The Matchless Pearl

David Morse - American missionary to India - became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation. Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior - he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner - I would feel like a pauper there...like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud - but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it. "Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there. "Come in, dear friend," said Morse."No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'." "Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees." "Man, you are crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay." "No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet - for it will purchase heaven for me!" "Rambhau, my friend - you can't. How can I bear you to do it - when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you! "But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want - you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi! "Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him - where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible. Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," said he, "and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son..." "A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!" "No, Sahib, I couldn't." Even as he spoke the diver's eyes were moistened. "Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls. What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the 'perfect' pearl - one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it - he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after. "The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl - but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend - I am giving my pearl."The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary. It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. "Rambhau! What a pearl!" "That pearl, Sahib, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for - to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ's sacrifice? So he said, designedly, "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it.""Sahib! What do you mean?" "Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more - I will work for it." "Sahib," said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, "this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.""No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it..."The old pearl-diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this - but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you. "The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time. "The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," said the missionary. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God's love for you - a sinner. "Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you? "Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!"

~ Author Unknown

Peace

Patricia

Show Me Thy Ways O Lord

Peace

Patricia

The Geese And The Snowstorm

The Geese and the Snowstorm

~Author Unknown

There was once a man who did not believe in either the virgin birth of Christ nor the spiritual meaning behind it, and was skeptical even about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in the faith. He sometimes gave her a hard time about her belief and mocked her religious observances."It's all nonsense -- why would God lower himself and become a human like us? It's such a ridiculous story," he said.One snowy day, she and the children left for church while he stayed home. After they had departed, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening.Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window... And, still another thump. He looked outside but could not see anything. So he ventured outside for a better view. In the field near his house he saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese. They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but they had been caught in the snowstorm. The storm had become too blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in aimless circles. He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, the barn would be a great place for them to stay. It is warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he opened the barn doors for them.He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. Nevertheless, they did not notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear.He went into the house and came back with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on.Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the barn. They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter. Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why don't they follow me? Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them?"He thought for a moment and realized that they just would not follow a human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become like one of them. Then I could save them. They would follow me and I would lead them to safety."At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said. The words reverberated in his mind: If only I could become like one of them, then I could save them. Then, at last, he understood God's heart towards mankind... and he fell on his knees in the snow.For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17

Peace

Patricia

Isaiah 65:5

As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. Isaiah 65:5

Peace

Patricia

An Interview With God

An Interview With God

~Author Unknown

I dreamed I had an INTERVIEW WITH GOD.

"So, you would like to interview me?" GOD asked."If you have time," I said. GOD smiled. "My time is eternity... what questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you the most about humankind?"

GOD answered... "That they get bored with childhood, that they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they would never die, and die as though they had never lived.

"GOD's hand took mine... and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked, "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

GOD replied, "To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can look at the same thing, and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly."Is there anything else you would like your children to know?

"GOD smiled, and said... "Just know that I am here." "Always."

Peace

Patricia

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea At Sunset

One of the most fascinating places to visit when touring in The Holy Land is the Dead Sea. I was amazed to see that people will actually float even in a sitting position as you can see by the photo below. The reason for this is that the Dead Sea is so rich in salt content that it can enable one to float. There is no marine life whatsoever in the Dead Sea, again, due to the massive amounts of salts which could not sustain life below its surface. People come to The Dead Sea from all over the world to take advantage of the Sea's rich mineral deposits which are known to aid in many healing situations. It is of a particluar advantage to those people who suffer from arthritis. I have a friend in Jerusalem that bathes frequently in the Dead Sea just for that purpose. There are many companies that extract these mineral deposits and sell them throughout the world. They are often referred to as Dead Sea Salts. Dead Sea salt refers to salt extracted or taken from the Dead Sea. It is a popular ingredient of many common bath products including bath salts, salt scrubs, foot scrubs, body wraps, bath bombs, soaps, and cosmetic products, including makeup.

The Dead Sea is popular with visitors and tourists alike from all over the world for its therapeutic effects. The water of the Dead Sea is unique, as it has ten times the salt content of other sea water. This allows anyone to easily float on Dead Sea water because of its greater density. Its mineral composition is also different from ocean water since only 12-18% of Dead Sea salt is sodium chloride. In comparison, 97% of the salt in normal ocean water is sodium chloride.

After my first visit to Israel, and having severe back problems myself, I purchased some Dead Sea Salts and found them to be extremely helpful. They are available for purchase from many online web sites in Israel as well as the U.S.

Man Floating On The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea: Rich In Salt And Mineral Deposits

The Dead Sea; Hebrew: יָם הַ‏‏מֶ‏ּ‏לַ‏ח‎, Yām Ha-Melaḥ, "Sea of Salt") is a salt lake between Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Jordan to the east. It is 420 metres (1,378 ft) below sea level, and its shores are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth on dry land. The Dead Sea is 330 m (1,083 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It is also the world's second saltiest body of water, after Lake Asal in Djibouti, with 30 percent salinity. It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. Experts say that it is nine times saltier than the Mediterranean Sea (31.5% salt versus 3.5% for the Mediterranean). This salinity makes for a harsh environment where animals cannot flourish and boats cannot sail. The Dead Sea is 67 kilometres (42 mi.) long and 18 kilometres (11 mi.) wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.

Also known as Bahr Lut, Eastern Sea, Lake of Asphalt, Salt Sea, “Sea of Sodom and Gomorrah,” Sea of the Arabah, Sea of the Devil, “Sea of the Plain,” Sea of Zoar, Stinking Lake.
Known in the Bible as the "Salt Sea" or the "Sea of the Arabah," this inland body of water is appropriately named because its high mineral content allows nothing to live in its waters. Other post-biblical names for the Dead Sea include the "Sea of Sodom," the "Sea of Lot," the "Sea of Asphalt" and the "Stinking Sea." In the Crusader period, it was sometimes called the "Devil's Sea." All of these names reflect something of the nature of this lake.

The Dead Sea, unlike the Sea of Galilee to the north, does not figure prominently in the biblical narratives. Its most important role was as a barrier, blocking traffic to Judah from the east. An advancing army of Ammonites and Moabites apparently crossed a shallow part of the Dead Sea on their way to attack King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20). Ezekiel has prophesied that one day the Dead Sea will be fresh water and fishermen will spread their nets along the shore.

The Dead Sea is located in the Syro-African Rift, a 4000-mile fault line in the earth's crust. The lowest point of dry land on earth is the shoreline of the Dead Sea at 1300 feet below sea level. That the lake is at the lowest point means that water does not drain from this lake. Daily 7 million tons of water evaporate but the minerals remain, causing the salt content to increase.

Figures for the Dead Sea's salinity today range from 26-35%.
Nearly ten times as salty as the world's oceans and twice as saline as the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the Dead Sea is rich with minerals. The Dead Sea Works company on the southwest side of the lake employs 1600 people around the clock to harvest the valuable minerals from the water. Potash is the most valuable of those extracted today and is used in the manufacture of fertilizer. The best article on the minerals in the Dead Sea is in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The unique concentration of the Dead Sea waters has long been known to have medicinal value. Aristotle, Queen of Sheba, King Solomon and Cleopatra were all familiar with this and modern doctors as well often prescribe patients with skin ailments to soak in the waters of the Dead Sea. Because of the dropping level of the Dead Sea, the southern end is no longer under water, except for that which is channeled by aqueducts for the purpose of extracting minerals.

Dead Sea (Dead Sea Tourist Board and Dead Sea Hotel Association) The official site for Dead Sea Tourism. Hosts categories such as "Fast Facts and History," "Sights and Sites," "Medicine/Research," "Photogallery," and even "Travel Themes."
Dead Sea (Walking in Their Sandals) Gives easy-to-read information on the location, biblical significance, etc. Features links to photographs and on-line scripture references.
Dead Sea and Wilderness of Judea (Christian Travel Study Program) Discusses the barrenness of the Judean Wilderness as a place of solitude, even refuge, in both biblical and modern times. Gives a brief description of the Dead Sea in this context.
Dead Sea (Catholic Encyclopedia) Highlights the biblical significance of the site while clearly describing geographical and physical properties of the sea and surrounding area.
The Dead Sea Research Center The home page for the Dead Sea Research Center. A great resource for studying the medical potential of the Dead Sea area. Includes a "News & Research link," a "Publications" bibliography, and an "Ask the Doctor" feature.
Dead Sea (Extreme Science) An upbeat, scientific description of the Sea, answering common question such as, "why is the Dead Sea so salty?" Reflects an evolutionary bias.
Madaba Mosaic Map: The Dead Sea (Franciscan Cyberspot) Features the Dead Sea portion of the 6th century Madaba Map. See more detail at their Virtual Travel link.
Dead Sea keeps falling (BBC News) An interesting news story reporting on the findings of the European Space Agency in their survey of the region.
Dead Sea 'to disappear by 2050' (BBC News) "Environmentalists in Jordan are warning that the Dead Sea will disappear by the year 2050 if its level continues to drop at the current rate." Presents the problem and proposed solutions.
Dead Sea (Dead Sea Scrolls Home Page, Personal Page) Observes the Dead Sea in its geographical context, including references to nearby sites and insight into how the climate of the region affected the preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Welcome to the Dead Sea (inisrael.com) A site for tourists with basic information about the area and links to hotels, cars, and other travelers resources.
For Dead Sea, a Slow and Seemingly Inexorable Death (Washington Post) Fascinating article on the steady decline of the water level of the Dead Sea, with numerous useful facts.

For some addition information on the therapeutic efficacies of Dead Sea Salts, I recommend you have a look at the following web site:

The Dead Sea Research Center

A couple of resources where you can find Dead Sea Salts can be found on the right hand panel of my Blog.

Peace

Patricia

What's Important In Your Life?

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people Before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift. When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've every had. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile. There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real! Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too. The happiest of people don't necessarilyhave the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

~Author Unknown

Peace

Patricia

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Matthew 7:7

Peace

Patricia

Who Packs Your Parachute?

Charles Plum, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Communist prison. He survived that ordeal and now lectures about lessons learned from that experience.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.
"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!"
Plumb assured him, "It sure did -- if your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform -- a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wondered how many times I might have passed him on the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you,' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute? Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day." Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead.
Recognize and be gracious to people who pack your daily parachutes, and strengthen yourself to prevail through tough times.

- Charles Plum

Courtesy of Tim Puffer

Peace

Patricia

What Is Messianic Judaism?

Messianic Judaism is a religious movement whose adherents believe that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they call Yeshua, is both the resurrected Jewish Messiah and their Divine Savior.
As of 1993 there were 160,000 adherents of Messianic Judaism in the United States and 350,000 worldwide. As of 2003, there were at least 150 Messianic synagogues in the U.S. and over 400 worldwide. By 2008, the number of Messianics in the United States was around a quarter million. The number of Messianic Jews in Israel is reported to be anywhere between 6,000 and 15,000 members.
Messianic Jews consider themselves to be Jewish. However, Jews of all denominations do not consider Messianic Judaism to be a form of Judaism. Many Christians consider Messianic Judaism to be a form of Christianity.
Although words used to identify aspects of Messianic Judaism are frequently disputed and sometimes may seem contradictory, the term itself generally describes a belief that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and that obedience of the Scriptures is the proper expression of faith. Adherents are described as Messianic Believers or Messianics for short. Messianic Judaism is a relatively new term, coined as recently as 1895 to help separate the practices of its followers from those of common Christianity as a whole, and in order to more closely align its faith with that of biblical and historical Judaism.
The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations defines Messianic Judaism as "a movement of Jewish congregations and groups committed to Yeshua the Messiah that embrace the covenantal responsibility of Jewish life and identity rooted in Torah, expressed in tradition, and renewed and applied in the context of the New Covenant."
"Jewish life is life in a concrete, historical community. Thus, Messianic Jewish groups must be fully part of the Jewish people, sharing its history and its covenantal responsibility as a people chosen by God. At the same time, faith in Yeshua also has a crucial communal dimension. This faith unites the Messianic Jewish community and the Christian Church..."
Messianics believe that the first followers of Jesus of Nazareth were called Nazarenes (in Hebrew, Notzrim; "?????") or simply "Followers of the Way."
Messianic Jews practice their faith in a way they consider to be authentically Torah-observant and culturally Jewish.
The Messianic Judaism of today grew out of the Hebrew-Christian movement of the 19th century, which were evangelical attempts to make it easier for converting Jews to retain their Jewish self-images in spite of converting to Christianity. Hebrew-Christian congregations began to emerge in England; the first of these was Beni Abraham, in London, which was founded by forty-one Hebrew-Christians. This led to a more general awareness of a type of Christianity with a Jewish background. In 1866, the Hebrew-Christian Alliance of Great Britain was organized, with branches also existing in several European countries and the United States. A similar group, The Hebrew Christian Alliance of America (HCAA), was organized in the U. S. in 1915. The International Hebrew-Christian Alliance (IHCA) was organized in 1925 (later becoming the International Messianic Jewish Alliance). Additional groups were formed during subsequent decades.
Modern Messianic Judaism was reborn in the 1960s. A major shift in the movement occurred when Martin Chernoff became the President of the HCAA (1971-1975). In June of 1973, a motion was made to change the name of the HCAA to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) and the name was officially changed in June of 1975. The name change was significant as more than just a "semantical expression;" as Rausch states, "It represented an evolution in the thought processes and religious and philosophical outlook toward a more fervent expression of Jewish identity."
When the movement began to become larger, new organizations such as the Messianic Israel Alliance, First Fruits of Zion, and the Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations arose. These organizations disagreed with UMJC's stance over the issue of Gentile observance of the Torah, and whether it is obligatory, or not.
Messianic Jewish theology is the study of God and Scripture from a Messianic Jewish perspective.
Messianic believers commonly hold the Old Testament to be divinely inspired. Theologian David H. Stern in his "Jewish New Testament Commentary" argues that Paul is fully congruent with Messianic Judaism, and that the New Testament is to be taken by Messianic Jews as the inspired Word of God. This is the mainstream view within the movement although, as with many religions, there are several schools of thought. A very few Messianic believers are troubled by the writings of Paul and may reject his writings, holding them in less esteem than those of the Gospel writers, or even reject him. Often, the emphasis is on the idea that the Old Testament is the only scripture the early believers had (most scripture scholars agree that there was not an established New Testament canon until the 4th century) and that, except for the recorded words of Jesus, the New Testament was meant to be an inspired commentary on the Old Testament.

Peace

Patricia

Jots and Tittles

Jots and Tittles

The Lord Jesus told His disciples that not one "jot" or "tittle" will pass away from the Law until all is fulfilled. See Matt. 5:18. The word translated "jot" (iota in the Greek New Testament) refers to the smallest Hebrew letter ("Yod"), and the word translated "tittle" ( keraia in Greek) refers to the "horn", or smalles stroke of a Hebrew letter, probably something like a "serif" in our modern English typefaces.
The "Jot" is the Hebrew word "Yodh" which is the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is also the smallest letter. It's European or English equivalent is the letter "Y" as in the English term Yahweh or in Hebrew YHVH since there were no vowel's used in the ancient script.
The word "jot" itself is an English transliteration of "iota" which is the 9th letter of the Greek alphabet. "Iota," in turn, is the nearest Greek equivalent for the Hebrew yodh.
The "tittle" is the small decorative spur or point on the upper edge of the yodh. If you can imagine a tiny letter with a slightly visible decorative mark.
Tittle is used by Greek grammarians of the accents and diacritical points. It means the little lines or projections by which the Hebrew letters differ from each other. One example would be the difference between the letter L and I. The difference is only one small mark. We use phrases like "the dotting of the i, and the crossing of the t," and "every iota."
It is interesting that the Jewish scribes who copied the MT (Massoretic Text) of the Hebrew Bible scrolls paid the greatest attention to the minutiae of detail and such marks attached to each consonant throughout the entire text. They even numbered every letter, word, sentence, paragraph, chapter, section, and scroll to insure that the total equalled that of the text being copied before allowing it to enter the holy synagogue.
The meaning of the passage is very clear. Not even the smallest letter or even its decorative spur will ever disappear from the "God Breathed" Word until all is fulfilled. In fact when heaven and earth are replaced by a new heaven and earth, the Word of the Lord will have accomplished its purpose and will be fulfilled in every detail even to the very letter.

Peace

Patricia

Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in a woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see my beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree. I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the ship yard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one," and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters he was mead into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
Years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that he had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later a group of men got into the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said, "Peace," and the storm stopped. At this time the second tree knew he had carried the king of kings across the waters.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in HIM, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

~ Author Unknown

Peace

Patricia

Face To Face

A woman arrived at heaven's gate and met Jesus face to face. As he reviewed her life with her, she could see every event just as clearly as if it were happening right then and there. Looking at a time in her life filled with sorrow, she asked him a question that had long been on her heart: "Lord, look at my time of greatest trouble. I prayed and prayed but I heard no word from you. I would have despaired had it not been for all the people who helped me: the friends who listened and consoled, who brought me food and understanding, who cried with me and stood by me, and my family who gave me a reason to go on living. But why did you abandon me? Why didn't you help me?"

"My child," Jesus answered, "Why didn't you recognize me?"

~Author Unknown


Peace

Patricia

Unfolding The Rose

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.....it wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

UNFOLDING THE ROSE

It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, when in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God's design, then how can I think I have wisdom to unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for His leading each moment of every day. I will look to him for His guidance, each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows. I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose.

~ © Bryan T. Burgess

Peace

Patricia

Letter From Jesus

"Did you think that I didn't hear you when you cried out to Me in your time of need? Truly, I did hear you. If I hear the final cry of every sparrow that falls in death, would I not hear you? "Did you wonder if I was listening when you prayed to Me for an answer to the troubles that weighed you down? Indeed, I was listening. If I listen intently for the very heartbeat of every baby conceived in the womb, would I not listen when that child prays? I listened, and I remember precisely the instant that your heart took it's first beat; the moment that you took your first gasping breath upon leaving the security of your mother's womb; the contented sigh of relief at your first belly full of warm milk. And, though you've grown up, I still listen for every word spoken in My direction. "Do you think that I don't know when problems come into your life? I know everything there is to know about you! Even the very hairs of your head are numbered! I've watched you daily, from those first tentative steps and groping words to your very first love; and I was there, cheering you on, though you never knew it. "Did you think that I was unconcerned because you didn't receive an instantaneous answer to your prayer? My dear child, I am more concerned for you than you will ever know. If I were not, would I have sent my son to earth in the flesh and allowed your kind to mock Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and nail Him up on a cross for all to see? He gave His life for You! He poured out His very life's blood in order to pay a price for your life, and to set you free.! Would I have done that if I was unconcerned? "Or did you accept the devil's lie that I didn't even exist? Can you really believe his lies when the very magnitude and complexity of the universe bears witness to the unquestionable fact that they are My handiwork? When everything that you can see and not see is a work of My perfection, delicately balanced and timed, from the spiraling galaxies to the spinning atoms? Is it possible to comprehend such an intricate work and say, "There is no God"? "Take a good look at yourself! You are the very epitome of My work! You are My greatest creation! A one-of-a-kind human being. Of the seventy billion humans that have lived and walked this planet, there has been no other exactly like you. I created you perfect! I created you with a hundred million receptors in your eyes so that you could see the beauty around you; I created you with twenty-four thousand vibrating fibers in your inner ears to hear the softest whisper of the wind; I designed five hundred muscles, two hundred bones, and seven miles of nerve fibers, all wrapped in a renewable, nearly indestructible layer of skin and tissue. I gave you a heart that pulses hour after hour, day after day, thirty-six million beats a year, pumping blood through more than ninety-six thousand miles of veins and arteries to give your body life and keep it free of disease; and I gave you a brain that is the most complex organ in all of the universe, made up of one-hundred-trillion cells and crisscrossed with twenty-five billion nerve cells to help you retain the minutest memory; and I equipped your body with four million pain-sensitive structures, five hundred thousand touch detectors, and over two hundred thousand temperature detectors! And then, to top it all off, I gave you the ability to reason, to dream, to imagine, and to speak; things that no other of My creatures can do. And, as a final touch, after creating that magnificent body that you live in, I created the real you, the inner you, the spirit that I created in My likeness, and I breathed you into your body at the instant of birth. "And you were connected to Me then, but you never knew it. Deep inside of you you knew, because I planted that knowledge of Me there, but over the years you have allowed the things of the world to choke that knowledge out. In the beginning, however, you were perfect; My greatest creation; molded in My own image. Don't you find it really quite humorous, to think that some could adamantly believe that this all came about by chance or evolution? Could such a masterpiece have come about simply by chance? "If you can see the truth in this, then how can you think that I didn'thear you?
"Behold, I am standing at your heart's door, knocking and asking entrance, but I will not force My will on you. Call to Me now and ask Me to come in; into your heart and your life. Call to Me, for I am listening and waiting even as you read this. I'm only a word away, and if you will invite Me in, I will come in and never will I leave you alone. Give Me your heart and your love and, as I live, saith the Lord, this day you shall be one with Me in Paradise."

Forever,

Jesus

~ Author Pastor Wayne

Peace

Patricia

24 Things To Remember

24 Things to Always Remember. . . and One Thing To Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world. You're unique and one of a kind. Your life can be what you want it to be. Take the days just one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles. You'll make it through whatever comes along. Within you are so many answers. Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don't put limits on yourself. So many dreams are waiting to be realized. Decisions are too important to leave to chance. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
Nothing wastes more energy than worrying. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
Remember that a little love goes a long way. Remember that a lot . . . goes forever. Remember that friendship is a wise investment. Life's treasures are people . . . together.
Realize that it's never too late. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Have health and hope and happiness. Take the time to wish upon a star.
And don't ever forget . . . For even a day . . .How very special you are.

~Author Unknown

Peace

Patricia

Bible Pro Free Software and CD

I have never been one to promote free software on any of my personal blogs, but Bible Pro is certainly a software that you might like to consider having for your computer. About three years ago I heard about Bible Pro and went to their web site and noted that not only did they have a downloadable software for FREE, but they also have a CD available, also for FREE which they will glady send you with 50 times more information available on the CD. I downloaded the software and requested the CD as well which arrived within two weeks and I have been using it ever since. I spend a good deal of time on the computer so it is so nice to have the Bible also available on my computer as an easy reference. On the software there are 43 Bibles available, 250,000 Commentaries, and 1,750,000 references.....everything rolled up in one and it is absolutely wonderful. I listen to a lot of Christian audio on my computer so it is a great tool to have handy if there is something I would like research at a moment's notice. Check it out yourself...you definitely won't regret downloading your version now and don't forget to request the CD as well.

BIBLE PRO

Peace

Patricia

Grounded In His Word

by Beth Fisher
Used with Permission


Sometimes I feel like giving up, just throwing in the towel, When all I feel is pain and doubt, and start to wonder how I'll ever make it through the day, and through the long, dark night. But somehow, Lord, You come along, and make everything all right. No, you don't always remove the pain, but You give me strength to endure. When I feel Your presence near me, it makes me know for sure That no matter what may come my way, somehow we'll get through it. I just lean on You, and do my part, the only way I know to do it. If I'm grounded in Your Word, Lord, I can see how you've helped others: For Job, Paul, David and Noah are all my Christian brothers. Lord, You helped them out, when things looked bleak and dark. Somehow, they came out better, though they did bear the mark. The mark that You place on Your servants' hearts, to show we're Yours. Our having gotten through our trial, show Your strength endures. It gives us the chance to witness to those who would never hear The story of how You died for us, despite all sins and fear.

Peace

Patricia

My Spiritual Awakening On The Mount

It was a gorgeous day on The Mount Of Beatitudes. It was my second journey to The Holy Land and the skies were crystal clear blue, and the crowd of people I was with, a large group with Eagle Wings Tours, were anxiously awaiting Pastor Chuck Smith to give us his teaching for the day. And what a place and day it was to hear the word of God. It was such surreal experience just being on the Mount, as it has often been ascertained that it was the exact location where Jesus spoke to the multitudes with His Sermon On The Mount. The traditional location for the Mount of Beatitudes is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret. The group quietly spoke amongst one another after Pastor Chuck finished his teaching and just enjoyed taking in the beauty around us. I had been noticing quite afar in the distance a young shepherd boy with his flock and wondering what it might have been like living back in biblical times. Gradually the shepherd boy led his flock in our direction. Quite a bit of time had lapsed and the young boy finally stopped with his flock yet still a bit of distance from us, and leaned over and lifted up a pure white baby lamb and walked towards our group. Now we must have been about 100-150 people strong, and we all just watched and wondered what this young man was going to do. As he got closer to the group of us , he walked straight towards me and with a huge smile and at about the age of 12 or 13, he lifted up the lamb to me and gently set him in my arms. I stood in silence holding this lovely creature and smiling back at this boy who didn't even speak English, and just wondered why, of all the huge crowd would he choose me to hand the lamb to. The chills ran up and down my spine, and I was rather dumbfounded about the whole experience. It was as though there was a message to be learned, being in the right place at the right time. I truly felt the power of the Lord during those moments. I so often think of this humbling experience and still often wonder why it happened to me, but those moments which I will treasure for the rest of my life have given me such a greater respect of my faith. After gently stroking this beautiful creature in my arms I leaned back down and handed the lamb back to the little shepherd boy. Again he looked back up at me with a precious smile, then turned away and walked back to his flock and slowly went about his business of tending to his sheep. I will never know the why's and wherefore's of that moving experience, but one thing I can attest to, is that it changed my life for the better, and it made me realize that we are all chosen for different purposes in this life, so when you see a pleasant opportunity come your way, savour the moments and cherish them in your hearts, because like life itself, these are just fleeting moments in time....and realize that those moments are gifts from God. Enjoy them while you can.

Peace

Patricia

The Lamb Of God

There is a new breathtaking sight along the highway near where I live. Scattered across a lush green meadow is a flock of white wooly sheep grazing contentedly. The beautiful sight seems out of place but a welcome treat to the usual landscape of herds of cattle. Spring is in the air and the grazing sheep speak to me of hope and new life. When I was in my youth I worked with cattle but didn’t have the opportunity to be around sheep. Sheep were not common in the part of the country where I grew up. One thing I do know about sheep is that sheep receive more attention in the Bible than any other animal.
They were important to the total life of the Israelites. Earliest mention of sheep is in Genesis 4:2 where it says that “Abel was a keeper of sheep.”
In biblical times shepherds led the sheep to new locations whenever pasturage gave out. Water requirements meant that shepherds had to know where the streams or wells were located. Watering was always done at noon. King David was once a shepherd and beautifully describes the shepherd’s care of his sheep in Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd,” David declared. Continuous care of the sheep led the shepherd to know each by name just as the Lord knows each of his sheep.
The Word of God refers to both good and bad shepherds and during the latter part of Israel’s history the leaders are denounced as being bad shepherds. Figures of speech concerning shepherds and sheep are used repeatedly throughout the Bible. Jesus used many illustrations concerning sheep. Jesus Christ came as the Good Shepherd (John 10) and his arrival was announced to shepherds.
When God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, He instructed them to slay a lamb and paint the blood over the top and on each side of the door frame of their homes. When the death angel passed over those homes covered with the blood, the firstborn son was spared from death. The Passover celebration was ordained as a perpetual ordinance for the Jews. (Exodus 12; Hebrews 11:28) The Apostle Paul tells us that “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us” (I Corinthians 5:7).
I remember the old nursery rhyme “Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir three bags full, one for the master, one for the dame, and none for the little boy who lives down the lane.” This perhaps referred to the social inequalities that were common in the English countryside in the middle to late 1700’s.
We were all born black sheep. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Isaiah tells us that “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all . . . He was led like a lamb to the slaughter . . . For the transgressions of my people He was stricken. And they made his grave with the licked – but with the rich at His death . . . my righteous servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53). John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and declared, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:20, 36).
The Lamb of God took our sins when He died on the cross as our substitute. When I see a sheep I am reminded of this fact, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Author ~ Cliff Sanders

Peace

Patricia

The Light Of The World

Sue and her mother were visiting Grandma. Sue had learned a new song — at least it was new to her. Over and over again she sang:
"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."
"I like that little song, Sue," Grandma said, "Where did you learn it?"
"At Sunday school," answered Sue.
"Well, well," said Grandma, "now I'll sing a song for you that I learned in Sunday school when I was a little girl."
And Grandma sang just as lovely a song as Sue did. This was her song:
"Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light, Like a little candle burning in the night;In this world of darkness, so we must shine—You in your small corner, and I in mine."
"Do you know what that reminds me of ?" asked Sue's mother. "I'm remembering a little candle that was burning one night a long time ago that saved our lives. Do you remember that candle?" she asked Grandma.
Grandma would never forget! It happened when Sue's mother (whose name was Jeanne) was a little girl. Jeanne and her parents lived in an area called "Florida Beach." Florida Beach was a stretch of sand along the east coast of Florida with water on both sides. During severe storms and hurricanes with high tides and high waves, the ocean waves would wash over this narrow strip of sand.
One day the path of a hurricane passed near where they lived. The winds had become very strong and the waves very high. Jeanne and her mother watched the water swirling higher and higher. It felt as if their house were going to collapse and they were afraid. "I wish Daddy were home!" Jeanne could remember thinking: "He would know what to do."
Finally she and her mother decided to go to Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim's house which was just up the beach. Although they got soaking wet from the high water and the wind-driven rain, they were able to reach Uncle Jim's safely.
The four were glad to be together. Soon the high water would be swirling around Uncle Jim's house, too. They would have to try to get to the mainland!
All four got into Uncle Jim's car. The waters swirled against it, but they decided they had to try to reach the mainland anyway. They would have to take the road to the bridge which crossed the Intercoastal Waterway to the mainland. But there was so much water swirling around that they couldn't see the road; they could only guess where it was. They had made that short trip so many times in good weather; now it seemed to take forever. As the water rose higher and higher Uncle Jim drove slower and slower. They began to wonder if they had made a mistake in leaving home. Maybe they couldn't make it to the mainland!
They were almost to the bridge when they drove off the road into a ditch. The car got stuck and water started to pour in. It didn't take long for them to see that if they stayed in the car they would drown. There was only one choice left — leave the car behind and start walking.
The wind tore at them. Palm trees had been blown down everywhere. They waded through water that was nearly two feet deep. They were wet and cold and it was getting dark. They hardly knew where to go.
It was then that one of them spotted a little glimmer of light. It was only a candle, but that candle showed them the way to a house that was still safe. The people who lived there had placed the candle in the window for that very reason — to guide people to their home. Inside there was protection and warmth.
The two songs that Sue and her grandmother had sung were both about a candle. They tell us that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour should be a light shining out to others. Our light doesn't have to be a big one. The light shining in the window that saved four people from the hurricane was just one small candle. Even just a small light looks bright when all around it is dark. The Lord Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). If we let even a little of His light shine out in our lives, it will be bright in this dark, sinful world around us. Won't you let your light shine for Him?
Jesus bids us shine first of all for Him;Well He sees and knows it if our light grows dim: He looks down from heaven, to see us shine —You in your small corner, and I in mine, Jesus bids us shine next for all around; Many kinds of darkness in this world abound, Sin and want and sorrow; so we must shine —You in your small corner, and I in mine.
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness"

(John 12:46).

Peace

Patricia

The Worth Of The Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the portrait. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this portrait of the son. Who will bid for this painting?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the painting of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!" God gave his son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"

~ Author Unknown

Peace

Patricia

What If ?

What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't 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 we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?

What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if God took away his messge because we failed to listen to the messenger?

What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?

What if the door to the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

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?

~ Author Unknown

Peace!

Patricia