daily-stories

PLANTING HAPPINESS

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:35:22 +0100

Last year, I placed a flower pot on my patio.

It was only half-filled with potting soil. There wasn't any sign of life.
There were no seeds to grow. So as you can imagine the flowerpot remained
barren.

Last week, I decided that the neglected flower pot needed a little lift. I
went to a garden shop and checked out the blooming plants. While trying to
decide which flowers to purchase, I went to another store and ran across
some flower seeds. I picked up one of the packages and read the
instructions for planting.

“I am up for the challenge,” I thought. Many people have green thumbs, but
I have always insisted that I don't. Either I water my plants too often or
not enough. I either bake the plant in the sunshine or place it in areas
that are too shady. I know some plants like it hot and wet, while others
like it dry and shady. But for the life of me, I cannot remember which are
which.

As I stood holding the envelope of seeds, I felt the urge to see if for the
first time I could actually make something grow. I purchased several
packages and returned home with a gardener's determination and drive. I
immediately planted the seeds in the almost forgotten flower pot. For a
couple of days nothing happened. But I continued to water the soil.

On the fourth day, I actually saw green sprouts as they had just broken
through the soil. I was so excited. The tiny shoots brought a smile to my
face. I called Roy to come to look at them. Maybe my thumb wasn't
completely off-colored after all! Maybe I could make something grow!

I thought about how growing flowers are much like growing happiness. Our
lives are sometimes like the empty pot. Our days are filled with worldly
tasks and possessions. But because worldly things are of such little
importance, we lack a feeling of completeness. We sense there is something
missing. The things missing are the seeds that produce the fruit of the Spirit we
need to make us complete as we grow closer to God.

We can all have a loving, joyful, completely full life if we plant the seeds of Christ
in our soul and water them and nurture them by removing the worldly things and
replacing them with the godly things.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:19-25.

Have Faith In God

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:35:10 +0100


Have faith in God; let all hope be built on Him.

Have faith in God; through suffering pain and loss.

Have faith in God; by making Him your friend.

Have faith in God; your wounded heart He will mend.

Have faith in God; who holds you to the end.

Have faith in God; when you don't understand.

Have faith in God; when you can't see His hand.

Have faith in God; your ship He'll bring to land.

Have faith in God; when you can't see your way.

Have faith in God; He promises to stay.

Have faith in God; when nothing is on your plate.

Have faith in God; in times of greatest doubt.

Have faith in God; and trust Him everyday.

Have faith in God; and follow Him everyday.

Have faith in God; what pleasure to obey?

Have faith in God; when anger seems to reign.

Have faith in God; and give Him all your pain and suffering.

Have faith in God; whose victory is assured.

By David B. Smith

A DAY AT WORK

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:00:48 +0100

Some folks have a tendency to believe that a bad day fishing is better than
a good day at work. Then along comes a day like today. The two inch snow
that was predicted had turned in to a six incher, and more in some of the
drifts. And at 3 a.m., it made for a pretty interesting trip to work. A
half-hour later, I had the windshield cleared and backed up to the door to
load. By 5 a.m., the bread was loaded and ready to roll.

Everything went pretty well, considering the parking lots were far from
being cleared. Everything that was taken in was either packed or dragged.
Around seven o'clock, it started getting light. I was headed down a
two-lane highway, going to the “country” part of the route, and just
starting to see the beauty of the first snowfall. Just a few more stops,
then I'd turn and head north, to the top end of the route.

Just a few miles out of town, the countryside starts changing. The rolling
hills and valleys are considered to be the foothills of the Ozarks. With
the snowfall fresh on the landscape, it was a quite a sight. The hilltops
were capped with snow, and the valleys were blanked with a deep white
layer, drifting sometimes even deeper. The trees were laden with snow,
their limbs drooping under the weight. As I topped the highpoint, I stopped
the truck just to look out over the landscape. The winter scene spread out
before me like a giant painting. With the white trees, and everything
covered, and the gray sky background, it gave everything a quiet and
peaceful setting.

I was surprised to see a beam of sunshine break through the clouds, and
shine in to the crystals of ice and snow. The light broke into thousands of
tiny rainbows from the natural prisms. A small stream wound its way down
and around the hills, its crystal water bubbling over the stones and
gravel, and ran by close to the road. Just down and off to the right, a
deer had stopped for a drink from the stream, and was staring, unafraid.
The whole scene was like a moment suspended in time, not moving, just there
to be appreciated, savored.

At that particular moment, it was easy to feel very small, almost
insignificant. And I realized that all of this, no matter how large or
small, is God’s creation. And that nothing He created is insignificant or
unimportant to Him. Everything has its space and reason for being, a
purpose. Everything. A snowflake, an ice crystal, a rainbow that dances
like the laughter of a child. Everything...

By Bob G. Shaw
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” - Psalm 8

Who Am I?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:29:18 +0100

Only a short while ago the Lord's friends gathered around to hear Him
speak of great and wonderful things. The things of God, eternal things. We
hung on every word, savoring it, digesting it. Now, they are gone and I
alone remain, sitting at His feet. Like a delicate fragrance, the sound of
His voice seems to linger in the air. I breath in the essence of His
presence and sigh. It's good that I should be here; I want to stay forever.
For a moment He shuffles in His seat and I fear that my Lord is going to
leave. My heart sinks until I realize He is leaning forward and reaching out
His hands to me. All at once the child in me comes alive as Jesus lifts me
to His lap and cradles me in His arms. Tears of joy fill my eyes and
overflow, cascading down my cheeks. I weep softly and bury my face in the
folds of His robe as His strong arms close around me.

Who am I that the Lord should hold me so tenderly? Did He hear my
anguished cry for more of Him? Had He peered into the depths of my heart and
dug through the sin and deeply rooted pride and greed and actually found
some good buried there? Is there any good in me? I am still so slow to
learn, so quick to fall. My reasoning weaves a maze through my mind as I try
to comprehend. As Jesus draws me closer to Himself, a thread of gold enters
the woven maze in my mind and I understand. Jesus holds me not because of my
goodness, but His; not because of my love for Him, but rather, because of
His great love for me. My thoughts become a blur, struggling to grasp what
is unimaginable for the human mind. He is able to do exceedingly and
abundantly more than I think or imagine. My Lord and my God loves me. I
savor this delicious morsel of truth as He gently cradles me
in His strong arms like a dear beloved child, and holds me close to His chest.
A favorite Scripture from Isaiah comes to mind:
"You are mine, you are precious in my sight and I
love you." I ponder this, these words meant for me as well.

As I listened to the Savior's heartbeat, He also was listening to mine.
What I couldn't put into words He heard from the cry of my heart. My desire
for Him. My love for Him. My longing to be with Him. And the heartbreaking
sorrow I felt for ever having done anything that put a distance between my
beloved Jesus and I. For a moment He stops rocking me and I can feel His
warm breath on my forehead. He tenderly says, child, look at me. I am
reluctant to look up because I know that my eyes will meet His. What I have
longed for, now suddenly fills me with dread. I fear what He will see in the
face of this unworthy child. His fingers are beneath my chin and He raises
my head until my eyes meet His. What I see is more beautiful than words can
express. In His eyes there is an ocean of love, deeper, wider, and higher
than all the world can contain. His eyes are the color of mercy.
For a moment I feel as if I am
little more than an ant at the foot of the cross, just beginning to
comprehend His love and sacrifice. The King of all the universe is gazing
into my eyes and communicating His love to me.

Jesus' hand is warm against my face. He cups my cheek and wipes away my
tears with His thumb. God's thumb, wiping away my tears. He holds my face
firmly for a moment and looks deep into my eyes as if to say, this is
important, listen to Me. His eyes seem to plead with me as He speaks. He
wants me to understand and believe it. As His eyes fill with tears, He says,
"This is why I did it; so I could hold you and love you for eternity."

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” - Revelation 21:3,4.

I'll Paint You A Rainbow

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:50:37 +0100

I'll paint you a rainbow as a gift from me,

Then hang it from heaven for the whole world to see.

On a canvas of love I'll cover your fears,

With a soft brush I'll dry all your tears.

I'll paint you a rainbow with feelings so deep,

My stroke will be gentle, my touch you may keep.

On a palette of words I will tenderly blend,

Colorful thoughts with bright verses to send.

I'll paint you a rainbow in reds, blues and gold,

Stretched like loving arms ready to enfold.

And deep in the center of the most vibrant hue,

I'll etch from memory the essence of you.

I'll paint you a rainbow, a bridge to my heart,

So loneliness and pain can begin to depart.

Just look up at the sky when life hits a bend,

I painted a rainbow for YOU my friend.

Jesus Loved Him Anyway

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:12:42 +0100

Across the table He looks at his face
Desperately hoping to show him His grace
He taught him the ways of His Father above
Showing him kindness, patience and love
How can the Lord feel a love so strong?
For the man who will do Him so wrong?
For Jesus had to know from the start
The spirit that Judas had in his heart
Over three years they walked side by side
The humble master and the servant full of pride
Jesus loved him beyond his wildest dreams
Even though He saw his future schemes
Jesus said, "Love your enemy," you see
And He loved Judas no matter what came to be
We all have a Judas in our life
That someone always causing us strife
What if you knew he'd help bring your death?
Could you love him through your dying breath?
Could you walk with him every day?
Always sharing Christ, even knowing what you'll pay?
This is having the mind of Christ
To Love your neighbor at any price.

By James Corwin

A Season For Everything

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:00:43 +0100

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were
meant to be there. To serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or
help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be, but when you lock eyes with them, you
know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible,
painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming
those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will
power or heart.

God places every person and circumstance in your live for a reason. Nothing happens by

chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer
stupidity all occur to test our faith and trust in God. Without these small
tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you
experience create in you the person you truly are, and the bad experiences can be learned
from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because
they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious
to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they
love you, but because they are teaching you to love and to open your heart
and eyes to little things. Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can,
for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let
yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a
saved child of the living God, for if you don't believe in what He has done for you

no one else will believe in you.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace...And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,13,14.

God Knows

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:08:47 +0100

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts...
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish...
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by...
God is waiting with you.

When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call...
God is by your side.

When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn...
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated...
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope...
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for...
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe...
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow...
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or
whatever you are facing...GOD KNOWS

A Rose Within

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:09:01 +0100

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom and also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose, budding, ready to flourish. The God like qualities planted in us a birth grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies, never realizing our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves, so, someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. This is the characteristic of love, which only comes from Jesus Christ.

Look at a person, knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can overcome his faults through Jesus Christ too. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns.
Then he will blossom, blooming forth some thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold as it is given to him.

Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them that their roses can bloom and not wither in their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love of Christ and see our own roses bloom in our own garden.

Two Men In A Hospital

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:33:42 +0100

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world
outside.

Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased
roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue. . .There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just Count all of the things you have that money can't buy. "Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."