Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

February 8, 2008

Today’s Announcement

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

  ~**~**~

ON THE SLOW TRACK

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     "Get on the Fast Track to success in life Now!" These were the words blaring out of my car radio when I turned my engine on the other day. I didn’t wait to hear what it was advertising before I switched to another station. The fast track in life has never been for me anyway. I have always found my own success in life on the slow track.

     Being on the slow track gives me time to talk to my friends and be with my family. It lets me watch the sun rise in the morning sky and set at the end of the day. It gives me moments to sip coffee and laugh at the comics in the newspaper. It reminds me to stop and sniff the dogwoods and flowers in the Spring, walk barefoot in the grass in the Summer, romp in the leaves in the Fall, and make snow angels every Winter. It helps me to keep my arms, hands, and face in good shape by giving me plenty of time to hug my kids, pet my dogs and cats, and smile at all of life’s simple pleasures. It allows me to take long walks on warm evenings and feel the breeze on my face. It lets me read uplifting books, listen to beautiful music, and dare to sing along myself.  Most of all it gives me time to pray. It gives me time to thank God everyday for my life. It gives me time to ask for His help in loving others, spreading joy, and growing in oneness with Him.

     Being on the slow track helps me to be the person I was meant to be, to do the things I was meant to do, and to learn the wisdom I was meant to learn. That to me is what true success in life is all about. The slow track may be a quiet path. It may be the road less traveled. But it is a path that is full of love and joy and its road leads to eternity.

     If you are on the fast track in your own life perhaps you might want to take a detour. The slow track may not make you a lot of money, but it will make your heart smile. The slow track may not help you to gain the whole world, but it will help you to keep your soul.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

 ~**~**~

NATURAL

Dr. Harmander Singh

"I do not believe in God,” she said.

"But why are you telling me? It is your personal issue. Is not it?” her brother said.

"I did everything with my best intentions but I got nothing. Is not it a proof that God doesn't exist?” she was irritated.

"What do you think about God?” he asked.

"I've read in scriptures that He is source of everything, He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and loves everyone. Is not it?” she recalled her belief in him.

"No, you didn’t believe in God. The Mother Nature has created all the healing powers in different plants, herbs and medicines or chemicals, but you believed only in divine hope. When you're thirsty you drink water, do not you?” he asked.

"Yes I do. But what do you mean by that?” she said while feeling the relevancy.

"Thirsty needs water and when you need some herbs or special foods why did you ignore it?” he asked.

"I wanted to heal everything with determination. Isn’t it right?” she asked.

"When you're thirsty why do not you keep up the determination? Why do you seek rain and water for plants? We cannot stop the Irrigation with determination. Can you do that?” he asked.

"Well, it doesn't seem possible. I understand what you mean. I will live a natural life. I'm sorry, I'm blaming God for my own ignorance,” she confessed.

            She never got sick again. Diseases left her because she was natural.

Daily Moral Insight for a Peaceful Night

Is not it great confession when we express our believing or disbelieving in God or universal consciousness?

Is not it sad when we try to impose our failures on something, which helped us, but we failed; like the greatly incomparable help as faith, truth, goodness, etc.?

Is not it sadly dry to be having determination without the tender touch of sensitivity and sensibility?

Is not it a great determination to be a natural person?

Are not we great that there exists no disease while being natural?

Dr. Harmander Singh

bhagouauty@gmail.com

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

 In Patience, He Waits

Joan Clifton Cosner

What an awesome thought

That we can speak to God!
Whether high or low, wherever

We may go; the mighty king ...

The man beneath the bridge,
The beauty queen, the blind

(In fact or in spirit), the mute,
The simplest, or the honored graduate!

This King of Kings

Avails Himself as Servant,
A blessed Friend; even
Yanking souls from fires of hell!

Quietly, with patience for the aging, ill
Or the tiny voice not yet speaking;

Still, He waits and listens for

That lovely word that makes us His!

He is ours, already.
He planned it so.  And,
I don’t understand.  But,
That’s beside the point.

He has given just the small

'Measure of faith'; a gift for all!
And, when, in prayer, it’s put to test,
We find it is enough ...
 

Not only sufficient, but strengthened;
Multiplying until it holds us fast!
Then, prayers are said in confidence

With faith abounding!

And, when our answers come,
Do they astonish us or will we

Even remember to Thank?
Oh, Blessed Lord ...

Each tiny thought of You is like

A touch of Heaven; each song

That floods my soul or fills my voice,
A pleasure to respond to ...

Because You wooed and won,
Because You lived and died and rose,
Because You have awakened
My slumbering heart!

© 2003 by Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com

"God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Ro. 12:3

"My Grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect
in weakness." II Co. 12:9

He who prays must also believe ...

~**~**~

I’ll Pray for You
Joan Clifton Costner

Of course, I’ll say a prayer for you ~
A blessing for us both;
For me, another touch with God ...
For you, to wake a hope.

Oh, no, it’s not a bother!
It’s a privilege, you see;
A compliment, you seem so sure
He would listen ~ to me.

No, I don’t need your history.
Though, I have time to stay,
I’ll gladly listen to you tell

Why you need prayer, today.

And, I won’t place conditions
Upon this prayer for you.
Just the fact that you have asked me
Tells me, it’s the thing to do.

When I come to think about
The early mornin’ dark,
When I step into the kitchen,
I never try to chase it out.

I just throw the switch and light invades,
Drives the dark away ~
Like Jesus coming into our hearts
Charting out our way.

Remember, God may make a change
In your heart ~ or in mine.
For, He is always on the job ~
Working overtime!

© 2003 by Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com

"Bear ye one another’s burdens."
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."

~**~**~

Stitches

Joan Clifton Costner

Needle in, needle out,
Count the stitches ~ steady.
Count the days and count the weeks.
Will the quilt be ready?

Make a stitch, say a prayer,
Choose the colors - careful
(Not too bright, but just right);
Always, always, prayerful.

Soft and fleecy, nice to touch;
Baby’s fingers, holding,
Will find comfort, sweet and sure,
With the stitches folding.

"Jesus loves me", teach him soon
Never, ever tarry.
Learning of the love of God
Makes the young hearts merry!

Somehow, give the stitches voice.
Love is in the making.
Let the special love flow out,
For the baby’s taking.

Bundle baby up, all snug;
Soft and gentle singing.
Listen!  You will hear the sounds
Of the angels winging!

Needle in, needle out,
Finished now ~ a beauty!
Sing the lullabies of love
As we do our duty.

© 2004 by Joan Clifton Costner

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com

This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,

for non-profit ministering purposes.

WHEN EASTER DAWNS, a 76 page poetry e-book in PDF format or CD, by Joan Clifton Costner.
“ May Easter Dawn a little deeper in your soul and the blessings, of our loving God, be yours.”
Published by Eagle’s Eyrie, available now by the author at: jody@ptsi.net

 Readers Feedback

 Well, Respected Roger, you see at one hand we are proud of globalization and believe that we are the global citizens and on the other hand our focus is on the cities, states and the nations. We have destroyed the wildlife, jungles, natural resources, all which are free from nature. If we the elders have no respect for the Grand Mother, Mother Nature and the gifts it bestows, how can we expect that our kids should respect us. Who teaches the animals and the birds, the respect and enjoy nature than we. The animal kingdom and the Green World has not changed, but we the humans have, we lack the feelings of reverence. The nature seems to work as if a servant, then who is the highest among all? In this age, the one who can impose to be hero is the idol, and those who perform duty seem idols as they are paid. Just ask any kid when they are paid for stying, why do they refrain? The answer may be same. We simply need to have feelings of reverence for nature, it is setting an example, this is what I believe. Thanks for sharing so frankly.

With sincere regards,

Dr. H. Singh

~**~**~

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad Cardinal,