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We get so caught up in all the electronic gadgets that are available to us that sometimes we forget the simple things....like Knee Mail! Have you said your prayers today?

"When you want to be first, you need to be last.

When you want to be at the top, you need to start at the bottom.

 When you want to be strong, you must admit you are weak.

 God is the biggest when we are our the smallest."

Dad's Boots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwRyjzYUnE

Cowboy Poetry

I gently held my father’s hand
while sittin’ near his bed,
strokin’ soft the white hair,
now unruly on his head

His boots sat in the corner,
all rough an’ weather-worn,
remindin’ me of all the ways
he taught me without scorn

Just sittin’ at our table
each night when day was thru’,
bowin’ tired an’ weary head
to give our Lord His due

His risin’ every mornin’
b’fore hearin’ rooster’s crow,
gettin’ chores done early,
‘cause he had some fields to sow

Workin’ hard for little,
but always taking pride
in what he could accomplish
for his family an’ his bride

Never speakin’ harshly
but teachin’ just the same
as he showed us with his manner
how to win life’s crucial game

Not complainin’, not unloadin’
the worries he might have
‘bout the weather or the plowin’,
or nursin’ sickly calves

He always took great notice
of doin’ right or wrong,
an’ told us always listen
to the voice of our heart song

He taught to be respectful,
an’ would gently bring to mind
old folks in their agin’,
for he knew someday we’d find―

We too would walk our elder’s path,
an’ as the prophets say,
“Ya reap what you have sown—
now or later, you must pay.”

Those boots brought back old memories,
sittin’ there so still,
as if the man who walked in them
had finally lost his will

But if I know my dad at all,
his spirit will live on
in the lives of all his children
with each an’ every dawn

We’ll start our day like he did
with purpose in each step,
be honest in our dealin’s,
not excusin’ any debt

He leaves us with the knowledge
we can all do somethin’ great
if we live our life for others
till we reach that pearly gate

His boots are lined an’ wrinkled
just like his weathered face,
but he goes today with dignity,
no dishonor, no disgrace…

When I Say I am a Christian

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I was lost"
That is why I chose this way.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I am weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are all too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I speak His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.

When I Say I am a Christian Poem © Carol S. Wimmer

“Ability is what you're capable of doing
Motivation determines what you do
Attitude determines how well you do it.”

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. —Colossians 3:23-24

IT IS NO SECRET

Back in the 50's there was a well known radio host/comedian/song writer in Hollywood named Stuart Hamblen who was noted for his drinking, womanizing partying, etc.

One of his bigger hits at the time was "I won't go hunting with you Jake, but I'll go chasing women".

One day, along came a young preacher holding a tent revival.

Hamblen had him on his radio show presumably to poke fun at him.

In order to gather more material for his show, Hamblin showed up at one of the revival meetings.

Early in the service the preacher announced, "There is one man in this audience who is a big fake."

There were probably others who thought the same thing, but Hamblen was convinced that he was the one the preacher was talking about (some would call that conviction), but he was having none of that.

Still the words continued to haunt him until a couple of nights later he showed up drunk at the preacher's hotel door around 2 am demanding that the preacher pray for him!

But the preacher refused, saying, "This is between you and God and I'm not going to get in the middle of it."

But he did invite Stuart in and they talked until about 5 am at which point Stuart dropped to his knees and with tears, cried out to God.

But that is not the end of the story. Stuart quit drinking, quit chasing women, quit everything that was "fun".

Soon he began to lose favor with the Hollywood crowd.

He was ultimately fired by the radio station when he refused to accept a beer company as a sponsor.

Hard times were upon him.

He tried writing a couple of "Christian" songs but the only one that had much success was "This Old House", written for his friend Rosemary Clooney.

As he continued to struggle, a long time friend named John took him aside and told him, "all your troubles started when you 'got religion', was it worth it all?"

Stuart answered simply, "Yes".

Then his friend asked, "You liked your booze so much, don't you ever miss it?"

And his answer was, "No".

John then said, "I don't understand how you could give it up so easily."

And Stuart's response was, "It's no big secret.

All things are possible with God."

To this John said "That's a catchy phrase.

You should write a song about it."

And as they say, the rest is history.

The song Stuart wrote was "It Is No Secret"

It is no secret what God can do.

What He's done for others, He'll do for you.

With arms wide open, He'll welcome you.

It is no secret, what God can do....

By the way......... the friend was John Wayne.

And the young preacher who refused to pray for Stuart Hamblen?

That was Billy Graham.

Love Letter From God

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The Ticket

Author Unknown

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.

Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little anxious to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow. Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.

"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

"Hello, Jack." No smile.

"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

"Yeah, I guess."

Bob seemed uncertain. Good. "I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit-just this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct."

Ouch! This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"

"Seventy-one. Would you sit back in your car, please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car."

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license? Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

"Dear Jack,
Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it - a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. . . Pray for me. And be careful. My son is all I have left. Bob"

Jack...twisted around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Handle with care.

Mountain Moving Faith

Author Unknown

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary.

Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain-moving faith". They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.

"Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain-moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

They lie on the table, side by side The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

One is well worn, but cherished with pride (Not the Bible, but the TV Guide)

One is used daily to help folks decide. (Not the Bible: it's the TV Guide.)

As the pages are turned, what shall they see Oh, what does it matter?...turn on the TV.

Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree on what they shall watch on the old TV.

So they open the book in which they confide (No, not the Bible.....it's the TV Guide.)

The Word of God is seldom read. Maybe a verse e'er they fall into bed.

Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be... not from reading the Bible-from watching TV.

So then back to the table, side by side, lay the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

No time for prayer....no time for the Word. The plan of salvation is seldom heard.

But forgiveness of sin so full and free is found in the Bible.....NOT on TV!

 

Photo Source: absolutelyinlovewithhim.tumblr.com

The other day a friend had asked me about an old best friend I used to hang out with for 9 years. He’d asked if I felt like everything was a waste? If I was offended that I didn’t get invited to an event. To be honest, my answer was no to both questions.

Nothing is a waste. We have friends that are only here for a season. Some will stay and some will go. God is pruning and making adjustments and this is the time where I learn, grow and mature. As I look back, I can see why God had to prune my friend’s list or any relationships. It was His way of saving me from heartaches, grief, drama or any other unnecessary pain.

You see, Gods plan for us is far more in advance than what we could ever see. At the moment, we’ll experience some grief because a close friend or boyfriend/girlfriend has left us but we always have to look at the bigger picture…

1. What is God trying to reveal to me?
2. What did I learn from that relationship? How can I grow from my experiences?
3. What season is this now? What is His will for me during this time?
4. Friends come & go but the ones God keeps around are usually ones that will help you grow spiritually.
5. I acknowledge that this is a NEW season.

Now if I had the same friends, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would’ve settled. God doesn’t want you to settle or you’ll miss out on your destiny. What a terrible tragedy that’d be because there’s so much more to life! He came that we may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

I’m here to tell you that in this new chapter there will be some growing pains. Yes, you will feel brokenhearted and lonely or maybe even abandoned. The great news is along the way on this journey called life you’ll always make new relationships. Allow God do the pruning and what’s necessary so you may go where He wants you to go.. that you’ll be in His will. Grow from your experiences. Don’t feel remorseful and don’t feel condemned. Romans 8:1 It’s a new season,  it’s a new day.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28

Allow The Children

Author Unknown

One evening in September I took my 13-year-old son to see a St. Louis Cardinal's baseball game. I was given 2 free tickets for bleacher seats from my work, what a blessing! So I picked up my son at home and hurried back to the ballpark. We we're going early to watch batting practice. I told Nathaniel that from the bleachers, we might be able to get a souvenir baseball hit to us.

Well, there were a lot of balls falling around us, but that's just it, around us. Some on the left, some on the right, some in front of us, but nothing we could reach. And then it happened! A batted ball landed right at my feet. It did a double ricochet between the ground and the seat and blasted out from under there about 8 feet high right into the boy's glove. Unfortunately for me, the boy wasn't Nathaniel. The ball had bounced about 10 rows in front of us. At the very moment the ball hit, I was distracted and looking to my right. I didn't even see it!

Well, that's it, I thought. You don't get another chance like that at the same game. So I settled in with just about 10 minutes left of batting practice content with the game we were about to see. But there was another home run ball hit in the section to the right of us some 25 feet away. An elderly attendant got the ball when it landed, and signaled pointing with his finger that he wanted Nathaniel to have the baseball.

I was delighted and perplexed. We hadn't been talking with this man. He wasn't an attendant for our section. And there were about 10 kids all excited and hopping up and down hoping for the ball. Nathaniel wasn't even close enough to be with the other kids. He was another 6 feet in back of them. But the attendant picked Nathaniel. I thought to myself, what luck! We have our souvenir!

It wasn't until the middle of the 3rd inning that the significance of what I had just witnessed hit me. It was then that Nathaniel leaned over to me and said, "You know dad, I prayed before we got here that I would be able to get a baseball." Whir . Bang! My head must've made that noise as all at once my brain suddenly comprehended what my eyes had seen. What I had dismissed as a bit of good luck surely had a divine design!

This event has reinforced for me that God hears our smallest of prayers. Maybe even that's wrong, maybe there's not any such thing as a "small" prayer to God. And no request seems too trivial when asked in sincerity with the heart of child. Nathaniel has the proof! It weighs 5 ounces and has a leather cover sewn with double stitch 10/5 red thread.

Matt 11:25

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

The Empty Egg

Author Unknown

Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher.

One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."

Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?

As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy. From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him.

"I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face burned red. She stammered, "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take your seat."

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically-all except for Jeremy. He listened intently. His eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arm. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too." Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine." Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, "My daddy helped me," he beamed.

Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty." He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."

Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up."

The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the schoolyard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.

Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket....... all of them empty.

What Are You Doing God?

  by: Author Unknown,

When I was little, my mother used to sew a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering.   As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand. I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.   She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "Son, you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side.   I would wonder why she was using some dark thread along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee."   Then Mother would say to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."   Many times through the years I have looked up to heaven and said, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life."   I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?"   The Father seems to tell me, "My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side.

At The Foot of The Cross

    

Fearing the battle was over And I'd already lost the war, I was tired of trying and failing. I just couldn't fight anymore.   So, dragging my battle-scarred body, I crawled to the foot of the cross. And I sobbed. 'Oh please, Father forgive me. But I tried...I tried.. and still lost. Then the air grew silent around me. I heard his voice just as clear as the dawn: 'Oh, My child, though you are tired and weary, You can't stop, you have to go on.' At the foot of the Cross , where I met Him, At the foot of the Cross, where He died, I felt love, as I knelt in His presence. I felt hope, as I looked in His eyes. Then He gathered me lovingly to Him, As around us God's light clearly shone. And together we walked though my lifetime To heal every wound I had known. I found bits of my dreams, long forgotten, And pieces of my life on the floor. But I watched as He tenderly blessed them, And my life was worth living once more. I knew then why I had been losing. I knew why I had not grown. At the foot of the Cross came the answer: I'd been fighting the battle alone. At the foot of the Cross, where I met Him, At the foot of the Cross, where He died, Then I knew I could face any challenge Together--just my Lord and I. By: Marcia Krugh Leaser