SURE, HE WOULD HAVE MADE ROOM...

 TWO BABES IN A MANGER 

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately...until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mama and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me."

"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him...for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him...FOR ALWAYS. I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

~ Missionary Unknown ~

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"Thank You Jesus for loving... even me"

================================HUGS AND PRAYERS FOR EACH OF YOU AND YOURS, THAT GOD WILL BLESS EACH OF YOU WITH HIS PERFECT AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, GRACE, MERCIES, AND BLESS YOU SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY AND WITH LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, NEIGHBORS, AND SAFETY AND HAPPINESS. .... STILL HAVING SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR QUICK HEALING FOR NORMAN'S HAND (our son)BECAUSE OF HIS INJURY.. UNSPOKEN PRAYERS FOR ABIGAIL AND NATHAN ... PRAYERS FOR ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PASSING AWAY... PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY THAT LOST BOTH PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS IN TWO DAYS TIME.. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR BETTY JO, TIMMY AND KRISTIN DURING THE HOLIDAYS... PRAYERS FOR SHARON (a friend of ours) AND HER FAMILY,  DURING THE HOLIDAYS FOR THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF HER HUSBAND.. GOD BLESS AND COMFORT PLEASE AND THANK YOU.          

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WAS IT MONDAY ALL DAY? OR WHAT??? IT WAS JUST SO HOT AT WORK MADE US ALL FEEL SORT OF DRAINED... BUT STILL, I'M THANKFUL FOR MY JOB, (and the insurance it allows us to have.. especially for Norman) I DO GIVE IT MY VERY BEST... AND AM THANKFUL TO HAVE IT! "THANKS GOD"
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AND THANKS NORMAN FOR MY LITTLE NAP ON THE LOVE SOFA! I DO APPRECIATE IT, ALWAYS (*.*)

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NORMAN WENT TODAY TO TRY FIND A DECENT SET OF (4) USED TIRES FOR HIS TRUCK TODAY.. WITH NO LUCK .. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE AN SET THAT YOU NO LONGER USE SIZE...  265-R70-16 THAT IS WILLING TO SELL THEM FOR A REASONABLE PRICE, PLEASE CALL NORMAN AT 747-3015 THANK YOU!

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            WHISPERING A PRAYER...

PRAYING FOR MRS TERRY... PRAYING ALWAYS FOR LITTLE EVAN, AND ALL THE CHILDREN WITH EB OR ANY OTHER DREADFUL DISEASES, AND THEIR FAMILIES...PRAYING FOR HANNA.. (EVAN'S SISTER) AND HER HEALTH ISSUES.. GOD BLESS AND HEAL THEM PLEASE AND THANK YOU.. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.. PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT GOD WILL BLESS AND GUIDE OUR LEADERS TO DO WHAT HE KNOWS IS BEST AND RIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.. PRAYING FOR OUR SOLDIERS, THAT THEY WILL ALL

SOON BE BACK HOME SAFELY WITH JOBS TO COME HOME TO AND FOR COMFORT AND INNER PEACE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES...PRAYING FOR ALL THE "UNSPOKEN PRAYERS" FOR EACH OF YOU AND ASKING THAT YOU'LL PRAY FOR OURS TOO AND THANKING YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR EACH OF MY CO-WORKERS HELP US LORD TO ALL BE CLOSE, CARING AND HELPFUL TO EACH OTHER, PLEASE BE WITH THE KIDS AND HELP THEM TO CALM DOWN. SEND SOMEONE TO HELP KEEP THEM "IN LINE AND TEACH THEM SOME RESPECT".. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE LOOKING FOR JOBS, PLEASE LORD HELP THEM ALL TO FIND A DECENT JOB, SUITABLE FOR THEM... PRAYING FOR BETTY JO, TIMMY, AND KRISTIN, PRAYING THAT THEY WILL FIND INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS!... PRAYING FOR SHARON MAE  AND UPCOMING SURGERY!... PRAYING FOR HAPPINESS, REST, LOVE, AND GOOD HEALTH FOR JENNA, AND FOR SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL TO COME INTO HER LIFE AND BRING LOVE AND HAPPINESS (if she is interested) .. PRAYING FOR CHRIS, AT HIS NEW JOB AND THAT HE WILL LIKE IT AND THEY REALLY LIKE HIM AND IT BECOME A LONG TERM 'LOCAL' JOB, AND FOR HIS TOTAL SAFETY.. PRAYING FOR JEFF THAT HE WILL HAVE HAPPINESS AT WORK, AND A GREAT BIG RAISE, AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS IN HIS LIFE... UNSPOKEN PRAYERS FOR NORMAN J. AND HIS FAMILY... PRAYING FOR SPECIAL GUIDANCE IN MANY THINGS "UNSPOKEN" AND INNER PEACE ... AND AS USUAL AND ALWAYS, GIVING GOD THE THANKS, PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY IN ALL THINGS IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN!