You Make a Difference (Blue Ribbon)
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high
school by telling them the difference they each made. Using a process
developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student
to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told them how the
student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each
of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, "Who I
Am Makes a Difference."
Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of
impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the
students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread
this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results,
see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby
company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave
him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra
ribbons, and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd
like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then
give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to
keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and
tell me what happened."
Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss
down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative
genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if
he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him
permisson to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure."
The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his
boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he
said, "Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass
it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the
ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition
ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He
said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office
and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave
me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a
creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says 'Who I Am Makes A
Difference' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. "My days are really hectic and when I come
home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for
not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess,
but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know
that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most
important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop
crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through
his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I
didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to." -Helice Bridges
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True Story of Courage and Love (Wings)
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977,
I saw a water puddle ahead on the path.
I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path
that wasn't covered by water and mud.
As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet I did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable
and from a source so totally unexpected.
I was startled as well as unhurt,
despite having been struck four or five times already.
I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me.
Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air
on graceful butterfly wings in front of me.
Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing,
but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing.
After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward.
My attacker rushed me again.
He rammed me in the chest with his head and body,
striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail.
For a second time, I retreated a step...
while my attacker relented in his attack.
Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again.
I was rammed in the chest over and over again.
I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time.
After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly.
This time, though, I stepped back several paces
to look the situation over.
My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground.
That's when I discovered why my attacker
was charging me only moments earlier.
He had a mate and she was dying.
She was beside the puddle where he landed.
Sitting close beside her,
he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her.
I could only admire the love and courage
of that butterfly in his concern for his mate.
He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake,
even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.
He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life,
should I have been careless enough to step on her.
Now I knew why and what he was fighting for.
There was really only one option left for me.
I carefully made my way around the puddle
to the other side of the path,
though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger
and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it.
I couldn't do anything other than reward him
by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle.
He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.
I left them in peace for those last few moments,
cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.
Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly
whenever I see huge obstacles facing me.
I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration
and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
--Author Unknown
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The Stranger
"A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our
small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this
enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family.
The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the
world a few months later. As I grew up I never questioned his place in our
family. In my young mind, each member had a special niche. My brother,
Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave
me an opportunity to play 'big brother' and develop the art of teasing. My
parents were complementary instructors -Mom taught me to love the word of
God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He
could weave the most fascinating tales.
Adventures, mysteries and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold
our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening. If I wanted to know
about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the
past, understood the present, and seemingly could predict the future. The
pictures he could draw were so life like that I: would often laugh or cry
as I watched.
He was like a friend to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill and me to our first
major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the movies
and he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars.
My brother and I were deeply impressed by John Wayne in particular. The
stranger was an incessant talker Dad didn't seem to mind-but sometimes Mom
would quietly get up- while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his
stories of faraway places- go to her room, read her Bible and pray.
I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave. You see, my
dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions. But this stranger
never felt obligation to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not
allowed in our house-not from us, from our friends, or adults.
Our longtime visitor, however, used occasional four letter words that
burned my ears and made Dad squirm. To my knowledge the stranger was never
confronted. My dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in his home
not even for cooking. But the stranger felt like we needed exposure and
enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer and other
alcoholic beverages often. He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and
pipes distinguished.
He talked freely (probably much too freely) about sex. His comments were
sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I
know now that my early concepts of the man - woman relationship were
influenced by the stranger. As I look back, I believe it was the grace of God
that the stranger did not influence us more.
Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom
rebuked and never asked to leave. More than thirty years have passed since
the stranger moved in with the young family on Parkside Avenue. He is not
nearly so intriguing to my Dad as he was in those early years. But if I
were to walk into my parents' den today, you would still see him sitting
over in a corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him
draw his pictures.
His name? We always just called him TV."
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PUSHING AGAINST THE ROCK
There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his
room was filled with light and the savior appeared. The Lord told the man
he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his
cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with
all his might. The man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set
squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing
with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn
out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the
man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture
placing thoughts into the man's mind such as; "You have been pushing
against that rock for a long time and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself
over this? You are never going to move it? etc.." Thus, giving the man
the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.
These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. "Why kill
myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the
minimum of effort and that will be good enough." And that he planned to do
until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his
troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord" he said, "I have labored long and
hard in your service, putting all of my strength to do that which you have
asked. Yet, after all of this time, I have not even budged that rock a
half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when long ago I
asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to
push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never
once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to
push. And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have
failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and
muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant
pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition
you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to
have. Yet you haven't moved to the rock. But your calling was to be
obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom.
This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."
by Bob Mayes
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HIS NAME IS JOHN
His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it,
jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four
years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very
bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very
conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students,
but are not sure how to go about it. One day John decides to go there.
He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The
service has already started and so John starts down the aisle looking for
a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now
people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John
gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes
there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although
perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had
never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really
uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the
minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is
slowly making his way toward John. Now the deacon is in his eighties,
has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly
man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and
as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves,
"You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man
of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the
floor?" It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church
is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes
are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people
are thinking, "The minister can't even preach the sermon until the
deacon does what he has to do." And now they see this elderly man drop
his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits
down next to John and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone
chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What
I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen,
you will never forget." Author unknown
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TV or BIBLE
On the table side by side, A Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn but cherished with pride, (Not the Bible, but the TV guide)
One is used daily to help folks decide, No! It isn't the Bible; it's the TV guide.
As pages are turned, what shall they see? What does it matter, turn on the TV.
So they open the book in which they confide (Not the Bible, it's the TV guide).
The Word of God is seldom read, Maybe a verse before they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be, Not from the Bible, but watching TV.
So, then back to the table, side by side, Is the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word; The plan for salvation is seldom heard.
Forgiveness of sin so full and free Is found in the Bible, not on TV!!
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The Devil's Beatitudes
Blessed are they who are too tired and too busy to go to church on Sunday,
for they are my best workers.
Blessed are they who gossip, for they cause strife and divisions that please me.
Blessed are they who are easily offended, for they soon get angry and quit.
Blessed are they who do not give their offerings to carry on God's work for they
are my best helpers.
Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister, for he
shall be with me forever.
Blessed are the trouble makers, for they shall be called children of the devil.
Blessed is he who has no time to pray, for he will be easy prey.
-- Douglas Parsons, Pulpit Helps.
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Sheep's Leg
A lady visiting the Holy Land came upon a sheepfold located high on a hilltop.
Her attention was drawn to one poor sheep lying by the side of the road bleating in
pain. Looking more closely, she discovered that its leg was injured. She asked the
shepherd how it happened. "I had to break it myself," he answered sadly. "It was the
only way I could keep that wayward creature from straying into unsafe places. From
past experience I have found that a sheep will follow me once I have nursed it back
to health. Because of the loving relationship that will be established as I care for
her, in the future she will come instantly at my beck and call."
The woman replied thoughtfully, "Sometimes we poor human sheep also want our
stubborn ways and as a result stray into dangerous paths until the Good Shepherd
sends sorrow and pain to arrest us. Coming then into a sweeter and closer communion
with our Savior, we at last are conditioned to hear His voice and follow His leading."
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Emergency Phone Numbers
When in sorrow, call John 14.
When people fail you, call Psalm 27.
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.
When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Cor. 13.
For Paul's secret to happiness, call Col. 3:12-17.
For idea of Christianity, call 1 Cor. 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31-39.
When you want peace and rest, call Matt. 11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8:1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, call Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1.
How to get along with fellowmen, call Romans 12.
When you think of investments/returns, call Mark 10.
If you are depressed, call Psalm 27.
If your pocketbook is empty, call Psalm 37.
If your loosing confidence in people, call 1 Cor. 13.
If people seem unkind, call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small, and yourself great, call Psalm19.
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Our Thinking vs. God's Promises
"It's impossible."
All things are possible. (Lk. 18:27)
"I'm too tired."
I will give you rest. (Mt. 11:28-30)
"Nobody really loves me."
I love you. (Jn 3:16)
"I can't go on."
My grace is sufficient. (II Cor. 12:19)
"I can't figure things out."
I will direct your steps. (Prov. 20:24)
"I can't do it."
You can do all things in Christ. (Phil 4:13)
"I'm not able."
I am able. (II Cor. 9:8)
"It's not worth it."
It will be worth it. (Rom. 8:28)
"I can't forgive myself."
I forgive you. (I Jn. 1:9 & Rom. 8:1)
"I can't manage."
I will supply all your need. (Phil. 4:19)
"I'm afraid."
I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Tim. 1:7)
"I'm always worried and frustrated."
Cast all your cares on Me. (I Pet. 5:7)
"I don't have enough faith."
I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Rom. 12:8)
"I'm not smart enough."
I give you wisdom. (I Cor. 1:30)
"I feel all alone."
I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)
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The Lord's Baseball
Bob was caught up in the spirit where he and the Lord stood by to observe
a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's
team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom
of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter
stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first
pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was
named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the
first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly
Wisdom does not swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches
and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at Satan's
throws. The bases were loaded.
The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His
star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said he sure did not
look like much! Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace.
Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.
To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air, let
very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his
glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it
continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.
The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom
could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did
not now why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won
the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and
wisdom will get you on base, but only My grace can get you home. My
grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop."
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Satan's Diversions
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his
evil angels, he said, "We can't keep the Christians from Going to church.
We can't keep then from reading their Bibles & knowing the truth. We
can't even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something
else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience in
Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles,
but steal their time, so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ.
This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of
their Savior & maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?", shouted his angels.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life & invent unnumbered
schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then, borrow, borrow, borrow.
Convince the wives to go to work & the husbands to work 6 or 7 days
a week, 10-12 hrs. a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep
them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments,
soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work."
"Overstimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small
voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever
they drive, to keep the TV, the VCR, & their CD's going constantly
in their homes. And see to it that every store & restaurant in the
world plays music constantly. This will jam their minds & break that
union with Christ."
"Fill their coffee tables with magazines & newspapers. Pound their minds
with the news 24 hrs. a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards.
Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order
catalogues, & every kind of newsletter & promotional offering,
free products, services, & false hopes."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return
from their recreation exhausted, disquieted & unprepared for
the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature. Send them
to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts & movies instead.
And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip
& small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences &
unsettled emotion."
"Let them be involved in soul-winning. But crowd their lives with so
many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ.
Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health
& family unity for the good of the cause."
It was quite a convention in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly
to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy,
busy & rush here & there.
Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.
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SLOGANS & GOD
GOD IS LIKE COCA-COLA
HE'S THE REAL THING.
GOD IS LIKE PAN AM
HE MAKES THE GOING GREAT.
GOD IS LIKE GENERAL ELECTRIC
HE LIGHTS YOUR PATH.
GOD IS LIKE BAYER ASPIRIN
HE WORKS WONDERS.
GOD IS LIKE HALLMARK CARDS
HE CARED ENOUGH TO SEND THE VERY BEST.
GOD IS LIKE TIDE
HE GETS THE STAINS OUT THAT OTHERS LEAVE BEHIND.
GOD IS LIKE VO HAIR SPRAY
HE HOLDS THROUGH ALL KINDS OF WEATHER.
GOD IS LIKE DIAL SOAP
AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU KNOW HIM?
DON'T YOU WISH EVERYBODY DID?
GOD IS LIKE SEARS
HE HAS EVERYTHING.
GOD IS LIKE ALKA SELTZER
OH WHAT A RELIEF HE IS.
GOD IS LIKE SCOTCH TAPE
YOU CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT YOU KNOW HE'S THERE.
GOD IS LIKE MCDONALD'S
HE'LL DO IT ALL FOR YOU.
GOD IS LIKE THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT HIM.
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The Gold Box
Some time ago a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for
wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became
infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put it under
their Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next
morning and said, "This is for you daddy." He was embarrassed by his
earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that
the box was empty.
He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a
present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?"
The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh
daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you Daddy."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and
again begged her forgiveness.
My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years.
Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and
remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold
container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our
children. No more precious possession could anyone hold...
Author unknown.
