Archives at Zinester: "If you only knew". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "If you only knew" - February13, 2007

"I Believe in you!"

A message of Hope...stories from the road.

************************************************

Welcome back to all my AOL "friends I've never met."

I have been hurting so much knowing I could not reach you.

I was about to contact you one by one to tell you I am still here.

Many started writing to me worried that something had gone wrong.

My wife and I are doing great.

Now even greater knowing I can reach you again.

To everyone else, I humbly thank you for always giving me a

place in your day to share my hopes and dreams with you.

Love always and all ways,

************************************************

Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"There is so much more beyond what is seen. To have faith is to transform

believing into knowing." Bob Perks

************************************************

Would you help us, please?

It is a mission of the heart completely supported by my

"friends I've never met"...You!

We have a great collection of cards, posters, mugs,

shirts, and gifts for your dog, too.

Or...Make a d o n a t i o n to help support our efforts

to "Touch the world one person at a time."

This link will take you to my web page for more information,

shopping, and ways you can help.

I humbly thank you in advance...

Love always and all ways,

Bob and Marianne Perks

********************************************

"The problem is we just don't know," he said.

"We just don't know what?" I asked.

"We just don't know what is expected of us."

"From friends and family?"

I didn't think that to be true. I believe no matter what our faith,

there are clear guidelines set for each of us.

"Isn't there a rule book? I think we call it the Bible?" I said smiling.

He gave me one of those looks my wife gives me when I am being

"I'm not talking about rules. I'm not talking about guidelines for how we

should live," he said.

"I don't believe we know what God sees in us. I don't believe we know

the potential, the possibilities, the facts and the truth we hold inside ourselves."

I was stunned. I mean, I really never thought about it that way. He was right.

I believe most of us see our faith as rules and regulations. Like a "how to" book on life

or an instruction manual for operating within our faith.

"God is telling us so much more, but we aren't listening. In fact, I believe those outside

any kind of faith, see it as too limiting. Many faith-filled believers don't even realize

what they have," he continued.

"Faith is seeing a stream but believing in the ocean," I said.

"Yes!" he shouted with excitement.

I love conversations like this. I need to hear what I believe to be true. God has given us

instructions not on how to live, but how to become all He sees in us. Words not of

possibilities, but of fact.

"If we only knew," he said.

How powerful that is. Faith is not just possibilities. To have faith says "This is what I know,"

not "This is what I think I know."

Faith is not "What I believe," but "what I know to be true."

The very second we turn believing into knowing we instantly become all that God sees in us.

If I only knew...love I would be more loving.

If I only knew...hope, I would be hope-filled.

If I only knew...I could not fail, I would be successful.

If I only knew...happiness, sadness would not have a place in my life.

If I only knew...joy, joy would be given to all who knew me.

If I only knew...peace, there would be no war.

To know is to see what God sees in you.

To see what God sees in you is to acknowledge God in your life.

Faith..."if you only knew."

"I believe in you," because I know God does.

I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and

contact information with my work.

*********************************************

Have a comment about today's story?

please write to Bob@BobPerks.com

RE: "Something in your eyes"

My good friend Bob,

Thank you for another well written message reminding those of us who
have been blessed enough to read people to remember that we must
"choose" to use this gift from God... to know when someone is hurting
in order to make a positive influence in their lives. God Bless you &
our love to Marianne.

Rick
San Angelo, TX

LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES!

You waxed so eloquently with the explanation for those four words!

If only I had the talent to do the same with words. I, so much, look

forward to your email stories. If only there was one a day---I know,

I know---you have to find "your inspirations" albeit even for the ones

that come to you.

BLESS YOU and family for sharing the ones you do.

Daffy

Bob,

Once again you touched upon something that has made my friendship

deeper and my own woes seem insignificant at times.

I believe God gave us ears not just to hold sunglasses and our eyes not

just for glasses..........When one looks beyond mundane conversation,

you can hear the pain someone bears even over the phone....And when

you look for a sign of the heart in someone's eyes, you may find a glisten!!

You become intuitive....oft' I have been asked "How did you know that???"

The eyes and the voice cannot hide that which abounds therein!

My purpose as a Mom was to make sure I knew my children---truly

knew them.....no one this side of heaven knows them, their hearts, their

strengths, weaknesses and joy and struggles than I..... I also have learned

my husband in the same manner.

As a friend, it is my unspoken commitment of the relationship..It is not a

matter of pride...I observe, and listen!

There is much flowing from the heart with the eyes, and the voice....you.

must go beyond yourself, and truly encourage one that you hear and they

know you are faithful in prayer when you make an audible commitment to

that person.....You will be entrusted with precious deep places that are

sacred and must not be taken lightly...

You see, once a brick is removed from the wall created around the heart,

once seems vulnerable, and they weigh the cost of allowing someone to

remove it and if they are worthy of seeing the inner pain. This my friend,

cannot and should not be taken lightly...Cry out to God for them!

Instead of the surface conversation, you must truly mean "how are you?"

when you speak it.....that is a ministry God can entrust to you, and you

commit to prayer for that casual meeting.....words of kindness can melt the

abruptness of the most hardened cashier!..those seeds of kindness may

make a difference between heaven and hell in someone's life!

I am one that is thankful for your online sharing amidst your pain!

Pat

"I Wish You enough!"
(c) 2001 Bob Perks

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."