These tidbits of inspiration came to me via e-mail.  I graciously accept the challenge to pass these messages along to the ones I love. 

The Bouquet
      The Long - Stemmed Thorns 
 
Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.
 
During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.

What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. Had she lost a child? No, she has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? she wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?
 
"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The flower shop clerk's approach startled her.

"Sorry," said Jenny, "I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you."

"I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.
 
"For Thanksgiving?"

Sandra nodded.

"Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the "Thanksgiving Special."  Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and continued. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling.  Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?"
 
"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted "Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has."

Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."
 
The door's small bell suddenly rang.  "Barbara! Hi, let me get your order," Jenny said. She politely excused herself from Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers.  "Want this in a box?" Jenny asked.

Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did.

"Yes, please. It's exquisite," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile.
"You'd think after three years of getting the special, I'd not be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over gain." She gently tapped her chest. "My family will love this one. Thanks."
 
Sandra stared. Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement? she wondered. "Uh," said Sandra, pointing. "That lady just left it, ah...uh.."

"Yes?"

"Well, you gave her no flowers!"

"Right, I cut off the flowers."

"Cut them off?"

"Off. Yep. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"I just cannot believe people would pay for that!" In spite of herself she chuckled. 

"Do you really want to know why?"

"I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think of nothing else!"

"That might be good," mused Jenny.  "Well," she continued, "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling
very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery."

"Ooooh!" murmured Sandra. 


"That same year, I had lost my husband," Jenny went on. "I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone.  I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to
allow any travel."
 
"What did you do?" "I learned to be thankful for thorns."

Sandra's eyebrows lifted. "Thorns?"

"I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me, but, when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important.  I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."  She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention.

"Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and
moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily.

"I figured as much," said Jenny, "and I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerated cabinet.

"Beautiful," exclaimed Phil.  "My wife will love them!"

Sandra could not resist asking. "These are for your wife?  Do you mind me asking, why thorns?" 

"In fact, I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's guidance, we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. He rescued our marriage-our love, really.  Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems--- stems!---as a reminder of what she learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems.  My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us." Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"
 
"I don't know if I can be thankful yet for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to Jenny. "It is still...too fresh."

"Well," Sandra replied carefully, "my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time.  Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Do not resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please." she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both."

"Thank you.  What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow our Lord to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me."
 
Jenny smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first." 

It said:  "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.-George Matheson" 

Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles.  It empties today of its strength....
 

Final Attorney

After living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed very familiar to me. The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. As he took his seat behind the bench he said "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other terrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life -- couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I've done?

Satan finished with a fury and said "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."

When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned him to come forward. As he got up and started walking I was able to see him now in his full splendor and majesty.

Now I realized why he seemed so familiar, this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge "Hi Dad" and then he turned to address the court.

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And yes the wages of sins is death and this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted me as his Savior, so he is mine."

My Lord continued with "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from me. Satan this man is not to be given justice but rather mercy." As Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied "There is nothing else that needs to be done, I've done it all."

The Judge lifted his mighty hand and slammed the gavel down and the following words bellowed from his lips- "This man is free -- the penalty for him has already been paid in full, case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away I could hear Satan ranting and raving "I won't give up, I'll win the next one."

I asked Jesus as he gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked me to represent them has received the same verdict as you .... Paid in Full."

In this world of terrible hurt, pain, suffering, and extreme self centered focus to the exclusion of everyone and  everything else there are times when logic, thought, discussion, etc., do nothing. It is in these times I have learned that I have only one place to turn to ease the pain.

I hope you have the right lawyer for your trial!!! He who overcomes others is strong. He who overcomes himself is mighty!

I know this will mean more to some of you with kids.

 I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
 "Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
 He said, "Please excuse me too;
 I wasn't watching for you."
 

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
 

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
 

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake that night in my bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said
 

"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
but the children you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
 

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
and you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Please wake up, little one," I said.
 

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
 

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.  I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."



Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us  in a matter of days.  But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.  And come to think of it,  we pour ourselves more into work than to our own  family    -an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

So what is behind the story? Do you know what the word FAMILY  means?
      FAMILY=(F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU!

THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS A true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff.  In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens.

Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there. Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry.

She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found.

She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."

She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it. Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."



I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."


God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.



Yes I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him.
 


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

Another Point of View


Forrest Gump dies and goes to heaven. He is met at the Pearly Gates by St.  Peter. St. Peter says, "This Place is filling up so fast, we've had to begin giving an entrance exam to get in. The test I have for you is only three questions.

       1. What days of the week begin with the letter T?
       2. How many seconds are there in a year?
       3. What is God's first name? "

St. Peter gives Forrest time to think the questions over.  Soon, St. Peter says, "Tell me your answers. First, what days of the week begin with the letter T?

Forrest says, "Well, the first one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow."

The Saint said, "Forrest! That's not what I was thinking of!  Hummmm, but you do have a point. I'll give you credit for that answer."

"How about the next question? How many seconds in a year?"

Forrest answers, "Twelve."

St. Peter says, "Twelve? How could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"

Forrest says, "Gotta be twelve: January second, February second, March second.....".

St. Peter says, "I see your point. I'll give you credit for that one, too.  Let's go on with the next and final question. Can you tell me God's first name?"

Forrest replied, "Andy".

How in the heaven's name did you come up with the name "Andy" as the first name of God?"

"That was the easiest one of all", Forrest replied.   "I learned it from  a song.....
   "ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
   "ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
   "ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN......"

The lesson: THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW; and just because another person doesn't see things the same way or understand the same way that you do, does not mean that their view is wrong.

 

We Could all use a little Miracle, with the events happening in America.  We must all keep the faith, and pray for our fellow Americans.

 
I know that Miracles can happen, and so do many of my friends and family.
 
God Bless America during this time of trouble, and may the Lord be with you..
 

It Take a Child to See What We Sometimes Don't

 
Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew.  All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money.  They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money.

She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."  Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.  Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect.  No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.  She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her  some attention but he was too busy at this moment.  Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.  Nothing.  She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.  No good.  Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter.  That did it! 

"And what do you want?"  the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages, "he said without waiting for a reply to his question. 

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick... and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.

"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?" 

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little. 

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it.  If it isn't enough, I will get the  rest.  Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man.  He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

"I don't know,"  Tess replied with her eyes welling up.  "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation.  But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money".

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.

"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly.  "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to. 

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man.  "A dollar and  eleven cents-the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents.  Let's see if  I have the kind of miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery.  The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.  Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.  

"That surgery," her Mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled.  She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents......

plus the faith of a little child. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a  higher law...... (A TRUE STORY)

 

 

There is another that I seem to have misplaced.  If anyone has it, please email it to me to include it on this page.

It is a story of a little girl born prematurely.  So premature that even her mother's touch was painful to her sensitive skin.  She later reveals that God held her and loved her during those months when she could not be held.  I was overwhelmingly moved by this story.  I would greatly like to share it with others on this site.

Thanks.

Faith - Love   Hope - Health   Charity - Prosperity   Assistance    Donations   Devil's Den  Healing   Patriotism    Opportunities   Home


FastCounter by bCentral