A Prayer............... - - My Dear Father in Heaven. * YES? - - Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. * But you called Me. - - Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying... My Dear Father in Heaven... * There, you did it again. - - Did what? * Called me. You said, "My Dear Father in Heaven." Here I am. What's on your mind.? - - But I didn't mean anything by it. I was just, You know, saying my prayers for the night. I always say my prayers. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done. * Oh. All Right. Go on. - - I'm thankful for my many blessings... * Hold it. How thankful? - - What? * How thankful are you for your "Many blessings?" - - I'm... well... I don't know. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. Everyone always said that I should express my thanks. * Oh well. You're welcome. Go ahead... - - Go ahead? * With the prayer. - - Oh yeah. Let's see... bless the poor and the sick and the needy and the afflicted... * Do you really mean that? - - Well, sure I mean it. * What are you doing about it? - - Doing? Who, me? Nothing. I guess. I just think that it would be kind of nice if You got control of things down here like You have up there, so people don't have to suffer so. * Have I got control of you? - - Well I go to church, I pay my tithing, I don't... * That isn't what I asked you. What about your temper? You have a problem there, and your friends and family suffer. And then there's the way you spend your money... all on yourself. And how about the kinds of books you read? - - Stop picking on me. I'm just as good as some of the rest of those I see every Sunday at church. * Excuse Me. I thought you were praying for me to bless the needy. If that is to happen, I'll have to have help from the ones who are praying for it... like you. - - All right. I guess that I have a few hangups, now that You mention it. I could probably mention some others. * So could I. - - Look, Father. I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than usual. Bless the missionaries to be led to the doors of the honest in heart. * You mean people like Ralph? - - Ralph? * Yes, the guy around the corner. - - "That" Ralph... but he smokes and drinks and never goes to church. * Have you ever looked in his heart lately? - - Of course not. How can... * I have. I looked. And it's one of those honest hearts your were just praying about. - - O.K. then, get the missionaries over there. Do you think I like having a non-member for a neighbor? * Aren't you supposed to be a missionary? I thought I made that pretty clear. - - Hey, wait a minute. What is this? Criticize "me" day? Here I am, doing my duty, keeping your commandments to pray. And all of a sudden you break in and start reminding me of all my problems. * Well, you called Me. And here I am. Keep on praying. I'm interested in this next part. You haven't changed the order around have you? ... Go on... - - I don't want to. * Why not? - - I know what You'll say. * Try Me and see. - - Please forgive me of all my sins... and help me to forgive others. * What about Bill? - - See. I knew it. I knew you'd bring him up. Listen Lord, he told lies about me, and I got fired. All my co-workers think I'm a first class creep, and I didn't do anything. I'm going to get even with him! * But your prayers. What about your prayers? - - I didn't mean it. * Well, at least you're honest. I guess you enjoy carrying that load of bitterness around, don't you? - - No, I don't. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even. * Do you want to know a secret? - - What secret? * You won't feel better. You'll feel worse. Listen to me. You forgive Bill and I'll forgive you. - - But Lord, I can't forgive Bill. * Then I cannot forgive you. - - No matter what? * No matter what. But you're not through with your prayer yet. Go on. - - Oh all right... please help me to control my feelings and not yield to temptations. * Good. Good. I'll do just that. But you stop putting yourself in all those places where you can be tempted. - - What do you mean by that? * Quit hanging around the magazine racks and spending so much time in front of the tube. Some of that stuff is going to get to you sooner or later. You'll find yourself involved in some terrible things before long... and don't use me for an escape hatch either. - - An escape hatch? I don't understand. � Sure you do. You've done it lots of times-you find yourself in a crisis � situation, then you come running to me. "Lord, help me out of this mess and I promise I'll never do it again." It's amazing how the quality and intensity of your prayers improve when you are in trouble. Do you remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me? - - Well I don't think... Oh... yeah... like the time Mom's visiting teacher saw me coming out of that movie about... Oh brother... * Do you remember your prayer. I do. "Oh God. Don't let her tell my mother where I've been. I promise I'll go to nothing but "G" rated movies from now on. She didn't tell your mother, but you didn't keep your promise. Did you? - - No Lord, I didn't. I'm sorry. * So am I. Go ahead and finish your prayer. - - Wait a minute. I want to ask you a question. Do you always listen to my prayers? * Every word. Every time. - - Then how come you never talked back to me before? * How many chances have you given me? There's not enough time between your "Amens" and your head hitting the pillow for me to draw a breath. How am I supposed to give an answer? - - You could, if you really wanted to. * No. I could if you really wanted Me to. Child, I always want to. - - Father, I am sorry. Will you forgive me? * I already have. And thanks for letting me interrupt. I get lonely to talk to you sometimes. Good night. I love you. - - Good night, and I love You too. Our Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers. If you pray for something, you had better be ready to do it. If you pray for missionary work to prosper, you better be helping. Do not pray with vain repetition. If you don't mean it, don't pray it. --Author Unknown --------------------------------------------------------- Time Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.. To realize the value of ONE YEAR Ask a student who has failed his exam To realize the value of ONE MONTH Ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE DAY Ask a daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed. To realize the value of ONE HOUR Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet To realize the value of ONE MINUTE Ask a person who has missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND Ask a person who has survived an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND Ask the person who has won a silver medal in Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special...special enough to have your time...and remember time waits for no one... Author Unknown --------------------------------------------------------------- Churchill Times 2 A British family journeyed to Scotland for a summer vacation. The mother and father were looking forward to enjoying the beautiful Scottish countryside with their young son. But one day the son wandered off all by himself and got into trouble. As he walked through the woods, he came across an abandoned swimming hole, and as most boys his age do, he took off his clothes and jumped in. He was totally unprepared for what happened next. Before he had time to enjoy the pool of water, he was seized by a vicious attack of cramps. He began calling for help while fighting a losing battle with the cramps to stay afloat. Luckily, it happened that in a nearby field a farm boy was working. When he heard the frantic cries for help, he brought the English boy to safety. The father whose son had been rescued was of course very grateful. The next day, he went to meet the youth who had saved his son's life. As the two talked, the Englishman asked the brave lad what he planned to do with his future. The boy answered, "Oh I suppose I'll be a farmer like my father." The grateful father said, "Is there something else you'd rather do?" "Oh, yes!" answered the Scottish lad. "I've always wanted to be a doctor. But we are poor people and could never afford to pay for my education." "Never mind that," said the Englishman. "You shall have your heart's desire and study medicine. Make your plans, and I'll take care of the costs." So, the Scottish lad did indeed become a doctor. There is more. Some years later, in December of 1943, Winston Churchill became very ill with pneumonia while in North Africa. Word was sent to Sir Alexander Fleming, who had discovered the new wonder drug, penicillin, to come immediately. Flying in from England, Dr. Fleming administered his new drug to the ailing prime minister. In doing so, he saved Churchill's life for the second time. For it was the boy Winston Churchill whom Alexander Fleming had rescued from the swimming hole so many years before. By From The Speakers Library of Business from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk ------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair Beside the Bed A man's daughter had asked the local priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head Propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest 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 parish," the priest 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 priest 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 the Sunday Mass 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, Father, 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 off to the funny farm." The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest 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 an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, Father. In fact, beyond strange--kinda weird. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed." -------------------------------------------------------- 26 Guards A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan... While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival In the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time witnessed to him of Lord Jesus Christ. I then travel two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, "Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards." At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone out in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said "No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone." At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day that this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story: "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were--he was to busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26. **This story is an incredible example of how the spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.** -------------------------------------------------------- "Our Father" I cannot say "our" if religion has no room for others and their needs. I cannot say "Father" if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living. I cannot say "who art in heaven" if all my interests and pursuits are on earthly things. I cannot say "hallowed be thy name" if I, who am called by his name, am not holy. I cannot say "thy kingdom come" if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God. I cannot say "thy will be done" if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life. I cannot say "in earth as it is in heaven" unless I am truly ready to give myself to his service here and now. I cannot say "give us this day our daily bread" without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellowmen. I cannot say "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say "lead us not into temptation" if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted. I cannot say "deliver us from evil" if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer. I cannot say "thine is the kingdom" if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject. I cannot say "thine is the power" if I fear what my neighbors may say or do. I cannot say "thine is the glory" if I am seeking my own glory first. I cannot say "forever" if I am too anxious about each day's affairs. I cannot say "amen" unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my prayer." ---------------------------------------------------------- If Jesus Stopped By What 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 All the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best, And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there, That serving Him your own home is joy beyond compare. But, when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door With arms outstretched 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 the Bible where they'd been? Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard? And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word? Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books 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 you 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 so? Would you be glad to have Him meet your very 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? In might be interesting to know the things that you would do If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you. Lois Blanchard Eades --------------------------------------------------------- "REAL BREAD" Years ago, in a far-away land, a young man began to announce the availability of a new kind of bread. Consumers were skeptical at first, but some of them took it and found that it tasted far better than any of the other kinds on the market - and really satisfied their hunger. They were happier in themselves, and really admired the young man who was willingly giving this Bread away to anyone who wanted it - refusing to charge! This bothered some of the rich people, but the poor folk loved it. But the other bread manufacturers were angry. All this was hurting their business. Soon, the young man had followers who were traveling all over the place giving away this new Bread to anyone who wanted it. It was an instant success. Thousands of people were sold on this Bread, and formed small groups everywhere to spread it around. The other bakers tried to force the young man to charge for his Bread, but he refused. He simply said, "It didn't cost me anything - my father gave it to me." Despite their attempts, many people kept getting it. "It really satisfies - and you can't beat the price!" they kept on saying. The other bread manufacturers plotted to kill the young man. They paid a 'friend' to betray him and witnesses to testify against him falsely. They got him convicted and executed. They assumed that the whole thing would now be forgotten. But to their dismay, the young man's followers kept distributing the Bread. It really got out of hand - as if the young man wasn't dead at all. He had certainly started something that was going to be hard to stop. The other bakers came up with a clever substitute for the true Bread. It looked the same as the young man's, but it didn't satisfy. They used the same name that the young man had used, and got many of his followers to join them. But people had to buy this counterfeit bread - and so small groups of them everywhere continued to discover and distribute the true Bread for free. Thousands of them were killed for their efforts - but the young man's Bread was here to stay. Thousands of years have passed now - and his Bread is still available. it is still free, and people are still discovering it and experiencing its unique benefits. Sure - there are still those who are trying to sell counterfeits. Others are saying the Bread is not needed because people aren't really hungry. Still others say a little bit of it is O.K. - so long as you don't go overboard on it. Then there are people who worship books about the original Bread, and others who have the true Bread but won't let anyone else have it. But the young man's Bread is still available for those who really want it. And there is absolutely nothing quite like it for taking away the awful hunger that gnaws at the insides of every person on earth! "I am the bread of Life. No one coming to me will be hungry again. Those believing in me will never thirst!" (Jesus - John 6:35) ---------------------------------------------------------------- A LETTER TO YOU FROM SATAN I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like that about you I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store or you. But you have yielded your life to me and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way we'll be together twice. This will really hurt God. Thanks to you. I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life. With all of the good times we've had..... We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying, stealing, lying, hypocriting, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, backstabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the church, bad attitudes: SURELY you don't want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you...... IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST. P.S. - And if you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone. ======================================================= Russian Manger In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian department of education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls ho had been abandoned,abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an american lady was throwing away as she left russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat-he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately-until he came to the part where mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "and when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "if I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "if you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me." "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him- for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him- for always.
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