Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Butterfly Kisses

We often learn the most from our children. 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 under the 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 he 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. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.
Meditation: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” – Mark 10:15
You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Monday, April 30, 2018

The Most Beautiful Flower


The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown
For the world was intent on dragging me down

And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, “Look what I found”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight
With its petals all worn – not enough rain, or too little light
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play
I faked a small smile and then shifted away

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose
And declared with overacted surprise
“It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too”
“That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you”

The weed before me was dying or dead
Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave
So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand
He held it mid-air without reason or plan
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one
“You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play
Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree
How did he know of my self-indulged plight
Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me
And for all of those times I myself had been blind
I vowed to see the beauty in life
And appreciate every second that’s mine

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy
Another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man

Meditation: I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13

Friday, April 27, 2018

Indicators of Matured Christians

Author Unknown
✅ They speak the truth at all times
✅ They are good listeners
✅ They hardly take offense
✅ They are quick to forgive
✅ They are reliable
✅ They are supportive
✅ They have an appetite for prayer and fasting
✅ They rely on the Word of God
✅ The more God lifts them up, the more they become humble
✅ They hardly defend themselves
✅ They are quick to repent
✅ They seek peace and pursue it
✅ They love people and they are compassionate
✅ They know when to talk and when to be quiet
✅ They are full of wisdom in many aspects of life
✅ They respect people and are very sensitive to people’s feelings
✅ They have a lot of patience and they are not short-tempered
✅ They fear God
✅ They give honour where it is due
✅ They are content with what they have
✅ They have good leadership skills
✅ They are hospitable
✅ They are not carried away by all kinds of teachings
✅ They are good followers
✅ They have a sacrificial spirit
✅ They don’t gossip and look down on people
✅ They have faith
✅ They take part in church activities and attend church regularly
✅ They are clean in every aspect of life
✅ Their spirits are sensitive, they hate sin
✅ They don’t act holier than others
✅ They don’t compete with others
Meditation: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.– Ephesians 2:8
You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Open the Rose

Author Unknown
A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do. he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.
The young preacher looked at the older preacher in disbelief, trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact…It wasn’t long before he realized how it was impossible to do so.
Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to tell the following poem…
It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.
Meditation: O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. – Jeremiah 10:23
You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Can You Sleep while the Storm Blows?

– Author Unknown
Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic, as they dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. ‘Are you a good farm hand?’ the farmer asked him. ‘Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,’ answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, ‘Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!’
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, ‘No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.’
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
When you are prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the Wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.
Meditation: Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.
– Psalm 46:2-3
You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Where “U” Are Needed

“U” are needed in Bible ST_DY, but not in IGNORANCE.
“U” are needed in S_PPORT, but not in NEGLECT.
“U” are needed in _NITY, but not in DIVISION.
“U” are needed in D_TY, but not in IRRESPONSIBILITY.
“U” are needed in B_ILDING, but not in TEARING DOWN.
“U” are needed in CH__RCH!!
— Author Unknown
Meditation: Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. – Hebrews 4:1
You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Monday, April 23, 2018

True Love

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m., when an elderly man in his 80’s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goosebumps on my arm, and thought, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”
True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
— Author Unknown
Meditation: Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. – 1 Corinthians 13:8 (Revised Standard Version)
You will succeed in Jesus Name!