What God Won't
Ask
1. God won't ask what kind of fancy car you drove. He will ask how
many
people you took to church who didn't have transportation.
2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how
many
people you helped who didn't have a house.
3. God won't ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet. He
will ask
how many of those clothes you gave away.
4. God won't ask what social class you were in. He will ask what
kind of
"class" you displayed.
5. God won't ask how many material possessions you had. He will ask whether
those material possessions dictated your life.
6. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you trampled
over any people to obtain that salary.
7. God won't ask how much overtime you worked. He will ask did you
work
overtime for your family.
8. God won't ask how many promotions you received. He will ask what
you did
to promote others.
9. God won't ask what your job title was. He will ask did you
perform your
job to the best of your ability.
10. God won't ask how many promotions you took to chase a dollar
bill. He
will ask how many promotions you refused, to advance your family's quality
of life.
11. God won't ask how many times you didn't run around on your
spouse. He
will ask how many times you did.
12. God won't ask how many degrees you had. He will ask how many
people you
thanked for helping you get those degrees.
13. God won't ask what your parents did to help you. He will ask
what you
did to help your parents.
14. God won't ask what you did to help yourself. He will ask what
you did to
help others.
15. God won't ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many
people you
were a friend to.
16. God won't ask what you did to protect your rights. He will ask
what you
did to protect the right of others.
17. God won't ask what neighborhood you lived in. He will ask what other
neighborhoods you visited.
18. God won't ask how many times you told the truth. He will ask
how many
times you told a lie.
19. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He will ask about
the color
of your heart.
20. God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words. He
will ask
how many times they didn't.
Faith
John Powell, a Professor at Loyola
University in
Chicago writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named
Tommy:
Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students
file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith.
That was the first day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind
both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six
inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a
boy with hair that long.
I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know
in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it
that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions
flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange . . .
very
strange. Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my
Theology
of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about
the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God.
We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester,
although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back
pew.
When he came up at the end of the course to turn in
his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone: "Do you
think I'll ever find God?" I decided instantly on a little shock
therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.
"Oh," he responded, "I thought that was the product
you were pushing."
I let him get five steps from the classroom door and
then called out: "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find him, but
I am absolutely certain that he will find you!" He shrugged a little
and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at
the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find
you!" At least I thought it was clever.
Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was
duly grateful.
Then a sad report, I heard that Tommy had terminal
cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me.
When he walked into my office, his body was very
badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of
chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for
the first time,I believe.
"Tommy, I've thought about you so often. I hear you
are sick!" I blurted out.
"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs.
It's a matter of weeks."
"Can you talk about it, Tom?"
"Sure, what would you like to know?"
"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?"
"Well, it could be worse."
"Like what?"
"Well, like being fifty and having no values or
ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women,
and making money are the real 'biggies' in life."
I began to look through my mental file cabinet under
"S" where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though
everybody I try to reject by classification God sends back into my life
to educate me.)
"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said,
" is something you said to me on the last day of class."
(He remembered!)
He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would
ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said,
'But he will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though
my search for God was hardly intense at that time. (My clever line. He
thought about that a lot!) But when the doctors removed a lump
from my groin and told me that it was malignant, then I got
serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital
organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors
of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened.
Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort
and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up
with trying. And then you quit.
Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a
few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God
who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't
really care...about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that.
"I
decided to spend what time I had left doing something more
profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something
else
you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without
loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and
leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you
had loved them.'
"So I began with the hardest one: my Dad. He was
reading the newspaper when I approached him." "Dad"
"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the
newspaper.
"Dad, I would like to talk with you."
"Well, talk."
"I mean. It's really important."
The newspaper came down three slow inches.
"What is it?"
"Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."
Tom smiled at me and said with obvious satisfaction, as though he
felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.
"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my
father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before.
He cried and he hugged me. And we talked all night, even though he
had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my
father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he
loved me. "It was easier with my mother and little brother. They
cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying
real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been
keeping secret for so many years.
I was only sorry about one thing: that I had waited
so long. Here I was just beginning to open up to all the people I
had actually been close to.
"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He
didn't come to me when I pleaded with him. I guess I was like an
animal trainer holding out a hoop. 'C'mon, jump through.' 'C'mon,
I'll give you three days ... three weeks.' Apparently God does
things in his own way and at his own hour. "But the important thing
is
that he was there.
He found me.
You were right. He found me even after I stopped
looking for him."
"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are
saying something very important and much more universal than you
realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find
God is not to make him a private possession, a problem solver, or
an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening
to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said God is
love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God
is living in him, ' Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had
you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you
can make it all up
to me now. Would you come into my present Theology
of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told
them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you
were to tell them."
"Oooh . . . I was ready for you, but I don't know if
I'm ready for your class."
"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready,
give me a call."
In a few days Tommy called, said he was ready for
the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we
scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another
appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of
course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made
the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more
beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever
heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.
Before he died, we talked one last time. "I'm not
going to make it to your class," he said.
"I know, Tom." "Will you tell them for me? Will you
tell the whole world for me?"
"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."
So, to all of you who have been kind enough to hear
this simple statement about love, thank you for listening. And
to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven: "I
told them, Tommy, as best I could."
The Doll and a White Rose
I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute
Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself.
I would
be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was
beginning
to become such a drag. I kind a wished that I could just sleep
through
Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the
people to the toy
department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of
all these
toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them.
I found myself
in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a
little boy about 5
holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so
gently.
I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over
at the little boy
and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a
woman and he
called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have
enough money"
She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have
enough
money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere
that she had to
go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes.
And then she
left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll.
After a bit I asked the
boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is the doll
my sister wanted so
badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring
it. " I told him
that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said "No,
Santa can't go where my
sister is...I have to give the doll to my Mamma to take to
her". I asked
him where his sister was. He looked at me with the
saddest eyes and said
"She has gone to be with Jesus". My
Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be
with her.
My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again
and said, I told my Daddy to tell Mamma not to go yet. I told
him to
tell her to wait till I got back from the store".
Then he asked me if I wanted to
see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out
some
pictures he'd had taken at the front of the store.
He said "I want my Mamma to take
this with her so she doesn't ever forget me." "I love
my Mama so very much and
I wish she did not have to leave me". "But Daddy says she
will need to
be with my sister." I saw that the little boy had lowered
his head and had
grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached
into my purse and
pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy,
"Shall we count that
money one more time? " He grew excited and said "Yes,
I just know it has to be
enough". So I slipped my money in with his and we began to
count it. Of
course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, "Thank
you Jesus for giving
me enough money." Then the boy said "I just asked
Jesus to give me enough
money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to
my sister."
"And he heard my prayer. "I wanted to ask him
for enough to buy my Mama a white
rose, but I didn't ask him, but he gave me enough to buy the
doll and a
rose for my Mama." "She loves white roses so
very, very much". In a few minutes
the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could
not keep from
thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a
totally different
spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story
I had seen in the
newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car
and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious
condition.The
family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely
this
little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later
I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support
and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and
just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later
that day, I
could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and
took
them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And
there she was
holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the
picture of the little
boy in the store. I left there in tears, my lifechanged
forever. The love
that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was
overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had
ripped the life of that little boy
to pieces.
Grocery
Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady w/ a look of
defeat on her face,
walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a
most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.
She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work;
they had 7 children and they needed the food. John Longhouse, the
grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.
Visualizing the family needs, she said, "Please, sir!! I will bring
you
the money just as soon as I can!!" John told her he couldn't give her
credit, as she didn't have a charge account at his store. Standing
beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between
the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocerman that he
would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocerman
said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"
Louise
replied, "Yes sir!!" "OK," he said. "Put
your grocery list on the
scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I'll give you that amount
in groceries." Louise hesitated a moment w/ a bowed head, and then
she
reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled
something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully
w/ her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocerman and the customer
showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The
grocerman, staring at the scale, turned slowly to the customer and said
begrudgingly, "I can't believe it!" The customer smiled and the
grocerman started putting the groceries on the other side of the scale.
The scale didn't balance, so he continued to put more and more groceries
on them until the scales wouldn't hold any more. The grocerman stood
there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper fromt he
scales and looked at it w/ greater amazement. It wasn't a grocery list;
it was a prayer that said "Dear Lord, You know my needs and I am leaving
this in Your hands." The grocerman gave her the groceries that he had
gathered and placed on the scale and stood in stunned silence. Louise
thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a $50 bill to John
as he said, "It was worth every penny of it." It was sometime
later that
John Longhouse discovered that the scale was broken. Therefore, only God
knows how much a prayer weighs.
Some things to remember:
Should you find it hard to get to sleep
tonight; Just remember the
homeless family who has no bed to lie in.
Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair. There are
people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out
of work for the last three months.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person
who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman
in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for
$15.00 to feed her family.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance,
Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that
walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer
patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering; what is life all
about, what is my purpose? Be thankful, there are those who didn't
live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness,
ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be
worse. You could be them!!!
This is a true story of something that
happened just a few years ago at USC.
There was a professor of philosophy there who was a
deeply
committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the
entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist.
His students were always afraid to argue with him
because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years, he had taught this
class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him.
Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had
ever
really gone against him because of his reputation.
At the end of every semester on the last day, he would
say to
his class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes
in
Jesus, stand up!"
In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They
knew what he
was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in
God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk
from
hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He
is God,
and yet He can't do it." And every year, he would drop the chalk onto
the
tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces.
All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare.
Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist.
Certainly,
a number of Christians had slipped through. For 20 years, they had been
too afraid to stand up. Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who
happened to enroll. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories
about his
professor.
He was required to take the class for his major, and he was
afraid.
But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he
would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what
the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith ...
he hoped.
Finally, the day came. The professor said,
"If there is anyone
here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the
class of
300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the
classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God
existed, he
would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the
ground!"
He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it
slipped out of
his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his
leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away
unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He
looked up
at the young man, and then ran out of the lecture hall.
The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front
of
the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300
students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power
through Jesus.
NASA uses the Bible:
For all you scientists out there and for all the students who
have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the
Bible...here's something that shows God's awesome creation and shows
that He is still in control. Did you know that the space program is busy
proving that what has been called "myth" in the Bible is true?
Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Co. in Baltimore
Maryland and a consultant in the space program, relates the
following development:
I think one of the most amazing things that God has for us today,
happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt,
Maryland.
They were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets out in
space where they would be 100 years, and 1000 years from now. We have to know
this so we won't send a satellite, up and have it bump into something later
on its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the
satellite, and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog
down.
They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the
centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red
signal, which meant that there was something wrong either with the
information fed into it or with the results as compared to the
standards.
They called in the service department to check it out and they said
"What's wrong? Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed
time.
They scratched their heads and tore their hair. There was no answer.
Finally, a Christian man on the team said, "You know, one time I was in
Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still."
While they didn't believe him, they didn't have an answer either, so
they said, "Show us." He got a Bible and went back to the book of
Joshua
where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with "common
sense."
There they found the Lord saying to Joshua, "Fear them not, I
have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand
before thee." Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the
enemy and if darkness fell they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the
Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right-"The sun stood still and the
moon
stayed---and hastened not to go down about a whole day!"
The astronauts and scientists said, "There is the missing day!"
They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and
found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing
back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes-not a whole day. They read the
Bible and there it was "about (approximately) a day"
These little words in the Bible are important, but they were
still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes you'll
still be in trouble 1,000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found
because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits.
As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered
somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS. The
scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read
these words in 2 Kings:
Hezekiah, on his death-bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told
him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof.
Isaiah said "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?"
Hezekiah said "It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees,
let the shadow return backwards 10 degrees." Isaiah spoke to the Lord
and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARDS!
Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty-three hours and 20
minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the
missing day in the universe!
Isn't it amazing? Our God is so awesome!
References: Joshua 10:8 and 12,13 2 Kings 20:9-11
Subject: Ask God
* I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No. It is not for me to
take away,
but for you to give it up.
* I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. Her spirit was whole,
her body was only temporary.
* I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a
by-product of
tribulations; it isn't granted; it is earned.
* I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings.
Happiness is up to you.
* I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you
apart from
worldly cares and brings you closer
to me.
* I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your
own,
but I will prune you to make you
fruitful.
* I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. I will give you life so
that you
may enjoy all things.
* I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as
he
loves me. God said . . . Ahhhh, finally you
have the
idea . . .
The Bricks of Life
About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh
was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit
too
fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two
months old.
He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and
slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child
darted out, but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! -- it smashed into the
Jag's
shiny black side door!
SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse,and tires
madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been
thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up
against a
parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and
who are you?
Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of
steam,
he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost
you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to
do!"
pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else
would
stop!"
Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the
parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled
off the curb and
fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."
Sobbing, the boy
asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his
wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow
the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young
man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the
scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK.
He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk
toward
their home.
It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder
Jaguar XKE - a long and slow walk.
Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to
remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw
a brick
at him to get his attention...
Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life
coming at you.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive
answers:
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on."
God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm
91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it."
God says: It will be worth it. (Roman 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself."
God says: I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage."
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I don't have enough faith."
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough."
God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS
*Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere.
*Santa rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
*Santa comes but once a year... JESUS is an ever present help.
*Santa fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS supplies all your needs.
*Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.. . JESUS stands at your door and
knocks, and then enters your heart.
*You have to wait in line to see Santa... JESUS is as close as the mention of
His name.
*Santa lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
*Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl,
what's your name?"... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He
know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He
even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
*Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS has a heart full of love.
*All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers health, help and hope.
*While Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all
your cares on me for I care for you."
*Santa's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
*While Santa puts gifts under your tree... JESUS became our gift and died on the
tree.
Its obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is
all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas Jesus is still the reason for
the season. Yes, Jesus is better, He is even better than Santa Claus.
Merry Christmas & May God Bless You and Your Family
GOD IS LIKE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God is like General Electric
He lights your path.
God is like Bayer Aspirin
He works wonders.
God is like Hallmark Cards
He cared enough to send the very
best.
God is like Tide
He gets out the stains that others
leave behind.
God is like VO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of
weather.
God is like Dial Soap
Aren't you glad you know Him?
Don't you wish everyone did?
God is like Sears
He has everything.
God is like Alka Seltzer
Oh, what a relief He is!
God is like Scotch Tape
You can't see Him but you know He's
there!
God is like The Copper Top Battery
Nothing can outlast him.
God is like American Express
Don't leave home without Him!
Here is the new Lord's prayer:
The Lord's Prayer
Author unknown ...
Our Father who art in Heaven. . . .
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. . . .
But you called Me.
Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father
who art in Heaven.
There,
you did it again.
Did what?
Called Me. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven. . .
"Here I am.
What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just
saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It
makes
me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done.
All right. Go on.
Hallowed be thy name.
Hold it. What do
you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed
be thy name."
It means.... it means ....good grief, I don't know what
it means. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. By the way,
what
doesit mean?
It means
"honored," "Holy," "Wonderful."
Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what
"Hallowed" meant before.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is
in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you going to do about it?
Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it
would be neat if you got control of everything down here like you have
up there.
Have I got control
of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I
asked you.
What about that
habit of lust you have? And your bad temper? You've really got a problem there,
you know. And then
there's the way you spend your money...
all on yourself.
And what about the kinds of books you read?
Stop picking on me! I'm just as good
as some
of the rest of those phonies at
the church.
Excuse me....I
thought you were praying
for My will to be
done. If that is to happen,
it will have to
start with the ones who are praying for it.
Like you, for
example.
Oh, all right! I guess I do have some
hang-ups.
Now that you mention
it, I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it until now, but I
really would like
to cut out some of those things. I'd like to, you
know, be reallyfree.
Good, now we're getting somewhere.
We'll work
together....you and I
can have some
victories that can truly be won.
I'm proud of you.
Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a
lot longer
than it usually does.... Give us this day our daily
bread.
You need to cut
down on the bread too...
You're overweight
as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this,
"Criticize Me Day?" Here I was
doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden
You break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You could wind up
changed, you know.
That's what I'm
trying to get across to you.
You called me, and
here I am. It's too late to stop now.
Keep on praying.
I'm interested in
the next part of your prayer......
Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try Me and see.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against
us.
What about Sally?
See I knew it! I knew you would bring her
up!
Why she's told lies about me, cheated me out of money.
She never paid back that debt she owes me. I've sworn
to get even.
But your prayer......What about your prayer?
I didn't mean it.
Well, at least you're honest.
But it's not much
fun carrying
the load of bitterness
around inside is it?
No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even.
Boy, have I made some plans for ol' Sally!
She'll wish she never did me any harm.
You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't
sweet.
Think of how
unhappy you are already.
But I can change
all that.
You can? How?
Forgive Sally. Then I'll forgive you.
Then the hate and
sin will be Sally's problem and not yours.
You may lose the
money, but you will settle your heart.
But Lord, I can't forgive Sally.
Then I can't forgive you.
Oh, you're right! You always are. And more
than I want revenge on
Sally, I want to be right with You. All right!
I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord.
She's
bound to be awfully
miserable, now that I think about it.
Some way, some how, show her
the right way.
There now! How do you feel?
Hmmm....not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty
great. You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first
time since I can't remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on
because I'm not getting enough rest.
You're not through with
your prayer.....Go on.
Oh, alright.....And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us From evil.
Good...good. I'll
do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be
tempted.
What do you mean by that?
Quit hanging around
the wrong places, watching inappropriate movies and television,
listening to sinful
conversations; getting into compromising situations.
Change some of your
friendships.
Some of your
so-called friends are beginning to get to you.
They'll have you completely involved in wrong things before long.
Don't be fooled.
They advertise they're having fun, but for you it would be ruin.
Don't use me for an
escape hatch.
I don't understand.
Sure you do. You've
done it lots of times.
You get caught in a
bad situation,
you get into
trouble and then you come running to me.
"Lord, help me
out of this mess,
and I promise you
I'll never do it again."
You remember some
of those bargains
you tried to make
with me?
Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.
Which bargains are you remembering?
Well, when the woman next door saw me
backing away from the
neighborhood
bar. I'd told my husband I was going to the
store. I remember
telling you, "Lord, don't let her tell my husband
where I've been.
I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."
She didn't tell
your husband,
but you didn't keep
your promise, did you?
I'm sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I
thought if I just prayed the Lord's prayer everyday, then I coulddo
what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen
like it did.
Go ahead. Finish
your prayer.
Oh yes....For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and
the glory
forever and forever. Amen.
Do you know what
would bring me glory?
What would make me
really happy?
No, but I'd like to know. I want to please You.
I can see what a mess I've made out
of my life, and I can see
how great it would be to really be one of
Your followers.
You just answered the question.
I did? Yes, the one thing that would
being me glory
is to have people
like you truly love me.
And I can see that
happening between us.
Now that some of
these old sins are exposed
and out of the way,
well, there's no telling
what we can do
together.
Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?
Yes, let's
see......
This story kind of reminds me of that candle
things that we read in Bible
Study. God just wants us to be willing. We don't need a good track
record, because our track record already stinks -- unrepairable. Just be
willing to be used. I've struggled a lot with that these past few weeks
-- 1) feeling that I am ready for God to use me and 2) willing to let God
use me (giviing myself to Him). But after the will is conquered, the
rest is so much easier -- just pour into other's, what He pours into you.
--------------------------------------------------
THE VESSEL
The Master was searching for a vessel to use:
Before Him were many, which one would He choose?
"Take me," cried the gold one. "I'm shiny and bright;
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest,
And for someone like you, Master, Gold would be best."
The Master passed on with no word at all,
And looked at a silver urn, grand and tall.
"I'll you dear Master, I'll pour out your wine;
I'll be on your table whenever you dine.
My lines are so graceful, my carving so true,
And silver will always complement you."
Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,
Wide-mouthed and shallow and polished like glass.
"Here, here!" cried the vessel, "I know I will do;
Place me on your table for all men to view."
"Look at me," called the goblet of crystal so clear,
"My transparency shows my contents so dear.
Though fragile am I, I will serve you with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in your house to abide."
Then the Master came next to a vessel of wood;
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
"You may use me, dearest Master," the wooden bowl said.
"But I'd rather you used me for fruit, not for bread."
Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse, and make whole, to fill and to use.
"Ah! Now This is the vessel I've been hoping to find.
I'll mend it and use it and make it all mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of itself,
Nor one that is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor one that is big-mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one that displays his contents so proud;
Nor the one who thinks he can do things just right;
But this plain earthen vessel filled with power and might."
Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay,
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day;
Spoke to it kindly - "There's work you must do...
Just pour out to others as I pour into you."
B.V. Cornwall