Pages

Saturday 31 January 2009

Love Your Enemies


Some years ago, a tiny Korean orphan arrived in the United States to join her adoptive family. She was nine months old and weighed only 9 ½ pounds. She grew and blossomed in her new home, but remained a diminutive size.

Her new name was Edie.

One day when Edie was in second grade, she ran home from school, crying. She was frightened. That day, three new girls had been enrolled in her class.

During the first recess, they picked the smallest girl in the class as the object of their anger and frustration. They pinched, poked, and pushed tiny Edie and threatened to beat her up.

Edie had spent an hour in the principal's office with the three girls and was assured the teachers would be watching. The girls were given a warning.

Edie's mother held her little one and comforted her. She learned later, after speaking with the principal, that the girls had been troublemakers at several other schools. They were being given one more chance at a new beginning.

"These girls must have been very hurt in their young lives to be so angry. Her mother said. "The Bible tells us, "Be kind to your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Edie, let's pray."

Then they prayed for the girls and asked the Lord for a plan of action.

A plan began to take shape. "I can't go to school with you everyday, so you will need to stay close to a teacher when you are at recess or in line to go into school." said Edie's mom.

"If the girls start to pick on you, tell them, "I'd really like to be your friend Are you brave enough to do that?" Edie's mother asked. "The Lord asks us to be kind to our enemies, let's see what happens, okay?

The tiny girl perked up, and with a smile, looked at her mother and said, "Yes, Mom, I'll try."

The next morning, and everyday before Edie left for school, she and her mom prayed for her to be safe and brave, and for the girls to be open to God's love. Everyday, the girls shoved into line behind Edie and called her names and tried to get in a poke or two.

Each time, Edie looked up at them and said, "I'd really like to be your friend." She did have to look up at them since they were so much taller than she was.

The teachers kept an eye on the proceedings, but did not need to interfere as the girls were not hurting her.

After about two weeks, Edie came home looking so discouraged. She told her mother that she didn't think it was working. After they talked about it some more and prayed, she decided to keep trying and continued to faithfully tell them, "I'd really like to be your friend."

One day the following week, Edie ran home as fast as she could and ran into the house shouting, "Mom, Mom, guess what happened today? Just like I always did, I said I'd really like to be your friend, and one of the girls said, "Okay, Edie, we give up, we'll be your friend."

Edie and her mom thanked the Lord for His faithfulness.

A short time later, as the girls were trying to become friends, Edie asked the teacher if she could sit at a table with these girls in the classroom. She had noticed that they were disruptive because they didn't understand the lessons. Edie became their tutor.

Toward the end of the school year, when Edie's parents went to school for a parent teacher conference, the teacher told them, "Because of Edie's kindness, those girls have completely turned around and are productive members of the class." She felt she had witnessed a miracle. And so did Edie's mom and dad.

How many people go through life never experiencing kindness? They don't see it in strangers, and some don't even find it in their own families.

Without experiencing kindness, it becomes impossible to express kindness toward others. The result of this tragic lack is seen everywhere.

What a different society this would be if everyone who has received kindness would be kind to others, especially the unlovely.

Friday 30 January 2009

Nobody's Friend











My name is Gossip.

I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning and malicious
and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted
the more I am believed.

My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me
because I have no name or face.

To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try,
the more elusive I become.
I am nobody's friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation,
it is never the same.
I topple governments
and wreck marriages.

I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights,
heartaches and indigestion.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses.
I am called Gossip.
I make headlines and headaches.

Readers,
before you repeat a story,
ask yourself:
Is it true?
Is it harmless?
Is it necessary?
If it isn't, don't repeat it.

Saturday 24 January 2009

Measure for Measure


His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day,
while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry
for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran
to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a
terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer
Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and
terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparce
surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and
introduced himself as the father of the little boy Farmer Fleming
had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved
my boys life."

"No, I cannot accept payment for what I did," the farmer replied,
waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came
to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman
asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal.
Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is
anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud
of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St.
Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become
known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming,
the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord
Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said what goes around comes around. Jesus said it
much better. "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured
into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured
to you." Luke 6:38

Thursday 15 January 2009

Now Let Me Fill You !


I fill you with My Love. I fill you with My forgiveness. I fill you with My generosity. I fill you with My gifts. I fill you with My strength.

I touch your eyes. See yourself as you really are-as I see you. See Myself in the people around you. See the needs in the people whom I call you to serve.

I touch your ears. Hear My voice. Hear My expressions of love and gratitude for the person you are and the things you do to please Me. Hear the pleas of the people whom I call you to serve.

I touch your mouth. Speak My words. Hold back all that is unloving, unkind, unholy. Proclaim the kingdom of God in the way that I call you to serve.

I touch your heart. Your stony heart is replaced by My sacred and pure heart. I heal the pain from old and new wounds, and I give you the pain that I feel in My heart, caused by the sins and wounds of others, and through this I call you to love the sinners unconditionally.

I touch your hands. Reach out and heal others with Me. Give to them My embrace. Stroke their shoulders to give them My encouragement, and pat their backs to give them My affirmation.

I touch your feet. Go wherever our Father sends you. I will be with You always. I walk with you. My Spirit guides you, keeping you on the right path. Be assured, you will not make lasting mistakes, you will not stray for long, for I am walking with you. I have everything in My control. Fear nothing, My wonderful, dear, dear friend. Fear nothing, for My love for you is all consuming, and always victorious.

I LOVE YOU!

Thursday 1 January 2009

My Wish for You in 2009

After serious & cautious consideration. ..

Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009!

It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!!

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.

May the problems you had forget your home address!

In simple words . . . May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!