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{Straight From the Heart} *The Father's Voice* 2/21/01
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I just wanted to take the time to thank all of you for taking the time to write
to Brittnia with your comments and birthday wishes. One of the things I
enjoy most running this list is the many lives that are touched because
all of you take the time to care. May you know that you have blessed my life
the last couple of years...
Michael
If you missed yesterday's story you can read it in our archives at the
following link: http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/022001/
AOL USERS Click Here: Brittnia's Here
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A Very Special Thank You!
From: BR22000@aol.com
I have received so many birthday wishes from all over the world! I have had
people tell me that by reading your story I have touched their lives....that is such
an awesome feeling. Thank you for that. I also have had people ask me when
my wedding date is and I even got asked to baby-sit someone's children! I was
wondering if you could send the following thank-you out to everyone on your list.
I think it would be the best and fastest way to thank all the wonderful people who
sent me birthday wishes. I would really appreciate it!
Thank you to everyone who sent me a birthday wish on my birthday. It was so
awesome to open my mail and see so many e-mails from all around the world!
It was an awesome feeling and made my birthday very special. It is so great to
see that there are people out there that will take the time and wish someone they don't even know a happy birthday. Thanks again for all the wonderful birthday
wishes! God bless you all!
Brittnia Brandl
Quick Note From Michael:
Kristi and I have Brittnia under a baby-sitting contract through the year 2015!
At that time, the rest of you may contact her. Until then you may call me, her agent,
to see if she has any openings. Our number is 1-800 Not-a-Chance!
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The Father's Voice
By Kenneth L. Pierpont
Sometimes you can be enjoying a beautiful, mundane afternoon and be plunged
into a heart-rending crisis within a few seconds. That happened to us one
quiet afternoon a few years ago. I was walking out across the yard enjoying
the laughter and play-sounds of the children coming from the other side of
the barn.
There was an old corn crib beyond the barn and the children loved to use as
a little jail. It was made of wire and rusty angle iron and had a door with
a latch.
A few times in my life I have had impressions, strong mystical inner
feelings. Sometimes they prompt me to fulfill some obligation, more often
they warn of danger. Walking toward the barn I had a strong impression in my
heart to call for little Heidi. All the children were playing there beyond
the barn and out of sight, but it was Heidi that came to my mind. There was
a feeling of urgency attached to the thought.
"Heidi," I called. "Come here." Nothing.
"Heidi." No answer.
I felt a stirring feeling in my heart and called out again louder this time
wishing she would answer.
What I saw next is a scene that I will never forget. Heidi is a beautiful
little girl. She has long blonde hair and mountain-lake-blue-colored eyes.
Her voice is low like her mother and sisters. She is a quiet middle child
who is has always been easy to raise.
She came through the barn door and out into the sunlight from the shadows of
the barn and her beautiful little face was covered with blood. There was a
gash on her forehead and it was gapping open and bleeding fast. It made my
heart hurt to see it. It still hurts to think about it.
The children spilled out the details of the story. The neighbor boy was in
the "jail" and trying to get out. A small stick was in the latch. He knew if
he kicked the door the stick would snap and he would be free. He kicked with
all his might at the same moment Heidi walked in front of the door. The
sharp frame of angle iron caught her in the center of her forehead.
The children crowded around her with fearful looks on their faces. It was
clear this was not going to be a do-it-yourself first aid job. She was
heading for the emergency room for stitches. Immediately I began to feel
sick about the scar that would most certainly mar her pretty little face.
I would so willingly have traded places with her. Lois and I cleaned her up
and Lois used a butterfly bandage to close the wound until I could get her
to the doctor. It was about twenty miles to his office. The office was
closed, but he agreed to meet us there anyway.
All the way the lump stayed in my throat and my heart raced. I prayed; "O,
Lord, please don't let Heidi's pretty little face have a scar.
When we finally arrived at the doctor, he said, looking at the butterfly;
"Who did this?" "Her mother, I said." "I'm not going to touch this," he
said. "This will heal up fine the way it is. You tell your wife she did a
great job."
I reached for my wallet. The doctor stopped me. Listen, you stop on the way
home and take the money you were going to use for me and see to it that this
pretty little girl gets some ice cream.
"Will there be a scar?" I asked. "Ken, in a few weeks I doubt if you will
even remember this happened", he said reassuringly.
I thanked the good man and warmly shook his hand. Heidi and I walked to the
car holding hands. Back in the car my heart settled and a wave of
thanksgiving and relief flooded over me. I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving
to the Lord, than Heidi and I thanked the Lord together. We headed to Dairy
Queen. (The doctor usually charges about $60.00 a visit so I figured we
could really tank up, what with $30.00 a piece and all).
"Heidi," I asked as we drove, "Did you hear me calling you, Sweetheart?"
"Yes," she answered quietly in her little low voice.
"Did you come the first time you heard me call?"
"No"
"Why, Honey?"
"I was going to come but I just wanted to go over to the corncrib first."
"Is that when you got hurt."
"Yes."
"Oh, Heidi," I said; "Please remember always to come the first time you are
called."
"If you had come the first time you were called, you would never have been
hurt."
The road wound home over tender green hills beautiful in early spring. We
dove slowly enjoying our time together. My grateful heart meditated on my
Heavenly Father. All His plans for me are good. I never need to be slow to
answer the first time He calls. So many painful experiences in my life could
have been avoided if I had answered the first time he called.
Ken Pierpont
pastor@ncats.net
Send Ken an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
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Ken Pierpont and his wife Lois have four sons and four daughters. Ken is a
communicator who speaks at camps, retreats, conferences and home school
seminars. He and his family sing together and their family goal is to nudge
everyone they know a little closer to Jesus. He is the Senior Pastor of
First Baptist Church in Fremont, Michigan.
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REQUESTS:
From: Jootero@aol.com (Jo)
Please put this in your request section. Please pray for my husband and I. I have
driven him away by not trusting him and accusing him of not loving me. I need to
thank God for what he is given me and I just haven't in so long.
Sincerely, Jo
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From: tavegia@bellsouth.net (Diane Tavegia)
Our little country church discovered last week that our church secretary had been
stealing from us for quite a while. Before she disappeared, leaving her husband and
three children, she changed the password on our church computer, took all the
financial files and left many months worth of unpaid bills. We are in need of a
financial miracle to replace all she stole. Please pray for Pleasant Grove Baptist
Church, Villa Rica, Georgia and also for the missing secretary/wife and mom.
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Thought For The Day:
"The well of Providence is deep. It's the buckets we bring to it that are small."
--Mary Webb
Verse for the Day:
"Look at the birds of the air...your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" -- Matthew 6:26
Kid's Thought For The Day:
It was the end of the day when an officer parked his police van in front of the
station. As he gathered his equipment, his K-9 partner, Jake, was barking,
and he saw a little boy staring at him.
"Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked.
"It sure is," the officer replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at him and then towards the back of the van.
Finally he said, "What'd he do?"
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"Train your child in the way in which you know you should have gone yourself."
--Charles H. Spurgeon
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been."
Wayne Gretzky
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Things could be worse. Suppose your errors were counted and published
everyday, like those of a baseball player."
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "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
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