The Wise Woman's Stone: A Micro Story

Author Unknown

A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

when she asked him why he returned the stone, he said, "I've been thinking: I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

In today's circumstances, sometimes it may make more sense and wisdom to give someone in need a skill, a tool or a job, rather than just money. It may have more impact. 

Remember: A little boy gave up his lunch to Jesus to be able to feed others. He never ever could have imagined his "one" lunch would feed 10,000. Similarly, we never know the impact one act of our kindness can have.

Kindness is a norm. Not an act.

What Have You With held from God ?

On thinking about the subject line one decided to research it and came across a beautiful and meaningful post about this. We could not help but share it with you, our readers.  

Withholding from God
By Erika in Symphony of Praise

“You did what?” My mouth dropped open as my husband told the story. I couldn’t believe it.
“God told you to sacrifice our son? Abraham, what is wrong with you? Where is Isaac? Where is my son?”
Abraham calmly replied, “He is outside with the servants tending to the animals. He is fine Sarah”.
“Okay, let me get this straight! You bound my son to an altar. You treated him like an animal. You lifted a knife to kill him, and you say everything is fine?”
“Sarah, what would you have me do? Disobey God? God told me to take our son . . . our Isaac . . . our baby . . . our heir . . . our life. Isaac was to be sacrificed as a burnt offering to God. I didn’t question. If God gave him to us, God can take him from us. Our son was God’s before he was ours.”
I saw Abraham speaking, but I could hear no words. He almost killed our son. Our promise. I could understand that he didn’t go through with it because God provided a ram. But still. This was too much for a mother to bear. A mother who waited over ninety years to see the promise of a child. A mother who tried to take matters into her own hands with Hagar and Ishmael . . . and paid dearly. A mother who held, and nursed, and loved that baby. How could my husband do this?
Finally, I heard Abraham. “Sarah, my love, what would you have done?”
“I wouldn’t have sacrificed . . . I wouldn’t have taken my . . . I wouldn’t have . . . “. I couldn’t get the words out.
“I don’t know.” I replied through angry and bitter tears. I could hardly look at the man. I don’t know what I would have done. Would I have disobeyed God? Would I have kicked and screamed? Would I have bargained with God?
“Abraham, I would like to think that I would have obeyed, but I just don’t know.” I cried on my husband as he held me close. Why wasn’t my faith as strong as his? Why couldn’t I be as confident that God was a God of mercy and grace?
Heck, I laughed when God told us that I would give birth to Isaac. I laughed in God’s face as if anything is too hard for Him. Forgive me, Lord.
I wiped the tears, came to my senses (a bit), and stared into the eyes of my husband, “Why did you do it, Abraham? Help me understand so that I can become a woman of faith. Teach me how you could obey God at any cost . . . including that of sacrificing our son. Why did you do it, my love?”
Abraham pulled me close into his strong embrace and whispered into my ear, “Because I will withhold nothing from my God.”.
- Genesis 22 -

Standing on Promises

There is a Hymn called Standing on the promises of God. Nice hymn though it leaves some questions which is how do you do that? What does it mean? 

We are so used to broken, partially broken or seldom kept human promises that we are conditioned to take promises with a pinch of salt. Yet we are told to stand on Gods promises. What does it mean?

Standing on the promises of God means having faith in God's promises and living in a way that is faithful to God. It also means being aware of God's promises and applying them to one's life

There are more than 8000 promises made by God in the Bible. Which ones do you claim? Which ones has God made good on, to you? Here is an E Book listing them out and you can download it here. Read it and see what the Lord has done for you and can do for you. After all....

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

Number 23:19

Sunday Quotes

                      

1. “If you sell your soul to the Devil, you will spend the rest of eternity trying to buy it back.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
2. “If Noah waited for signs of rain to build an ark, he would have been swept away by the flood.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
3. “Before you look for dirt in people, look for treasure.” – Matshoa Dhliwayo
4. "Wisdom is the capacity to see things from God's viewpoint." – Charles Stanley
5. "Do not judge others, we do not know the battles they face. Love and be kind, for it costs nothing.” – Henrietta Newton Martin
6. “One of the enemy's sneaky attacks against the joy of our salvation is to put us in the spiral of self-condemnation.” – Linda Evans Shepherd
7. “If you want to know your worth, look at the old rugged Cross.” – Gift Gugu Mona
8. “The fact that I'm a biker doesn't make me a different kinda Christian, but the fact that I'm a Christian makes me a different kinda biker.” – Dano Janowski
9. “Forgiveness brings us closer to those who have hurt us and helps them to experience the forgiveness and love of Jesus through us who forgives them.” – Omoakhuana Anthonia
10 “Shine your light at all times; you never know who you are leading out of the dark.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
11. "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." – Corrie Ten Boom
12. "If you put your faith in yourself and your abilities, intellect and dreams, then your foundation is only as strong as you are." – Charles Stanley

Saturday Vespers

                                         

Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually, and to give thanks in all my circumstances. Where I face challenges, fill me with your strength to face them. Where I face heartbreak and sorrow, let me feel your comfort.
We pray for all those facing health issues, or any other challenges. For those who need jobs, or who face financial insecurity. Let me feel your presence.
We pray for a young man in Delhi National Capital Region who is fearful for his father who suffered a brain stroke. He was getting better but has deteriorated today. Let us hold him up.
We pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace worldwide and an end to aggression by countries bent on increasing their power by whatever means, especially, through war and destruction and killing innocent people.
We pray for Emily for her healing. 
We continue to prayer for the Pastor in Australia who needs sustenance and strength to recoup from his illness to be able to continue God's work.
We pray for a lady in India who is undergoing medical tests and needs prayers for all to be fine.
We continue to prayer for a senior in India who is a patient of Parkinsons for her peace and strength and patience for her caregiver.
We pray for a senior in India who is undergoing back pain, in spite of surgery. May God grant her relief from this long time pain, which she has borne in great patience.
We pray for a gentleman in India undergoing chemo for strength and well being.
We commit Timothy Mwangi onto you I pray for healing for him and deliverance I pray for forgiveness and mercy remember him and his family in a special and mighty way
For Tanu who is grateful for her new job. We pray God leads her as she takes on new responsibilities.

Lessons From the Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
- Author Unknown

Do You Know the Voice?

 

Ref:  John 10:3 

There are some verses which we don't really think about and/or take for granted.

The example of the shepherd and the sheep is one. Today let's see what it's about?

A query on an artificial intelligence engine tells us "Sheep are herd animals that are led by voice and naturally follow their shepherd. Shepherds use their voice to guide their sheep, with specific calls to stop, turn, or move forward. Sheep will eventually learn to recognize the shepherd's voice and trust him, and will not listen to commands from others".

"Sheep learn their shepherd's voice by following other sheep, who instinctively move towards new pasture lands".

What this AI engine knows and tells us today, the Biblical authors knew and told us 2000 plus years ago. Three things stand out:

1. The shepherd's voice 

2. Following other sheep.

3. The gatekeeper.

As God's people, we often become confused with the voices, sounds and sights and get mixed up in things of the world. Sin is tempting as we surround ourselves with the wrong crowd and or the wrong leaders. but God is always watching and calls us back to the fold. We find Him when we are lost because we know the sound of His voice; it's the only one we've chosen to follow, and we do not confuse it with others.

How wonderful is this relationship; how true is the Bible; how great is the shepherd who calls when we are lost. What a great sense of security knowing that we are protected by Jesus the gatekeeper who will not allow false leaders to mislead us. What power which protects us, greater than anything in the world.

The lesson we can draw from this verse is that we need to recognize His voice and His words as also choose wisely the people around us.

Your 'Belly of the Fish' moment

Have you ever felt trapped? like there was no way out of a difficult situation. Jonah was no stranger to that feeling. After running away from God's call, he found himself in the belly of a great fish. Can you imagine the darkness, the stench and the despair he must have felt? Yet, in the midst of his darkest hour God was still with him. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in our own 'Belly of the Fish" moments. It maybe a broken relationship, a health crisis or a seemingly impossible situation. Its in those moments we need to remember that God is with us even in those depths. He is our refuge and our strength. 

Just like Jonah, God can use our difficult circumstances to shape us and teach us important lessons. It was in the belly of the fish that Jonah repented and cried out to the Lord. Sometimes it takes being in the belly of the fish for us to truly surrender to God and seek His guidance. 

So if you find yourself in a seemingly impossible situation, remember Jonah. Your belly of the fish moment maybe the turning point in your life. 

A Letter from a Friend

 

Good morning,  
As you got up I watched and hoped you would talk to me. Just a few words, such as thanking me for something good in your life yesterday or last week would do.
But I noticed you were busy selecting the right clothes for work. I waited again to hear from you. When you ran around the house collecting papers, I knew there would be a few minutes to stop and say hello, but you never slowed down.
I wanted to tell you that I could help you accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible if you would just spend some of each day with me. At one point, you waited fifteen minutes in a chair with nothing to do. I waited to hear from you.
Then I saw you spring to your feet; I thought you wanted to talk to me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend. I watched as off to work you went and waited patiently all day long to hear from you. With all your activities you were too busy to talk with me.
I noticed at lunch you looked around; maybe you just felt embarrassed to talk to me. You glanced three tables over and noticed some of your friends talking to me before they ate, but you wouldn't.
There was still more time left, and I hoped that we would talk. You went home and had many things to do. After they were done, you turned on the TV; just about anything goes there and you spend many hours watching. I waited as you continued watching TV and ate your meal but again you wouldn't talk to me.
At bedtime you were totally tired. After you said good night to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep. I had so much wanted to be part of your day. We could have had so much fun and accomplished so much together.
I love you so much that I wait every day for a thought, prayer or thanks. Well, maybe tomorrow! I'll be waiting. We have the whole week ahead. :) 
Your Friend,
God
-Author Unknown

Sunday Quotes

"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile" - Max Lucado

"God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies." - Hudson Taylor

"Remember who you are. Don’t compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth." - Lysa Terkeurst

"Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” - Corrie Ten Boom

"Christ literally walked in our shoes." - Tim Keller

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom

"The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." - Billy Graham

"Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them." - Elisabeth Elliot

"God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go." - Tony Evans

"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." - Chuck Swindoll

"Your potential is the sum of all the possibilities God has for your life." - Charles Stanley

"The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on your life, the more likely you are to praise Him in the storm." - Matt Chandler

You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read." - John MacArthur