Saturday's Positive Thread

gloriajean — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 01:09:57 GMT

The moment you include God in your thoughts you prepare yourself
for positive results. Lord, I invite You into my heart to free me from
all negativity and worry and to clear my path to success in my undertakings.

Scripture for the day:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;
for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on
the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love
you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are
you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." ~Matthew
5:43-48

Meditation for the day:

I can practice love, because lack of love will block the way. I can try
to see good in all people, those I like and those who fret me and go
against the grain. They are all children of God. I can try to give
love; otherwise, how can I dwell in God's spirit from which nothing
unloving can come? I can try to get along with all people, because the
more love I give away, the more I will have.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may do all I can to love others, in spite of their many
faults. I pray that as I love, so will I be loved.

Hello my friends! It's a very busy day here today - We had some time with
Darla today on her birthday - Greg too, but not long, as appointments kept
them busy, but we will be going over to his parents place in a half hour for
a birthday party for he and Darla - just a week apart. She's making
chicken - and some boco burgers for Darla (vegetarian) and I'm bringing our
own fresh potatoes, freshly cooked. We're chipping in on the cake. Her
whole family will be there, we haven't met one son and family, so tonight we
will. Just got back from the second Ollie training - it is going well, and
we are amazed at how fast he can learn!! Praise God! Next week I can bring
Sammy along just because there are no other dogs for the training. I asked,
and it's fine with him. That should help with Ollie and Sam to get along.
Busy day, but with lots of blessings too! All over there have been
blessings, visit with Darla and Greg, the puppy training is fun, but most of
all, being Linus' family reunion is tomorrow - and I have to bring a big
salad - already done, he's helping me cook the hot dish. I'm making a
hamburger hot dish that is just hamburger, browned with onion and celery,
and 3 cups of carrots and 3 cups potatoes, mixed with tomato and mushroom
soups and bake an hour. I'm making two batches, they expect about 100
people - it's going to be held at the farm they grew up in. His brother
owns it.
I'd better get going here so I'm letting you know you are all in my prayers
for all your needs and thanks for praying for us. Truly appreciate it!

Bless me, Heavenly Father

Bless me, heavenly Father -
forgive my erring ways.
Grant me strength to serve Thee,
put purpose in my days.
Give me understanding,
enough to make me kind.
So I may judge all people
with my heart not my mind.
Teach me to be patient
in everything I do,
Content to trust Your wisdom
and to follow after You.
Help me when I falter
and hear me when I pray,
And receive me in Thy kingdom
to dwell with Thee someday.

Amen.

EYE OPENER
Author Unknown
August 3, 2012

I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in
his mid-70's, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in
the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had
talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him.

He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian
should have, but he had never put on Christ, nor entered the doors of the
church.

"Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" I had asked him a
few years ago. We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking.

He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood
experience some fifty years ago. He was one of many children in a large
impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little
left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors
invited him to worship with them.

The Sunday School class had been very exciting! He had never heard such
songs and stories before!

He had never heard anyone read from the Bible! After class was over, the
teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as
you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God's house."

He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then looking at his dirty bare
feet, he answered softly, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

"And I never did," he said, abruptly ending our conversation.

There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this
experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart.

I'm sure that Sunday School teacher meant well. But did she really
understand the love of Christ? Had she studied and accepted the teachings
found in the second chapter of James?

What if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and said,
"Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you
get to hear more about Jesus."

I reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or pastor or a parent
has to welcome little ones in His name. How far reaching her influence was!

I prayed that I might be ever open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and
that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child
to the eternal possibilities within.

Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday. As I
looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I
thought of the little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him say, "No,
ma'am, I won't ever."

And I wept.

Touch of The Master's Hand

Well it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer felt It was hardly
worth his while, to waste much time on the old violin But he held it up with
a smile..."It sure ain't much but it's all we got left, I guess we ought to
sell it too...Now who'll start the bid on this old violin, just one more and
we'll be through."

And then he cried, "One! Give me one dollar! Who'll make it two? Only two
dollars! Who'll make it three? Three dollars twice! Now that's a good
price...now who's got a bid for me. Raise up your hand and don't wait any
longer. The auction's about to end Who's got four? Just one dollar more...
to bid on this old violin."

Well the air was hot and the people stood around As the sun was setting low.
From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man Came forward, picked up the
bow. He wiped the dust from the old violin, and tightened up the strings...
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet...sweeter than the angels sing.

And then the music stopped... and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet
and low, He said, "What am I to bid for this old violin? " Then he held it
up with a bow.

And then he cried, "One! Give me one thousand! Who'll make it two? Only two
thousand! Who'll make it three? Three thousand twice! Now that's a good
price... but who's got a bid for me. The people cried out, "What made the
change? We don't understand" Then the auctioneer stopped and He said with a
smile, "It was the Touch of A Master's Hand"

Now you know many a man with a life out of tune is battered and scarred with
sin And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world, much like that old
violin. Then the Master comes, and the foolish crowd. They never understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought, Just by one touch of THE
MASTER'S HAND.

God is able to change any heart and make any life worth living to those that
feel worthless and unworthy. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, Ephesians 3:20. If you sometimes feel like that
violin, then I encourage you to seek a touch of The Master's Hand and He is
faithful to do for you all that you ask of God.

ANSWERED PRAYER
Author Unknown

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on
it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not
knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray
to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to
divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. - The next morning, the first man
saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its
fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife.
The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman
who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was
nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. - The next day,
like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still
had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could
leave the island. - In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of
the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to
leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to
receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven
booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings
are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man
answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve
anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I
answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but
those of another praying for us.

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Saturday's Positive Thread