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3 Brands
The 3 most valuable brand names on earth:
Marlboro, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.
It's interesting that of the 3 most valuable brand names on earth,
NONE of them are good for you.
Cigarettes kill 370,000 people a year in the U.S., not counting
passive smoke. That's over 1,000 people per day, the equivalent
of five jumbo jets crashing daily. The estimates are that passive
cigarette smoke kills over 15,000 people per year.
That's more than illegal drugs.
The most valuable name in the world, is a cigarette.
Coke is a solid company, but let's face it, carbonated soft drinks
of any brand are not healthy for you. There was a fellow parked
in my driveway years ago. We were talking and he was drinking a
cola. For some reason I had moved the cola and placed it on the
hood of his car.
"Don't put that drink on my car!" he shouted.
"Don't you know the acid in that drink will eat the paint off my
car?" he said.
He promptly took the drink and finished drinking it.
Have you looked at the size of the antacid section of the grocery
or drugstore lately? More than the paint from cars is being
eaten off.
The third most valuable brand in the world is a beer.
It's interesting what we value the most.
You can't control what the world values, you can only control
what you value.
What do you value?
Is it really valuable?
Really?
One method of determining what you really value is to try to do
without them.
If you can't make it without them, then that's what you value.
Are you trying to get to the mountaintop with a cigarette in
your mouth, a soda in one hand, and a beer in the other because
those are the things that you can't do without?
Stop and think about your real treasures.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. . ."
The 3 most valuable brand names on earth:
Marlboro, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.
It's interesting that of the 3 most valuable brand names on earth,
NONE of them are good for you.
Cigarettes kill 370,000 people a year in the U.S., not counting
passive smoke. That's over 1,000 people per day, the equivalent
of five jumbo jets crashing daily. The estimates are that passive
cigarette smoke kills over 15,000 people per year.
That's more than illegal drugs.
The most valuable name in the world, is a cigarette.
Coke is a solid company, but let's face it, carbonated soft drinks
of any brand are not healthy for you. There was a fellow parked
in my driveway years ago. We were talking and he was drinking a
cola. For some reason I had moved the cola and placed it on the
hood of his car.
"Don't put that drink on my car!" he shouted.
"Don't you know the acid in that drink will eat the paint off my
car?" he said.
He promptly took the drink and finished drinking it.
Have you looked at the size of the antacid section of the grocery
or drugstore lately? More than the paint from cars is being
eaten off.
The third most valuable brand in the world is a beer.
It's interesting what we value the most.
You can't control what the world values, you can only control
what you value.
What do you value?
Is it really valuable?
Really?
One method of determining what you really value is to try to do
without them.
If you can't make it without them, then that's what you value.
Are you trying to get to the mountaintop with a cigarette in
your mouth, a soda in one hand, and a beer in the other because
those are the things that you can't do without?
Stop and think about your real treasures.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. . ."
Thank you brother,
Im no Christian but ive read a lot of your posts here .Your Christian brethren would be proud to have you as one.
May God Almighty bless you and guide us all.
[video=youtube_share;ntOUsoCZT3Y]http://youtu.be/ntOUsoCZT3Y[/video]
Thank you bro, and this post is for you :
What Is Love?
==============
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of
4-to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got
were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and
paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her
all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's
love." (Rebecca - age 8 )
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
(Billy - age 4 )
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving
cologne and they go out and smell each other."
(Karl - age 5 )
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your
French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
(Chrissy - age 6 )
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
(Terri - age 4 )
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a
sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
(Danny - age 7)
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of
kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My
Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss,"
(Emily - age 8)
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop
opening presents and listen." (Bobby - age 7)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a
friend whom you hate." (Nikka - age 6)
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he
wears it everyday." (Noelle - age 7)
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are
still friends even after they know each other so well."
(Tommy - age 6)
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared.
I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving
and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared
anymore." (Cindy - age 8)
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else
kissing me to sleep at night." (Clare - age 6)
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
(Elaine-age 5)
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says
he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
(Chris - age 7)
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him
alone all day." (Mary Ann - age 4)
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her
old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." (Lauren - age 4)
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and
little stars come out of you."
(Karen - age 7)
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she
doesn't think it's gross." (Mark - age 6)
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it.
But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
(Jessica - age 8)
And the final one to melt anybody's heart: Author and lecturer
Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four-year-old child whose next door neighbor
was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon
seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's
yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother
asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."
~Authors Unknown~
[video=youtube_share;8GFe0tANaeY]http://youtu.be/8GFe0tANaeY[/video]
[video=youtube_share;5YKfW1r66hM]http://youtu.be/5YKfW1r66hM[/video]
Sad Stories
Bill, Jim and Scott were at a convention together and were
sharing a large suite on the top of a 75-story skyscraper.
After a long day of meetings, they were shocked to hear that the
elevators in their hotel were broken and they would have to
climb 75 flights of stairs to get to their room.
Bill said to Jim and Scott, "Let's break the monotony of this
unpleasant task by concentrating on something interesting. I'll
tell jokes for 25 flights, Jim can sing songs for the next 25
flights and Scott can tell sad stories for the rest of the way."
At the 26th floor, Bill stopped telling jokes and Jim began to
sing. At the 51st floor Jim stopped singing and Scott began to
tell sad stories.
"I will tell my saddest story first," he said.
"I left the room key in the car!"
Bill, Jim and Scott were at a convention together and were
sharing a large suite on the top of a 75-story skyscraper.
After a long day of meetings, they were shocked to hear that the
elevators in their hotel were broken and they would have to
climb 75 flights of stairs to get to their room.
Bill said to Jim and Scott, "Let's break the monotony of this
unpleasant task by concentrating on something interesting. I'll
tell jokes for 25 flights, Jim can sing songs for the next 25
flights and Scott can tell sad stories for the rest of the way."
At the 26th floor, Bill stopped telling jokes and Jim began to
sing. At the 51st floor Jim stopped singing and Scott began to
tell sad stories.
"I will tell my saddest story first," he said.
"I left the room key in the car!"
Hurricane
I'm only 15 and don't know much but I hope this story can help
someone like it did for me.
I went vacationing in Florida. I was staying in a rented house
in Clermont for about a week, and I was there during Hurricane
Charley. Luckily, no one I knew was killed or injured, but I am
sorry for those who were.
I remember the next morning, going outside and seeing everything
the hurricane had destroyed. There were trees that had been
torn out from the ground; some even were turned upside down.
Some cars, houses, and trailers had been dented and smashed.
Even billboards and signs were laying in the middle of the road.
But there was one thing that I thought was weird.
Almost everyone in Florida has a pool, with a screen-like thing
around it, to keep out bugs I'm guessing. These screens look
pretty flimsy and like they would fall down in an instant,
yet none of them were messed up at all.
I thought it was weird how this level four hurricane could
destroy huge things like trees, cars, and houses, yet these
little screens around the pool could stay up.
I later asked my dad how could they stand the hurricane while
the big things couldn't, and he said it was because they
basically let the air through them, since there are many holes.
What my dad told me also relates in the real world too.
If people won't budge at all (like the cars and trees), then
they'll get blown away and destroyed. But if people would act
more like the pool-screens, they could survive the "hurricane"
of life.
Instead of always having it your way, compromise with the wind.
That way you'll stay standing.
I'm only 15 and don't know much but I hope this story can help
someone like it did for me.
I went vacationing in Florida. I was staying in a rented house
in Clermont for about a week, and I was there during Hurricane
Charley. Luckily, no one I knew was killed or injured, but I am
sorry for those who were.
I remember the next morning, going outside and seeing everything
the hurricane had destroyed. There were trees that had been
torn out from the ground; some even were turned upside down.
Some cars, houses, and trailers had been dented and smashed.
Even billboards and signs were laying in the middle of the road.
But there was one thing that I thought was weird.
Almost everyone in Florida has a pool, with a screen-like thing
around it, to keep out bugs I'm guessing. These screens look
pretty flimsy and like they would fall down in an instant,
yet none of them were messed up at all.
I thought it was weird how this level four hurricane could
destroy huge things like trees, cars, and houses, yet these
little screens around the pool could stay up.
I later asked my dad how could they stand the hurricane while
the big things couldn't, and he said it was because they
basically let the air through them, since there are many holes.
What my dad told me also relates in the real world too.
If people won't budge at all (like the cars and trees), then
they'll get blown away and destroyed. But if people would act
more like the pool-screens, they could survive the "hurricane"
of life.
Instead of always having it your way, compromise with the wind.
That way you'll stay standing.
[video=youtube_share;CJIloFhFCJk]http://youtu.be/CJIloFhFCJk[/video]
Bible Quote for January 19
Ritual Human Sacrifice
"At that time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and led an army against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, "If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD the first thing coming out of my house to greet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
"So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory. He thoroughly defeated the Ammonites from Aroer to an area near Minnith - twenty towns - and as far away as Abel-keramim. Thus Israel subdued the Ammonites. When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter - his only child - ran out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. "My daughter!" he cried out. "My heart is breaking! What a tragedy that you came out to greet me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and cannot take it back." And she said, "Father, you have made a promise to the LORD. You must do to me what you have promised, for the LORD has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites. But first let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin." "You may go," Jephthah said. And he let her go away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children. When she returned home, her father kept his vow, and she died a virgin. So it has become a custom in Israel for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah's daughter." Judges 11:29-40
Ritual Human Sacrifice
"At that time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and led an army against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, "If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD the first thing coming out of my house to greet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
"So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory. He thoroughly defeated the Ammonites from Aroer to an area near Minnith - twenty towns - and as far away as Abel-keramim. Thus Israel subdued the Ammonites. When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter - his only child - ran out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. "My daughter!" he cried out. "My heart is breaking! What a tragedy that you came out to greet me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and cannot take it back." And she said, "Father, you have made a promise to the LORD. You must do to me what you have promised, for the LORD has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites. But first let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin." "You may go," Jephthah said. And he let her go away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children. When she returned home, her father kept his vow, and she died a virgin. So it has become a custom in Israel for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah's daughter." Judges 11:29-40
42 Tips for A Better Life
1. When you wake up in the morning, always start your day
with a prayer/vision.
2. And then, complete the following statement,
My purpose is to__________ today.
3. Take a 10 to 30-minute walk every day. And while you walk,
smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
4. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock
if you have to.
5. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants.
6. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices. Eat blueberries,
salad, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds, etc.
7. Make at least three people smile each day.
8. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot
control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present.
9. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, so give the
best of your kindness.
11. Take yourself seriously.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with
others either.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
So, be happy.
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve
great risk.
17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for
others; Responsibility for all your actions.
18. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.
19. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
In five years, will it matter?
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and
fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will
last a lifetime.
20. Forgive everyone for everything.
21. Read more books and watch less TV than you did last year.
22. What other people think of you is none of your business.
23. God has everything you'll every need in life so hook up
with Him.
24. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
25. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current
situation; don't bring up the past.
26. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
27. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
family and friends will. Stay in touch.
28. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
29. Keep believing that the best is yet to come.
30. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
31. Each day give something good to others.
32. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
33. Sleep for 7 hours every day or whatever your body needs.
34. Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you
kiss them.
35. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love
for each other is greater than your need for each other.
36. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a
stroke of luck.
37. Do the right thing!
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following
statements:
I am thankful for__________
Today I accomplished_________
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Trust in God, but lock your car.
41. Realize that as you get older, you are not approaching death,
but heaven.
42. Know that GOD heals everything.
1. When you wake up in the morning, always start your day
with a prayer/vision.
2. And then, complete the following statement,
My purpose is to__________ today.
3. Take a 10 to 30-minute walk every day. And while you walk,
smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
4. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock
if you have to.
5. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants.
6. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices. Eat blueberries,
salad, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds, etc.
7. Make at least three people smile each day.
8. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot
control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present.
9. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, so give the
best of your kindness.
11. Take yourself seriously.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with
others either.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
So, be happy.
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve
great risk.
17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for
others; Responsibility for all your actions.
18. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.
19. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
In five years, will it matter?
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and
fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will
last a lifetime.
20. Forgive everyone for everything.
21. Read more books and watch less TV than you did last year.
22. What other people think of you is none of your business.
23. God has everything you'll every need in life so hook up
with Him.
24. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
25. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current
situation; don't bring up the past.
26. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
27. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
family and friends will. Stay in touch.
28. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
29. Keep believing that the best is yet to come.
30. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
31. Each day give something good to others.
32. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
33. Sleep for 7 hours every day or whatever your body needs.
34. Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you
kiss them.
35. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love
for each other is greater than your need for each other.
36. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a
stroke of luck.
37. Do the right thing!
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following
statements:
I am thankful for__________
Today I accomplished_________
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Trust in God, but lock your car.
41. Realize that as you get older, you are not approaching death,
but heaven.
42. Know that GOD heals everything.
[video=youtube_share;GLVtp_b_SIU]http://youtu.be/GLVtp_b_SIU[/video]
Bible Quotes for January 20
Bloody Sabbath
"While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was discovered gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who caught him at it brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly. But they kept him in custody, for there was no clear decision as to what should be done with him. Then the Lord said to Moses, "This man shall be put to death; let the whole community stone him outside the camp." So the whole community led him outside the camp and stoned him to death as the Lord had commanded Moses." Numbers 15:32-36 NAB
Bloody Sabbath
"While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was discovered gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who caught him at it brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly. But they kept him in custody, for there was no clear decision as to what should be done with him. Then the Lord said to Moses, "This man shall be put to death; let the whole community stone him outside the camp." So the whole community led him outside the camp and stoned him to death as the Lord had commanded Moses." Numbers 15:32-36 NAB
To It and Thru It
I am one of the survivors of the recent hurricane.
As the storm approached, I prayed that God would steer it in
another direction because I live in a mobile home as do my
parents. But God did not honor that request and set it on a path
straight to us.
My father is dying of cancer and could not possibly go to a
shelter so we opted to ride out the storm all together in my
mobile home.
As the winds blew, I sat and prayed and wondered if God knew
what He was doing? He kept firmly in my mind that if He brings
me to it, He will surly bring me thru it.
The most we suffered was a blown out screen on a porch
enclosure. As thousands were without power, we never lost ours
which was a TRUE blessing as my father would not have survived
the heat.
My mother who was in need of a new roof on her home (but unable
to afford it) was blessed (yes blessed) to have a tree come
through her roof. Now insurance will provide the new roof.
The moral of this story?
When you think God does not hear let me assure you that He does
...maybe just not the way you want.
I am one of the survivors of the recent hurricane.
As the storm approached, I prayed that God would steer it in
another direction because I live in a mobile home as do my
parents. But God did not honor that request and set it on a path
straight to us.
My father is dying of cancer and could not possibly go to a
shelter so we opted to ride out the storm all together in my
mobile home.
As the winds blew, I sat and prayed and wondered if God knew
what He was doing? He kept firmly in my mind that if He brings
me to it, He will surly bring me thru it.
The most we suffered was a blown out screen on a porch
enclosure. As thousands were without power, we never lost ours
which was a TRUE blessing as my father would not have survived
the heat.
My mother who was in need of a new roof on her home (but unable
to afford it) was blessed (yes blessed) to have a tree come
through her roof. Now insurance will provide the new roof.
The moral of this story?
When you think God does not hear let me assure you that He does
...maybe just not the way you want.
Be Still and Know
In my life I have faced many struggles.
I am human and by nature I have grown sin weary and overburdened.
My hands have worked alone, in vain to build masterpieces
that always fall short of perfection.
In the midst of despair, I place my discouraged heart
in the hands of the one who softly whispers,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
I place my confidence in the one who faithfully works
to do what is positively right for me.
I rely on the perfect knowledge that keeps Him from doing
anything in my life that is not exactly what I need.
He is the Lord of creation, and yet He is committed to gently
knocking at the door of my heart.
I adore the God whose love is so pure that He sent His son to
live a perfect life for me. His love is so holy that He sent
His son to shed His blood on the cross for me.
I treasure the God who will never stop forgiving me.
My hope is in the one who knows the depths of my heart and still
loves me so passionately and watchfully.
The one who softly whispers,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
In my life I have faced many struggles.
I am human and by nature I have grown sin weary and overburdened.
My hands have worked alone, in vain to build masterpieces
that always fall short of perfection.
In the midst of despair, I place my discouraged heart
in the hands of the one who softly whispers,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
I place my confidence in the one who faithfully works
to do what is positively right for me.
I rely on the perfect knowledge that keeps Him from doing
anything in my life that is not exactly what I need.
He is the Lord of creation, and yet He is committed to gently
knocking at the door of my heart.
I adore the God whose love is so pure that He sent His son to
live a perfect life for me. His love is so holy that He sent
His son to shed His blood on the cross for me.
I treasure the God who will never stop forgiving me.
My hope is in the one who knows the depths of my heart and still
loves me so passionately and watchfully.
The one who softly whispers,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
[video=youtube_share;SgotyNJioGs]http://youtu.be/SgotyNJioGs[/video]
The Rest Stop
I spend a lot of time traveling for my job. When driving long
distances, I have found that the rest stops optimize my time,
because I can do what I need to do and be quickly back on my way.
On one particular day recently though, that was not exactly the
case.
The rest area was perfect, easy on and off the freeway, with
restrooms very close to parking and the coffee machine was right
by the restroom.
When I went into the restroom, I noticed an older woman washing
up over the sink basin, she seemed to be struggling just a bit.
I said nothing, just tried to mind my business. She began to
walk out of the restroom just as I was washing my hands. She
appeared to be somewhat distressed while walking and I saw that
both of her lower limbs were swollen, mottled and a deep purple
color.
Still I tried to mind my business; however, as I watched her
struggle toward her vehicle, I felt an overwhelming compassion
come over me. I began to pray for her as I watched her struggle.
Tears were welling up within me and I felt as if God was telling
me that he deeply loved her. I also felt I was supposed to let
her know that; but still, I tried to mind my business.
I returned to my vehicle and proceeded back toward the freeway.
I then knew that as I was so busy minding my own business; I was
forgetting God's business. We are called to be His vessels, not
self serving vessels; called to share His love in everything we do.
It was about a mile down the freeway before I found an exit to
turn back around. I prayed to God that he would give me another
chance. I prayed that if it was His will for me to speak to
that woman; that she would still be there when I returned; that
He would give me the words to say to her.
When I arrived; the woman was still there. She was sitting in
the passenger seat of her van with the door propped open. As I
approached the vehicle I was somewhat nervous, but I knew that
God would guide my steps.
I startled her a bit when I walked up and placed my hand on her
shoulder. I introduced myself and told her that I believed that
God had wanted me to give her a message.
He wanted me to tell her that He loved her very much and if she
would just turn to Him that He would carry her burden.
As I looked into her eyes, they were filled with tears.
She kept saying "Thank you, Thank you".
I then told her that though I did not know if she was ill, that
God wanted her to trust Him to restore her health.
I then asked her to pardon the intrusion, but that I felt so
strongly that I was supposed to deliver this message that I had
to return after leaving the rest area. She said that she had
seen me leave earlier so she knew that I had returned.
As I turned to leave she reached out with both hands to grab mine;
like a baby grabbing for his mother, and she said with tear
filled eyes....THANK YOU.
I said "No, thank God, that He's a God of second chances."
This was a simple moment, a minor distraction in my schedule;
but, oh, how I was blessed. My reluctant obedience; my
disobedience, was used for God's glory. First of all, because I
had left, then returned, I think that woman believed what I told
her.
And secondly, it taught me that even in the sinful nature in me,
God can work things for His glory. His will will be done.
I'm just thankful I didn't miss out on being His vessel this time
.
I spend a lot of time traveling for my job. When driving long
distances, I have found that the rest stops optimize my time,
because I can do what I need to do and be quickly back on my way.
On one particular day recently though, that was not exactly the
case.
The rest area was perfect, easy on and off the freeway, with
restrooms very close to parking and the coffee machine was right
by the restroom.
When I went into the restroom, I noticed an older woman washing
up over the sink basin, she seemed to be struggling just a bit.
I said nothing, just tried to mind my business. She began to
walk out of the restroom just as I was washing my hands. She
appeared to be somewhat distressed while walking and I saw that
both of her lower limbs were swollen, mottled and a deep purple
color.
Still I tried to mind my business; however, as I watched her
struggle toward her vehicle, I felt an overwhelming compassion
come over me. I began to pray for her as I watched her struggle.
Tears were welling up within me and I felt as if God was telling
me that he deeply loved her. I also felt I was supposed to let
her know that; but still, I tried to mind my business.
I returned to my vehicle and proceeded back toward the freeway.
I then knew that as I was so busy minding my own business; I was
forgetting God's business. We are called to be His vessels, not
self serving vessels; called to share His love in everything we do.
It was about a mile down the freeway before I found an exit to
turn back around. I prayed to God that he would give me another
chance. I prayed that if it was His will for me to speak to
that woman; that she would still be there when I returned; that
He would give me the words to say to her.
When I arrived; the woman was still there. She was sitting in
the passenger seat of her van with the door propped open. As I
approached the vehicle I was somewhat nervous, but I knew that
God would guide my steps.
I startled her a bit when I walked up and placed my hand on her
shoulder. I introduced myself and told her that I believed that
God had wanted me to give her a message.
He wanted me to tell her that He loved her very much and if she
would just turn to Him that He would carry her burden.
As I looked into her eyes, they were filled with tears.
She kept saying "Thank you, Thank you".
I then told her that though I did not know if she was ill, that
God wanted her to trust Him to restore her health.
I then asked her to pardon the intrusion, but that I felt so
strongly that I was supposed to deliver this message that I had
to return after leaving the rest area. She said that she had
seen me leave earlier so she knew that I had returned.
As I turned to leave she reached out with both hands to grab mine;
like a baby grabbing for his mother, and she said with tear
filled eyes....THANK YOU.
I said "No, thank God, that He's a God of second chances."
This was a simple moment, a minor distraction in my schedule;
but, oh, how I was blessed. My reluctant obedience; my
disobedience, was used for God's glory. First of all, because I
had left, then returned, I think that woman believed what I told
her.
And secondly, it taught me that even in the sinful nature in me,
God can work things for His glory. His will will be done.
I'm just thankful I didn't miss out on being His vessel this time
.
Brother , god did not help that woman lah , she still have the same problem after you left . Her life will not change just a few words from you although it help her to think positively for a few hours . you make her feel good about herself and not " god " . do not give credit to those who don't deserved it including the invisibleman .
PS : bro , use one nick to post lah if you use so many nick I'm afraid I will whack the wrong guy
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