Let's Have Church #1
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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, "Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you."
The Lord then 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 then 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 words 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 a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and 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 have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away."
I have 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 my heart had cried out and the 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
And God Said No
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said "No."
He said her spirit is whole,
While her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happinesss,
And God said "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from,
Worldy cares and brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But He will prune me to make it fruitful.
I asked God if He loved me and God said "Yes."
He gave me His only Son, who died for me.
And I will be in Heaven someday,
Because...I believe.
I asked God to help me love others,
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."
-by Claudia Minden Welsz
Bless Everyone
I knelt to pray when day was done,
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone.
Lift from each saddened heart the pain,
And let the sick be well again."
And then I woke another day,
And carelessly went on my way.
The whole day long I did not try,
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load,
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see,
The sick man just next door to me.
Yet once again when day was done,
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."
But as I prayed, into my ear,
There came a voice that whispered clear.
"Pause now, my son, before you pray,
Whom have you tried to bless today?
God's sweetest blessing always go,
By hands that serve him here below."
And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God, I have not tried.
But let me live another day,
And I will live the way I pray."
- Author unknown
Dying To Self
When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught and you don't sting or hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ....That is dying to self.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take all in patient loving silence....That is dying to self.
When you lovingly or patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity or any impunctuality or annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus endured it....That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, any offering, any rainment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God....That is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to unknown....That is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God while your own needs are far greater and in disperate circumstances....That is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart....That is dying to self.
Scripture Reading:
John 12:24, 4:23-24
Hebrews 4:12-13
ICorinthians 2:11-14
IICorinthians 3:6
Romans 1:9, 7:6, 8:4-8
Galatians 5:16-25
© 1997 mcpumpkin@geocities.com
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