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KIDS SAY SILLY THINGS
CHEERLEADING
POEMS
ART AREA
INSPIRATIONAL
CRAFTS
LINKS
INTRODUCTION
SAMPLE FORMS
HELPFUL HINTS
RECALLS
WEB SITES
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| INSPIRATIONAL |
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| Does God Still Speak To Us? A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God Still speak to people?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God, if you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought, stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street at the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here." He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to Send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers. THE FAITH OF A CHILD Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, Georgi. He was very sick and they had done everything they could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now . . . and that was out of the financial question. She heard Daddy say it with a whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in a cold-weather-kerchief, she slipped out of the apartment and made her way to the corner drug store. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her attention . . but he was too busy talking to another man to be bothered by aneight-year-old. Sally twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. She cleared herthroat. No good. Finally she took a quarter from its hiding place and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone ofvoice. "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick . . . and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist. "My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now . . . so how much does a miracle cost?""We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I can't help you." "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much itcosts." The well-dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my folks can't pay for it . . . so I have my money. "How much do you have?" asked the well-dressed man. "A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And it's all the money I have in the world." "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well-dressed man. A dollar and eleven cents . . . the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother. He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents." That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, renowned surgeon, specializing in solving Georgi's malady. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Georgi was home again and doing well. Mommy and Daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery," Mommy whispered. "It's like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost? Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents... plus the faith of a little child. My name is Tammy. This is my life. I will get saved when, "I Got Time" I was born Jan. 1, 1964. As I grew up, the LORD kept his hands on me. He healed my polio. Now I walk like you. "Thank you Jesus." He showed me right from wrong. I think I'll get saved when I turn 30. "I've Got Time!" I got on drugs, He brought me through. Thank you, Jesus! I got pregnant, and cried to the Lord, He gave me a husband. I said to myself, When I turn 30, I'll get saved, "I've Got Time!" I've been shot in the back. The doctor said I would not walk again. I cried again to Jesus for two years. Now I run and jump. I should get saved now! No, I'll wait until I'm 30. I've Got Time. I have no food in my house. My children are hungry. I asked the Lord to make a way. Right then my doorbell rings. The UPS man is ringing my bell. He has a letter for me. I sing as I return in my house. I open the letter. It is a check for $50. "Thank you Jesus." Again, I promise when I turn 30, I'll get saved. I've Got Time. "I read my bible. I know of the Lord. He and I go a long way back. "I've Got Time." "It's Sat, night. I am going out. I am going to have myself some fun. I put the kids to bed. When I step out, I see my sister running towards me. She told me one of my children is playing with matches, and was burnt. Again, I cried to the Lord. LORD, LORD, Hear my prayer. Help me LORD. And, he did. He did not take my child. I did not lose my children to the state. I'm really going to get saved when I turn 30. My cancer went into remission. My body is healed. Praise the LORD! I've Got Time. I'm 30 now. Tonight is my last night to live my unsaved life. Guess What? My birthday falls on Saturday. Therefore, Sunday, I will be at church praising the Lord, However, for now it's still Saturday. I am having so much fun at my party in my back yard. They throw me in the pool. I felt a timer in my head. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING TO ME. WHAT'S WRONG! I DON'T KNOW. I SEE LIGHT. THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL AROUND ME, BUT I CANNOT TALK. I CRY TO THE LORD. I SAID, "LORD WHAT TIME IS IT?" IT'S 11:55 "BUT I DON'T KNOW YOUR VOICE. WHO ARE YOU?" MY NAME IS LUCIFER. I DON'T LOVE, I DON'T LIKE, I JUST WANT YOUR SOUL. EVERY TIME I CAME FOR YOU THE LORD SAID NO. SOMEONE WAS PRAYING FOR YOU. SO I PLANTED SEED TO MAKE YOU THINK YOU HAD TIME. YOU SEE, I'M SMART, I'M DIRTY, AND I'M THE BEST LIAR." Tammy died December 31,1999. Five minutes before she turned 30 years old. "Now tell me, 'Do YOU HAVE TIME?" "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy..." - Colossians 2:8 I asked the Lord to bless you As I prayed for you today To guide you and protect you As you go along your way.... His love is always with you His promises are true, And when we give Him all our cares You know He will see us through So when the road you're traveling on Seems difficult at best Just remember I'm here praying And God will do the rest. Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden. Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have.There are many who are hungry. Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job. Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life. The world might say there are many reasons why God wouldn't want to use you or me. But don't worry...... Moses stuttered David's armor didn't fit John Mark was rejected by Paul Hosea's wife was a prostitute Solomon was too rich Abraham was too old David was too young Timothy had ulcers Peter was afraid of death Lazarus was dead John was self-righteous Naomi was a widow Paul was a murderer So was Moses Jonah ran from God Miriam was a gossip Gideon and Thomas both doubted Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal Elijah was burned out John the Baptist was a loud mouth Martha was a worry-wart Mary was lazy Samson had long hair Noah got drunk Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul -- well, lost of folks did. God doesn't require a job interview He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our Dad than our Boss.God doesn't look at financial gain or loss He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.As much as we try, God's gifts are free. We could do wonderful things for wonderful people, and still not be....Wonderful. Satan says, "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "So what? I AM" Satan looks back and sees our mistakes God looks back and sees the Cross He doesn't calculate what you did years ago, or even days ago! Why, it's not even on his record!" Sure, there are lots of reasons why God shouldn't want us. but if we are utterly in love with Him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like. Step out of your "imitations" and into the measureless (boundless) nature of who God is! I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work. For bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, And jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done. My soul could rest at ease. All day long I had no time.To spread a word of cheer. No time to speak of Christ to friends, They'd laugh at me I'd fear. No time, no time, too much to do, That was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in need. But at last the time, to die. I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said "Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write it down...But never found the time" Rich Miller wrote: Subject: Crosses The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear." The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish." The man was filled with relief. Thank you, Lord," he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. And the Lord replied, " My son, that is the cross you just brought in." When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined. WHAT IF...? What if God couldn't take the time to Bless us today because we could not take the time to thank Him yesterday. What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today. What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day. What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain. What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others. What if God took away the Bible tomorrow, because we would not read it today. What if God took away his message because we failed to listen to His messenger. What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price of sin. What if the door to the church was closed because we did not open the door of our hearts. What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday. What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service. What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives. What if...? |
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