God's Flower Garden

It's hard to lose the ones we love, To see them pass away; The sweetest and the kindest gone, While others are left to stay. But if we had a garden With roses fair and bright, We'd often pick the loveliest, And think it to be right. And so it is with Jesus, In His heavenly garden here: He often picks the fairest flower, The one we love so dear. But the flowers that are picked by Him Will never fade away; We know they'll bloom forever, And we'll see them some sweet day. Author: Marjorie Staats  Source: MrMom's Inspirational Pages [Archived]

 

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Satan Called a Convention

This is a story of how Satan keeps Christians from Christ. Are you falling into the devils trap? Inspirational Christian Story about Losing Focus on Jesus. Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"   "How shall we do this?" his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"   "Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."   "Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!"   "And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!"   It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families and friends. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives. I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!   Does "busy" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Life has a way of keeping us "too busy", "too tired", or "too distracted" to think about God... From the cradle to the grave, there’s always some reason we push Him aside. As kids, we're too young. As teens, too self-sufficient. As adults, too overwhelmed. And before we know it, we’re out of time...

But God never asked for a perfect moment—He just asks for now.

Right now, in your youth, in your mess, in your joy or sorrow, remember Him.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” — Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJV)

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He Never Came Dressed That Way Again

I saw him in the church building for the first time last Wednesday. He was in his mid 70's with silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the Good News with him. He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he had never put on Christ.   I had asked him a few years ago, "Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking. He hesitated, then with a bitter smile he told me of a childhood experience some sixty years ago.   He was one of many children in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them.   The Bible class had been very exciting. He had never heard such songs and stories before. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before.   After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come worship the Lord." He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls, looked at his bare, dirty feet and said, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" And he never did.   There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart. I'm sure the Bible teacher meant well, but what if she had studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James? What if she had put her arms around that dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son, I'm so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus!"   I pray that I might ever be open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within.   Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time last Wednesday.As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him saying, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" .... and I wept.   ~Author Unknown~

Heaven Awaits

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The Parable of the Smallest Puppy

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy. ’Mister,“ he said, ”I want to buy one of your puppies.“ “Well,” said the farmer, as he robbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.“ The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he polled out a handful of change and held it op to the farmer. “I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?” “Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle, 'Here Dolly!' he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared. This One noticeably smaller. Down die ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.... “I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, “Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.” With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don't run too well myself and he will need someone who understands.“ The world is full of people who need someone who understands.  Printable PDF Version of This Parable Adapted From: MargiesMessages.com

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The Bible and the TV Guide

"The Bible and the TV Guide" is a classic, anonymous Christian poem that contrasts human spiritual priorities with daily entertainment habits. They lie on the table, side by side, The Holy Bible and the TV guide. One is well worn and cherished with pride, No, not the Bible, but the TV guide. One is used daily to help folks decide, No, not the Bible but the TV guide. As the pages are turned, what shall they see? Oh what does it matter, turn on the TV. Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree, On what they should watch on the old TV. So they open the book in which they confide: No, not the Bible, but the TV guide. The word of God is seldom read, Maybe a verse as they fall into bed, Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be, Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV. So then back on the table side by side, Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide. No time for prayer, no time for the word, The plan of salvation is seldom now heard. But forgiveness of sin, so full and free, Is found in the Bible, not on the TV. ~ Author Unknown ~ The TV Psalm The TV is my Shepherd, I shall turn it on. It maketh me lie down on the sofa. It leadeth me away from the scriptures. It ravisheth my soul. It leadeth me in the paths of ignorance  and violence, for the sponsor's sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my responsibilities  to my family and my Creator, there will be no interruptions,   for the TV is with me. Its' cable and its' remote control, they comfort me. It prepareth a commercial before me. It planteth lies within my mind. It anoiteth my head with materialism. My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me  all the days of my life, and I shall dwell  in the house watching TV and its propaganda forever. The Twenty-Third Channel The TV is my shepherd, My spiritual growth shall want. It maketh me to sit down and do nothing, for its name sake, because it requireth all my spare time. It keepeth me from doing my duty as a Christian, because it presenteth so many good shows that I must see. It restoreth my knowledge of things of the world, and keepeth me from the study of God's Word. It leadeth me in the paths of failing to attend the evening church services, and doing nothing for the kingdom of God. Yea, though I live to be a hundred, I shall keep viewing my TV for as long as it will work, for it is my closest companion. It's sounds and it's pictures, they comfort me. It presenteth entertainment before me, and keeps me from doing important things with my family. It filleth my head with ideas which differ from the Word of God. Surely no good thing will come out of my life because of so many wasted hours, and I shall dwell in my regrets and remorse forever. From the book "Powerful Promises for Every Woman", by Elizabeth George.

HeavenAwaits

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The Parable of the Gems

The Parable of the Gems There once was a young woman who dreamed she was walking along a quiet and secluded beach searching for gems in the sand. As she knelt down and began raking her finger slowly through the warm surface, the tiny grains of sand glittered invitingly in the sunlight. Before long, she noticed a colorful gem and picked it up. Not wanting to lose it, the young woman carefully stuck the sparkling gem in her pocket for safekeeping. Eagerly returning to her search, she quickly discovered more gems resting just beneath the surface. As she collected the gems, she began to wonder if there were more gems hidden deeper in the sand. Determined to find out, she began to dig. With effort, time and patience, she was rewarded again and again with breathtaking jewels. Each time she found a new gem, the young woman held it under the sunlight and studied it carefully. She turned each one over in her fingers, exploring its many shapes and facets. She thoughtfully and patiently examined the gems she had found and soon began to appreciate the unique qualities and characteristics of each one. Feelings of attachment to her new-found treasures began to grow within her. After searching for a while, the young woman gathered her gems together and held them up to the sunlight. She was filled with awe as the light danced off the gems in a rainbow of colors. As the young woman sat appreciating the beauty of the gems, she looked up and saw her father approaching. Smiling warmly, he said, "I've been watching you dig in the sand. What did you find?" The young woman eagerly displayed the handful of gems.  Her father then asked, "Now, what will you do with your treasures?" When we open the scriptures, it is as though we were standing on the beach with the young woman. The context and content of the scriptures are the warm sand beneath our feet. While it can be pleasant just to read the stories in the scriptures, we won't find any gems until we start to dig. As we look for details in the context and content of the scriptures, we'll find valuable principles to guide our lives and enlighten our understanding. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, "As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances". Some principles will be easy to find. As we read the Parable of the Good Samaritan, for example, we will notice the obvious message that we should be kind to all of God's children. Other principles will require us to dig deeper. Questions will help us in our search. Who is the certain man in that parable? Why did the Savior specify that he was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho? Did it have to be a Samaritan? What is the significance of the Samaritan's offer to pay any cost to heal the man?  When we find true principles, we can hold them up to the light of the gospel to continue exploring their truths and implications. It may help to write those principles as short statements in the margins of our scriptures or in a study journal. As we expand our understanding beyond the context where the principle was found, we will be able to see how each principle applies to our past and present experiences. More importantly, we can begin to feel the truthfulness of each one. Finally, after each exciting session of digging on the beach, we will have the opportunity to ask ourselves how we can use and apply what we have learned. When we are diligent in applying the principles of the gospel to our lives, we will have more experiences we can use to reinforce our testimonies and add light to future study sessions. Our scripture study will be enriched as we seek to understand the context and content of the sections we read, identify doctrines and principles, and then work to better understand, feel and apply those principles. We may also find that we're better motivated to continue studying because we will see those principles changing our lives and it will be fun-- like digging in the sand at the beach.

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