God

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.   Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It's easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it may just be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

    You say, "It's impossible".
    God says: "All thing are possible". (Luke 18:27)

    You say, "I'm too tired."
    God says: "I will give you rest". (Matt 11:28-20)

    You say, "Nobody really loves me".
    God says: "I love you". (John 3:16 - John 13:34)

    You say, "I can't go on."
    God says: "My grace is sufficient." (II Cor. 12:9 - Psalm 91:15)

    You say, "I can't figure things out."
    God says: "I will direct your steps." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

    You say, "I can't do it."
    God says: "You can do all things in Me." (Phil 4:13)

    You say, "It's not worth it."
    God says: "It will be worth it." (Romans 8:28)

    You say, "I can't forgive myself."
    God says: "I forgive you." (I John 1:9 - Romans 8:1)

    You say, "I can't manage."
    God says: "I will supply all your needs." (Phil 4:19)

    You say, "I'm afraid."
    God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." (II Tim. 1:7)

    You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated".
    God says: "Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

    You say, "I don't have enough faith."
    God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

    You say, "I'm not smart enough."
    God says: "I give you wisdom." (I Cor. 1:30)

    You say, "I feel all alone."
    God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you."    (Heb. 13:5)

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THE ROCK

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly he heard a voice that trembled like the thunder. It was God's voice and he told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. God explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, then Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough."

And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to God. "God", he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter.

What is wrong? Why am I failing?" God responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?"

"Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done."

"I, my friend, will now move the rock." At times when we read the scriptures, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him....... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but it is still God who moves the mountains.

* Being in love is not love. Love is not just a feeling or even

a state of being. It is not infatuation, or lust. It's an act

of the will. It's something you do. Real loves says, "I

choose to put you ahead of me." Look to God for an example of

love. God's love is perfect. It is not infatuation. He

doesn't have a crush on us. He chooses to love us,

unconditionally, for our good.

* Never quit. There are many times when you will want to quit.

If you no longer like the sport or class you signed up for,

or you grow weary of a game or a chore, but stick with it,

your reward is an inner strength, a knowledge that you could

- and did - endure, and finish.

* Life isn't fair. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

Nice people suffer and bad people prosper. Life isn't fair,

but that does not mean that God isn't fair. By His very

nature He is right - even when He appears to be wrong from

our viewpoint. Our salvation isn't fair - we certainly don't

deserve it, yet it awaits us. You can be fair and remember

that two wrongs never make a right.

* Take responsibility for your own actions. Passing the blame

does nothing to solve a problem; it only adds a layer to it.

If you're asked to do something, take responsibility. See

that it gets done. People don't want excuses, they want

performance. And when something does go wrong, even if it's

not your fault, express sorrow for the inconvenience, and

make it right.

* Work before you play, but play. It always pays off. When you

put off the tough stuff to enjoy the moment, you'll find that

the play time isn't as much fun because you will have the

dreaded chore at the back of your mind. Doing chores is not

so bad when you can look forward to some fun. This same

concept works with money: save and plan. Delay gratification.

In fact, sometimes the anticipation is better than the

payoff.

* Cultivate a best friend. Best friendships are between people

who can be honest with each other, laugh at each other's

faults, and not try to change one another. Best friends are

loyal. They care. They can keep confidences. Best friends can

argue and disagree and raise their voices at each other

without worrying about the future of the relationship. They

are roots. You can speak to them in shorthand - with both of

you knowing what a situation or statement implies. Do all

that you can to be a good friend, and seek ways to keep

friendships alive through the years and across the miles.

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