by Inspiration | Jun 15, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration
An ancient Chinese story: A farmer had one old horse that he used for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and when all the farmer’s… An ancient Chinese story: A farmer had one old horse that he used for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and when all the farmer’s neighbours heard about it, they sympathized with the old man over his bad luck. “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?” said the farmer. A week later, the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbours congratulated the farmer on his good luck. “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?” said the farmer. Then, when the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone agreed that this was very bad luck. Not the farmer, who replied, “Bad Luck? Good luck? Who knows?” Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and forced every able-bodied young man to go fight in a bloody war. When they saw that the farmer’s son had a broken leg, they let him stay. Everyone was very happy at the farmer’s good luck. “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?” Life is a lot like that. Sometimes
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by Inspiration | Jun 14, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
An Atheist and a Christian were hiking up a mountain; they came upon a large rock and decided to rest. While there, they talked about their jobs, families, and how… An Atheist and a Christian were hiking up a mountain; they came upon a large rock and decided to rest. While there, they talked about their jobs, families, and how good it was to enjoy nature. Their conversation then drifted toward the supernatural. “I do not believe in God because there is no proof of his existence,” said the Atheist. The Christian did not immediately respond, but instead gazed upon the tall pines and blue sky above him. “No,” said the Christian, “we cannot actually see, hear, or touch God, but we can know that God exists since we can see the results of His work.” The Christian continued, “Think of all the magnificent things we saw today… grand mountains, hundreds of varieties of trees, flowers, insects, birds… and even you and I! There is beauty in all these things; they are good.” The Atheist replied, “Yes, nature is definitely awesome, but I believe this all came about by chance.” Again, the Christian peered at the billowy clouds above him, then asked, “We cannot see air, can we? We know that it exists because we see the effects of air.
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by Inspiration | Jun 13, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
As my husband and I were working inside, we heard something hit the window. Looking out and seeing nothing, we stepped outside and there on the front porch was the… As my husband and I were working inside, we heard something hit the window. Looking out and seeing nothing, we stepped outside and there on the front porch was the still body of a woodpecker — a beautiful yellow-bellied sapsucker. He had flown into the window, and, we presumed, broken his neck. My husband picked him up for a moment and stroked the red cap on his head and laid him back down. Just then, I saw an eye blink. I was holding a utility cloth in my hand, and I picked him up and covered him, all but his head. His heart was racing wildly, and I felt just a twitch of his foot. I realized that this now helpless creature, if only knocked out, could revive at any moment and give me quite a pecking. Instinctive caution urged me to leave the bird there and hope he would come around, and that was my plan, that is until I saw the neighbor’s big black cat approaching in his most stealthy stalking mode. I took the bird inside and found a box with a lid — if he revived
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by Inspiration | Jun 12, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration
“He who neglects the present moment throws away all he has.” That observation by Johann Friedrich von Schiller, a great German historian and playwright, holds much truth for all of… “He who neglects the present moment throws away all he has.” That observation by Johann Friedrich von Schiller, a great German historian and playwright, holds much truth for all of our lives. Early one morning fire broke out in a house on a narrow street. The fire spread quickly, and flames were leaping high into the air before the fire engines could get to the scene. A young man appeared at an upper window in his pyjamas. Fire-fighters quickly placed a ladder against the burning building, but the man refused to come down. Instead, he yelled that he had to get dressed first. The fire-fighters pleaded, “Come as you are! Come as you are! But to no avail. The firefighters tried to climb the stairs from below, but they were turned back by the flames. When a rescuer tried to enter through a lower window, the heat and smoke forced him away. Suddenly the walls and roof fell in. The man waited too long, and was buried under the ruins. How does this apply to our lives? The man refused to immediately do what was best for himself because of
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by Inspiration | Jun 11, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration
US: “God, why did you do that to me? Why did you take the one I most love? Why did you permit such illness to conquer my life? Why am… US: “God, why did you do that to me? Why did you take the one I most love? Why did you permit such illness to conquer my life? Why am I sterile while others have children? Why? Why?” STEVEN: Before blaming God, let me tell you my story. Many years ago, I thought richness to meant the ownership of the most precious diamond. So, I kept petitioning God to make me rich by granting me this diamond. One day, God let me stumble upon a very precious diamond on my way to work. Delighted, I scooped it up and swiftly tried to hide it in my suit. At that moment, an angel blocked my way, fiercely took the diamond and threw it far away. Shocked, I kept yelling and screaming at God, “Why did you do that to me? Why? Why?” A few minutes later, I found the King’s soldiers approaching me. They started searching me thoroughly. When they finished, I angrily asked the reason for their actions. To my astonishment, they told me that the King has lost his dearest diamond and ordered them to search for it and
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by Inspiration | Jun 10, 2023 | Archives, Attitude, Featured
I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in… I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him. He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he had never put on Christ, nor entered the doors of the church. “Have you ever been to a church service in your life?” I had asked him a few years ago. We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking. He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile, he told me of his childhood experience some fifty years ago. He was one of many children in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them. The Sunday School class had been very exciting! He had never heard such songs and stories before!
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