Christian - http://maxpages.com/roses4christ/Words_of_Wisdom

The pastor's church is called Almighty God Tabernacle. On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone. The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways. The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said "it rang and rang, but I didn't answer". The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.
The man said "That's OK. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed "God, if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now. At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God', I was afraid to answer!"

Sent in by Phil Dykeman

Carrying his own cross (John 19:17)...“THE CHANGED CROSS”

“The Changed Cross” is a poem that tells of a weary woman who thought that the cross she must bear surely was heavier than those of other people, so she wished she could choose another person’s instead. When she went to sleep, she dreamed she was taken to a place where there were many different crosses from which to choose. There were various shapes and sizes, but the most beautiful one was covered with jewels and gold. “This I could wear with comfort,” she said. So she picked it up, but her weak body staggered beneath its weight. The jewels and gold were beautiful, yet they were much too heavy for her to carry.

The next cross she noticed was quite lovely, with beautiful flowers entwined around its sculptured form. Surely this was the one for her. She lifted it, but beneath the flowers were large thorns that pierced and tore her skin.

Finally she came to a plain cross without jewels or any carvings and with only a few words of love inscribed on it. When she picked it up, it proved to be better than all the rest, and the easiest to carry. And as she looked at it, she noticed it was bathed in a radiance that fell from heaven. Then she recognized it as her own old cross. She had found it once again, and it was the best of all, and the lightest for her.

You see, God knows best what cross we need to bear, and we never know how heaby someone else’s cross may be. We envy someone who is rich, with a cross of gold adorned with jewels, but we do not knowhow heavy it is. We look at someone whose life seems so easy and who carries a cross covered with flowers. Yet if we could actually test all the crosses we think are lighter than ours, we would never find one better suited for us than our own…from Glimpses.

Through Life’s Windows

TRUE STORY

There is a girl, a girl that lives on my street. She is close to poverty. But she always smiles. She is very thin and some say she does not make enough money to eat. But when you see her she is smiling. I walked by her house the other night, I saw her arms raised and tears in the light. Oh my, I thought, she must be so sad, not owning a car or anything nice. The next morning I saw her. I wondered if I should ask her if she was OK. With sympathy in my heart I obeyed. As I walked up to her she greeted me with a hi. Poor thing, what burdens does she hide? We got to talking and into the thoughts of seeing her cry, I found the strength to ask why. I was very happy, was her cheerful reply. Shock brushed across my face. She must have saw it because she then said, alas, even though people say I am poor, that I do not make enough money to get by, tears come to my eyes. In my heart He has planted the seed of love and compassion. People see I have not much, but I say I have more than enough. I have gold. Real gold, not the jewelry you wear on your neck, but God's gold. God's gold is LOVE, PATIENCE, FORGIVENESS, AND MERCY. No material object or money can make a person truly rich, but that seed of gold God plants in us blooms and grows making us the richest in all the world. When she had finished I noticed tears in my eyes, for I knew she was right. When it got late there, I also raised my arms and cried in the light.

STACI TARGONSKY
April 28, 2003

For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to
a man who is good in His sight...Ecclesiastes 2:26

If you, with impatience, give up your cross,
You will not find it in this world again;
Nor in another, but here and here alone
Is given for you to suffer for God’s sake.
In the next world we may more perfectly
Love Him and serve Him, praise Him,
Grow nearer and nearer to Him with delight.
But then we will not anymore
Be called to suffer, which is our assignment here.
Can you not suffer, then, one hour or two?
If He should call you from your cross today,
Saying, “It is finished…that hard cross of yours
From which you pray for deliverance,”
Do you not think that some emotion of regret
Would overcome you? You would say,
“So soon? Let me go back and suffer yet awhile
more patiently. I have not yet praised God.”

Taken from "Streams in the Desert"

WORDS OF WISDOM

God was waiting for me to get quiet enough to hear His voice. This was not an easy thing to do - there was noise coming from every direction. It seemed important to listen to some - to answer some: but God said "be still and know that I am God". Then came the thoughts of tomorrow and how I should handle them: but God said "be still". As I learned to shut my ears to everyday sounds, there was a still small voice in the depths of me that began to speak with tenderness, power, and comfort. As I listened, it became the voice of wisdom - the Holy Spirit in my heart was God's answer to all my questions: for it was the living God Himself as my life - my all.

Stop and "be still" if you haven't already. Your soul will rest and you will come to know God more fully and intimately and will then experience all of the goodness He has ready to bestow upon you through His ever loving grace. I wish I could take you to this peaceful place - but we must all find it on our own. There really is such a place here on earth, though - I found it. God promised us solace and victory if we choose to invite Him into our lives and I so want this for all of you, so please "be still" and know that He is God. Learn to listen for guidance and direction - your answers are deep within your heart where the Holy Spirit is longing to live and love through you.

Mary Rose

I use to see this lady who liked to dress in blue - what's her name? I should know her, anyway. My mind flashes a picture of her as she passed by with a smile. How many people like this lady do we just let pass by, never knowing their name, wants or hurts? She must have wanted a friend. Why didn't I see the warm sign in her eyes and give her a smile?
I heard she passed on a month ago today, while at the corner grocery store. Seems the poor dear soul had no one when she went to her heavenly home in the sweet by and by. It's a little late now, I know. Oh, now I recognize the twinkling eyes and loving smile she carried across her aged face. It's the light and smile I see when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and has love for others - I know that now.
Oh, how I wish I could proclaim to the whole world that I knew that lady in blue. Why do I feel such emptiness by not reaching out to touch her hand of friendship and sharing her hurts and dreams? Oh, my heart cries out in pain and shame!
But - here's to all you ladies who have shown a warm smile my way. I must proclaim! Thank you for that warm smile! I want to know more than just your name.

Trish Reed

The calm, smooth sense of growth pervaded the warm, secure womb. A young life's quiet dreaming filled the quiet darkness. A stirring and the dreams of the child were disturbed, for all was not as it should be. An object, foreign to the womb, had invaded the little one's sanctuary. It was a cold, hard, deadly object. Sudden, white, blazing fire accompanied the silent wail of agony. It seemed to last forever, all the forever this little one would have. Towards the end the terrified, pain stricken and silent screaming tapered to an exhausted whimper. The small inaudible voice seemed to say "Why, Mother? What did I do? Mother..."
"Doctor, are you sure - it felt no pain?"
"Of course not! How could it? It wasn't even human."

Chris Monger at age sixteen

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THE COMMAND TO FORGIVE
by Charles F Stanley

Mercy is best understood when we have experienced
it on both the giving and receiving ends. The truth
is, we simply may not realize the gift's high price
until we've pardoned someone who wronged us...as
much as we long to be given clemency, our human
nature struggles against offering it. So a warning
follows the Lord's Prayer: God won't forgive those
who withhold forgiveness from others.

Jesus is not saying that an unforgiving spirit
cancels our salvation. When we receive Him as
Savior, our sin-debt is paid in full. But even
believers will sometimes fail to do right. Though
these wrongs pose no danger to our eternal destiny,
they do obstruct fellowship with God. Think of our
connection with Him as a long pipe which sin can
clog. Then our prayers cannot go up, and His
blessings are prevented from raining down. So
Christians must do regular spiritual "housecleaning";
confession and repentance from sin.

A bitter spirit toward another person will "clog"
our fellowship with the Father...when we allow
anger into our heart, it tends to squeeze Him out
of His rightful place in our life. Furthermore,
negative feelings will seep into other areas and
affect what we think, say, and do. Then when we
most need the Lord's help or comfort, His Spirit
will not move.

Is a lack of mercy blocking your fellowship with
the Lord? If so, you have a choice. Either continue
hindering His love, or cry out to Him from under
your bitter load. God will hear the prayer, cleanse
your heart, and patiently teach you to forgive.

CHOOSE TO FORGIVE...by Joyce Meyer
taken from Ending Your Day Right...Devotions

Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him: If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained...John 20:23

The greatest deception Satan has perpetuated in the area of forgiveness is the idea that if your feelings have not changed, you have not truly forgiven. Many people believe this lie. They decide to forgive someone who has harmed them, but the devil convinces them that because they still havae the same feelings, they have not really forgiven the person.

You can make the right decision to forgive and not feel any differently. This is where faith is needed to carry you through. you have done your part and now you are waiting on God. His part is to heal your emotions, to make you feel well and whole. Only God has the power to change your feelings toward the person who hurt you.

Joyce Meyer...ENDING YOUR DAY RIGHT...DEVOTIONS

EMAIL: m.rose2u@yahoo.com

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