The Silent Sermon

I got this in email today, from my father... I thought it was quite good, so enjoy!

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down hi s cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance !
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of t he Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God is crazy about you!

Send this to the people you are crazy about.I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU! What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”~ John 8:12, NLT

Happy Easter

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice that all may live eternally with You and the Father. May your church continue to increase daily, in faith an
d in numbers until that day you return again to claim your people. Maranatha!

He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. ~ Matthew 28:6, NLT

Being Joyful

Choose joy! Sounds easy doesn't it? Well sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, but it is a choice and with God we can lead our minds with our hearts.

Three car accidents in four months? Choose joy! Two flat tires in one week? Choose joy! Coworker that drives you nuts, finally no longer working with you, leaving you all the work to do? Choose joy!

After a tough morning, even before I left the house today... I saw a beautiful rainbow and chose joy! Did you choose joy today?!

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT

His hands are holding me

Things were going fairly well lately, then I hit a snag or two. Unfulfilled expectations mostly and the evil one messing with my sense of personal value to the world. It started, well I noticed it on Valentines Day, when any expectation of appreciation was dashed, leaving me to cry myself to sleep.

Comments and lack-there-of continued for the weekend, stretching into Tuesday, my weekly mandatory unpaid day off... which brought me to a commute this morning in full breakdown mode. I was almost to work, thinking I'd maybe park around the corner and finish my cry so I could enter my workplace with a semblance of dignity, when this song came on. I love it, but don't think I really heard the words until today.

By Your Side ~ Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go


As I said, I was crushed by the lack of love I felt from my earthly husband, when in the greater scheme of things, what does that matter? I have the Lords everlasting love showering me 24/7/365. I was able to enter work with my head held high knowing that I am loved, valued, and important - even if no early being ever tells me or shows me that again. Even at work, I'm not 20% less valuable... I am chosen, I am loved and I am saved. What more could we all ask for?!?!?

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" ~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT

He is the gate

And what a lovely, majestic, awesome and loving gate He is. All we have to do is have faith and knock and the gate is open for us. The gift is free, but we have to ask for it and embrace it. Jesus paid the price for all of us. He washed our sins away, clothing us in white - a spotless bride.

'Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures." ~ John 10:9, NLT

I'll call you

How many times have you said you'd call someone - and just never did? How many times do you have to remind yourself to call so-and-so? How many times have you sat on hold for too long? How many cell phone calls do you ignore?

I answer the phone at work, because I have to... and I really don't enjoy talking on the phone, particularly my cell phone ever!

But when we call on the Lord, He answers, with a quick reply as He promises in His Word. How wonderful is that!?!? If that doesn't make your day, not sure what will :)

"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply."
~ Isaiah 58:9, NLT

Ripples to eternity

Just like pebbles thrown in our calm waters, they ripple to eternity. Our large problems today, soon fade and make sense when we look back later.

Looking forward to a new year in 2009. New challenges, new triumphs, new friends and many blessings.

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT