Teach me Thy way, O Lord, Teach me Thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford-Teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk a-right, More by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav'nly light-Teach me Thy way!
When I am sad at heart, Teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart, Teach me Thy way!
In hours of lone-li-ness, I times of dire distress,
In failure or success, Teach me Thy way!
When doubts and fears a-rise, Teach me Thy way!
When storms o'er-spread the skies, Teach me Thy way!
Shine through the cloud and rain, Through sorrow, toil and pain;
Make Thou my path-way plain-Teach me Thy way!
Long as my life shall last, Teach me Thy way!
Where - e're my lot be cast, Teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run, Until the jour-ney's done,
Until the crown is won, Teach me Thy way!
Camacha
When
I am sad at heart - the human tendency when we're sad is to look for
pleasure... something to make us happy. If we allow Him to teach us His
way...it would be different - hence, Teach me thy way!
When
earthly joys depart - the human tendency is to look for the so called
"fountain of youth" to make us feel young again and "re-claim" the lost
earthly joys we used to have. If we allow Him to teach us His way...it
would be different - hence, Teach me thy way!
In
hours of loneliness - the tendency is to find some company. We feel
lonely when alone usually and we find comfort in the presence of family
or friends. The divine would be to find God's presence and so, Teach me
thy way!
In
times of dire distress - or severe stress as others may put it. Some
psychologists say a person in this condition may either fight or flight.
I could think of no other person in this condition than Jesus himself
in the garden that night before he was arrested. His sweat became as
blood. He was fighting against his own will - "Saying, Father, if thou
be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done." (Luke 22:42). Here, Jesus fought by submitting to the
Father's will. Hence, Teach me thy way!
In failures - the tendency is get so discouraged and loss of self-confidence. Hence, Teach me thy way!
In success or victory - the human nature would be over-confident and might be puffed up, hence, Teach me thy way...
That's
why we need to be teachable always as "my thoughts are not His thoughts
and my ways are not His ways". Just my little thought on this and maybe
others have more enlightenment to share.
It
is not a particular group of people but the body of Jesus Christ or His
church as a whole. If we are a part of the His 'body' then His thoughts
and ways will become ours too! Really enjoyed this thought. Every part
of the body obeys what's in the mind. So, it's very important to have
the mind of Christ in me.
R. Aragones
Friday, February 28, 2014
Seven Things We Must Bring To Our Meeting
This is something I never want to forget.
7 things we must bring to a meeting................
1) A quiet mind
2) A soft heart
3) A right spirit
4) A thirst for living water
5) An empty vessel
6) A morsel of bread
7) The presence of God
L. McDonald
7 things we must bring to a meeting................
1) A quiet mind
2) A soft heart
3) A right spirit
4) A thirst for living water
5) An empty vessel
6) A morsel of bread
7) The presence of God
L. McDonald
He Has A Place For Us To Fill
A few years ago when I was working in Germany, a lady who professed came
to me and asked the question: "How can God demand so much from us? We
had no choice or voice about coming into this world; where we'd be born,
of whom, or when we'd be born." She wasn't contentious. She just wanted
answers to help strengthen her faith. My answer included some scripture
but I told her this story.
Way back before the war, we were preaching in Marseilles, France. It is France’s largest Seaport and the second largest city. A few people came out to our meetings. There was a handicapped lad of about 16 years old. He wasn't fully developed mentally. We were batching in the back of our Gospel Tent. He came over nearly daily. He never knocked nor said Good Morning; he just came in on his own accord. We had a folding organ and he'd try to play it. He couldn't make anything but noise! But he was a friendly lad and he did a lot of advertising for us. He told nearly everyone in the neighborhood about us and the meetings. He also worked on his mother for over two weeks to come to our Gospel Meetings. Finally, she came the third week and she was the first one to profess in those meetings! Her first testimony went like this: I always thought that God had something against me, giving me this handicapped child, which I thought was God's curse upon me. But this very child I thought was a curse to me has brought blessing into my life. He led me to Christ. I told her if God could use this handicapped child, surely He could use a very intelligent and capable person like you also. He had a purpose for this handicapped child. He certainly has a place for you to fill.
D. Karnes, Sioux City, South Dakota, February 2001.
Way back before the war, we were preaching in Marseilles, France. It is France’s largest Seaport and the second largest city. A few people came out to our meetings. There was a handicapped lad of about 16 years old. He wasn't fully developed mentally. We were batching in the back of our Gospel Tent. He came over nearly daily. He never knocked nor said Good Morning; he just came in on his own accord. We had a folding organ and he'd try to play it. He couldn't make anything but noise! But he was a friendly lad and he did a lot of advertising for us. He told nearly everyone in the neighborhood about us and the meetings. He also worked on his mother for over two weeks to come to our Gospel Meetings. Finally, she came the third week and she was the first one to profess in those meetings! Her first testimony went like this: I always thought that God had something against me, giving me this handicapped child, which I thought was God's curse upon me. But this very child I thought was a curse to me has brought blessing into my life. He led me to Christ. I told her if God could use this handicapped child, surely He could use a very intelligent and capable person like you also. He had a purpose for this handicapped child. He certainly has a place for you to fill.
D. Karnes, Sioux City, South Dakota, February 2001.
Monday, February 24, 2014
What Kind Of Person Are You?
What kind of person are you? What group are you in?
A lot of people are like a wheel barrow, not much good unless pushed easily upset.
Some people are like canoes, they have to be paddled.
Some people are like kites, if you don't keep a string on them they fly away.
Some people are like footballs, you can't tell which way they will bounce next.
Some people are like balloons, full of wind and always ready to blow up.
Some are like trailers, they have to be pulled to the meetings.
Some are like good watches, with an open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.
What kind of person are you?
Unknown
A lot of people are like a wheel barrow, not much good unless pushed easily upset.
Some people are like canoes, they have to be paddled.
Some people are like kites, if you don't keep a string on them they fly away.
Some people are like footballs, you can't tell which way they will bounce next.
Some people are like balloons, full of wind and always ready to blow up.
Some are like trailers, they have to be pulled to the meetings.
Some are like good watches, with an open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.
What kind of person are you?
Unknown
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Bible Verses
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed..."
2 Timothy 2:15
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
2 Timothy 2:15
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
His Likeness In Me
Would I be called a Christian
If everybody knew
My secret thoughts and feelings
And everything I do?
Or could they see the likeness
Of Christ in me each day?
Or could they hear Him speaking
In every word I say?
Could I be called a Christian
If everyone could know
That I am found in places
Where Jesus would not go?
Could they hear His echo
In every song I sing?
In eating, drinking, dressing
Could they see Christ in me?
Would I be called a Christian
Others seeing what I read -
Or all my recreations
And every thought and deed?
Could I be counted Christlike
As I now work and pray
Unselfish, kind, forgiving
To others every day?
- Unknown
If everybody knew
My secret thoughts and feelings
And everything I do?
Or could they see the likeness
Of Christ in me each day?
Or could they hear Him speaking
In every word I say?
Could I be called a Christian
If everyone could know
That I am found in places
Where Jesus would not go?
Could they hear His echo
In every song I sing?
In eating, drinking, dressing
Could they see Christ in me?
Would I be called a Christian
Others seeing what I read -
Or all my recreations
And every thought and deed?
Could I be counted Christlike
As I now work and pray
Unselfish, kind, forgiving
To others every day?
- Unknown
By Observing What You Do
"All the speeches you are making
May be very fine and true,
But I'd rather see your Saviour
By observing what you do."
- N.B. Herrell
May be very fine and true,
But I'd rather see your Saviour
By observing what you do."
- N.B. Herrell
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Best Story That Will Bring Tears To Your Eyes
BEST STORY THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRY
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent. He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: Junrix.com
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent. He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: Junrix.com
These Hands...,
These hands ain't the hands of a gentleman
These hands are calloused and old
These hands raised a family, these hands built a home
Now these hands have raised to praise the Lord.
These hands won the heart of my loved one
And with hers they were never alone
If these hands filled their task then what more could one ask
For these fingers have worked to the bone.
Now don't try to judge me by what you'd like me be
For my life, it ain't been much success
While some people have power and still they grieve
These hands brought me happiness.
Oh, I'm tired and I'm old and I've not got much gold
Maybe things ain't been all that I planned
God above hear my plea when it's time to judge me
Take a look at these hard working hands.
Take a look at these hard working hands...
These hands are calloused and old
These hands raised a family, these hands built a home
Now these hands have raised to praise the Lord.
These hands won the heart of my loved one
And with hers they were never alone
If these hands filled their task then what more could one ask
For these fingers have worked to the bone.
Now don't try to judge me by what you'd like me be
For my life, it ain't been much success
While some people have power and still they grieve
These hands brought me happiness.
Oh, I'm tired and I'm old and I've not got much gold
Maybe things ain't been all that I planned
God above hear my plea when it's time to judge me
Take a look at these hard working hands.
Take a look at these hard working hands...
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Jesus
There was an atheist couple who had a child. The couple never told their daughter anything about the Lord.
One night when the little girl was 5 years old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the mom, right in front of the child. Then, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it all. She was sent to a foster home. The foster mother was a Christian and took the child to church.
On the first day of Sunday School, the foster mother told the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and to have patience with her. The teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said, “Does anyone know who this is?” The little girl said, “I do; that’s the man who was holding me the night my parents died.”
One night when the little girl was 5 years old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the mom, right in front of the child. Then, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it all. She was sent to a foster home. The foster mother was a Christian and took the child to church.
On the first day of Sunday School, the foster mother told the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and to have patience with her. The teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said, “Does anyone know who this is?” The little girl said, “I do; that’s the man who was holding me the night my parents died.”
Author Unknown - Comment if you know the author so credit can be given
Source: morningstoryanddilbert
Wisdom From Grandpa
Whether a man winds up with a nest egg, or a goose egg, depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries.
Trouble in marriage often starts when a man gets so busy earnin’ his salt, that he forgets his sugar.
Too many couples marry for better, or for worse, but not for good.
When a man marries a woman, they become one; but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
If a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she will never turn into an old nag.
On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the past – but never the present.
A foolish husband says to his wife, “Honey, you stick to the washin’, ironin’, cookin’, and scrubbin’. No wife of mine is gonna work.”
The bonds of matrimony are a good investment, only when the interest is kept up.
Many girls like to marry a military man – he can cook, sew, and make beds, and is in good health, and he’s already used to taking orders.
Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age, and start bragging about it.
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth…. Remember about Algebra.
You know you are getting old, when everything either dries up, or leaks.
I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don’t recognize you.
If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you are old.
Have a GREAT day…….and keep Laughing
Trouble in marriage often starts when a man gets so busy earnin’ his salt, that he forgets his sugar.
Too many couples marry for better, or for worse, but not for good.
When a man marries a woman, they become one; but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
If a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she will never turn into an old nag.
On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the past – but never the present.
A foolish husband says to his wife, “Honey, you stick to the washin’, ironin’, cookin’, and scrubbin’. No wife of mine is gonna work.”
The bonds of matrimony are a good investment, only when the interest is kept up.
Many girls like to marry a military man – he can cook, sew, and make beds, and is in good health, and he’s already used to taking orders.
Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age, and start bragging about it.
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth…. Remember about Algebra.
You know you are getting old, when everything either dries up, or leaks.
I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don’t recognize you.
If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you are old.
Have a GREAT day…….and keep Laughing
Author Unknown
The Best Christmas
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered
their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for
those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all
outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life
comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn’t figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn’t worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. “Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We’d already done all the chores, and I couldn’t think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn’t happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. “I think we’ll put on the high sideboards,” he said. “Here, help me.” The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood – the wood I’d spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. “Pa,” I asked, “what are you doing?” You been by the Widow Jensen’s lately?” he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I’d been by, but so what?
Yeah,” I said, “Why?”
“I rode by just today,” Pa said. “Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They’re out of wood, Matt.” That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. “What’s in the little sack?” I asked. Shoes, they’re out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little candy.”
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen’s pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn’t have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn’t have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn’t have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, “Who is it?” “Lucas Miles, Ma’am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?”
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
“We brought you a few things, Ma’am,” Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children – sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.
“We brought a load of wood too, Ma’am,” Pa said. He turned to me and said, “Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let’s get that fire up to size and heat this place up.” I wasn’t the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn’t speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I’d never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone’s spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn’t crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. “God bless you,” she said. “I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us.”
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I’d never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen’s face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn’t want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, “The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We’ll be by to get you about eleven. It’ll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn’t been little for quite a spell.” I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, “Thank you, Brother Miles. I don’t have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will.”
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn’t even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, “Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn’t have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand.”
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen’s face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
Author Unknown
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn’t figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn’t worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. “Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We’d already done all the chores, and I couldn’t think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn’t happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. “I think we’ll put on the high sideboards,” he said. “Here, help me.” The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood – the wood I’d spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. “Pa,” I asked, “what are you doing?” You been by the Widow Jensen’s lately?” he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I’d been by, but so what?
Yeah,” I said, “Why?”
“I rode by just today,” Pa said. “Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They’re out of wood, Matt.” That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. “What’s in the little sack?” I asked. Shoes, they’re out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little candy.”
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen’s pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn’t have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn’t have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn’t have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, “Who is it?” “Lucas Miles, Ma’am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?”
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
“We brought you a few things, Ma’am,” Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children – sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.
“We brought a load of wood too, Ma’am,” Pa said. He turned to me and said, “Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let’s get that fire up to size and heat this place up.” I wasn’t the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn’t speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I’d never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone’s spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn’t crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. “God bless you,” she said. “I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us.”
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I’d never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen’s face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn’t want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, “The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We’ll be by to get you about eleven. It’ll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn’t been little for quite a spell.” I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, “Thank you, Brother Miles. I don’t have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will.”
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn’t even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, “Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn’t have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand.”
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen’s face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
Author Unknown
Prayer
Prayer is the key to the day and the bolt to the night.
Watching makes it easier to pray and praying makes it easier to watch.
It is useless to fight without praying but it is useless, too, to pray without fighting.
Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray.
If we pray for the harvest field, it will help us to have a heart of compassion.
If we would worship while we wait, we would not complain of waiting.
Things we live for determine what we pray for.
Our lives give meaning to the words we pray.
Prayer should be the environment for God's children - not an emergency measure but a daily necessity.
Pray, pray more, pray every day, pray more earnestly, pray as if your life depended on it - because it does.
When we are unable to stand, it is because we haven't been able to kneel.
In Ecclesiastes it mentions a time for many things, but not prayer - we must make time for prayer.
In the morning begging for His Spirit and in the evening pleading for His forgiveness.
We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but we know we ought to pray.
It is our feeling of need and desperate weakness that appeals to God, not our words.
Prayer is like dressing, reading is like eating; we can go without eating - we only rob ourselves - but we would never think of going without dressing.
Prayers of righteous people keep God's servants where they are.
When you pray, pray - the devil would like to sow other thoughts.
Put a praying person in an impossible position and he will come out a victor with a song.
Pray with desperation; fight with determination; serve without reservation.
Casual reading (no meditation) and casual praying (no seeking) lead to casualties.
Very few people in the world today even think of God every day; even fewer pray to God; But those who wait on Him, He knows by name.
When we are praying it is hard to criticise.
Prayer doesn't prepare us for the battle, it is the battle.
Watching makes it easier to pray and praying makes it easier to watch.
It is useless to fight without praying but it is useless, too, to pray without fighting.
Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray.
If we pray for the harvest field, it will help us to have a heart of compassion.
If we would worship while we wait, we would not complain of waiting.
Things we live for determine what we pray for.
Our lives give meaning to the words we pray.
Prayer should be the environment for God's children - not an emergency measure but a daily necessity.
Pray, pray more, pray every day, pray more earnestly, pray as if your life depended on it - because it does.
When we are unable to stand, it is because we haven't been able to kneel.
In Ecclesiastes it mentions a time for many things, but not prayer - we must make time for prayer.
In the morning begging for His Spirit and in the evening pleading for His forgiveness.
We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but we know we ought to pray.
It is our feeling of need and desperate weakness that appeals to God, not our words.
Prayer is like dressing, reading is like eating; we can go without eating - we only rob ourselves - but we would never think of going without dressing.
Prayers of righteous people keep God's servants where they are.
When you pray, pray - the devil would like to sow other thoughts.
Put a praying person in an impossible position and he will come out a victor with a song.
Pray with desperation; fight with determination; serve without reservation.
Casual reading (no meditation) and casual praying (no seeking) lead to casualties.
Very few people in the world today even think of God every day; even fewer pray to God; But those who wait on Him, He knows by name.
When we are praying it is hard to criticise.
Prayer doesn't prepare us for the battle, it is the battle.
Under His Wings
This is a true story as accounted in National Geographic and it was quite
touching and thought it was good to share with you. I hope this story
blesses your life like it blessed mine.
An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating
picture of God's wings...
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began
their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely
on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight,
he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny
chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother,
keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base
of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing
that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had
refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had
scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she
had been willing to die, that those under the cover of her wings would
live...
Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
touching and thought it was good to share with you. I hope this story
blesses your life like it blessed mine.
An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating
picture of God's wings...
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began
their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely
on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight,
he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny
chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother,
keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base
of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing
that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had
refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had
scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she
had been willing to die, that those under the cover of her wings would
live...
Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
From Genesis To Revelations
The Bible, from cover to cover, addresses the question, "Who is
this Jesus?" Consider the themes of the sixty-six books:
In Genesis, He is the Creator God.
In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.
In Numbers, He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.
In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth, He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
In I Samuel, He is the root of Jesse.
In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor and High Priest.
In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther, He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles,
but has the power to do something about them.
In Psalms, He is your song--and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live
it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting
father, and more. In short, He's everything you need.
In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel--the one who assures that
dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel, He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea, He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back--even when you
have abandoned Him.
In Joel, He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos, He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah, He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
In Micah, He is judge of the nation.
In Nahum, He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah, He is the witness.
In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies
In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.
In Matthew, He is king of the Jews.
In Mark, He is the servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Son of God.
In Acts, He is Savior of the world.
In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
In I Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.
In II Corinthians, He the triumphant one, giving victory.
In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians, He is head of the Church.
In Philippians, He is your joy.
In Colossians, He is your completeness.
In I Thessalonians, He is your hope.
In I Timothy, He is your faith.
In II Timothy, He is your stability.
In Philemon, He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
In James, He is the power behind your faith.
In I Peter, He is your example.
In II Peter, He is your purity.
In I John, He is your life.
In II John, He is your pattern.
In III John, He is your motivation.
In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation, He is your coming King.
From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you
can look and not see Jesus. He is everywhere. He is everything.
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:17
Source: godswork.org
this Jesus?" Consider the themes of the sixty-six books:
In Genesis, He is the Creator God.
In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.
In Numbers, He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.
In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth, He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
In I Samuel, He is the root of Jesse.
In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor and High Priest.
In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther, He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles,
but has the power to do something about them.
In Psalms, He is your song--and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live
it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting
father, and more. In short, He's everything you need.
In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel--the one who assures that
dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel, He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea, He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back--even when you
have abandoned Him.
In Joel, He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos, He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah, He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
In Micah, He is judge of the nation.
In Nahum, He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah, He is the witness.
In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies
In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.
In Matthew, He is king of the Jews.
In Mark, He is the servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Son of God.
In Acts, He is Savior of the world.
In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
In I Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.
In II Corinthians, He the triumphant one, giving victory.
In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians, He is head of the Church.
In Philippians, He is your joy.
In Colossians, He is your completeness.
In I Thessalonians, He is your hope.
In I Timothy, He is your faith.
In II Timothy, He is your stability.
In Philemon, He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
In James, He is the power behind your faith.
In I Peter, He is your example.
In II Peter, He is your purity.
In I John, He is your life.
In II John, He is your pattern.
In III John, He is your motivation.
In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation, He is your coming King.
From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you
can look and not see Jesus. He is everywhere. He is everything.
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:17
Source: godswork.org
The Foolishness Of God Is Wiser Than Men And The Weakness Of God Is Stronger Than Men
More often than not God has accomplished great purposes by unlikely means. The Bible is full of examples illustrating 1 Cor. 1:26-29.
God choosing and using the foolish, week, base and despised and saying, "My ways and thoughts are no yours."
In Abraham, an obscure Chaldean, without any home but a tent, or property in the soil, but a grave, God put the dearest interests and promises of mankind. In him and Sarah the hopes of the world were hung -- a pair whose bed was childless and whose hairs were grey. What with Abraham in the battle; with Isaac on the alter; with Jacob fleeing from Laban and facing Esau; with Joseph in the dungeon; with Moses cast on the waters; with Rahab in the surrounded City; and on that field with two armies looking on, a stripling going out to meet the giant; and through the night we see a mother and husband with her babe from the sword of Herod and the massacre of Bethlehem; and on a lonely hill called Calvary, on an ugly wooden cross, we see a lonely stranger hanging, bleeding, dying; afterwards we see twelve ignorant and unlearned men who were to conquer a pagan world with the sword of the Spirit, hiding behind closed doors.
How often was the line of light, and truth, to the ears of men, nearly extinguished, the ark that carried the hopes of the world nearly wrecked but the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. I want to trust and submit more fully to the wisdom, power, plan and providence of God and see His hand in great events and small preserving and extending His Kingdom until Christ comes again.
Speaker Unknown
God choosing and using the foolish, week, base and despised and saying, "My ways and thoughts are no yours."
In Abraham, an obscure Chaldean, without any home but a tent, or property in the soil, but a grave, God put the dearest interests and promises of mankind. In him and Sarah the hopes of the world were hung -- a pair whose bed was childless and whose hairs were grey. What with Abraham in the battle; with Isaac on the alter; with Jacob fleeing from Laban and facing Esau; with Joseph in the dungeon; with Moses cast on the waters; with Rahab in the surrounded City; and on that field with two armies looking on, a stripling going out to meet the giant; and through the night we see a mother and husband with her babe from the sword of Herod and the massacre of Bethlehem; and on a lonely hill called Calvary, on an ugly wooden cross, we see a lonely stranger hanging, bleeding, dying; afterwards we see twelve ignorant and unlearned men who were to conquer a pagan world with the sword of the Spirit, hiding behind closed doors.
How often was the line of light, and truth, to the ears of men, nearly extinguished, the ark that carried the hopes of the world nearly wrecked but the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. I want to trust and submit more fully to the wisdom, power, plan and providence of God and see His hand in great events and small preserving and extending His Kingdom until Christ comes again.
Speaker Unknown
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
He Maketh No Mistake
My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul, I’m glad to know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But I’ll still trust the Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho the night be dark, and it may seem
That day may never break,
I’ll place my faith, my all on Him;
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much I cannot now see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make;
Through all the way, tho dark to me,
He maketh no mistake.
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul, I’m glad to know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But I’ll still trust the Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho the night be dark, and it may seem
That day may never break,
I’ll place my faith, my all on Him;
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much I cannot now see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make;
Through all the way, tho dark to me,
He maketh no mistake.
Geese In A Storm
There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let other know how he felt about religion and religious holidays
His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to have Faith in God and Jesus, despite his discouraging comments.
One snowy eve, his wife was taking their children to service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus birth. She asked him to come, but he refused.
"That story is nonsense!" he said, "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left and he stayed at home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then
he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump, He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying South for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles,
blindly and aimlessly.
A couple of them had flown into his window,it seemed. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe, surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it
could mean for them.
The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
"Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then an idea hit him. He went into the barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn - and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind. "If only I were a goose, then I could save then!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier.
"Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!"
Suddenly all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese - blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quite and pondered this wonderful thought.
Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer.
"Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!."
Author Unknown
His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to have Faith in God and Jesus, despite his discouraging comments.
One snowy eve, his wife was taking their children to service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus birth. She asked him to come, but he refused.
"That story is nonsense!" he said, "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left and he stayed at home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then
he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump, He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying South for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles,
blindly and aimlessly.
A couple of them had flown into his window,it seemed. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe, surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it
could mean for them.
The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
"Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then an idea hit him. He went into the barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn - and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind. "If only I were a goose, then I could save then!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier.
"Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!"
Suddenly all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese - blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quite and pondered this wonderful thought.
Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer.
"Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!."
Author Unknown
Tom Hinkle ~ Sheep
Tom Hinkle ~ Sheep ~ Salem, OR 6-5-2005
115 - "Other sheep I have that wander
In this world so dark and cold.
To my love they still are strangers,
For they are not of this fold,
On the mountains bleak and dreary,
By the crags where shadows lie,
From the valley, in the evening,
I have heard their plantive cry."
Mark 6:34-44 - And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people and was moved with
compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he
began to teach them many things.
35 - And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said. This is a
desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 - Send them away, that they maygo into the country round about, and into the villages
and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37 - He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said unto him, Shall
we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38 - He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew,
they say Five, and two fishes.
39 - And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 - And they sat down in ranks, bu hundreds, and by fifties.
41 - And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven,
and blessed, and break the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them: and
the two fishes he divided among them all.
42 - And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 - And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44 - And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
I have always felt it strange that the disciples recorded this account by telling of the
loaves and fishes and not a word of what Jesus taught that day, it says that he taught them
many things. (verse 34: It would seem that the disciples were far more impressed by
what they saw than by what they heard. This same verse tells us that Jesus saw these
people as sheep without a shepherd, and he had compassion on them. How many of us
see ourselves as Jesus sees us? How does the Lord look on me? Just what does he see in
me? Yes, he sees all our faults and failures but remember this, he had compassion on
them. It would be so sad if Jesus just saw us as we see ourselves, warts and all! But had
no compassion on us. Maybe we feel just fine in ourselves, we think we have never ever
done anything wrong, but if Jesus looking on us as sheep only saw us as we see
ourselves, we'd never get any help that way.
When the shepherd looks over his band of sheep, he not only sees them as a great band
of sheep, but as individuals. A good shepherd learns to know each sheep in his band, he
knows which ones are the strong ones, and which ones are weak and need extra help. He
knows which ones are the bossy sheep. The good shepherd sees the lack, but he has the
remedy for that lack.
One of our friends, a lady, has sheep she cares for. She subscribes to a magazine about
sheep. I was looking through that magazine one day when I ran across an article that said
- that sheep left on their own without a shepherd that eighty percent of them would be
dead within a year and all would be dead within two years. Sheep have so many things
wrong with them that they can't fix themselves, they need the shepherd to care for them.
It has been said of sheep that, they are born looking for a place to die. Sheep are so
dependent on the shepherd. That is something we need to realize every day, we need the
shepherd.
I have often wondered what Jesus taught that day when he fed that multitude. What do
you teach sheep that don't know the shepherd? First of all have you ever seen a sheep in a
circus? There is no way you can teach a sheep tricks, they can't be taught to stand on
there heads, or jump through a hoop, sheep just aren't entertainers are they. Oh, but sheep
can learn something that is so easy and that is to follow. What we need to learn and the
only thing a sheep needs to learn is to follow. John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me. Sheep are great followers, even to the extent of
following another sheep. Shepherds know the great danger of sheep following sheep. If
one old ewe falls over the cliff, the next, and the next will just follow her right over the
edge too.
A good story about this is about a little boy, named Johnny, he was asked by his teacher,
Johnny, if you had twelve sheep in a pen and one got out how many sheep would you
have? Well, Johnny being a farm boy said, none. The teacher again asked him how
many sheep would you have? And she got the same answer. The teacher said, Johnny you
don't know your math, and Johnny said, Teacher you don't know your sheep! Sheep love
fellowship, if you see an old sheep off by its self, you had better be seeing about her,
because she is sick. A healthy sheep doesn't have to be made to go to meeting because
they just love fellowship.
Well, we might ask, how do you teach sheep to follow you? You feed them. You feed a
sheep and they will be in your back pocket forever. Ninety-nine percent of the shepherds'
responsibility is to feed the sheep. If you feed them they will follow. That is the only way
that God leads his people. My favorite job in caring for cattle was at feeding time. You
just drove out to the pasture with hay and call and here comes the cows. (My brother
cared for cattle up in the Steens Mountains, these cows were wild, but when the tractor
came out in the field pulling the sled with hay on it those old cows would crowd around
that sled while Glen dropped off the hay for them. I can;t recall his even calling them, the
sound of the tractor did the trick.)
I went wit a man to feed his flock, this man didn't call the sheep, but made a trilling
sound to which the sheep responded. Later I was out in that same field and made that
same sound, well I think one old sheep raised her head, the rest didn't even take notice.
I had made the same sound, but the voice of the shepherd was not in it. Lots of men and
women go out preaching the Bible, but the voice of the shepherd is not in it.
I love this 23rd Psalms that speaks of the shepherd and the sheep and how the shepherd
maketh his sheep to lie down in green pastures. It has been said that those sheep rested
easy because they were not worrying about where their next meal was coming from. But I
remembered that when I was in Ireland a couple of years ago how i saw white sheep for
the first time. Usually when we see sheep, they are a gray color and in Wyoming I even
saw red sheep. Those red sheep had been bedding down near a red hillside that dirtied
their wool with red dust. But over in Ireland everything is green over there and the
sheep rest on that green grass, no dirt to dirty their wool. The only reason the wool on
those sheep was white was because it was clean. We too can be cleansed daily by the
blood of the Good Shepherd wh gave his life for his sheep. What Jesus would like for us
to do id to be found lying in green pastures.
A few years ago a book came out called, "You Are What You Eat." It was about eating a
good healthy diet. You are going to be directly affected by what you feed on in this world
too. There are people who feel if they go to meeting on Sunday that they can do what
ever they want the rest of the week, but how do you counteract the poison that you are
feeding on all week? We need to spend more time in prayer, prayer the place where we
can be fed on those things that help us to have a healthy spiritual life. (I've been known
to say to the doctor, if it's not broke don't fix it. But how do I really know if something is
wrong if I don't go to the doctor and have myself checked out?) A good shepherd checks
his flock out daily, looking for ticks, for cuts and bruises, sore eyes. Some sheep have so
much wool on their faces that they can't see, needing the shepherds attention. We need to
go to our Good Shepherd and stand the inspection to see how we are fairing spiritually.
Those verses in Mark tell us that they were in a desert place, a barren place, but Jesus said
for them to sit down on green grass and feed them. The disciples said just send them
away. Jesus said feed them. Then when all was fed the left overs were to be picked up,
why? If Jesus could make bread all that easy, why pick up the fragments? Perhaps he
wanted them to see that there was more left over than they had started out with. When
Jesus and his disciples left that place it tells us many followed him, some because of
the natural bread, but hopefully there were those who really saw the miracle and wanted
more of that miracle worked into their lives.
There are four places in the Bible where it uses the word backbiters. Two in the New
Testament and two in the Old Testament. Romans 1:30, II Corinthians 12:20, Psalms
15:3, Proverbs 25:23.
One of our friends, a lady again, buys two lambs every Spring at weaning time, feeds
them out and butchers them in the Fall for meat. This one year she noticed the old
shepherd was carrying a staff and when one old ewe passed by he gave her a good crack
on the head, she was quite taken aback by this and by the language he used. When he
struck the same ewe the second time she asked him why? She had to explain to him that
she wasn't questioning his judgement but just wanted to know why. So he told her, she's a
backbiter and if she isn't cured of it soon she will die. She is a bossy ole ewe and likes
to take the other sheep by the nap of the neck and bite them, it really dosen't hurt the other
sheep, but she gets a bit of wool in her mouth and swallows it, soon she has so much
wool in her gut she dies. (In a cat you call it hairball) It wasn't to save the other sheep
that the shepherd struck her but but to save that biter herself.
Just what is a backbiter? The dictionary says - To speak maliciously about:an absent
person) or slander. Or to talk about others behind their back, that is not going to hurt the
other person, but it does great harm to the one doing the slandering, if it is kept up from
day to day ones system is poisened as surely as they were taking arsenic. (Back in the
long ago days men used to take a small dose of arsenic thinking it would make them
more viral, many of them died of arsenic poisoned because of this.)
Sheep love light. At the Roman convention grounds is a band of sheep. The owner keeps a
big yard light on at night because the sheep love to sleep under the light. I asked the
owner about that and he said that the bears had been bothering the sheep, but when they
were under the light the bears stay away. Bears don't like light, and they knew that they
got shot if they came near. Satan doesn't like light either, so let us stay near the
shepherd where the light of the gospel can shine down on us, keeping us safe from the
predators of this world. Satan hates light and God will never allow him in the light.
115 - "Other sheep I have that wander
In this world so dark and cold.
To my love they still are strangers,
For they are not of this fold,
On the mountains bleak and dreary,
By the crags where shadows lie,
From the valley, in the evening,
I have heard their plantive cry."
Mark 6:34-44 - And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people and was moved with
compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he
began to teach them many things.
35 - And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said. This is a
desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 - Send them away, that they maygo into the country round about, and into the villages
and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37 - He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said unto him, Shall
we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38 - He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew,
they say Five, and two fishes.
39 - And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 - And they sat down in ranks, bu hundreds, and by fifties.
41 - And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven,
and blessed, and break the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them: and
the two fishes he divided among them all.
42 - And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 - And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44 - And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
I have always felt it strange that the disciples recorded this account by telling of the
loaves and fishes and not a word of what Jesus taught that day, it says that he taught them
many things. (verse 34: It would seem that the disciples were far more impressed by
what they saw than by what they heard. This same verse tells us that Jesus saw these
people as sheep without a shepherd, and he had compassion on them. How many of us
see ourselves as Jesus sees us? How does the Lord look on me? Just what does he see in
me? Yes, he sees all our faults and failures but remember this, he had compassion on
them. It would be so sad if Jesus just saw us as we see ourselves, warts and all! But had
no compassion on us. Maybe we feel just fine in ourselves, we think we have never ever
done anything wrong, but if Jesus looking on us as sheep only saw us as we see
ourselves, we'd never get any help that way.
When the shepherd looks over his band of sheep, he not only sees them as a great band
of sheep, but as individuals. A good shepherd learns to know each sheep in his band, he
knows which ones are the strong ones, and which ones are weak and need extra help. He
knows which ones are the bossy sheep. The good shepherd sees the lack, but he has the
remedy for that lack.
One of our friends, a lady, has sheep she cares for. She subscribes to a magazine about
sheep. I was looking through that magazine one day when I ran across an article that said
- that sheep left on their own without a shepherd that eighty percent of them would be
dead within a year and all would be dead within two years. Sheep have so many things
wrong with them that they can't fix themselves, they need the shepherd to care for them.
It has been said of sheep that, they are born looking for a place to die. Sheep are so
dependent on the shepherd. That is something we need to realize every day, we need the
shepherd.
I have often wondered what Jesus taught that day when he fed that multitude. What do
you teach sheep that don't know the shepherd? First of all have you ever seen a sheep in a
circus? There is no way you can teach a sheep tricks, they can't be taught to stand on
there heads, or jump through a hoop, sheep just aren't entertainers are they. Oh, but sheep
can learn something that is so easy and that is to follow. What we need to learn and the
only thing a sheep needs to learn is to follow. John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me. Sheep are great followers, even to the extent of
following another sheep. Shepherds know the great danger of sheep following sheep. If
one old ewe falls over the cliff, the next, and the next will just follow her right over the
edge too.
A good story about this is about a little boy, named Johnny, he was asked by his teacher,
Johnny, if you had twelve sheep in a pen and one got out how many sheep would you
have? Well, Johnny being a farm boy said, none. The teacher again asked him how
many sheep would you have? And she got the same answer. The teacher said, Johnny you
don't know your math, and Johnny said, Teacher you don't know your sheep! Sheep love
fellowship, if you see an old sheep off by its self, you had better be seeing about her,
because she is sick. A healthy sheep doesn't have to be made to go to meeting because
they just love fellowship.
Well, we might ask, how do you teach sheep to follow you? You feed them. You feed a
sheep and they will be in your back pocket forever. Ninety-nine percent of the shepherds'
responsibility is to feed the sheep. If you feed them they will follow. That is the only way
that God leads his people. My favorite job in caring for cattle was at feeding time. You
just drove out to the pasture with hay and call and here comes the cows. (My brother
cared for cattle up in the Steens Mountains, these cows were wild, but when the tractor
came out in the field pulling the sled with hay on it those old cows would crowd around
that sled while Glen dropped off the hay for them. I can;t recall his even calling them, the
sound of the tractor did the trick.)
I went wit a man to feed his flock, this man didn't call the sheep, but made a trilling
sound to which the sheep responded. Later I was out in that same field and made that
same sound, well I think one old sheep raised her head, the rest didn't even take notice.
I had made the same sound, but the voice of the shepherd was not in it. Lots of men and
women go out preaching the Bible, but the voice of the shepherd is not in it.
I love this 23rd Psalms that speaks of the shepherd and the sheep and how the shepherd
maketh his sheep to lie down in green pastures. It has been said that those sheep rested
easy because they were not worrying about where their next meal was coming from. But I
remembered that when I was in Ireland a couple of years ago how i saw white sheep for
the first time. Usually when we see sheep, they are a gray color and in Wyoming I even
saw red sheep. Those red sheep had been bedding down near a red hillside that dirtied
their wool with red dust. But over in Ireland everything is green over there and the
sheep rest on that green grass, no dirt to dirty their wool. The only reason the wool on
those sheep was white was because it was clean. We too can be cleansed daily by the
blood of the Good Shepherd wh gave his life for his sheep. What Jesus would like for us
to do id to be found lying in green pastures.
A few years ago a book came out called, "You Are What You Eat." It was about eating a
good healthy diet. You are going to be directly affected by what you feed on in this world
too. There are people who feel if they go to meeting on Sunday that they can do what
ever they want the rest of the week, but how do you counteract the poison that you are
feeding on all week? We need to spend more time in prayer, prayer the place where we
can be fed on those things that help us to have a healthy spiritual life. (I've been known
to say to the doctor, if it's not broke don't fix it. But how do I really know if something is
wrong if I don't go to the doctor and have myself checked out?) A good shepherd checks
his flock out daily, looking for ticks, for cuts and bruises, sore eyes. Some sheep have so
much wool on their faces that they can't see, needing the shepherds attention. We need to
go to our Good Shepherd and stand the inspection to see how we are fairing spiritually.
Those verses in Mark tell us that they were in a desert place, a barren place, but Jesus said
for them to sit down on green grass and feed them. The disciples said just send them
away. Jesus said feed them. Then when all was fed the left overs were to be picked up,
why? If Jesus could make bread all that easy, why pick up the fragments? Perhaps he
wanted them to see that there was more left over than they had started out with. When
Jesus and his disciples left that place it tells us many followed him, some because of
the natural bread, but hopefully there were those who really saw the miracle and wanted
more of that miracle worked into their lives.
There are four places in the Bible where it uses the word backbiters. Two in the New
Testament and two in the Old Testament. Romans 1:30, II Corinthians 12:20, Psalms
15:3, Proverbs 25:23.
One of our friends, a lady again, buys two lambs every Spring at weaning time, feeds
them out and butchers them in the Fall for meat. This one year she noticed the old
shepherd was carrying a staff and when one old ewe passed by he gave her a good crack
on the head, she was quite taken aback by this and by the language he used. When he
struck the same ewe the second time she asked him why? She had to explain to him that
she wasn't questioning his judgement but just wanted to know why. So he told her, she's a
backbiter and if she isn't cured of it soon she will die. She is a bossy ole ewe and likes
to take the other sheep by the nap of the neck and bite them, it really dosen't hurt the other
sheep, but she gets a bit of wool in her mouth and swallows it, soon she has so much
wool in her gut she dies. (In a cat you call it hairball) It wasn't to save the other sheep
that the shepherd struck her but but to save that biter herself.
Just what is a backbiter? The dictionary says - To speak maliciously about:an absent
person) or slander. Or to talk about others behind their back, that is not going to hurt the
other person, but it does great harm to the one doing the slandering, if it is kept up from
day to day ones system is poisened as surely as they were taking arsenic. (Back in the
long ago days men used to take a small dose of arsenic thinking it would make them
more viral, many of them died of arsenic poisoned because of this.)
Sheep love light. At the Roman convention grounds is a band of sheep. The owner keeps a
big yard light on at night because the sheep love to sleep under the light. I asked the
owner about that and he said that the bears had been bothering the sheep, but when they
were under the light the bears stay away. Bears don't like light, and they knew that they
got shot if they came near. Satan doesn't like light either, so let us stay near the
shepherd where the light of the gospel can shine down on us, keeping us safe from the
predators of this world. Satan hates light and God will never allow him in the light.
John Wooden Quotes
"Be
more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because
your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely
what others think you are."
Quotes
Happiness begins where selfishness ends. ~ John Wooden
Earn the right to be proud and confident. ~ John Wooden
The best way to improve the team is to improve ourselves.
Big things are accomplished only through the perfection of small details. ~ Alan Stein
Discipline yourself and others won't need to. ~ John Wooden
Ability may get you to the top, but it take character to keep you there. ~ John Wooden
I will get ready, and then, perhaps my chance will come. ~ Abraham Lincoln
If I am through learning, I am through. ~ John Wooden
If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over. ~ John Wooden
The smallest good deed is better than the best intention.
The man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success. ~ John Wooden
Don't let yesterday take up too much of today. ~ Will Rogers
Time spent getting even would be better spent trying to get ahead. ~ Dick Armey
It is what you learn after you know it all that counts. ~ Earl Weaver
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights. J. Wooden
There is nothing stronger than gentleness. ~ Han Suyin
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” ~ John Wooden
Earn the right to be proud and confident. ~ John Wooden
The best way to improve the team is to improve ourselves.
Big things are accomplished only through the perfection of small details. ~ Alan Stein
Discipline yourself and others won't need to. ~ John Wooden
Ability may get you to the top, but it take character to keep you there. ~ John Wooden
I will get ready, and then, perhaps my chance will come. ~ Abraham Lincoln
If I am through learning, I am through. ~ John Wooden
If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over. ~ John Wooden
The smallest good deed is better than the best intention.
The man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success. ~ John Wooden
Don't let yesterday take up too much of today. ~ Will Rogers
Time spent getting even would be better spent trying to get ahead. ~ Dick Armey
It is what you learn after you know it all that counts. ~ Earl Weaver
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights. J. Wooden
There is nothing stronger than gentleness. ~ Han Suyin
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” ~ John Wooden
Focus
You don't aim at the bull's-eye. You aim at the center of the bull's-eye!
Raymond Berry
Football Coach
Raymond Berry
Football Coach
How To Have A 'Winning' Day
If you want to win an election, you have to get more votes than your opponents.
If you want to win a baseball game, your team has to score more runs than the other team.
If you want to lose weight, you have to burn off more calories than you take in.
If you want to have a "winning" day, there are 21 "more thans" that you have to do...
1. You have to listen more than you talk.
2. You have to give more than you get.
3. You have to smile more than you frown.
4. You have to think "we" more than you think "me."
5. You have to agree more than you disagree.
6. You have to complement more than you criticize.
7. You have to laugh more than you cry.
8. You have to clean up more than you mess up.
9. You have to be positive more than you are negative.
10. You have to be fascinated more than you're frustrated.
11. You have to "walk the walk" more than you "talk the talk."
12. You have to be accepting more than rejecting.
13. You have to see the cup "half full" more than see it "half empty."
14. You have to help more than you hinder.
15. You have to believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself.
16. You have to work more than you whine.
17. You have to do more than you don't.
18. You have to act more than you react.
19. You have to save more than you squander.
20. You have to care more than you ever have.
21. You have to love more than you ever have.
Rob Gilbert
Editor, Bits & Pieces
If you want to win a baseball game, your team has to score more runs than the other team.
If you want to lose weight, you have to burn off more calories than you take in.
If you want to have a "winning" day, there are 21 "more thans" that you have to do...
1. You have to listen more than you talk.
2. You have to give more than you get.
3. You have to smile more than you frown.
4. You have to think "we" more than you think "me."
5. You have to agree more than you disagree.
6. You have to complement more than you criticize.
7. You have to laugh more than you cry.
8. You have to clean up more than you mess up.
9. You have to be positive more than you are negative.
10. You have to be fascinated more than you're frustrated.
11. You have to "walk the walk" more than you "talk the talk."
12. You have to be accepting more than rejecting.
13. You have to see the cup "half full" more than see it "half empty."
14. You have to help more than you hinder.
15. You have to believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself.
16. You have to work more than you whine.
17. You have to do more than you don't.
18. You have to act more than you react.
19. You have to save more than you squander.
20. You have to care more than you ever have.
21. You have to love more than you ever have.
Rob Gilbert
Editor, Bits & Pieces
The Inn Keeper's Excuse
"Oh, if I had only known"
Said the keeper of the Inn,
But no hint to me was shown
And I didn't let them in.
Yes, a star gleamed overhead,
But I couldn't read the skies,
And I'd given every bed
To the very rich and wise.
And she was so poorly clad,
And he hadn;t much to say,
But no room for them I had,
So I ordered them away.
She seemed tired and it was late,
And they begged so hard that I
Feeling sorry for her state
In the stable let them lie.
Had I turned some rich man out
Just to make a place for them,
I'd have killed beyond a doubt
All my trade in Bethlehem.
All my patrons now are dead
And forgotten, but today
All the world to peace is led
By the one I sent away.
It was my unlucky fate
To be born that Inn to own
Against Christ I shut the gate,
"Oh, if I had only known."
If we are ashamed of Jesus here,
We will be ashamed of ourselves for all eternity.
From Willie Pollock's poem book.
Said the keeper of the Inn,
But no hint to me was shown
And I didn't let them in.
Yes, a star gleamed overhead,
But I couldn't read the skies,
And I'd given every bed
To the very rich and wise.
And she was so poorly clad,
And he hadn;t much to say,
But no room for them I had,
So I ordered them away.
She seemed tired and it was late,
And they begged so hard that I
Feeling sorry for her state
In the stable let them lie.
Had I turned some rich man out
Just to make a place for them,
I'd have killed beyond a doubt
All my trade in Bethlehem.
All my patrons now are dead
And forgotten, but today
All the world to peace is led
By the one I sent away.
It was my unlucky fate
To be born that Inn to own
Against Christ I shut the gate,
"Oh, if I had only known."
If we are ashamed of Jesus here,
We will be ashamed of ourselves for all eternity.
From Willie Pollock's poem book.
Passing Time
Behold, the clock is striking one;
Perhaps my work is almost done,
And will it bear inspection too,
By Him with whom I have to do?
Hark, now the clock is striking two,
Time's moving fast for me and you.
Our golden moments, how they fly
And whisper, O! Prepare to die.
Time passes on, the clock strikes three;
May this a warning be to me
That worldly pleasures pass away
And soon will come the judgment day.
The hand moves on, the clock strikes four,
The hour that's past we'll see no more.
Teach us our days to number so
That we in wisdom's ways may go.
The clock strikes five; oh don't you see
Time does not wait for you or me,
But hurries on with rapid pace
And bears us to our destined place.
The clock strikes six, the sun is low,
His beauties soon no more will show
Until the dawn of a new day,
How swift the time doth pass away.
The clock strikes seven; the day is closed;
Now comes the hour of sweet repose.
Upon our pillow rests our head,
Which is the emblem of the dead.
We watch the hands move on to eight,
We pray our hearts will hold no hate.
Believing in His love and grace,
We long with love to see His face.
Although we rest on bed of down,
The wheels of time still roll around.
The clock strikes nine; O! Turn your eye
And see how swift the moments fly.
Rest on, and take refreshment then,
For lo, the clock is striking ten,
And as it strikes, its tones express
You have on earth one hour or less.
Alarming though, is it eleven,
And is my soul prepared for Heaven?
The midnight hour will soon be here;
Who first will at its bar appear?
How soon twelve hours have passed away!
How swift the time, how short the stay
Of mortal man beneath the sun;
How soon our work on earth is done!
Author Unknown
Perhaps my work is almost done,
And will it bear inspection too,
By Him with whom I have to do?
Hark, now the clock is striking two,
Time's moving fast for me and you.
Our golden moments, how they fly
And whisper, O! Prepare to die.
Time passes on, the clock strikes three;
May this a warning be to me
That worldly pleasures pass away
And soon will come the judgment day.
The hand moves on, the clock strikes four,
The hour that's past we'll see no more.
Teach us our days to number so
That we in wisdom's ways may go.
The clock strikes five; oh don't you see
Time does not wait for you or me,
But hurries on with rapid pace
And bears us to our destined place.
The clock strikes six, the sun is low,
His beauties soon no more will show
Until the dawn of a new day,
How swift the time doth pass away.
The clock strikes seven; the day is closed;
Now comes the hour of sweet repose.
Upon our pillow rests our head,
Which is the emblem of the dead.
We watch the hands move on to eight,
We pray our hearts will hold no hate.
Believing in His love and grace,
We long with love to see His face.
Although we rest on bed of down,
The wheels of time still roll around.
The clock strikes nine; O! Turn your eye
And see how swift the moments fly.
Rest on, and take refreshment then,
For lo, the clock is striking ten,
And as it strikes, its tones express
You have on earth one hour or less.
Alarming though, is it eleven,
And is my soul prepared for Heaven?
The midnight hour will soon be here;
Who first will at its bar appear?
How soon twelve hours have passed away!
How swift the time, how short the stay
Of mortal man beneath the sun;
How soon our work on earth is done!
Author Unknown
Sunday, February 16, 2014
He Maketh No Mistake
My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul, I’m glad to know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But I’ll still trust the Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho the night be dark, and it may seem
That day may never break,
I’ll place my faith, my all on Him;
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much I cannot now see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make;
Through all the way, tho dark to me,
He maketh no mistake.
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul, I’m glad to know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But I’ll still trust the Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho the night be dark, and it may seem
That day may never break,
I’ll place my faith, my all on Him;
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much I cannot now see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make;
Through all the way, tho dark to me,
He maketh no mistake.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Those Who Love You
If someone should hurt you
And say a thing unkind,
Remember what I write you,
And keep these thoughts in mind.
And say a thing unkind,
Remember what I write you,
And keep these thoughts in mind.
For everyone who makes you cry,
There are three who make you smile.
And a smile will last a long, long time,
But a tear just a little while.
There are three who make you smile.
And a smile will last a long, long time,
But a tear just a little while.
Don't let someone who hates the world
Cause you to hate it too.
Behind the clouds is a golden sun,
And a sky that's full of blue.
Cause you to hate it too.
Behind the clouds is a golden sun,
And a sky that's full of blue.
If someone said a thing that's cruel,
Don't let it get to you,
Your achievements are greatly numbered,
And your faults are very few.
Don't let it get to you,
Your achievements are greatly numbered,
And your faults are very few.
So if a certain person
Should act a certain way,
Think of those who love you
And don't let it spoil your day.
Should act a certain way,
Think of those who love you
And don't let it spoil your day.
~ Ruth Carter-Bourdon ~
Kid's Thoughts On Love
Kids confidential opinions about love:
I'm not rushing into love, I'm finding fourth grade hard enough. (age 10)
Yesterday I kissed a girl in a private place.We were behind a tree. (age 7)
What people are thinking when they say I love you:
The person is thinking, "Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he showers at least once a
day. (age 9)
Some lovers might be real nervous so they are glad that they finally got it out and said it, and now they can go eat. (age 7)
Why love happens between certain people:
One of the people has freckles so he finds someone who has freckles too. (age 6)
No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular. (age 9)
I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful. (age 8)
How to make love last:
Spend most of your time loving, instead of going to work.(age 8)
Don't forget your wife's name, that will mess up love. (age 8)
Be a good kisser, it might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash.(age 9)
Random thoughts:
Falling in love is like an avalanche where you have to run for your life. (age 9)
If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful. (age 9)
When a person gets kissed for the first time they fall down and don't get up for at least an hour. (age 8)
To make a person fall in love with you, shake your hips and hope for the best. (age 8)
The Size Of Your Heart
It isn't the size of your house as such,
That matters so much at all;
It's the gentle hand and its loving touch,
That make it great or small.
The friends who come and the hour they go,
Who out of your house depart;
Will judge it not by the style you show,
But rather ... by the size of your heart.
It isn't the size of your head so much,
It isn't the wealth you found;
What will make you happy is how you touch,
The other lives that are all around.
For making money is not hard,
To live life well is an art:
How people love you and how they regard ...
Is all in the size of your heart.
(author unknown)
Redneck Love
Collards is green, my dog's name is Blue
And I'm so lucky to have a sweet thang like you.
Yore hair is like corn silk a-flapping in the breeze.
Softer than Blue's and without all them fleas.
You move like the bass, which excite me in May.
You ain't got no scales but I luv you anyway.
Yo're as satisfy'n as okry jist a-fry'n in the pan.
Yo're as fragrant as "snuff" right out of the can.
You have some'a yore teeth, for which I am proud;
I hold my head high when we're in a crowd.
On special occasions, when you shave under yore arms,
Well, I'm in hawg heaven, and awed by yore charms.
Still them fellers at work, they all want to know,
What I did to deserve such a purdy, young doe.
Like a good roll of duct tape, yo're there fer yore man,
To patch up life's troubles and fix what you can.
Yo're as cute as a junebug a-buzzin' overhead.
You ain't mean like those far ants I found in my bed.
Cut from the best cloth like a plaid flannel shirt,
And I'm so lucky to have a sweet thang like you.
Yore hair is like corn silk a-flapping in the breeze.
Softer than Blue's and without all them fleas.
You move like the bass, which excite me in May.
You ain't got no scales but I luv you anyway.
Yo're as satisfy'n as okry jist a-fry'n in the pan.
Yo're as fragrant as "snuff" right out of the can.
You have some'a yore teeth, for which I am proud;
I hold my head high when we're in a crowd.
On special occasions, when you shave under yore arms,
Well, I'm in hawg heaven, and awed by yore charms.
Still them fellers at work, they all want to know,
What I did to deserve such a purdy, young doe.
Like a good roll of duct tape, yo're there fer yore man,
To patch up life's troubles and fix what you can.
Yo're as cute as a junebug a-buzzin' overhead.
You ain't mean like those far ants I found in my bed.
Cut from the best cloth like a plaid flannel shirt,
You spark up my life more than a fresh load of dirt.
When you hold me real tight like a padded gunrack,
My life is complete; Ain't nuttin' I lack.
Yore complexion, it's perfection, like the best vinyl sidin'.
Despite all the years, yore age, it keeps hidin'.
Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie with a RC cold drank,
My life is complete; Ain't nuttin' I lack.
Yore complexion, it's perfection, like the best vinyl sidin'.
Despite all the years, yore age, it keeps hidin'.
Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie with a RC cold drank,
We go together like a skunk goes with stank.
Some men, they buy chocolate for Valentine's Day;
Some men, they buy chocolate for Valentine's Day;
They git it at Wal-Mart,it's romantic that way.
Some men git roses on that special day
From the cooler at Kroger. That's impressive," I say.
Some men buy fine diamonds from a flea market booth.
"Diamonds are forever," they explain, suave and couth.
But for this man, honey, these won't do.
Cause yor'e too special, you sweet thang you.
I got you a gift, without taste nor odor,
More useful than diamonds......IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR!!
Some men git roses on that special day
From the cooler at Kroger. That's impressive," I say.
Some men buy fine diamonds from a flea market booth.
"Diamonds are forever," they explain, suave and couth.
But for this man, honey, these won't do.
Cause yor'e too special, you sweet thang you.
I got you a gift, without taste nor odor,
More useful than diamonds......IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR!!
Roses are red
Jonquils are yellar
Find yourself
A real rich fellar.
Daisies are white
Petunias are pink
Some of these rhymes
Are beginning to stink.
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