Community Chat

[DoubleJ]

No gift is so precious as love. Gratefully trust God and give Him your love.
Lord, I give You my heart.

Scripture for the day:

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has
to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in
love." 1 John 4:18

Meditation for the day:

Love and fear cannot dwell together. By their very natures, they cannot
exist side by side. Fear is a very strong force. And therefore a weak
and vacillating love can soon be routed by fear. But a strong love, a
love that trusts in God, is sure eventually to conquer fear. The only
sure way to dispel fear is to have the love of God more and more in our
hearts and souls.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that love will drive out the fear in my life. I pray that my
fear will flee before the power of the love of God.

Hello my friends! Weather here was beautiful and 78 degrees, no wind and my
husband worked all day staining Lori's deck - and later on I helped and we
had supper there. The deck got finished and that was a big accomplishment
and blessing. We were invited to go for a bon fire across the street from
her, good neighbors she has, and we met another neighbor of hers. It was a
perfect night for a bon fire! Praying for all of you and thanks for your
prayers for us - God bless you!

I FOUND JESUS THERE
Author Unknown
September 28, 2012


The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him.
"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued,
"to see how much damage has been done..."

"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there." The surgeon
looked to the parents, who sat quietly.

"When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest
back up and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns
all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart.
I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll
find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."

The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from
the surgery: "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle
degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within one
year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked
aloud.

"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and
You've cursed him to an early death. Why?" The Lord answered and said, "The
boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My
flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and
will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him
here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that
boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"

The Lord answered,

"The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty: I did
not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost
lamb."

The surgeon wept.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him.
The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"

"Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

The Difference

I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task.
I wondered "Why doesn't God help me?"
He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God´s presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke early this morning,
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.

SIDE BY SIDE
Author Unknown


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

One is well worn and cherished with pride,
Not the Bible . . . but the TV guide.

One is used daily to help folks decide,
No, not the Bible . . . but 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 should watch on the old TV.

So they open the book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible . . . but the TV guide.

The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse as 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,
Lie 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.

YOU ASK WHY I FOLLOW THIS JESUS?
(Author Unknown)

You ask why I follow this Jesus?
Why I love Him the way I do?
When the world's turned away from His teachings
And the people who serve Him are few.

It's not the rewards I'm after
Or gifts that I hope to receive
It's the Presence that calls for commitment
It's the Spirit I trust and believe.

The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful
Or spare them all suffering and pain,
Like everyone else I have burdens,
And walk through my share of rain.

Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,
And that joy only Christians have known,
I never know what comes tomorrow,
But I do know I'm never alone.

It's the love always there when you need it;
It's the words that redeem and inspire,
It's the longing to ever be with Him
That burns in my heart like a fire.

So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus?
Well, friend, that's so easy to see,
But the one thing that fills me with wonder is
Why Jesus loves someone like me.

The Alphabet Prayer
Author Unknown


Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with man.
Now the story goes, a little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday
morning and he heard the bells of the church ringing. And watching the
people walk along the pasture where he was, he happened to think to himself,
"I would like to communicate with God! But, what can I say to God?"

He had never learned a prayer. So, on bended knee, he began to recite the
alphabet. Repeating this prayer several times, a man passing by, heard the
boy's voice and peaked through the bushes. He saw the young boy kneeling
with folded hands, eyes closed, repeating the alphabet.

He interrupted the boy. "What are you doing, my little one?" he asked. The
boy replied, "I was praying sir." The man seemed surprised and said, "But
why are you reciting the alphabet?" The boy explained, "I don't know any
prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me, and to help me care for my
sheep. And so I thought, if I said all I knew, He could put the letters
together into words, and He would know all that I want and should say!"

The man smiled and said, "Bless your heart, God will!" And he went on to
church knowing full well that he had heard the finest sermon he could
possibly hear that day.

Maybe if we thought like little children and let God put together the
letters, what we should want, and what we should say, things would probably
work out a lot better than we planned!!!