I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness, God said, No.
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as God loves me. God said.....
Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
~Author Unknown~
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about
it, “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d
walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there is only one set
of footprints.
'Twas the night before Jesus came The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. The light of His face made me cover my head; In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man. The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above. I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near. MEMORANDUM I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If
life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in
the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once
the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the
wonderful things that are present in your life now. - Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an
unheard of privilege. - Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years. - Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like
to love and be loved in return. - Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve
hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children. - Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would
love the opportunity to take that walk. - Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she
had hair to examine. - Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be
thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity. - Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Dear Friend,
How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I love you and care
about you.
I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all
day, hoping you would want to talk with me also. As evening drew near, I gave
you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you-and I waited. You
never came. Oh, yes, it hurts me-but I still love you because I am your friend.
I saw you fall asleep last night and longed to touch your brow, so I spilled
moonlight upon your pillow and face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so
we could talk. I have so many gifts for you! You awakened late and rushed off to
work. My tears were in the rain.
Today you looked so sad-so all alone. It makes my heart ache because I
understand. My friends let me down and hurt me many times, too, but I love
you.
Oh, if you would only listen to me. I love you! I try to tell you in the blue
sky and in the quite green grass. I whisper it in the leaves on the trees and
breathe it in the colors of flowers. I shout it to you in mountain streams and give
the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the
air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than
the biggest want or need in your head.
Oh, if you only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. We
could spend an eternity together in heaven.
I know how hard it is on this earth: I really know! And I want to help you.
I want you to meet My father. He wants to help you, too. My father is that
way, you know.
Just call me--ask Me--talk with me!
Oh, please don’t forget me. I have so much to share with you!
All right, I won’t bother you any further. You are free to choose me. It’s
your decision. I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait- because
I love you!
Your friend,
JESUS
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints
in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other
to the Lord.
~By Mary Stevenson~
When the last scene of his life flashed before
him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his
life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed
that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times
in his life.
I don’t understand why, when I needed you most, you would
leave me”.
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and
I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering,
when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that
I carried you.”
And all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap,
Was watching The Late Show while I took a nap.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment that this must be The Day.
It was Jesus! Returning just like he said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!
To: YOU
Date: Today
From: God
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.
He prayed
feverishly for God to rescue him and every day he scanned the horizon for help,but none
seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself
from the elements and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food,
he arrived home to find his little hut in flames with smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened and everything was lost!
He was stunned with disbelief, grief,
and anger.
“God, how could you do this to me?” he cried.
Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the
island. It had come to rescue him.
“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.
“We saw your smoke signal, “ they replied.
It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad,but we shouldn’t lose heart
because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground.
It just
may be the smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
I'm mindful of the blessings
That come my way each day.
My heart is overflowing
Each time I kneel to pray.
I'm thankful for the seasons;
Each one's a masterpiece.
I'm allowed to work the land,
But God still holds the lease.
I'm grateful for the friendships
That brighten sorrow's way,
Because my cup of happiness
Sustains me everyday.
I love the children and the flowers
That decorate my life
And the quiet, gentle hours
Free from worry and strife.
I'm grateful for eyes that see
The beauty of it all
Because God's been good to me
And blessed me through it all.
I'm thankful for the little things
That fill my life with love.
The best things in life are free;
They come from God above!
~By Clay Harrison~
God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
