{Straight From the Heart} *Voices* 1/4/00 Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!" If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to forward it on to family and friends. If this has been passed along to you and you want to join the list, just send a blank email to: Thunder27@aol.com I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to write me (Michael T. Powers) and let me know what you think! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some background on today's story by Denise Christianson: I wrote this while I was on an airplane. I was looking out the window and for a few minutes was able to watch a lightning storm from a great distance. This is what resulted: VOICES Voices. Screaming. Demanding all attention. But the quiet voice of God can calm the storm. Voices. Sneering. Dejecting and demeaning. But the gentle voice of God can fill with love. Voices. Crying. Looking for direction. But the soothing voice of God can lead the way. Voices. Luring. Deceiving all the masses. But the beckoning voice of God deceives them not. Voices. Cutting. Ripping the heart to shreds. But the healing voice of God can mend the soul. Voices. Ranting. Denying God's existence. But the patient voice of God will prove them wrong. Voices. Cheering. Knowing they've won a battle. But the confident voice of God has won the war. Denise Christianson dchrist084@aol.com Send Denise an email and let her know what you thought! *** A little bit about Denise: I am a stay-at-home mom of Hannah (4) and DJ (2), with one expected in April. I am married to a wonderful man named Paul who is a college piano professor. I have been writing for a number of years, but this is the first time I have ever "submitted" anything to the public. Forever Friends My spirit lifts and my heart pounds faster Just because in your presence I am Your thoughts are cherished and treasured For with me they shall always stand tall Your words make me ponder On dreams gone by and on life yet to be But mostly on things here and now Pondering on life and sharing a smile At times I wish I could reach out for you And have you there at my side My life I want to share with a friend And you seem to be the one in which I confide I don't blame you for being far away I knew that was part of the game But just the same I hold on to you Until you return once again You are missed more than you know Your friendship I hold very dear You always make sure that you come back again And discard away all of my fears By that lake we will sit one day soon And talk till all hours of the night For time will stand still for you and I Until the barriers and the walls all subside Our friendship will be stronger and forever it shall last For now our souls would be bound Our secrets we've shared, our lives we've compared And forever we will always be there. November 27, 1999 by Miriam Campo http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?miry316 REFLECTIONS by Miriam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thought For The Day: "Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it." (Doug Larson) Verse for the Day: "I would have you learn this great fact: that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is. If you live that kind of a life, you'll not limp or stumble as you run ." Proverbs 4:11,12 Kid's Thought For The day: "Where you're going is more important than where you stand." Parent's Thought For The Day "Children are natural mimics - they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners." Coach's Thought For The Day "Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough." (George Washington Carver) Deep Thought For The Day: "If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around." _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html /_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but \_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son \_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20