain forever near. Wisdom of the Soul 1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission. 2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be. 3. Others can stop you temporarily, only you can do it permanently. 4. Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have. 5. Success stops when you do. 6. When your ship comes in....make sure you are willing to unload it. 7. You will never "have it all together." 8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip! 9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want I will be happy." 10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it. 11. I've learned that ultimately 'takers' lose and 'givers' win. 12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared. 13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive. 14. We often fear the things we want the most. 15. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you have to say. Best friends listen to what you don't say! 16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints. 17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees. 18. Life is what is coming...not what was. 19. Success is getting up one more time. 20. Now is the most interesting time of all. 21. When things go wrong...don't go with them. 22. Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side. 23. God can mend all broken hearts... You just have to give Him all the pieces. 24. A person who asks a question might be a fool for five minutes, but a person who doesn't ask, is a fool forever. 25. A best friend is like a four leaf clover... hard to find, and lucky to have. 26. A friend is someone who reaches for your hand but touches your heart. 27. I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to. 28. Eyes are placed in front because it is more important to look ahead than to look behind. Thank you for the evening sky, The golden cloudlets way up high, Echoing the beauty of the sun, With coral blush as the day is done. I am grateful as the sun sinks low, For my meal in a lamp's soft glow, My chair near the cosy fire, A peacful home where I retire, I think of those less fortunate, In need of food- left desolate; Help me to do the best I can To bring some joy to hurting man. O lord, It's been a busy day- Not every thing has gone my way; But as I close my evening prayer, It's good to know that you are there. --Maggie Smith An Angel in Your Pocket I am a tiny angel ... I'm smaller than your thumb I live in people pockets That's where I have fun I don't suppose you've seen me I'm too tiny to detect Though I'm with you all the time I doubt we've ever met Before I was an Angel I was a fairy in a flower God, Himself hand-picked me And give me Angel power Now God has many Angels That He trains in Angel pools we become His eyes, and ears, and hands We become His specials tools And because God is so busy With way too much to do He said that my assignment Was to keep close watch on you Then He tucked me in your pocket Blessing you with Angel care Saying I must never leave you And I vowed to stay right here ! FRIENDSHIP IS A PRICELESS GIFT THAT CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD BUT ITS VALUE IS FAR GREATER THAN THE MOUNTAIN MADE OF GOLD FOR GOLD IS COLD AND LIFELESS IT CAN NEITHER SEE NOR HEAR AND IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE IT IS POWER LESS TO CHEER-- IT HAS NO EARS TO LISTEN NOR HEART T0 UNDERSTAND IT CANNOT BRING YOU COMFORT OR REACH OUT A HELPING HAND SO WHEN YOU ASK GOD FOR A GIFT BE THANKFUL IF HE SENDS NOT DIAMONDS, PEARLS OR RICHES BUT THE LOVE OF REAL TRUE FRIENDS Old and Good Friends Share a Piece Old and good friends share a piece Of passion, pain, and pleasure That no one else, no family can Begin to know or treasure. It's as if a secret room Held their private store, And every time they met, they could Go through some special door. It doesn't matter if they see Each other every day, Or years and years go by before They come and go away: The moment that they meet it all Is there--the memories of Fierce loyalty and times of need And gratitude and love. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN 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 from in 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! Life Still Has A Meaning If there is a future there is time for mending- Time to see your troubles coming to an ending. Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow- If you're looking forward to a new tomorrow. If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping- When through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping. Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling- If there is time for praying there is time for healing. So if through your window there is a new day breaking- Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching, If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning- There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning. ~ Author unknown~ Dear Evelyn, Never forget the Balcony People "Balcony People Love From the Heart" "Balcony People Listen From the Heart" "Balcony People Care From the Heart" When Balcony People Love, they take great delight in honoring each other. We hold your hand in love and softly cradle you in our arms of prayer. --Joyce Heatherley "Today, if we will but hear His voice, He still calls the weary, the burdened and the outcast to come to Him.  They that come unto Him He will in no wise cast out, but will give them to drink of living waters, and they shall never thirst again.   And for those that say, in faith, "Thou God seest me," there shall one day be no more sorrow, for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." > AND NOW, THE TIME HAS COME Oh Dearest Evelyn, You would not believe how happy I was when I discovered you were to be my spoilee for the month! But then I thought...good Lord!! Evelyn knows me soooo well, she's going to guess me! (grinning). But I wouldn't have traded this "spoiling" you for the world. (smiling). You were so gracious to enjoy the graphics I made for you, and I even smiled knowing most of them were sorely lacking in skill! I even used a few of my daughter's Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards to scan the angels. (laughing)... Anyhow, dear Evelyn, I told you...the spoiling is now complete, but the friendship will forever be strong. And now I shall unveil and tell you who I am. Forever in loving friendship,