Quote from Forum Archives on April 18, 2002, 10:02 am

Posted by: Shalomyshua <Shalomyshua@...>

At the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Morgan street in an old warehouse area, there is a restaurant called "The Wishbone." Jo-ann and I found it one day when it first opened. It was a few blocks from where we had our City ministry to the homeless at the Calvary Army Rescue Mission at 1013 W. Madison Street.

We used to go there once in a while for lunch and right across the street is a large building which houses Harpo Studios. Harpo, spelled backwards spells Oprah, and that is where the Oprah Winfrey show is broadcast. On several occasions we saw Oprah come in there, as well as other well known celebrities, to grab a quick bite to eat.

Oprah as a little girl grew up in a poverty stricken area, and has risen to world wide fame as a hostess of the most popular talk show in television history. Oprah has a wonderful way with her guests. Her humility relaxes them and her compassion ministers to each of them! It is not uncommon to see her cry with them right on the show, as they share their trials and traumas of life.

In November 1991 she appeared before a Senate Judiciary Committee, on the question of child abuse. Oprah told the senators:
                 " I was raped at the age of 9
                   by a 19 year old cousin.
                   I was repeatedly sexually molested
                   by a family friend after that,
                   and when I was 14,
                   I was molested by an uncle.
                  The violators are still living,"
                  she said, " and my family is aware
                  of who they are"

Oprah has had to live with this emotional trauma every day of her life. Through these incredible times of abuse during her young life, G-d has turned around what the enemy had meant for bad and used it for good. He did that by preparing Oprah to minister love, compassion, understanding and humility to fellow strugglers that appear on her talk show. Oprah today is one of the wealthiest women in the world and her sphere of influence has made her known worldwide. But G-d has given her, through her emotional trauma as a young child, His gift of humility!

This story this morning has made Jo-ann and I aware of what may be the greatest virtue that we can possess. When we think of virtues, many come to mind, including those listed as the "fruit of the spirit" in Galatians 5: 22, 23: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control " If, however, pride is the greatest sin~~~and it is~~~then humility must be the greatest virtue in the Kingdom of G-d. Humility allows us to acknowledge that G-d has a claim on our lives; that we are fallible, mortal creatures; and that it is G-d, and not ourselves, who is Master of the universe It is humility that says: " I am a sinner, and I need to saved."

Did you know that the truths of the Kingdom of G-d are only perceived by those who are humble? No one who is proud will ever gain anything from G-d, because in the book of James chapter 4: verse 6 tells us: "G-d resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Those who are humble receive the grace of G-d and are given the keys to the secrets of His kingdom, because they come to G-d as beggars. Y'shua Himself said: " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

When we realize the vastness today of all of the child abuse, like Oprah experienced, it turns us to ask: " How do I handle abuse, past, present and future in my life? How do I treat children?"

An ancient Chinese proverb says:
     
                   "A child's life is like a piece of paper
                    on which every passerby leaves a mark"

Bless a child today by showing some act of kindness to them and leaving a "good mark" on their piece of paper!

                  His bondservants,  Pastor Dick & Jo-ann