Let us, then, have it fixed down in our minds that the sinfulness of man does not begin from without, but from within. It is not the result of bad training in early years. It is not picked up from bad companions and bad examples, as some weak Christians are too fond of saying. No! It is a family disease, which we all inherit from our first parents, Adam and Eve, and with which we are born.
J.C. Ryle

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GOD KNOWS Monday

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#1 · February 13, 2006, 10:09 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

"GOD KNOWS"
 
 
* When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts...
* God knows how hard you have tried.
 
* When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish...
* God has counted your tears.
 
* If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by...
* God is waiting with you.
 
* When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone
call...
* God is by your side.
 
* When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to
turn...
* God has a solution.
 
* When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated...
* God has the answer.
 
* If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope...
* God has whispered to you.
 
* When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for...
* God has blessed you.
 
* When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe...
* God has smiled upon you.
 
* When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow...
* God has opened your eyes and called you by name.
 
* Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing...
* GOD KNOWS!!!
 
 
"Peas"
 
Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me.  I noticed a small boy,
delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket
of freshly picked green peas.
 
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green
peas.  I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the
peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr.Miller and
the ragged boy next to me.
 
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
 
"H'lo, Mr.  Miller.  Fine, thank ya.  Jus' admirin' them peas.
Sure look good."
 
"They are good, Barry.  How's your Ma?"

"Fine.  Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good.  Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir.  Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?"

"No, Sir.  Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
 
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
 
"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right?  Let me see it."
 
"Here 'tis.  She's a dandy."

"I can see that.  Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go
for red.  Do you have a red one like this at home?"
 
"Not zackley.  but almost."

"Tell you what.  Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this
way let me look at that red marble."
 
"Sure will.  Thanks Mr.  Miller."

Mrs.  Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.  With a
smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all
three are in very poor circumstances.  Jim just loves to bargain with them
for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides
he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce
for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
 
I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man.
A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of
this man, the boys, and their bartering.
 
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one  Just
recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community
and while I was there learned that Mr.  Miller had died.  They were having
his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to
accompany them.  Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the
relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
 
Ahead of us in line were three young men.  One was in an army uniform and
the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very
professional looking.
 
They approached Mrs  Miller, standing composed and smiling by her
husband's casket.  Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the
cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
 
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man
stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the
casket.  Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
 
Our turn came to meet Mrs.  Miller.  I told her who I was and mentioned the
story she had told me about the marbles.  With her eyes glistening, she
took my hand and led me to the casket.
 
"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.  They
just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them.  Now,at
last,when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to
pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided,
"but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho "

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband.  Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
 
Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
 
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take
our breath.
 
 
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
 
 
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