INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

PEARLS OF WISDOM

DUST IF YOU MUST

RAIN

WHERE'S THE PICCOLO?

At certain times in life we may feel insignificant and useless. Surrounded by people with greater talent than ours, we are tempted in our weak moments just to settle back and let somebody else do the work. We reason that what we have to offer won't make much difference anyway. We forget the truth suggested by our Lord's use of five loaves and two small fish to feed a multitude (John 6:1-14.)

Each of us had something important to offer in his service.

Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal in which the orchestra was joined by a great chorus. About halfway through the session, with trumpets blaring, drums rolling, and violins singing their rich melody, the piccolo player muttered to himself, "What good am i doing? I might just as well not be playing. Nobody can hear me anyway." So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but he made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, "STOP! STOP! Where's the piccolo?" It was missed by the ear of the most important person of all.

It's much the same way with the use of our abilities for the Lord. Whether our talent is great or small, the performance isn't complete until we do our best with what we have.

-RICHARD DE HAAN

The Master needs what you have to offer 

No matter if you think its small

His work on earth is done through his children

So give him your best, give your all. -HESS

In God's eyes it is a great thing

To do a little thing well.

PRAYER AND A CHAIR

A man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up or two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "guess you were expecting me," he said "No, who are you?" "Im the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up. "Oh yeah, Chai" said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled the pastor shut the door. "I've never told anyone thism not even to pray. At church 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 bestfriend 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 chari in front of you and in faith see Jesus on the chair. Its not spooky because he promised "Ill be with you always" then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now. So, I tried it and i've liked it so much that i do it a couple hours everyday. Im careful though, If my daughter saw me talking to a empty chair she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me to the funny farm. The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor 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 bed. He told me one of his corn 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, in fact beyond strange-kinda weird. Apparently just before daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed.

TEST IN PROGRESS

    Cruising along the highway, I saw a giant banner across the back of a semi-truck announcing "TEST IN PROGRESS." Switching lanes to bypass this, I was struck by this concept of preparing other drivers for possible mistakes by disclosing that the driver wasn't perfect. I wondered If i wore a T-Shirt emblazoned with "TEST IN PROGRESS" encouraging people to be understanding if i made mistakes-not just on the road but in life-would people be more patient and accepting of my flaws and imperfections?

    How significant, those three simple words: TEST IN PROGRESS. They describe the entire human race. Everyone's undergoing some kind of test in progress. We just don't broadcast it with a banner on our backside. When i reflect on various struggles with addictions, income losses, unpaid bills, eviction threats, terminal illnesses. These test, and more, are the daily reality for people we pass on the highway of life.

    While i was desiring extra grace for myself, Jesus reminded me to have a heart of compassion for others. I want to have an attitude like Jesus for people enduring personal hardship that's not proclaimed on a banner.

Cassandra Tiersma

MAY THE GOD WHO GIVES ENDURANCE AND ENCOURAGEMTENT GIVE YOU THE SAME ATTITUDE OF MIND TOWARD EACH OTHER THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. (Romans 15:5)

A pastor asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast. 

"Lord, "I hate buttermilk," the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wondered where this was going.  The farmer loudly proclaimed. "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour." The Pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, but when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen."

Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don't really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN!

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

   Our dog, Flash, had a new experience this winter: snow. This Jack Russell-Chihuahua mix seemed tentative about the snow at first. (Or maybe it was just the fact that we dressed him in a gray sweater with a pom-pom on the hood before letting him outside!) It took him all of ten seconds to plunge into the wintry wonder of our snow-covered backyard. He got up to his belly in snow and left tracks circling the entire yard. You could almost sense his pleasure at being the first to leave his mark. He was an adventurer, going where no dog had gone before.

   New Year's Day feels to me like a pristine snow-covered yard too. Fresh. Clean. Full of possibilities. It is the grand reboot, a new start. I get to plunge in and forge a new path.

   Jesus is all about reboots and fresh starts. The amazing thing is, He doesn't hold my mess-ups against me. Instead, He offers mercy and love and a truckload of forgiveness. He has a new plan for me. He wants me to follow him on a new adventure this year, one where he leads me with the light of his hope and strengthens me with his power. He intends to use my gifts, dreams and compassion to leave his mark on the world.

SUSANNA FOTH AUGHTMON

FAITH STEP: What kind of clean start do you need this year? Take a moment to own up to your mess-ups and ask Jesus to forgive you and empower you, giving you a new start as you head into the new year.

BLESSED BY TRUST

(The Fourth Day of Advent)

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you amoung women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:41-42)

Elizabeth, with child in her old age, was so deeply moved by the power of God that she could recognize Mary as the virgin mother of God. Spirit of God, fill me and all your people as we draw nearer to the celebration the holy and joyful season of Christmas. Help us to recognize your presence in the people around us, in the worship of the Church, and in the stories we hear once again of Jesus' birth. Remind us, how blessed we can be when we, too, trust that your promises will be fulfilled. May we encounter the world just as Elizabeth did, with faith and openness to your Holy Spirit.

LOVE MADE VISIBLE CHRISTMAS

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in, the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:3-5)

Lord Jesus, even death's darkness could not extinguish the light of your love for us. I do not claim to understand that love, but from time to time i can feel it. And i hope to believe it always, through the ups and downs of daily living, through the celebrations and the ordinary days, through the joys and sorrows of my life. Today, I join with your people everywhere who rejoice in the very good news of not only your birth, but your whole life and ministry, your redemptive death and resurrection. For all of this, we Thank You.

A father takes his son into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required old to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out of help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do harm to him. The wind blew the grass and removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then he discovered his father sitting on the stump sitting next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even, when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to him. If you liked this story, pass it on. If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn. Moral of the story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there. For we walk by faith, not by sight!!!

(2Corinthians 5:7)

While we are decorated for a special event at church, the woman in charge griped about my inexperience. After she walked away, another woman approached me. "Don't worry about her. She's what we cal an E.G.R.-Extra Grace Required."

I laughed. Soon I started using that label every time i had a conflict with someone. Years later, I sat in that same church sanctuary listening to that E.G.R's obituary. The pastor shared how the woman had served God behing the scenes and given generously to others. I asked God to forgive me for judging and gossiping about her and anyone else I had labeled as an E.G.R. in the past. After all, I needed extra grace as much as any other believer in Jesus.

In Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul states that all believers were "by nature deserving of wrath" (v.3). But God gave us the gift of salvation, a gift which we did nothing to deserve, a gift we'd never be able to earn "so that no one can boast" (v.9). No one.

As we submit to God moment by moment during this lifelong journey, the Holy Spirit will work to change our character so we can reflect the character of Christ. Every believer requires extra grace. But we can be grateful that Gods grace is sufficient (2Corinthians 12:9)

WHAT HAVE YOU JUDGED OTHERS FOR REQUIRING EXTRA GRACE?

IN WHAT AREAS OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU REQUIRE GRACE TODAY?

Something trying to do the thing can be exhausting. We may wonder, Do my well-intentioned words and ations make any difference at all? I wondered th"is recently when i sent a prayerfully thought-out email meant to encourage a friend, only to have it met with angry response. My immediate reaction was a mixture of hurt and anger. How could I be so misunderstood?

Before I responded out of anger, I remembered that we won't always see the results (or the results we desire) when we tell someone about how Jesus loves them. When we do good things for others hoping to draw them to him, they may spurn us. Our gentle efforts to prompt someone to right action may be ignored.

Galations 6 is a good place to turn when were discouraged by someone's response to our sincere efforts. Here the apostle Paul encourages us to consider our motives-to "test our actions"-for we what we say and do (vv. 1-4). When we have done so, he encourages us to persever: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (vv. 9-10).

God wants us to continue living for him, which includes praying for and telling others about him-"doing good." He will see to the results.

My friend was waiting to pay for her groceries when the man in front of her turned around and handed her a voucher for $14.00 off her bill. Short on sleep, she bursts into tears because of his kind act; then she started laughing at herself for crying. This unexpected kindness touched her heart and gave her hope during a period of exhaustion. She gave thanks to God for his goodness extended to her through another person.

The theme of giving was one of the apostle Paul wrote about his letter to the gentile Christians in Ephesus. He called them to leave their old lives behind and embrace the new, saying that they were saved by grace. Out of this saving have been created in God's own image and are his handiwork (Eph. 2:10). We, like the man at the supermarket, can spread God's love through are everyday actions.

Of course, we don't have to give material someone things to share Gods grace; we can show his love through many other actions. We can take the time to listen to someone when they speak to us. We can ask someone who's serving us how they're doing. We can stop to help someone in need. As we give to others; we'll receive joy in return. (Acts 20:35)

WHAT HAVE OTHERS DONE TO MEET A NEED OF YOURS RECENTLY? 

HOW CAN YOU HELP ANOTHER PERSON THIS WEEK? 

The New Testiment has alot to say about faith. Many of us may think that faith is simply believing and accepting the existence of God and that Jesus Christ is His Son. But a close study of the Scriptures will reveal that faith is much, much more. The 2nd chapter of James spends quite a bit of time explaining that faith must be coupled with good works, else, it is dead and useless. (James 2:14-26) We may want to argue that we can't "work" our way to heaven and that's absolutely true. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-5) However, when considering the message of the New Testament as a whole, we learn that we must possess a faith of action in order to be pleasing to the Lord. Let's consider the "Heroes of Faith" listed in Hebrews Chapter 11:

BY FAITH, ABEL "OFFERED" (v.4)

BY FAITH, ENOCH "PLEASED" GOD (v.5)

BY FAITH, NOAH "MOVED" AND "PREPARED" AN ARK (v.7)

BY FAITH, ABRAHAM "OBEYED" (v.8)

BY FAITH, SARAH "CONCEIVED" A SON (v.11)

BY FAITH, ISAAC "BLESSED" HIS SONS (v.20)

BY FAITH, JACOB "WORSHIPPED" LEANING ON HIS STAFF (v.21)

BY FAITH, MOSES "SUFFERED" AFFLICTION (v.24-25)

The Old Testiment heroes did not live to see the promise of Jesus Christ come to pass, but now we can look to the "author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2) and access the mercy, love, and saving grace of God through an action-packed faith. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Love is a powerful force that can move mountains, heal wounds, and transform lives. It is an attribute that defines God, who is love itself. In fact, the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This means that God’s love is not just an emotion, but an essential part of God’s character. Those who want to know God, are called to share this love with others.

the commandment to love one another

On a basic level, Christianity teaches that Jesus came to earth to show us what God’s love looks like in action. He gave His disciples this important commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). As surprising as it may be given the way many Christians behave, this commandment is not supposed to be optional. It is at the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus. And it applies not just to how we treat other Christians, but to all people, regardless of their race, religion, or social status.

the parable of the good samaritan

One of the most well-known stories Jesus told is the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this story, a man was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Two religious leaders saw him but passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews, stopped to help him. He bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. Jesus used this story to illustrate what it means to love your neighbor. It’s not enough to talk about love or to feel sorry for someone in need. Love requires action. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to get involved in people’s lives, and to meet their needs.

the fruit of the spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are not just nice qualities to have. They are the evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. And they are the qualities that enable us to love others as God loves us. When we have the fruit of the Spirit, we are patient with people who annoy us, kind to those who are unkind to us, and gentle with those who hurt us. We are able to forgive those who wrong us and to show compassion to those who are suffering. These are not easy things to do, but they are possible when we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

the greatest commandment

In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus was asked which commandment is the greatest. He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments are inseparable. We cannot claim to love God if we don’t love people, and we cannot love people if we don’t love God. When we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we are filled with God’s love, and it overflows to those around us.

how to share god’s love

So how can we share God’s love with others? Here are a few practical ways:

1. Practice kindness: Be intentional about showing kindness to others, even in simple ways.
2. Listen to others: Take the time to truly hear what someone is saying without judgment or interruption.
3. Serve others: Serving others is a tangible way to show God’s love. Look for ways to serve in your community or church, and be open to opportunities to serve those around you.
4. Pray for others: Prayer is a powerful way to show love and care for others. Take the time to pray for the needs of others and ask God to bless them.
5. Share your resources: Whether it’s your time, money, or possessions, sharing what you have with others is a way to show love and generosity.
6. Be patient and forgiving: We all make mistakes and fall short. When someone wrongs you, choose to extend forgiveness and patience. This can be a powerful way to show God’s love and grace.
7. Speak words of encouragement: Words have the power to build up or tear down. Choose to speak words of encouragement and affirmation to those around you.
8. Show hospitality: Inviting someone into your home or offering them a meal is a way to show hospitality and make them feel valued and loved.
9. Be a peacemaker: In a world full of conflict and division, be a peacemaker. Seek to reconcile relationships and promote peace and unity.

conclusion

God’s love is not meant to be hoarded or kept to ourselves. It’s meant to be shared with others. As we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we are filled with His love, and it overflows to those around us. By being intentional about showing kindness, serving others, praying for others, sharing our resources, being patient and forgiving, speaking words of encouragement, showing hospitality, and being a peacemaker, we can live out the command to love one another and make a positive impact in the world around us.

So let’s go out and share God’s love with those around us, knowing that as we do, we are reflecting the very heart of God.

MEMORIALIZING THE CIVIL WAR

Below are 10 interesting facts about Christianity & The Civil War.

1.Major rivials broke out in the Civil War armies. In the Union Army, between 100,000 and 200,000 soldiers were converted; among confederate forces, approximately 150,000 troops converted to Christ. Perhaps 10% of all Civil War soldiers experienced conversions during the conflict. 

2.Abraham Lincoln, though he knew the Bible thoroughly and spoke often of an Almighty God, was never baptized and was the only United States president never to join a church.

3.Before the Civil War, it was rare to find chaplains in American Armies. During the war, they earned a lasting place.

4.The Constitution of the Conferderate States of America specifically invoked "Almighty God"-unlike the U.S. Constitution. Further, the confederate Constitution prohibited the foreign slave trade.

5.Millions of tracts were distibuted to soldiers during the war. (Average price: $1500 for $1.) The U.S. Christian Commission alone distributed 30 million tracts, including many through a young agent named Dwight L. Moody.

6.Christian who opposed the war on religious grounds were often persecuted. The Brethren eventually were allowed to be exempted from military service, if they paid $500, but most suffered for their stance. 

7.Blacks were not allowed to serve as chaplains (or soldiers) until 1863. Altogether, 14 black chaplains served U.S. Regiments. 

8.Abraham Lincoln was the first President to  use the phrase, "This nation under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.

9.Many Civil War generals stood do committed to observing the Sabbath that it influenced their military operations. 

10.Many preachers, especially the North, felt that though the war the final glorious reign of God would begin.

No. 1: The creation story

We read in the Genesis 1:1:

1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

This statement alone should stop all of us in our tracks. It’s a statement of God’s power, sovereignty, and love for all of us.

If God created all things, it changes everything. 

It changes who we are, what we are, and why we are. 

The Bible clearly tells us that God created everything and that He is the Life-Giver and Creator. Unlike the Theory of Evolution that comes with so many uncertainties, Genesis 1:1 leaves no room for any doubt.

We don’t read, “In the beginning, God perhaps created the heavens and the earth.” It didn’t say, maybe or I think. There’s no assumption or doubt, but rather it’s a statement of fact.

The creation story is no doubt an inspiring one because of how it inspires a deeper understanding and consideration of our very existence.

Aside from all the material things that God created, He crowned His creation with the creation of mankind.

We read:

7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

This is God’s final act of creation. Of all the things He created, it was the man that He personally went down from heaven and formed with his own hands. Not only that, but He moved closer to breathe the breath of life.

This indicates the intimate and close encounter of God with us, human beings from the start. He didn’t simply speak to create, but He personally formed us from the ground and gave us life.

Indeed, this story of creation is a wonderful and inspiring story!

Story about Deborah’s faith in hard times.

[Judges 4:1-24]

Deborah was known to be a wife, judge, prophetess, and most importantly, a like Mary, Elizabeth, Naomi, and many others, she was powerful woman of Faith. She was a woman who heard from God and would carry out his instructions no matter the difficulty whether it was easy or hard.

One day she was commanded by God to instruct a man named Barak to take with him 10, 000 men to Mount Tabor. There, God would help him and the Israelites defeat the Canaanites army who had been oppressing them for years.
 
Now even though Barak had his army, he was still afraid to lead them on his own and so he begged Deborah to go with them, which she then agreed, and told them that God had already gone ahead of them. (Judges 4:14) It was because of Deborah’s faith, her zeal, and acting on God’s Word, the Israelites were led to a crushing victory.
 
Life application: It’s no doubt that we face our own version of difficulties and though we might not be going into a physical war like the Israelites, we will be faced with spiritual attacks. We just have to take God at His Word, because being fearful and drawing back will only hinder our victory, so let’s step out on faith like Deborah, and watch the enemy be defeated. And remember, the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s.

.

Dead Ducks Don't Flutter

Inspirational Christian Story on Struggling