Archives at Zinester: "The Next Place". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "The Next Place" - March10, 2006

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

I value you for all you are and all God plans for your life!

I am honored to be here and now with you.

After sharing my rainbow story I drove off to hospice and right in

front of me a rainbow without any rain in sight. It wasn't very big...

just a part of a thin cloud rim around the sun, but it was JUST what I needed.

It appears many rainbow chasers are a part of this list. I share

comments after today's story.

I have a favor to ask of each of you...three of my "friends I've never

met" are facing cancer. Please pray for Cindy, Kathy, and Carolyn.

Of course for all who are facing life challenges.

Bob and Marianne Perks

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"Want an abundant life? Add to it more than you take from it." Bob Perks

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These messages are f r e e.

Writing and speaking is the way I make a living.

If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us continue

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If you can't help 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

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Today's Message:

"One day, when I go to the next place..."

Of course he was talking about when he dies. But, like words

often do, those last three stayed there with me the rest of the day.

Maybe it is because I'm losing some friends at the end of this month.

Maybe it's because life is changing once again for me. So, all I've

been able to think about is the next place.

The hospice office is moving. Some of my dearest friends may not be.

The whole structure of all I valued there is changing.

The next place is an unknown, temporary spot that someone in some

out of touch executive position thought would be a good idea.

So, I've been thinking about all "the next places" I've been in my life.

I was always dreaming of the places I'd go. As much as dreaming is a

favorite past time for me, I've discovered that I often spent way too much

time dreaming of what would come one day. It left the pure enjoyment of

"what is now" just lying there lifeless and unappreciated.

There are three sides to all of this. The real success in living is to fully

enjoy "now," look forward to "then" and learn from "before."

"Now" is a gift we need to grasp hold of and wrap ourselves around.

Smell it, taste it, love it like it is all you have or ever will have.

"Then" is a place you see when you close your eyes and hop aboard the

train that can take you where you want to go, dream of all you want to

become, and plan on how to get there.

"Before" is the movie of your life in reruns. We can play it over and over

again and each time selectively edit it to fit. Our memory of it can remove

those things we wish to forget, add a few new perceptions of the way it

was or almost was. We can also simply play it through uncut and learn

from all that really took place.

All of this goes with me as I move on to the next place.

Although there have been times in my life that such a move only brought

pain and sadness, I can honestly say that most have added to my life.

I have begun to see each day as the next place to begin a new journey.

I will not enter a day in fear as I have many times in my life, but welcome

it with open arms. Choosing to see it that way helps me to begin with

great anticipation, excitement and deep appreciation for the gift of more time.

I will not go from here into the next place empty. How could I possibly?

For I have been filled to capacity with the love of family, the value of having

friends, the joy of meeting strangers and the good fortune to have ever lived at all.

If God brought me to "now," He will see me through "then," just as he always has "before."

I will see you all in "the next place."

"I believe in You!"

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

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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.

RE: "I still could see the sun"

thanks for sharing that, that's so awesome, i love the way God works, i just love God. Eleanor

What a wonderful story ! Thank you for writing it ! I too am a rainbow watcher .

May you have lots of rainbows to look at and be a part of . debbie in WI

Bob,

Yes, my friend, you ARE the pot of gold, and few realize the treasure they have in you!

Rosemaria

What a wonderful story!! You were a part of the rainbow!! :) Jana

Bob,

You've done it again! Just when I needed to hear a specific message, you are there

to be God's messenger. You see, I unexpectedly lost my job the day before Ash

Wednesday. While I have no doubts that God has something in store for me, as a

mere human, I can't help but to feel the normal emotions of one in my position. Your

message was a great lift to me. Please pray, not that God gives me a job, I know

that has already been taken care of, but that I recognize the path that God desires

for me. God has trusted me with many talents, literally and figuratively, so I know

that God prospers me.
God bless and keep you and prosper all of your endeavors, exponentially.
Your friend and sister-in-Christ,
Deborah

Dear Bob,

I wanted to first thank you for sharing your stories with me and the rest of the internet

community. Your words seem to always lift me up exactly when I need it (as the world always works).

Today, however was one that I will never forget. I just had read your story about the rainbow an hour

or so ago and I just happened to walk into my office and low and behold....there was a rainbow

right above my computer happily clinging to the wall. It isn't raining outside but it is sunny today.

The way the light was coming through the window perfectly made about a 3 feet long

rainbow from the ceiling to the middle of the wall. If I hadn't walked into the room when

I did I would have missed it b/c it only lasted for about 2 minutes.

This may be a small thing to most people but today it was a miracle to me. Even though

I do not know you personally, you brought a rainbow to me today...Thank you!

Your friend forever,

Heather

Bob,

Standing where the rainbow starts ... that's definitely you, Bob Perks. You spread so much

inspiration to others -- even on a day when you are feeling low. Thanks for all your continual

messages of hope and joy. May it all return to you 1000-fold. Have a GREAT day appreciating

the wonders of God's creation and sharing them with others.

Blessings,

Sharla

Bob,

wow, thank you so much for that story. i was hoping at the end that you would see the rainbow,

but that ending is so much better, God is so awesome! He always writes perfect endings! Eleanor

Bob - Love the rainbow story, as a youngster on the farm, one rainy day I was looking out the

front window and saw a beautiful rainbow, one end of it was right behind the dam of the pond

about 1/4 of a mile away. I was so excited about actually seeing the end of the rainbow that

I ran across the hay field toward the pond, I wanted to stand in the rainbow. (Well I was

also curious about the pot of gold) That darn rainbow kept moving, never did get to it and

finally it disappeared. I found myself standing on the dam, rain was coming down hard now,

out of breath, but excited that I had at least seen the end of the rainbow. That was over 50

years ago and I have not thought about that in a long long time. Thanks for the trip down

memory lane.

Thank You

Another Bob

Bob,
That was AWESOME! Kate

Bob, how beautiful a story and message for us all. Thanks for sharing your life as you do....

Jim

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"I wish you enough!"
Bob

Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

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"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."