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"I Believe in You!"
A message of Hope, stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
*************************************************
Hello, my friend!
I wanted to stand in the sunshine and feel the breathe of
spring against my face. If I did I would not get a
thing done.
I pray you are well and standing in the
light!
Bob and Marianne.
*************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"Anyone can tear down. It is the builder who makes a
difference." Bob Perks
*************************************************
"Wishes" Gift
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F R E E
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I write and speak for a living. It's
how I pay for the services
that send these stories to you for f r e e each
week.
Still...I could use your help,
too.
If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us
continue
our "Ministry of the Heart" in 2006 by making a donation:
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 *********************************************************
All stories copyright 2006 Bob Perks
Today's Message:
"As is"
By Bob Perks
"That's got to be the worst advertising I have ever
seen!" I said.
"What advertising?" he asked.
I pointed to the pin he was wearing on his
jacket.
"As is!" I said.
He appeared to be embarrassed. His face turned a
bright red and he couldn't
look me in the eye.
"Oh, that thing," he said as he fumbled to remove
it.
"Don't take it off, I was really joking," I said as I
grasped his hand. "Leave it there."
"I feel foolish," he said.
"Why?" I asked.
"I had that made for me. I wear it when...." he
began to stumble over his words.
"When?"
"When I go out."
"When you go out where?"
"Out dancing...at the club and places," he
said.
I waited for more. There wasn't any.
"That's it? What's it mean?" I asked
him.
"Oh, I want to meet a lady. A companion,
friend...you know."
"So the pin means..."
"What you see is what you get!" he replied loudly.
Then he smiled.
"Oh, like a used car..."As is?" I said.
He started laughing. "I know it's silly, but I'm too
old to be trying to impress
someone. They're all looking for
"razzle-dazzle."
"You have razzle-dazzle!" I assured him.
Through his now increased laughter he said, "I have a
little bit of "razzle"
but I think I lost my "Dazzle."
We both sat there laughing. "I can relate to that!"
I said.
"Really, "As is" isn't a bad deal. I think it's a
brilliant way to start a
conversation with a stranger," I said.
"Well, I have met a few ladies because of it," he
said.
"Nothing became of it? I mean, you didn't meet the
special love of
your life?" I asked.
"No. Most of them came "As is," too. But they
needed a lot of work," he said.
"You're not buying a car there. I think we are
all "As is." There's a
lot of mileage, a lot of issues, you know...the stuff
of life," I said.
It got me thinking about things. I can picture those
words on a sale agreement for
used equipment or as a description in a want add for
something being sold.
Usually when you see them, you hesitate, simply because
it suggests there may be
something wrong with it. Enough wrong that the
seller didn't want to fuss with it.
They didn't want to invest anything more in it so you have
to take it as it is.
The price is lowered, the expectations limited and you
just hope someone
will take it because you don't want to keep it any
more.
I sat quietly thinking about it.
Who would want something or someone marked "As
is?"
The one with vision. The one who sees hope and
potential. The one who looks at sand
and still sees a place to grow. The one who
sees withered and lifeless and takes time to prune away
the dead parts and nurture the life back into
it. The one who reaches for the rose knowing
there may be thorns, but willing to take a chance
because they value the beauty in it.
The one who lights the smallest candle in the darkest room while others sit in
fear of the unknown.
God, take me "As is" and help me to see again. Cut
away the lifeless, wasted parts of my life and
nurture it until it bears fruit worthy
of You. Help me to see the beauty within my life. It has
been buried
for so long in the thorns of
negativity. Teach me to be the light for those who hide in
darkness.
God, I am "as is," and pray that through you, I
will become "As you want me to be."
"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.
***********************************************
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Visit my photo album:
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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:
"small"
Bob,
I have always wanted to see New York City... as with many, some of my favorite television programs find their
setting there. I have always wondered if the "oceans of people" would be
too much for me, you know
over stimulation? Being from small town America more specifically
Texas I am use to total
strangers bidding you good morning as you make your way through it.
I would like to think I am well rounded enough to make personal contact with someone... but then in the big
cities I guess things are just moving too fast. I do believe that every
one
life we touch starts a
chain reaction allowing Gods plan to manifest in our lives. We are
all glad you enjoyed your
trip even in a "small" way (and that you made it home safe & sound...)
for the things you write
about are often the small things that we don't ...even in small town
America often slow down
to see & I have learned to appreciate them from your perspective.
God Bless!
Rick San Angelo, TX Bob, I work at Europe's
biggest oil refinery. now i'm a country girl and i hate
any marr on the
countryside so working here kinda grates against my inner core,
however there have been
times when i'm out on site surrounded my monstrous and
noisy mechanical
structures and rusted abandoned pipework and there's grey and ugly
everywhere, then in the
midst of all this the flowers bloom, they rise up among the
pipetracks and as you say
in the cracks of the concrete, it always brings a smile to
my face, it's nice to
know that God truly is EVERYWHERE and he paints his
beauty everywhere he
goes.
Ellie. Dear Bob~
In our English language, "dog" spelled backwards is "God".
Makes one think for a moment.
Ever notice how a dog will pick up on a character challenge
long before we humans do? Ever notice how they will wag
their tail when you might be a bit afraid? They love
unconditionally...
much like our Father does.
You truly deliver a message to one's soul; and I thank our heavenly
Father for such a blessing!
Love, light, and blessings~Mama T
Bob,
Funny how God always brings out what He wants you to see - huh?
Just wanted to say hello to you again. I just re-signed for your
messages.
I changed internet providers and email addresses so i lost everything
i had been
receiving. Sure did miss you my friend. Hope that all is well
with you and Marianne.
God's richest blessings to you from Paris, Texas......
Nancy Bob, Great story. Easy to relate to this one.Thanks! Great story Bob,
I grew up in New York. I am still a New Yorker even though I have been in Indiana since high school. I loved it when you mentioned the dogs. No matter where I am, if there is a dog, I am fine. I can connect with a dog immediately, and they always make me smile.
I have never met a
dog that did not like me. I believe they can sense dog people.
I loved it when you said they
looked back.
Hope you have a great week-end. "I'll see you in my prayers" Corinne Hi Bob...I appreciated your story of "small" it
just made me realize why I love
the country and the "boonies" as my sister who lives in the
city of Green Bay Wis say's.
That's all right I feel blessed living in the middle of no
where where life is slower
and simpler and I can watch my dogs, rabbits, birds, cats,
raccoons, snakes etc etc etc
with great appreciation and love. Yes I love the
"smallness" of it all.
Thanks again
Your never have met friend
Wendy from Friendship Wis
Bob, What a clever guy you are! To bring the love of dogs and the
unbiased affection
that they give freely to a stranger in a big city, lifted my spirits
as I read your story
about your trip. There's just something about unconditional that our
canine friends
bring to us that makes life worthwhile---even when we're lonely,
especially when we're lonely.
Thanks, again, for making my day and believing in me.
Your friend in Texas, Linda
Bob,
I get the same feeling when I am in a crowd....but I would like to go
up
to each person and ask them what they are doing here..and about their lives. It is sad that we really know so little about so few people. When I see a row of houses, I feel the same way. I know inside there is a family, with love, issues, and problems of the world. Would be most interesting to share their lives for a short time~ Welcome back~ S.Galster Bob,
man, that story made me smile. i know what you mean, i'm a country girl
having to live
in the city while i study and it's the little things that make me smile. a
friend gave me the
funniest look the other day because i was having a bad day but the sight of
this really happy
dog skipping along beside it's owner totally cheered me up. :o) he was like
"it really is the
simple things in life for you isn't it?" :o) thanks for sharing.
Ellie. (Scotland) **************************************************
"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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