Shipwrecked
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the
men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two
survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other
recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was
more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and
stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first
man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able
to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a
wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor
was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of
the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next
day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second
man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife
could. leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at
his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife
and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the
other man unworthy to receive God's blessings,
since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from
heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for
them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so
he does not deserve anything."
"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,
which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of
my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers
alone, but those of another praying for us.
My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be
blessed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~Pearly Gates~~~
A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St. Peter, "that's certainly worth a point."
"One point? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantasic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"TWO POINTS!!" the man cries, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!"
"Come on in!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~I Always Wanted To~~~
An old prospector wandered into a small town where he was accosted by
a loud, obnoxious and quite drunken cowboy. The cowboy pointed his
six-shooters in the old miner's direction and asked, "Old man, do you
know how to dance?"
"Nope," the prospector replied.
"Maybe you'd better learn," said the cow-puncher. Hot lead kicked up
dust around the old man's feet and he began to dance.
Soon, however, the guns were empty. The old prospector reached into
his saddlebag and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun.
"Son," he said, "you ever kissed a mule?"
Looking first at the shotgun, then at the spot where the mule's tail
is attached to its body, the young cowboy got the message.
"Nope," he answered, "I never kissed a mule. But I always wanted to!"
In real life, desire is not something that can be given by anyone
else! It comes from the inside. Nobody can make us want anything
important. If we decide we want to improve, if we want meaningful
relationships or more fulfilling work, if we want rich spiritual lives
or healthier bodies, then the desire must come from our own hearts.
Nobody can make us want those things. And, at the same time, nothing
important will ever happen without sufficient desire.
It's said that "want power makes will power." If you want it badly
enough, you will find a way to make it happen. But look within for
"want power." Because that is where it is to be found. And sufficient
desire is the necessary first step to accomplishing anything
worthwhile.
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
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