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# Poems and Stories

Authors: Unknown

## Topics

  Poems
  The Limo Ride
  The Cab Ride
  Houses in Heaven
  Why Go To Church?
  A Letter from the Devil
  If I Were The Devil
  The Lord's Baseball Game
  PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens
  Handy Little Chart
  Trees that Wood
  What Equals 100%?
  The Lonely Ember
  Footprints the Famous Poem

## Poems

### What is it That Keeps me Awake at Night?

This tossing and turning of mind, body, and spirit that never seems to cease The impossibility that God could know all of me and still desire my friendship or is it my inability to comprehend the fullness of Gods' love with this humanistic mind of mine Realizing that often times I can be unlovable and hard to handle That I don't always keep my promises or live up to the expectations that are out there for me My unwillingness to accept my short comings as a ragamuffin of God Perhaps one day I shall by Gods' grace be able to embrace the fullness of Gods' love And accept my status as a ragamuffin.

When my mind lets go of the worldly perception of acceptability When my heart believes that the forgiveness of God is enough When my body can embrace the peace that God so lovingly offers Until then I will continue to wonder what it is that keeps me awake at night Until then my body will continue to grow weary of the tossing and turning of mind, body, and spirit.

in Him, Spenserstyle

### HANDS OF GOD

His hands will shade us from the enemy Standing tall or falling humbly His blood is our cover from darkness In our weakness is His strength.

A steady set of footprints is how He is guiding us His grace is showing us there is no limit to our usefulness to Him With His mercy we are falling deeper and deeper in to those hands that shade us from the enemy Through those trials that refine us He defines who we are in Him.

Searching us Sifting us Revealing Himself unto us As His blessings overflow us We are falling deeper and deeper in those hands that shade us from the enemy.

We blind ourselves with earthly vision Though He beckons us to see with eternal eyes The more we allow Him to create our vision.

There comes the knowledge of the depth of His joy over one sinner who repents And as we grow in to the image of Him who created us We are falling deeper and deeper into those hands that shade us from the enemy.

Spenserstyle Mexico 2002

### HEALD BY GOD

Satan will mount attacks against the truth the Bible reveals.
Believe the battle needs to be fought on earth. Satan is in the earth. The spiritual battle still rages on.

God has every christians' back.
It is time to start coming together to strengthen and uplift one another.

Reaching in to the dark, opposition comes because they are comfortable in their ways.
It takes gentleness to reach the heart and safety needs.

Reveal the greatness of God.
If it is foolishness to those who walk in the dark then preach to that like sunshine beaming through the clouds or the promise of the rainbow after the rain. Balance the message in away that the heart may hear and not harden. Show compassion but don't slip on the message that you are preaching.

Some harden their hearts automatically to the message, others will listen but not hear.
If one can reach someone at a point of consideration, then there is a possibility of the seed that has been sown growing in to the precious wheat that is heaven bound. Some will get lost in the debating of points or technicalities and miss the light like the Pharisees missing the fact that Jesus was coming as a savior.

Gods' mercy is realized
because we don't receive what we deserve. By Gods' amazing grace we are saved. Respect comes for those who can reach out in love. To all those who bless us with their encouraging teaching, to those who stand up for righteousness and don't lose sight of Gods' glory.

To the humble servants of Christ may God increase your reach and increase the volume of your voice.
May he bless the steps of your christian walk. Also to the angels who God graces our lives with may you be richly blessed. For my friend who encourages me to be more then what I see and to God who has blessed me out my socks...ty.

In Him
Spenserstyle

### IF I LEARN MY LESSON WELL

IF I LEARN MY LESSON WELL
OF SOUNDER MIND AND WIT WILL I BE
AND HAVE NOT THE NEED TO RUN IN PATHS OF DARKNESS
WHERE ONE CANNOT SEE WHAT LAYS IN WAIT ON THE ROAD AHEAD
BUT RATHER BE ABLE TO WALK IN PATHS OF LIGHT
WHERE GOD MAY DIRECT MY PATH
SO THAT I CAN SEE THE WILES OF THE DEVIL
AND AVOID HIS FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE ME STUMBLE
IN TO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND WORLDLY MATTERS.

In Him
Spenserstyle

Author: © by Spenserstyle

List of Topics

## A LIMO RIDE

Billy Graham had just finished a tour of the Florida East Coast and was taking a limousine to the airport. Having never driven a limo, he asked the chauffeur if he could drive for a while. The chauffeur didn't really have much of a choice, so he got in the back of the limo and Rev. Graham took the wheel.

He turned onto I-95 and accelerated to about 90 MPH.

Soon the blue lights of the State Highway Patrol flashed in his rearview mirror.

He pulled over and a trooper came to his window.

When the trooper saw who it was, he said, "Just a moment, please, I need to call in."

The trooper radioed in and asked for the chief.

He said, "I have a REALLY important person pulled over and I need to know what to do."

The chief replied, "Who is it, I hope not Ted Kennedy?" The trooper said, "No, even more important."

"It isn't the Governor, Jeb Bush, is it?" asked the chief.

"No, even more important," replied the trooper.

"It isn't the President, George Bush, is it?"

"No," replied the trooper, "even more important."

"Well, WHO in the WORLD is it?!" screamed the chief.

The trooper responded:
"I don't really know for sure but I think it might be Jesus,
because his chauffeur is Billy Graham!"

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## A CAB RIDE

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.
When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single
light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would
just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away.
But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as
their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger,
I always went to the door.

This passenger might be someone who needs my
assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.
"Just a minute", answered a frail,
elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood
before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned
on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no
one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase
to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers
the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked,
"Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".
I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
"I don't have any family left," she continued.
"The doctor says I don't have very long."
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the
building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove
through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were
newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse
that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or
corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low
building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said.
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.
"Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut.
It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly,
lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.
What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient
to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run,
or had honked once, then driven
away? On a quick review, I don't think
that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware--beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.

Author: Story © Kent Nerburn - From his book "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace".

List of Topics

## Houses in Heaven

One glorious night a Pastor passed away in his sleep and entered into heaven. Upon arriving in heaven he was taken along with the other new arrivals on a tour of heaven and each was given a new house to live in according to the service that they had preformed for God while they were alive on earth.

This made the Pastor very excited as he thought back over the 40+ years that he was a Pastor preaching to the congregation every Sunday.

Finally all the houses had been given out and it remained for only the Pastor and another person a Cab Driver to each get their own house. Stopping at the last two houses there appeared a small cottage and a huge mansion.

As the Pastor in anticipation stared at the mansion the Angel sent the Cab Driver over to the mansion and instructed the Pastor to the small cottage.

Immediately the Pastor asked the Angel for clarification and started to state his case for the mansion by reminding the Angel about all of his years of study and preaching that he had done while back on earth. The preacher went on to explain that he didn't want to make any comparisons with the other guy but the other guy after all was just a Cab Driver.

The preacher went on to explain that the Cab Driver was actually a terrible driver. The Cab Driver didn't have a valid driver’s license and he couldn't even read enough English to understand the street signs. Passengers often departed his cab shaken and terrified after a series of near accidents, wrong turns and excessive speeds. The Preacher thought that certainly there must be some mistake.

But the Angel assured the Preacher that there was no mistake and that the cottage was for the Pastor while the mansion was for the Cab Driver.

The Pastor decided to protest and asked the Angel to explain this decision.

The Angel politely replied that well ... as a Preacher when you preached ... the people ... well ... they SLEPT ... But ... when this Cab Driver drove his cab ... the people ... well ... they PRAYED!!!

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## Why Go To Church?

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. 'I've gone for 30 years now,' he wrote,and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.'

This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor' column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

'I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!'

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on! I think everyone should read this!

When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, 'JESUS COULD YOU GET THAT FOR ME.'

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!
If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it.
If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## A Letter from the Devil

Fool,

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores.

You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night.

You are so unthankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years. And I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God.

He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.

You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me, and I'm going to make your life a living hell.

That way, we'll be together twice. This will really hurt God.

Thanks to you, I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life with all of the good times we've had.

We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Church, bad attitudes.

SURELY you don't want to give all this up.

Come on, Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life.

You are so gullible, I laugh at you.

When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take it's toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again.

If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left.

It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I still hate you.

IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.

Your Master,

Satan

P.S. If you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone.

List of Topics

## IF I WERE THE DEVIL

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 this 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 kill 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 is valued more than 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 with 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 call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted;

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;

Hmmm...

I guess if I were the devil, I'd leave things pretty much the way they are.

A note from Paul Harvey

--------

- 45 Declared Goals - The Communist Takeover Of America
- ACLU fulfilling the Communist Agenda
- The New World Order (NWO) - Takeover

List of Topics

## The Lord's Baseball Game

Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace.

Bob said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!

The Lord's team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom.

That you have done.

Now I, my friend, will move the rock." (Matthew 28:2)

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains. When everything seems to go wrong ... just

P.U.S.H.! When the job gets you down ... just
P.U.S.H.!
When people don't react the way you think
they should ...
just P.U.S.H.!
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due ...
just P.U.S.H!
when people just don't understand you ...
just P.U.S.H.!

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

HANDY LITTLE CHART
God has a positive answer:

YOU SAY | GOD SAYS | BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible" | God says: All things are possible | (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired" | God says: I will give you rest | (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me" | God says: I love you | (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on" | God says: My grace is sufficient | (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out" | God says: I will direct your steps | (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: "I can't do it" | God says: You can do all things | (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able" | God says: I am able | (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it" | God says: It will be worth it | (Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself" | God says: I Forgive you | (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage" | God says: I will supply all your needs | (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid" | God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear | (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" | God says: Cast all your cares on ME | (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough" | God says: I give you wisdom | (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone" | God says: I will never leave you or forsake you | (Hebrews 13:5)

Christian Quote: "Satan trembles when he sees even the weakest Christian in prayer upon his knees."

Bookstore Advertisement: "Satan trembles when he sees Christian books as cheep as these."

Website Promotion: "Satan trembles when he sees Christian ebooks as cheep as these. FREE Christian PDF ebooks from www.BasicChristian.org."

List of Topics

## What Equals 100%?

What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%.

How about achieving 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help. You answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K! L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Don't believe something because it appears true; believe it because God's Word the Bible says it is true!

List of Topics

## Trees That Wood

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

> Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## The Lonely Ember

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail." Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

Author: Unknown

List of Topics

## Footprints

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

Author: Carolyn Carty, 1963 Source

As of May 2005, there are now four (4) versions and three authors of the poem, written at different times. Source

Source: www.BasicChristian.info

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