Barbara Glanz is a speaker and author. She spoke at a chain grocery convention with over 3,000 people attending, about creating memories so customers would want to come back. At the end of her speech, she gave out her email address, and said, "If you have any great service stories, I'd like to hear them." Well, about a month later, Barbara gets a call, "I heard what you had to say about service, and I like it! I'm just a bagger in the store and I have Down syndrome, but I wanted to think of a way I could make a difference. I decided that I like sayings, so each day I'm going to pick out one that I like, and my dad and I will print it out on the computer. I'll cut out the quote in strips and sign my name on the back of each one. The next day when customers come through, I'll just drop a strip right in their bags and say, I hope you enjoy my quote of the day.
' What do you think, Barbara?" Barbara said, "Johnny, I think that's a wonderful idea!" A few weeks later, Barbara gets another call... this time from the store manager. He says, "Barbara, you won't believe what's happened at our store. I went out into the store and noticed that one line was three times longer than the others. I went to the back of the line and suggested that customers move to another checkout, and they wouldn't budge - they wanted to see Johnny's quote of the day! In fact, one lady said, 'I used to come here once a week, but now I come 2-3 times just to see the smile on Johnny's face when he drops in his favorite quote.' So the next day, I round up my team and tell them what Johnny has done to give our customers more than they expected. That afternoon, I see the lady in the floral department cutting off her broken flowers and pinning them on the elderly women in our store. Our guy in the meat department loves Snoopy, so he was putting his favorite Snoopy stickers on the packages, and talking to his customers. In fact, everybody in our store is finding creative ways to put their mark on service. We're having the time of our lives, and it seems like everyone in town is talking about us! And you know what, Barbara? It happened for one reason... Johnny decided to do something!" From The Simple Truth News Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glanz The moon is radiant only as it is in the right position to receive the light of the sun. That's the way it is with us as well. Our lives are filled with light only as we are in right relationship with the Lord. When we look to Him, trusting Him to meet our needs, then our faces will be radiant.
There are some people who turn away from the Lord, and put their trust in man, or in money, or in methods — only to be disappointed. They become like the moon in a lunar eclipse, caught in the shadow of the world with their faces covered in darkness. For them there is no radiance. Still, there are others who look to themselves instead of the Lord, putting their trust in their own ability; self-righteousness they are, but still falling far short of the glory of God. These are like the moon during a solar eclipse, blocking the light of the sun as they usurp its orbit with their own. These are the type of people who brighten up a room by leaving. Then there are those who do look to the Lord, trusting Him in all things at all times. These are like the full moon in its midnight brilliance. The light of the Lord shines upon them, making their faces radiant. The Hebrew word means, "Sparkles on the water." It is a rich metaphor depicting a person who is overjoyed, and glowing with happiness. The next time you see sparkles on the water, or a full moon in the night sky, let it remind you that the Lord wants your life to be like that for others. He wants to make your face radiant, so as to fill them with wonder – and thereby give you an opportunity to tell them the story of Jesus. In his beautiful book, "I Shall Not Want," Robert Ketchum tells of a Sunday School teacher who asked her group of children if anyone could quote the entire 23rd Psalm. A golden-haired, four-and-a-half-year-old girl was among those who raised their hands. A bit skeptical, the teacher asked if she could really quote the entire psalm.
The little girl came to the front of the room, faced the class, made a perky little bow, and said, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want." She bowed again and went and sat down. That may well be the greatest interpretation of the 23rd Psalm ever heard. DEAR GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until you answer my prayers and meet my most urgent needs; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me. THANK HIM. Have a blessed day. ''A true helper is someone who reaches out for your hand and touches your Heart.' Bill Cosby did a classic comedy routine about it, and I'm not sure it's that funny, frankly. You get up and you go into the other room to get something, then you can't remember for the life of you what you went in there for until you go back and sit down. Oh, ever happen to you? That's the harmless kind of forgetfulness. But too many of us have had loved ones who, as the years went on, remembered less and less; sometimes even the people who loved them. When people's memory goes, they can become very easily disoriented; they can make some very bad decisions and even place themselves in great danger.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The High Cost of Forgetting." For the most part, there's not much you can do about memory loss - the mental kind, that is. But there is something you can do about spiritual memory loss, because forgetting spiritually can be pretty damaging, too. It was, in fact, one fundamental reason why God's ancient people kept wandering from God, messing up their lives, and suffering God's judgment. And it's one reason we make the same kinds of mistakes. In Psalm 106, beginning in verse 12, our word for today from the Word of God, God summarizes the unhappy history of His people then and now. "They believed His promises and sang His praise." That's the good news. "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel." Now, the results were disobedience and resulting judgment. In the same psalm, God says that at other times, "They gave no thought to Your miracles; they did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled..." (Psalm 106:7) "...they forgot the God who saved them" (Psalm 106:21). Again, disastrous results. We're all prone to quickly forget the great God we have and the amazing things that He's done for us. And like a person who loses their cognitive memory, we start to get disoriented - to wander where we never should wander - to leave God's ways and to leave God's will, and to experience the pain of God's correction and judgment or simply the painful consequences of our own wrong choices. But unlike cognitive memory loss, there's a simple antidote for spiritual forgetting. It's called praise; regular, specific, conscious praise to God for who He is and what He's done. Praise is actually a discipline - a deliberate focusing of your thoughts on things you have to thank God for. We should wake up praising. As we're getting ready in the morning, we should train our mind and heart to be expressing thanks to God, enumerating things we appreciate about Him. Talk about getting your day off to a right kind of start! Whenever we pray, we should train ourselves to begin with praises to God before we rush to our requests. And through the day, we need to be looking for evidences of God (I call them God sightings.) all over the place and then sending up thanks to God for them. When we stop praising God, we start forgetting God. And when we forget the kind of God we have, we start wandering, we start getting hurt, and we are much more likely to take matters into our own hands, to panic, to get impatient, to get discouraged or to get depressed. But the more you train yourself to be a "praiser," the less mistakes you're going to make - the less regrets you're going to have. You lose so much when you forget. Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process! That's how God deals with us.. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to 'make pancakes' for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried... I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needed to be healed, friendships that need rebirth or three words needed to be said. Just ... Sometimes 'I love you' can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do. Just in case I haven't told you lately... I LOVE YA!!! Jesus said, "He that is not with Me, is against Me." Matthew 12:30
William B. Travis made his mark in history when he drew his sword and placed that line in the sand of the Alamo courtyard. Those who crossed the line walked out of anonymity into renown, each one becoming part of an ongoing legend. Never underestimate the power of a defining moment; that moment when history draws a line in the sand. Jesus drew a line in the sand when He said, "He that is not with Me, is against Me." He set it in cement when He added, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me." As one preacher said, "Christ is not one of many ways to God, nor is he the best of several ways. He is the only way." Christ is the way unchanging; He is the truth infallible; He is the life everlasting. Jesus is the way that you might be saved. He is the truth that you might be sure. He is the life that you might be satisfied. Have you stepped across that line in the sand? We are told in Scripture that Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Bible says, "There is salvation in no other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." There is only one name that opens heaven's doors and God's heart – the name of Jesus. There is only one name that breaks the power of sin and sets the captive free – the name of Jesus. There is only one name worthy of all praise, and deserving of your allegiance – the name of Jesus. Far from being narrow and unfair – this is the most generous and fairest of all possible solutions. God did not leave us to ourselves to find a way back to Him – for who among us knows where God is that we could first find Him for ourselves and then chart the path for all others to follow? God alone knows where He is. God alone knows where we are. And God alone knows what it takes for us to return to Him. The Bible says that God "longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth: That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind.” Have you stepped across that line in the sand? Could I invite you to do so today? Do so and you will discover for yourself what so many others have found to be true — Jesus saves. Die ateïstiese dwaas. Daar is 'n gesegde wat lui: ''n Ateïs kan God so min vind as wat 'n dief 'n polisieman kan vind". Soms is trots die kern van ateïsme. Sonder God word jy jou eie god, wat beteken dat daar geen hoër gesag as jou eie is nie! Maar die Bybelse God bewys Sy bestaan op drie maniere: 1) Skepping. Baie mense wat nie by die misdaadtoneel gevang is nie, is deesdae in die tronk, terwyl niemand selfs die misdaad gesien het nie. Hoe is bewys dat hulle dit gedoen het? Vingerafdrukke! DNS! Netso dra die skepping God se vingerafdrukke en DNS. 'Kyk op na die hemel: wie het die sterre geskep? Hy wat die hemelse leër laat uittrek in hulle volle getal, dit is Hy wat hulle elkeen gemaak het...' (Jesaja 40:26 NV). 2) Golgota. In die skepping sien jy God se almag, by die kruis sien jy Sy liefde vir jou. In die skepping sien jy Sy hand, by die kruis sien jy Sy hart. 3) Gewete. 'Die heidene het nie God se wette nie, maar partymaal besluit hulle self wat reg is en dan doen hulle dinge wat die wette sê...hulle lewe dan soos mense wat God se wette het' (Romeine 2:14-15 BVA). 'n Gewete is soos om die Bybel in jou siel te hê; niemand is sonder 'n siel gebore nie. Voltaire, 'n Franse ateïs, het gesê: 'Dit het twaalf vissermanne geneem om die Christendom te bou. Ek sal die wêreld wys hoe een Fransman dit kan vernietig.' Na Voltaire se dood, het die huis waarin hy gewoon het Europa se mees beroemde Bybelverspreidingsentrum geword. Die slotsom: Voltaire is dood; ons God lewe! Ateïsme is die allergrootste dobbelspel. Dink net wat sal gebeur as jy eendag voor Hom moet staan?
Die ambisieuse dwaas. Jesus het die gelykenis van die ryk man vertel wat gesê het: '...Ek sal my skure afbreek en groter bou...' (v. 18). Hy was ooglopend 'n goeie sakeman en beplanner. Maar toe sê hy: 'Dan sal ek vir myself sê: 'Mens, jy het baie goed wat weggesit is vir baie jare. Hou op met werk: eet, drink en leef lekker.'. Maar God het vir hom gesê: 'Jou dwaas. Vannag nog sal jou lewe van jou opgeëis word, en wie kry dan alles wat jy bymekaargemaak het?... So gaan dit met hom wat vir homself skatte vergader en nie ryk is by God nie.' (vv. 19-21). Hierdie man het vir 'n tyd beplan, maar nie vir die ewigheid nie. Hy het aan homself gedink, maar nie aan God nie. Hy het aandag aan sy liggaam gegee, maar nie aan sy siel nie. Daar word bereken dat die gemiddelde liggaam genoeg fosfor bevat om agthonderdduisend vuurhoutjiekoppe te maak, genoeg suiker vir sestig suikerblokkies, genoeg sout om twintig lepels te vul, en genoeg yster om 'n sak spykers te vervaardig. Die res is stof en water. As jy die deel wat net vir sewentig of tagtig jaar gaan leef pamperlang en beskerm, terwyl jy die deel afskeep wat vir altyd in die hemel of die hel gaan woon, sê God jy's 'n dwaas. Hierdie man het vir homself gesê hy het 'baie jare' maar God het gesê: 'Vannag nog sal jou lewe van jou opgeëis word.' Besef jy nie dat 'n ongeluk, 'n verstopte aar, 'n dwaalkoeël, 'n vliegtuig met enjinprobleme of 'n dronkbestuurder jou in 'n oogwink kan laat sterf nie? Word wakker! Die kwessie is nie of jy sal doodgaan nie, maar wanneer? Is jy reg om voor God te staan? Sielskos: Hand 24-26; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 62; Spr. 11:15, Hand 22-23; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 57; Spr. 11:14 You will be judged in the same way that you judge others. Mat 7:2
We condemn a man for stumbling this morning, but we didn't see the blows he took yesterday. We judge a woman for the limp in her walk, but cannot see the tack in her shoe. We mock the fear in their eyes, but have no idea how many stones they have ducked or darts they have dodged. Are they too loud? Perhaps they fear being neglected again. Are they too timid? Perhaps they fear failing again. Too slow? Perhaps they fell the last time they hurried. You don't know. Only one who has followed yesterday's steps can be their judge. Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? Should we pass a verdict on a painting while the artist still holds the brush? How can you dismiss a soul until God's work is complete? "God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again" (Php 1:6 ). In the Grip of Grace(Max Lucado) Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8 (NIV)
God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed, or "shaped" to do certain things. Before architects design any new building they first ask, "What will be its purpose? How will it be used?" The intended function always determines the form of the building. Before God created you, He decided what role He wanted you to play on earth. He planned exactly how He wanted you to serve him, and then He shaped you for those tasks. You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry. The Bible says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10, NIV). Our English word "poem" comes from this Greek word translated "workmanship." You're God's hand-crafted work of art. You're not an assembly-line product, mass-produced without thought. You're a custom designed, one-of-a kind, original masterpiece. God deliberately shaped and formed you to serve Him in a way that makes your ministry unique. He carefully mixed the DNA recipe that created you. David praised God for this incredible personal attention to detail that God gave in designing each of us: "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous" (Psalm 139:13- 14, NLT). Not only did God shape you before your birth, He planned every day of your life to support His shaping process. David continues, "Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (Psalm 139:16, NLT). This means nothing that happens in your life is insignificant. God uses all of it to mold you for your ministry to others, and shape you for your service to him. God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless He intended to use them for his glory. By identifying and understanding these factors you can discover God's will for your life. The Bible says you are "wonderfully complex." You're a combination of many different factors: "The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises." (Isaiah 43:21, NJB) |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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