Don't Run

Now there was a famine in the land ... The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while. I will be with you and bless you." Genesis 26:1-3 NIV

When famine hit the land, Isaac's first inclination was to leave. But the Lord clearly told him to stick it out. When "famine" occurs in our lives, our reactions are the same: "I've got to get out of here" or "I must

not be in God's will." Yet if we run prematurely, we miss the opportunity to experience God's provision and blessing.

It's difficult to survive some days when we feel dry, thirsty and neglected and we see others around us who are healthy, spiritually well fed and flourishing. Yet it is those dry, desert experiences that often yield the greatest victories in our lives.

Immediately after Jesus was baptized, He was led into the desert to be tested. It was hot, dry and miserable. He was faced with the same choices we are: Stay in the heat until the Lord is finished working in us or take the easy way out. Elevate yourselves above your problems or humble yourselves before the Lord. Fulfill your fleshly desires to help you feel better or abstain and see how the Lord provides.

Jesus and Isaac withstood their desert challenges and emerged stronger, more aware of the provision of the Lord and more powerful in their walk.

If you re feeling the urge to "run" today from your problems, your church, your job or any circumstances stop and ask the Lord if this is His way of preparing you for greater things. Even in the most arid of deserts, He will speak to you and water you with His love.

Puppies For Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared by the store owner’s sign.

“How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked. The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30-$50.” The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37,” he said. “May I please look at them?”

The store owner smiled and whistled, out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the little puppy that I want to buy.” The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”

The store owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so good myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

This Is Good

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"

To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of.

Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off. And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad of me to do this."

"No" his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, "This is good?" How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear.  If we love Him and live our lives according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.

Where

There was a little boy,

On the week‘s first day,

Coming home from Sunday School

And wandering on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass

And found a caterpillar.

He found a fluffy milkweed pod

And blew out all the filler.

A bird's nest in a tree above,

So wisely placed on high,

Was just another wonder

That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his crooked course

And hailed him from the lawn.

He asked him where he'd been that day

And what was going on.

"I've been to Sunday School," he said

As he turned a piece of sod,

And picking up a worm, he smiled,

"l've learned a lot from Godl"

"That's a line way," the neighbor said,

"For a boy to spend his time.

"Now if you can tell me where God is,

l’ll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash the answer came,

The boy said without complaint,

"l'lI give you a dollar, Mister,

If you can tell me where God ain't!"

Author Unknown

Forgiveness

Three years ago, a friend said something to me that hurt very deeply. I was speechless. I could not believe she could say that and mean it. When I had no response, she said, "I love you and don't want to see you hurt." My thought was, 'if you love me, how could you say such a terrible thing about someone I love dearly'. But I was still speechless and just couldn't respond.

Days and weeks passed and it still bothered me. I prayed about it a lot and I thought I had forgiven her, but I couldn't forget. Weeks and months went by. I didn't dwell on this, but occasionally after my prayers at bedtime, I would think about it and couldn't seem to clear this from my thoughts. Therefore, I would have a restless night.

Two years passed and I began to doubt that I had forgiven her. I decided I would talk to her about it and tell her how much her words had hurt. Before I could talk to her, I wanted to think about what I would say that wouldn't hurt her. (I'm not really sure she would even remember what she had said to me.)

I prayed about this and asked God to give me the right words to say. After four days of praying about this, I began thinking God wasn't listening to me. Then suddenly it became clear. God had heard and had answered my prayers. The answer was to say NOTHING. JUST FORGIVE. I did -- and a sense of peace came to me. I have had no more restless nights over this.

We all do and say things at time that hurt someone. We need forgiveness and we need to be able to forgive. Let us all pray for those who hurt us and ask God to give us the Grace to forgive them. Forgiving them gives us relief from our hurt. When we can truly forgive, it allows healing to take place in our spiritual lives.

God knows He has to forgive us a lot.

- WRITTEN BY ROBBIE JO

Who Started Christmas

This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children; after many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year - overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, make sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."
From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond,
"Don't worry.
We already crucified him."

For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word.

If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

Thank you, Thank you Lord

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,

thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible,
thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,
toast is burned and tempers are short,
my children are so loud thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like
the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced,
thank you, Lord, for the food we have.
There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day
and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
thank you, Lord, for life.

If we can pass this on to most people we know,
it might help a bit to make this world a better place to live in.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of

food to eat. Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we

have plenty of nice clothes to wear. And I would like to thank you,

Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last

night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the

splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are

so convenient. Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that

needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many

years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or

three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned

today; it has baked so many things over the years. The whole family

is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing, the lawn that

needs raking; we all enjoy the yard. Thank you, Lord, even for that

slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have

richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do

them gratefully. Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple,

but only God knows the number of apples in a seed.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,

Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even

though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as

possible, Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even

though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, Thank you, Lord, that

I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are

lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so

loud, Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are

lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the

pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced, Thank

you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, Thank you,

Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish

my circumstances were not so modest, Thank you, Lord, for life.

- Author Unknown