DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In a mother's womb were twin babies. One with a positive outlook and the second more pessimistic. One day the pessimist asked the other, "Do you believe in life after delivery?"
   The positive baby replies, "Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later."
    "Nonsense!" says the pessimist baby. "There is no life after delivery! What would that life be?"
    "I don't know, but I'm sure there will be more light than in here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths."
    The pessimist baby said, "That is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord is too short."
    "I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here."
    "No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere." the pessimist baby said becoming very agitated.
    "Well, I don't know but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us."
    "Mother?" screamed the pessimist baby. "You believe in mother? Where is she now?"
    "She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world."
    "I don't see her, so it's logical that she doesn't exist." said the pessimist baby.
    "Sometimes, when you're in silence you can hear her. You can perceive her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality." The positive baby concluded.

Can you imagine these thoughts going through an unborn child's mind? Trusting there will be an unknown entity (mother) who will take care of them when they leave the place they are being formed and growing. One places total trust in something it has never seen, yet senses that it IS out there waiting to care for him. While the other --- like unbelievers --- refuses to trust that there IS something more. The pessimist believes their life inside the womb is all there is and with a closed mind, refuses to think of the possibility of a mother caring for them

That is similar to unbelievers... they refuse to open their mind and believe in the possibility of an Almighty God who will care for them after they pass from this earth. They refuse to believe there can be more than this present life in which we live.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God. He created him; male and female He created them.
--- Genesis 1:27    

INSIGTHFUL MESSAGE (God Said)

God said, "If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I Am a Healer?

If you never went through difficulties then how would you know that I Am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer and know I Am your Rock?

If you never felt sadness, then how would you know I Am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, then how would you know I Am a Forgiver?

If you knew everything, then how would you know I Am your teacher who gives you Wisdom?

If you were never in trouble, then how would you know I Am your Savior?

If you never were broken, then how would you know I Am  a Restorer and can make you whole again?

If you never had a problem, then how would you know that I Am a Redeemer?

If you had everything, then how would you know I Am your Provider?

If you had all power, then how would you know I Am your Strong Tower?

If I never corrected you, then how would you know I love you?

If your life was perfect, then why would you need Me?

If I never convict you, then how would you know right from wrong?

God said, "I Am!"

INSPIRATIONAL STORY (The Pearl Necklace)

     Jenny was a bright eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $5.00. She wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what, I'll buy you the necklace and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for it. And don't forget, for your birthday, Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?"
     Jenny agreed and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard everyday, and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon, Jenny had paid off the pearls.
     Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere; to kindergarten, when she went to run errands for her mother, when visiting family and friends and even to bed when she slept at night. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower because her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green.
     Jenny had a very loving daddy who would read her bedtime stories at night. And on one particular night, when he finished reading her a story he asked her, "Jenny, do you love me?"
     "Oh yes, daddy. You know I love you." the little girl replied.
     "Well, then, give me your pearls."
     "Oh! Daddy not my pearls!" Jenny insisted. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party set, too. okay?"
     "Oh, no, darling that's okay," her daddy brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night little one."
     A week later, her daddy once again asked Jenny after reading her bedtime story, "Do you love me?'
     "Oh, yes, daddy. You know I love you."
     "Well then, give me your pearls."
     "Oh, daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She is my favorite. Her hair is so soft and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, daddy." The little girl said.
     "No, that okay," her daddy said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
     Again a week later, when Jenny's dad came to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip trembling, she said, "Here daddy," as she held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her dad's hands.
     At that moment, with one hand her daddy held the plastic pearl necklace and with the other hand, he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box and handed it to her. "Now that you gave me these pearls, you can have this."
     Jenny took the box, "what's inside, daddy?" She asked as she slowly and carefully began to open the box she held in her tiny hands. Inside was a real, genuine, beautiful, shiny pearl necklace.
     He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.


     That's how it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that He can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't God good?
     Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of? Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?
     Sometimes, it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing... God will NEVER take away something without giving you something better in it's place. We just have to learn to let go.

INSPIRATIONAL STORY (The Piano Master)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
     Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually snuck off and ignoring the "NO ADMITTANCE" sign which hung above a door, the boy walked through anyway.
     When the lights to the concert ballroom dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Assuming he went to the bathroom, she settled into her seat and just as the curtains parted, the spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on stage.
    In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boys ear, "Don't quit. keep playing."
     Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligate. Together, the old master and the young novice, transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.
     The audience was moved and very satisfied with the unexpected performance.

     That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best but the results are not exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful.
      Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Almighty whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
     Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true happiness.
     Remember, God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies those called. And He will always be there to love and guide you onto great and amazing things.

Bless and be blessed!
~One Love~

MORAL STORY (The Bridge, The Bear and God)

A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee) one Saturday when two cars, also crossing the bridge, scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety

 

 

 

 

Authorities decided that nothing could be done that day to help the bear. When they returned on Sunday morning, they found the bear sound asleep on the ledge.

 

 



They secured a net under the bridge and tranquilized the bear

When he fell into the net they began to slowly and carefully lower it.

Because it took such a long time to safely lower the net, the bear woke up. Although he didn't know what was going on,
he remained calm and when the net reached the ground...

The bear simply walked out as if he was never in any danger.


This old bear made a wrong move and found himself hanging by his nails. Fortunately, he was able to pull himself up onto the ledge but he was still in a bad position. The bear did not panic or try to get off that ledge. Instead, he took a nap and sure enough... God took care of the situation while he was asleep.


MORAL:  When confronted with a bad situation, sometimes the best solution is to take a nap and let God take care of the rest.

I think I'm going to take a nap right now!


Psalm 30:5b   Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.  (NKJV)

LET GO AND LET GOD!!!

 

 



POEM (Freedom Isn't Free)

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform,
So young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He would stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him,
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
And how many mother's have shed their tears?

How many pilots' planes have been shot down?
How many have died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, my friend, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

 

 

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

When everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play,

And I felt a sudden chill.

 

I wondered just how many times,

That taps had meant 'Amen'

When a flag had draped a coffin,

of a brother or a friend.

 



I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers daughters and the wives,
Of the fathers, sons, and husbands,
All with interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard,
At the bottom of the sea.
Of unmarked graves in Arlington,
No, my friend, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM AND GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

After you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for all our servicemen and women.

Of all the gifts you could give a United States soldier...
PRAYER IS THE VERY BEST!!!

POEM (Daddy's Day)

Her hair was up in a ponytail,
Her favorite dress tied with a bow,
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home,
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid,
She knew just what to say,
What to tell her classmates,
Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone,
And that is why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all,
About a dad she never seen,
A dad who never will call.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet,
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called,
Each student from the class,
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds shortly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare,
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out,
"She probbably doesn't have one."
Another student dares to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
As she smiled up at her mom,
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak,
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

"My daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know,
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories,
He taught me to ride my bike,
He surprised me with  pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite."

"We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone,
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart,
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart."
With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest,
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears,
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up,
For the love of a man not in her life,
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd,
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
He's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here,
But Heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman,
And died just this past year,
When airplanes hit the towers,
And taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away."
And then she closes her eyes,
And saw him there that day

And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise,
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
Who knows what they felt inside,
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him by her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy."
To the silence she called out,
And what happened next made believers,
Of those who were filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed,
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
By the love of her shining bright star,
And given the gift of believing,
That Heaven is never too far.

~Cheryl Costello-Forshey~