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"I Believe in You!" Archives Index
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| << August03, 2006 - "In the woods" |
August09, 2006 - "Hope is a Rock" >> |
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"I Believe in You!"
A message of Hope, stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
*************************************************
Hello, my friend!
Maybe my brain fried over the last few days. I had
this need
to write about boxes. It all started with the
"Pirates of the Caribbean."
Not the latest movie, the first one. We just saw
it. Okay, so we don't
keep up with the rest of the world. Here's a
shocker. We haven't watched
"Titanic" and we own a copy of it.
It is cooler now and very welcome here.
I also share some of the many comments sent to me
regarding my last
message, "In the woods." I couldn't possibly include
all of them. But
I do believe you'll enjoy the responses.
*************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"The stuff of life I value most cannot be bought or
sold.
They are the memories I tuck away for when I have grown
old.
A bit of this, a moment there, a smile, a laugh, a
sigh.
All placed inside my Treasure Chest
marked, "All the years flew by."
Bob Perks
*************************************************
You can find great gifts related to
my stories
by visiting our online gift
shop.
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Store
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F R E E
*********************************************************
Make a donation to
help us continue to
"Touch the world one person at a
time"
These messages are f r e e...
but writing and speaking is the way I make a living.
If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us
continue
our "Ministry of the Heart" in 2006 by making a donation of any
amount:
If you can't help financially at this time there is something you can
do...
an even greater need...
please pray for our mission to "touch the world one person at a
time."
Thanks, my friend!
Bob and Marianne *********************************************************
All stories copyright 2006 Bob Perks
Today's Message:
"Boxes"
By Bob Perks
Life is all about boxes. We live in them. Not
cardboard or wooden boxes,
but boxes we create in life.
I'm too tall, too short, too fat, too thin. Maybe
even, too young, or too old.
Each of those boxes limit us. When we accept those
ideas we create boundaries
for ourselves, because tall people do this, look like
this, act like this. Thin people
say things like...they act like...they look
like..."
When we see someone we consider successful who might
otherwise fall into one of those
boxes, we see them as the exception to the rule.
They broke out of that box, but that isn't
the norm.
If you think that way, you're wrong. They are not the
exception to the rule, they are the rule.
If they can be too tall, too thin, too young, too old and
accomplish great things, then all who
fall into those convenient boxes can do the same
thing. Study what they did, how, when, where
and why, and you can do the same thing.
Boxes are also countries, ethnicity, economic, and
religious limits set by those on the inside
of those boxes as well as those on the
outside.
Boxes.
All of this came to mind when I ate a cheeseburger
yesterday.
Ever since my son Evan was little, I always wanted to buy
him
a treasure chest.
He had a toy bank and locked inside was more than
money.
A cork, a chain, handwritten tokens of that time in his
life and about $12.00.
All stuff of his life at that time kept in a
box.
Maybe it's a guy thing. To have a treasure
chest is so much better
than a toy box. Guys don't have toys, they have stuff. On September 5th, Evan will be 21 and I'm still looking
for a treasure chest for him.
The challenge to find it had somehow slipped between the
cracks in time,
somewhere between 8 and 21.
It is my love for fast food that brought this challenge
back into my life.
With my children's meal I received a "Pirates of the
Caribbean" treasure chest.
When I opened the bag, I usually get excited about seeing
the french fries, but
when I pulled out the treasure chest...wow!
"That's it! I finally found...."
Wait a minute. It was only 3 inches long and about 2
inches high. How much
"guy stuff" could a 21 year fit in there?
I suddenly slumped back into my seat. The bigger
question was, "Would a 21 year
"man" still want a treasure chest?"
I realized that I had, without intention, permitted his
entire childhood to slip by never
having fulfilled that one request for a treasure
chest.
"Maybe it's me. Maybe this wasn't important to him
at all. Perhaps it is my own hidden
desire," I thought to myself.
Upstairs in my attic is an old toy chest. It's
mine. It says "Bobby" across the front.
Cowboy images cover it on all sides. The handles are
made of "real" cowboy lasso.
Do I keep my stuff in there? No. It's filled
with old record albums I'm giving to my
sons.
That's it. It's me. I'm still looking for a
treasure chest for myself. A box to keep dreams in.
Not limits or restrictions on those dreams, but a place to
keep them when I need to
be reminded.
Me? I long ago kicked down the sides of the boxes in
my life that held me back.
I have since begun collecting people, ideals, and
hopes.
Still, if I find a treasure chest for sale, I'll get
one for Evan, too. It's never too early or too late
to be a kid again.
"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks
I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when
copying I ask that
you keep my name and contact information
attached so that new readers can find their way
here. Use of this
story for commercial use is prohibited without
direct permission
from the author.
***********************************************
May I Suggest...
Need a quick pick me up?
Visit my audio blog to hear my inspirational
messages
and you can hear me sing, too.
Visit my photo album:
Why not send me your picture to be added to
"My Friends I've never met"
Think you missed a message from
me?
Here are the archives...
*************************************************
Your Comments... If you would like
to share brief comment
about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com
I will use only first names and no email
addresses.
Hi Bob,
Hope you and Marianne are
doing well. I just finished a wonderful book I'd like to
recommend to you (if and
when you have time to read!). It's called "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven"
by Fannie Flagg.
It's the story of an octogenarian who has a near death experience, and actually
IS in heaven for a little
while. It turns out to be such a wonderful place! A charming story
I think you would
enjoy.
Have a great
day!
Your friend,
Cynthia
Bob, A wonderful story.
I love nature too and see God in it all the time. It is my cathedral
too.
Thank you so much for the
story.
Susanne Bob,
I have chills! Another great one, Bob!
Jennifer
Oh Bob,How absolutely
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have felt this same Awe when we drive
up towards Mt Rainier. It just gives you
goosebumps looking at all the beauty He has
created for us. I have thanked Him so many
times for all that He has given us to enjoy.
How can people look at all the beauty and not
believe in God? I will never understand it.
Or look at a newborn baby and wonder at the
perfection. Don't they realize that
someone had to have created us? How great thou art,
Indeed!!!!! Thank you for this
beautiful message. I wish I had been there
with you. Can you imagine what Heaven
must be like? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was so great talking to you both.
Love ya so much, Betty
Dear Bob & Marianne,
How great thou art was a wonderful story. I have treasured your stories for about 4 years, & I just love how inspired by God you are. I felt
like I could truly see the woods and the
cathedral in the brook. I could even hear the frogs
croaking!
I've been praying for you also, Marianne. Your triumph over breast cancer has been truly a blessing to me, as I was scared to have mammograms
when I was younger. Your life has
touched me & your recovery has borne witness to my
spirit. When I have wanted to give up
on myself or my life, I remember your fight to live.
My family is now in Prattville Alabama full time. We rented a great house here and my husband is glad we're finally together. We are redoing
our house in Florida so that it can be
rented. My daughter is having a bit of trouble adjusting
because she has lots of friends in
Niceville and misses them very much. I am hoping when
school starts next Monday, that
she'll meet great kids and have great memories of our
time here. My son continues to grow
stronger and healthier by the day! October 10, 2006 will
mark his 4 years with his new heart,
with a lifetime to grow and learn and live. We
know God is in control and cares for each of us.
I am thankful and blessed to know you both! Love, Shannon Bob,
The only word I can think of is WOW! Knowing and
loving "How Great Thou
Art", I can see being inspired as you were. Thank you for a wonderful and inspiring story! Thank you for being you. Rose Dear Bob,
I have never told you how much I appreciate your
stories, but the one you wrote yesterday
was very timely. My father passed away on Mon. and
that was his very favorite song. It will
be sung at his funeral. Thank you so much for a
wonderful story that helped me through this
rough time.
Maryann
Bob,
AWESOME!!
WELCOME BACK. You were missed. Blessings to you and your family! Pat Great Bob this one just really got me as I am a
lover of the outdoors and nature. I would have
to put this one up there with the best. I will have to
send it to all of my kin but then I do just
about all of your stories this way. May the Lord bless
you and Marianne real good. I may not
answer very often but I never miss reading them.
from Roy down South
Thank YOU Bob!
I have had my own story of "wandering in the wilderness", and am now on a wonderful pathway of forgiveness, healing, and self loving again. I can
also say that HIS glory has touched my soul
from a very similar description to yours.
Thank you for sharing your love, and your story.
Steffanie
Bob,
I have that song on the back cover of my Franklin
Planner
It has saved me on more than one occasion
Fran
Dear Bob,
Once in my life, I had such an experience. My oldest son and I had
driven to Washington
state where my cousin lived and on our way back to Salt Lake City
where my son was
stationed in the Air Force we drove to the Olympic Rain Forest.
Following the trail into the
woods at the base of the mountain, we encountered a stream running
clear and sparkling
over the rocks and surrounding us were tall pines so high it was
difficult to look up to their
tops....as if they were stretching to touch the heavens. It
was quiet except for the sound of
the water, the birds and rustling of leaves in the breeze. And then
I suddenly realized where
I was.........in one of the magnificent cathedrals God has placed
throughout the world. My
heart still thrills with the memory of that moment.
Thank you for reminding me of that
day and the greatness of our Father God who has created such
wonders.
Nan in N. Ft. Myers, FL
Bob,
How great thou art - my all time favourite hymn, my soul
soars when I sing it! Thanks for this
story, as usual, it was wonderful!
Barbara - Johannesburg, South Africa
Bob, I, too, have felt similar awe at God's creation and
the connection to Him. I have lived here
nearly 60 years and seen the changes wrought by the
power of water pouring down a gully
in the midst of woods, creating small waterfalls and
tumbling huge rocks along in it's path,
making an "awesome wonder". God, how great thou
art!
Flora
Bob,
treasure that moment in the woods as you found living
Christ with in you,his king dom is
inside of all of us,and you opened your ears to hear
what the spirit revealed to you,how
happy i am for you.bless you dear one for He is showing
you the mysteries of the kingdom.
those who have ears let them hear what the spirit has to
say. Joan
Bob,
I just finished reading your story and I can definitely
relate to the
feelings you had. It seems that the off the beaten path is where God is..... even more than in a church. Nature, the great Earth that He made, the wild animals, all of these were created by our Savior and show how "Great Thou Art". Thank you for expressing how I feel so well. Juanita from Missouri Thank you Bob,
for today's piece! I have always loved the song
How Great Thou Art but the
4th verse has always been my favorite. Now I look
at the 2nd verse differently!
What a wonderful thought to start the day. We
truly serve an Awesome God!!!!!
Janet
Bob, this story really touched my heart. i love the song
HOW GREAT THOU ART
and always shed tears when hearing or singing it. sometimes when i'm out on my driveway after dark and look up to the sky, I sing the words. what an amazing world our god has given us.... thanks for pointing this out so brilliantly. love, wadean, oklahoma Bob,
Even in the midst of all the pain and horror of life around us, we can
still see his Miraculous
Beauty in every glance. Everyday is a day of prayer and thanks to God
for his Grace, Mercy,
Love, Hope, Patience, Resources, Peace, Forgiveness, and Time we're able to
spend soaking
up His Loveliness. I stand and gaze in awe at his majestic
beauty, and thank you for taking the
time to share your glimpse with your friends. Loving and
Appreciating you from Paris, Texas ~ Nancy!
Bob,
I have been reading your newsletter for a long
time. Today's just hit me. I can not for
the life of me understand how people can look around and not see what you and I see.
How can they say there is no GOD?,
when he is all around us, every where we look! My
husband and I wonder how many
people never notice their surroundings. The green
in the spring and the colors in the
fall, the sunrises and sunsets. I look at the
sunrise coming to work some mornings
and say, "Lord you are a fantastic painter." Thank
you for my eyes.
I Wish You Enough
A friend you've never met.
Ruth Bob,
:o) that story hit home to me. i have come to the
conclusion that our disconnection
with God as a "modern" society is in direct
relation to our disconnection with His
wonderful creation. in every other society on earth
they believe in something out there,
some god or spirit or something. it's only our
society that believes in absolutely nothing.
and i think that's because God reveals Himself in
His creation, from personal experience
i've come to learn that that's the one place i can
always find Him when i've looked everywhere
else in vain. we're so surrounded in our buildings,
our cars, our concrete, our cities, our
technology, that we've shut out so much of nature
that we've lost something of God that
can only be found in His creation.
your sister, Ellie.
My dear friend, Bob~
I was standing there with you, Bob. Thank you
for the vivid imagery; and thank you for the
thought of "How Great Thou Art".
In meditation yesterday, a prayer was answered in
the thought of saying "Thank You" more
often in gratitude. For no hurricanes thus
far. For friends. For family. For life.
So, thank you, again dear friend. Your words
are always divinely inspired.
Love, light, and blessings~Mama
T **************************************************
"I wish you enough!"
Bob Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist. Member National Speakers Association. Visit http://www.BobPerks.com Visit Bob's story site: http://www.IWishYouEnough.com Sign up to receive Bob's free stories sent three times weekly. "I wish you enough!" written by Bob Perks (c) 2001 "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye." |
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| << August03, 2006 - "In the woods" |
August09, 2006 - "Hope is a Rock" >> |
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