Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 20, 2006

Today’s announcements

Congratulations goes out to Steve Popoola from Biblepraise newsletter, he becomes writer #242 for Storytime Tapestry.

 Hello to all of the wonderful Storytime readers!

I wanted to take a moment and thank each and everyone of you for extending your heartfelt  words of welcome to me.

 I sat down to check my mail and clicked on Storytime and found out that I had become a senior writer. To all of you who have just began your journey through your writings..you can relate to my overwhelming emotions.  It is so difficult to believe, that how my making one decision has spun my life into a whirlwind of beautiful, new and exciting experiences. To elaborate:  My journey began through the help of my cousin Debra, who lead me through a door that I never really thought of as an option for me. I sent her some of my writings to read over and much to my surprise "she liked them".  Soon after she sent my writings to Carol at Storytime. Carol then opened up her wings and invited me in...and you the readers and writers of Storytime  rolled out my welcome matt.

  From the deepest corners of my heart ...I Thank you and I am  honored  to be among the ocean of special  people here at "Storytime Tapestry."

                                     God Bless, 

                                                   Mary M. Dees

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

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"The Legacy of Warriors"

                                         Paula Booher

                   (Inspired by Leeuna Foster of Storytime Tapestry)

I just finished reading a story by a writer from Storytime.  Her name is Leeuna Foster, writer # 331.  Her story touched my very soul.  Her young husband had survived two wars only to come home and die a tragic death suddenly while in the middle of raising his family. Instantly I had a title and had to write something for this woman.  That's the way it goes with inspiration.  One thing happens and another action takes place.  A constant movement of life in order for us to go on.  In Leeuna’s story she is pregnant with another child.  Another life is being brought forth as her husband’s is ending.  Or as I see things his life is progressing to the Next level.  To me life never ends once it has begun.  It only changes into the next progression or level of existence.  A soul does not cease to exist.  There are many theories on how it begins or if it Always existed.  This story does not address that issue. 

This story is about a life going forward.  The legacy of a warrior.  Leeuna and her children must go forth.  The sad Truth is that she is not the first nor will she be the last to face this sort of tragedy.  Her pain is not uncommon.  Whether it be at the hands of a murderer or disease or an accident, so many of our brave fighting soldiers come home to a similar fate.  To be killed in battle gets them a purple heart and a banner service with all the trimmings with High Honor.  To die on the home front in peacetime seems almost to go unnoticed for so many.  If not for those who served along side them in those battles there may not be a memory of it at all.  If not for the wives, mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, children, inlaws, and friends who waited patiently for their safe return who would have been there for some?  Sadly, some soldiers had or have no one.  They came or come home to emptiness.  If not for the depression they would have had no company at all.  That is not the core of This story either...

This is about a woman and her strength in the midst of great loss.  How is she to cope and carry on  from this day Forward...?  As I read Leeuna’s story I can only imagine the next days and months ahead.  Obviously the baby will be born.  That can't be stopped.  The time will come when she will tell her baby about the father and do her best to fill in all the blanks for her child.  Then my mind was full of inspiration.  What could I do to help this dear woman?  What could I contribute as a mother myself?  What would "I" do if this were me and I was trying desperately to help my child know someone they had never met?  It may go something like this:

Sweetheart let me introduce you to a love I once knew

Someone who looked a lot like you,

He used to throw his socks around the floor that way too

And sometimes he made me blue.

He could make me laugh

He had a way I guess you could say,

He had lots of special funny ways

Of filling up my endless days.

He wasn't perfect So don't put him on any pedestals

Don't put any shiny awards on display,

He fell off swing sets just like you

Don't expect perfection from yourself this way.

Just be the wonderful you that you will become

I love you just the way you are,

You are a beautiful example of he and I

The best, the wonderful, and the bizarre!

Life is full of surprises

We could never have predicted its' path,

What a gift it will unwrap for you if you let it

Never be consumed by its' wrath.

Give the best of yourself from within your soul

And the best will always return in time,

Love others with truth and honesty

Integrity, sincerity, and hope are His design.

Walk forward with Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness

Never let fear be your master,

You will overcome everything

And your future will never be a disaster.

These are my only words of wisdom my sweet child

As I peer into your wondering eyes,

Love is the best I will ever have to give you

In the night when your lonely heart cries.

Daddy is always with you

Guarding and watching and keeping you safe,

He won't let anyone hurt you

Be strong my fair little waif.

From one mother to another

copyright C Paula Deann (Roe) Honeycutt Booher

June 1st, 2006 3:47 a.m.

wrappednword@yahoo.com

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 Hello Carol,

I congratulate you and your team for starting off Storytime Tapestry. I have read quite a number of your stories and published same on the Biblepraise Newsletter, blessing quite a number of our readers.

I am sending the story below as a contribution to your newsletter and hope to send more as time goes on.

God bless you real good

Steve O. Popoola

Biblepraise Fellowship Online.

Don’t You Dare Give Up!

By Steve Popoola

Life can be tough. Some people seem to have things easy at particular times while for others, it seems as if they have to struggle to accomplish every little thing others take for granted.

Personally, it has been a mixed grill though it looks like I’ve had more tough times than easy ones. However, whether things have been tough or easy, I do not fail to see the faithfulness of God in every situation.

God did not create us to give up. When we were created, we were “made in His image and in His likeness”.  Being made in the image of God, we are expected to ‘have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the bird of the air and over all the earth………..” Gen 1:26

We have a God who never gives up. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jer 31:3. Can imagine how long it has taken God to get your attention? He has loved man for centuries and up till this moment, that love keeps reaching out to people everywhere in order to save.

Someone may be struggling with a habit or secret sin and you are saying, ‘that’s it, I can’t take it anymore.  I beg you, please don’t give up! God is on your side, helping you on and giving you the courage you need to overcome. The reason you haven’t given in is because He has been helping you. The enemy has been bombarding your mind with all sorts of darts and missiles and you are beginning to think you can’t go on. The reason those darts have not killed you is because God has been protecting you from harm.

Did you think for one minute that you were on your own? Oh no!  God is true to His word always. He said “I will never leave your nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5) He was there all the time!

It is not unusual to hear people say, “You can’t understand how I feel”. I may not know how you feel but I know someone who knows exactly how you feel. I love the way the Amplified Version of the Bible reads; “For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning”.  Jesus knows exactly how you feel! He was hungry, disappointed and disowned by friends, betrayed, beaten, bereaved, just name whatever it is you are going through and you can be sure Jesus went through it.

God never gives up! Imagine how many times you failed him. You promised you would never go back to that sin but somehow, you found yourself back there. It didn’t happen once but each time, God’s open arms were ready to take you back.

If you are thinking of giving up today, I have only one piece of advice, ‘Don’t you dare!’

Steve Popoola

© 2006 Biblepraise Fellowship Online

steve@biblepraise.org

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Poetry Section

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Children of the King (1)

Joyce Lock

If Birds can Sing
and Fly with Wings ...

Enjoying the Ping
of Mountain Springs ...

Hearing Nature Ring
of Melodious Things ...

How much more can we,
Being Children of the King.

© by Joyce C. Lock

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CHILDREN OF THE KING (2)

Joyce Lock

We are royalty, children of the KING.
He gives us power over rulers and things.
The world's our oyster. God is our shell,
To help save people from a horrible hell.

When building His Kingdom as we are told,
God is ever bringing in the fold.
Together, we make a perfect team.
May we remember, we're children of the KING.

© by Joyce C. Lock

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~ Immortality ~

 Joyce Lock

Long after we're dead,

Long after we're gone,

Through others, we pray,

May Our Seed Live On!

~ * ~

If you want to build a ministry that will withstand the Gates of Hell,
Seek the Master Builder.

© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

Utilizing scripture to show where we've been, where we are,

and where He's leading, as it pertains to baptisms.

Readers Feedback

 Joe sure writes some wonderful stories. Jene Lind

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;

Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator