The Little Boy

Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: “How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?” The surgeon said, “I’m sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn’t make it.” Sally said, “Why do little children get cancer? Doesn’t God care anymore? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?” The surgeon asked, “Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he’s transported to the university.” Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. “Would you like a lock of his hair?” the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy’s hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, “It was Jimmy’s idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. “I said no at first, but Jimmy said, ‘Mom, I won’t be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.” She went on, “My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.” Sally walked out of Children’s mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy’s belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy’s belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son’s room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep. It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said: “Dear Mom, I know you’re going to miss me; but don’t think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just ’cause I’m not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won’t be so lonely, that’s okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn’t like the same things us boys do. You’ll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don’t be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn’t look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God’s knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That’s when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn’t allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him ‘Where was He when I needed him?’ “God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I’ve written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn’t that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I’m, sure the food will be great. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don’t hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I’m glad because I couldn’t stand that pain anymore and God couldn’t stand to see me hurt so much, either. That’s when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that? Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.”

You are unique!

Think what a remarkable, unduplicatable, and miraculous thing it is to be you! Of all the people who have come and gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU! No one who has ever lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities. No, one's hair grows exactly the way yours does. No one's finger prints are like yours. No one has the same combination of secret inside jokes and family expressions that you know. The few people who laugh at all the same things you do, don't sneeze the way you do. No one prays about exactly the same concerns as you do. No one is loved by the same combination of people that love you - NO ONE! No one before, no one to come. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE! Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren't meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else. You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone's mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now. If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it! No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person. No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being. Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away! See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you and nudge you and inspire you! YOU ARE UNIQUE!

You Are The Seed Of Success!

You Are The Seed Of Success! "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7) It really doesn't matter what side of the tracks you were born, the seed of greatness was deposited in you before the foundation of the world. I think it is time for you to cross over into your God-ordained space in the universe. You were created for success. You were created to be prosperous. One important step you need to take is to change your perspective on life. You have allowed yourself to conform to the world around you. Growing up, just because you did not see the silver spoon, does not mean that it did not exist. One way to thwart success in your life is to think that opportunities are only for the "lucky ones." There are too many people trapped with the mindset that success is for the other guy, not me. The truth I want you to know is that in spite of what is happening in your life right now, it is time for you to focus on the TRUTH of God. Never be so impatient with what God is doing in your life that you desire to run back to old, familiar places. The journey of life is never easy, but it is amazing. Success is not about being lucky. It is about the work that you do to achieve success. The only road that matters is the road that leads you to your prosperity. You have spent enough time on the "bench" of life. It is time to insert yourself into the starting lineup. what is going to separate you from your peers in this season is your determination to never quit. The enemy is not aware that you are constantly sowing good seeds into your own life. The key is to not allow yourself to be tempted or taunted by the enemy. As your seed of success is being germinated, wait on God and His divine wisdom.

What to Do In Difficult Times

When you are in a struggle, when dark clouds hover, when disappointment or betrayal meet you unexpectedly, what is the best way to respond? Here are three things to always remember. Don’t give in. We are not to give in to the things the enemy wants to use to bring us into defeat. His scheme is to have us focus the eyes of our faith upon the darkness of the cloud that has appeared over us, rather than focusing upon the glory of His light that shines over us and above it all. Don’t give up. Don’t give up on life. There is hope. It is not all over. What has happened is a chapter in your story, but it is not the final chapter. If people are directly involved in the problem, don’t give up on them. Forgive. Pray for everyone involved. Speak blessings over their lives (it is a good thing to desire God’s best for every life). Do give the matter to the Lord. He knows what has happened, He knows your heart, and He knows exactly what to do. God can make a way, open a door, build a bridge, restore a loss, heal a wound, or renew a relationship. Let Him work. Wait. God still changes hearts. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. All power to Him forever! Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NLT)

KEEP BELIEVING ....

Life is not easy. Everyone has their share of struggles in this world. But have you ever felt like giving up? Do you feel like giving up right now? Have you already given up? Sadly many people have. More will. Someone has to tell them to Just Keep Believing! When it appears that despair has destroyed our faith… When it seems our faith is gone… When we are left without hope… When despair has surrounded you… Just Keep Believing! Offer your congregation the faith they need to Just Keep Believing!