INSPIRATIONpg6

Gift of Life

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a disease and needed a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

Addendum -- John 15:13 (NIV) "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

The Best Time of My Life

It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn't full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas's age, so I asked him, "What was the best time of your life?"
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, "Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:
"When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
"When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
"When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.
"When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
"The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.
"When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
"When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life."

A Thanksgiving Story

Help carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.
Gal. 6:2

It was the day before Thanksgiving -- the first one my three children and I would be spending without their father, who had left several months before. Now the two older children were very sick with the flu, and the eldest had just been prescribed bed rest for a week.
It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain was falling. I grew wearier as I scurried around, trying to care for each child: thermometers, juice, diapers. And I was fast running out of liquids for the children. But when I checked my purse, all I found was about $2.50 -- and this was supposed to last me until the end of the month. That’s when I heard the phone ring.
It was the secretary from our former church, and she told me that they had been thinking about us and had something to give us from the congregation. I told her that I was going out to pick up some more juice and soup for the children, and I would drop by the church on my way to the market.
I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church secretary met me at the door and handed me a special gift envelope. “We think of you and the kids often,” she said, “and you are in our hearts and prayers. We love you.” When I opened the envelope, I found two grocery certificates inside. Each was worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke down and cried.
“Thank you very much,” I said, as we hugged each other. “Please give our love and thanks to the church.” Then I drove to a store near our home and purchased some much-needed items for the children.
At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00 worth of groceries, and I handed the cashier one of the gift certificates. She took it, then turned her back for what seemed like a very long time. I thought something might be wrong. Finally I said, “This gift certificate is a real blessing. Our former church gave it to my family, knowing I’m a single parent trying to make ends meet.“
The cashier then turned around, with tears in her loving eyes, and replied, “Honey, that’s wonderful! Do you have a turkey?”
“No. It’s okay because my children are sick anyway.”
She then asked, “Do you have anything else for Thanksgiving dinner?”
Again I replied, “No.”
After handing me the change from the certificate, she looked at my face and said, “Honey, I can’t tell you exactly why right now, but I want you to go back into the store and buy a turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or anything else you need for a Thanksgiving dinner.”
I was shocked, and humbled to tears. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some Gatorade for the kids.”
I felt awkward as I went back to do some more shopping, but I selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and potatoes, and some juices for the children. Then I wheeled the shopping cart up to the same cashier as before. As I placed my groceries on the counter, she looked at me once more with giant tears in her kind eyes and began to speak.
“Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I could help someone today, and you walked through my line.” She reached under the counter for her purse and took out a $20 bill. She paid for my groceries and then handed me the change. Once more I was moved to tears.
The sweet cashier then said, “I am a Christian. Here is my phone number if you ever need anything.” She then took my head in her hands, kissed my cheek and said, “God bless you, honey.”
As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this stranger’s love and by the realization that God loves my family too, and shows us his love through this stranger’s and my church’s kind deeds.
The children were supposed to have spent Thanksgiving with their father that year, but because of the flu they were home with me, for a very special Thanksgiving Day. They were feeling better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord’s bounty -- and our community’s love. Our hearts were truly filled with thanks.

The Giving Trees

I was a single parent of four small children, working at a minimum-wage job. Money was always tight, but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always enough. My kids told me that in those days they didn't know we were poor. They just thought Mom was cheap. I've always been glad about that.

It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't' money for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with church and family, parties and friends, drives downtown to see the Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating our home.

But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of Christmas shopping at the mall. They talked and planned for weeks ahead of time, asking each other and their grandparents what they wanted for Christmas. I dreaded it. I had saved $120 for presents to be shared by all five of us.

The big day arrived and we started out early. I gave each of the four kids a twenty dollar bill and reminded them to look for gifts about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered. We had two hours to shop; then we would meet back at the "Santa's workshop" display.

Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, laughing and teasing each other with hints and clues about what they had bought. My younger daughter, Ginger, who was about eight years old, was unusually quiet. I noted she had only one small, flat bag with her after her shopping spree. I could see enough through the plastic bag to tell that she had bought candy bars - fifty-cent candy bars! I was so angry. What did you do with that twenty dollar bill I gave you? I wanted to yell at her, but I didn't say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be angry again when I asked her what she had done with the money. This is what she told me:

"I was looking around, thinking of what to buy, and I stopped to read the little cards on one of the Salvation Army's 'Giving Trees.' One of the cards was for a little girl, four years old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll with clothes and a hairbrush. So I took the card off the tree and bought the doll and hairbrush for her and took it to the Salvation Army booth.

"I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us," Ginger continued. "But we have so much and she doesn't have anything."

I never felt so rich as I did that day.

Working Christmas Day

It was an unusually quiet day in the emergency room December twenty?fifth. Quiet, that is, except for the s who were standing around the nurses' station grumbling about having to work Christmas Day.
I was triage nurse that day and had just been out to the waiting room to clean up. Since there were no patients waiting to be seen at the time, I came back to the nurses' station for a cup of hot cider from the crockpot someone had brought in for Christmas. Just then an admitting clerk came "back and told me I had five patients waiting to be evaluated.
I whined, "Five, how did I get five? I was just out there and no one was in the waiting room."
Well, there are five signed in." So I went straight out and called the first name. Five bodies showed up at my triage desk, a pale petite woman and four small children in somewhat rumpled clothing.
"Are you all sick?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yes," she said weakly and lowered her head.
"Okay," I replied, unconvinced, "who's first?" One by one they sat down, and I asked the usual preliminary questions. When it came to descriptions of their presenting problems, things got a little vague. Two of the children had headaches, but the headaches weren't accompanied by the normal body language of holding the head or trying to keep it still or squinting or grimacing. Two children had earaches, but only one could tell me which ear was affected. The mother complained of a cough but seemed to work to produce it.
Something was wrong with the picture. Our hospital policy, however, was not to turn away any patient, so we would see them. When I explained to the mother that it might be a little while before a doctor saw her because, even though the waiting room was empty, ambulances had brought in several, more critical patients, in the back, she responded, "Take your time; it's warm in here." She turned and, with a smile, guided her brood into the waiting room.
On a hunch (call it nursing judgment), I checked the chart after the admitting clerk had finished registering the family. No address-they were homeless. The waiting room was warm.
I looked out at the family huddled by the Christmas tree. The littlest one was pointing at the television and exclaiming something to her mother. The oldest one was looking at her reflection in an ornament on the Christmas tree.
I went back to the nurses' station and mentioned we had a homeless family in the waiting room-a mother and four children between four and ten years of age. The nurses, grumbling about working Christmas, turned to compassion for a family just trying to get warm on Christmas. The team went into action, much as we do when there's a medical emergency. But this one was a Christmas emergency.
We were all offered a free meal in the hospital cafeteria on Christmas Day, so we claimed that meal and prepared a banquet for our Christmas guests.
We needed presents. We put together oranges and apples in a basket one of our vendors had brought the department for Christmas. We made little goodie bags of stickers we borrowed from the X?ray department, candy that one of the doctors had brought the nurses, crayons the hospital had from a recent coloring contest, nurse bear buttons the hospital had given the nurses at annual training day and little fuzzy bears that nurses clipped onto their stethoscopes. We also found a mug, a package of powdered cocoa and a few other odds and ends. We pulled ribbon and wrapping paper and bells off the department's decorations that we had all contributed to. As seriously as we met the physical needs of the patients that came to us that day, our team worked to meet the needs, and exceed the expectations, of a family who just wanted to be warm on Christmas Day.
We took turns joining the Christmas party in the waiting room. Each nurse took his or her lunch break with the family, choosing to spend his or her "off?duty" time with these people whose laughter and delightful chatter became quite contagious.
When it was my turn, I sat with them at the little banquet table we had created in the waiting room. We talked for a while about dreams. The four children were telling me about what they wanted to be when they grow up. The six?year?old started the conversation. "I want to be a nurse and help people," she declared.
After the four children had shared their dreams, I looked at the mom. She smiled and said, "I just want my family to be safe, warm and content-just like they are right now."
The "party" lasted most of the shift, before we were able to locate a shelter that would take the family in on Christmas Day. The mother had asked that their charts be pulled, so these patients were not seen that day in the emergency department. But they were treated.
As they walked to the door to leave, the four?year?old came running back, gave me a hug and whispered, "Thanks for being our angels today." As she ran back to join her family, they all waved one more time before the door closed. I turned around slowly to get back to work, a little embarrassed for the tears in my eyes. There stood a group of my coworkers, one with a box of tissues, which she passed around to each nurse who worked a Christmas Day she will never forget.

Lessons from an animal. A Friend In Need
Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs who met every day to play together. Like pairs of dogs you can find in most any neighborhood, these two loved each other and played together so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their respective houses.
One evening, Brownie's family noticed that Brownie hadn't returned home. They went looking for him with no success. Brownie didn't show up the next day, and, despite their efforts to find him, by the next week he was still missing.
Curiously, Spotty showed up at Brownie's house alone, barking, whining, and generally pestering Brownie's human family. Busy with their own lives, they just ignored the nervous little neighbor dog.
Finally, one morning Spotty refused to take "no" for an answer. Ted, Brownie's owner, was steadily harassed by the furious, adamant little dog. Spotty followed Ted about, barking insistently, then darting toward a nearby empty lot and back, as if to say, "Follow me! It's urgent!"
Eventually, Ted followed the frantic Spotty across the empty lot as Spotty paused to race back and bark encouragingly. The little dog led the man under a fence, past clumps of trees, to a desolate spot a half mile from the house. There Ted found his beloved Brownie alive, one of his hind legs crushed in a steel leghold trap. Horrified, Ted now wished he'd taken Spotty's earlier appeals seriously. Then Ted noticed something quite remarkable.
Spotty had done more than simply lead Brownie's human to his trapped friend. In a circle around the injured dog, Ted found an array of dog food and table scraps - which were later identified as the remains of every meal Spotty had been fed that week!
Spotty had been visiting Brownie regularly, in a single minded quest to keep his friend alive by sacrificing his own comfort. Spotty had evidently stayed with Brownie to protect him from predators, snuggling with him at night to keep him, warm and nuzzling him to keep his spirits up.
Brownie's leg was treated by a veterinarian and he recovered. For many years thereafter, the two families watched the faithful friends frolicking and chasing each other down that well-worn path between their houses.

The Wolves Within

An old Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said, "Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."

"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather solemnly said, "The one I feed."

College Student Learns from a Little Girl

I was babysitting for this 4 1/2 year old little girl for the summer. I was out of college for the summer and it was the perfect summer job! Maddie and I would walk to the park everyday after lunch. Maddie loved to swing on the swings and go down the slide. She was a very good hearted little child and she always amazed me at the love she felt for other people. She had such goodness in her little heart. Both of her parents were the same way - - they always had such a peace about them -- I always wondered -- why are they so different?

That day at the park as I was pushing Maddie in the swing, we heard a bunch of kids laughing. We looked over and all the kids were crowded around one of the park benches. Maddie wanted to stop swinging and go over there and see what they were laughing at. We walked over and a little boy ran up to Maddie and said, "Come over here and look at this funny lady! She is dirty and smelly and she is crying!"

Maddie ignored the little boy and walked over to where the woman was sitting on the bench. She looked to be about 50 years old - though she could have been very easily a lot younger. It looked like life had been very hard on her. The little boy was right, she did smell and she was all dirty.

My immediate thought was to grab Maddie by the hand and take her away from this woman. I looked over and Maddie was already sitting next to the woman and was holding her hand. The woman looked down at Maddie and she smiled. For that split second this woman was no longer dirty and smelly, she was beautiful!!! All the other kids finally left and Maddie gave the woman a hug and she too left.

On the way home Maddie was humming a little song and skipping a little bit. Her usual self, she was happy -- not a care in the world. I was waiting for her to say something about the woman, but she didn't. Finally, when we got home I could not wait any longer. I went to Maddie and I asked her, "Maddie, why did you do that?" She said, "Do what Julie?" I said, "Why did you go up to that woman like that and hold her hand Maddie? All the other kids were either laughing at her or they were scared of her. You just went right up to her like that!"

Maddie looked at me and said, "Julie, Jesus wouldn't treat that lady like that. People laughed and treated Jesus like that and look at what He did! He died for us on the cross. Every time I see someone like that being made fun of I go to them and give them a hug and tell them that Jesus loves them. It always makes them feel better!"

Here I stood -- a 20 year old college student -- supposed to be so smart! And here was this 4 1/2 year old little girl who knew so much more than I did. That's what it was about her!! It was Jesus. Jesus Christ who came to this cold and dirty world, got stepped on, laughed at, spit on and still -- He died for us. I changed that day and the world now looks different to me. All because a 4 1/2 year old little girl showed me what it really means to love.

This Is Good

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean,'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you." "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.

Hold on, God is faithful! May God bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.

Addendum -- Genius 50:20 (NIV) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

They Wont Let Me In

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its full capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today's sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for.

At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered with whiskers, for he had not shaved for a very long time. When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in respect. His hair was long, dirty, and a tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled black socks to cover the sores upon his feet. The Usher looked at him turning up his nose at the old man and said, "Uh, I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that he had underlined. But he was respectful, and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church.

He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others.

A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing? He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was to filthy, my clothes to old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service.

Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is George." The two men shook hands, and George couldn't help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals on his feet, now covered with dust and dirt.

The stranger touched George's shoulder, and said: "George, don't feel bad because they won't let you in. My name is Jesus, and I've been trying to get into this same church for years -- they won't let me in either."

Addendum -- Hebrews 13:2 (GNB) "Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it."

The Old Woman With The Cane

After a long day of going back and forth to doctor's appointments for my fiance's father and his ill sister, I was just about ready to fall over in sheer exhaustion. However, something inside keeps you going because, well, you have to.

As we were leaving our last appointment, I was walking behind the three of them and noticed an old woman with a cane and special walking shoes attempting to step from the curb and get into the waiting car.

At first I thought for certain that the driver, whom I assumed was her daughter, surely would get out and help her.
She didn't.
I knew I had to get to my own car and unlock it so that the others could get in.

But, how could I pass this woman by? The wind was cold and strong and she looked as if she would fall.
I stopped and asked her, "Do you need a hand?"
She looked at me as if surprised. Not afraid, but surprised.

"Yes I do, if you don't mind."

My heart started crying. Why wasn't the driver of the car doing this? What was going on here?
I took her hand as her other supported her with the cane and told her that I had her.
"Are you sure?"
Yes, I've got 'ya. You're not going to fall. Now place one foot down and then the other."

After feeling my secure grip, she stepped down from the curb. She was so unsteady that I couldn't see letting go of her.
"The door's unlocked. I can get in."

"No, that's okay, I don't mind. Let me hold you while we get the door open."
There was no way she'd get into the car, or, if she did, it would have been at the risk of falling if left to do it alone.
All the while the driver just sat and watched with a very frustrated look upon her face.

The old woman opened the car door and I helped her in. She sat and couldn't thank me enough. I told her not to mention it and that's what people are for. I even laughed to make her feel better and said, "I'm used to this!"

I am used to it, and I don't mind it. My fiance and I are getting quite accustomed to helping his dad's ill sister into the car and his father, too. It's just what you do.
Well, it's what most people do.

After the old woman was seated I tucked her coat into the car so it wouldn't get stuck in the door. I looked at the driver who didn't even say thank you. She just rolled her eyes as if to say, "My mother is a pain in the behind."

SORRY! She's NOT! She's a person damn it all and you should have gotten yourself out of the car and helped her! Oh, I wish I'd said that, but I couldn't.

The look on the old woman's face was enough. She knew someone cared, even if a stranger.
As they began to pull away I was back at my own car and all were let in. My fiance saw and heard what happened and he quickly got out of the car and ran to the car pulling out.

He went to the driver's side and I wondered what he was going to say. I knew he wouldn't cause a scene, but I just wanted to "let it go".
He came back and I watched the car pull away.
"What did you say?"

"I asked the woman driving if she was the daughter of the old woman."
"Was she?"
"Yes. I told her that she should have been the one to have helped her mother and she said that her mother was able to get in the car by herself."
I said, "What? That woman almost fell! She was struggling terribly! I couldn't even leave her!"

"I know," my fiance said, "and I told her that she should be ashamed of herself and she just looked angry and rolled her eyes."
She never said thank you.

That's not what I wanted. I just wanted her to CARE.

The Universal Law says: What you give you get back. Sadly, someday the daughter will be the one struggling with a cane, unable to get into a car, and there will be no one to help her. I hope she thinks of that and makes some changes before it's too late.

"For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged." (Matthew 7:2

Jesus In The House

One day he decided to invite the Lord to come home and stay with him. When the Lord arrived, this young man offered him the very best room in the house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. "This room is yours, Jesus! Stay as long as you like and you can do whatever you want to in this room, remember Jesus, its all yours."

That evening after he had retired for the night there came a loud knocking at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made his way downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the devil had sent three of his demons to attack the man. He quickly tried to close the door but one of the demons kept sticking his foot in.

Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door shut and returned to his room totally exhausted.

Can you believe that," the man thought. Jesus is upstairs in my very best room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh, well, maybe he just didn't hear. He slept fitfully that night. The next day thing went along as normal and, being tired as he was, the young man retired early that evening. Along about midnight, there came such a terrible ruckus at the front door that the young man was sure that whatever it was would tear the door down. He stumbled down the stairs once again and opened the door to find that were dozens of demons now trying to get into his beautiful home.

For more than three hours he fought and struggled against the demons from hell, and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against their attack. All energy seemed to fail him. He really didn't understand this at all. Why won't the Lord come to my rescue? Why does he allow me to fight all by myself? I feel so alone. Troubled, he found his way to the sofa and fell into a restless sleep.

The next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the happenings of the last two evenings. Quietly he made his way to the elegant bedroom where he had left Jesus. "Jesus," he called as he tapped at the door. "Lord, I don't understand what is happening. For the last two nights I have had to fight the demons away from my door while you laid up here sleeping. Don't you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in the house?"

He could see the tears building in Jesus' eyes but continued on, "I just don't understand, I really thought that once I invited you in to live with me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best room in my house and everything. What more can I do?"

"My precious child," Jesus spoke so softly. "I do love and care for you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But, when you invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of this house.

I have protected this room and no demon may enter here."

"Oh, Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house -- it is yours. I am so sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to have control of everything." With this he flung open the bedroom door and knelt at Jesus' feet. "Please forgive me Lord for being so selfish."

Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He would take care of things from now on. That night as the young man prepared for bed he thought, I wonder if those demons will return, I am so tired of fighting them each and every night. But, he knew that Jesus said that he would take care of things from now on.

Along about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The young man slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the stairs. He watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door, no need to be afraid.

Satan stood at the door, this time demanding to be let in. "What do you want, Satan?" the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence of the Lord, "So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address." And with that, he and the demons all ran away.

There is a moral to this tale. Jesus wants all of you, not just a part. He will take all that you give Him, but nothing more. How much of your heart have you given to the Lord? Are you keeping a portion of it away from Him?

Perhaps the attacks are coming more and more each day. Why not let the Lord fight the battles for you? He is

Heaven and Hell

A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man "come, I will show you hell." They entered a room where a group of hungry people sat around a huge pot of cooking stew. Everyone in the room was starving. Each person held a spoon that reached the pot but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their own arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths. The suffering was terrible. "Come now, I will show you heaven" the Lord said.
They entered a room identical to the first, the big pot of stew, the group of people and the same long-handled spoons. But here everyone was happy and well nourished. "I don't understand" said the man. "Why is everyone happy here and miserable in the other room? Everything is the same."
"Here, said the Lord, they have learned to SERVE each other."
Addendum -- Galatians 5:13-14 (NKJ) "For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love SERVE one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself
Jesus Really Does Love You

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his 11-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said "Okay Dad, I'm ready."

His Pastor Dad asked, "Ready for what?"

"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out."

Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain."

The boy gives his Dad a surprised look, asking, "But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?"

Dad answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."

Despondently the boy asks, "Dad, can I go -- Please?"

His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here's the tracts; be careful son."

"Thanks, Dad!" And with that he was off and out into the rain.

This 11-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door-to-door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel tract. After 2-hours of walking in the rain he was soaking bone-chilled wet and down to his very last tract. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to but the streets were totally deserted.

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell -- but nobody answered. He rang it again and again but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.

Finally this 11-year-old trooper turned to leave but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady.

She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"

With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that Jesus Really Does Love You! I came to give you my very last Gospel tract which will tell you all about Jesus and His great love."

With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed, "Thank you, son! And God bless you!"

Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit and as the service began he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?"

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face.

"None of you in this church know me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband has passed on, some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart . . . as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.

"So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.

"Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'

"I waited and waited -- but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me!'

"I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes!

"There on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life! His smile! Oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'

"Then he gave me this Gospel tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

"You see, I am now a happy child of the King, and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel tract I have come here to personally say, 'Thank you to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time, and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in Hell.'"

There were now no dry eyes in the church.

As shouts of praise and honor to the Lord resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

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There are a lot of hurting people in the world, searching for that thing which will make them complete, but the answer to true peace and happiness can only be found in Jesus Christ. Lets all do our very best to help reach these people.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJ) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

For those that have not been "saved," or don't know about Christ's love: Be encouraged and know that Jesus Loves You, no matter what sin or past mistakes you have made. He will forgive you and receive you unto Himself -- simply ask Him. He died on the cross for your sins. If you have any doubt of God's love for you, then please read the following scripture and allow God's Word to get deep into your heart and soul.

John 3:16 (NKJ) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Grace On The Tracks

Once again, at the age of twelve, I had run away from the orphanage.

It had not even entered my head that tomorrow was going to be Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day just happened to be one of the few days that we kids got to eat all that we wanted.

I was headed out of Jacksonville, Florida, and I think I was westward bound -- whatever that direction was. All I knew was that someone had told me that I was born somewhere in California, and I had a mother and father out there somewhere.

It was November so it was getting a little cold as the sun went down. I knew from past experience that I could not stay on the main road as the police would be looking for me. They would return me to the Duval County Juvenile Hall or worse, back to "The Orphanage".

As I walked along, I came across some railroad tracks which I thought I would follow in hopes they might lead me to my mother somewhere in California. After about an hour or two of walking the tracks, I came across a large bonfire. There were several men standing around in a circle trying to stay warm.

"Where you headed kid?" yelled one of the men.

"Going to California to find my mom and dad," I hollered back at him.

"Going the wrong way kid," he said, cupping his hands over his mouth like a bull-horn.

Slowly I walked over to where the men were standing and I asked if I might get warm by the fire.

"Get that empty can over there and I'll give you a cup of hot beans," said one of the men who was sitting on an old stack of tires.

They sure were good beans too! I think I ate two whole cans. Sure was nice of them to give me some of their food.

"Might as well stay here for the night," said the man with the sling on his arm. I know my eyes got real big and I got a little scared when he put his good arm around me.

"It's gonna be ok kid. I'll look after you," said the man who had given me the beans.

I slept pretty good considering how cold it was out there by the tracks. There were a few old army blankets that smelled real bad, but they sure were warm and itchy.

The next morning we had beans once again for breakfast. That was the first time I ever had coffee and it was real good tasting. Made you feel real warm inside. After breakfast we cleaned up our mess and burned it all in the fire and then we poured water over the fire and made it go out.

For most of the day we walked down the railroad tracks. Once in a while, we would sneak over a fence and steal some fruit to eat. I didn't like stealing but that fruit sure tasted awfully good.

Right before dark one of the men went into a small store and asked if he could do some work for a loaf of white bread and some meat, but the store man told him "No." Later on, I went back into the store and when the man wasn't looking I stole that loaf of bread and two packs of meat which had bad tasting pickles in it.

That night we had fruit, pickle meat sandwiches, and beans for Thanksgiving Dinner. I called it "Supper".

I never knew that poor people like hobos ever said grace before they ate, especially after stealing food. But they did, and they really meant it too, because I could tell it in their voices when they all said "Amen".

"How come you people always say grace when you eat. You're like me. You ain't got nothing to be thankful for," I said.

"Ain't you got two arms and two legs kid?" asked one of the men.

"Course I got two arms and two legs," I told him.

"Then you got something to be thankful for," said the man, as he raised his pants leg and showed me his fake leg.

"Did the big war do that to you?" I asked him. The man did not answer me. He just got up from his seat on the ground and walked away off into the darkness.

"It's OK kid. He just takes the war harder than the rest of us. We were all in the war," said his friend.

"You was in the war too?" I asked.

He looked down at the ground without answering my question. Then he broke into tears and covered his face. I sat there not knowing what to say. I just sipped on my warm coffee and tried to stay warm. The next thing I remember it was morning time.

The four men all told me goodbye, except the one who could not talk -- he spoke with his hands and fingers. Then they jumped on the slow moving train and left me standing all alone beside the railroad tracks.

I took my two good arms and my two good legs and I walked back to the orphanage. When I saw the head matron, Mrs. Winters, I told her, with my mouth that could speak words, that I was very sorry I had run away and that I was very ashamed for not being thankful for all that God had given me.

.A Child Shall Lead Them

From time to time I travel to town from my new found country home.

On this particular Saturday it was Adam's turn to accompany dad on the forty-five minute drive -- a coveted pleasure. As we left he promised his two brothers, Tyler and Brandon, he would return with a bounty of candy they all would share.

After parking the truck I woke Adam telling him we had arrived. His sleepy brown eyes opened peering out the window. "Can we get candy, daddy?" "Yes, honey. We will get you candy. We need to walk down the street."

Adam, 7, is a curious boy who never lacks for questions. As we walked, he asked about the grand limestone church to our left. "What is that, daddy?" "It's a church, honey. That's the house of God. People go there to pray," I say, trying to avoid a lengthy religious question and answer session -- it didn't work.

"What do they pray for?" "Well, they ask Gods' forgiveness for sins and ask God to help people who are less fortunate. "What is less fortunate?" "A person who is less fortunate is someone who may not have a home, food, love or a job -- not being fortunate can mean many things, Adam."

"How does God help them? Does he give them food?" "I guess he could give them food but God tends to use other people to help hungry people. God once said, 'What you do for the least of them, you do for me.'" "What does that mean, daddy?"

"It means that when you help the poorest of people, you are actually helping God. Do you understand?" "Yes. Can we get candy now?" "Okay, honey. Just a few more blocks."

Adam, like his brothers, has a profound fondness of candy. I am sure that if Adam knew there was a candy treat on the other side of a mountain he would move the entire mountain, stone by stone, to retrieve the treat.

We walked another two blocks toward the drug store. Adam had fallen silent. I glanced at him as we walked -- his stare falling on something further down the street.

As we crossed to the next block I discovered the source of Adam's attention. He was looking at an old man begging by the store entrance. His gray sweater had numerous holes and pulls exposing a stained T-shirt. He sat with his back to the wall, his hands cupped around an empty hat. As we passed entering the store, Adam briefly stared.

"Can I have my dollar, daddy?" I pulled a dollar from my pocket handing it to Adam. "Thank you, daddy." Adam raced toward a barrel of suckers. He stared wide-eyed, gently touching the packaged treasures with a reverence only a child can harbor. His little hands trembled with excitement.

I kept Adam in sight as I picked up the few items I needed. We converged on the cashier at the same time. Adam placed his suckers on the counter. "That will be a dollar fifteen," said the clerk. Adam placed his dollar on the counter. "You need fifteen more cents." Adam looked to me. "Dad, do you have fifteen more cents?" I nodded yes.

We left the store and walked the few feet to the corner. While waiting for the light, I felt Adam gently slip his hand from mine. I turned watching him as he walked back to the beggar extending his priceless treasure.

"This is from God," Adam said softly.

The old man looked up at Adam. Through gray tired eyes he seemed to smile for an instant. He said nothing as Adam passed the suckers to his cupped shaking hands. Walking to Adam, I picked him up then paused. The beggar looked into Adam's eyes saying, "Thank you, Lord." "You're welcome," replied Adam.

I hugged Adam saying, "Daddy is very proud of you Adam. That was very thoughtful."

"It certainly was," confirmed a female voice to my right. I turned and watched a middle-aged woman place five dollars in the man's hat. "May I?" she asked as she leaned over to kiss Adam's cheek. I nodded and smiled -- Adam giggled.

"I did all right in my life. It could have been different." A dapper elderly man had knelt beside the beggar placing his hand on a shoulder of the tattered gray sweater. He set five dollars along with a business card in the old hat. "If you are able to work, call my number." The stylish gentleman struggled to stand as the middle-aged female helped him to his feet. "Thank you madam... thank you both," said the beggar faintly, his gray eyes welling with tears of gratitude.

We crossed with the others when the light changed.

"Look, daddy." Adam was looking over my shoulder to the man on the sidewalk. A small group of people had gathered around him placing money in his hat. I couldn't help but recall a thought from the Bible: A child shall lead them.

"Adam? You gave away your treats. What are we going to do now?" His lip started to quiver realizing he had nothing to share with his brothers. He buried his face in my neck. "I don't know," he said in a broken voice. "Well, perhaps I will buy you a cake. There will be lots to share."

He pushed away from my neck staring with brown, tear-filled eyes.

"Can we?" he asked, rubbing away the tears.

"Yes honey?"

"Can we get writing on it?"

"Yes, Adam. It will read: Adam the Selfless."