Friday, October 29, 2010

To Ignore The Past Is To Repeat It

Obama needs to read the Bible. Lets look at a situation that occurred in the past that is very similar to America and what is happening today.

"1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem where all Israel had gathered to inaugurate him as king. 2 Jeroboam had been in Egypt, where he had taken asylum from King Solomon; when he got the report of Solomon's death he had come back. 3 Rehoboam assembled Jeroboam and all the people. They said to Rehoboam, 4 "Your father made life hard for us - worked our fingers to the bone. Give us a break; lighten up on us and we'll willingly serve you." 5 "Give me three days to think it over, then come back," Rehoboam said. 6 King Rehoboam talked it over with the elders who had advised his father when he was alive: "What's your counsel? How do you suggest that I answer the people?" 7 They said, "If you will be a servant to this people, be considerate of their needs and respond with compassion, work things out with them, they'll end up doing anything for you." 8 But he rejected the counsel of the elders and asked the young men he'd grown up with who were now currying his favor, 9 "What do you think? What should I say to these people who are saying, 'Give us a break from your father's harsh ways - lighten up on us'?" 10 The young turks he'd grown up with said, "These people who complain, 'Your father was too hard on us; lighten up' - well, tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!'" 12 Three days later Jeroboam and the people showed up, just as Rehoboam had directed when he said, "Give me three days to think it over, then come back." 13 The king's answer was harsh and rude. He spurned the counsel of the elders 14 and went with the advice of the younger set, "If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!" 15 Rehoboam turned a deaf ear to the people. God was behind all this, confirming the message that he had given to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah of Shiloh. (1 Kings 12:1-14 msg)"

Here we see a new leader, taking advice from people that had a lack of experience, and ignoring those who had a lifetime of experience. Pretty much what is happening today. The people wanted one thing, and the leader wanted another thing all together. Sound familiar? The people said enough was enough and "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." 1 Kings 12:19 (ASV) That may be the only course we have left to us. We are coming to a crossroads that will determine our destiny. Will we live for Christ in obedience to His word? Or will we continue to use reason to determine what we will do?

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

What is The Spirit Of A Human Being

Our Spirit; A Third Of Our Makeup

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spirit, Soul, Body


The Role of Our Spirit


Our spirit and our bodies have predetermined destinations when we leave this earth:

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Our spirit is our life force and when it is gone we no longer hold residence on this earth.

Luke 8:53 ,54 ,55 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.


Our Spirit - The Gift of Life

The "Breath of Life"

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.


Soul & Spirit Are Extremely Close In Relationship
Soul is Associated With Breath (By Definition)
Spirit is Associated With Life (By Definition)
The Life In Gods Breath Forms Our Spirit
Breath From The Life of God Forms Our Soul



Connection Between Breath and Spirit


Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

Job 34:13,14,15 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:



Connection Between Spirit and Life


God Gives Life and Breath To All Humans. From Genesis 2:7 We Understand The "Breath of Life" Ushered Man Into Existence.

Acts 17:25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Why Might It Be That We Receive A Spirit When God Breathed The " Breath of Life"?

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Because God Is A Spirit And Life Is In Him, It Makes Sense We Would Receive These Attributes.

John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

God Is Self Generating And Human Beings Are Not. In Other Words, The Life In Us Is Given As A Gift.

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

God Gently Convicts and Corrects Us

Can we think of times in our lives when we have been corrected, humiliated and shamed? I am sure we call can. Then there are those times when we have been "called to task" by someone who was firm but able to do the job in a gentle and loving way so we ended up feeling we could do it and we would do it the correct way in the future.
God always whispers to our hearts His gentle rebuke and correction while convicting us or our wrong:

Child, child, you have not grieved me so much by your absence into busyness as much as you have robbed yourself of My Closeness and strength and renewal of your mind. You haven't been still then you overload. You sense out workings of that and it isn't what you'd choose, is it? Be still and KNOW - that I AM God. I still love you, of course. Selah.

The Lord is gentle yet makes His point. He can make you understand where your choices are taking you but give you hope. He shows you his heart in the whole situation and gives you a remedy. He makes you feel like a toddler who tripped, stumbled and maybe even fell but was picked up by his/her daddy. Picked up and brushed off and encouraged to try and try again.


Faithreaders website.

God Gently Convicts and Corrects Us (2)

The enemy is great at condemnation, taking the truth and rubbing our nose in it so to speak. He is not beyond stealing, lying, killing and doing all that lead to destruction ours.

Satan speaks with condemnation and condescension in his attitude and voice:

You sure have messed up not having your quiet times lately God is walking away and leaving you right where you want to be without him.

Satan makes you feel hopeless, condemned; like the lights were turned off and no one paid the electric bill. He makes you feel unworthy (and though we are, we have Jesus who can, will and does forgive if we but ask) Satan makes us feel we are in an unredeemable position. Satan is the accuser of the brethren the liar the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy.

SO next time you hear a little voice, pray, and discern where it is coming from. If it is the Lord you have hope and can be forgiven. If it is the other guy, you can tell him to go where the Lord Jesus Christ said he should go.

Below are some scriptures relating to this which you can always hold close and use when you have times of struggle, when the enemy comes to condemn or when you need the forgiveness of God.

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.(NKJV)

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

If what you hear is full of condemnation, leaving you with no hope there is also a remedy.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)

(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.

About Self

Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

What Is The Spriit

Our Spirit; A Third Of Our Makeup

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spirit, Soul, Body


The Role of Our Spirit


Our spirit and our bodies have predetermined destinations when we leave this earth:

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Our spirit is our life force and when it is gone we no longer hold residence on this earth.

Luke 8:53 ,54 ,55 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.


Our Spirit - The Gift of Life

The "Breath of Life"

Taken from Faithreaders

The Homepedoo

When my son was three years old, he had a strange, but very real fear, of a mysterious creature called a hompedoo!
Now, this creature was very sneaky! He just loved to sneak around.
Sometimes he lived in the ward-robe; sometimes he sneaked in under the bed (as such creatures are apt to do!). Sometimes he made himself invisible and hid, so you couldn't see him at all - 'til he got visible again that is, ready to pop out from somewhere, and scare the pants (or P.J.'s) right off of you - especially if you were a little kid!
Well, my husband and I tried to find out about this 'hompedoo', from our small and more than slightly scared, son.
"How big is he?" We asked.
"As big as a elephant!" came the assured reply (never mind that an elephant couldn't fit into his room!)
"How tall is he?" We asked.
"As tall as a giraffe! But sometimes, small... like this..."
A small hand gestured vaguely, near the floor.
"O.K... so, what noise does a hompedoo make?" We asked.
"They growl like this - rraahhh! But mainly, they say nothing at all."
"Really - why's that?" We asked, more intrigued than ever.
Mikey thrust his little hands into his pockets.
"Because!" he said, quite simply, "Because. That's all!”
Well, my husband and I got to thinking. What about this hompedoo? How were we going to go about removing his unwanted presence from our small son's life? We thought and we thought... and then we came up with an idea. We would have to shift Mikey's focus, and get him to concentrate on something else. Well - what was bigger than a hompedoo? - Why, God, of course!
What we had to get Mikey to do was to rely less on himself, and more on God. Even if he was only three, if Mikey could just hand the problem over to the Lord, then things would improve dramatically, we were sure of that - after all, who better than God, to scare a hompedoo away?
Well, before too long, our efforts paid off and soon, don't y'know it - that hompedoo was gone! Not a hair, not a whisker remaining - kavoom!
"Whew! I'm glad I've got God on my side!" exclaimed little Mikey.
And you know, he was absolutely right! What Mikey was learning, was that all-important lesson of trust, and I figure we could learn from it, too. If you've got a problem:
1. Take your focus off of it. Try looking at it from a different angle.
2. Call in God! Trust Him! Pray; then pray some more - and look for the encouragement of others. Lord knows, we've all had hompedoos in our lives - hiding under our beds, in our ward-robes, in our bank accounts, even at work, sometimes!
On the other hand though, God bless all the hompedoos, 'cos in their own strange, confounded way, they're leading us back to God, for a bigger faith, a better faith - a stronger faith altogether! And before you know it, you're looking over your shoulder, and that hompedoo is gone, just like Mikey's! Well - 'Good riddance!' (as Mikey would say). And by the way, thank-you, Lord!

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Why We Love Them So

It was the end of a long day, and I was just putting my little son to bed.
"O.K., Mikey time to say your prayers!" I gently reminded him.
Well, Mikey got down on his little knees, and put his hands together and looked very serious, as he quite often did when he said his prayers. Then off he started on his usual long and rambling list of very important childish things that he wanted to say to God.
I tip-toed out of the room to get something, and when I came back a minute or two later, little Mikey was just finishing up, saying:
"... and most of all, God, thank-you for Mrs Squid Heavens - cos she's the nicest teacher ever! I like Mrs Squid Heavens, God! A-men!"
Now, I couldn't help grinning at this last little note, appended as it was at the end of Mikey's prayer.
Mrs Squid Heavens? I thought - who was she?
"Mikey," I enquired, trying not to sound too much like I was prying, "Who is Mrs Squid Heavens?"
"Oh, she's my new teacher at pre-school," said Mikey, in a very serious little voice. "She's cool!"
"Are you sure that's her name?" I continued.
Mikey nodded his head vigorously.
"Yep!" he assured me.
I smiled - somehow I doubted that Mikey's information was quite right on this one.
"Well good-night, darling Mikey!" I said, giving my little guy a great, big hug and a kiss.
"G'night Mom!" returned a very sleepy little son.
Two days later, I walked Mikey to his pre-school class. I was greeted by a mature and very kindly lady, with a wonderful, bright smile.
"Why, hello Mikey!" she said, warmly.
"Hello!" returned my little man, smiling shyly.
"And you must be Mikey's mom," said this new teacher, reaching out to shake my hand.
"Yes, that's right, I am. I'm very pleased to meet you!" I replied.
But I couldn't help smiling.
There, on this new teacher's lapel, was a name tag. The letters were embossed in gold. They read:
'Mrs Gwyn Evyns'. Immediately, my brain made the connection - Squid Heavens! Now little Mikey's prayer made sense!
I looked into the kind, sparkling eyes of this new teachers face, and I thought to myself, when I get to know her a little better, I must tell Mrs Gwyn Evyns about Mikey's interpretation of her name! I felt sure, that like me, she would find it rather amusing!
Lord, I guess what I'm trying to say here, in my own long and rambling adult way is this: thank-you for our children! They surely are one of your greatest gifts! And it's times like the other night, when they're down on their little knees at bed-time, praying so earnestly for Squid Heavens (or whatever other variations on a theme children can come up with!)that they make us love them even more, if that's possible! Lord - protect our children; help us give them happy lives! And with your loving guidance, help us to be the best parents that we can be - and Lord? May all their teachers be as wonderful as Squid Heavens!

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Monday, October 25, 2010

We Thank Thee, A Song, Sung By Jim Reeves

Alex Martin made his way early in the morning, through the newly laid bitumen road to the colony's bus stop which is a good five minute walk from his home. The Heavy Electrical residential colony which is twenty kilometers away from Hyderabad was built for the families of engineers and technicians working in the Heavy Electrical factory, one the many prestigious units planned all over India with Czechoslovakian technology. Alex's two elder brothers, both Electrical engineers are employed in that factory and Alex, the youngest along with his parents stay in the spacious and luxurious residential house allotted to them.

Alex Martin, the youngest of the three brothers is a post graduate in Biochemistry, a trainee Production chemist in a bulk drug manufacturing factory situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, which is about forty minutes from his residence. As he is working in the general shift, which is at seven in the morning, he has to catch the first bus which starts at six o' clock from the colony. The early morning walk, Alex felt in the beginning was a painful process, but within few days he started liking the cool breeze, the greenery, and identifying the birds by their songs found abundantly in the unpolluted atmosphere around the colony.

The colony has only few occupants and one of them is the corner house, nearer to the bus stop with a green gate and a well maintained garden. Alex usually waits for the bus, standing underneath the dense neem tree which is right opposite the corner house.

He noticed that if he arrives just before five thirty five he could hear the beautiful songs sung by Jim Reeves played on a cassette recorder from the kitchen of the corner house. And what he cannot understand is that the last song, 'We thank Thee' is abruptly switched off exactly at five fifty.

Alex is in the bulk drug industry which is the fastest growing industry in India and its products are exported to nearly all the countries around the world and as the best survive, the industry is forever improving their profit margins by cutting costs, either in the purchase of the raw material or in the manufacturing process. And to Alex's consternation he and his other seven colleagues have been asked to take a crash course in computers, as their factory is on the threshold of computerizing the entire manufacturing process.

As the one year full time computer course is a very expensive one, the management insisted that its employees sign a bond to work for two years in the same pay scales. Experienced production chemists are much in demand and Alex's seven colleagues have already resigned and joined a rival company leaving him in a dilemma of whether he has also to resign or continue in the same firm.

The management had given Alex one month time to decide and the deadline is on Monday the 3rd July 1989. Walking on that day, from his house to the bus stop Alex was still undecided on whether to join the new company with a five fold salary increase or get trained and work for two more years with no assurance of salary hike.

The morning was chilly and Alex was glad that he wore his windcheater and thrusts his hands deep in its pockets and was deep in his thoughts when he heard above the singing of the birds, the beautiful rich voice of Jim Reeves from the corner house. As soon as he reached the neem tree the song was switched off abruptly, disappointing him. Standing under the neem tree Alex looked at his watch and seeing that it was five fifty, had the overwhelming desire to pray. Bowing his head he prayed. A silent prayer for the wonderful day and asking God's help in taking the right decision and the strength to face the unknown and divine help for the future.

After saying his prayers he opened his eyes and felt an overwhelming joy and peace and felt that God had answered his prayers. Going to his factory he signed the bond and joined the computer course.

It was on 15th August 1989, India's Independence Day and a holiday and as he was walking back to his home, came across that corner house where he used to hear the Jim Reeves songs. Stopping, he pressed the bell and was greeted by an elderly gentleman with a ready smile who immediately invited him as soon as Alex introduced himself and the purpose of his visit.

"My name is George. My wife Judy is a Jim Reeves fan," explained the elderly man, "And it is she who daily listens to it. I'll call her."

After a minute or so both of them appeared. She is in her fifties, plump, and with that ready smile which appealed to Alex.

"Alex is your Jim Reeves fan."

Alex laughed and said, "Jim Reeves is loved all over the world. One thing which I wanted to ask for a long time is why you play the same old Jim Reeves songs every day at five thirty five and switch it off at exactly five fifty and that too in the middle of one of the best songs?"

"I never noticed that," said the elderly man as he looked towards his wife for an answer.

"Your songs," continued Alex, "played so early in the morning is very inspiring. The mellowed rich voice, and the wonderful lyrics are really beautiful and particularly in the morning, with only the birds and the cool air for company. Wow, it was heavenly just listening to each and every word and I loved it every lyric of it."

She laughed and keeping her head bowed for some time, answered, "I play Jim Reeves and other singers daily through out the day. And as George has to report for work at seven he likes to have his breakfast by six fifteen every day. He loves a hearty breakfast of French Omelet, boiled eggs, sausages and oats."

Alex listened with a puzzled look and nodded silently. Seeing that Judy was quiet, he asked, "But what has Jim Reeves to do with George's breakfast?"

Judy continued, "George likes to have his eggs hard boiled, and Jim Reeves does that. As soon as I keep the eggs on the stove I switch on the Jim Reeves cassette and switch it off at the start of 'We thank Thee', and the eggs are boiled as per George's liking."

Victor Jasti from India has this passion to write short stories based on Bible and real incidents. He also writes Christian fiction & poetry. Five of his poems were published in Temporal Currents compiled by an American author Ms Christine Tricarico

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Friday, October 22, 2010

A Recipe For Happiness

I remember as a child, visiting my Aunt Mabel by the sea. I don't know what was the more pleasurable - visiting Aunt Mabel, or visiting the sea, for I loved them both! Never was a grown-up so kindly and enthusiastic, so interested in the world, as my Aunt Mabel was. We'd sit on the porch, and she'd tell me stories of when she was a girl - she'd hoot with laughter when I tried to tell a joke. She'd watch me running along the beach, chasing the dancing edges of the waves. In the evenings, as the sea whispered it's secrets to the shells, Aunt Mabel would light a candle on the table outside, and she'd read me passages from the Bible. I'd close my eyes and lay back on the big, old couch and listen, as the stars lit up the sky... y'know, in our own way, over the years, Aunt Mabel and I made quite a study of that Great Book! Last thing at night, Aunt Mabel would take my hands, and draw me close and kiss me. Then she'd send me off to bed, with a blessing. One of my favorite of Aunt Mabel's blessings was this one:

Happiness is
taking
Whatever God gives you to work with
And making a gift of it to others
Letting God's light shine through you
Just a little every day...
That's the surest recipe to chase the blues away!

Why did this little verse mean so much to me?
Well... Aunt Mabel was confined to a wheel-chair; she'd been in that wheel-chair, ever since she was 10 years old when she'd had an accident and fallen from a horse. I guess Aunt Mabel knew a lot about disappointment... but if she did, she didn't show it! I reckon Aunt Mabel had travelled more miles for God in that wheel-chair, than most people do on two good legs. God calls us to take note of our lives, and serve Him with joy and praise - at least, that's what Aunt Mabel used to say. Now, if she could do it from a wheel-chair - how much more able are most of us! No more excuses! We need to take whatever gifts God gives us, and shine!

"Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 4:11

2010 Laura Swindon-Ross. All rights reserved

This work is copyright, all rights reserved.
I'm a teacher and Christian writer, currently studying for a Ph.D.

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Thursday, October 21, 2010

That's The Way I Like It....

That's the way ..ah ah.. I like it... ah ah...
That's the way ..ah ah.. I like it... ah ah...

Thank you, Ling-Ling
For creating this ME above
You have made a wonderful job..
I look good.. I look Cool, baby!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Princess Sarah

Princess Sarah is the fairy-tale of a little girl who leaves India to go and study in England. Her mother died when she was still a baby. Her dad is a millionaire; he bought a diamond mine with a friend in India and has to go back to India to work on that mine with his friend. Unfortunately, he catches a tropical disease and dies shortly after.

His daughter, Sarah, studies at this very expensive school. She wears some of the most expensive dresses and carries around her doll called "Emily", which she treats as her own child. She makes friends in the school with the most sensitive children, a girl of 4 years old, whose mother died a while ago. Sarah decides to be a mum to the 4 year old girl who had been quite distressed by the death of her mum. Sarah also becomes friend to another girl whose father doesn't think she is quite intelligent, so this girl lacks quite a lot of confidence in her. Sarah also becomes friend with the maid of the college called Becky.

Unfortunately, Sarah is hated by Lavinia, one of the most popular girls in the college. Lavinia keeps bossing around the most sensitive classmates, which Sarah has taken under her protection. However, Lavinia takes advantage of this situation to send bad remarks to Sarah to show her hatred towards her. As a matter of fact, Miss Minchin had decided to put Sarah in charge of the class instead of Lavinia.

The headmistress, Miss Minchin manages the college with her sister, Miss Amelia. This headmistress takes so much interest in Sarah because her father had made quite a large donation to the college. Sarah is an intelligent young girl, who doesn't have any difficulties to excel in all the subjects, especially as she speaks French perfectly. She even receives the favour of the Prefect who comes and visits the college yearly and gives substantive donations for his management. Sarah impresses the crowd in the street by her beauty and her good manners. The Prefect wants also Sarah to give grammar lessons to the younger children which is agreed by Miss Minchin.

One day, the headmistress decides to organise an expensive birthday party for Sarah and to send the bill to the notaire of Sarah dad, who manages his affairs in England.

Unfortunately, the day of her birthday, Sarah learns that her dad will no longer be able to support her because he has died of a tropical disease in India. As a result, the headmistress of the college and the notaire are furious against Sarah and her deceased dad. As a result, Sarah is left with debts toward the college and, the notaire takes all Sarah belongings to pay her dad debts.

However, the headmistress decides to keep Sarah in the college as a maid. The notaire of her dad had adviced Miss Minchin to keep Sarah to repay herself from what Sarah dad owed to the college and for the good reputation of the school institution.

Being now an orphan, Sarah has to work very hard with the other maid Becky. She gets up very early in the morning to buy food, to scrub and cook. She is now sleeping in a mansard where it is very cold. She is very badly treated by the headmistress who keeps shouting at her and doesn't supply her meals if she is too slow. On numerous occasions, she sends her in the rain to buy groceries when most of the markets are closed. Sarah has a very hard life but she keeps seeing her ex-classmates which she keeps taking under her protection. Unfortunately, Lavinia is very jealous of Sarah because Sarah is very strong and doesn't flinch to stand to her responsibilities and, doesn't lose her courage. As a result, Lavinia creates all sort of situations to humiliate Sarah and accuses her wrongly to Miss Minchin, to get Sarah punished.

Sarah is rewarded by the friends that she has taken under her protection, they help her to be courageous and hope for better days. One day, Sarah is starving and found some money in the street, she believes that somebody lost it and goes to the priest to give him, in order for him to give back the money to the person that lost it. The priest says to Sarah that God wanted her to find the money and she should use it to buy something to eat. As a result, Sarah goes to the bakery to buy five small breads. As she goes out of the bakery, she found a little girl, begging for food so she gives four loaves of bread to the little girl and she takes one loaf of bread for herself to share with the other maid, Becky, from the college.

The owner of the bakery sees through the window what Sarah did with the bread, her amazing kindness for the little girl. So the owner of the bakery decides to give decent clothes to the little girl and a job in the bakery. The owner of the shop prays that God helps Sarah in due times. Sarah is also a believer of God, she goes to the church sometimes to pray for herself.

When Sarah was rich, she had a pony and a driver to take her for a walk, when she became an orphan, the headmistress of the college had to fire her driver, called Peter. As Sarah goes to buy groceries, she meets Peter who sells in the market and becomes to him a very good friend; he helps her to do her shopping and carries it for her to the college.

In the meantime, the college has a new neighbour who lives in the house just next to it. This neighbour is a rich man from India, who is very sick, he caught a tropical disease in India but the servant of this man becomes quite friend with Sarah, both admire the courage of Sarah. One day, Sarah becomes quite sick as a result of having gone through the rain to do some food shopping for the college.

Her friends, Peter and Becky go and pray in the church for Sarah recovery and they go to the aunt of one of the girls; Sarah had taken under her protection, to get her some medicine for her sickness. The college neighbour sends his servants to go into Sarah room at night to make her a good fire and a good meal to recover her strength. As a result of all those nice gestures, Sarah recovers rapidly from her sickness.

Sarah neighbour keeps supplying good meals to Sarah and Becky anonymously at night but soon, the headmistress finds out about the meals. As a result, Sarah and Becky get punished and, Sarah is sent to sleep in the stable where her pony used to stay before being taken away. Sarah is devastated but she keeps believing in God and found strength by looking at the picture of her deceased parents.

Shortly after, Lavinia celebrates her birthday and wants Sarah to give her the doll "Emily" that her dad had given her before he left for India. Seeing through her cruelty, Sarah friends stand up to Lavinia and urge her to give the doll back to Sarah, which is the only comfort through all the hardships that Sarah had been enduring.

We learn that the college neighbour which is a rich man had been working with Sarah dad in India, this man was Sarah dad childhood friend, he assisted to his death and, he was also owning the mine of diamonds and, now he is searching for Sarah to make her inherit his fortune, not having any family of his own, as he feels he owes to Sarah dad for having influenced him to buy the mine of diamonds who cost him his life.

He doesn't know that the name of the girl he has been helping is the girl he has been looking for. He decides to buy some expensive clothes for Sarah anonymously and send them as a gift to the college.

In the meantime, Lavinia and her friends put the fire at the stable by mistake, wanting to scare Sarah little 4 years old friend, the day of Halloween, chasing her while carrying candles in huge pumpkins; one of the candle falls on the floor of the stable and set fire to it.

Fortunately, Sarah wasn't sleeping in the stable at this time and she manages to save her doll and the photograph of her beloved parents. However, Lavinia accuses Sarah of having set the fire in the stable. The headmistress blames Sarah wrongly despite her friends claiming her innocence; Sarah decides to leave the college for having been treated very badly, worse than a slave.

Sarah found refuge with Peter and his family. She decides to take on the job of selling matches in the street in the harsh cold and snow of winter. Shortly after, Peter brings her back to his home as the sister of the headmistress, Miss Amelia, came to collect her to bring her back to the college to give her the anonymous gift that the college neighbour had sent Sarah.

The headmistress insists on Sarah to try on the clothes that suit her perfectly. So Miss Minchin realises that Sarah has a secret benefactor and, decides for Sarah to resume the college classes and give up her maid status.

In the afternoon, the little monkey of the college neighbour escapes in Sarah mansard. She decides to bring the monkey to the college neighbour without being seen. As it happens, the neighbour asks Sarah her name and found out that she is the daughter of his beloved deceased friend. Having been looking everywhere for her to inherit his fortune.

As a result of finding Sarah, her benefactor decides to keep Sarah in his house and supply her with beautiful dresses, she is called "the princess diamonds".

Shortly after, the headmistress who learnt those amazing news, get quite a shock by realising that she had treated Sarah quite badly, she even wants to give up her position as a headmistress, realising that she had a bad attitude towards Sarah because she became poor and felt threatened by Sarah strength through her dilemma. Having a kind and forgiving heart, free from grudges, Sarah decides to make a huge donation to the college and to carry on studying there with her friends.

As a result, the classmates that hated Sarah decide to become friends with her (including Lavinia). Everything that Sarah had lost as a result of her poverty, her pony and her parrot, are restored to Sarah in the end. Sarah decides to reward the owner of the bakery for having given her the loaves of bread when she was hungry; she wants to pay for every loaf of bread that the owner of the bakery will give to the homeless children every day.

Sarah also decides to engage Becky as a lady of company. As a matter of fact, Becky had stood up for Sarah all the times Sarah was wrongly accused because of the bad jokes of Lavinia, Becky even let herself punished for smuggling food at night for Sarah who was starving.

In conclusion, I can see the power of God in this amazing story of "Princess Sarah", who has been adapted as a cartoon series. I used to watch this cartoon when I was a little girl and forgot most of it as time went on. This story has really touched my heart. Having watched it recently, I really felt for that little girl who had to stay brave despite her tough hardships of life. Her kindness, positivity and sensitivity to the needs of others despite the unfair things going on all around her, she never displayed resentment or anger at being treated unjustly. However, she cried quite a lot in her closet and decided to leave the college when it was too much for her to bear, but, everybody does it. We are human beings. There is so much we can endure.

We can also remember the story of Job, a wealthy man who lost his health and wealth in one day. Shortly after, God restored Job to his previous status of wealth, giving him even more for all the hardships that he had to endure.

James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

We can see that God is so much at work in Sarah life; he gives her strength, help and faith through all the people she had helped kindly along the way. Those people risk their positions for helping Sarah out. But, she rewards them all in the end. It is good to be kind to people because we never know when God will use them to help us. Through all the hardships of Sarah, we can see that God is always there; Sarah learns humility and gets rewarded by having more than she ever imagined.

In conclusion, we shouldn't lose heart through our troubles; the light is still shining at the end of the tunnel. God is waiting to reward us for our perseverance and faith in him. God just wants us to trust in Him and He will see us through in due times. God just wants to use those hardships to rely on him and to humble us. He is the only one that can help us.

Colossians 1:11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

God bless you all.
Sana Edoja

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Recipe For Happiness

I remember as a child, visiting my Aunt Mabel by the sea. I don't know what was the more pleasurable - visiting Aunt Mabel, or visiting the sea, for I loved them both! Never was a grown-up so kindly and enthusiastic, so interested in the world, as my Aunt Mabel was. We'd sit on the porch, and she'd tell me stories of when she was a girl - she'd hoot with laughter when I tried to tell a joke. She'd watch me running along the beach, chasing the dancing edges of the waves. In the evenings, as the sea whispered it's secrets to the shells, Aunt Mabel would light a candle on the table outside, and she'd read me passages from the Bible. I'd close my eyes and lay back on the big, old couch and listen, as the stars lit up the sky... y'know, in our own way, over the years, Aunt Mabel and I made quite a study of that Great Book! Last thing at night, Aunt Mabel would take my hands, and draw me close and kiss me. Then she'd send me off to bed, with a blessing. One of my favorite of Aunt Mabel's blessings was this one:

Happiness is
taking
Whatever God gives you to work with
And making a gift of it to others
Letting God's light shine through you
Just a little every day...
That's the surest recipe to chase the blues away!

Why did this little verse mean so much to me?
Well... Aunt Mabel was confined to a wheel-chair; she'd been in that wheel-chair, ever since she was 10 years old when she'd had an accident and fallen from a horse. I guess Aunt Mabel knew a lot about disappointment... but if she did, she didn't show it! I reckon Aunt Mabel had travelled more miles for God in that wheel-chair, than most people do on two good legs. God calls us to take note of our lives, and serve Him with joy and praise - at least, that's what Aunt Mabel used to say. Now, if she could do it from a wheel-chair - how much more able are most of us! No more excuses! We need to take whatever gifts God gives us, and shine!

"Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 4:11



2010 Laura Swindon-Ross. All rights reserved

This work is copyright, all rights reserved.
I'm a teacher and Christian writer, currently studying for a Ph.D.

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Gone With The Wind

The train left Nampally railway station at exactly five twenty five and I made myself comfortable at my seat which was on the lower berth in the near empty coach. The coach is divided into compartments having four berths, two on the lower and two on the upper, facing each other.

My work involves extensive travel to meet shipping deadlines and I keep a travel case ready with all the necessities along with a Bible and a novel, bigger the better as I may not get reading material in some of those far off destinations.

Sitting on the berth with the back to the window and popped up with pillows I stretched out my legs on the berth and started reading the only book available with me, ‘Gone with the Wind’ by Margaret Mitchell. Even though I have read it many times before, I get so immersed into it, that time just flies by mesmerizing me as the South comes alive just like it was in the year 1861 with its old world charm, as the beautiful green eyed sixteen year old Scarlett O’Hara makes her way through one thousand and odd pages till the book ends with her famous words, ‘I’ll think of it all tomorrow, at Tara. After all, tomorrow is another day.’

The sudden ring of a mobile phone in the opposite berth startled me as it was particularly loud, and the owner, a plump lady in her forties, looked apologetic as she answered it. It was nearing eight and dinner was being served by the pantry boy.

After the call the lady asked me rather sheepishly, “Excuse me can you lower the volume?”
I took her mobile and made the necessary adjustments.
“Thank you very much.”
I nodded.
Pointing to the book I was reading she asked me, “Is it ‘Gone with the Wind’?”
“Yes”
“Great book”
I nodded again, but this time I smiled.
“They say the sales of the book were second to the Bible?”
“Yes”
“Are you a Christian?”
“Yes”
And she was silent. Seeing that she was minding her own business, I unwrapped my dinner, and watching me, she called, “Sheila”
And from the top berth, a girl, who must be in her mid twenties answered, “Yes Ma”
“Beta lets have dinner.”
I quickly finished my dinner and returned to my reading.

After about fifteen minutes, I glanced up from my reading and saw through the tinted window that we are approaching a station.
“Are you conversant with the Bible?” the lady asked.
As I looked at her, bewildered, she explained, “What I meant to ask is, are you familiar with the Bible.”
“Yes, I am familiar with it. I read it daily.”
“You read it daily?” she asked me shocked.
“Yes,” I answered with a bewildered look.
“I beg your pardon; please don’t think otherwise, what I meant was, do you read the Bible daily?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Is it that easy? Is it in English?”
I laughed and taking out the Bible from my travel case gave it to her. It is encased in a black zipped leather jacket with ‘Holy Bible’ printed on it in golden letters.
“Can I open it?”
“Sure go ahead.”
Opening the zip, she flipped the pages and looking at me asked, “Can I read it?”
“Oh sure, sure, please go ahead.”
“When I am reading should I cover my head?”
I laughed again. “Ma’am, read it just like you read any other book.”

Before I could say anything she started reading the Book of Genesis.

I didn’t know when I slept off, but when I woke up, I found her still reading.

The soft beep of the alarm woke me up and when I pulled the travel case from under my berth, I noticed that the Bible was kept over it, with a simple Thank You note. As the lady’s destination is Belgaum which is another five hours away, she was sleeping soundly on her side and facing away from me.

The surprise arrival of a fairly thick envelope at my office address after two months, by one Mrs.Tanushree Madhumitha, Belgaum and I immediately knew that it must be the lady I met in the train, though I had never asked her name. The envelope contained a couple of photographs, a wedding invitation and a three page handwritten letter.

Dear Mr. Richard,

Remember me? I met you in the train on 18 March 1992. Enclosed is my daughter Sheila, our only child’s wedding invitation. You may feel surprised that I am inviting you, a total stranger to her wedding but after 18 March 1992 you are a family member and I would like to share with you in detail of how you made it possible for us to accept Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord.

You see, Sheila wanted to marry George Gideon, a Christian colleague of hers, whom she was friendly from the last three years. We being from a very strong orthodox Non Christian background, fervently hoped that the phase would go away with the passage of time and waited for nearly three years. But their love, instead of waning, became stronger and stronger. She not only wanted to marry him but to get herself converted into Christianity that made us dumbfounded as none in our family for seven generations on my side and seven in my husband’s side have ever thought of doing it. Getting converted to a religion, a religion where there is no idol worship and a religion which is alien in India is unthinkable to us.

Richard, we never heard about Christianity or about Jesus Christ and to make our situation very difficult we don’t have any common Christian friends. So when I met you in the train and saw you reading ‘Gone with the Wind’, I had that woman’s instinct that you are a Christian and oh boy, I waited for a very long time to start a conversation with you.
But I never knew that you would carry a Bible and give it for me to read it and that made it possible for me to understand about Christianity. Reading it made me know more about Jesus Christ and convinced me to take this momentous decision, as well as make it easy to convince my husband, a forty eight year old man with an illustrious career in the Indian Air Force, a man revered in our family for his great success and a man much sought out in our social circle.

Richard thank you and God Bless You, and we look forward to see you and your wife Pamela at the wedding.

Yours truly,
Tanushree

Ps: - I have noted down your office address from the visiting card which you had kept as a book mark.

We attended the marriage at the Church and the reception was one of the best gatherings we had ever attended.

The phone rang. It was my boss. “Richard the Goan handicrafts order is confirmed. Make arrangements to fly to Goa, and this time take your wife along as it is going to be fairly long trip.”

The plan was to fly direct from Hyderabad to Dabolim, but Pamela wanted to take the train. As usual she did the packing but this time she kept two Bibles and my visiting cards in each of them as a book mark.

And along with my all time favorite ‘Gone with the Wind’ she also kept ‘War and Peace’ written by Leo Tolstoy.

Glossary: Beta - Daughter in Hindi language.
Tikka -A vermillion dot or a colored sticker kept on all non Christian’s
woman’s forehead.
Roti - An unleavened flatbread made from wheat flour.

Author’s Note: Christianity in India is as old as Christianity itself, as Saint Thomas preached in the first century A.D. The Bible Society of India and Gideon International translate and distribute the Holy Bible in forty nine Indian languages and eighty languages worldwide and in one hundred and ninety countries around the world.

Victor Jasti from India has this passion to write short stories based on Bible and real incidents. He also writes Christian fiction & poetry. Five of his poems were published in Temporal Currents compiled by an American author Ms Christine Tricarico

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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Popcorn, Till Death Do Us Apart

Young love is sensual, bringing gratification with each lingering goodnight kiss. I am not intentionally suggestive, just revealing personal experience. As I retrieve memories of dating from way back when, one fact remains clear as crystal; it involved all my senses.


Guys might not realize the intensity of pleasure they provided. First, many were easy on the eyes. A fresh haircut implied he looked forward to our date as much as I did. His selection of a colorful shirt and Wranglers, or dark suit, shirt and tie left a big impression on me. One steady date and I wore matching madras plaid shirts, guess that dates me in my saga.


I snuggled up close to get a better position for aromatherapy. Long before it became trendy or big business a splash of Old Spice, Aqua Velva, English Leather, Canoe or Brut helped me to sit back and relax. The time spent with my head on his shoulder came with repeated deep whiffs of manly fragrance.


The romantic voice of an admirer at the other end of the phone made my heart flutter. Some conversations spanned time linking the closing of one day to the rising of the sun. Three little words transported me to springtime and apple blossoms. "You're my sweetie!"


Holding hands became an art form and I would love to sign up for an art appreciation refresher course. There were many ways to hold hands. Beginners advanced to firm holding with fingers intertwined. The Cadillac of hand holding involved caressing of the hand.


I must not neglect to mention the taste test. Kisses came in many flavor varieties. Many left behind a refreshing taste of minty mouthwash or Lavoris cinnamon. I'm not knocking Listerine or Dr Tichner's, but that antiseptic shocked the taste buds.


I routinely judged chewing gum. Do you remember that juicy kiss when a date chewed Juicy Fruit gum, sugar rush after Double Bubble bubblegum, Black Jack licorice, Chiclets mint, or zesty Dentyne chewed as a precaution against halitosis? Most people are loyal to a brand of chewing gum. I tagged each with their distinctive taste sensation.


Popcorn won first place in my kiss taste test; each bag or bowl led me closer to the aisle. My young man placed popcorn at the top of his snack favorites. Our dates often included matinée viewings in dimly lit movie theaters or rendezvous at drive-ins.


He first detoured to the concession stand to buy popcorn and soda. Each tender kiss tasted like melted butter with a generous topping of salt. I guess it became addictive; I could not get enough!


We're old folks now; we don't get out much anymore. He lingers over popcorn servings from large salad bowls, relaxing in front of the television. One eye is on the TV screen, the other on his popcorn target.


The western hero wins in the chase scene, and my hero munches on a handful of microwave delight. The sun sets in the west; we'll meet at the pass for popcorn goodnight kisses. Popcorn, till death do us part

With God all things are possible! Devotionals are my first love in writing! Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Secret Place, Daily Devotionals for the Deaf. Available now in book store: FORGET-ME-NOT DAILY DEVOTIONAL http:/ebooks.faithwriters.com/ebook-details.php?id=520

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Against All Odds

Against all odds she shouldn't have made it this far; it was a miracle she wasn't dead. Dragging her tiny body along the jagged gravely ground, she sought immediate relief from the danger. Her pain and the oven-like heat combined to make her efforts more unbearable. She couldn't give up; she was the sole support for her two little ones awaiting her return with growling tummies and parched throats.

"Where's Mom? Why has she been gone so long?" they wondered. "We're hungry!" They hadn't eaten since early morning and thought of calling to her but knew it would only make things worse. Mom had taught them early on to stay quiet whenever she was away.

Life was hard this summer and it was becoming do or die for many a family. "Maybe we could go for help," the youngsters brooded together, trying to be brave. "No, Mom said never to let others know if you are weak. That's dangerous." Snuggling close to one another, they decided to stay put and wait. "Mom will be home soon." Their home was a small space off the upstairs bathroom. Though hot in the afternoon, it cooled quickly in the evening; the leaky roof offered some protection from most of the elements.

Crawling now, she inched her way over the rough terrain, scraping one side and then the other, all the while drawing closer to her goal. She could almost smell the water as the vapors in her nostrils told her the shallow pond was very near; her strength was almost exhausted. A few sips and she'd be able to regain enough strength to make it home. One more lunge and then another, she was finally there.

Softly she placed her head down in the warm water and slowly drew in the life-sustaining fluid. "Oh my; what sweet water! I must rest now; I must rest." Her aching body slid into the shallow water as she reclined, soaking for what seemed but a moment and soon she was fast asleep.

Startled out of her slumber, she felt her vigor returning, her senses stepping out of the fog. Her first thoughts were of her little ones. "I must get home; I must get home. My babies need me." With great effort she rolled her tired body from one side to the other in the soothing waters, soaking up every last ounce of moisture for the homeward trek.

Her wobbly feet shook and tickled as she stood erect. She shuddered as her memory returned. "The accident; yes, I remember now." A car had veered in front of her as she was crossing the street. The forceful blow had knocked the wind out of her and nicked one of her feet. If she hadn't dropped to the ground, she would have been killed. Close to losing consciousness, she had wiggled over into a clump of grass on the side of the street. She lied there for a long time, knowing she had to find water; the blazing sunlight was dehydrating her lithe body. She crawled into the brush and headed for a small pool that she remembered was nearby.

That's where this story began, a wounded mother scrounging food for her little ones on a blistering hot day, using all her survival skills to recoup from a hit-and-run accident. Her mind was clearing now and after flexing her body and limbs, she took comfort in knowing she would soon be back with her sweet little darlings. With uplifted spirits and a joyful heart, she soared home and lived to see another day. Such was the life of a rock dove in a big city one hot summer day a few years ago.

(The thought for this story came from a true experience with an exhausted dove floundering in my ground-level backyard birdbath, one hot summer day a few years ago.)

Copyright Jeanne E. Webster

A published freelance writer, editor/publisher of monthly newsletter for years. jeanne_webster@faithwriters.net

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Saturday, October 9, 2010

The One Year Mother Daughter Devo

The book I requested from Tyndale has finally arrived!! I was so happy when I received this beautiful book "The One Year Mother Daughter Devo." This book is the best I have read so far, a daily affair bringing a Mother and a Daughter together, a beautiful family bonding.

My girl is a very quiet girl and it was just me and her in the house day in and out. When I received this book, it has helps us to have a stronger bond between my girl and I. Each night we read a page together, the story line is simple but very effective and applicable to our daily lives. This devotion book sort of connects all mother and daughters, to have a stronger bonding with one another. As we continue on our daily ritual with God, we can feel a sense of closeness that He is here by our side.

I highly recommend this book for all to see, especially for Mothers and Daughters!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Connie's Song

When we marry, we marry into family. How blessed are we, if that family turns out to be something extraordinary, something wonderful! Well, this is what happened to me, when I married my husband - I acquired this marvelous extended family, not the least wonderful of which, was my mother-in-law, Constance Pearl.
Now, Connie must have been sent specially from God. I was a nervous young thing, a little different, maybe - a little awkward, and distrusting of the world. But early on, Connie took my hand, and showed me the world as she saw it, under God. It took a while, but eventually, she gifted me her vision, and what a strong and beautiful vision it was!
Connie had a faith like no other I can recall. She didn't see life as a series of obstacles to be overcome, instead she saw it as a joyous adventure with God, a journey whose destination was already decided, as long as you stayed the course, and trusted God.
"I handed my life over to God, when I was nineteen," Connie would say. "It just seemed to me, at that time, that it was the right thing to do. Everything seemed so much plainer, so much easier after that. It was like... I no longer had to make this journey alone - I had a companion, an adviser, a leader, and He loved me - so I could trust Him to help me, even if I'd come to fall - and manys the time I did - but He took my hand, and He helped me right on up again! That's the thing about God - He doesn't give up!"
Then Connie would smile one of her dazzling smiles, and she'd take my hand, and off we'd go on some mad-cap adventure!
"I've got to get you out of yourself, my darlin', and get you into God!"
That was Connie's battle cry.
Well - the things we did together!
I remember a yachting trip to a lake in summer. I stood on the shore hesitating - I had a real fear of deep water. But Connie assured me that nothing could go wrong.
"What's the worst that could happen?" she said, "You fall out?"
And there, out in the middle of the lake, that's exactly what did happen! The yacht tipped in a squally wind, and over she went! I stood on the shore, terrified for dear Connie. All I could see was the indistinct blur of a yellow life-jacket bobbing in the distance! Connie eventually returned though, bedraggled as the proverbial drowned rat, but smiling cheerily as ever.
"Well - that was an experience," she said, "Teach me for not paying more attention to the wiles of the wind! But I'm OK - praise the Lord! Now - You comin' in?"
Another time, Connie went swimming in the sea by an out-of-the-way beach, whilst I stood dubious on the shore. I was sure I had seen a dark shadow in those waters!
"Nonsense!" Connie replied. "There's never been a shark here - not in these twenty years!"
Well, as it turned out, it wasn't a shark, but a large sting-ray that was visiting those waters! It swam along behind the intrepid Constance, but it kept its distance, and when Connie eventually got out, the rascal thing disappeared, so don't you know it? I couldn't even prove my point! But what exactly was my point? Be scared, fearful, distrusting of the world?
I guess what I'm trying to say here, is that Connie, through her constant trusting of the Lord, although she got herself into some interesting situations, never really came to any harm.
"He'll take me when He's ready!" she used to say, smiling.
And indeed, one day He did. Connie died of cancer just last year, but even to the end, her faith was solid as a rock, and she left a legacy of love, that even now, I can't forget. Connie lives on in my heart - and every day she makes me braver, and every day she teaches me some more, about the simple, quiet faith of trusting God.

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Sighted Touch

The sense of touch opens the door to sight in my world of darkness Can a person with 20-20 vision truly understand my groping existence? They sympathize, but heave a sigh of relief that they are not blind.

My fingertips are far more valuable than the retractable white cane stored close by. The loss of one of my senses heightens the sensitivity of others. Fingers are on high alert at all times, sending messages to my mind as clearly and quickly as the blink of an eye.

Finger painting is not merely preschool introduction to art; fingers paint vivid pictures of people, places and things I have never witnessed through natural sight.
By touch, I trace darkened outlines finding shape, size and texture.

I need no date of birth to determine a person's age. Touch seldom lies; I calculate years on weathered faces by fingering worry and laugh lines, wrinkles or dryness. The touch of brittle hair often means gray has replaced richer tones. Receding hairlines accompanied by facial wrinkles affirm my educated guesses.

Loving parents' alert children to the dangers of fire and scalding water with instructions; do not touch! My fingertips contain built in thermometer gages, recording extremes of hot and cold temperatures. I must be very careful and heed their warnings.

Those with clarity of vision pour hot beverages with little thought. I rely on tips of my fingers placed within the rim of the cup. When the liquid touches skin, it is time to stop pouring.

Braille would be impossible without my ability to touch each raised letter or number in letters, books, legal documents, wristwatches, menus, keyboards, restroom signs and more. I can easily attain volumes of information through the written word of Braille.

The next time you feel the sting of a paper cut, slice your finger peeling potatoes, or burn a fingertip with a match, remember me. The sense of touch is a truly remarkable gift. God thinks of everything!

With God all things are possible! Devotionals are my first love in writing! Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Secret Place, Daily Devotionals for the Deaf. Available now in book store: FORGET-ME-NOT DAILY DEVOTIONAL http:/ebooks.faithwriters.com/ebook-details.php?id=520

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Monday, October 4, 2010

How Do Their Shoes Fit?

This story as written is a fictional account of a simple generational family, and their on-going struggle for survival against all odds. There is a similar real life story implied here as well, but that one is about the Jewish people from the time of Abraham to the present day, and the land of Israel given to them by the Lord God through a everlasting covenant for fulfillment of His sovereign purposes and divine promises.

~ ~ ~

Suppose that many years ago[1], a prominent land owner/developer[2] gave you[3] a nice parcel of land much of it located beside a beautiful lake[4]. The property was not only given as a place for you to claim as a home to enjoy, but it was also gifted as a legal possession for a specific future son[5] of yours, as well as for a specific future grandson[6] and all of his descendants[7] for all generations.

The land owner/developer had been your special friend for a long time. He was highly regarded, and was a sincere man of his word. Also, the man had owned the land for what seemed like forever, therefore, as the undisputed owner, he certainly could give it to whomever he chose.

With the covenant deed firmly in hand, you began working hard to make the property habitable. A nice house and a storage shed were constructed on your new property. You planted fruit trees and decorative shrubs, a vegetable garden, and also provided a shelter for your furry pets. The cool, clear lake water was not only a source for tasty meals of fish, but it was also a convenient place for a refreshing swim after a hot day. Oh, what a great place to raise families!

However, the neighbors[8] were often unhappy with your possession of that land. Although the property had never belonged to them, they would often camp there and use its resources as if they owned it. Over the years that situation was the source of many back-yard shouting matches and threats, the development of much hatred toward your family[7], and frequent eruptions of violence.

One day[9] a large, roving gang of vandals from another community[10] invaded the property demolishing everything in their path. The house and shed were burned to the ground...the furry pets were killed...and the garden was trampled. Nothing was left untouched.

With everything on the property either destroyed or stolen, your descendants had to scatter and find shelter elsewhere. However, they would come back one day to re-build their homestead[11] even better than before.

After a time they did return. In fact, your descendants gathered on one special day[12], at which time they announced to everyone that the property had been re-claimed by them, and vowed to never again be forced to leave. By their presence and decree, they were finally home again!

The re-building process proceeded quickly. A new and improved house was constructed along with a new storage shed. Several varieties of fruit bearing trees were planted in the rich soil. The freshly tilled gardens flourished providing tasty vegetables. All of the growing plants and trees were nourished with cool, life-giving water using unique irrigation methods. Foliage damaging insects and diseases seemed to avoid the area, too. The Lord God had abundantly blessed all efforts to refurbish the land.

However, immediately after the parcel was re-claimed, the hate filled neighbors resumed the vandalism and violence, but with a greater resolve and intensity than ever before. The invaders seemed to be obsessed in their vicious attempts to destroy property and lives. Although they did manage to do some damage, their attacks were always repelled even when your descendants faced overwhelming odds.

Over the years several segments of the land had even been designated as areas which the neighbors were allowed to occupy, but they were never happy with those arrangements. In their distorted point of view, the neighbors were not only demanding, but they also claimed ownership rights to the entire parcel.

As a result, those neighbors, along with the troublesome folks from surrounding areas, have recently banded together with a common goal in mind. In their blind rage and desperate attempt to gain sole possession of the property, they are committed to either driving your family far away from their home, or killing all of them determined to destroy their name and presence forever.

Despite their efforts to destroy, they will not succeed. Oh, when that attack comes, there certainly will be much destruction of property and loss of life, but a remnant will survive in a nearby place of safety. The total annihilation of your family will not happen as planned.

What the enemy does not and can not understand is that, as part of the original land agreement from a long time ago, the powerful landowner/developer promised to not only fight for you, but he would fight with you to forever preserve the land and protect your people. Your family will, at last, enjoy their long awaited victory and peace.


Footnotes:
[1] "many years ago" . . . . . . . . . . . . circa 2100 B.C.
[2] "land owner/developer" . . . . . . . .the Sovereign Lord God
[3] "you" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abram/Abraham
[4] "beautiful lake" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mediterranean Sea
[5] "future son" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaac
[6] "future grandson" . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob
[7] "descendants" and "family" . . . . . Israelites/Jewish race
[8] "neighbors". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palestinians/Arabs
[9] "one day" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 A.D.
[10] "another community" . . . . . . . . Roman Empire
[11] "homestead" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Israel
[12] "special day" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 14, 1948

During retirement, my prayer is that I might serve the Lord by sharing the Gospel through my writing. As the Lord leads, my work will inform, challenge and encourage. I also enjoy Biblical theme woodcarving, Bible studies and Christian music. Watch, pray and keep looking up!

Donald Mehl

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Outlive Your Life

The title of this book captivated me when I was browsing over some other books, Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado is a book to look for. It has sort of "exposed" me to humans whom I have not given a thought before, this story is so touching. This book is very touching, it opens my eyes on how much kindness one can give to another. With a little bit of kindness, we can change lives. God turns all bad things or situations into a good ending, reversing what the fallen world has given us. Max Lucado has done it again, reading this book led me to think that life is indeed very precious. This is a good read, I will recommend it to anyone and everyone, this is a book that can change lives. Let us be humble, let us be kind to others as we want others to be kind to us. These people who make life more beautiful deserve to have remarkable lives and praises from God.