The Ragman

[FineLinen]

Zina, my young friend, I will be pleased to hold you up before our Glorious Lord. In all you do, in all you are, in all you become, may your life honour and magnify Him! Our Lord makes all things work together for a pattern of good as we love Him. Did you enjoy the story of Gilbert?.... I did!

Be Still With God by: Nancy B. Gibbs

All day long I had been very busy; picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing floors. My grown children were coming home for the weekend. I went grocery shopping and prepared for a barbecue supper, complete with ribs and chicken. I wanted everything to be perfect.

Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was dog-tired. I simply couldn't work as long as I could when I was younger. "I've got to rest for a minute," I told my husband, Roy, as I collapsed into my favorite rocking chair. Music was playing, my dog and cat were chasing each other and the telephone rang.

"Be still and know that I am God."

A scripture from Psalm 46 popped into my mind. "Be still, and know that I am God." I realized that I hadn't spent much time in prayer that day. Was I too busy to even utter a simple word of thanks to God? Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there, I thought. I longed for a few minutes alone with God.

Roy and I had invested a great deal of time and work in the patio that spring. The flowers and hanging baskets were breathtaking. It was definitely a heavenly place of rest and tranquility. If I can't be still with God in that environment, I can't be still with Him anywhere, I thought. While Roy was talking on the telephone, I slipped out the backdoor and sat down on my favorite patio chair. I closed my eyes and began to pray, counting my many blessings.

A Bird

A bird flew by me, chirping and singing. It interrupted my thoughts. It landed on the bird feeder and began eating dinner as I watched. After a few minutes it flew away, singing another song.

A Gust Of Wind

I closed my eyes again. A gust of wind blew, which caused my wind chimes to dance. They made a joyful sound, but again I lost my concentration on God. I squirmed and wiggled in my chair. I looked up toward the blue sky and saw the clouds moving slowly toward the horizon. The wind died down. My wind chimes finally became quiet.

A Neighbor

Again, I bowed in prayer. "Honk, honk," I heard. I almost jumped out of my skin. A neighbor was driving down the street. He waved at me and smiled. I waved back, happy that he cared. I quickly tried once again to settle down, repeating the familiar verse in my mind. Be still and know that I am God.

"I'm trying God. I really am," I whispered. "But you've got to help me here."

I love you!

The backdoor opened. My husband walked outside. "I love you," he said. "I was wondering where you were." I chuckled, as he came over and kissed me, then turned around and went back inside.

"Where's the quiet time?" I asked God. My heart fluttered. There was no pain, only a beat that interrupted me yet again. This is impossible, I thought. There's no time to be still and to know that God is with me. There's too much going on in the world and entirely too much activity all around me.

The Dawning Of His Person

Then it suddenly dawned on me. God was speaking to me the entire time I was attempting to be still. I remembered the music playing as I'd begun my quiet time. He sent a sparrow to lighten my life with song. He sent a gentle breeze. He sent a neighbor to let me know that I had a friend. He sent my sweetheart to offer sincere sentiments of love. He caused my heart to flutter to remind me of life. While I was trying to count my blessings, God was busy multiplying them.

I laughed to realize that the "interruptions" of my quiet time with God were special blessings He'd sent to show me He was with me the entire time.

 

 

[FineLinen]

The Butterfly

A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force
its body through the little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had
gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. Then the man decided to
help the butterfly.

Making The Way Easy

He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily.

Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled
wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

The Ways Of The Eternal One

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get
through the small opening of the cocoon are God's way of forcing fluid
from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready
for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.

If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that
would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

Not only that, we could never fly.

 

[FineLinen]

The Untouchables

Bible Society estimates reveal that up to 20 percent of the people of India are considered "untouchable" from birth. At the bottom of the caste system, the untouchables are segregated from higher castes - living in poverty, without land or opportunity for better employment.

According to a local custom, if they walk through a section of the local village, they must tie a piece of heavy cloth or a tree branch behind them to wipe out their very footprints. No one is allowed to touch them, and in some regions, even their shadows are forbidden to fall on the landowner who hires them to work in the field.

It is not uncommon for an untouchable girl to start working by the age of four helping her mother, for example, clean out the sewer pits of the higher castes. By the age of 12 or 13 she will marry another untouchable who is also without opportunities or hope.

He Touches The Untouchables!

One day a village church received a New Testament cassette and joined the Faith Comes By Hearing program. Scriptures were heard across the whole village through loud speakers outside the church. The untouchables listened to God's Word in Telugu, their own language, for the first time. They heard about Jesus Christ as the only God and about Him touching the untouchables.

"How can that be true?" and "How can there be only one God when we have three million gods?" they asked the pastor in amazement. He invited them to church and twenty of them began to attend.

After months of listening, discussing and arguing, all twenty untouchables believed that Jesus was the true God come in the flesh and their Savior. The Hindus have always kept at arm's length the 'untouchables'. But, a casteless person who comes to Christ sees himself in a new way. He straightens his back, gaining self-confidence, self-respect and a zest for life. Why shouldn't he? Jesus loves him! Hearing the Word of God in Telugu has brought hope and peace to the illiterate and hopeless. The Bible speaks of God's love for everyone - even the untouchables. American Bible Society donor partners recognize that God created individuals in His image and that no one is an untouchable. All can benefit from God's Word. Thank you for providing Bibles so that all may know God's message of hope and love.

"I waited patiently for the LORD's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure." Psalm 40.1,2 (GNT)

www.AmericanBible.org

 

[FineLinen]

A Clever Dog

A butcher watching over his shop is really surprised when he saw a dog coming inside the shop. He shoos him away. But later, the dog is back again.

So, he goes over to the dog and notices he has a note in his mouth. He takes the note and it reads "Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please. The dog has money in his mouth, as well."

The butcher looks inside and, lo and behold, there is a ten dollar Note there. So he takes the money and puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing it in the dog's mouth. The butcher is so impressed, and since it's about closing time, he decides to shut up shop and follow the dog.

So off he goes. The dog is walking down the street when he comes To a level crossing.

The dog puts down the bag, jumps up and presses the button. Then he waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the lights to turn. They do, and he walks across the road, with the butcher following him all the way.

The dog then comes to a bus stop, and starts looking at the timetable.

The butcher is in awe at this stage. The dog checks out the times, and then sits on one of the seats provided. Along comes a bus. The dog walks around to the front, looks at the number, and goes back to his seat.

Another bus comes. Again the dog goes and looks at the number, notices it's the right bus, and climbs on. The butcher, by now, open-mouthed, follows him onto the bus.

The bus travels through the town and out into the suburbs, the dog Looking at the scenery. Eventually he gets up, and moves to the front of the bus. He stands on 2 back paws and pushes the button to stop the bus. Then he gets off, his groceries still in his mouth.

Well, dog and butcher are walking along the road, and then the dog turns into a house. He walks up the path, and drops the groceries on the step.

Then he walks back down the path, takes a big run, and throws himself against the door. He goes back down the path, runs up to the door and again, it throws himself against it. There's no answer at the house, so the dog goes back down the path, jumps up on a narrow wall, and walks along the perimeter of the garden. He gets to the window, and beats his head against it several times, walks back, jumps off, and waits at the door.

The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door, and starts abusing the dog, kicking him and punching him, and swearing at him.

The butcher runs up, and stops the guy. "What in heaven's name are you doing? The dog is a genius. He could be on TV, for the life of me!"......to which the guy responds:

"You call this clever? This is the second time this week that this stupid dog's forgotten his key."

The Moral Of The Story?

Learn to know and appreciate what you have!

***********************************************************

 

Take us to Your throne room

And give us ears to hear the cry of heaven

For that cry is mercy, mercy to the fallen sons of men.

For mercy, it has triumphed over judgement by the blood

Take us to the throne room in the City of our God. 

For the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us,

This is the year of the Lord.

 

The Crisis Of A Christless Christianity

http://www.watchman.net/articles/crisis.html

 

[AnnMercy2]

Personally to who ever wrote that ending for this story, I would have wrote a different ending than haveing the man abuse the dog.......stupid animal abusers....... I'm sorry even if it is a just a story, I take offense at that type of behavior. Otherwise good story.

 

[Lbiagm]

Good Stories Fine

 

[BaBiDaNsTaR]

Yes, I enjoyed that story, David. And thanks for praying but I didn't make the squad but it's alright. I'll try again next year!

 

[Lbiagm]

what squad babidanstar.

 

[BaBiDaNsTaR]

The pom pon squad at my school.

 

[Lbiagm]

oh a cheerleader.

 

[BaBiDaNsTaR]

Yup

 

[Lbiagm]

ok

 

[FineLinen]

Dear Zina..The experiences we go through will either crush us or expand us into Him. It is evident that your spirit will not quit! Our Lord has a purpose in each seeming setback, and will bring to pass His will in our lives as our roots run deep into the cool waters proceeding from under the thresholds of His glory. I have appreciated what you have posted....

"And thanks for praying but I didn't make the squad but it's alright. I'll try again next year!"

And next year, Baby Dancing Star, we anticipate you being on the dancing team. Continue to practice dancing before our Lord, Zina, you are a blessing to Him!

 

 

All hail the Lamb, enthroned on high

His praise shall be our battle cry

He reigns victorious, forever glorious

His Name is Jesus, He is the Lord.

 

 

[FineLinen]

Today I saw.....

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so gay,
And I wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
But as she passed, she gave a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He seemed not to know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

"We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us."

 

[Lbiagm]

Yet another good story fine

 

[FineLinen]

lbiagm (Senior Veteran) good to see you again. You may have heard the following story but it is worth reading again.....


CHOOSE HOW YOU START YOUR DAY

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good
mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I would be twins!

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to
Michael and asked him, I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all
of the time. How do you do it?

Every Morning

Michael replied, Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Mike, you
have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can
choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood.

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept
their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

Yeah, right, it isn't that easy, I protested. Yes, it is, Michael
said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every
situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose
how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad
mood.

The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life.

I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the tower
industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought
about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later,

I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

Wanna See My Scars?

I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him
how he was, he replied. If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my
scars? I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon to be born daughter, Michael replied. Then, as I lay on the ground, I
remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could
choose to die. I chose to live.

Weren't you scared?

Did you lose consciousness I asked?

Michael continued, ..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the face of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.

In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man. I knew I needed to take action.

What did you do I asked?

Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me, said
Michael. She asked if I was allergic to anything.

"Yes", I replied.

The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, Gravity.

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because
of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the
choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

 

[Lbiagm]

another good one fine.

 

[BaBiDaNsTaR]

Thanks David-Yeah I hope so but I'm kind of giving up on it now that I think about it because I don't really get along with the girls that make it all the time. They gossip too much and make fun of other people and I'm not like that. They are the kinds of girls who judge people because of their clothes and hair and makeup. Ya know? Plus they are really "clicky" and I don't know if I want to be a part of that.

But it doesn't matter because I am still in my dance class and over the summer I might join a dance troupe.

Anyways thanks again! !

 

[Lbiagm]

Cheerleaders are snobs most of the time.

 

[BaBiDaNsTaR]

Yeah no kidding, exactly why I quit cheerleading--I didn't get along with them that well.