GOD'S PLAN

#1 · September 19, 2003, 9:16 am

Quote from Forum Archives on September 19, 2003, 9:16 am
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

*** God's Plan ***

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to
force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any
progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it
could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a
pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The
butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled
wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected
that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support
the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was
ableto fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get
through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body
of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once
it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God
allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

We could never fly!

God knows exactly how much we can take and I truly believe He will
never give us more than we can handle. If you are going through something
tough, I encourage you to be strong and rejoice because God knows that
you are strong and can handle the situation. Keep focused on the Master
and you will always come forth victorious. Praise the Lord for His loving
mercy that He gives to all, freely.

*** The Fate Of Sand Castles ***

You've watched it, too. I know I'm not the first or only person who has seen it. But there is a lesson in it that we both may have overlooked. There are some children on a beach. They're playing and giggling - building sand castles all the while. They seem so intent on the project. You get amused at how meticulous and careful they are with crumbly corners and towers. The looks on their faces as they screw their mouths around and stick out their tongues make you smile. Their resolute concentration on the task is priceless.

Then a big wave begins building and starts toward shore. But the kids don't panic. Instead, they do the strangest thing. They jump to their feet, scream with delight, and watch the torrent of water wash away their creations. There is no panic. No sadness. No bitterness. Even children know the inevitable end of sand castles. They are neither surprised nor angry about what has happened.

You and I should be so wise. The stuff of this world is about as lasting and durable as children's sand castles on the beach. Yet we grownups can get so caught up in it, defensive of it, and depressed over the loss of it. God didn't create you to be famous, get rich, live in the biggest house, or drive the fanciest car. He created you for His glory. He put you in the world to love people and do holy things. Your destiny is not bound up in physical things, but spiritual. So living to be a hundred is far less important than living well - even if for a short time. Beautifying your body is far less urgent than purifying your soul.

Children know that their sand castles are brief joys destined to disappear with an incoming tide. So they don't fret as the waves approach. They watch their creations get swept away without shedding tears. Again, we should be so wise. Everything about this life is fleeting and perishable. The incoming wave of human mortality is going to sweep it all away. Like sand castles, nothing done for the sake of this world can last. Only what we do for eternity will survive.

What would the loss of your job or business do to you?

What if your house were lost to fire or storm?

What if a strange pain sent you to your physician and led to the discovery that you have only a few weeks to live?

These things really do happen to people, you know. We are all as vulnerable as sand castles. Life is God's gift. Revel in every good thing. But as you enjoy your creations in the sand, just remember not to get overly attached to them.

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

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Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

*** God's Plan ***

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to
force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any
progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it
could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a
pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The
butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled
wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected
that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support
the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was
ableto fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get
through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body
of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once
it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God
allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

We could never fly!

God knows exactly how much we can take and I truly believe He will
never give us more than we can handle. If you are going through something
tough, I encourage you to be strong and rejoice because God knows that
you are strong and can handle the situation. Keep focused on the Master
and you will always come forth victorious. Praise the Lord for His loving
mercy that He gives to all, freely.

*** The Fate Of Sand Castles ***

You've watched it, too. I know I'm not the first or only person who has seen it. But there is a lesson in it that we both may have overlooked. There are some children on a beach. They're playing and giggling - building sand castles all the while. They seem so intent on the project. You get amused at how meticulous and careful they are with crumbly corners and towers. The looks on their faces as they screw their mouths around and stick out their tongues make you smile. Their resolute concentration on the task is priceless.

Then a big wave begins building and starts toward shore. But the kids don't panic. Instead, they do the strangest thing. They jump to their feet, scream with delight, and watch the torrent of water wash away their creations. There is no panic. No sadness. No bitterness. Even children know the inevitable end of sand castles. They are neither surprised nor angry about what has happened.

You and I should be so wise. The stuff of this world is about as lasting and durable as children's sand castles on the beach. Yet we grownups can get so caught up in it, defensive of it, and depressed over the loss of it. God didn't create you to be famous, get rich, live in the biggest house, or drive the fanciest car. He created you for His glory. He put you in the world to love people and do holy things. Your destiny is not bound up in physical things, but spiritual. So living to be a hundred is far less important than living well - even if for a short time. Beautifying your body is far less urgent than purifying your soul.

Children know that their sand castles are brief joys destined to disappear with an incoming tide. So they don't fret as the waves approach. They watch their creations get swept away without shedding tears. Again, we should be so wise. Everything about this life is fleeting and perishable. The incoming wave of human mortality is going to sweep it all away. Like sand castles, nothing done for the sake of this world can last. Only what we do for eternity will survive.

What would the loss of your job or business do to you?

What if your house were lost to fire or storm?

What if a strange pain sent you to your physician and led to the discovery that you have only a few weeks to live?

These things really do happen to people, you know. We are all as vulnerable as sand castles. Life is God's gift. Revel in every good thing. But as you enjoy your creations in the sand, just remember not to get overly attached to them.

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

Necessary Legal Information

I do not mail idea-central unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.

Normal Subscribe:	idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org
Normal Unsubscribe:	idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Web Subscribe:	idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org
Web Unsubscribe:	idea-central-allow-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

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