Verse Nov23

Enter with the password: "Thank you!"  Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
 Thank him. Worship him.

Candy Coated Cross

Candy Coated Cross

We have candy coated the cross

To make it nice and sweet.

As we *Skittle through this life,

We forget the nails in Jesus' feet.

We have candy coated the cross

And made it into necklaces of gold.

As we collect *Mounds of treasure here,

We forget Jesus for a few pieces of silver was sold.

We have candy coated the cross

To make it represent whatever we need.

As we *Take 5 minutes to remember Christ,

We forget  the 39 lashes that made Him bleed.

We have candy coated the cross

And made it into a once a year display.

As *Baby Ruth  we take to church for an  hour

We forget Jesus thirsting on that long dark day.

We have candy coated the cross

And made it's suffering melt into beauty

When  our *Pay Day comes along

We  give to perform our Christian duty.

Yes, the cross is indeed coated over and covered with earthly things.

We sometime forget each nail, each lash, each stripe, which our healing brings.

Today remember no * Mr. (or Mrs.) Goodbar is good enough to make it on our own. It's through the cross, His blood, His grace alone,

That we are forgiven for each human, fleshly shortcoming and sin.

The cross brings cleansing through His precious sweet blood flowing in.

Experience the pure *Joy and the *Burst of exhilaration Christ can unfurl,

As you uncover the cross and all its power.

Copyright © 2014 Judy Parker. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks For Visiting

Verse Oct. 17

The point is, Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.
Romans 10:17

Verse Nov 6

You cannot please someone you do not know and you cannot know someone you don’t believe exists.

Hebrews 11:6

Parable of the Mustard Seed

The master said,

All you need

Is Faith.

Yes!

It doesn’t have to be a hill

It doesn’t have to be a forest

It doesn’t have to be a garden

It doesn’t have to be an ocean

It doesn’t have to be mountain

It doesn’t have to be gigantic

It doesn’t have to be spectacular

It doesn’t have to be picturesque

No!

Just the size of a seed

And not a big seed either

Just the size of a mustard seed

Yes!

That’s all the Faith you need

As tiny as a mustard seed

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. It is so small that if you were holding one in your hand and you dropped it you would have a very hard time finding it because it is so hard to see. Even though the mustard seed is so small when it is planted in the ground, it grows into a tree large enough for birds to stand on its branches and to make their nests in it.

When you look at this little mustand seed ( before planting it in the ground ), you might think it would be impossible for a seed so tiny to grow into a tree. But our God turns that tiny seed into a wonderful place for birds to come and rest and sing.

When Jesus told this parable He compared it to loving God. When children, like you, or adults begin to love Jesus, their love is like a tiny mustard seed before it is planted in the ground. It starts out very small at first. Then when you keep on listening to what Jesus says and obeying Him, then the love grows bigger and bigger. Soon it will grow like the big mustard tree.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

(Matthew 13: 31-32)
You can also find this parable in Mark 4:30-32; and Luke 13:18-19

Thanks For Visiting

The Letter

One day a woman named Louise fell asleep in her bed, and dreamed a very fitful dream. She dreamed that someone in Hell wrote a letter to her, and it was to be delivered to her by a messenger. The messenger passed between the lakes of burning fire and brimstone that occupies Hell, and found his way to the door that would lead him to the outside world. Louise dreamed that the messenger walked to her house, came inside, and gently, but firmly woke Louise up. He gave her the message, saying only that a friend had written it to her from Hell. Louise, in her dream, with trembling hands took the letter and read:

 

My Friend,
I stand in Judgement now, and feel that you're to blame somehow. On earth, I walked with you day by day, and never did you point the way. You knew the Lord in truth and glory, but never did you tell the story. My knowledge then was very dim; you could have led me safe to Him. Though we lived together on the earth, you never told me of the second birth, and now I stand this day condemned, because you failed to mention Him. You taught me many things, that's true, I called you friend and trusted you, But I learn now that its too late, you could have kept me from this fate. We walked by day and talked by night, and yet you showed me not the Light. You let me live, and love, and die you knew Id never live on high. Yes, I called you a friend in life, and trusted you through joy and strife. And yet on coming to the end, I cannot, now, call you my friend. Marsha

After reading the letter, Louise awoke. The dream was still so real in her mind, and sweat dropped from her body in pools. She swore she could still smell the acrid smell of brimstone and smoke in her room. As she contemplated the meaning of her dream, she realized that as a Christian, she had failed in her duty to go out to all the world and preach the gospel. As she thought of that, she promise herself that the next day, she would call Marsha and invite her to church with her.

The next morning she called her friend and the conversation follows:

Yes, Bill is Marsha there?
Louise, you don't know?
No, Bill, know what?
Marsha was killed last night in a car accident.
I thought you knew.

~~ Author Unknown ~

Thanks For Visiting

Parable Of The Miserly Beggar

Once upon a time, there was a very poor man who’s sole means of survival was to beg along a road in his little village. Every day, this man would set out his little mat by the side of the road, with two bowls on it – one for the alms that people would give him, and one that held the rice that he would purchase with the alms.

But one day, the entire village was filled with excitement by a rumor that the generous, rich King of the entire realm would be passing through their little town. And it was known that this King would sometimes give away great sums of gold to those whom he would chance to meet. So the man, along with the entire village, was hugging the side of the road in breathless anticipation. And sure enough, at about mid-day, the King’s impressive entourage was seen approaching the village. And the poor man knew this was his chance. As the King passed by, he went ballistic, shouting and jumping and calling on the King to have mercy on him. "ALMS FOR THE POOR! ALMS FOR THE POOR! HAVE MERCY OF A POOR, UNFORTUNATE BEGGAR!!!"

And to the surprise of the entire village, the King stopped and walked over to the beggar. And what was even more surprising was what the King said. He said, “Has your life been one of only misery, and no joy? Surely you have something you can give me to bless my day.” And he looked down at the beggar’s bowl with rice in it and said “How about giving me some rice? I've traveled far today and I'm pretty hungry right now."

This was not how the beggar had anticipated things going. And inside himself, he thought "Give you my rice?! GIVE YOU MY RICE??!! I’m a poor beggar! You’re the rich guy – you should be giving ME something!” But his next thought was this: "This guy’s the King. What he’s asking from me is wrong, but if I don’t give him a little something, he might have me killed!"

So the beggar hesitatingly reached down and took five grains of rice and put them into the King’s hand. And the King looked down at his hand... then into the beggar’s eyes…and said "Alright then!" Then he returned to his entourage and off they went, with a very puzzled beggar watching them fade into the sunset, along with his dreams for wealth and happiness. And he yelled at the King (after he knew he was out of earshot), "MISER!! TYRANT!!"

But then he happened to glance down — and to his great surprise, there in his alms bowl were five gold coins... one for every grain of rice he had just given the King. And then he looked over at the bowl of rice, which had THOUSANDS of grains of rice in it — and the horrible realization finally dawned on him: If he had been generous with his rice, he would now have a fortune. But because of his own miserlyness, he had very little.

Thanks For Visiting

The Parable Of The Spoon

One day a man said to God, “God, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.

God showed the man two doors. Inside the first one, in the middle of the room, was a large round table with a large pot of stew. It smelled delicious and made the man’s mouth water, but the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. God said, “You have seen Hell.”

Behind the second door, the room appeared exactly the same. There was the large round table with the large pot of wonderful stew that made the man’s mouth water. The people had the same long-handled spoons, but they were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The man said, “I don’t understand.”

God smiled. “It is simple,” He said, “Love only requires one skill. These people learned early to feed one another. Those who are hungry are greedy people, and they think only of themselves.

Thanks For Visiting

Light of Jesus on Halloween

Frost is on the pumpkin
Chill is in the air
Leaves are gently falling
Swirling here and there.

Many different faces
Costumes in the night
Gremlins, ghouls and goblins
Causing quite a fright.

Vampires in the darkness
Hobos in the street
Ghosts are ringing doorbells
Time for trick-or-treat.



Candles in the window
Faces all aglow
Painted little munchkins
Put on quite a show.

Full of tricks and sorcery
Warlocks in the night
Lamps are shining brightly
Makes for quite a sight.

Lots of spells and magic
Witches do appear
Riding on their broomsticks
Halloween is here.



They say that it is harmless
Nothing more than fun
But Satan won't surrender
Until his work is done.

Razors stuck in candy
Poison found in treats
Children must be wary
Of everyone we meet.

Wild and crazy parties
Hosted by adults
People bent on mischief
Belong to deadly cults.



Full of tricks and sorcery
Wander in the night
Dressed like little demons
Cannot see the light.

The evil that is lurking
Goes about unseen
Is covered up with candy
And all things in-between.

There is a world of darkness
That lurks within the night
Dungeons, ogres and dragons
Is not a pretty site.



We need to read the Bible
The scripture quoted there
The wicked way of pagans
Is found most everywhere.

Look to the light of Jesus
Past witches painted green
In little pumpkins all aglow
This year on Halloween.

Author/Written By:  Marilyn Ferguson ©2005

Graphics: He's Alive - Easter Morning Until Then Graphics



Thanks For Visiting

Keep Your Fork Parable

aka: "Parable Of The Fork" - Means the Best Is Yet to Come!

“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” – Maya Angelou

“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 25:34

A woman was diagnosed with terminal illness and given three months to live. She asked her preacher to come by her house to discuss her funeral.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures to read, and what dress she wanted to be buried in. She also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. As he prepared to leave, she suddenly remembered one more thing. “I have one more request,” she said excitedly.

“What’s that?” the preacher replied.

“This is very important,” she continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”

The preacher looked at her, not knowing quite what to say.

“That surprises you?” she asked.

“To be honest, I am puzzled,” he replied.

The woman explained, “In all my years of attending church fellowships and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part, because I knew that meant something better was coming . . . like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful! So I want people to see me in that casket with a fork in my hand. When they ask you, ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them, ‘She believed the best is yet to come.’”

image source: unknown

Thanks For Visiting