Quote from Forum Archives on September 29, 2003, 11:01 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I got one of those Christian chain letter stories the other day.
A few different people sent it to me, actually. It made me
think about my youngest son, who turns three next month. He's
heard his older brother on a few occasions, in a fit of anger
exclaim, "I'm running away!" At first, the little guy would echo
those words, just like a little parakeet. But then he said a
precious thing that I hope I never, ever forget. He used that
little brain of his, thought he'd make his exclamation even more
powerful, so he said,

"I'm running away, I'm running to Jesus!"

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I said, "Yes, buddy,
yes, let's run to Jesus! Can I run with you? Let's BOTH run to
Jesus!"

Interestingly, that almost always diffuses whatever may be going
on at the time.

Wasn't it Art Linkletter or a radio host from a similar date in
time that used to say "...out of the mouth of babes..."?

Well, my little handsome boy has it right. When I'm frustrated
or discontent with anything, I want to run away --- straight to
Jesus. I want to pour out my heart to Him in every possible way.

Please read the story, followed by the words to the Vineyard
Music song Pour Out My Heart.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

The Man Who Wanted To Quit On God

(TRUE STORY--as told by Evangelist
Robert Pilgrim, who in turn was told by is Grandmother when he was a
little boy.)

A certain man, who had been a Christian for 40 years was now going
through a very hard trial of his faith. Things got so bad for him that
he just could not take any more, so he decided to QUIT ON GOD.

He took his Bible and Song Book, in hand, and went down to his home
Church. All alone, in the church, he walked to the front and placed his
Bible and Song Book on the altar. (He was turning them back in to God.)

Standing there at the altar he began to pour his heart out--- "Lord,
I've come to tell you that I quit. I just can't take anymore Lord.

It's just more than I can bear----But, before I quit I just wanted to
tell you Lord that I still remember,Lord, how you reached down and saved
me from being the town drunk that everybody use to laugh at and make fun
of.

Lord, I want to thank you for that. And, Lord, I remember that my wife,
she was just an ol' harlot, Lord, and I use to beat her when I got on
that whiskey, Lord, and we were just ready to get a divorce--

But, Lord, You reached down that same night you saved me and you saved
my wife...and Lord, we are still together today---And Lord, I want to
thank you for that.

And Lord, I remember, that just after my wife and I were saved, that our
little baby boy came down with Rheumatic Fever and the doctor just shook
his head and said that he wouldn't live through the night---

But, Lord, I still remember, that very night you reached down with your
long arm and you touched our little baby boy, Lord, and Lord, that baby
boy is 45 years old now....

Lord, I just
want to thank you for that. And, Lord, I remember when the cupboards
were bare and we had nothing to eat and nothing was going right, Lord,
but instead of bawling and squawking about it, and murmuring and
complaining, we decided to get down on our knees and pray about it, and
just then somebody knocked on the front door and brought in a big bag of
groceries....

Lord, I just want to thank you and praise you for that. You know, Lord,
I'm just about as low as I've ever been in my entire life... except for
that one time about 15 years ago....

" ( at this point, all of a sudden this discouraged brother remembered
something. Then he turned and looked all around that church, as he was
remembering...)

Continuing on with the Lord, he said---- "Wait a minute, Lord, I
remember that I was going to quit then, 15 years ago and I came here and
did the same thing that I'm doing now....

And, Lord, I ll never forget how you touched me that night in the
evening service...so, Lord, I think I better not....

(JUST THEN THE POWER OF GOD HIT HIM ! IT SEEMED TO GO RIGHT THROUGH THE
TOP OF HIS HEAD AND OUT THROUGH HIS TOE NAILS---HE SHOUTED "GLOOOOORY TO
GOD!" AND THEN HE TOOK OFF RUNNING AROUND THAT OL' EMPTY CHURCH. UP AND
DOWN ALL THE ISLES AND ALL AROUND HE RAN AND JUMPED FOR JOY AS HE
SHOUTED---- GLOOOOOORY TO GOD !" )

Evangelist Robert Pilgrim concludes by saying--- "That man went on and
served God until the very day he died. And

You, Christian, you need to look the Devil right in the eye and tell
him--- "I've climbed to many mountains to quit now !" I've gone through
to many valleys to quit now!" I've crossed to many rivers to quit now!"
"I've come through to many hard times to quit now!"

"I'M GOING TO SERVE JESUS TILL THE DAY I DIE!"

Pour Out My Heart
Words and Music by Craig Musseau (Intro)

Here I am, once again,
I pour out my heart for I know that you hear
Every cry, you are listening,
No matter what state my heart is in
You are faithful to answer
With words that are true and a hope that is real
As I feel your touch,
You bring a freedom to all that's within
In the safety of this place, I'm longing to...
Pour out my heart to say that I love you
Pour out my heart to say that I need you
Pour out my heart to say that I'm
thankful
Pour out my heart to say that you're
wonderful.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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