2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Inspirational Story
PUPPY SIZE
The mother shook her head in frustration with her daughter. She then turned to the volunteer at the animal shelter.
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."
"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said.
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.
"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days, both mom and dad had long conversations with her.
They both felt she was being too particular.
"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration.
"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.
By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.
Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.
Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.
One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.
The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!"
she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy sighs!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size...the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.
"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.
They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
The mother shook her head in frustration with her daughter. She then turned to the volunteer at the animal shelter.
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."
"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said.
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.
"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days, both mom and dad had long conversations with her.
They both felt she was being too particular.
"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration.
"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.
By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.
Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.
Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.
One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.
The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!"
she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy sighs!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size...the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.
"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.
They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
If you want true life, you must have the Word of Life
from Weekly Wisdom
To many people, physical life is deemed to be the measure of whether or not one has life. However, true life—spiritual life—requires more than a beating heart. That's because we are spiritually hungry and thirsty people constantly looking for answers to life's persistent problems. Often, we look to idols like education, money, and success for those answers. However, real solutions for real life come only from the Author of Life—God, himself.
True life—the type so many people hunger and thirst for—can only be found in Christ. In John 6:35, Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Obviously, Jesus isn't talking about physical hunger; instead, He is talking about spiritual hunger.
Not only will Jesus satisfy your spiritual hunger, but He will also quench your spiritual thirst: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6).
That verse refers back to Isaiah 55:1-2, where God says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
Therefore, stop trying to seek worldly things for satisfaction, because worldly pleasures are temporary. Instead, heed the advice of Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
God is the source of all life, and if you want true life, you must have God's Word of Life.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Be Happy :-)
No one needs a smile as much as someone who has none left to give.
So if you meet someone like that, leave him one of yours.
So if you meet someone like that, leave him one of yours.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thought for Today
““Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more.
They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.””
They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.””
Friday, February 17, 2012
Will You Let God Hold Your Hand
One day you were crossing a bridge with God. You were scared so you asked GOD, “Can I hold your hand so I won’t fall into the river?”
GOD said, “No my child, I should hold your hand…”
You asked, “What’s the difference?”
GOD replied, “If you hold my hand and something happens, you might let go. If I hold your hand, no matter what happens, I’ll never let go….”
It is not GOD who let go and distance himself from us, it is us.
Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives that we forget HE is there! But GOD loves us. He is steadfast and faithful. As the Bible says, For God said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5
The question is not “Are you holding on to God’s hand?” but “Are you letting God hold your hand?”
Is He holding my hand?
YES.
Will you let Him hold yours?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
This is such an awesome scripture for it says that the way we were saved is the way we must live.
You didn't get saved by trying and struggling; likewise, you can't live your life on your own strength.
Every believer is saved simply by believing (and receiving) God's love, grace, and mercy.
Therefore, live each day of your life by receiving God's strength and walking in His grace and mercy.
Remember, the same way you're saved is how you ought to live.
You didn't get saved by trying and struggling; likewise, you can't live your life on your own strength.
Every believer is saved simply by believing (and receiving) God's love, grace, and mercy.
Therefore, live each day of your life by receiving God's strength and walking in His grace and mercy.
Remember, the same way you're saved is how you ought to live.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Verse for Today
1 Corinthians 2:9
“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—”
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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