The Most Beautiful Flower (Monday, April 22, 2008)

The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn – not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise, “It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”

The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun As I thanked him for picking the very best one. “You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate every second that’s mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

-Author unknown

The Secret

The Secret

The Secret
One day, one friend asked another,
“How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down.”

With her eyes smiling, she said,
“I know the Secret!”
“What secret is that?”
To which she replied,
“I’ll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to
share the Secret with others.”

“The Secret is this:
I have learned there is little I can do
in my life that will make me truly happy
I must depend on God to make
me happy and to meet my needs.
When a need arises in my life,
I have to trust God to supply
according to HIS riches.
I have learned most of the time
I don’t need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down.
Since I learned that ‘Secret’ , I am happy.”

The questioner’s first thought was,
“That’s too simple!”
But upon reflecting over her own life
she recalled how she thought a bigger house
would make her happy, but it didn’t!
She thought a better paying job
would make her happy, but it hadn’t.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren,
playing games, eating pizza or reading a story,
a simple gift from God.

Now you know it too!
We can’t depend on people to make us happy.
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.
Trust HIM!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?

YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too!
That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!
But it’s not really a secret…
We just have to believe it and do it..
Really trust God!

THE BOOK OF JOHN (CHAPTER TWO) AUDIO-VIDEO

Don’t Throw A Pity Party! by Elaine Davenport (Saturday, April 5, 2008)

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2: 10

One of the ways that the devil attacks people that is most effective is when he gets you to try to throw a pity party for yourself. Oh, he can figure out exactly what your weaknesses are. Don’t fall for it! These are some of the areas where he can get a wedge in the door:

*If you’re a widow; he will remind you of how good you had it when your spouse was alive, your loss of income, companionship and security. That may all be true or not…but he will try to use it against you.

*If you’ve lost a parent, he’ll remind you of how alone you are and how you can’t celebrate holidays like other people. I’ve been there; you can.

* If you’re childless; he’ll remind you of how other people have children; why can’t you? He may even tell you that you’re not good enough or that your spouse is going to leave you; when in fact, there are millions of children without parents.

* If you’re aging; he’ll remind you that you’re old and that it’s time to throw the towel in.

*If you’re having hair loss, he’ll remind you that you’re getting old.

* If you have poor health; he’ll tell you that you can’t get better.

*Tight finances; he’ll tell you it’s just going to get worse. Oh yeah, when it gets better he’ll tell you to spend, spend, spend.

* If you don’t have any good friends; he’ll make sure it stays that way; if you let him.

I could go on and on giving endless examples but I don’t intend to throw a clinical for the devil.

You don’t have to throw a pity party no matter what you’re feeling, experiencing, seeing; you are an overcomer and you have authority; but it won’t happen if you sit back and do nothing.

Start empowering yourself:

*Get in the Word Of God.
*:Look in the Concordance in the back of the bible for the problem you’re having.
* Start meditating on that. (Thinking about it) If you don’t understand it; ask God to explain it to you. Expect an explanation. Maybe you won’t get it that day, but you will get it.
* Make a List of your needs and post it where you can find it. Confess them every day. For example:

Today, I will allow God to use me by helping someone.

Today, I will spend time with God.

Today, is the day that my purpose is revealed to me.

I will be Blessed to be a Blessing.

You decide and make your list. There is no need for a pity party but more importantly; there’s no time!

Lord Lift Us Up Where We Belong! By Be Be & CeCe Winans (Music Video)(Wednesday, April 2, 2008)

CHRISTIAN RECORDING ARTISTS(SIBLINGS) BEBE & CECE WINANS

The Servant King by Maranatha Singers (Music Video) (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)

CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTISTS MARANATHA SINGERS

Jesus..The Mention Of Your Name by Donnie McClurkin (Sunday, March 30, 2008)(Music Video)

GOSPEL RECORDING ARTIST MIN. DONNIE MCCLURKIN