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COMFORT - God comforts us in all our tribulation that we may able to comfort those are in any trouble-2COR1:4
FAMILY -Hear my children, the instruction of a father-Prov4:1
FEAR - Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid-Mat.14:27
FAITHFULNESS - If we endure, we shall also reign with him, If we deny him, He also deny us-2TIM.2:12
Take my life a living sacrifice
Knowing it's the least that I can do
Make my life a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you
I looked upon my life and realized at last within myself
There's nothing I can do and yet here I stand
To offer all I am and give myself completely Lord to you
I cannot be content until I reach that place how little
I have given up to you Lord break down my will
Make my desires your own I long to give my everything to you
CHRISTIAN SAYINGS
Don't undermine your word of comparing yourself with others, it is because we are different that each of us is special
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart for without them life is meaningless
Don't slip your life through your fingers by living in the past or for the future by living your life one day at a time, you live all the past of your life
Don't give up when you still have something to give, nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying
Don't be afraid of encounter risks it is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave
Don't be afraid to learn knowledge, a treasure you can always carry easily
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been but also where you are going
Don't shut love out of your life by quickest way to receive love is to give, the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings
A Love Story
One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for his beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, " Do you love me?" I answered, " Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!" Then he asked, " If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?" I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs, and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, " It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You." Then the Lord said, " If you were blind, would you still love my creation?" How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, " It's hard to think of it, but I would still love You." The Lord asked me " If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?" How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your Word." The Lord asked, " If you were mute, would you still praise My name?" How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our word of Thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name. And the Lord asked, " Do you really love Me?" With courage and strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love you because You are the one true God!" I thought I had answered well, but... God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?" I answered, Because I am only human. I am not perfect." "THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?" No answers. Only tears. The Lord Continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?" The tears continued to roll down my cheeks "Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?" I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give. "You are blessed with Life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown my blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all." "DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME?" I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and tears had flowed, I said, "Please Forgive me Lord. I am Unworthy to be your child." The Lord Answered, "That is My grace, My child." I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do you love me so?" The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever." Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?" The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour. And for the First time, I truly prayed. Author Unknown This note is to everyone that's reading this. This is something special, and it deserves to be passed around. Don't just read this and forget about it, use it in life. Use God in Your Life.....
What God Won't Ask
1. God won't ask what kind of fancy car you drove. He will ask how many people you took to church who didn't have transportation.
2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how many people you helped who didn't have a house.
3. God won't ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to the Salvation Army.
4. God won't ask what social class you were in. He will ask what kind of "class" you displayed.
5. God won't ask how many material possessions you had. He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.
6. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you trampled over any people to obtain that salary.
7. God won't ask how much overtime you worked. He will ask did you work overtime for your family.
8. God won't ask how many promotions you received. He will ask what you did to promote others.
9. God won't ask what your job title was. He will ask did you perform your job to the best of your ability.
10. God won't ask how many promotions you took to chase a dollar bill. He will ask how many promotions you refused to advance your family's quality of life.
11. God won't ask how many times you didn't run around on your spouse. He will ask how many times you did.
12. God won't ask how many degrees you had. He will ask how many people you thanked for helping you get those degrees.
13. God won't ask what your parents did to help you. He will ask what you did to help your parents.
14. God won't ask what you did to help yourself. He will ask what you did to help others.
15. God won't ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many people you were a friend to.
16. God won't ask what you did to protect your rights. He will ask what you did to protect the right of others.
17. God won't ask what neighborhood you lived in. He will ask what other neighborhoods you visited.
18. God won't ask how man times you told the truth. He will ask how many times you told a lie.
19. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He will ask about the color of your heart.
20. God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words. He will ask how many times they didn't.
Food for Thought!
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 he 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.
anting 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 midair 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.
Meet God
There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God. But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected." Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!
FIVE GREAT LESSONS:
The Important Things Life Teaches You... Number One: The Most Important Question During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired, and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.'" I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. Number Two: Pickup in the Rain One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance, and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him, and drove away. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain had drenched not only my clothes, but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole." Number Three: Always Remember Those Who Serve In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - her tip. Number Four: The Obstacle in Our Path In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition. Number Five: Giving Blood Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease, and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liz." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood. Attitude, after all, is everything.
IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two, If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do? Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest, And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there, That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare. But - when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door, With arms outstreched in welcome to your Heavenly Visitor? Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in, Or hide some magazines, and put your missal where they'd been? Would you turn off the TV, and hope He hadn't heard, And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word? Would you hide your worlly music and put some hymn book out? Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about? And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you. Would you go right on doing the things you always do? Would you go right on saying the things you always say? Would life for you continue as it does from day to day? Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace, And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace? Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read, And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed? Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go, Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or two? Would you be glad to have Him met your closest friends, Or would you hope they'd stay away, until His visit ends? Would you be glad to have Him stay, forever on and on, Or would you sigh with great relief, when He at last was gone? It might be interesting to know the things that you would do, If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.
A LETTER FROM A FRIEND
Dear friend, As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me- even if it was just a few words,asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday-but I noticed you were to busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work. I waited again. When you ran around the house getting ready I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen w/ nothing to do exept sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip.I watched as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were to busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, Maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me,that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate , but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left, And I have hope that you will talk to me even yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done you turned on the TV I don't know if I like TV or not, just about anything goes there & you spend a lot of time each day in front of it-not thinking about anything-just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched TV and ate your meal but again you didn't talk to me. As you did your paperwork I waited again you did what you had to do. At bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. Thats okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient w/ others as well. Because I love you so much, a long time ago I left a wonder full place called Heaven and came to Earth. I gave it up so that I could be ridiculed and made fun of. and I even died so you wouldn't have to take my place. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayers or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation. Well you are getting up again and once again I will wait with nothing but love for you, hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!
Your friend,
Jesus
THE STORY OF LIFE
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, longlost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), *but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
*Everything happens for a reason. *
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.
*Even the bad experiences can be learned from. *
In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
*Make every day count. *
Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. *Most importantly*, *if you LOVE someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. * And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.
THE CHAIR
A man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me," he said. "No, who are you?" I'm the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up." "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the pastor shut the door. "I've never told anyone this, not even my daughter,"said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued,"until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, 'Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here's what I suggest: Sit down on a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I'll be with you always. 'Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now.' So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me to off to the funny farm." The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon. "Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes,and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store anv hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange--really weird. Apparently, just Before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."
THE MIRACLE OF A BROTHER'S SONG"
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby would be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael would sing to his sister in Mommy's tummy. The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen. Then the labor pains came every five minutes; every minute. But complications do arise during delivery and it was to be determined if a C-section be required. Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neo-natal intensive care unit at St. Mary Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. Days inch by and the little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope for your baby. So please try to prepare for the worst." Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby but now instead they are planning for a funeral. Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. Week two in intensive care. It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over and Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive. She dresses him in a scrub suit and Marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here right now! No Children are allowed in this room!" Karen, usually a mild-mannered lady, glared steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, er lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live, and he begins to sing. In the pure, sweet-hearted voice of a -year-old, Michael sings: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray" Instantly the baby girl begins to respond. The nurse notices that the baby's pulse rate becomes calm and steady. "Keep on singing, Michael" she urges. "You'll never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away". The tiny baby's ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep singing, Michael." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister relaxes, a peaceful healing rest, seems to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael", his mother says. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse; is now glowing as she listens to this precious little boy sing this song to his baby sister. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away." Funeral plans are scrapped. The next day, the very next day-the little girl is well enough to go home! This is a true story folks, from an issue of Woman's Day magazine called "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
(Jeremiah 29:11-12)
