Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and by grounding ourselves firmly in the Word of God. Dear GOD,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones You have? Jamie. Dear GOD, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. Larry Dear GOD, If You watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes. Love Mickey Dear GOD, I bet it is very hard for You to love everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nan Dear GOD, In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation? Jane Dear GOD, Read the Bible. What does "begat" mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison Dear GOD, Are You really invisible or is it just a trick? Lucy Dear GOD, Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house? Anita Dear GOD, Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma Dear GOD, Who draws the lines around the Countries? Nan Dear GOD, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? Neil Dear GOD, Did You really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if you did, then I'm going to fix my brother. Darla Dear GOD, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. Joyce Dear GOD, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before - You can look it up. Bruce Dear GOD, If we come back as something - please don't let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her. Denise Dear GOD, I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big but not with so much hair all over. Sam Dear GOD, You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways. Dean Dear GOD, I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions. Ruth Dear GOD, I think about You sometimes even when I'm not praying. Elliott Dear GOD, Of all the people who work for You I like Noah and David the best. your friend, Rob Dear GOD, My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they? Marsha Dear GOD, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible. Love, Chris Dear GOD, We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said You did it. So I bet he stole your idea. Sincerely, Donna Dear GOD, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool. Katie A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough." A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day.
Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do,he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher,he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... "It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine." "The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so easily, But in my hands they die." "If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of God's design, Then how can I have the wisdom To unfold this life of mine?" "So I'll trust in God for leading Each moment of my day. I will look to God for guidance In each step of the way." "The path that lies before me, Only my Lord knows. I'll trust God to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose." This is almost overwhelming when you think about it.
Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food. According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least a mile long, would be required! Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for oneday (just think, they were forty years in transit). And Oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 49 500 000 litres each day and a freight train with tank cars, 2160 km long, just to bring the water! And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 960 km long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to be a space in the Red Sea, 3,6 km wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in onenight. But then,there is another problem........each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of RhodeIsland was required, or a total of 900 square km long..... think of it! This much space for camping. Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him. Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs? I asked the Lord to bless you As I prayed for you today. To guide you andprotect you as you go along your way.......... His love is always with you, His promises are true, And when we give Him all our cares, You know He will see us through. Our God is an Awesome God !! So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember keep on praying and God will do the rest. May the Lord open up
The windows of heaven And pour you a blessing That you will not have room Enough to receive it all. May the Lord bless You exceedingly and abundantly, Above all you could ever hope for. May the Lord bless you That you may walk in a Financial overflow. May you fall in love with Him For the rest of your days In the Name of Jesus. Amen! According to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry alongside the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions for the several gates; for so David the man of God had commanded. (2 Chronicles 8:14)
There was a story about a man was eager to hear the famous chimes of St. Nicholas in Amsterdam. He had heard that they were some of the most beautiful chimes in the world. Arriving at the church he went up into the tower to watch the man who plays the chimes. To his horror he discovered that as the man struck the immense keys with his hands encased in wooden gloves the noise was deafening. The air was filled with a discordant cacophony of sound. The man who had been so eager to hear the beautiful chimes was disillusioned. Surely he had heard wrong about their beauty. The next day about the same time he was wandering on a hill-side near that same church. Suddenly he heard one of the most beautiful sounds he had ever heard. It was the chimes of St. Nicolas. He wondered if the man who played those chimes ever realized what a beautiful sound he was making for the people nearby. It sounded like only loud noise inside the tower, but to those in the countryside, it was the most beautiful music this side of heaven. Some of us may have equal difficulty seeing the beauty in our work. All of us may experience burn-out at some time or another, but what we do for God is very important. Keep at it! "There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man." (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15)
Disaster was averted and lives were spared. ...."But nobody remembered that poor man." Wise words of counsel were given and heeded and lives were blessed innumerably. ...."But nobody remembered that poor man." Could sadder words be spoken? I think not. ...."But nobody remembered that poor man." This time of year, we naturally think of giving more so than we do in any other season. But the best thing you can give this season - or any season - isn't for sale. It comes freely, but it only comes deliberately - and because you can't touch it, it can never wear out. It's called "appreciation." This season, as you give, give your heart. As you share presents of possessions, also share presents of your heart to encourage the spirit of others - tell them of your appreciation for them. Remember that poor man - and all the people like him. All the people God has sent your way and steered you away from destruction, time and again, all your life. Bless them today by remembering them. Those you know well and those whose names you know not. Give those you know what they need - your appreciation. Give those who have blessed you and you never knew it, what they need - your kindness, and so, your appreciation. Your appreciation of the lives of others may very well be the very best gift you can ever give. So give it often. For it costs you little and those who receive it will be wealthy indeed. "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" (1 Thes. 3:9) Once upon a time there was a little grape stem. This stem was so glad to
be alive... She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well... all by Herself -- or so she thought. But then, the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, the snow was not one bit understanding, and the little grape stem suffered. She drooped, weak and suffering. It would be so easy to stop trying to grow, to stop trying to live. The grape stem became weak! The winter was long, and the stem was weary. But then the little grape stem heard a voice. It was another grape stem calling out to her... "Here, reach out... hang on to me." But the stem hesitated. "What would this mean?" she thought, for you see, the little stem had always managed quite well... all by herself. But then, every so cautiously, she reached out towards the other grape stem. "See, I can help you" it said. "Just wind your tendrils about me and I will help you lift your head." And the little stem trusted... and suddenly she could stand straight again. The wind came, and the rain, and the snow, but when it came, the grape stem was clinging to many other stems. And although the stems were swayed by the wind, frozen by the snow, they stood strongly united to each other. And in their group supporting strength they could all smile and grow. Then, one day the little stem looked down and saw a tiny stem, swaying, frightened. And 'our' grape stem said, "Here, hang on... I will help you." And the other little stem reached up to 'our' grape stem, and together all the stems grew... leaves budded... flowers bloomed... and finally, grapes formed... and all the grapes fed many. A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has cheated him out of $10,000,000. His bookkeeper is deaf. That was the reason he got the job in the first place. It was assumed that Guido would hear nothing so he would never have to testify in court. When the Godfather goes to confront Guido about his missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer who knows sign language. The Godfather tells the lawyer, "Ask him where's the money?" The lawyer, using sign language, asks Guido: "Where's the money?". Guido signs back: "I don't know what you are talking about." The lawyer tells the Godfather: "He says he doesn't know what you're talking about." The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido's temple and says: "Ask him again!" The lawyer signs to Guido: "He'll kill you if you don't tell him.." Guido signs back: "OK.!!!! You win! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed at my cousin Bruno's house." The Godfather asks the lawyer, "What did he say?" The lawyer replies, " He says you don't have the balls to pull the trigger." Don't you just love lawyers ... |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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