Thoughts To Keep You Thinking

Rules For Daily Life

2012-01-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD
Kneel down to Him in prayer;
Lift up thy heart to His abode,
And seek His love to share.

OPEN THE BOOK OF GOD
And read a portion there;
That it may hallow all thy thoughts,
And sweeten all thy care.

GO THROUGH THE DAY WITH GOD
Whate'er thy work may be;
Where'er thou art -at home, abroad,
He is near to thee.

CONVERSE IN MIND WITH GOD
Thy spirit heavenward raise;
Acknowledge every good bestowed,
And offer grateful praise.

CONCLUDE THE DAY WITH GOD
Thy sins to Him confess;
Trust in the Lord's atoning blood,
And plead His righteousness.

LIE DOWN AT NIGHT WITH GOD
Who gives His servants sleep;
And when thou tread'st the vale of death,
He will thee gaurd and keep.

Senior Citizen Discount

2011-10-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

"$5.37." That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the hardest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68," he said cheerfully.

I stood there stupefied. I am 56, not even 60 yet. A mere child! Senior citizen?

I took my burrito and walked out to the truck, wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me?

I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.

Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?

"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?"

I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"

I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing.

That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror.

Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.

Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.

Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?"

All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here"? At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.

Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake."

I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.

She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.

As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

- Author unknown

A Teaser of Curiosity

2011-07-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader:
I once resided with Second Timothy 3:4 and walked in Ephesians 2:2, and my continued conversation at that time is still recorded in Ephesians 2:3.

I heard one day that an inheritance had been purchased for me, and the description of it reached me; you will find it at First Peter 1:4. One who resides in Hebrews 4:14 had purchased it at an extraordinary price; but, to say the truth, I did not believe this report, as I was entirely unacquainted with the Man, and long experience had convinced me that strangers never gave favors through love alone, and friends seldom gave any favors that cost much.

However, I called at First Timothy 3:16, as my own prospects at Ephesians 2:12 were as bad as they could be. I found the house I sought for at Second Corinthians 4:1, and the invitations to it, which, you will see, put up at Isaiah 55:1 and by John at 7:37, are wonderfully inviting to the poor and needy. The house has only one door, and it was some time before I saw the door at John 10:9.

My permanent address will be at Galatians 5:1, but call any day at Hebrews 4:16; you will meet me and many others … we are daily in the habit of meeting there. If you call, attend to what the servant says at Luke 14:22, and you may depend upon what that servant says.

OUT OF BONDAGE

2011-03-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest mathematical miracles in the world centers around Moses and the people of Israel. Moses and the people of Israel were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 3 or 3 1/2 million people would require a lot of food.

According to the Quartermaster General of the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have 1500 tons of food each day. Did you know that to bring that amount of food each day, two freight trains, each a mile long, would be required?

Besides, you must remember, they were out in the desert, and they would have to have firewood to cook the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, for one day. And just to think, they were forty years in transit. Oh, yes, they would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day, and a freight train with tank cars 11.8 miles long, just to bring water. They had no lakes, and only a few wells. How were they to get water?

And then another thing . . . ! They had to get across the Red Sea in one night. Now if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be space in the Red Sea 3 miles wide so they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.

But, then, another problem. .. Every time they camped at the end of the day, a campground 2/3's the size of Rhode Island, or a total of 750 square miles, was needed. That comprises an area 25 miles wide and 30 miles long. Think of it! This space just for nightly camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left? I think not. You see, Moses believed in God, and that God was going to take care of these things for him. Let us take courage, we have the same God! We think our problems are so big. Remember what God can do! Just team up with God, and your problems will be in His care. Let him run your life, and as the old song says: "He will take care of YOU"

-- Author Unknown

10 RULES FOR A HAPPY DAY

2011-03-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK: If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind... I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask GOD to bless that individual. I understand the "enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL NOT DO IT SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule - "Do unto others as I would have them do unto me" - with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank GOD for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to GOD's voice!!!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet." - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

~ Author Unknown

Some Things Just Don't Go Together

2011-01-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together:

~ A nose ring and bifocals.

~ Spiked hair and bald spots.

~ A pierced tongue and dentures.

~ Miniskirts and support hose.

~ Ankle bracelets and corn pads.

~ Speedo's and cellulite.

~ A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar.

~ Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor.

~ Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge.

~ Bikinis and liver spots.

~ Short shorts and varicose veins.

~ Inline skates and a walker.

But otherwise, WE'RE LOOKIN' GOOD!

The Cracked Pot

2011-01-20T14:47:00.000-08:00

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the end of a long pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and one-half pots full of water to her master's house.

Of course the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and was miserable that it was only able to accomplish half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" Asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half of its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.

So, as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws.

Can God Use You?

2011-01-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk;

Abraham was too old;

Isaac was a daydreamer;

Jacob was a liar;

Leah was ugly;

Joseph was abused;

Moses had a stuttering problem;

Gideon was afraid;

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer;

Rahab was a prostitute;

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young;

David had an affair and was a murderer;

Elijah was suicidal;

Isaiah preached naked;

Jonah ran from God;

Naomi was a widow;

Job went bankrupt;

John the Baptist ate bugs;

Peter denied Christ;

The Disciples fell asleep while praying;

Martha worried about everything;

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than o¬nce;

Zaccheus was too small;

Paul was too religious;

Timothy had an ulcer

...AND Lazarus was dead!

SO YOU HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES NOW.

God can use you to your full potential.

STC (Senior Texting Codes)

2011-01-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

Since more and more seniors citizens are texting and tweeting, there appears to be a need for a STC (Senior Texting Code). If you qualify for senior discounts, these are the codes for you:
ATD: At The Doctor's

BFF: Best Friend Farted

BTW: Bring The Wheelchair

BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM: Covered By Medicare

CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center

DWI: Driving While Incontinent

FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers

FWIW: Forgot Where I Was

FYI: Found Your Insulin

GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!

GHA: Got Heartburn Again

IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL: Living On Lipitor

LWO: Lawrence Welk's On

OMMR: On My Massage Recliner

OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.

ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing...Can't Get Up

TTYL: Talk To You Louder

WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?

WTP: Where's The Prunes?

WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

Feel free to add any codes you feel are missing; send the additions back to the person who sent you this so they can update their list:

GGLKI: Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking In

An Incredible Story

2011-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

In the 1930s, Stalin ordered a purge of all Bibles and all believers in the former Soviet Union. Millions of Bibles were confiscated and multitudes of believers were sent to the gulags (prison camps), where most died for being "enemies of the state." In Stavropol, Russia, this order was carried out with a vengeance.

Recently, the CoMission ministry, which Campus Crusade for Christ sponsored, sent a team to Stavropol. The city's history was not known at that time. But when our team was having difficulties getting Bibles shipped from Moscow, someone mentioned the existence of a warehouse outside of town where these confiscated Bibles had been stored ever since Stalin's day.

After much prayer by the team, one member finally got up the courage to go to the warehouse and ask the officials if the Bibles were still there. Sure enough, they were. Then the CoMission asked if the Bibles could be removed and distributed again to the people of Stavropol. The answer was "yes"!

The next day the CoMission team returned with a truck and several Russian people to help load the Bibles. One helper was a young man, who was a skeptical, hostile, and agnostic collegian who had come only for the day's wages.

As they were loading the Bibles, one team member noticed that the young man had disappeared. Eventually, they found him in a corner of the warehouse weeping.

He had slipped away hoping to quietly take a Bible. What he found shook him to the core. The inside page of the Bible he picked up had the handwritten signature of his own grandmother! It had been her Bible! Out of the many thousands of Bibles still left in that warehouse, he stole the one belonging to his grandmother -- a woman persecuted for her faith all her life.

No wonder he was weeping -- God had just dramatically revealed Himself to this young man. His grandmother had no doubt prayed for him and for her city. Her prayers had followed him, and now this young man's life has been transformed by the very Bible that his grandmother found so dear.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

I PRAYED FOR YOU TODAY

2011-01-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

I prayed for you today

But not in the typical way

Not for riches or for fame

Not to keep your life the same.

But to make a difference in your life

To keep you always free from strife

To answer what you need to do

And to feel the love He has for you.

To bring you peace in your life

To always give you good advice

And to always open every door

To show you what He needs you for.

But most of all from heaven above

To let you know that you are loved

But most of all the one thing to do

To show you the love I have for you.

And so I ask from God above

To fill your heart with his love

And that I know you will see

All that love was sent from me.

Christmas Love

2010-12-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

The students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Those in the front row - center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class was to sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M” upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And I believe He still is.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules For Daily Life

2010-12-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD
Kneel down to Him in prayer;
Lift up thy heart to His abode.
And seek His love to share.

OPEN THE BOOK OF GOD
And read a portion there;
That it may hallow all thy thoughts,
And sweeten all thy care.

GO THROUGH THE DAY WITH GOD
Whate'er thy work may be;
Where'er thou art - at home, abroud,
He still is near to thee.

CONVERSE IN MIND WITH GOD
Thy spirit heavenward raise;
Acknowledge every good bestowed,
And offer grateful praise.

CONCLUDE THE DAY WITH GOD
Thy sins to Him confess;
Trust in the Lord's atoning blood,
And plead His righteousness.

LIE DOWN AT NIGHT WITH GOD
Who gives His servants sleep;
And when thou tread'st the vale of death,
He will thee guard and keep.

The Latest News

2010-11-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

The latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics that the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ, to return.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT! NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

(However, you can spot them if you bin lookin and bin goin!)

Will you be that kind of person?

2010-10-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club
and you discussed my hunger. Thank you.

I was imprisoned
and you crept off quietly to your chapel
in the cellar to pray for my release.

I was naked
and in your mind you debated
the morality of my appearance.

I was sick
and you knelt and
thanked God for you health.

I was homeless
and you preached to me
of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely
and you left me
alone to pray for me.

You seem so holy;
so close to God.

But I’m still very hungry
and lonely and cold.

So where have your prayers gone?
What have they done?

What does it profit a man to page through his book of prayers when the rest of the world is crying for help?

— M. Lunn, 1,500 Inspirational Quotes and Illustrations

Change

2010-09-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey:

    When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
    But it too seemed immovable.
    As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
    And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
    From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

~ Author Unknown

ON FAITH AND A PROMISE

2010-08-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. ... And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."

Introduction
God said to Abram, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”

What did God mean by calling Abram to “walk before me and be blameless?” I believe God was calling Abram, as he calls to us today, to be upright, to be forward-looking, and to be full of faith.

God Calls Us to Be Upright
God’s desire is that we live life to the fullest. Take what each day brings and use it to your best advantage, seeing every good thing as a gift from God. Do not hold back for some tomorrow, nor dwell too much on some past yesterday. Engage life for what it offers you right now. Live to the fullest in God’s will for you.

God Calls Us to Be Forward-looking
To be forward-looking is to look with anticipation to what God has in store for you. Life is not a random meandering from one uncertainty to another Rather, as Christians we know that we are part of God’s divine plan and that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,” (Rom. 8:28).

God calls us to live life expecting God to do great things in us and through us for the benefit of others. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope,” (Jer. 29:11). We will never realize all that we can become and all that God can do through us without looking forward in faith and believing God’s promises.

God Calls Us to Live in Faith
To live in faith is to trust God to honor his promises. It does not mean we will never have doubts. However, it does mean we will never let our doubts get the best of us. It does not mean we will never become fearful. Nevertheless, we will replace fear with trust in God to do what God has promised.

Abram was obedient and believed God. He acted on God’s promise in faith and belief, for himself and for his wife, Sarai. It was an act of faith on Abram’s part, and blessings bestowed upon him on God’s part. God blessed Abram because of his faith and trust in God’s promises. Abram’s name was changed, and be was given the place and privilege of being the first of a great nation. Abram was not only blessed, but he was the source of blessing to his wife and a multitude of others. However, Abraham would have never realized and experienced all that he had become without acting on his faith and believing God’s promises to him.

God calls us today to “walk before him, and be blameless.” This is only possible through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Trust that Jesus gave his life that we might have abundant life. Walk before God in uprightness. Move forward in faith and trust, and be blessed to be a blessing.

The Ragman

2010-05-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for.

Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.

Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of our city. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" Ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music.

"Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!"

"Now, this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city?

I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed.

Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking.

The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping around tin cans, dead toys, and Pampers.

"Give me your rag," he said so gently, "and I'll give you another."

He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver.

Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear.

"This is a wonder," I breathed to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery.

"Rags! Rags! New rags for old!"

In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the roof-tops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her check.

Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart.

"Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, "and I'll give you mine."

The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw: for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood - his own!

"Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman.

The sun hurt the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry.

"Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head. The Ragman pressed him: "Do you have a job?" "Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket - flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.

"So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine." Such quiet authority in his voice!

The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman - and I trembled at what I saw: for the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one.

"Go to work," he said.

After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, an old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling for drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the City, this mile and the next, until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond.

I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.

The little old Ragman - he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket. And he died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope - because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him; but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep.

I did not know - how could I know? - that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too. But then, on Sunday morning, I was wakened by a violence.

Light - pure, hard, demanding light - slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blamket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.

Well, then I lowered my head, and trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with dear yearning in my voice: "Dress me."

He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!

In Heaven

2010-05-08T05:58:00.001-07:00

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud 9,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.

Heaven Came Down

2010-04-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a wonderful wonderful day
Day I will never forget
After I wandered in darkness away
Jesus my savior I met
O what a tender compassionate friend,
He met the need of my heart,
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling
He made all the darkness depart.

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
When at the cross the Savior made me whole
My sins He washed away, and my night He turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.

Fishers of Men

2010-04-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men," (Mark 1:17) .

I went fishing the other day and noticed something very peculiar. I noticed that all the people on the bank were trying to cast out into the middle of the lake to catch a fish and all the people in boats, out in the middle of the lake, were casting up near the bank trying to catch a fish. I have realized that this has been a pattern I have observed and participated in all my life.

I have always been able to catch fish, whether it has been from the bank or out in a boat. The principle has always been the same ... cast and retrieve ... cast and retrieve. If I did not cast, I would not catch a fish and the more times I cast my bait, the more likely it would be that I would catch a fish.

The same principle exists when fishing for men. Cast and retrieve ... cast and retrieve ... over and over agiain. Keep casting the good seed ... keep casting the Good News and you will eventually catch someone for the Lord.

And the good part is that the Lord said He would "make you to become fshers of men." Jesus does the catching. Jesus does the cleaning up. All we have to do is cast the Good News. Let's go fishing! Amen?!

If I Had Been the Only One

2010-04-01T18:01:00.001-07:00

If I had been the only one in this

dark world of sin,

Still Jesus would have died for me.

He is my dearest friend.

The wounds He bore, the agony

upon the cross of pain.

Is more than I can fathom; for me,

He suffered shame.

It was for me His blood was shed,

He saw me in life’s time.

The stripes He bore, the crown

of thorns, for me. Now He is mine.

I surely would be hopeless, had

God not sent his Son.

Were I the only one on earth, still

Jesus would have come.

TRUE LOVE

2010-02-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

If you love something, set it free.

If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours.

If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.

If it just sits in your living room,
messes up your stuff,
eats your food,
uses your telephone,
takes your money,
and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place,
you either married it or birthed it.

The Point of Grace

2010-01-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

The Bible says in Psalm 107:2; "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." I have always loved that verse. It brings comfort every time I read it. Let me tell you why.

Twenty years ago, Janie and I were members of Second Baptist Church in West Memphis. The church is no longer there. The building still remains with another congregation, but Second Baptist has since merged with another church and grown much bigger than they were. You will know them as Cornerstone Baptist now.

While we were at Second Baptist, there was a singing group that would come from time to time and share with us. The group was made up of four young ladies from various churches. They had a wonderful sound and had a fervent heart to share the Gospel through their music. They called themselves "Say So." Let the redeemed of the Lord "Say So."

We bought their t-shirts and tapes just like everyone did at that time. The only problem with the group was that when they started to become popular in the contempoary music world, their name had already been copyrighted, so they had to change it. They now call themselves "Point of Grace." Millions love their music. I still do.

I've told you all that to simply tell you this: No matter what we call ourselves ... the "point of grace" is for the redeemed of the Lord to "say so." If you will have a "say so" attitude ... others will come to know the "point of grace."

This grace is found in Jesus. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).

For Your Funnybone ....

2010-01-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

This guy was watching TV as his wife was out cutting the grass during the hot summer. He finally worked up the energy to go out and ask his wife what was for supper.

Well, his missus was quite irritated about him sitting in the air-conditioned house all day while she did all the work, so she scolded him. "I can't believe you're asking me about supper right now! Imagine I'm out of town. Go inside and figure dinner out yourself."

So he went back into the house and fixed himself a big steak with potatoes, garlic bread, and a tall glass of iced tea.

The wife finally walked in about the time he was finishing up and asked him, "You fixed something to eat? So where's mine?"

He said, "Huh, I thought you were out of town."

******************************************************
Received from Debbie.
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List

True Revival

2009-08-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

We are given the formula for true revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Our church just went through a time of revival services. I say "services" because that is all it really is unless the people of God follow the formula. I am afraid that our culture and those of society do not want true revival. The scripture says that just as the days of Noah were ... the people were eating and drinking and making merry until the flood came ... so shall the day of the coming of the Lord be. We have become lovers of pleasure and of the things of the world more so than the things of God and heaven.

I long for the day when we shall see Him. Yet I pray for His delay for the sake of those who do not know Him. Now, more than ever, it is time to pray and humble ourselves and seek His face and turn fro our wicked ways, for I believe we are living in the last days. The time is nearer and the world is ready for that great day of the Lord to begin than ever before.

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

2009-04-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money! Twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought!
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake!

And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.

JUDGE NOT!
Remember....Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes
you a car .

Every saint has a PAST........
Every sinner has a FUTURE!!!!!!

The Things Which Are Possible

2009-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God," (Luke 18:27).

This text shows how to do an "impossible" thing. Size up your problem, pray about it, do all you can about it. If it seems impossible, don't give up, but afirm, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Keep relaxed. Don't worry. Avoid getting panicky. Never think, "This can't be done." Declare, "It can be done, it is being done because God is doing it through me." Affirm that the process is in operation. The final outcome may not be entirely what you now desire. but, handled in this manner, the solution will be what God wants it to be. (Norman Vincent Peale)

At this point in my life, I fully understand what it means to "Let go, and let God." I have found that many of the things in my life that seem out of control are indeed being orchestrated by God. There are no obstacles in my life that overwhelm me. Life has tried, but God has overcome. He has brought victory and I have been lifted up from the miry pit. What more could I ask?

For Those Who Search

2009-04-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

While visiting the Zoo a few weeks ago with my grandkids, we had the privilege of entering a cage where there were a great many parrots. They had the free run of the cage. they would reach down out of their perches and receive a tidbit from various hands and some would even let you touch them. It was quite an experience for the grandkids.

Then there was the majestic eagle. I observed one in particular. Heedless of the squawking birds around him and oblivious to the crowds of people, he sat at the very summit, peering through the imprisoning bars and looking with unblinking eyes tot he realms above, evidently longing to spread his mighty wings to roam the lofty regions where he belonged.

How i wished I could climb up there and cut the bars and set him free, for eagles are types of God's sons who long to burst free from the binding fetters and the natural man to soar to heights far above the sordid and slavish demands of the physical body and the carnal mind.

Far too often we see people who try to find a church where they will be happy. they look for what they think will be the ideal church. Such people are known as "church hoppers" because they go back and forth like Noah's dove and find no rest for the sole of their foot. But it is not the soul of their foot that needs rest. It is the soul within that is longing to be set free. It is the soul within that is longing for that sweet communion with its Creator.

If you find your self with a sense of uselessness and dissatisfaction with the church you are in, then perhaps you should look at things from a different perspective. Maybe its not the church that needs to be changed,but the very heart within you that needs a transformation. Seek for what you can do to restore the "joy of thy salvation" right where you are.

Don't Sweat the Details

2009-02-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

As I was reading and studying the Book of Nehemiah, I noticed something very enlightening in the fourth chapter. Nehemiah had set the people to rebuild the walls of Jeresalem. Each family was assigned the portion of the wall that was closest to thier homes. Here in chapter 4, the enemies of the Jews began to ridicule and threaten in order to cause them to stop thier work. But Nehemiah led the people to pray and to watch and to arm themselves. The people worked with one eye to the task and the other on the horizon searching for the enemy. With one hand they held a trowel and with the other a sword. As I read of this remarkable feat by the Jews to rebuild the wall it occured to me that this is exactly what we as Christians are to do. We are to lift up our prayers and petitions to the Lord, then we are to put feet to our prayers. We are to take actions to involve ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God to protect and defend the gospel and to watch for the coming of that great day when the Lord returns to receive us unto Himself.

Now the interesting thing that I see in all of this is that five times Nehemiah uses the word "so" (verses 6, 10, 18, 21, and 23). This tiny word is an indicator for us to "not sweat the small stuff". In that word "so" we can only read between the lines, for therein lies the details of all that took place while they prayed, and watched, and armed themselves. It is in the details that we get caught up in our circumstances and I think Nehemiah is saying "don't sweat the small stuff" for there is a bigger picture for us to see. Don't let the details be so cumbersome that you forget the vision God has given. It is in the details that the old Devil will set a snare for us.

"So", consider the details but don't let them cause you to fall or fail in the task that God has given. Pray, and watch, and arm yourself for the battle at hand.

Here It Begins

2009-02-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

Just a note to say that blogging is a new experience for me. I hope to be able to provide some interesting thoughts for you to think about. Hence the title “Thoughts To Keep You Thinking“. It will be just a stroll through the things that I am experiencing at the time … Reading, thinking, feeling, or just plain pondering. Check back at a later date for updated posts to the site. Feel free to comment and give constructive criticism. I will read and listen, but don’t count on seeing me jump to the tune if I disagree. God bless and good reading.
Mike