huithiang!

TRAVEL GUIDE TO HEAVEN

2012-02-13T22:26:00.000+05:30

1 - Accommodation:

Arrangements for first class accommodation have been made in advance (John 14 v 2)

2 - Passports:

Persons seeking entry will not be permitted to pass the gates without proper credentials and having their names registered with the ruling authority (Rev 21 v 27)

3 - Tickets:

Your ticket is a written pledge that guarantees your journey. It should be claimed and its promises kept firmly in mind (John 5 v 24)

4 - Customs:

Only one declaration is required while passing through customs (1 Corinthians 15 v 1.3.4)

5 - Immigration:

All passengers are classified as immigrants since they are taking up permanent residence in a new country. Quota is unlimited (Hebrews 11 v 16)

6 - Luggage:

No baggage may be taken (1 Timothy 6 v 7)

7 - Inoculation:

Injections are not needed as diseases are unknown at destination (Revelation 21 v 27)

8 - Air Passage:

Travellers going direct by air are advised to watch daily for indications of imminent departure (1 Thess 4 v 17)

9 - Departure Time:

The exact date has not been announced, travellers should be prepared to leave at short notice (Acts 1 v 7)

CHRISTIAN MATH

2012-02-13T02:00:00.000+05:30

A ten year old public school boy was finding fifth grade math to be the challenge of his life. Science? A piece of cake. Geography? No big deal. Spelling? Ha! Give me a break...but Mathematics? It was devastating! To not only him, but his mom and dad, too! And not that they weren't doing everything and anything to help their son...Private tutors, peer assistance, CD-ROMS, Textbooks, even hypnosis! Nothing worked.

Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a private school. Not just any private school, but a Catholic school. Nuns! Daily mass! The whole shootin' match. Well, the first day of school finally arrived, and dressed in his salt-and-pepper cords and white wool dress shirt and blue cardigan sweater, the youngster ventured out into the great unknown. His mother and father were convinced they were doing the right thing. They were both there waiting for their son when he returned home.

And when he walked in with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, they hoped they had made the right choice. He walked right past them and went straight to his room - and quietly closed the door.

For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He only emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, he went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.

This pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card. After school, the boy walked into the home with his report card - unopened - in his hand. Without a word, he dropped the envelope on the family dinner table and went straight to his room. His parents were petrified. What lay inside the envelope? Success? Failure? DOOM?!? Patiently, cautiously the mother opened the letter, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red "A" under the subject, MATH. Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son's room, thrilled at the remarkable progress of their young son!

"Was it the nuns that did it?", the father asked.

The boy only shook his head and said, "No."

"Was it the one-on-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?", asked the mother.

Again, the boy shrugged, "No."

"The textbooks? The teacher? The curriculum?", asked the father.

"Nope," said the son. "It was all very clear to me from the very first day of school, that these folks in Catholic school meant business!"

"How so?", asked his mom.

"When I walked into the lobby, and I saw that guy they'd nailed to the plus sign, I knew they meant business!"

A TEAR TO THE EYE

2012-02-13T01:00:00.000+05:30

Barbara was driving her six-year-old son, Benjamin, to his piano lesson.

They were late, and Barbara was beginning to think she should have cancelled it. There was always so much to do, and Barbara, a night-duty nurse at the local hospital, had recently worked extra shifts.

She was tired. The sleet storm and icy roads added to her tension. Maybe she should turn the car around.

"Mom!" Ben cried. "Look!" Just ahead, a car had lost control on a patch of ice. As Barbara tapped the brakes, the other car spun wildly rolled over, then crashed sideways into a telephone pole.

Barbara pulled over, skidded to a stop and threw open her door. Thank goodness she was a nurse - she might be able to help these unfortunate passengers.

Then she paused. What about Ben? She couldn't take him with her. Little boys shouldn't see scenes like the one she anticipated. But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their car were hit from behind?

For a brief moment Barbara considered going on her way. Someone else was sure to come along. No! "Ben, honey, promise me you'll stay in the car!"

"I will, Mommy," he said as she ran, slipping and sliding toward the crash site. It was worse than she'd feared. Two girls of high school age are in the car. One, the blonde on the passenger side, was dead, killed on impact.

The driver, however was still breathing. She was unconscious and pinned in the wreckage. Barbara quickly applied pressure to the wound in the teenager's head while her practiced eye catalogued the other injuries. A broken leg, maybe two, along with probable internal bleeding. But if help came soon, the girl would live.

A trucker had pulled up and was calling for help on his cellular phone. Soon Barbara heard the ambulance sirens. A few moments later she surrendered her lonely post to rescue workers.

"Good job," one said as he examined the driver's wounds. "You probably saved her life, ma'am." Perhaps.

But as Barbara walked back to her car a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her, especially for the family of the girl who had died. Their lives would never be the same. Oh God, why do such things have to happen?

Slowly Barbara opened her car door. What should she tell Benjamin? He was staring at the crash site, his blue eyes huge. "Mom," he whispered, "did you see it?"

"See what, Honey?" she asked.

"The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took that girl out."

Barbara's eyes filled with tears. "Which door, Ben?"

"The passenger side. He took the girl's hand, and they floated up to Heaven together"

"What about the driver?"

Ben shrugged. "I didn't see anyone else."

Later, Barbara was able to meet the families of the victims. They expressed their gratitude for the help she had provided. Barbara was able to give them something more - Ben's vision.

There was no way he could have known what happened to either of the passengers. Nor could the passenger door have been opened; Barbara had seen its tangle of immovable steel herself. Yet Ben's account brought consolation to a grieving family. Their daughter was safe in Heaven. And they would see her again.

THE THREE TREES

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000+05:30

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he muttered. With a swoop of his ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered.

The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything.

It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

THE BURDEN

2012-02-12T23:00:00.000+05:30

Why was my burden so heavy?" I slammed the bedroom door and leaned against it. Is there no rest from this life? I wondered. I stumbled to my bed and dropped onto it, pressing my pillow around my ears to shut out the noise of my existence. "Oh God," I cried, "let me sleep. Let me sleep forever and never wake up!" With a deep sob I tried to will myself into oblivion, then welcomed the blackness that came over me.

Light surrounded me as I regained consciousness. I focused on its source: The figure of a man standing before a cross. "My child," the person asked, "why did you want to come to Me before I am ready to call you?" "Lord, I'm sorry. It's just that... I can't go on. You see how hard it is for me. Look at this awful burden on my back. I simply can't carry it anymore." "But haven't I told you to cast all of your burdens upon Me, because I care for you? My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." "I knew You would say that. But why does mine have to be so heavy?" "My child, everyone in the world has a burden. Perhaps you would like to try a different one?" "I can do that?" He pointed to several burdens lying at His feet. "You may try any of these."

All of them seemed to be of equal size. But each was labeled with a name. "There's Joan's," I said. Joan was married to a wealthy businessman. She lived in a sprawling estate and dressed her three daughters in the prettiest designer clothes. Sometimes she drove me to church in her Cadillac when my car was broken. "Let me try that one." How difficult could her burden be? I thought. The Lord removed my burden and placed Joan's on my shoulders. I sank my knees beneath its weight. "Take it off!" I said. ""What makes it so heavy?" "Look inside." I untied the straps and opened the top. Inside was a figure of her Mother-in-law, and when I lifted it out, it began to speak. "Joan, you'll never be good enough for my son," it began. "He never should have married you. You're a terrible mother to my grandchildren..." I quickly placed the figure back in the pack and withdrew another. It was Donna, Joan's youngest daughter. Her head was bandaged from the surgery that had failed to resolve her epilepsy. A third figure was Joan's brother. Addicted to drugs, he had been convicted of killing a police officer. "I see why her burden is so heavy, Lord. But she's always smiling and helping others. I didn't realize...."

"Would you like to try another?" He asked quietly.

I tested several. Paula's felt heavy: She was raising four small boys without a father. Debra's did too: A childhood of sexual abuse and a marriage of emotional abuse. When I Came to Ruth's burden, I didn't even try. I knew that inside I would find arthritis, old age, a demanding full-time job, and a beloved husband in a nursing home.

"They're all too heavy, Lord" I said. ""Give back my own." As I lifted the familiar load once again, It seemed much lighter than the others. "Let’s look inside" He said. I turned away, holding it close. "That's not a good idea," I said. "Why?" "There's a lot of junk in there." "Let Me see." The gentle thunder of His voice compelled me. I opened my burden. He pulled out a brick. "Tell me about this one."

"Lord, You know. It's money. I know we don't suffer like people in some countries or even the homeless here in America. But we have no insurance, and when the kids get sick, we can't always take them to the doctor. They've never been to a dentist. And I'm tired of dressing them in hand-me-downs." "My child, I will supply all of your needs... and your children's. I've given them healthy bodies. I will teach them that expensive clothing doesn't make a person valuable in My sight."

Then He lifted out the figure of a small boy. "And this?" He asked. "Andrew..." I hung my head, ashamed to call my son a burden. "But, Lord, he's hyperactive. He's not quite like the other two. He makes me so tired. He's always getting hurt, and someone is bound to think I abuse him. I yell at him all the time. Someday I may really hurt him...." "My child," He said, "If you trust Me, I will renew your strength, if you allow Me to fill you with My Spirit, I will give you patience."

Then He took some pebbles from my burden.

"Yes, Lord," I said with a sigh. "Those are small. But they're important. I hate my hair. It's thin, and I can't make it look nice. I can't afford to go to the beauty shop. I'm overweight and can't stay on a diet. I hate all my clothes. I hate the way I look!" "My child, people look at your outward appearance, but I look at your heart. By My Spirit you can gain self-control to lose weight. But your beauty should not come from outward appearance. Instead, it should come from your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in My sight." My burden now seemed lighter than before. "I guess I can handle it now" I said.

"There is more," He said. "Hand Me that last brick." "Oh, You don't have to take that. I can handle it." "My child, give it to Me." Again His voice compelled me. He reached out His hand, and for the first time I saw the ugly wound. "But, Lord, this brick is so awful, so nasty, so.....Lord! What happened to Your hands? They're so scarred!" No longer focused on my burden, I looked for the first time into His face. In His brow were ragged scars-as though someone had pressed thorns into His flesh. "Lord," I whispered. "What happened to You?" His loving eyes reached into my soul. "My child, you know. Hand Me the brick. It belongs to Me. I bought it." "How?" "With My blood." "But why, Lord?" "Because I have loved you with an everlasting love. Give it to Me."

I placed the filthy brick into His wounded palm. It contained all the dirt and evil of my life: my pride, my selfishness, the depression that constantly tormented me. He turned to the cross and hurled my brick into the pool of blood at its base. It hardly made a ripple. "Now, My child, you need to go back. I will be with you always. When you are troubled, call to Me and I will help you and show you things you cannot imagine now." "Yes, Lord, I will call on You."

I reached to pick up my burden.

"You may leave that here if you wish. You see all these burdens? They are the ones that others have left at My feet. Joan's, Paula's, Debra's, Ruth's..... As I placed my burden with Him, the light began to fade. Yet I heard Him whisper, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER

2012-02-12T22:30:00.000+05:30

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,

For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,

A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,

With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,

I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,

"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.

That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.

Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red.

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.

So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,

He held it mid-air without reason or plan.

It was then that I noticed for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one.

"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,

Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.

How did he know of my self-indulged plight?

Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.

And for all of those times I myself had been blind,

I vowed to see the beauty in life,

And appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand,

About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

GOD HEARS OUR SMALLEST PRAYERS

2012-02-12T21:34:00.004+05:30

One evening in September I took my 13-year-old son to see a St. Louis Cardinal's baseball game. I was given 2 free tickets for bleacher seats from my work, what a blessing! So I picked up my son at home and hurried back to the ballpark. We we're going early to watch batting practice. I told Nathaniel that from the bleachers, we might be able to get a souvenir baseball hit to us.

Well, there were a lot of balls falling around us, but that's just it, around us. Some on the left, some on the right, some in front of us, but nothing we could reach. And then it happened! A batted ball landed right at my feet. It did a double ricochet between the ground and the seat and blasted out from under there about 8 feet high right into the boy's glove. Unfortunately for me, the boy wasn't Nathaniel. The ball had bounced about 10 rows in front of us. At the very moment the ball hit, I was distracted and looking to my right. I didn't even see it!

Well, that's it, I thought. You don't get another chance like that at the same game. So I settled in with just about 10 minutes left of batting practice content with the game we were about to see. But there was another home run ball hit in the section to the right of us some 25 feet away. An elderly attendant got the ball when it landed, and signaled pointing with his finger that he wanted Nathaniel to have the baseball.

I was delighted and perplexed. We hadn't been talking with this man. He wasn't an attendant for our section. And there were about 10 kids all excited and hopping up and down hoping for the ball. Nathaniel wasn't even close enough to be with the other kids. He was another 6 feet in back of them. But the attendant picked Nathaniel. I thought to myself, what luck! We have our souvenir!

It wasn't until the middle of the 3rd inning that the significance of what I had just witnessed hit me. It was then that Nathaniel leaned over to me and said, "You know dad, I prayed before we got here that I would be able to get a baseball." Whir . Bang! My head must've made that noise as all at once my brain suddenly comprehended what my eyes had seen. What I had dismissed as a bit of good luck surely had a divine design!

This event has reinforced for me that God hears our smallest of prayers. Maybe even that's wrong, maybe there's not any such thing as a "small" prayer to God. And no request seems too trivial when asked in sincerity with the heart of child. Nathaniel has the proof! It weighs 5 ounces and has a leather cover sewn with double stitch 10/5 red thread.

THE ALPHABET PRAYER

2012-02-12T21:29:00.000+05:30

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with man. Now the story goes, a little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday morning and he heard the bells of the church ringing. And watching the people walk along the pasture where he was, he happened to think to himself, "I would like to communicate with God! But, what can I say to God?"

He had never learned a prayer. So, on bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet. Repeating this prayer several times, a man passing by, heard the boy's voice and peaked through the bushes. He saw the young boy kneeling with folded hands, eyes closed, repeating the alphabet.

He interrupted the boy. "What are you doing, my little one?" he asked. The boy replied, "I was praying sir." The man seemed surprised and said, "But why are you reciting the alphabet?" The boy explained, "I don't know any prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me, and to help me care for my sheep. And so I thought, if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together into words, and He would know all that I want and should say!"

The man smiled and said, "Bless your heart, God will!" And he went on to church knowing full well that he had heard the finest sermon he could possibly hear that day.

Maybe if we thought like little children and let God put together the letters, what we should want, and what we should say, things would probably work out a lot better than we planned!

JUST A FEW DROPS

2012-02-12T21:24:00.003+05:30

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon... we would lose everything.

It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort...trying to be as still as possible.

Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches, thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour. He would walk carefully to the woods, run back to the house. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him).

He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them...maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house, to a spigot that we had shut off the water to. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me. The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him.

It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said.

As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job.

I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops...and more drops...and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.

Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence…that miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that...I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

THE TEST

2012-02-11T23:23:00.000+05:30

There is a tribe in South America that requires all young boys to have a test before being accepted as men in the tribe. They must go out into the jungle and spend the night alone, with only a knife for protection. The stay awake throughout the night. They hear the sounds of the jungle, their hearts pounding in anticipation for the attack of a jaguar, or some poisonous snake to slither up to warm itself and then bite them when startled. But as the first light of morning grows stronger, they are overcome with joy and relief. For close by, they found their own father standing ready with a bow and arrow to protect their son from any danger.

And so it is in our own lives. God sends us into seemingly terrifying tests, new jobs, crumbling marriages, losing loved ones, huge debts, and the rest, and yet He is there covering us with His grace, as He always has. But, we forget so easily, the past tests and His presence.

DADDY, CAN I BUY YOUR TIME?

2012-02-11T23:13:00.000+05:30

The man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door.

"Daddy, may I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure, what is it?" replied the man.

"Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?"

"That's none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.

"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" pleaded the little boy.

"If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour."

"Oh," the little boy replied, head bowed.

Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?"

The father was furious. "If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so selfish. I work long, hard hours everyday and don't have time for such childish games."

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy's questioning.

How dare he ask such questions only to get some money.

After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son.

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

"Are you asleep, son?" he asked.

"No, daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.

"I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, beaming. "Oh, thank you, daddy!" he yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills.

The man, since the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at the man.

"Why did you want more money if you already had some?" the father grumbled.

"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied.

"Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?"

If you were the father, how would you respond to such a passionate plea from a tender boy? Have you ever seriously think about spending quality time with your loved ones? Life is not just about meeting needs and providing for the needs of others. There is more to it....

WHEN YOU ARE HURTING - SOME INSPIRING QUOTES

2012-02-10T23:23:00.000+05:30

When tragedy strikes, we enter a crisis of faith. We either move toward God or away from God.

There is no human experience which cannot be put on the anvil of a lively relationship with God and man, and battered into a meaningful shape.

Christianity doesn’t in any way lessen suffering. It enables you to take it, to face it, to work through it, and eventually convert it.

God’s Word empowers us not to evade suffering, but to face suffering face-to-face with God.

In suffering, God is not getting back at you; He is getting you back to Himself.

Shared sorrow is endurable sorrow.

No grieving; no healing. Know grieving; know healing.

We live in a fallen world and it often falls on us.

The world is a mess and it messes with our minds.

Spiritual friendship with God results in 20/20 spiritual vision from God.

To deny or diminish suffering is to arrogantly refuse to be humbled. It is to reject dependence upon God.

Crying out to God empties us so there is more room in us for God.

Faith does not demand the removal of suffering; faith desires endurance in suffering.

Faith understands that what can’t be cured, can be endured.

Comfort experiences the presence of God in the presence of suffering—a presence that empowers me to survive scars and plants the seed of hope that I will yet thrive.

In this life, your scar may not go away, but neither will His. He understands. He cares. He’s there.

Spiritual emergencies can produce spiritual emergence.

Faith looks back to the past recalling God’s mighty works. Hope looks ahead remembering God’s coming reward.

In Christ, loss is never final. Christ’s resurrection is the first-fruit of every resurrection.

When we wait on God, we cling to God’s rope of hope, even when we can’t see it.

Hope waits. Hope is the refusal to demand heaven now.

Waiting is refusing to take over while refusing to give up. Waiting refuses self-rescue.

In Christ, we move from victims to victors.”

God is a ‘time God.’ He does not come before time. He does not come after time. He comes at just the right time.

Faith is entrusting myself to God’s larger purposes, good plans, and eternal perspective.

Faith is seeing life with spiritual eyes instead of eyeballs only.

Instead of our perspective shrinking, suffering is the exact time when we must listen most closely, when we must lean over to hear the whisper of God.

True, God shouts to us in our pain, but His answers, as with Elijah, often come to us in whispered still small voices amid the thunders of the world.

God’s eternal, heavenly story doesn’t obliterate my earthly, painful story; it gives it meaning.

Grace math teaches us that present suffering plus God’s character equals future glory. The equation we use is the Divine perspective.

Worship is wanting God more than wanting relief.

Worship is finding God even when you don’t find answers.

Worship is walking with God in the dark and having Him as the light of your soul.

Every problem is an opportunity to know God better, and our primary battle is to know God well.

Problems can either shove us far from God or drag us kicking and screaming closer to Him.

All quotes attributed to Dr. Robert W. Kelleman, author of God's Healing for Life's Losses

HIDING IN THEE

2012-02-10T21:44:00.000+05:30

William O. Cushing was for more than twenty years a successful pastor in the eastern area of the United States. Following the death of his wife in 1870, ill health forced his retirement from the active ministry. During this time he became intensely interested in hymn writing and wrote more than three hundred hymns, cooperating with such gospel musicians as Ira Sankey, Robert Lowry, George Root, and others.

Mr Cushing has left the following account regarding the writing of “Hiding in Thee”:

“Hiding in Thee” was written at Moravia, New York, in 1876. It must be said of this hymn that it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart conflicts, and yearnings of which the world can know nothing. The history of many battles is behind it. But the occasion which gave it being was the call of Mr. Sankey. He said, “Send me something new to help me in my gospel work.” A call from such a source, and for such a purpose, seemed to be a call from God. I so regarded it and prayed, “Lord, give me something that may glorify Thee.” It was while thus waiting the “Hiding in Thee” pressed to make itself known. Mr Sankey called forth the tune, and by his genius gave the hymn wings, making it useful in the Master’s work.

William C. Cushing is also the author of “Ring the Bells of Heaven” and “When He Cometh.”

Hiding In Thee

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;

So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;

Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”

I’m hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,

In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;

In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,

Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”

I’m hiding in Thee.

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,

I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;

How often, when trials like sea billows roll,

Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”

I’m hiding in Thee.

Bible Reference:

Psalms 9:9

Proverbs 14:26

Psalms 32:7

Psalms 94:22

Psalms 119:114

Psalms 145:20

Lyrics:

William O. Cushing

Born: December 31, 1823, Hingham Center, Massachusetts

Died: October 19, 1902, Lisbon Center, New York

Composer:

Ira David Sankey

Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania

Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York

IS IT WORTH THE RISK?

2012-02-09T22:50:00.000+05:30

Horror gripped the heart of the World War I soldier as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the "no man's land" between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.

"You can go," said the lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away."

The lieutenant's advice didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and bring him back to their company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.

"I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."

"It was worth it, though, sir," said the soldier.

"What do you mean; worth it?" responded the Lieutenant. "Your friend is dead."

"Yes, sir" the private answered. "But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say, "Jim, I knew you’d come!"

Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life.

May each and every one of you be blessed with the company of true friends for "A true friend is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out!"

THE VALUE OF TIME

2012-02-09T22:30:00.000+05:30

This will help you value life, time, friends, family, etc! What's it really worth to you?

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.

It carries over no balance from day to day.

Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance.

It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.

Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".

You must live in the present on today's deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!

The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow a mystery.

Today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present!

THE NOTE FROM HELL

2012-02-08T11:44:00.000+05:30

One day a woman name Louise fell asleep in her bed and dreamed a very fitful dream. She dreamed that someone in hell wrote a letter to her, and it was to be delivered to her by a messenger. The messenger passed between the lakes of burning fire and brimstone that occupies hell, and found his way to the door that would lead him to the outside world. Louise dreamed that the messenger walked to her house, came inside and gently but firmly woke Louise up. He gave her the message, saying only that a friend had wrote it to her from hell. Louise, in her dream with trembling hands took the letter and read:

My friend,
I stand in judgment now,
And feel that you are to blame somehow.
On earth, I walked with you day by day
And never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on earth
You never told me of his second birth.
And now I stand this day condemned
Because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things that true
I called you “friend” and trusted you
But I learn now that it’s too late
You could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night
And yet you showed me not the Light.
You let me live and love and die
You knew I’d never live on high
Yes I called you a friend in life
And trusted you through joy and strife
And yet on coming to the end
I cannot now call you “My Friend!”
Marsha

After reading the letter, Louise awoke. The dream was still so real in her mind, and sweat dropped from her body in pools. She swore she could still smell the acrid smell of brimstone and smoke from her room. As she contemplated the meaning of her dream she realized as a Christian she has failed in her duty to “go out to all the world and preach the gospel”. As she thought of that she promised herself that the next day she would call Marsha and invite her to church with her.

The next morning she called Marsha and this was the conversation: Yes, Bill is Marsha there? Louise, didn’t you know? No what Bill? Marsha was killed last night in a car accident. I thought you knew.

What is our excuse today, tomorrow, and next week? There may not be another chance!

It’s not what I don’t know that bothers me - it’s what I do know and don’t do! || Martin Luther

FEEL THE STRINGS OF GOD

2012-02-07T22:17:00.001+05:30

There was a mother and daughter who went out kite flying. While the little girl flew her kite the mother read near by, not paying attention to where her daughter’s kite was flying.

Suddenly clouds passed over which made the mother look up.

She could see her little girl holding the string to the kite but the kite itself was not visible.

The mother approached the girl and said, I don't see your kite, I am afraid you have lost it.

The small child looked into her mother’s face and said "no I didn’t lose it, I know because I can still feel it when I tug on the strings that the kite is attached to."

This story reflects the same way I feel when it comes to my own faith.

That is, I may not be able to see God, but I feel my Lord when He tugs at the strings of my heart by way of my senses.

So when I allow myself to reach out and touch a person, smell a flower, see the blue sky, hear soothing music, or simply taste life giving food and water it is then, my five senses, like the string to the kite are connected to the greatest supreme being of all.

And it steals my heart away and always will.

GOD'S COFFEE

2012-02-07T22:12:00.000+05:30

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some
expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

DAVID JEREMIAH QUOTES - II

2012-02-05T18:30:00.000+05:30

Intentionally say an extra “Thank you” to someone today.

The Lord promises to flourish the righteous - especially in old age!

Loneliness comes to all of us. Remember that God sees you, and He will provide.

Jesus is preparing a place for us, and He will return to take us there!

Each of us, whether married or single, has a calling to fulfill God’s purpose without distraction.

If you’re single, God wants you to accept it as one of His gifts to you. Use this time to grow!

Try calling someone today who has impacted your life and thank them!

No one is perfect. But Christ loves imperfect people and calls us to have the same love.

If your world falls apart at the seams, God’s love can be the mending thread.

In times of illness, loneliness, or low spirits, seek God in His Word and rest in His promises.

No problem escapes the attention of the God who heals and delivers us now and for eternity.

Lift the spirits of a discouraged brother or sister today with a tangible act of kindness.

A note of thanks or gratitude is often kept for years. Why not write one to someone right now?

God will never disappoint us - His love never fails.

Because God’s eyes are always open, our character needs to be constant before Him.

The next time you experience a problem, pray for perspective and embrace what God reveals.

Our job as Christians is to never lose sight of God’s calling.

Jesus is standing beside you - you are not alone today.

If we have faith that God knows the future then fear will be absent.

Choose peace, for vengeance belongs to the Lord.

Think of some ways you can pour God’s love into those around you.

The promises of God toward Israel cannot be renegotiated at the political bargaining table.

God’s strong arm of faithfulness is enough to help you withstand any crisis.

Why do we let our fears bully us into not sharing our faith?

Because Christ has risen, we will follow Him out of the grave to an eternal day.

No world leader makes a move outside the sovereign permission of God.

Step outside and gaze heavenward. It will put your life in perspective.

If we’re going to be ridiculed, let it be for turning the world upside down with the Gospel.

Nothing is more dangerous than wandering thoughtlessly down the path of marginalizing the Bible.

In your reading, are you discovering truth? Or are you conforming to the Truth?

Take a moment today to thank God for the Day of the Cross and your redemption from sin.

Jesus called the Church to be salt in the world, to preserve goodness and create a thirst for God.

God alone is our moral compass, and the Bible gives us the true directions for life.

Ask yourself: “How can I serve my husband today? How can I affirm my wife?

Follow God’s plan and keep marriage honorable among all.

Read your Bible every day. Teach it to your children. Don’t depend on others to do it.

Jesus Christ makes our eternal fellowship with God possible.

Who do you say Jesus is? It is wiser to accept reality than to deny it.

We must use the weapons God has given us. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We have a God who rides above the storms.

Despite the bluster of the atheists, Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds.

Perhaps God will reach down and convert some strident anti-Christian voice today.

God is the Creator who never relinquishes control of this world to human or spiritual beings.

Clear, concise teaching of God’s Word is the greatest motivational technique God gave His people.

For renewal to take place, we have only to study God’s Word and let it work in our lives.

Look for ways to make restitution or amends for any wrongs you have done.

Is there any buildup of spiritual plaque in your heart?

Let’s be students of past revivals - and instruments for one in our own day.

When God brings revival, He starts cleaning out the rubbish in our lives.

Nothing except a return to Scripture can arouse a nation, a church, or an individual back to God.

Faith is being fully persuaded God has the power to do what He has said.

DAVID JEREMIAH QUOTES

2012-02-05T14:46:00.000+05:30

Dr. David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, felt God’s calling on his life at a very early age. Born February 13, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Jeremiah was raised in a family deeply committed to ministry. At the age of eleven, Dr. Jeremiah and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio where his father, Dr. James T. Jeremiah, was the Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, and in 1953 became the President of Cedarville College in Cedarville, Ohio.

As Dr. Jeremiah was sensitive to God’s leading in his life, he followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1963, Dr. Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College. In that same year, Dr. Jeremiah married his college sweetheart, Donna Thompson who also was attending Cedarville College as a business major. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1967. He completed additional graduate work at Grace University and was granted the Doctor of Divinity degree from Cedarville College in 1981.

In 1969, Dr. Jeremiah began Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed a Christian school grades K through 12. In the 12 years he served as pastor, Blackhawk Baptist Church grew from 7 families to 1300 members. He also launched The Bible Hour television program.

Dr. Jeremiah heeded God’s call, and in 1981 he and his family moved to California where he became the senior pastor of Scott Memorial Baptist Church, now Shadow Mountain Community Church.

Shadow Mountain Community Church is one of the largest churches in San Diego County. It is also the home of Southern California Seminary and Christian Unified Schools.

As Dr. Jeremiah began his ministry at Shadow Mountain, he felt God’s calling to continue the broadcast ministry he started in Fort Wayne. In 1982, Turning Point Ministries became a reality.

Today, Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard nationally and internationally on over 1800 stations and translator/satellators. In recognition of Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the Word of God, he received the Broadcaster of the Year Award in 1999 from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), in August 2002, received the Award of Merit from the Western Chapter of National Religious Broadcasters for Excellence in Broadcasting and Faithfulness in Service, and in 2006 Turning Point received the Best Radio Teaching Program Award. Dr. Jeremiah has served on the Board of Directors for the NRB since 1996.

Turning Point launched a television program in 1982 in San Diego and went nationwide in 2000. Now seen around the world through cable and satellite technology, as well as on terrestrial stations all across the United States, conservative estimates suggest that close to 200 million homes around the world have access to Dr. Jeremiah's Bible teaching each week. Turning Point Television offers a half-hour Bible study message and a full hour worship service with the same great preaching. Carried on several national and international networks such as TBN, ION, and INSP, Turning Point Television has most recently been added to Middle East TV Network.

Dr. Jeremiah is a sought-after conference speaker for organizations around the country. He frequently speaks at Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Billy Graham Training Center, Phil Waldrep’s Senior Adult Celebrations and numerous NFL, NBA and Baseball chapels.

Along with his speaking schedule around the country, Dr. Jeremiah also finds time to fulfill another passion in his life, writing. His books are always gripping and right to the point. Some of his books include Escape the Coming Night,The Power of Encouragement, What the Bible Says About Angels, Prayer The Great Adventure, which brought him The Gold Medallion Award in 1998, God In You, Gifts from God, Jesus' Final Warning, A Bend in the Road, Slaying the Giants in Your Life, My Heart’s Desire which gave him another Gold Medallion Award in 2003, Sanctuary, his first daily devotional book, The Things that Matter, The Prayer Matrix, Searching for Heaven on Earth, a book that he co-authored with world renown artist, Thomas Kinkade, The Secret of the Light, a second devotional book, Turning Points, Captured by Grace, which put Dr. Jeremiah on the best-sellers list for USA Today and The Wall Street Journal,Signs of Life, which made The New York Times best-seller list, What in the World Is Going On?, which made The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists, The 12 Ways of Christmas, Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World, which made The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and USA Today best-seller lists, The Coming Economic Armageddon, which made The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today,and Publisher's Weekly best-seller lists, and his most recent book, I Never Thought I'd See the Day! Culture at the Crossroads.

A dedicated family man, Dr. Jeremiah believes that without the support and encouragement of his wife, Donna, Turning Point would have never been brought into existence. He and Donna have four grown children and eleven grandchildren.

Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment is to teaching the whole Word of God. His passion for people and his desire to reach the lost are evident in the way he communicates Bible truths and his ability to get right to the important issues. Dr. Jeremiah continues to be excited to see what God is going to do in broadcast ministry around the world through the ministries of Turning Point. Source: davidjeremiah.org

Here's a collection of some inspiring quotes from the heart of this man of God:

Friendship is a sure antidote to a lonely soul. Be cheerful medicine to someone today.

Fatigue makes us vulnerable to discouragement. Spend time in the Word and get a good night’s sleep!

When you’re frustrated with life’s circumstances and are tempted to quit--go to the Word.

Don’t be trapped by guilt and fear. The blood of Jesus washes us clean from sin.

The Lord doesn’t want us to live in chronic fear.

Are you scared of the future? Walk by faith. God promises to never leave you.

Take the faith step with your eyes open, and say, “Okay, God! I will do what You say!”

Our faith is like a pearl of great price: it costs all we have but makes us eternally richer.

If we try to control our money on our own, we do not trust Him as we should.

Gather others to Jesus through your life and your testimony about Him.

When you open your hand to give, grace is able to fill your empty hand with what you need, and more.

As God’s stewards, we are entrusted with seeds to sow. And as we sow, so shall we reap.

The principle of the harvest is true. We reap according to what we have sown.

Do the most for God; stay sensitive to the needs of the “least of these.”

Resolve to stay intimately involved with what God gives you and what you give back to Him.

Take stock of your investments. Make sure you are investing for eternity.

Put your confidence in the Lord. He will provide all your needs in His timing.

Travel light! De-clutter your life and find joy in the simple things God gives.

We are unshaken! God’s everlasting arms sustain us through every storm.

Is Jesus Lord of your finances? Be faithful in advancing the cause of Christ.

Don’t go spiritually hungry! Resolve to be a gleaner of the Word of God in 2012.

Release control. Open your hands. God has incredible gifts to give you!

Put God first in your life, and watch what He will do.

Are you avoiding God’s purpose for your life? Get out of your comfort zone!

Jesus is your manna, all-sufficient for the ups and downs of your life. Have you tried Him?

The badge of our discipleship is our love toward each other.

We are called to care for our physical life just as faithfully as our spiritual life.

Occupy yourself with the greatest Gift of all. Rest in the grace that has come down from heaven.

The next time God calls you to do something challenging, take Him at His Word and trust Him by faith.

Don’t make room for worry. Fill your heart and mind with prayer and meditation.

If we were sufficient in all things, we wouldn’t need God’s sufficiency.

Whatever happens today, commit it to God in prayer and walk in peace.

We need to bring forth fruits worthy of God’s promise and our prayer.

Anxiety is like rust. It coats and corrodes the mind. Don’t rust. Trust.

Are you looking for strength to persevere through a tough situation in your life?

What could you adjust in your schedule this week to allow more time for spiritual growth?

Are you stressed? Maybe your agendas are blocking God’s purpose for your life.

Live in peace and strength knowing that God is with you!

We can walk with the Lord and experience His peace every day of December and beyond.

Don’t wait for the world to give you a peace it can’t provide - take the peace of Christ!

If you are in a stressful place today, stop now and tell God.

In lonely moments the Spirit is there, never to leave us nor forsake us.

Everyday gratitude is the elixir of life. Instead of groaning and moaning, practice smiling.

There is great joy in counting our mercies instead of our miseries.

A word of encouragement from the sword of the Spirit can save a friend from the attack of despair.

God’s human cure for loneliness is friendship - committed and sacrificial.

You’re never too old to accomplish something new for the Lord.

THE DEVIL'S BEASTITUDES

2012-02-05T00:16:00.000+05:30

Blessed are those who are too tired, busy or disorganized to meet with fellow Christians on Sundays each week.

Their hearts are not in it.

Blessed are those who enjoy noticing the mannerisms of clergy and choir.

Their hearts are not in it.

Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked.

I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy.

With a bit of luck they may even stop going to church.

They are my missionaries.

Blessed are those who claim to love God at the same time as hating other people.

They are mine forever.

Blessed are the trouble makers.

They shall be called my children.

Blessed are those who have no time to pray.

They are easy prey for me.

Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people and not about yourself.

I’ve got you.

THE GIFT OF INSULTS

2012-02-04T23:48:00.000+05:30

There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.

One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.

Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior’s challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.

Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. “How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?”

“If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it,” the master replied, “to whom does the gift belong?”

INSPIRING LIFE-LESSON QUOTES

2012-02-03T22:52:00.000+05:30

The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive, and God-like. It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it || Helen Keller

Ballet class is like Life Lessons 101. You learn some of life's most important lessons here that you will carry with you forever || Joanne H Morscher

When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance || Unknown

There are a group of people that wake up every day and go to work to learn nothing, get nowhere and wonder when and how things will ever change || Don Sabatini

Great minds discuss ideas;

Average minds discuss events;

Small minds discuss people || Unknown

Hot tubs are like relationships! They're almost too hot when you first get in, then after a while it's pure comfort... But if you try to stay in one forever, you will become dehydrated and die! But hey, somehow we all get to drinking and find ourselves waking up in one || Zach Taylor

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one || Mark Twain

My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on || Forrest Gump

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase || Martin Luther King Jr

Failure does not exist. Failure is simply someone else's opinion of how a certain act should have been completed. Once you believe that no act must be performed in any specific other-directed way, then failing becomes impossible || Wayne Dyer

Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared || Eddie Rickenbacker

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come || Joseph Campbell

The so-called lessons of history are for the most part the rationalizations of the victors. History is written by the survivors || Max Lerner

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up || Mark Twain

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson || Tom Bodett

The starting point of all achievement is desire || Napoleon Hill

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood || Helen Keller

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience || George Washington

One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am || Michelle Obama

It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure || Bill Gates

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower || Hans Christian Anderson

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me” || Erma Bombeck

The purpose of life is a life of purpose || Robert Byrne

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day || Elwyn Brooks White

Life is simple, it's just not easy || Unknown

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't || Richard Bach

Life's not always fair. Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow || Terri Guillemets

THE TWO BROTHERS

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There were two evil brothers. They were rich, and used their money to keep their evil ways from the public eye. They even attended the same church, and appeared to be perfect Christians. Then, their pastor retired, and a new one was hired. Not only could the new pastor see right through the brothers' deception, but he also spoke well and true, and the church membership grew in numbers. A fund-raising campaign was started to build a new assembly.

All of a sudden, one of the brothers died. The remaining brother sought out the new pastor the day before the funeral and handed him a check for the amount needed to finish paying for the new building. "I have only one condition," he said. "At the funeral, you must say my brother was a saint." The pastor gave his word, and deposited the check.

The next day, at the funeral, the pastor did not hold back. "He was an evil man," he said. "He cheated on his wife and abused his family." After going on like this, he finally concluded, "But, compared to his brother, he was a SAINT."

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FOR TODAY

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Nothing can sabotage your life mission faster than a wrong relationship || Rick Warren

Hide yourself in Christ; in Him alone is your safety; abide thus in Him; he has promised to abide in you || Andrew Murray

The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for using all our delays and detours || J. Piper

Nothing under His control can ever be out of control || Charles Swindoll

Trying to be happy without a sense of God's presence is like trying to have a bright day without the sun || AW Tozer

Nothing can cure us of fear till God cures us of unbelief || Francis Burkitt

Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a kind word is never thrown away || Arthur Helps

Always and never are two words you should always remember to use || Wendell Johnson

We shouldn't deny the pain of what happens in our lives. We should just refuse to focus only on the valleys || Charles Swindoll

We cannot always trace God's hands, but we can always trust God's heart || Charles H. Spurgeon

We are unshaken! God's everlasting arms sustain us through every storm || David Jeremiah

You need to make a commitment, and once you make it, then life will give you some answers || Les Brown

Be assured if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, he will never fail you || George Mueller

Do I pray more out of panic in response to my circumstances or out of faith in response to God's promises? || Oswald Chamber

When you do what you love, nothing can contain you || Brad Meltzer

Determine what special goal you want to achieve. Then dedicate to yourself to its attainment || Paul J. Meyer

People see God everyday, they just don't recognize Him || Pearl Bailey

You may be waiting on God a long time to be revived, but try looking at God's delays as delays for the right time to show you He's working! || Unknown

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or by the handle of faith || Henry Ward Beecher

In Christ we can move out of our past into a meaningful present and a breathtaking future || Erwin Lutzer