Six Year Old's Prayer

A woman took her children to a restaurant. Her six-year old son asked if her could say grace. As they bowed, he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all, amen."

Along the laughter from the other customers nearby, the mother heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream. Why I never."

Hearing this, the little boy burst into tears and asked his mother, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As the mother held her son, she assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him.

An elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at the little boy and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really," the little boy asked. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started the whole thing), "too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, the woman bought the kids ice cream at the end of the meal. The little boy stared at his for a moment and then did something the mother would remember the rest of her life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is already good."

The Cliffhanger

A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and, to his horror, he saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was not way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. "Help! Help! Is anyone up there? Help!" he yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice.

"Jack, Jack can you hear me?"

"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"

"I can see you, Jack. Are you alright?"

"Yes, but who are you, and were are you?"

"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."

"The lord? You mean God?"

"That's me."

"God, please help me! I promise if you'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning. I'll be a real good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my life."

"Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you off from there; then we can talk. Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."

"I'll do anything Lord. Just tell me what to do."

"Okay. Let go of the branch."

"What?"

There was a long silence. Finally Jack yelled, "Help! Help! Is anyone else up there?"

Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it. Sounds too scary--too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your life," it sounds pretty scary. But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands.

"No eyes have ever seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

                                                 SO JUST LET GO, AND LET GOD!

What Do Angels Look Like?

What do angels look like?........Like the little old lady who returned your wallet yesterday.
Like the tax driver who told you that your eyes light up the world when you smile.
Like the small child who showed you the wonder in simple things.
Like the poor man who offered to share his lunch with you.
Like the rich man who showed you that it really is all possible, if only you believe.
Like the stranger who just happened to come along, when you had lost your way.
Like the friend who touched your heart, when you didn't you had one.
Angels come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and skin types.
Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, some without.
They come disguised as friends, enemies teachers, students, lovers and fools.
They don't talk life too seriously, they travel light.
They leave no forwarding address, they ask nothing in return.
They are hard to find when your eyes are closed, but when you choose to see, they are everywhere you look.
So, open your eyes and count all your Angels---for you are truly blessed!

To Be Thankful For....

The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
The taxes I pay because it means I am employed.
The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine
A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The space I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
The piles of dirty laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive.
Getting too much email bogs me down but at least I know I have friends who are thinking of me.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you Lord, that I can hear; there are many that are deaf.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise; there are many who are bedridden.
Even though he first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, thank you Lord, for my family; there are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you Lord, for the food we have; there are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is hard, thank you Lord, for the opportunity to work; there are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you Lord, for life!

Windshield Wiper: Lesson from a Child

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my granddaughter spoke up from her relaxed position in the front seat.

"Grandma, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that her seven-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain," she began, "is like sin and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked..."Do you notice how the rain keeps coming? What does that tell you?"

She didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

Who can drive in the rain again without thinking of this one???

"Frogs"

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit.  All the other frogs gathered around the pit.

 

When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they would never get out. 

 

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

 

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up.  He fell down and died.

 

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

 

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

 

When he got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did you continue jumping Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf.  He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

 

-----------------------------

 

This story teaches two lessons:

 

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue.  An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

 

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.  Be careful of what you say.  Speak life to those who cross your path.

 

The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way.  Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

 

Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. May your words be a blessing to someone today.

The Story of Pearls

Pearls are a product of pain. When a grain of sand pierces the shell of an oyster, all the otherwise dormant resources within the tiny oyster respond to the foreign irritant by caring for the sensitive spot. Over time, the sand particle is covered by healing fluids, and the wound becomes a pearl.

That's true for you, too. When hardships invade your life, allow God's Spirit to shape your response. Don't be bitter. Don't rush ahead of His plan. Rest in Him. Allow Him time to turn that irritation into an opportunity for your growth - and watch a beautiful pearl emerge from your set of circumstances.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing"-James 1:2-4

When you flee temptation-be sure you don't leave a forwarding address!

Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now,
but I don't worry about that much 'cause I'm happy anyhow,
and as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sow,
I'm drinking form my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches and sometimes the going's tough,
but I've got loving ones around me and that makes me rich enough;
I thank God for His blessings and the mercies He's bestowed,
I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Oh, remember times when things went wrong my faith wore somewhat thin,
but all at once the dark clouds broke and sun peeped through again;
so Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed
I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.

If God give me strength and courage when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings 'cause I'm blessed enough;
and may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads,
then I'll keep drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed!

The Starfish

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. Once day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who could dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down the shore; picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.



As he got closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."



"I guess I should have asked why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"



"The sun is up, and the tied is going out, and if I don't throw them in they'll die."



"But young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possible make a difference!"



The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, pass the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."