Angels From Above

I ASKED GOD TO TAKE AWAY MY PRIDE.....

And God said "No."
He said it was not for him to take away,
but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
And God said "No."
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
And God said "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations.
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
And God said "No."
He said he gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain.
And God said "No."
He said suffering draws you apart from worldly
cares and brings you closer to Me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow
And God said "No."
He said I must grow on my own.
But he would prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
And God said "No."
He said I will give you life,
that you may enjoy all things.

Before you plant, may I suggest the following rules to have a successful harvest?

Plant 7 rows of Peas (P's):
1. Prayer
2. Promptness
3. Patience
4. Preparation
5. Perseverance
6. Politeness
7. Purity

Plant 7 rows of Squash:
1. Squash Gossip
2. Squash Indifference
3. Squash Criticism
4. Squash Negative Thinking
5. Squash Envy
6. Squash Jealousy
7. Squash Hatred

Plant 7 rows of lettuce (Let Us):
1. Let us be unselfish and loyal.
2. Let us be faithful to duty.
3. Let us search the Scriptures.
4. Let us not be weary in well doing.
5. Let us be obedient in all things.
6. Let us be truthful.
7. Let us love one another.

No garden is complete without turnips (Turn-ups):
1. Turn up with a Friendly Smile.
2. Turn up for Church.
3. Turn up for Bible Study.
4. Turn up for Prayer Meeting.
5. Turn up to give your Best in God's Service.
6. Turn up to Praise God and not man.
7. Turn up to receive the Holy Spirit and
not to Quench the Spirit.

I said, "God, I cry a lot."
And God said, "That is why I gave you tears."

I said, "God, I am so depressed."
And God said, "That is why I gave you Sunshine."

I said, "God, life is so hard."
And God said, "That is why I gave you loved ones."

I said, "God, it hurts."

And God said, "I know."

I said, "God, my loved one died."
And God said, "So did mine."

I said, "God, it is such a loss."
And God said, I saw mine nailed to a cross."

I said, "God, but your loved one lives."
And God said, "So does yours."

Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations-of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord and inspire me to send my roots deep into the great soil of life's enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny.

Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed.