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B Blessings
One day a group of young boys decided that they would dig a hole in their backyard "all the way through to China." They dug for several days, playing games in the hole, collecting bugs and worms, and attracting the attention of others in the neighborhood.
After a few days, an older sibling wandered by and demanded to know what the young boys were doing. When he heard the answer, he laughed as only "big brothers" seem to know how to do. "How ridiculous!" he trumpeted. "You'll never get all the way to China!"
One of the young boys responded by picking up the container full of bugs and worms and declaring, "Even if we don't get to China, look at all the neat stuff we found along the way!"
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Let us never become so focused on the "big" goals of life that we miss out on the little blessings along the way!
Source: "Proclaim," 1983 #4, p. 42.
"Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as especial favours. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God."
- Thomas ŕ Kempis, 1380-1471
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: Gratitude; Thankfulness; Blessings; God, providence of
Life would be more pleasant if we could forget our troubles as easily as we forget our blessings.
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
"The Smaller Beatitudes…"
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves:
they will have no end of fun.
Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill:
they will be saved a lot of bother.
Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses:
they are on the way to becoming wise.
Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and listen:
they will lean a lot of new things.
Blessed are those who think before acting and pray before thinking:
they will avoid many blunders.
Happy are you when you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly:
you will go far in life.
Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown:
you will walk on the sunny side of the street.
Happy are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitudes of others, even when the signs are unfavourable:
you may be taken for a fool, but this is the price of charity.
Happy are you if you know how to hold your tongue and smile, even when the people interrupt and contradict you or tread on your toes:
the gospel has begun to seep into your heart.
Above all...
Blessed are you when you recognise the Lord in all whom you meet:
the light of truth shines in your life and you have found true wisdom.
Source: "Christian Leadership" email discussion list
Topics/Tags: Beatitudes; Blessings; Instruction
A certified public accountant did something that maybe all of us should do. He decided to open a journal with God. He wanted to write everything that God gave him and everything that he gave to God. He started keeping a debit and credit book with God.
If someone did him a favor, he put it down as God's gift to him. He credited God with the sun, his food, his health, his friends and relatives, and a thousand other benefits he received.
On the other hand, he put down what he did for God. Finally he gave up saying, "It is impossible for me to balance the books. I find that God is indeed my creditor and what I have done for Him is next to nothing."
Source: Pulpit Helps, 7/1991.
Topics/Tags: Blessings; Debt; God, goodness of; Gifts from god
Back in 1837 a Georgia Baptist Church with a membership of about 80 people had a split. They had a vote to determine whether to be a missionary or anti-missionary church. The young pastor lead the church to take a pro-missionary position. The vote was 42 for missions and 37 against missions. But, those who were opposed to missions were not satisfied with the majority vote so they separated and started their own little church.
When they left, one of their leaders came up to the young pastor and said, "We shall see who is in the right! For the blessing of God shall follow the right church."
One hundred and twenty years later, the church that did not believe in missions had shrunk from 37 members down to 18. They were able to hold worship services just once a month.
The church that HAD voted for missions, on the other hand, had grown from 42 members to over 1200, and were averaging over 500 in Sunday School. They had given over a million dollars to missions during the previous 15 years.
Which church do you think the "blessing of God" followed?
Source: Dr. Edwin L. Cliburn
Topics/Tags: Missions; Blessings; Church growth; Church, dissensions in
A couple whose son had been killed in combat approached the pastor of their church and expressed their desire to give a monetary gift in memory of their son. The pastor agreed that such a memorial gift would be a wonderful gesture, and he asked their permission to tell the congregation about their gift the next Sunday. They said that it would certainly be OK with them if he shared their story with the church body, and he did.
After that church service, another couple were driving home and pondering the memorial gift which their friends had given in memory of their deceased son. Their son had gone into combat, too, and had been a close friend of the young man who had been killed.
The man said to his wife, "Why don't we give a gift because of our son, too?"
His wife replied, "That doesn't make sense, though. Our son is still alive!"
The husband responded, though: "That's my point! That's all the more reason we ought to give in thanks to God!"
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Isn't it interesting that we most often give gifts to God and His church "in memorial" rather than "in appreciation"? Instead of thanking Him after the fact for blessings that have come and gone, why not thank Him right now for blessings which you are enjoying today?
Source: Mike Minix
Topics/Tags: Thankfulness; Memorial; Gratitude; Blessings
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
-- J.M. Barrie
Source: J.M. Barrie
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
-- Dolly Parton, country & western singer
Source: "Bits & Pieces," Vol. R, #5.
Topics/Tags: Perseverance; Blessings
LIFE-SPEED
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
time is short, the music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly,
When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
time is short, the music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,
'cause you never had time to call and say "hi"?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
time is short, the music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before the song is over.
--Unknown
Source: Gary Heard
Browse By Topic B Blessings