Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God is better to us than we deserve. Lord, thank you for the strength

You give in my trials and especially thank you for the trials You have

kept from my door.

S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come? My help

comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." ~Psalm 121:1-2

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come?" We can try

to raise our thoughts from the depths of some of the sordid, mean and impure

things of the earth to the heights of goodness, decency and beauty. We can

train our insight by trying to take the higher view. We can train it more

and more until distant heights become more familiar. The heights of the

Lord, the source of our help, can become nearer and dearer, and the false

values of the earth can seem farther away.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may not keep my eyes forever downcast. I pray that I may set

my sights on higher things.

Hello my friends! Today turned out pretty good for Linus - his contract still didn't arrive there at Lighthouse, so he downloaded his contract again, filled it out and went to our bank and faxed it in, and right away he got emails from the headquarters with information etc. and the promo code he needs to use to get paid, so the training he's still waiting for, but he can go out and sell what he can anyway now that he has his promo code. He was excited about it - and making plans etc. etc. I'm so glad his last two days at Northern didn't wear him out, he can handle the 5 hours much easier than six. Lori is thinking things may work out between her and Steve, she's been talking to him, and he texts her, and she seems happy! She talked to me a long time tonight on the phone. Darla is back to teaching from 7 - 10 3 nights a week, so she's busy with that and preparing for classes, so haven't talked to her since they just got home, but that was a long call too. My blessings are my family and being in touch with them means the world to me. The biggest blessing is our Faith, and my husband is such a good husband!! I thank and praise God for him and my daughters. My sister, Erma, is getting all the help she needs, I still pray her pain won't have to be so great as she heals. Lori called to ask if I wanted to go see her soon, but I think it's too soon yet. I'll ask my niece, when a good time would be. Praying for you all!! Thanks for your prayers for us.

THE SEED

Author Unknown

In the Far East the emperor was growing old and knew it was time to

choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his

children, he decided to do something different. He called young people

in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to step

down and choose the

next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you."

The children were shocked, but the emperor continued. "I am going to

give each one of you a seed today - one very special seed. I want you

to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today

with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the

plants that you bring,

and the one I choose will be the next emperor."

One boy, named Ling, was there that day and he, like the others,

received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his mother the

story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the

seed and watered it, carefully. Everyday, he would water it and watch

to see if it had grown.. After about three weeks, some of the other

youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were

beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now,

others were talking about their plants, but Ling didn't have a plant

and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in

Ling's pot.

He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall

plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends,

however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally

went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the

emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to

take an empty pot. But his mother asked him to be honest about what

happened.

Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He

took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at

the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful

-- in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and

many of the other children

laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey, nice

try."

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young

people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants,

trees, and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today one of

you will be appointed the next emperor!"

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with

his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling

was terrified. He thought, "The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he

will have me killed!"

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is

Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him.

The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then

announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!"

Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could

he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a

seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it

back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow.

All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another

seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage

and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he Is the

one who will be the new

emperor!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you

will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If

you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. If you plant

consideration, you will reap harmony. If you plant hard work, you will

reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. So be careful what you

plant, now; it will determine what you will reap tomorrow. The seeds

you now scatter will make life worse or better for

you or for the ones who will come after you. Someday you will enjoy

the fruits or you will pay for the choices you make.

Two thousand years ago someone else told the same story with fewer

words, "What you sow, so shall you reap". If you know who said this,

nothing else needs to be said.

Come As You Are. No Jacket Required

I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about.

But, this just couldn't be the right place. Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No jacket required," and found the location.

Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant.

Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy.

A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my body. As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me, "Come as you are. No jacket required."

I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium.

"Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.

"Daniel F. Renken," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.

He didn't seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated?"

I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said, "Yes, of course!"

He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name written on it in a deep, dark red.

As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed.

There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy."

I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was at. "God's Grace," was the name of this place!

The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day.' With it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu."

You've got to be kidding! I thought to myself. You mean, I can have ALL of this!

"What is the 'Special of the Day,'" I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.

"Salvation," was his reply.

"I'll take it," I practically cried out.

Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body. A sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes.

Between my sobs I said, "Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty. I'm unclean and unworthy of such things. I'd love to have all of this, but, I Just can't afford it."

Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken care of by that Gentleman over there," he said pointing to the front of the room. "His Name is Jesus."

Turning, I saw a Man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and in shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take out the trash. I'll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this."

He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto Me. Ask Me to clean you up and I will. Ask Me to take away the stains and it is done. Ask Me to allow you to feast at My table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in your name. All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you."

Astonished, I fell at His feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life. Please change me and seat me at Your table and give me this new life."

Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished."

I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been lifted, and I found myself seated at His table.

"The 'Special of the Day' has been served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation is yours."

We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like me to come back as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible.

As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real world," He whispered to me softly, "And Daniel, I am with you always." And then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said, "My child, Do you see these empty tables throughout this room?"

"Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied.

"These are reserved tables, but the individuals whose names are on each placards have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?" Jesus asked.

"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.

"Go ye therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave.

I walked into God's Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new man... robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord. I'll go.

I'll spread the Word.

I'll share the Gospel . . .

I'll hand out the invitations.

And I'll start with you.

"Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, and here's your invitation . . .

Come as you are. No jacket required."

- Author Unknown

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Morning Prayer

Lord, thank you for this time we will spend together. I wish to step away from the world and all its activities to be alone with you now. You are my beginning and my end: you created me, and you are leading me home to you in heaven. Thank you for your love. I know I deserve nothing from you and that my sins compound my unworthiness, yet you would still enfold me in your unfathomable love.

Lord, increase my love for prayer and the interior life.