TIME TO THINK

TIME TO THINK

I heard of a man who got caught in a blizzard some years ago. His truck left that road, and the wheels were just spinning; there was no way he could mover. It was getting dark and it seemed pointless to walk through the snow to seek help so he decided to wait the morning light before taking any action.

When he woke up in the morning his truck was completely frozen shut and covered in snow. It was actually six days later when he was rescued from the truck. When he was rescued he was asked what he did during those long six days. He replied with total seriousness, “I did an awful lot of thinking.”

v One wonders about the thinking and the thoughts of a person in such situation.

v It is worth reflecting on how my present life would look if I had time to reflect on it for six days.

v One of the slogans of AA is THINK, THINK, THINK.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFENRECE

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFENRECE

One day as he began his daily prayers, a holy hermit saw passing by, a cripple, a mother begging for food for her pathetically malnourished child, and the victim of what must have been a very severe beating. Seeing them, the holy man tuned to God and said, “Great God! How is it that such a loving Creator can see so much suffering, and yet do nothing about it? And deep within his heart he heard God reply, “I have done something about it. I made you.”

v Jesus ascended into heaven and took the body He had with Him. Now He had no others hands but ours.

v To see Christ in others and to be Christ to others that’s the ideal that the Spirit within us can make real and possible.

ABILITY  

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.

-        Francis Bacon

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

-        John Wooden

We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.

-        Stevie Wonder

It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.

-        Elbert Hubbard

The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.

-        Booker T. Washington

Ability is of little account without opportunity.

-        Napoleon Bonaparte

Behind every able man, there are always other able men.

-        Chinese Proverb

THERE IS A WAY OUT

THERE IS A WAY OUT

Two frogs accidentally fell into a bucket of cream. They swam around and around in the cream, and every effort they mad to climb up the side of bucket was in vain. They were trapped, with no evident means of escape.

One of the frogs gave up, thinking there was no point in hoping where there was no clear hope and he just went to the bottom and drowned. The other frog was not quitter. He was convinced that there must be a way out, and he was determined to find it. He gave it his best shot, as he splashed and thrashed around in the cream. Imagine his surprise and his relief after a while when he found himself sitting on top of a big lump of butter! He rested there, regained his strength, and leaped out of the bucket.

v The only real sin for the Christian is despair. The victory is ours, but we often give up too soon, and leave, before the miracle.

v “Always have an explanation ready to give to those who ask you the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Pet. 3:15)

DYING FOR OTHERS

DYING FOR OTHERS

A prisoner escaped form Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. As a warning to the others the prison guards picked out ten men at random, to be executed in public. One of the men was the father of a family. As the victims were being marched out to execution, another prisoner, Maximillian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest, stepped forth and offered to take the man’s place.

The officer in charge was stunned but he accepted the offer. Maximillian died, and when he was canonized a saint some forty years later that man, whose place he had taken, was seen on international television, with tears streaming down his face.

He had met one man who really loved. “Greater love than this no man hath that a man should lay down his life for a friend.”
(Jn 15:13)

-     Putting other before myself is one way to think of living a Christian life.

JESUS AT THE DOOR

JESUS AT THE DOOR

There is a story about an old monk who had prayed all his life that he might be blessed by seeing a vision. At last one day, his prayers were answered. Just as he was beginning to “absorb” the full impact of the vision, the monastery bell rang. It was the bell which notified that there were beggars at the monastery gate waiting to be fed. On this particular day, it was this monk’s turn to attend to the beggars. For a mere second he hesitated, and then, despite the attraction of the vision, he turned his back on it, and went to feed the beggars.

On this particular day there were more than the usual number and it was over and hour later before he returned to his cell. To his surprise and delight the vision was still there. Then Jesus in the vision spoke to him and said. “Had you not gone to feed the poor, I would not have stayed.”

v     Jesus comes along the most awkward moments!

v     God doesn’t want to hear me say, “I’m sorry, I love you, praise you, thank you,” unless the people around me hear it first.

AS YOU SOW

AS YOU SOW

A building contractor built large luxury homes. He had no scruples whatever about cutting corners, and taking the easiest and cheapest way out of every situation.

As a result of years of experience he had become expert at this form of deception. Many of his buildings were fire hazards and danger zones, because of his shabby approach to his work.

His last house was probably his worst and most shameful attempt. But being his last house he just couldn’t care and he tool all sort of risky liberties with it.

Imagine his horror when he discovered that his retirement bonus from the firm was a present of the last house he had built!

v As you sow, so shall you reap. (Gal 6:7)

v We are often punished by our sins, rather than for them.

v God is eternal. Therefore God can afford to wait! The problem with us is that we get but one stab at life; we never get a second a change to go around.