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I got a dozen
roses from a friend the other day
But I only have one left, for I gave them all away.
I gave one to my sister, who to me is very dear
In the hopes that it will
bring to her a little floral cheer. I took one
to a friend who's not feeling very well
The flower or the visit, which helped more I could not tell. The rest went to the ones who've helped me in so many
ways
They have been a cheerful presence on my dreariest of days. The roses were so pretty, I just could not keep them all
Except one single rosebud, standing beautiful and tall. My friend gave me the flowers to help brighten up my
day
But the biggest joy I received was giving them away.
--Author Unknown--
  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when
it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou
hast it by thee." Proverbs 3:27, 28 We can get so busy talking spiritual that we neglect to do something practical! The
Church could use more Christians in work clothes. Share with some needy person today. -selected
God’s Servants
We’re
God’s servants
Whose been given a brain
Not like puppets
Dangling from a string.
We are able
to think
And we’re able to choose
To obey his commands
Be ready for Him To use.
Through knowledge
of His word
His truth can be proclaimed
By telling others about Jesus
Oh blessed be His name!
Tell
others of his perfect life
That he once here lived
Dying on the cross
Obeying his Father’s will.
Although Jesus was willing
To do as his Father asked
He prayed to God
"Let this cup from me pass."
There was no other way
God’s will could be done
So, the scriptures were fulfilled
By the death
of God’s only son.
Sadly, Peter denied Christ
The other disciples ran away
They feared for their
own lives
Lacking courage to stay.
As long as we’re His servants
And we’re allowed here to
live
We’re His hands and His hearts
And to others we must give.
John 12 : 26 "if any man serve
me, let him follow me; And where I am, there shall also my servant be; if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."
Alma Norman
copyright 2003
Patience helps us in our service to others.
How to Be Patient
It has never been easy to be patient, but it's probably
harder now than at any time in history. In a world in which messages can be sent across the world instantly, in which seemingly
everything is available for immediate purchase with a few clicks of the mouse, it's hard not to always expect instant
gratification. But patience remains a valuable tool in life. We don't always get instant gratification, and some of the
best things in life require years of hard work and waiting. Fortunately, patience is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured.
Tips
Try to figure out
why you're in such a hurry. We tend to lose our patience when we're multi-tasking or when we're on a
tight schedule. If you're stretching yourself too thin, you should reconsider your to-do list before you attempt to change
your natural reaction to an overwhelming situation. Try to spread out your tasks so that you're doing only one thing at
a time. Delegate responsibilities to others if you can; this in itself may be a test of your patience, but you have
to learn to share the load.Pinpoint
the triggers that often make you lose your patience. Impatience creeps in insidiously, and if you feel anxious, worried,
or unhappy you may not even realize that the underlying cause of these feelings is impatience. To reduce the frequency of
impatience, it helps to be aware of it. Which events, people, phrases or circumstances always seem to make you lose your cool?
Sit down and make a list of all the things which cause you anxiety, tension, or frustration. At the core of most triggers
is a reality that we have a hard time accepting. What are those realities for you?Overcome bouts of impatience. In the long run, developing patience requires
a change in your attitude about life, but you can immediately make progress by learning to relax whenever you feel impatient.
Take a few deep breaths and just try to clear your mind. Concentrate on breathing and you'll be able to get your bearings.Look for patterns. Being aware of
your impatience also gives you a chance to learn from it and perhaps uncover a relationship or circumstance that is simply
not healthy or constructive, and that you may have the power to change. Figure that out, and you can then think logically
about the problem issue and decide whether or not your impatience is warranted or helpful. It usually isn't, but when
it is you can then figure out ways to fix the root problem rather than simply feeling stressed about it. Let go if you can't do anything about the
impatience trigger. If there isn't anything that you can do to resolve whatever has triggered your impatience,
just let it go. Easier said than done, yes, but it's possible, and it's the only healthy thing to do. Initially, you
will probably find it difficult to let go if the matter is important to you but if you make a concerted effort to be more
patient in relatively inconsequential, short-term situations, you'll gradually develop the strength to remain patient
in even the most trying and enduring situations.Remind yourself that things take time. People who are impatient are people
who insist on getting things done now and don't like to waste time. However, some things just can't be rushed.
Think about your happiest memories. Chances are, they were instances when your patience paid off, like when you worked steadily
towards a goal that wasn't immediately gratifying, or took a little extra time to spend leisurely with a loved one. Would
you have those memories if you had been impatient? Probably not. Almost anything really good in life takes time and dedication,
and if you're impatient, you're more likely to give up on relationships, goals, and
other things that are important to you. Good things may not always come to those who wait, but most good things that do come
don't come right away.Expect
the unexpected. Yes, you have plans, but things don't always work out as planned. Accept the twist and turns
in life gracefully. Keep your expectations realistic. This applies not only to circumstances, but also the behavior of those
around you. If you find yourself blowing up over your child or your spouse accidentally spilling a drink, you're not in
touch with the fact that people aren't perfect. Even if the occasion is not an isolated incident but is instead caused
by their repeated neglect and carelessness, losing your patience isn't going to make it any better. That's something
to be addressed with discussion and self-control.Give yourself a break. The meaning of this is twofold. First, take a few minutes
to do absolutely nothing. Just sit quietly and think. Don't watch television; don't even read. Do nothing. It may be hard at first, and you may even feel pretty impatient after a minute or two, but by taking some
time out you can essentially slow your world down, and that's important to develop the attitude necessary to develop patience.
Second, stop holding yourself and the world around you to unreachable standards. Sure, we'd all be more patient if babies
didn't cry, dishes didn't break, computers didn't crash, and people didn't make mistakes--but that's
never going to happen. Expecting the world to run smoothly is like beating your head against the wall. Give yourself
a break
http://www.wikihow.com
 ate one December night on the cancer ward the halls were quiet and solemn, the patients were asleep and most of the visitors
were gone. The nurses were gathered about the nurse's station preparing for shift change. Sarah, one of the nurses, was
especially tired, having worked seven straight 12 hour days. The kids had needs, her husband had been laid off, and the house
payment was due. What kept her going was that in January she was going to find a new job. After ten years of answering call
lights, working short staffed, putting up with constant administrative changes, she had decided that it was not worth the
effort anymore.
PING. PING. PING. Sarah angrily looked at the call light box.
The patient was a seventy-year-old
woman. Sarah had been to her room at the end of the hall at least fifteen times. Angrily she started down the hall. On her
way, she suddenly stopped. She stood motionless as a soft voice wafted out of room 235.
"And then one day
I'll cross the river; I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then as death gives way to victory, I'll
see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened and thought
about the young woman in that room -- a thirty-five year old mother of two with cancer, with only a week to live, perhaps
days. Sarah stood there, with tears in her eyes, remembering how this young terminal woman had such peace. The patient would
speak to everyone who came into her room and she would smile even in her pain and took the time to share her faith and let
people know the reason for her peace was a faith in God. All the nurses who had been around her commented on her strength
and how they had felt peace and calm after talking with this exceptional young woman.
"Because He lives, I
can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know who holds the future, Life is worth all the living,
just because He lives." Unstoppable tears flowed as Sarah stood a few moments more, but the tears had taken on a newness.
No longer were they tears of sadness for this young woman but tears of renewal that washed away the disappointment and disillusionment
of her job, and the fear about the future.
Sarah started down the hall to answer the call light, but she was no
longer going to check on some pestering old woman. She was going to the room of a patient, a person, a fellow human in need.
Sarah no longer looked to January so she could quit -- she looked to her next shift when she would again have the opportunity
to serve her fellow man. Sarah left work with a new outlook on life. She had a rekindling of the spirit of service that had
motivated her to become a nurse. Those fires had almost died, but for a young terminal woman who had the desire to be of service
to her fellow man even unto death.
This is a reminder to me that the reason that we are on this earth at all is
to be of service to each other. Christ said it best when He said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down
his life for his brother."
author unknown
Luke 21:19: In your patience ye shall
win your souls.
Col 1:11: Strengthened with all
power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;
2Th 3:5: And the Lord direct
your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.
Jam 1:4: And let patience have its
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
Jam 5:8: Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Patience Taught By
Nature
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
'O dreary life,'
we cry, ' O dreary life ! '
And still the generations of the birds
Sing through our sighing, and the flocks
and herds
Serenely live while we are keeping strife
With Heaven's true purpose in us, as a knife
Against
which we may struggle ! Ocean girds
Unslackened the dry land, savannah-swards
Unweary sweep, hills watch unworn,
and rife
Meek leaves drop year]y from the forest-trees
To show, above, the unwasted stars that pass
In their
old glory: O thou God of old,
Grant me some smaller grace than comes to these !--
But so much patience as a blade
of grass
Grows by, contented through the heat and cold.
Parable
of the Great Harvest
J. David Powlas
Many Christians are like some farmers who were eagerly awaiting the
great harvest. The farmers had bought and read some of the latest books which explained how to produce the great harvest.
They had sharpened and repaired all of their reaping tools to get them ready for use in the great harvest. A number of workers
had been trained to use the tools and to assist the farmers in gathering the great harvest. The farmers had even invested
much time, effort, and money in building a large, fancy barn in which the great harvest was to be stored. But, alas, it did
come to pass that the farmers never reaped the great harvest. Although the eager farmers had made very much preparation for
the great harvest, they never did actually plant the seed!
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
(Luke 8:11)
† Can you
figure out the rest of the parable?
 hen you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting
on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to
paint another one.
When
you thought I wasn't looking, I
saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking , I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I
heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all
have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I
saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give
to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I
saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel
good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's
all right to cry.
When
you thought I wasn't looking, I
saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."
LITTLE EYES SEE
A LOT .
Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influence the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today?
Visit People Who Need Help
Alan
McNabb
There are many things we can do, and should do as we
have ability, to help other people and share the gospel. In
last week's article, we explored the use of our telephones in personal work and evangelism. It's simple to make a
phone call; it takes little time, energy, and effort. But a phone call can mean the world to someone who is sick and homebound. In this article, I want to take explore visiting people who are in need. Visiting People in Need is a Characteristic of the Saved
James gives us some examples of being a doer of the word and not just a hearer. "If anyone thinks himself to be religious,
and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion
in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by
the world" (Ja. 1:26-27). We can tell whether we're
a faithful Christian (doer of the word) by whether we control our tongues, visit others and see to their needs, and keep ourselves
pure. Visiting Must be a Habit
"Visit"
as used in James 1:27 means "to look upon, care for, exercise oversight" (Vine's Dictionary). Grace, mercy,
love, and compassion are qualities required to visit people who have needs, and help relieve their burdens. James uses "visit" in the present tense, meaning that visiting others
and seeing to their needs should be a habit (A. T. Robertson). It's not something we do occasionally; rather it's
something we do habitually -- all the time. How
Do We Visit?
The word "visit" means we have to go physically and see people. A couple of Webster's
definitions say that visit is "to go to see in order to comfort or help" and "to pay a call on as an act of
friendship or courtesy." To visit people in need,
we must physically go and see them. We can't send someone in our place, or try to keep track of them by listening to others
who've been -- we must physically go. For example, when
Jesus taught about judgment he said of the saved, "'I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came
to Me'" (Matt. 25:36). Then of the lost, He said, "'I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked,
and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me'" (Matt. 25:43). To visit someone we must
personally go, and see to their needs. In today's technological
world, we also visit by interactive communication (telephone, instant messaging, etc.). This type of visitation is helpful
between the times we physically visit, but it can't replace physical visitation. If we are able, we have a responsibility
to physically go and see to the needs of others. Who
Do We Need To Visit?
The Lord has made visiting our brethren and taking care of them a top priority in our life.
Paul says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while
we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" (Gal.
6:9-10). We need to visit people who are sick, homebound,
and in need -- especially brethren. When we visit, we are to see to their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. If we
are unable to meet their needs totally and completely, we should solicit help from other individuals. And for our brethren,
we should tell other Christians about their needs so they can help. What Can You Do When Visiting
Most of all, in our prosperous nation, brethren need us to visit
and talk. People who are sick and homebound can't get out and interact spiritually or socially. So, we must go to them.
They need us to physically be there, interact in conversation, talk about spiritual things, and sometimes pray. The sick, homebound, and elderly may need help with light chores such as changing
a light bulb, taking out trash, picking something up from the floor. etc. And occasionally taking food is helpful. Most of all they need to see our faces and hear our voices. Don't worry about
what you'll do or say, just go and visit. Everything else will come natural. Do You Visit People In Need?
Habitually visiting people in need, especially our brethren, is
a mark of faithfulness. There are people in our congregation
who need to be visited regularly, mostly for spiritual encouragement and to relieve their loneliness. If members from every
family physically visited them every month, besides calling on the phone, they would not have too many visitors. Do you visit people in need -- especially Christians, and especially members of
our congregation?
To give without any reward,
or any notice,
has a special quality
of its own.
"One
day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver
told him, "I always park there. You took my place!" The visitor went inside for Bible classl, found an empty seat, and sat down. A
young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat
distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Bible class, the visitor moved to another seat. Another member walked up
to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this
treatment, but still said nothing.
(This does occur, it has happened to me
in the past, but the main point is we should do and say all things for edification.)
I'm going to change the
ending of this story somewhat and ask that you imagine Jesus Christ visiting the congregation, unknown to others,
and as He stood up horrible scars became visible on His hands and on His sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed
Him and called out, "What happened to You?"
The Visitor replied, "I
took your place."
selected/edited
DEEDS
Tis better
you do that kindly deed
You've forgotten to do today;
Better you go to the friend in need,
Who's striving along life's way. Give him
a friendly word of cheer
'Twill help him to face the strife
A glad hello or a welcome hand
May brighten his path in life. Putting off till
some distant tomorrow
The words that you meant to say,
Won't lighten the burden of sorrow
That he's bending beneath today. Reach out
and extend the grip of a friend
"Twill take but a moment or two
And will help him to know that
you understand
The troubles he's fighting through. For when we have followed the winding path,
And come near life's setting sun,
'Twill
count for naught what we meant to do,
Just the kindly deeds we have done.
Oren Alden
DeMass
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