Friday, October 28, 2011

Daily Devotional

Daily Devotional


The Truth
If my life was a credit report and I was trying to obtain salvation,
based on my score I wouldn't get it.

My history shows that I've been delinquent in praise, past due in
prayer, my worship has been in collections and I've missed a few
payments (tithes) or only paid half (you know how we put $20 in the
basket and feel like we've done God a favor).

Not to mention that my debt (sin) to income (blessings) ratio is too
high..

BUT I thank God that I was able to file bankruptcy (repentance) and it
cleared me of all of my debt (sin). Now I have a co-signer (Jesus) whose
score is FLAWLESS... Not one blemish (sin) on his report.

So now...... I QUALIFY for EVERYTHING! Most importantly, I've inherited
eternal life and I didn't have to put one penny down.

All of my closing costs were covered when Jesus laid down His life for
me!!!! I hear that my future home has all of the upgrades too.

Hardwood floors? Please! I'll be walking on gold!

Thank You Lord for Your unmerited mercy, grace & favor!!
Amen

Friday, October 21, 2011

The preachers Son

An old
Country preacher......
had
A teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some
Thought to choosing a profession. Like many young Men his Age, the
boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he Didn't seem too
concerned about it. One day, while the boy Was away at school, his
father decided to try an experiment. He Went into the boy's room and
placed on his study table four Objects.

1.
A
Bible.....?


2.
A silver
Dollar.....?

3.
A bottle of
Whisky.....?

4. And a Playboy
Magazine.....?

'I'll just hide behind the Door,' the old preacher said to himself.
'When he comes home From school today, I'll see which object he
picks Up.

If it's the Bible, he's Going to be a preacher like me, and what a
Blessing that would Be!

If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that
would be okay, Too.

But if he picks up the Bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken
bum, and Lord, what a Shame that would be.

And worst of all if he Picks up that magazine he's going to be
aSkirt-chasing Womanizer.'
The old man waited Anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as
he entered the House whistling and headed for his Room..

The boy tossed his books on
The bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the Objects on
the table..
With curiosity in his eye, He walked over to inspect them. Finally,
he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up The
silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle
and took a big drink, while he admired This month's centerfold.
'Lord have mercy,' the old Preacher disgustedly
Whispered.
'He's Gonna run for Congress.'

Friday, October 14, 2011

Burnt Biscuits

~ Burnt Biscuits ~


When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then.
And I remember one night in particular when she made breakfast instead of dinner after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things ... and imperfect people . I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
That's my prayer for you today . . . That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the difficult parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burned biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." So please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine! And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.

Friday, October 7, 2011

a new version of the poem called footprints




This new version of the 'footprints' story really caught me off-guard at the end....What a blessing.
Just Read It!

FOOTPRINTS...A New Version

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently...

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one..

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints.. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'

'That is correct.'
'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..'

'Very good.. You have understood everything so far..' When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'

'Precisely.'
'So, Lord, was there a regression or something ? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.

'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'


To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4