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| Hope Fountain |
“My fears were like a thundering herd of elephants. Then when I got them out and looked at them, I saw there were really mice with megaphones.” Dr Bruce Rahtjen
God's Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes which God gave me to hold.
He said, “Put all your sorrows in the black, and all your ‘joys’ in the gold.”
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes both my joys and sorrows I stored,
but though the gold became heavier each day, the black weighed the same.
With curiosity, I opened the black. I wanted to find out why.
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud, “I wonder where my sorrows could be.”
He smiled a gentle smile at me. “My child, they’re all here with me.”
I asked, “God, why give me the boxes, Why the gold, and the black with the hole?”
“My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings, the black is for you to let go.”
Satan’s Plan
Doubt – Makes you question God’s Word and he goodness.
Discouragement – Makes you look at your problems rather than at God.
Diversion – Makes the wrong things seem attractive so that you will want them more than the right things.
Defeat – Makes you feel like a failure so that you don’t even try.
Delay- Makes you put off doing something so that it never gets done.
Keep your eyes lifted up and don’t dare let the enemy steal your joy and hope.
- Karen Johnston Pianist Composer
Ever wonder if writing is what you were meant to do?
Make up your mind to be happy,
Ever wonder if writing is what you were meant to do?
In the Bible Jacob was dishonest, Peter had a temper, David committed adultery, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. Now what's your excuse? God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED!
And God Said “No”
I asked God to take away my grief, And God said, “No”.
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to work through.
I asked God to make my broken heart whole, And God said “No”.
He said your spirit is whole, your pain is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience, and God said “No”.
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn’t granted, it’s earned.
I asked God to give me happiness, and God said “No”.
He said He gives blessings. Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain, and God said “No”.
He said “Suffering draws you apart from worldly care and brings you closer to me.”
I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said “No”.
He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked God is He loves me, and God said “Yes”.
He gave His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.
I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me,
And God said,
“Ah, finally, you have the idea.”
Just for Today
Make up your mind to be happy,
Accept life’s irritations.
Care for your body.
Exercise your mind.
Do something kind for someone in secret,
and do two things you do not want to do.
Smile, and be positive and pleasant.
Work on today – not the problems of tomorrow.
Work on some goal or plan.
Have a quiet time.
Praise the Lord, and do not be afraid.
