Sunday, June 12, 2005
DON'T HURT OTHERS
By Neil T. Anderson w/ Joanne Anderson, "Daily in Christ"
An unhealthy way to respond to emotions is to thoughtlessly let all hang out, to tell anybody and everybody exactly how you feel. The apostle Peter is a great example of indiscriminate expression. Peter was the John Wayne of the New Testament -- a real door slammer. He had no problem telling anyone what was on his mind or how he felt. I like to refer to him as the one-legged apostle because he always had one foot in his mouth.
Peter's impulsive nature got him into trouble more than once. In one setting, he was the spokesperson for God, and Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Then moments later he spoke for Satan, and Jesus had to rebuke him: Get behind Me Satan!" (verses 22-23).
It was Peter who missed the point on the Mount of Transfiguration by suggesting that they build three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah, and the Master. It was Peter who impulsively whacked off the ear of Caiaphas' servant during Jesus arrest in Gethsemane. And it was Peter who promised to follow Jesus anywhere, even to death, then swearing only hours later that he never knew Him. The fact that Peter became a leader in the New Testament church is evidence of the powerful transformation effected by the Holy Spirit.
Indiscriminate expression of emotions may be somewhat healthy for you, but it may be unhealthy for others. "There, I'm glad I got that off my chest," you may say after an outburst. But in the process you just destroyed your wife, your husband, or children. Paul admonished: "Be angry, and yet do not sin" (Eph. 4:26). If you wish to be angry and not sin, then be angry the way Christ was: Be angry at sin. He turned over the tables, not the money changers.
Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19,20).
An unhealthy way to respond to emotions is to thoughtlessly let all hang out, to tell anybody and everybody exactly how you feel. The apostle Peter is a great example of indiscriminate expression. Peter was the John Wayne of the New Testament -- a real door slammer. He had no problem telling anyone what was on his mind or how he felt. I like to refer to him as the one-legged apostle because he always had one foot in his mouth.
Peter's impulsive nature got him into trouble more than once. In one setting, he was the spokesperson for God, and Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Then moments later he spoke for Satan, and Jesus had to rebuke him: Get behind Me Satan!" (verses 22-23).
It was Peter who missed the point on the Mount of Transfiguration by suggesting that they build three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah, and the Master. It was Peter who impulsively whacked off the ear of Caiaphas' servant during Jesus arrest in Gethsemane. And it was Peter who promised to follow Jesus anywhere, even to death, then swearing only hours later that he never knew Him. The fact that Peter became a leader in the New Testament church is evidence of the powerful transformation effected by the Holy Spirit.
Indiscriminate expression of emotions may be somewhat healthy for you, but it may be unhealthy for others. "There, I'm glad I got that off my chest," you may say after an outburst. But in the process you just destroyed your wife, your husband, or children. Paul admonished: "Be angry, and yet do not sin" (Eph. 4:26). If you wish to be angry and not sin, then be angry the way Christ was: Be angry at sin. He turned over the tables, not the money changers.
Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19,20).
GOD, YOU DID ALL THE REST
By Ruth Harms Calkin
O Lord God! I did what You asked me to do:
I just opened windows
Wide...
Wide...
And You did all the rest!
You poured into my heart
A blessed, blissful contentment.
You saturated my mind
With gigantic thoughts of You.
You struck an artesian well within me
Until sheer joy sprang forth.
You led me out of the valley
Into a succession of incredible happenings.
Problem which seemed insurmountable
Melted like wax before my eyes.
Fears faded away like threatening clouds.
You startled me
You amazed me
With the glory of Your revelation.
It is true,
Gloriously true --
I have literally walked and breathed with God.
I just opened windows
Wide...
Wide...
God, You did all the rest!
O Lord God! I did what You asked me to do:
I just opened windows
Wide...
Wide...
And You did all the rest!
You poured into my heart
A blessed, blissful contentment.
You saturated my mind
With gigantic thoughts of You.
You struck an artesian well within me
Until sheer joy sprang forth.
You led me out of the valley
Into a succession of incredible happenings.
Problem which seemed insurmountable
Melted like wax before my eyes.
Fears faded away like threatening clouds.
You startled me
You amazed me
With the glory of Your revelation.
It is true,
Gloriously true --
I have literally walked and breathed with God.
I just opened windows
Wide...
Wide...
God, You did all the rest!
THE STAR IN THE WINDOW
Sent by Jonah Santos
During World War II it was the custom in the United States for a family who had a son serving in the military to place a star in the front window of their home. But the gold star indicated that the son had died in support of his country's cause.
Years ago, Sir Harry Lauder told a touching story about this custom. He said that one night a man was walking down a New York City street accompanied by his five-year-old son. The little fellow was interested in the brightly lighted windows of the houses and wanted to know why some houses had a star in the window. The father explained that those families had a son fighting in the war. The child would clap his hands as he saw another star in the window and would cry out, "Look, Daddy, there's another family who gave his son for his country."
At last they came to an empty lot, and a break in a row of houses. Through the gap a star can be seen shining brightly in the sky. The little lad caught his breath, "Oh, Daddy," he cried, "look at the star in the window of heaven! God must have given His son too."
Yes indeed! There's a star in God's window. Do you realize what he did for you? Because of God's love for us, He gave His only son (Eph. 2:4-5). The cross shows God at His best. Have you thanked Him?
During World War II it was the custom in the United States for a family who had a son serving in the military to place a star in the front window of their home. But the gold star indicated that the son had died in support of his country's cause.
Years ago, Sir Harry Lauder told a touching story about this custom. He said that one night a man was walking down a New York City street accompanied by his five-year-old son. The little fellow was interested in the brightly lighted windows of the houses and wanted to know why some houses had a star in the window. The father explained that those families had a son fighting in the war. The child would clap his hands as he saw another star in the window and would cry out, "Look, Daddy, there's another family who gave his son for his country."
At last they came to an empty lot, and a break in a row of houses. Through the gap a star can be seen shining brightly in the sky. The little lad caught his breath, "Oh, Daddy," he cried, "look at the star in the window of heaven! God must have given His son too."
Yes indeed! There's a star in God's window. Do you realize what he did for you? Because of God's love for us, He gave His only son (Eph. 2:4-5). The cross shows God at His best. Have you thanked Him?
HERMAN THE CRAB
Sent by a subscriber
Herman the crab stormed across the sea floor and under the family rock.
"I want to be free!" he screamed at his father. "I don't see how you can expect me to wear this stupid shell twenty-four hours a day! It's confining! It cramps my style!"
His father, Fred, inhaled deeply and draped a heavy claw on Herman's shoulder.
Son, he said, "Let me tell you a story."
Herman rolled his eyes. "Dad, not another..."
"It's about Humphrey the human, who insisted on going barefoot to school. He complained that his shoes were too confining. They cramped his style, he said. He longed to be free to run barefoot through fields and streams. Finally, his mother gave in to him. He skipped out of the house barefoot. Do you know what happened?"
Herman opened his mouth, but his father continued before he could answer.
"Humphrey the human stepped on pieces of a broken bottle. His foot required twenty stitches, and some other guy took his girl to the prom while Humphrey sat home watching reruns of Flipper.
"That's a pretty lame story, Dad," Herman said.
"Maybe, Son, but the point is this: Every crab has felt this way at one time or another, thinking life would be better if he could be completely shell-free. But that's like a sailor getting tired of the confinement of a ship and jumping to freedom in the sea. He may think that's freedom, but if he doesn't get back to ship or shore, he'll drown and end up as crab food. What kind of freedom is that?"
Herman pondered his father's words.
"Soon you will shed your shell, Son, Fred said, thinking how hard it would be to say that five times fast. It's called molting, and all crabs do it as they grow up. But," he said with warning in his eyes, "when that happens, you will be more vulnerable than at any other time in your life. Until your new shell hardens like this one he tapped his son's armored back you'll have to be much more careful and watchful than usual. You'll be less free without this shell, not more free."
"That's weird," Dad, Herman said. "I never thought of it that way. You mean that some things may seem to limit freedom but really make greater freedom possible?"
Fred smiled broadly and patted his son on the back with a mammoth claw. "How did you get to be so smart, Son?" he asked.
-------------------------------------
"Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free."
(John 8:32)
Herman the crab stormed across the sea floor and under the family rock.
"I want to be free!" he screamed at his father. "I don't see how you can expect me to wear this stupid shell twenty-four hours a day! It's confining! It cramps my style!"
His father, Fred, inhaled deeply and draped a heavy claw on Herman's shoulder.
Son, he said, "Let me tell you a story."
Herman rolled his eyes. "Dad, not another..."
"It's about Humphrey the human, who insisted on going barefoot to school. He complained that his shoes were too confining. They cramped his style, he said. He longed to be free to run barefoot through fields and streams. Finally, his mother gave in to him. He skipped out of the house barefoot. Do you know what happened?"
Herman opened his mouth, but his father continued before he could answer.
"Humphrey the human stepped on pieces of a broken bottle. His foot required twenty stitches, and some other guy took his girl to the prom while Humphrey sat home watching reruns of Flipper.
"That's a pretty lame story, Dad," Herman said.
"Maybe, Son, but the point is this: Every crab has felt this way at one time or another, thinking life would be better if he could be completely shell-free. But that's like a sailor getting tired of the confinement of a ship and jumping to freedom in the sea. He may think that's freedom, but if he doesn't get back to ship or shore, he'll drown and end up as crab food. What kind of freedom is that?"
Herman pondered his father's words.
"Soon you will shed your shell, Son, Fred said, thinking how hard it would be to say that five times fast. It's called molting, and all crabs do it as they grow up. But," he said with warning in his eyes, "when that happens, you will be more vulnerable than at any other time in your life. Until your new shell hardens like this one he tapped his son's armored back you'll have to be much more careful and watchful than usual. You'll be less free without this shell, not more free."
"That's weird," Dad, Herman said. "I never thought of it that way. You mean that some things may seem to limit freedom but really make greater freedom possible?"
Fred smiled broadly and patted his son on the back with a mammoth claw. "How did you get to be so smart, Son?" he asked.
-------------------------------------
"Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free."
(John 8:32)
YOUR NEW YEAR KEY IS WITHIN YOU
By Robert Schuller
We have in our home one of those big, heavy fireproof safes. We don't have any money or jewels to put in it, so we keep our birth certificates and passports there.
One day I needed one of those papers. I asked my wife, "Will you get it for me? It's in the safe."
She replied, "I don't know where the key is."
We could not find the key, even after a thorough search. So I finally put the safe in the trunk of my car and drove to a locksmith.
He looked at it and said, "I think I can find a key for that."
He returned with some keys, but none of them fit the lock. He said, "I really don't know much about this business. I am only temporary here today. The owner will be back tomorrow...if you could bring it back."
And as he said that, he lifted it. He grabbed the edge underneath the lid and the lid opened up. It had been unlocked all the time! And right on top, inside, was the key!
The key to a new you is inside you, right now! You can choose to take it and unlock your God-given possibilities.
We have in our home one of those big, heavy fireproof safes. We don't have any money or jewels to put in it, so we keep our birth certificates and passports there.
One day I needed one of those papers. I asked my wife, "Will you get it for me? It's in the safe."
She replied, "I don't know where the key is."
We could not find the key, even after a thorough search. So I finally put the safe in the trunk of my car and drove to a locksmith.
He looked at it and said, "I think I can find a key for that."
He returned with some keys, but none of them fit the lock. He said, "I really don't know much about this business. I am only temporary here today. The owner will be back tomorrow...if you could bring it back."
And as he said that, he lifted it. He grabbed the edge underneath the lid and the lid opened up. It had been unlocked all the time! And right on top, inside, was the key!
The key to a new you is inside you, right now! You can choose to take it and unlock your God-given possibilities.
THE BREAKFAST
Author Unknown
This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end!
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss" because that was all they could afford.
(If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not churchgoers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE!
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to others.
An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.
God gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end!
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss" because that was all they could afford.
(If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not churchgoers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE!
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to others.
An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.
God gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
A MISLEADING IMPRESSION
By J.David Branon
He wasn't wearing a shirt, and his car looked like it was a refugee from a junkyard. Yet the unkempt man who stopped to help them on the Chicago expressway was, to my friends, angelic.
While traveling the busy highways of Chicago, Ken and Sue's van blew a tire. As they edged toward the shoulder of the expressway, with cars flying past, they quickly prayed for help. That's when the man in the rusty car waved and yelled to them that he would help.
Most of us are reluctant to trust complete strangers, so my friends were understandably wary of this scraggly man.Yet they soon found out that he was a mechanic who himself had been stranded just days earlier. He grabbed his tools, got to work on their car, and quickly had them back on the road.
We often judge people by the way they look or dress ,or by what kind of car they drive. Sure, we must be careful whom we trust, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss everyone who doesn't dress like a television news anchor.
People come in all sizes, colors, and conditions. Before we set aside those who don't match our personal standards, we need to remind ourselves that our Creator doesn't play favorites (Gal. 2:6). Neither should we.
Shared by Joe Gatuslao
He wasn't wearing a shirt, and his car looked like it was a refugee from a junkyard. Yet the unkempt man who stopped to help them on the Chicago expressway was, to my friends, angelic.
While traveling the busy highways of Chicago, Ken and Sue's van blew a tire. As they edged toward the shoulder of the expressway, with cars flying past, they quickly prayed for help. That's when the man in the rusty car waved and yelled to them that he would help.
Most of us are reluctant to trust complete strangers, so my friends were understandably wary of this scraggly man.Yet they soon found out that he was a mechanic who himself had been stranded just days earlier. He grabbed his tools, got to work on their car, and quickly had them back on the road.
We often judge people by the way they look or dress ,or by what kind of car they drive. Sure, we must be careful whom we trust, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss everyone who doesn't dress like a television news anchor.
People come in all sizes, colors, and conditions. Before we set aside those who don't match our personal standards, we need to remind ourselves that our Creator doesn't play favorites (Gal. 2:6). Neither should we.
Shared by Joe Gatuslao
HE NEEDED A SON
Shared by Joe Gatuslao
The nurse escorted a tired young man to the bedside of an elderly man. "Your son is here," she whispered to the patient. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack and he dimly saw the young man standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand and the young man tightly wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing a message of encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair next to the bedside. All through the night the young man sat holding the old man's hand and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing as he held tightly to his son. As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding, then he went to notify the nurse.
While the nurse did what was necessary, the young man waited. When she had finished her task, the nurse began to offer words of sympathy to the young man. But he interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father?"
"No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.
He replied, "I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me.
"Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is that?...do good...[even] when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will be sons of the Most High." (Luke 6:31-33,35)
The nurse escorted a tired young man to the bedside of an elderly man. "Your son is here," she whispered to the patient. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack and he dimly saw the young man standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand and the young man tightly wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing a message of encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair next to the bedside. All through the night the young man sat holding the old man's hand and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing as he held tightly to his son. As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding, then he went to notify the nurse.
While the nurse did what was necessary, the young man waited. When she had finished her task, the nurse began to offer words of sympathy to the young man. But he interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father?"
"No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.
He replied, "I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me.
"Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is that?...do good...[even] when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will be sons of the Most High." (Luke 6:31-33,35)
BE PATIENT
Sent by Rita Chimchidian
This is a true story which happened in the States.
A man came out of his home to admire his new truck.
To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck.
The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment.
When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.
When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"
The father went home & committed suicide.
Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.
Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. -- Mother Teresa
This is a true story which happened in the States.
A man came out of his home to admire his new truck.
To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck.
The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment.
When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.
When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"
The father went home & committed suicide.
Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.
Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. -- Mother Teresa
A LOT OF QUESTIONS
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace." John 16:33
If I live to be a hundred there are some things I will never understand. Why do some people live, and some die? Why do some people have debilitating diseases and others, perfect health? Why do some have loads of money and others struggle to survive? Why do some get caught and others go free? Why do some people recover and get well, others don't?
Don't we all wonder about these questions? I do, from time to time, and my answer is always the same, "I don't know." I don't know much, and even less the older I get. My list of questions I want to ask when I get to heaven is pretty long.
In this life, there are a lot of mysteries. We will not humanly understand many things. Yet underlying all the unknowns is the one great thing we do know: God is still on his throne. He is still sovereign, still in charge. He knows what is going on. He doesn't just wake up one morning, look down, and say, "Oh my gosh! Look at that!!"
We may not be able to trust in the system, in people, in circumstances or luck. But we can trust in the Lord God. And the promise is that one day, every tear shall be wiped away. Every sickness, every injustice, every heartache.
Jesus said we will surely have troubles here on earth, but to be undaunted and confident because He has overcome the world's power to harm us permanently.
Bottom-line, the answer to all these questions really is- hang onto the promise, and hold onto the the Lord.
If I live to be a hundred there are some things I will never understand. Why do some people live, and some die? Why do some people have debilitating diseases and others, perfect health? Why do some have loads of money and others struggle to survive? Why do some get caught and others go free? Why do some people recover and get well, others don't?
Don't we all wonder about these questions? I do, from time to time, and my answer is always the same, "I don't know." I don't know much, and even less the older I get. My list of questions I want to ask when I get to heaven is pretty long.
In this life, there are a lot of mysteries. We will not humanly understand many things. Yet underlying all the unknowns is the one great thing we do know: God is still on his throne. He is still sovereign, still in charge. He knows what is going on. He doesn't just wake up one morning, look down, and say, "Oh my gosh! Look at that!!"
We may not be able to trust in the system, in people, in circumstances or luck. But we can trust in the Lord God. And the promise is that one day, every tear shall be wiped away. Every sickness, every injustice, every heartache.
Jesus said we will surely have troubles here on earth, but to be undaunted and confident because He has overcome the world's power to harm us permanently.
Bottom-line, the answer to all these questions really is- hang onto the promise, and hold onto the the Lord.
