Noak's Ark (Back
to Stories)
Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark:
One: Don't miss the boat.
Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the
Ark.
Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to
do something really big. Five: Don't listen to critics; just get
on with the job that needs to be done.
Six: Build your future on high ground.
Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board
with the cheetahs.
Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by
professionals.
Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's
always a rainbow waiting. |
Awesome is He (Back
to Stories)
Poor eyes limit your sight. Poor vision limits your
deeds
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all
times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought
life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand him, The armies can't defeat Him, The
schools can't explain Him, and The leaders can't ignore Him. Herod
couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The
people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't
silence Him, The New Age can't replace Him, and Donahue can't
explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right, His word is eternal, His will is unchanging,
and His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my guide, and He is my
peace! He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord, and He rules
my life!
I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His
goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, The power of
the powerful, The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, The leader
of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and The sovereign Lord
of all that was and is and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size. His goal
is a relationship with ME! He will never leave me, Never forsake
me, Never mislead me, Never forget me, Never overlook me, and Ever
cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am
weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When
I am broken, He mends me! When I am blind, He leads me! When I am
hungry, He feeds me! When I face trials, He is with me! When I
face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts
me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face Death, He
carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody, everywhere, Every time, and every
way. He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world. So, if
you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this... He said
it and that settles it. God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
God doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called! |
Carrot, Eggs & Coffee Beans (Back
to Stories)
A certain daughter complained
to her father about her life and how things have been so hard for
her. She did not know how she was going to make it and she wanted
to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It
seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.
Her
father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with
water and placed the fire on high. Soon the three pots came
to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed
eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let
them sit and boil, without saying a word. The daughter
sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered what he was trying to
do. She had problems, and he was making this strange
concoction.
In half an hour he walked over to the oven and turned
down the fire. He pulled the carrots out and placed
them in the bowl . He pulled the eggs out and placed them in
the bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a
bowl. Turning to her he asked. "Darling what do you
see." Smartly, she replied . "Carrots, eggs, and
coffee." He brought her closer and asked her to feel
the carrots . She did and noted that they were soft .
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off
the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally he
asked her to sip the coffee . Her face frowned from the strength
of the coffee. Humbly, she asked. "What does it mean
Father." He explained . Each of them faced the
same adversity, 212 degrees of boiling water. However each
reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and
unrelenting . But after going through boiling water, it softened
and became weak. The egg was fragile . A thin outer
shell protected a liquid center. But after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The coffee
beans are unique however . After they were in the boiling water,
it became stronger and richer. Which are you, he asked his
daughter. When adversity knocks on your door, how do you
respond . Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean ? Are
you the carrot that seems hard, but with the smallest amount of
pain, adversity, heat you wilt and become soft with no
strength. Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable
heart . A fluid spirit. But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a
layoff you became hardened and stiff . Your shell looks the
same, but you are so bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and
heart, internally. Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean
does not get its peak flavor and robust until it reaches 212
degrees Fahrenheit . When the water gets the hottest, it
just tastes better.
When things are their worst, you get
better. When people talk the most, your praises increase.
When the hour is the darkest, trials are there greatest, your
worship elevates to another level. How do you handle
adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean
? II Corinthians 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. |
Lunch with God (Back
to Stories)
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a
long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with
Twinkies and a six-pack of Root beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was
sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down
next to her and opened his suitcase.
He was about to take a drink
from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked
hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it
and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to
see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at
him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating
and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy
realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he
had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the
old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile
ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time
later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.
She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so
happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But
before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what?
She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her
home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he
asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so
happy?" She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with
God." However, before her son responded, she added," You
know, he's much younger than I expected".
Too often we
underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of
caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
Embrace all equally! Send this to people who have touched your
life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. Have
lunch with God. |
Donuts (Back
to Stories)
There was a boy named Steve who was attending school in Utah.
Brother Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an
open-door policy and would take in any student that had been
thrown out of another class, as long as they would abide by his
rules.
Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher
wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's class. Steve
was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds
before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the
room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was
over.
One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so
he could talk with him.
After class, Brother Christianson pulled Steve aside and said,
"You think you're pretty tough, don't you?" Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."
Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many pushups can you
do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night.""200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson
said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know. I've never done 300 at a
time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Brother
Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets
of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me if
you can do it," Brother Christianson said.
Steve said, "Well...I think I can...yeah, I can do it."
Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on
Friday."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of
the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a
big box of donuts.
Now, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra
fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone
was pretty excited - it was Friday, the last class of the day, and
they were going to get an early start on the weekend.
Brother Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and
asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Brother Christianson turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would
you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do
a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.
Brother Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Brother
Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked,
"Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes."
Brother Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups
so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups. Joe got a
donut.
And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for
every person before they got their donut. And down the second
aisle, till Brother Christianson came to Scott.Scott was captain of the football team and center of the
basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female
companionship. When Brother Christianson asked, "Scott, do
you want a donut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my
own pushups?"
Brother Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Brother Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve,
would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't
want?"
Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said
didn't want one!"
Brother Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my
class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you
don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just
stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort
to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little
perspiration coming out around his brow.
Brother Christianson started down the third row. Now the students
were beginning to get a little angry.
Brother Christianson asked Jenny, "Do you want a donut?"
Jenny said, "No."
Then Brother Christianson asked Steve, "Would you do ten
pushups so Jenny can have a donut she doesn't want?" Steve
did ten. Jenny got a donut. By now, the students were beginning to
say, "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the
desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort
to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a
small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face. His arms and
brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort
involved.
Brother Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he
did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of
Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts.
So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Brother Christianson
started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some
students had wandered in and sat on the heaters along the sides of
the room. When Brother Christianson realized this, he did a quick
count and saw thirty-four students in the room. He started to
worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Brother Christianson went on to the next person and the next and
the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a
rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Brother Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose
touch on each one?"
Brother Christianson thought for a moment. "Well, they're
your pushups. You can do them any way that you want." And
Brother Christianson went on. A few moments later, Jason came to
the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled,
"NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and
said, "No, let him come."
Brother Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes
in you will have to do ten pushups for him."
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."
Brother Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's
out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
"Yes."
"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a
donut?"
Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort.
Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Brother Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on
those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with
each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of
gravity. Sweat was dropping off his face and, by this time, there
was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very
popular. Brother Christianson went to Linda, the second to last,
and asked, "Linda, do you want a donut?" Linda said,
very sadly, "No, thank you."
Brother Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten
pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for
Linda.
Then Brother Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan.
"Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears flowing
down her face, asked, "Brother Christianson, can I help
him?"
Brother Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he
has to do it alone. Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can
have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the
understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of
him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled underneath him and
he fell to the floor.
Brother Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it
was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, pled to the Father, 'Into Thy
hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had
done everything that was required of Him, He collapsed on the
cross and died. And, like some of those in this room, many of us
leave the gift on the desk, uneaten!" |
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Quotes
& Proverbs 
