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Morning Devotional...


EYE OPENER


I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He
was in his mid-70's, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit.

Many times in the past, I had invited him to come. Several other
Christian 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, nor entered
the doors of the church.

"Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" I had asked
him a few years ago. We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting
and talking.

He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood
experience some fifty 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 Sunday School class had been very exciting! He had never heard
such songs and stories before!

He had never heard anyone read from the Bible! 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 into God's house."

He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then looking at his dirty
bare feet, he answered softly, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

"And I never did," he said, abruptly ending our conversation.

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 that Sunday School teacher meant well. But did she really
understand the love of Christ? Had she studied and accepted the
teachings found in the second chapter of James?

What if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and
said, "Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every
chance you get to hear more about Jesus."

I reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or pastor or a
parent has to welcome little ones in His name. How far reaching her
influence was!

I prayed that I might be ever 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 on 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 say, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

And I wept.

--Author Unknown

Excellent Devotional, we need to be aware of the words we say can last a lifetime.

Hope everyone has a great week !  God Bless !

Janet - thank you for that.  It's hard to read something like that and then just forget it.  I don't think I will.

Janet:  Thank you for the devotion.  When I was helping a pastor build a church in Texas, I found that the majority of people who did not attend actually were never invited.  So,.....the young pastor went knocking on doors and invited people to come.  It just grew so fast.  So right about taking care with the words we use.

Pat:  I hope that your tea helped your headache. 

Etta Sue:  Cannot imagine even the most zealous door-to-door evangelists turning a door knob - maybe they were robbers.  I would call the police to report.  Stay safe.

Happy Birthday Liz

Excellent story, Janet.  It reminds me of the story that I once heard about a black man standing outside of a beautiful church looking at the door longingly.  Jesus approaches the man and asks him why he is just standing there.  The man replies, "Because I am not welcome in that church".  Jesus says "I understand.  I've been waiting to be welcomed there, myself". 

Janet ~ Thank you so much for the devotional.  Our words mean so much especially when we are young and impressionable.  My step-daughter decided she needed to go to church and went to church on Sunday.  A lady took her aside and told her she could wear pants to church but not blue jeans...that she needed to get a pair of dress pants for church.  Mary Lou didn't go back.  She was raising four boys and didn't have money for dress pants.  I told her to find a different church but I don't think she ever did.  So sad.

Carol ~ When I left last evening between my inside door and the screen door was one of their pamphlets so they weren't robbers.  I went to Kitty's house last night and she said one time she turned around and they were standing in her kitchen behind her. 

Kitty called me last evening and asked me over to just chat.  I tried to help her on her computer.  She is trying to do animation with Photo Shop.  I wasn't much help.  They call everything different than PSP does.  But we had a nice visit.  She's a very good friend. 

Tonight I am going to a Pampered Chef party.  I couldn't think of anything to get but Kitty came to my rescue...I will order something for her so at least, I will be ordering something to help my old high school classmate out. And I might see something that I just can't possibly do without!   

Etta Sue....your daughter would be welcome at our church where the attire ranges from suits to shorts and sandals, frome dresses to blue jeans and tee shirts.

Hi everyone.  Will write a few notes here from the Independence, Missouri public library.  They limit you on the amount of time you can be online so I will try to keep this shot.

We had a wonderful trip here and the weather has been ideal.  Yesterday I was able to get Pat's sister on a no limit dial up connection.  However, her computer is so old and slow that after spending about 90 minutes to get zone alarm downloaded it said it couldn't be installed with that version.  I am tempted to go get her a new computer.  I saw a nice deal at CompUSA yesterday for an e-machine, new monitor and new all-in-one printer for $250 after quite a few rebates.  They appear to be getting rid of the last of the big CRT monitors as had them on said for $9 after a $50 rebate.  I am sure this is the monitor included in the deal.  There is no way she is able to afford a new computer as can hardly put food on her table.  

Yesterday Pat helped one of her sister's granddaughters make a pillow for her room.  The girl is 12 and is home schooled and so the mother turned this into an assignment involving math and some other skills.  It about wore Pat out but they got the project done.

Etta Sue, it is good you had your door locked and I hope you always keep it locked.  However, perhaps the young men were concerned that you might need help if they were able to see that your car was there.  They were certainly off-base to try your door before knowing and yelling to you.  

Liz, we have experienced carpenter bees but don't remember carpenter ants.  The bees made big round and deep holes in wood and the wood was usually a part of your porch or house.  Hope the problem was taken care us.

Carol, I had problem with pain at 11,000 feet when we were in Colorado a couple of years ago.  We are not going any higher this time in the Denver area that Denver so should be OK.  Fortunately I won't have to walk very far.

Janet, thanks for the devotional today.

Pat, certainly hope you got over your headache.  Was this the week for the Gaither concert?

Janet, Darrell is wise to get the snow blower as with a heart problem sure doesn't need to be scooping snow in the cold.  That was the first indication I had of my heart problem when we lived in Maryland.  Fortunately my good neighbor come over and finished the job for me.  I don't even own a snow shovel anymore as when it snows it never lasts very long in the Atlanta area and I can always stay inside until the streets are cleared.  That was quite a bargain he got on the snow blower.

Marilyn, you certainly had a busy day yesterday.  It is nice that you can take your clients to where they need to go.

Al, that was a good devotional yesterday.

A belated Happy Birthday wish to you Liz.  Hope you had a nice celebration.

Ed, certainly sorry to hear of the fatal illness your friend has.  I hope your visit to him provided you the opportunity to be God's messenger.

Well my time is about out so a special hi to all that have or will post today that I haven't mentioned.  

Etta Sue your step daughter would be welcome at my church. As long the personal parts are covered  everyone is welcome. Even in a bikini although the person would be pretty cold  in a bikini in this area no matter what time of year. 

Another busy one today. This afternoon we are going to Oregon for a meeting at a church there.

My Happy dog now has a great big pillow style dog bed. I got it for him at Costco yesterday. I literally had to put him on it the first few times and he still doesn't get on it every time he lays down, he like to lay by me and the bed is by the couch most of the time.

Got to go now.

TTYL

I'm back from taking Beth to the dentist.  She got one filling, teeth cleaned and her appliance.  Then we went to show Beth Diane's "new" house, and found Diane busily painting their bedroom.  We took Diane to lunch at Pizza Hut and came on home.

Larry, nice to have you check in while on your trip.  We would sorely miss your posts!

I think people should dress modestly for church, and there are VERY few people who don't have clothing that covers them, it isn't the same as being so poor that you have to wear rags.  Even so, the first time someone comes to church is not the time to reprimand them about anything, IMO.  Personally, I feel it is wrong for girls/women to wear very short skirts or shorts to church, when they certainly have more appropriate clothing in their closet.  But I would not tell them so........

I am so sleepy, I think a short nap is in order, then back to the decluttering!!

Janet Doesn't your product that you are taking promote vital energy?
Support mental clarity and focus?
Help manage stress?
Promote joint comfort and flexibility?
Help protect your DNA from free radical damage?
Contain more than 10 servings of fruits and vegetables?
All in one 3.3oz serving

Hey everyone, just stoppin by before ihave to leave for work.  anyways hope all is well things around here are busy as usual... anyways i'm off to work ttyl..
Sarah

 

Good morning.  Vital energy?!?  It's in my mug and in this Book .

Here's what I read and thought about this morning.

Philippians, the beginning of chapter 2


In His Grip,
Kevin

 mybcjazz:     

QuoteForget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Truely, it does help foget personal problems by just going out and helping others.  Thanks for the reminder.

EttaSue:  In her kitchen, they were standing in her kitchen - oh, my heart would stop!  They need to find some manners. 

Larry:  When you mention Pat's sister having difficulty putting food on the table - my heart aches for such poverty.  Can you please talk her into going to the food bank, any extra food would be of help for her.  She should never feel bad about it at all.  I am hoping that you will be safe while visiting this area.  Yes, stay below 7,500 ft. for sure. 

Marilyn:  No wonder your dog is named Happy - a pampered pet for sure. 

I finished my reading for class tomorrow - so far both chapters have been about waiting and the good results that come from waiting - this is a bible discussion class. 

Carol

Janet great devotional. 

QuoteExcellent Devotional, we need to be aware of the words we say can last a lifetime.

Rob, well said! 

If I can take it just a little farther and say that our written words can hurt equally deeply!

Etta Sue, scary to think what might have happened if your door had been unlocked.  It is a shame that we must live in fear and have the need to lock ourselves up when at home.

Etta Sue, my favourite Pampered Chef product I think I have to say is my can opener.  It opens cans no matter how dented, and always with a smooth edge so you don't cut yourself on the rim or the lid.  I have several items and use most of them, some more than others however.

Pat, how was the Gaither concert?  I would love to have gone this year but was just the right thing for this year.  Perhaps next.

Larry, it's good to hear that you made it safe, stay safe and come home safe.

A very belated Happy Birthday Liz.

A busy day at work today, and a long day tomorrow as I have both jobs to attend.  I think I will make a cup of tea and relax for a bit before bed.