Something I came across

[P_G]

This is not my work but I enjoyed it
I hope you do too

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in
traffic last night, is a single mother who worked nine hours that
day & is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry & spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested
young man who can't make change correctly, is a worried 19-year-old
college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in
the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave
to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow
through the store aisles & blocking our shopping progress, are
savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report
she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those
we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive,
show patience, empathy and love.

 

[Jessica Lauren]

Aw that's very nice thank you for sharing!

 

[Iollain]

Amen

 

[the Colonel]

Nice and sappy, but it probably goes more like this:

" . . . the jerk who cut us off . . ." is a self-absorbed type A personality who doesn't even realize he's doing anything anti-social.

" . . . the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly" desires to be anti-establishment just so he can feel he's being different and his own person, shunning education, and not caring how enjoyable your meal is.

" . . . the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!)" has had several street ministries talk with him, invite him to church, and offer help --all of which he's refused. He's happy with the way things are because he likes not paying taxes, paying for food, and having the responsibility of a job.

Ok, ok, I'm being a bit harsh! You're right. We should ask God that we can have enough love in our hearts so we may have compassion on such people.

I just thought I'd provide some balance to your sappy story becuase most of us can feel at least somewhat sorry for the people you present. It's the people such as I have exemplified who are the toughest to love!

 

[newlite]

i think that killed it...

 

[Gold Dragon]

Ok, ok, I'm being a bit harsh! You're right. We should ask God that we can have enough love in our hearts so we may have compassion on such people.

I just thought I'd provide some balance to your sappy story becuase most of us can feel at least somewhat sorry for the people you present. It's the people such as I have exemplified who are the toughest to love!

Excellent point, the Colonel. Loving the unloveable is much harder than loving the sometimes loveable and I think Christ calls us to love both.

 

[P_G]

Nice and sappy, but it probably goes more like this:

" . . . the jerk who cut us off . . ." is a self-absorbed type A personality who doesn't even realize he's doing anything anti-social.

" . . . the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly" desires to be anti-establishment just so he can feel he's being different and his own person, shunning education, and not caring how enjoyable your meal is.

" . . . the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!)" has had several street ministries talk with him, invite him to church, and offer help --all of which he's refused. He's happy with the way things are because he likes not paying taxes, paying for food, and having the responsibility of a job.

Ok, ok, I'm being a bit harsh! You're right. We should ask God that we can have enough love in our hearts so we may have compassion on such people.

I just thought I'd provide some balance to your sappy story becuase most of us can feel at least somewhat sorry for the people you present. It's the people such as I have exemplified who are the toughest to love!

I am ever so sorry you found this piece "sappy"
Since I have been in part all of these people in one way or another I guess
I feel more than a bit of empathy.

But to those whom have been forgiven much, so shall they forgive greatly.

You see a Type A personality who is anti social - I see a person who is some ones dad or son who needs my prayers on the road that they will get home safe not my judgement.

You see someone who is anti establishment - I people being paid so little that they cant possibly be part of the establishment. I invite them to church and offer to pick them up. And let them know that my best freind was pierced - For my transgressions.

You see some one who is lazy and not wanting to pay taxes - Me well I see my self in the days I was still gripped with alcoholism and drug addiction, and yes I laughed at all those do-gooders from the churches. I took their charity and thought them fools. But when the night was darkest in my life all of their words came to me in a flood and there I accepted Y'shua. And his love lifted me, and only his power could have relieved my alcoholism and drug addiction. Much too much for me.

I see you didn't pick on the old folks thats good cause just 2 months ago that was me and miss Bonnie. Just before the brain surgery and the heart attack. I know what it means now to savor each moment.

So now it's my story not a made up one
And through it all there was just one thing that really kept me from
accepting the L-rd. Christians that were mean and looked at me like the garbage
that I was. Don't come any closer cause we don't want your kind around here. Don't come to our church looking like that. Stay away dirtbag!

I pray each day that the L-rd take me home before I get good enough to say or think those things of any man. And if I ever look down on my fellow man may it be that it was becuse I was reaching down to help him up.


Blessings

Pastor George

 

[Glorified]

Very nice Pastor George, very nicely said.

Sorry now I have to add. I once was on the path to early retirement from the earth that I live due to drugs.

I was on crack cocaine, I stole money from my grandmother to get this stuff, I would joke with my friends about not living past 30. That was such a joke then.

I moved up north homeless and distraught taking on another habit so I could let the crack go, that would be alcohol. I lived in a mission for about a year seeking God for guidance only to get it from him and turn around and mess that up.

I am now happily married with 4 beautiful children. My point is, you have no idea who you're running across or what kind of life they've led to put them in the situation they're in.

Trust me there's a lot more to this but I dont' want to bore you guys to death. I've been told that I should tell my story to ohers that have or are about to travel down the same path. Something else to pray about I guess.

 

[the Colonel]

Well, then, perhaps we have come to the same conclusion, for I said: "We should ask God that we can have enough love in our hearts so we may have compassion on such people." I wasn't saying that we are justified in our anger/scoffing at these people. Wat I was saying is that not all people who "wrong" us have such nice, little excuses for their behavior such as you have presented. Many are the way the are just because they can --and like it! It is those people that I suggested as a balancing perspective to what you presented as the type of people we may find even more difficult to have compassion on. Then, I ask that God may give us even a portion of His love so that we may see them as He does.

 

[P_G]

Very nice Pastor George, very nicely said.

Sorry now I have to add. I once was on the path to early retirement from the earth that I live due to drugs.

I was on crack cocaine, I stole money from my grandmother to get this stuff, I would joke with my friends about not living past 30. That was such a joke then.

I moved up north homeless and distraught taking on another habit so I could let the crack go, that would be alcohol. I lived in a mission for about a year seeking God for guidance only to get it from him and turn around and mess that up.

I am now happily married with 4 beautiful children. My point is, you have no idea who you're running across or what kind of life they've led to put them in the situation they're in.

Trust me there's a lot more to this but I dont' want to bore you guys to death. I've been told that I should tell my story to ohers that have or are about to travel down the same path. Something else to pray about I guess.

What a cute little boy!
What is his name?

PG

 

[Glorified]

Thank you very much, his name is Timothy. Dont' let that cute little face fool you though.

 

[P_G]

Thank you very much, his name is Timothy. Dont' let that cute little face fool you though.

Oh he doesn't fool me a bit
I am sure that Timothy has the unique ability to be in at least
3 places at once and none of them are where he is supposed to be

Reminds me a bit of my grandson who I always remind
"Your a tough case Tyler"

His brothers name is Timmothy btw


PG