~THE STRANGER IN OUR HOME~


~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 far-away 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 parent's 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".~

~Author Unknown~


~Verses We All Need to Hear~


"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us..." 1 John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit," 1 Peter 3:18
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13


~WHEN I SAY~


~When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I am saved!" I'm whispering "I get lost!" That is why I chose this way.~

~When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need someone to be my guide.~

~When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I am weak and pray for strength to carry on.~

~When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and cannot ever pay the debt.~

~When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are too visible but God believes I'm worth it.~

~When I say..."I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain I have my share of heartaches which is why I seek His name.~

~When I say..."I am a Christian" I do not wish to judge. I have no authority. I only know I am loved.~

~Author Unknown~


~A PURPOSE~


~We all have some kind of purpose on this earth, It's not to hurt people or tell them their worth.~

~Everyone was put here with an equal chance, Take a look around you, take a good long glance.~

~Some were meant to heal, and some to teach, Some are used to build, and some to reach.~

~You may not know your purpose just yet, God will tell you, when he knows you are set.~

~Don't rush your fate, it has already been planned. And God will always be there to lend a helping hand.~

~You will go through times that are really rough, But you will always have someone, when the going gets tough.~

~Don't judge others, for when you do, There is always someone else, judging you.~

~Think about things before they are said, Say your prayers before going off to bed.~

~Take time just to sit, and observe all things, A flower and it's petals, or a bird and it's wings.~

~For when you just look at what is around, A new aspect on life could be what you have found.~

~Live for today, live one day at a time. Live for yourself, and for God, that's no crime.~

~For when you do all these things to make your life great, You will find your own way to the pearly white gate.~

 
~Author Claire Allison~


~GOD WILL SAVE ME~


~There was a man whose farm was located on the banks of a flood-swollen river.  As the water rose, a neighbor drove up in a Jeep, urging him to leave before the farm was flooded.~

~"Oh, no," said the man confidently, "God will save me."~

~The water rose higher, and the man was forced to move into the second story of the farmhouse.  A police boat soon came, and the officers called for the man to hurry and get into their boat.~

~"Oh, no, that won't be necessary," the man insisted.  "God will save me."~

~Finally the house was completely engulfed in water, and a Coast Guard helicopter swooped in to rescue the man, now perched on the roof.  Again he refused.  Just then, a huge wave of water swept over the house, and the man drowned.~

~When he got to heaven, he stormed at the Lord, asking why God had let him die when his faith had been so strong.~

~"What do you mean?" asked the heavenly Father.  "I sent a Jeep, a boat, and a helicopter and you wouldn't budge!"~

~Author Unknown~


~PASSING ON BLESSINGS~


~Let's pray...Dear Lord I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for I have sinned. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Keep me safe from all danger and harm.~

~Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Help me make the best of each and every day and give my best in all that is put before me. Clear my mind so I can hear from You. Broaden my mind so that I can accept all things. Help me not to whine and whimper over things I have no control over.~

~Help me to continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, help me repent, and confess my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.~

~And when this old world closes in on me, help me remember Jesus' example. Slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Thy Will.~

~Continue to bless me so I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted so I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who refuse to share a word from You.~

~I pray for those who will read this and not use it in their lives. I pray for those who will ignore this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I believe and believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. This is my prayer I pray in Jesus' name.~

~Amen.~
~Author Unknown~


~BRICK OF LIFE~


~About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he   saw something but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag'shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against   a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are   you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"~

~"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" Pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.~

~It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE-a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention... Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life coming at you. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers.~

         ~You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)~

               ~You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)~

~You say: "Nobody really loves me"        God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)~

         ~You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)~

         ~You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)~

         ~You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)~

~You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)~

  ~You say: "It's not worth it"        God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)~

  ~You say: "I can't forgive myself"          God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)~

~You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)~

         ~You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)~

         ~You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"   God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)~

         ~You say: "I don't have enough faith"         God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)~

  ~You say: "I'm not smart enough"          God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)~

         ~You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) ~


~LOOK UP~


~When your heart is bruised & bleeding from the blow of an unkind hand Look up & tell the Master He's the one who'll understand When your life is crushed & broken and your pleas have gone astray Look up and tell the Master 'Ere you stumble on your way When your hopes & your ambitions Lie in shambles at your side Look up and tell the Master His grace will still abide When all your friends have left you and you stand alone it seems Look up & tell the Master He will mend your shattered dreams And then when death comes knocking and your work on earth is done Look up & greet the Master Hear his whispered "child.well done"~


~EXTRA PRAYER~


~When the world falls down around you And a prayer will see you through, Say an extra prayer for someone Who may need it more than you. For who knows what hearts are breaking In the silence of the night? Just that extra prayer you whisper May help someone see the light! Every time you help a stranger With an extra prayer - or two - You are building secret blessings That will all come back to you!~


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~WIND BENEATH MY WINGS~