IF I WERE THE DEVIL

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV).

If I were the devil:

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;
I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings;
I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;
I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;
I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;
I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;
I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;
I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more then human beings;
I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;
I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;
I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda;
I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation.
I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;
I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art;
I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;
I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct;
I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive;
I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;
I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are.*

"Dear God, please give me a spirit of discernment so I will recognize the 'wiles and ways of the devil' and not be taken in by him. And please deliver me from obsessing about the devil and giving him more attention than he merits. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

FAILURE DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE A FAILURE

Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure,
it does mean you haven’t succeeded yet.

Failure doesn’t mean you haven’t accomplished something,
it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn’t mean you’ve been disgraced,
it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn’t mean you don't have it,
it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn’t mean you’re inferior,
it does mean you’re not perfect.

Failure doesn’t mean you’ve wasted your time,
it does mean you have a reason to start fresh.

Failure doesn’t mean you should give up,
it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never make it,
it does mean it will take a little longer.

Failure doesn’t mean God has abandoned you,
it does mean he has a better way.

What a Friend we have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

I was glad when they said to me:

"let us go to the house of the Lord" (Psalms 122:1)
"and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24 & 25)

A man wrote to the editor of a newspaper, " I have been going to church every Sunday for the last 30 years. I must have heard at least 3000 sermons. But for the life of me , I can not remember a single one of them. So I think I am wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving the sermons.

The Editor of the paper much to his delight put this message on the first page of the newspaper.

Weeks went by until someone wrote this clincher. I have been married for thirty years. During this period of my life my wife must have cooked more than 32000 meals. But for the life of me I can not remember any of the menu for a single one of those meals. But what I know they all nourished me and gave me strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead by now. Likewise if I had not gone to church, I would be spiritually dead today.

Brothers and siters, today is Sunday, the day of the Lord. When you read this message I hope you will get up, get ready to go to the house of the Lord and be part of the church, the saved and living body of Christ.

May our Savior The Lord Jesus Christ bless you all.

Pray For Pope John Paul II

His Holiness is specifically requesting that we pray for him in the knowledge that his time among us is limited.

Email is such a powerful tool. Please pray an "Our Father" for him and forward this to as many people around the world as possible.

1. Pope John Paul made this request about 3 weeks ago on praying the Angelus before the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. He says that only through prayer will he be given strength from those who prayed. Let us help the Pope, whose prayers have helped so many of us.

2. Please send this to all your friends.

3. With your cooperation, in just a few days, millions of human beings will have offered their prayers for John Paul II, and by the same token, offered their prayers to God.

Let us never forget the power of prayer.

Very true !

I cried because I had no name brand sneakers to put on and then GOD showed me a boy with no legs...

I cried because I had no video games to play with then GOD showed me a boy that was blind...

I cried because the food I ate was not to my liking,then GOD showed me a boy who had no food to eat at all...

I cried because I had not gotten every toy that ever wanted for my birthday and I only received to Love, then GOD showed me a boy who was spoiled and I heard how he cried because he had not gotten the one thing he most desire which was love and affection from his parents...They were too busy to even see him on his birthday...

"With this in mind GOD revealed to me my many blessings, so now I wish only pass this wisdom to others, I am the instrument but GOD is the author...

The barefooted Boy

An Eye Witness Account from New York City, on a cold day in December:

A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.
She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"

“By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.( John 13 : 35 ) “

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.( Matthew 5 : 16 )

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.(Psalm 67 :1)
 

Holding Patterns

Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interference's, and no interruptions.

He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray. When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A. Few Of God's Holding Patterns:

1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed, but God has not healed you yet, you are in a holding pattern
2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.
3. When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have not been saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.
4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.
5. When the doors slam shut before you can knock on them, you are in a holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. We cannot run from God because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden enough from Him. We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and remember three things:

1. The pattern has a purpose.
2. The pattern has a plan.
3. The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you"

Prayer:

Father, forgive my unbelief. I know you love me and will turn anything around to benefit me. You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path. Amen

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.

Dear all, this is a bit long story but really worth reading. God Bless.

THE BLIND BUS PASSENGER

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg. It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind.

Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her. "How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger.

But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase. Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.

Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless!

Be blessed in this thought: "God Loves You - even when you are not looking."

VIEW FROM THE TOP

A student at a bible school had become disturbed over the condition of the men's restrooms because they always seemed to be neglected in the cleaning routine. When nothing was done to eliminate the filth, he took matters into his own hands and complained to the principal of the school. A little while later, the student noticed that the problem was being corrected, but he saw with amazement that the man with the mop and pail in hand was the principal himself!

Later the student said, "I thought that he would call a janitor, but he cleaned the toilets himself. It was a major lesson to me about being a servant, and I asked myself why I hadn't taken care of the problem."

The principal was able to teach a lesson that the student will remember all his life, and he did it not through a classroom lecture, but through an actual demonstration. By his actions, he taught the student about humility and servitude. We have grown used to the systems of this world, with its levels of authority everywhere -- in government, in the corporate world, even in our own homes.

Through the media, we have also been exposed to many stories of people who abuse their authority and trample upon people in order to fulfill their objectives. Why is this so?

Because these positions of authority come with power. Because the world has taught us that the only way to achieve our objectives is to enforce that power, to rule with that authority over others for the attainment of our desired goals. This mistaken view from the top can cause much trouble and pain and loss, whether in the home or in the workplace, or anywhere else.

Former astronaut James B. Erwin is someone who has literally viewed the world from the top. He has left the planet and watched it shrink in size, but his perspective is different from many of those at the top. Humbled by the awesome goodness of God, he said: "As I was returning, I realized that I was a servant, not a celebrity. So, I am God's servant on planet earth to share what I have experienced that others might know the glory of God.

I know very few people will ever experience looking at the world the way Erwin did, but we can all do much from our own positions. God has given each of us the opportunity to look at things from where we are. Think of your employees, your secretaries, your drivers, your household help. How do you treat them? Do you see them as paid emotionless slaves serving you, their kings and masters, seated on top of your own small world in your own small throne? Or are you to see yourselves also as servants serving none other than the true King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ personified true leadership through servanthood. Indeed, he knew the proper perspective from the top. "For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

FIND JOY IN THE ORDINARY -----

We played every game we knew. We ran up and down the hall. We played “find me” behind the couch. We bounced the beach ball off each other’s heads. We wrestled, played tag, and danced. It was a big evening for Mom, Dad, and little Jenna. We were having so much fun that we ignored the bedtime hour and turned off the T.V. And if the storm hadn’t hit, who
knows how late we would have played.

But then the storm hit. Rain pattered, then tapped, then slapped against the windows. The winds roared in off the Atlantic and gushed through the nearby mountains with such force that all the power went off. The adjacent valley acted as a funnel, hosing wind on the city.

We all went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky like a conductor’s baton summoning the deep kettledrums of thunder.

I sensed it as we were lying on the bed. It blew over me mixed with the sweet fragrance of fresh rain. My wife was lying silently at my side. Jenna was using my stomach for her pillow. She, too, was quiet. Our second child, only a month from birth, rested within the womb of her mother. They must have sensed it, for no one spoke. It entered our presence as if introduced by God himself. And no one dared stir for fear it would leave prematurely.

What was it? An eternal instant. An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in mid-frame, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the time line and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty.

An eternal instant. A moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you. Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health. A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality. A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and perspective to the darkest life.

Eternal instants have dotted history. It was an eternal instant when the Creator smiled and said, “It is good.” It was a timeless moment when Abraham pleaded for mercy from the God of mercy, “But if there are just ten faithful.” I was a moment without time when Noah pushed open the rainsoaked hatch and breathed in the clean air. And it was a moment in the “fullness of time” when a carpenter, some smelly shepherds, and an exhausted, young mother stood in silent awe at the sight of the infant in the manger.

Eternal instants. You’ve had them. We all have. Sharing a porch swing on a summer evening with your grandchild. Seeing her face in the glow of the candle. Putting your arm into your husband’s as you stroll through the golden leaves and breathe the brisk autumn air. Listening to your six-year-old thank God for everything from goldfish to Grandma.

Such moments are necessary because they remind us that everything is okay. The King is still on the throne and life is still worth living. Eternal instants remind us that love is still the greatest possession and the future is nothing to fear.

The next time an instant in your life begins to be eternal, let it. Put your head back on the pillow and soak it in. Resist the urge to cut it short. Don’t interrupt the silence or shatter the solemnity. You are, in a very special way, on holy ground.

VERSE TO REMEMBER

And Jesus said “ I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”.

The Road to Eternal Life Is Never Straight:

There are curves called failures; “ A man’s mind planes his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

There are loops called confusion; “ The steps of a man are from the Lord, and He establishes him in whose way He delights.”

There are speed-pumps called friends; “ My foot has held to his steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside”.

There are red lights called enemies; “ Wait for the Lord, and keep his way and He will exalt you to posses the land.”

Thee are yellow, caution, lights called family; “ He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright, I will show the salvation of God”.

There are flats called JOBS; “ Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. He himself shall abide in prosperity”.

But :

If you have “ spares” called determination!

If you have an “engine” called perseverance!

If you have “ insurance” called faith!

If you have a “ driver” called Jesus!

You will for sure make it into His Glory. “ For He repays a man for what he has done; He brings upon him what his conduct deserves.”

Friends; The world is full of many things that seems fulfilling, yet they do not. It is easy to be deceived in this world “ there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

May we pray?

Praise God for being our hope and our salvation. Confess to him your sins, Be specific and repent, talk to the Lord person to person, He will love to hear your voice. Say it loud:

“ Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.”

“Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in Thy truth, unite my heart to fear thy name.”

“ Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of my enemies, make thy way straight before me”.

“ Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Therefore, bretheren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and over bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

They Missed Him

They were looking for a Lion, He came as a Lamb, ...and they missed Him.

They were looking for a Warrior, He came as a Peace maker, ...and they missed Him.

They were looking for a King, He came as a Servant, ...and they missed Him.

They were looking for Liberation from Rome, He submitted to the Roman cross, ...and they missed Him.

They were looking for a fit to their mold, He was the mold maker, ..and they missed Him.

What are you looking for?

Lion? Warrior? King? Liberator? What are you looking for?

They were looking for their temporal needs to be met, He came to meet their eternal need, ...and they missed Him.

He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed for your sin. ...Will you miss Him?

He came to make peace between God and man. ...Will you miss Him?

He came to model servanthood for all mankind. ...Will you miss Him?

He came that we might have true Liberty. ...Will you miss Him?

He came to give you eternal life. ...Will you miss Him?

When we submit to the Lamb, we will meet the Lion.
When we join with the Peacemaker, we will meet the Warrior.
When we work with the Servant, we will meet the King.
When we walk with the Submitted, we will meet the Liberator.
When we concern ourselves with the Eternal, we will have the temporal.

If Jesus is not fitting into the mold you have then come to the mold maker and get a new one. Submit to His plan for your life and you will see the eternal need met first - then all the other things you have need of will be taken care of as well. Matthew 6:33

The Piano Lesson

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a concert featuring a renowned pianist. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.

Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.

The curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive grand piano on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, the great pianist reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. He'll always be there to love and guide you on to great things. Keep the faith, and keep playing. Together, you and the Master will make beautiful music.

Because of Who You Are

My friend recently told me a story about an experience with his father. His father is dead, but the influence of the episode lingers. He gave me permission to share the story.

When Charles was still a boy, he worked in his father’s warehouse. There were grown men working all around him. But his father wanted him to learn responsible work habits. And the adults kept a protective eye on him.

One of the men in the warehouse was, in the language of that time, an “old reprobate.” He was known to cheat. He was anything but a virtuous fellow who deserved the respect -much less imitation- of a teenaged boy. Even the boy sensed the man’s wickedness and picked up on the lack of respect for him among his own peers. So everyone else in the boy’s world was “Mr. Smith” or “Mr. Brown,” and the old scoundrel was simply “Joe.”

Charle's dad heard his son speak to “Joe” one day and called him into his office. “Son,” he began, “you know I’ve told you to address grown-ups respectfully. I heard you call out to Joe a while ago and didn’t like the sound of it.”

“You are going to treat that man properly because of who you are.”

So the son began explaining to his father why he made a deliberate distinction between “Joe” and “Mr. Brown” or “Mr. Smith.” He ended by telling his father that the title “Mr.” implied a degree of respect for someone that the man didn’t deserve.

“You are going to treat that man properly because of who you are, young man!” said the father. “I won’t countenance your disrespect to another human being no matter what you think of him.” What a profound lesson for a parent to teach a child. And it has stuck with Charles. It has served him well in a successful business career.

Did anyone teach you that certain behaviors are civil and polite? That being disrespectful reveals more about you than the object of your enmity? That you lower yourself in the eyes of virtuous people by being mean or hateful even to someone who has done you wrong or merited your scorn?

Jesus taught his disciples to turn their cheeks to insults. He even warned about being persecuted for righteousness. But he never called his people to be unkind, rude, or disrespectful. “Take it from others, if you must, with courage and poise,” he taught. “But never, never be the one dishing it out!”

When you face provocation this week or feel the impulse to chide someone with rudeness or impudence, remember who you are and act accordingly.

CELEBRATE WITH HEAVEN

According to Jesus our decisions have a thermostatic impact on the unseen world. Our actions on the keyboard of earth trigger hammers on the piano strings of heaven. Our obedience pulls the ropes which ring the bells in heaven’s belfries. Let a child call and the ear of the Father inclines. Let a sister weep and tears begin to flow from above. Let a saint die and the gate is opened. And, most important, let a sinner repent, and every other activity ceases, and every heavenly being celebrates.

Remarkable, this response to our conversion. Heaven throws no party over our other achievements. When we graduate from school or open our business or have a baby, as far as we know, the celestial bubbly stays in the refrigerator. Why the big deal over conversion?

We don’t always share such enthusiasm, do we? When you hear of a soul saved, do you drop everything and celebrate? Is your good day made better or your bad day salvaged? We may be pleased—but exuberant? Do our chests burst with joy? Do we feel an urge to call out the band and cut the cake and have a party? When a soul is saved, the heart of Jesus becomes the night sky on the Fourth of July, radiant with explosions of cheer.

Can the same be said about us? Perhaps this is one area where our hearts could use some attention.

Why do Jesus and his angels rejoice over one repenting sinner? Can they see something we can’t? Do they know something we don’t? Absolutely.

They know what heaven holds. They’ve seen the table, and they’ve heard the music, and they can’t wait to see your face when you arrive. Better still, they can’t wait to see you.

From George Wassef (El-Daher, Cairo):

My son Mina (four and half years old) suffered a severe continuous colic for two days. Investigations and X-rays showed a stone in the right ureter with enlargement of the right ureter and kidney. The attending physician recommended operating on the child if the stone does not pass spontaneously, and it didn't.

Dr. Aziz Fam (Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University) prescribed a treatment for a week and another week. And during that week we visited Pope Kyrillos' windmill in Old Cairo and asked for his intercession. It then happened that Mina saw in a dream a number of saints among them the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary, St. Philopateer Mercurius who opened his loin without pain, as well as St. Mina and Pope Kyrillos VI.
The saints removed the stone outside his body. After few days, an X-ray was done which showed the complete disappearance of the stone.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your miracle with us through the intercession of Virgin Mary and the saints.

Peace and grace everybody. The attached is a real story sent by one of the colleagues of the person who wrote it.

Back From Death

My name is Ian Huot. I'm 27. On last April 2002, I was an alcoholic, drug addict, depressive, with suicide thoughts. On a sick leave since more than 1 year, I started to hate myself, and to guest that everything was my fault. I've planned to kill myself, and did 3 suicide attempts.


On the 3rd attempt, while I was cutting my wrist with a huge knife, I said this :

" Jesus-Christ, if you really exist, as many people says, do something, cause this time, I'm going to kill myself ! "

These were the "magic words" that totally changed my life !

My entire body became numbed and the blood has stopped to flew off. I was no longer able to cut deeper.

This night of April 2002, the power of the Holy Spirit liberate me from alcoholism, drugs addiction, depression and suicide thoughts !

Since that night, I'm a brand new man, born again, spirit filled, tasting the fruits of the Holy Spirit every day.

IMPORTANT : An Intercessor was behind all this

Here, it's really important to explain how God's work. My wife is a believer since many years, and before all this happen,

she wrote this prayer to the Lord :

Thank you Lord for my husband. Thank you Lord for his perfect health.

Thank you Lord for his liberation from alcohol, drugs, depression and luxury.

Thank you Lord for your love that you spill between us.

Thank you Lord for our house and all our provisions.

My wife used the following verse :

" Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ", Marc 11:24

MY LIBERATION FROM DEATH, IS THE RESPONSE OF MY WIFE'S PRAYER.

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