Yesterday we went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. They held services Friday at 7pm, and also Saturday at 3 and 5:30. We went to the 3pm service to avoid having to drive home in the dark.
Anyway, the service was kind of a little play about a Christian couple who invites a non-Christian couple to their home for a Christmas get-together. Through the course of the evening, the non-Christians see how the Christians speak and act and they begin to ask questions. For me, the pivotal point of the evening was the following exchange, which I have paraphrased:
We need Jesus to save us.
Save us from what?
Save us from ourselves!
Save us from ourselves? Well, yes that makes a lot of sense when I think about it. The world is full of all kinds of distractions and temptations. You can call it the world, or satan, or sin, or society, or whatever you want, but it all amounts to the same thing. When we give in to it, we have no one to blame but ourselves and that’s why we need Jesus to save us from ourselves. That’s a rather elementary concept I suppose, but I had really never looked at it quite that way. Those distractions will always be there but I need to learn to keep my focus on Jesus
So that’s what I’ve been thinking about the last couple of days. The play was acted out in several scenes and there was singing in between the scenes, groups and soloists. The service closed with a traditional singing of Silent Night by candlelight. It was a wonderful service, but it was really that one point that God seemed to want to make clear to me, and I’m glad He did. He’s such a wonderful teacher and it always makes me feel kind of special that He will go to so much trouble to reach out to little old me. Maybe it’s not that much trouble for God, or maybe He just thinks I’m worth it. Something else to think about.
I hope that you have (and will) feel a special connection to our Savior this holiday season. That’s what it’s all about after all.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Luke 2:10-14 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, September 17, 2010
HALT
When I was in the tenth grade, my American History teacher was Mister Priebe (pronounced pree’ bee). As part of our coursework, we had to learn all of the presidents in order. Six of the presidents are Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan. To help us remember those six presidents, Mister Priebe gave us a simple word association technique. He told us to imagine Tyler poking Taylor, and Fillmore piercing Buchanan. He even made little hand gestures to indicate poking and piercing.
That was almost 25 years ago, and I remember very few of the presidents now, but I’ll never forget Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan. Word association can be a powerful memory aid. Mister Priebe knew that, and thanks to him, it’s a lesson I learned at an early age. I often try to come up with little word association gimmicks to help me remember things.
I wanted to share with you today, another word association that I learned recently. This one comes from Charles Stanley, who I frequently listen to on the radio. Doctor Stanley has been talking a lot lately about satan’s attacks against us: how and when these attacks come, and what we can do about it.
In one sermon, Stanley identified four moments in our lives when we are most vulnerable and susceptible to the wiles of our enemy. The four dangerous times for us are when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. During these moments of weakness, satan will invariably mount an attack against us, and this is when we have to HALT. Before doing or saying something we would not normally do or say, we have to stop and re-focus our attention on God.
As an example from scripture, Doctor Stanley presented the story of Jesus fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. After 40 days, we can be sure that Jesus was feeling hungry, lonely, and tired, and lo and behold, up pops the devil to tempt him.
I’ve been trying to implement this into my own life since I first heard about it, and have found that it really helps me. When I feel tempted by some particular sin, I try to pinpoint which of the four weaknesses I am suffering from, and then ask God to help me through it. I’ve even found that it can be done proactively, rather than waiting for the attack to come. On Wednesday I was very tired because I hadn’t slept very well the night before, and I was also a little angry over the bad news I had gotten from the Lion’s Club. I was just sitting on the sofa thinking about how tired I was, and I suddenly stopped and thought, “I better be careful today, or satan will get me.” And you know what happened? Nothing! No attacks, and no temptations. I walked into a potentially dangerous situation, but I had my armor on and God carried me through it.
Thank you Charles Stanley for passing this on, and thank you Jesus for showing me how to overcome our enemy!
Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ”All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
That was almost 25 years ago, and I remember very few of the presidents now, but I’ll never forget Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan. Word association can be a powerful memory aid. Mister Priebe knew that, and thanks to him, it’s a lesson I learned at an early age. I often try to come up with little word association gimmicks to help me remember things.
I wanted to share with you today, another word association that I learned recently. This one comes from Charles Stanley, who I frequently listen to on the radio. Doctor Stanley has been talking a lot lately about satan’s attacks against us: how and when these attacks come, and what we can do about it.
In one sermon, Stanley identified four moments in our lives when we are most vulnerable and susceptible to the wiles of our enemy. The four dangerous times for us are when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. During these moments of weakness, satan will invariably mount an attack against us, and this is when we have to HALT. Before doing or saying something we would not normally do or say, we have to stop and re-focus our attention on God.
As an example from scripture, Doctor Stanley presented the story of Jesus fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. After 40 days, we can be sure that Jesus was feeling hungry, lonely, and tired, and lo and behold, up pops the devil to tempt him.
I’ve been trying to implement this into my own life since I first heard about it, and have found that it really helps me. When I feel tempted by some particular sin, I try to pinpoint which of the four weaknesses I am suffering from, and then ask God to help me through it. I’ve even found that it can be done proactively, rather than waiting for the attack to come. On Wednesday I was very tired because I hadn’t slept very well the night before, and I was also a little angry over the bad news I had gotten from the Lion’s Club. I was just sitting on the sofa thinking about how tired I was, and I suddenly stopped and thought, “I better be careful today, or satan will get me.” And you know what happened? Nothing! No attacks, and no temptations. I walked into a potentially dangerous situation, but I had my armor on and God carried me through it.
Thank you Charles Stanley for passing this on, and thank you Jesus for showing me how to overcome our enemy!
Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ”All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Inspirations - The Empty Egg
This is an Easter story. What? Easter? Okay, I’m perfectly aware that Easter has already come and gone this year, but I only just remembered this story today. The way I see it, if God wanted me to post this at Easter time, He would have reminded me at Easter time. For His own mysterious reasons, He waited until the end of May, and who am I to argue?
Several years ago, the pastor of the church Joni an I were attending told this story in his Easter sunrise service. Pastor Wells was not an impassioned speaker, but I have to hand it to him, in this one moment he shone, and it has remained with me ever since. Here is the story of the empty egg.
Little Philip Ross had been born with Downs Syndrome, and a whole host of medical issues. The doctors concurred that he would probably not survive his infancy. Philip surprised them all by living into his eighth year.
In that final, memorable year of his life, Philip was a member of the kindergarten Sunday school class at his church. Being older, bigger, and just plain different, he always had a hard time connecting with the other children in his class, but all those differences were wiped away on Easter Sunday.
The week before Easter, the teacher of Philip’s class gave the children a homework assignment. She handed each boy and girl a plastic Easter egg, the kind that usually hold chocolates and other sweets. She told the class to put something in their egg that represented new life, and bring it back to show the class on Easter Sunday. At the end of class that day the children murmured excitedly to each other about what they might put in their eggs.
Easter Sunday arrived, bright and clear and beautiful. The children filed into their classroom that morning, each one holding their plastic egg. The teacher asked her students to bring their eggs to the front of the room and lay them on her desk so she could open each one and show the class, instead of having the children open the eggs themselves. She did this because of Philip. She was afraid that Philip would not understand the assignment and would put something silly in his egg. She didn’t want him to be embarrassed in front of the other children.
Class began and Miss Miller quieted her students. Then she picked up an egg at random and opened it. Inside was a small flower. She held up the flower to the class and said, "Flowers that bloom in the spring represent new life. Good job!"
She picked up another egg and opened it. Inside was a blade of grass. “Yes, grass turns green and begins to grow again after being dormant all winter. Well done!”
Opening the next egg, Miss Miller, along with the entire class, gasped in surprise as a live butterfly flew out of it. After calming her racing heart, she said "My goodness! Yes, caterpillars go into their cocoons for a while, and come out as butterflies. That certainly represents new life.”
She opened a fourth egg, only to find it was empty. She knew in an instant that this had to be Philip's egg and, just as she had feared, he hadn't understood the assignment. Her heart went out to the boy and she was embarrassed for him. After a moment of speechlessness, she calmly put the egg aside and took up another one.
Much to her chagrin, Miss Miller saw Philip's hand go up. For a split-second she froze, not knowing what to do. She didn’t want Philip to look like a fool in front of the class. She had decided to pretend not to notice him, for his own good, and go on with the lesson when Philip spoke up.
“Miss Miller?” he said in his slow, thick-tongued voice.
She hesitated for a moment, but could see no way around it now. "Yes Philip?" she said, dreading what he might say next.
“Miss Miller,” he said, “you didn’t explain about my egg.”
“But Philip,” she said as gently as she could, “your egg is empty.” She sent up a quick prayer that the other children would not laugh at the poor boy.
“Yeah.” Philip said with a beautific smile on his face. “It’s empty just like Jesus’s tomb.”
Time seemed to stop for Miss Miller as the tears welled in her eyes. The other children did not laugh at Philip.
Later that year, Philip’s condition finally caught up with him and he died. At his funeral, the mourners puzzled over the brightly colored, plastic Easter eggs carefully laid upon his coffin, all empty.
I have no idea if this is a true story or not, but does it really matter? Pastor Wells read those last two words with fiery voice and glistening eye, and it was the only time I ever heard him speak with such passion. Thank you for that Pastor Wells.
Luke 24:1-5 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Several years ago, the pastor of the church Joni an I were attending told this story in his Easter sunrise service. Pastor Wells was not an impassioned speaker, but I have to hand it to him, in this one moment he shone, and it has remained with me ever since. Here is the story of the empty egg.
Little Philip Ross had been born with Downs Syndrome, and a whole host of medical issues. The doctors concurred that he would probably not survive his infancy. Philip surprised them all by living into his eighth year.
In that final, memorable year of his life, Philip was a member of the kindergarten Sunday school class at his church. Being older, bigger, and just plain different, he always had a hard time connecting with the other children in his class, but all those differences were wiped away on Easter Sunday.
The week before Easter, the teacher of Philip’s class gave the children a homework assignment. She handed each boy and girl a plastic Easter egg, the kind that usually hold chocolates and other sweets. She told the class to put something in their egg that represented new life, and bring it back to show the class on Easter Sunday. At the end of class that day the children murmured excitedly to each other about what they might put in their eggs.
Easter Sunday arrived, bright and clear and beautiful. The children filed into their classroom that morning, each one holding their plastic egg. The teacher asked her students to bring their eggs to the front of the room and lay them on her desk so she could open each one and show the class, instead of having the children open the eggs themselves. She did this because of Philip. She was afraid that Philip would not understand the assignment and would put something silly in his egg. She didn’t want him to be embarrassed in front of the other children.
Class began and Miss Miller quieted her students. Then she picked up an egg at random and opened it. Inside was a small flower. She held up the flower to the class and said, "Flowers that bloom in the spring represent new life. Good job!"
She picked up another egg and opened it. Inside was a blade of grass. “Yes, grass turns green and begins to grow again after being dormant all winter. Well done!”
Opening the next egg, Miss Miller, along with the entire class, gasped in surprise as a live butterfly flew out of it. After calming her racing heart, she said "My goodness! Yes, caterpillars go into their cocoons for a while, and come out as butterflies. That certainly represents new life.”
She opened a fourth egg, only to find it was empty. She knew in an instant that this had to be Philip's egg and, just as she had feared, he hadn't understood the assignment. Her heart went out to the boy and she was embarrassed for him. After a moment of speechlessness, she calmly put the egg aside and took up another one.
Much to her chagrin, Miss Miller saw Philip's hand go up. For a split-second she froze, not knowing what to do. She didn’t want Philip to look like a fool in front of the class. She had decided to pretend not to notice him, for his own good, and go on with the lesson when Philip spoke up.
“Miss Miller?” he said in his slow, thick-tongued voice.
She hesitated for a moment, but could see no way around it now. "Yes Philip?" she said, dreading what he might say next.
“Miss Miller,” he said, “you didn’t explain about my egg.”
“But Philip,” she said as gently as she could, “your egg is empty.” She sent up a quick prayer that the other children would not laugh at the poor boy.
“Yeah.” Philip said with a beautific smile on his face. “It’s empty just like Jesus’s tomb.”
Time seemed to stop for Miss Miller as the tears welled in her eyes. The other children did not laugh at Philip.
Later that year, Philip’s condition finally caught up with him and he died. At his funeral, the mourners puzzled over the brightly colored, plastic Easter eggs carefully laid upon his coffin, all empty.
I have no idea if this is a true story or not, but does it really matter? Pastor Wells read those last two words with fiery voice and glistening eye, and it was the only time I ever heard him speak with such passion. Thank you for that Pastor Wells.
Luke 24:1-5 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Inspirations - God's Filing Cabinet
This is something I heard on the radio the other day. It is part of a message that was delivered by Doctor Erwin Lutzer of the Moody Church in Chicago. I only tuned in about half-way through, but I was able to find the full message on their website.
Doctor Lutzer says:
A few years ago, a student gave me this story: In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in The Room, with walls covered with boxes of index files, stretched from floor to ceiling. One box was labeled, “People I have Liked.” I opened it, and to my surprise, each card had the name of a person I knew. Then I realized where I was; this was the catalogue file of my whole life. All the details, big and small were recorded.
Both curiosity and fear stirred within me as I began to randomly open the files. Some brought back wonderful memories, others triggered shame so intense that I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching.
Files included “Books I have Read”, and another, “Television Programs I have Watched.” And there was one, “Lies I Have Told”, and “Comfort I Have Given.” Then there was “Things Done in Anger”, and another file, “Times I have Cursed.” Also, there were files titled: “People I have Helped” and “Prayers I have Prayed.” I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of the cards—there were hundreds of boxes and each contained hundreds of cards. I timidly opened the “People I have Hurt” file, and was amazed at its depth. Yet each card had my name and signature.
I was drawn to the file, “People I Have Shared the Gospel With”…and was embarrassed that the box was almost empty. When I moved on to the file titled: “People I’ve Not Forgiven,” I was surprised that the box was almost full. I did not have to look at each card, because I knew intuitively that these files were accurate; no mistakes here.
I glanced up and the file I dreaded most, “Lustful Thoughts” was in front of me. A shameful chill ran through my body. I opened the file, but only for a moment, not willing to test its bulk and size. Out of the corner of my eye I saw another file, “Various Sexual Sins;” I pretended not to notice and turned away.
I was obsessed with destroying the cards, but found I could not; though they were thin, they were as strong as steel. In fact, I could not even dislodge them from the file cabinets they were in. By now only one thought dominated my mind! No one must ever see these cards; no one must ever enter this room! Tears came to my eyes. I sobbed so violently that I began to shake. I fell on my knees and cried, humiliated and afraid. I must lock the room and hide the key!
As I wiped my tears away and was about to stand up, I noticed that someone had entered the room. I glanced at his face and… and then…I saw Him! “No, not Him…anyone but Jesus!” I turned away, burning with shame.
Then He began to open the files and read the cards. He went from box to box and when I glanced up, I saw a sorrow on His face that was as deep as my own. Why did He have to look at them? Why Him?
After a few moments, He walked over and put his arm around me. He said nothing, but just cried with me. Then He began to systematically go through the files one by one, from beginning to end, signing His name on each card. “No, I sobbed…you can’t do that!”
I was amazed at how quickly He went through all the boxes, and when He was finished he showed me some cards up close, and I noticed that on each was His signature, signed with His own blood, covering my name.
I turned away, and cried. But now He was standing beside me. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “It Is Finished.” He waited in silence for me to dry my tears then led me out of the room. Suddenly a verse I memorized in Sunday School flashed into my mind: “There is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” Together we walked down the hallway, but the door was left unlocked. My life was not yet over and there were cards that still needed to be written.
Don’t need to add much there, it pretty much speaks for itself.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
Doctor Lutzer says:
A few years ago, a student gave me this story: In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in The Room, with walls covered with boxes of index files, stretched from floor to ceiling. One box was labeled, “People I have Liked.” I opened it, and to my surprise, each card had the name of a person I knew. Then I realized where I was; this was the catalogue file of my whole life. All the details, big and small were recorded.
Both curiosity and fear stirred within me as I began to randomly open the files. Some brought back wonderful memories, others triggered shame so intense that I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching.
Files included “Books I have Read”, and another, “Television Programs I have Watched.” And there was one, “Lies I Have Told”, and “Comfort I Have Given.” Then there was “Things Done in Anger”, and another file, “Times I have Cursed.” Also, there were files titled: “People I have Helped” and “Prayers I have Prayed.” I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of the cards—there were hundreds of boxes and each contained hundreds of cards. I timidly opened the “People I have Hurt” file, and was amazed at its depth. Yet each card had my name and signature.
I was drawn to the file, “People I Have Shared the Gospel With”…and was embarrassed that the box was almost empty. When I moved on to the file titled: “People I’ve Not Forgiven,” I was surprised that the box was almost full. I did not have to look at each card, because I knew intuitively that these files were accurate; no mistakes here.
I glanced up and the file I dreaded most, “Lustful Thoughts” was in front of me. A shameful chill ran through my body. I opened the file, but only for a moment, not willing to test its bulk and size. Out of the corner of my eye I saw another file, “Various Sexual Sins;” I pretended not to notice and turned away.
I was obsessed with destroying the cards, but found I could not; though they were thin, they were as strong as steel. In fact, I could not even dislodge them from the file cabinets they were in. By now only one thought dominated my mind! No one must ever see these cards; no one must ever enter this room! Tears came to my eyes. I sobbed so violently that I began to shake. I fell on my knees and cried, humiliated and afraid. I must lock the room and hide the key!
As I wiped my tears away and was about to stand up, I noticed that someone had entered the room. I glanced at his face and… and then…I saw Him! “No, not Him…anyone but Jesus!” I turned away, burning with shame.
Then He began to open the files and read the cards. He went from box to box and when I glanced up, I saw a sorrow on His face that was as deep as my own. Why did He have to look at them? Why Him?
After a few moments, He walked over and put his arm around me. He said nothing, but just cried with me. Then He began to systematically go through the files one by one, from beginning to end, signing His name on each card. “No, I sobbed…you can’t do that!”
I was amazed at how quickly He went through all the boxes, and when He was finished he showed me some cards up close, and I noticed that on each was His signature, signed with His own blood, covering my name.
I turned away, and cried. But now He was standing beside me. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “It Is Finished.” He waited in silence for me to dry my tears then led me out of the room. Suddenly a verse I memorized in Sunday School flashed into my mind: “There is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” Together we walked down the hallway, but the door was left unlocked. My life was not yet over and there were cards that still needed to be written.
Don’t need to add much there, it pretty much speaks for itself.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Inspirations - The Three Trees
Here’s an old story that many of you have probably heard before. I've heard it a time or two myself, but had forgotten about it until I came across it on the internet the other day. The author is unknown to the best of my knowledge, and I decided to tell it here in my own words, rather than copy it exactly as I found it. Hope you enjoy it!
***
Once upon a time, there were three trees, standing on a hill in a forest. One day, the three trees were talking with one another about their hopes and dreams for the future.
“I,” began the first tree, “would like to be made into a fine treasure chest someday. I could be covered with intricate carvings and gold fittings and would be worthy of holding the greatest treasure ever known."
The second tree said, “I want to be made into a mighty sailing ship. I could carry kings and queens on long voyages across the seas and everyone would feel safe inside my strong hull."
Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and greatest tree in the forest. Everyone will be able to see me standing on the hill. When they look up to me, they will think of God and how close I am reaching to heaven, and I will always be remembered.
The three trees hoped and dreamed for many years, until finally one day, some woodsmen came to the part of the forest where they were standing.
The woodsmen looked at the first tree and said, “This looks like a fine tree. We can sell this tree to the carpenter.” The tree was happy at this because he knew the carpenter would build a fine treasure chest out of his wood.
Then the woodsmen came to the second tree and said, “This looks like a strong tree, we can sell it to the shipyard.” This made the second tree very happy because he knew that soon, he would be a mighty sailing ship.
Finally, the woodsmen came to the third tree and said, “This tree is very tall and straight, we will get much good lumber from it." The third tree was sad because he knew that his dream of being the tallest tree in the forest had ended.
But things did not go as the three trees had hoped. When the first tree got to the carpenter’s shop, instead of becoming a fine treasure chest, he was made into a feed box, and set in a barn for the animals to eat out of. At the shipyard, the second tree was made into a small fishing boat instead of a mighty sailing ship. The third tree was cut into long pieces and stored away in a warehouse, soon to be forgotten. The grand dreams that the three trees had of doing great and wonderful things, had come to an end.
Many years passed before, one starry night, a man and a woman came into the barn where the feedbox stood. The woman gave birth and they wrapped the baby in cloths and laid him in the feedbox. The man wished he could have a fine crib for his son, but this manger would have to do. As kings and wisemen came to see the baby, the tree realized that something special was happening. His dream of holding the greatest treasure ever known had finally come true.
Many more years passed, and the little fishing boat was caught in a sudden storm. The fishermen aboard were very scared,except for one, who was sleeping. The frightened men woke the sleeping one. He rose and held his hands out to the turbulent waters and said "Peace." The sea immediately became calm and the second tree realized that he was indeed carrying the King of kings.
Still more years passed, and the long-forgotten third tree was finally brought out of the warehouse. His pieces were fastened together and he was dragged down a street by a wounded man while crowds of people jeered at them. When they reached the top of a hill, the man was nailed to the tree, lifted into the air, and left to die. The people looked up to the tree and could not help but think of God as they witnessed the crucifixion. From that day on, the third tree was always remembered with great honor.
***
God’s ways are not our ways. We all want to do great and wonderful things with our lives; become successful and be looked up to, but God may have very different plans for us. We will, undoubtedly, do great and wonderful things, if we only trust in Him and follow where He leads. They may not be the kinds of things that bring us fortune and fame. In fact, they almost certainly will not, but they will be great and wonderful in the eyes of God, and what greater reward could there be?
It’s so easy to become discouraged in this world, feeling like we haven't done anything useful with our lives. I am probably more guilty of this than most. Sometimes I look at where I am now and think "Where did it all go wrong?" I always have to stop and remind myself that this is exactly where God wants me. He has his reasons, even if I don’t know what they are. It's so hard sometimes, listening for the whispering voice of God, when the whole world is screaming "Failure!”, but the voice is there. Sometimes it's enough just knowing that it's there, even if I can't quite make out what it's saying.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the story of “The ThreeTrees” as much as I did. Was it an accident that I came across this story at this particular moment in my life? Nope. God was just saving it for a special occasion. He's kind of cool that way, isn't He?
Psalms 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
***
Once upon a time, there were three trees, standing on a hill in a forest. One day, the three trees were talking with one another about their hopes and dreams for the future.
“I,” began the first tree, “would like to be made into a fine treasure chest someday. I could be covered with intricate carvings and gold fittings and would be worthy of holding the greatest treasure ever known."
The second tree said, “I want to be made into a mighty sailing ship. I could carry kings and queens on long voyages across the seas and everyone would feel safe inside my strong hull."
Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and greatest tree in the forest. Everyone will be able to see me standing on the hill. When they look up to me, they will think of God and how close I am reaching to heaven, and I will always be remembered.
The three trees hoped and dreamed for many years, until finally one day, some woodsmen came to the part of the forest where they were standing.
The woodsmen looked at the first tree and said, “This looks like a fine tree. We can sell this tree to the carpenter.” The tree was happy at this because he knew the carpenter would build a fine treasure chest out of his wood.
Then the woodsmen came to the second tree and said, “This looks like a strong tree, we can sell it to the shipyard.” This made the second tree very happy because he knew that soon, he would be a mighty sailing ship.
Finally, the woodsmen came to the third tree and said, “This tree is very tall and straight, we will get much good lumber from it." The third tree was sad because he knew that his dream of being the tallest tree in the forest had ended.
But things did not go as the three trees had hoped. When the first tree got to the carpenter’s shop, instead of becoming a fine treasure chest, he was made into a feed box, and set in a barn for the animals to eat out of. At the shipyard, the second tree was made into a small fishing boat instead of a mighty sailing ship. The third tree was cut into long pieces and stored away in a warehouse, soon to be forgotten. The grand dreams that the three trees had of doing great and wonderful things, had come to an end.
Many years passed before, one starry night, a man and a woman came into the barn where the feedbox stood. The woman gave birth and they wrapped the baby in cloths and laid him in the feedbox. The man wished he could have a fine crib for his son, but this manger would have to do. As kings and wisemen came to see the baby, the tree realized that something special was happening. His dream of holding the greatest treasure ever known had finally come true.
Many more years passed, and the little fishing boat was caught in a sudden storm. The fishermen aboard were very scared,except for one, who was sleeping. The frightened men woke the sleeping one. He rose and held his hands out to the turbulent waters and said "Peace." The sea immediately became calm and the second tree realized that he was indeed carrying the King of kings.
Still more years passed, and the long-forgotten third tree was finally brought out of the warehouse. His pieces were fastened together and he was dragged down a street by a wounded man while crowds of people jeered at them. When they reached the top of a hill, the man was nailed to the tree, lifted into the air, and left to die. The people looked up to the tree and could not help but think of God as they witnessed the crucifixion. From that day on, the third tree was always remembered with great honor.
***
God’s ways are not our ways. We all want to do great and wonderful things with our lives; become successful and be looked up to, but God may have very different plans for us. We will, undoubtedly, do great and wonderful things, if we only trust in Him and follow where He leads. They may not be the kinds of things that bring us fortune and fame. In fact, they almost certainly will not, but they will be great and wonderful in the eyes of God, and what greater reward could there be?
It’s so easy to become discouraged in this world, feeling like we haven't done anything useful with our lives. I am probably more guilty of this than most. Sometimes I look at where I am now and think "Where did it all go wrong?" I always have to stop and remind myself that this is exactly where God wants me. He has his reasons, even if I don’t know what they are. It's so hard sometimes, listening for the whispering voice of God, when the whole world is screaming "Failure!”, but the voice is there. Sometimes it's enough just knowing that it's there, even if I can't quite make out what it's saying.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the story of “The ThreeTrees” as much as I did. Was it an accident that I came across this story at this particular moment in my life? Nope. God was just saving it for a special occasion. He's kind of cool that way, isn't He?
Psalms 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
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