Hello my friends! Another busy day - After she graded her on line students, Darla and us went shopping and out to eat - spent a lot of time with her, and she leaves tomorrow sometime to meet Greg - then Monday they both will be here for a bit.
Here is some food for thought:
THROWING IT ALL AWAY
By Rich McLawhorn
Jun 3, 2009
"He who neglects the present moment throws away all he has." That
observation by Johann Friedrich von Schiller, a great German historian
and playwright, holds much truth for all of our lives.
Early one morning fire broke out in a house on a narrow street. The
fire spread quickly, and flames were leaping high into the air before
the fire engines could get to the scene.
A young man appeared at an upper window in his pajamas. Firefighters
quickly placed a ladder against the burning building, but the man
refused to come down. Instead, he yelled that he had to get dressed
first. The firefighters pleaded, "Come as you are! Come as you are!,
but to no avail.
The firefighters tried to climb the stairs from below, but they were
turned back by the flames. When a rescuer tried to enter through a
lower window, the heat and smoke forced him away.
Suddenly the walls and roof fell in. The man waited too long, and was
buried under the ruins.
How Does This Apply to Our Lives?
The man refused to immediately do what was best for himself because of
what someone might say about his appearance later. Thus, the young man
literally threw his life away.
We can make the same foolish mistake. I read about an experiment in
which a rat was placed in a box and shocked until it huddled in a
particular corner. To avoid future shocks, the rat soon learned to run
to that corner as soon as it was placed in the box.
How much of your life is spent avoiding the disapproving "shocks" of
those around you? Do you disregard your own beliefs, and compromise
who you are as a person, so others will like you?
That is easy to do, especially in matters of faith. Many people do not
live according to their beliefs because they are concerned about what
others will think or say. If that includes you, then in effect you are
throwing away the most significant part of yourself--your spiritual
life.
Instead of trying to become someone others will like in the future,
focus on God's love for you right now. Live each day according to
God's standards, no matter how people may react. Because some things
are too important to throw away--including yourself..
"Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."
Psalm 26:3
"You Must Blossom"
Where God has planted you, you must blossom. It is not everything to live resigned where God has placed you. You must BLOSSOM - that is, live there happily and make others happy.
To blossom means for you to show that you are happy for all the good God has done for you, for the services that are rendered you, and the devotedness you are called upon to give to others.
To blossom is to tell everyone, around you that you are happy; to tell them this by a simple manner and a happy face. Indeed I am well off to be here and grateful to God for all His kindness.
To blossom is to be at the disposal of everybody; willing to be disturbed; to submit willingly in everything that would be agreeable to others, and never show weariness or annoyance.
What strength, what peace, what self-abnegation and holiness, too, are contained in these words: "Where God has planted you, you must blossom."
Burdens Give Us Wings
An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which he wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so he asked the animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on. Finally the birds came to God and said, "If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we'll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we would like to help."
So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seems to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens.
When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings which enabled them to fly to the sky and the tree tops.
They had learned how to carry their burdens, and their loads had become wings to carry them nearer to God. Burdens we carry for others may become wings of the spirit, to lift us into happiness such as we have never known.
Jesus and Alexander died at 33.
One lived and died for self; one died for you and me.
The Greek died on a throne; the Jew died on a cross;
One's life a triumph seemed; the other but a loss.
One led vast armies forth; the other walked alone.
One shed a whole world's blood; the other gave His own.
One won the world in life and lost it all in death;
The other lost His life to win the whole world's faith.
Jesus and Alexander died at 33.
The Greek made all men slaves; the Jew made all men free;
One built a throne on blood; the other built on love.
The one was born of earth; the other from above.
The one won all this earth, to lose all earth and heaven;
The other gave up all, that all to Him be given.
The Greek forever died; the Jew forever lives.
He loses all who gets; he wins all things who gives.
Charles Ross Weede
And a prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We Thank You for the constant gifts that you place before us.
May we be ever thankful for the gift of friendship,
For blessing us with people around us that we can call true friends.
For those that challenge us, and make us think beyond the square.
For those that listen to us, and share our concerns.
For those that laugh with us, and make our hearts burst with joy.
For those that teach us to be better people.
For these people we are ever grateful.
For we see the God in them... a true reflection of You.
Amen.
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