Timber Ridge "Old Stone" Presbyterian Church
Yoked Together with
Timber Ridge "Old Stone" Presbyterian Church Yoked Together with
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| So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:77 (NRSV) GROWTH This GROWTH PAGE has:
Unless otherwise noted, the author is unknown for the selections on this site. G-R-O-W-T-HTo grow, practice this: I pray that the Lord will guide us daily to a closer walk with Him.
Back to TopIN THE MOMENTSHappy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
Back to TopTHE TUDESExercise FORTITUDE To power APTITUDE To reach ALTITUDE To raise ATTITUDE To grow FORTITUDE In each challenge
Exercise FORTITUDE To power APTITUDE To reach ALTITUDE To raise ATTITUDE To grow beyond Each challenge
Back to TopHEAVEN'S GROCERY STOREI was walking down life's highway a long time ago. One day I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE". As I got a little closer, the door opened wide, and then I found myself standing inside. I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "My Child, shop with care". Everything a human needed was in that grocery store. And if you couldn't carry all, you could come back the next day for more. First, I got some PATIENCE. LOVE was in the same row. Further down was UNDERSTANDING; you need that everywhere you go. I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place. I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE TO HELP ME RUN THIS RACE. By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE. I didn't forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free. So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me. Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill. For I thought I had everything to do the MASTER'S will. As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER; and I just had to put that in, for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin. PEACE and JOY were plentiful; they were last on the shelf. SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself. Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?" He smiled again and said, "MY CHILD, GOD PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."
Back to TopGARDENINGAs you get ready for spring, may I suggest the following rules for your garden planting:
PLANT three rows of squash:
Back to TopGOOD WORDS1. Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind. 2. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over the future. 3. Love ......and you shall be loved. 4. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. 5. All people smile in the same language. 6. A hug is a great gift ... one size fits all. It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange. 7. Everyone needs to be loved...especially when they do not deserve it. 8. The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity. 9. Laughter is God's sunshine. 10. Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it. 11. It's important for parents to live the same things they teach. 12. Thank God for what you have, TRUST GOD for what you need. 13. If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for. 14. Happy memories never wear out....relive them as often as you want. 15. Home is the place where we grumble the most, but are often treated the best. 16. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within. 17. The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow. 18. Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul. 19. If anyone speaks badly of you, live so none will believe it. 20. Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears. 21. Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together. 22. The best thing parents can do for their children is to love each other. 23. Harsh words break no bones but they do break hearts. 24. To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. 25. We take for granted the things that we should be giving thanks for. 26. Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished. 27. Happiness is enhanced by others but does not depend upon others. 28. You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven. 29. For every minute you are angry with someone, you lose 60 seconds of happiness that you can never get back. 30. Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, and where you are. 31. The best gifts to give: To your friend - loyalty; To your enemy - forgiveness; To your boss - service; To a child - a good example; To your parents - gratitude and devotion; To your mate - love and faithfulness; To all men and women - charity; and To your God - your life.
Back to TopSLEEPING THROUGH THE STORMYears ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew. When we are prepared, we have nothing to fear. We can secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in God's Word and God's love.
Back to TopTHE PENCILThe Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
#1 -- You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand. #2 -- You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil. #3 -- You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. #4 -- The most important part of you will always be what's inside. #5 -- On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition you must continue to write." The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in his heart.
But now the pencil lay on the dark wood table, feeling insignificant and rather sad. Beside him on the desk was a colorful tin can, filled with every kind of beautiful pen to be had. There were silver fountain pens and a neon felt tip marker. There was also a classy ballpoint whom everyone called Parker. "What a loser," they said of the pencil, as they observed his wooden frame. "Don't bother with him, he's a nobody," said Parker, "He doesn't even have a name." Now the world was at war and their owner was a Soldier who was tasked to bring peace to the land. "What we need is a map," the Soldier had said, at the desk across from his Officer the other night. "If someone can fly me over the city unseen, I can draw a map from the sky. The map will tell you where to go and how to win, and soon we'll put an end to this fight." The Officer had agreed and now the Soldier would fly, but first he discussed with his wife. "I'll need something to draw with, something dependable . . . something that won't fail me mid-flight." The Soldier looked at his dark wood desk, and observed all the pens in the can. He studied each one, their bodies all shimmering, and he weighed them all in his hand. "This one won't work," he said of a pen, "the ink might blot on the map. This one needs to be refilled every few hours, and this one will dry out without a cap." He looked at each one and always found something wrong, or anticipated problems if he used it in the sky. "I need something that would work whatever the conditions, and I need it soon my dear wife." "Then take this pencil." his wife finally said, handing him the frail and battered yellow thing. "It will write no matter what, it will write on a plane -- it's the best writing tool you can bring." The Soldier smiled, kept the pencil in his pocket, and took it with him on the plane. He finished the map and the map helped bring them peace ... and the pencil has never been the same.
The pencil was now nothing more than a stub; what was left of his lead was now broken. His eraser was gone, his wood frame had split, and some time ago his metal ring had been stolen. Now he stood before the Pencil Maker, and waited for him to say those five words. "Well done, my faithful pencil," the Pencil Maker said, "You have written what you were meant to write in the world."
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
Back to TopMY CHOICEIt's quiet. It's early. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose Love.... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose Joy.... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical..... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose Peace.... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose Patience.... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite Him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose Kindness.... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God treated me.
I choose Goodness.... I will go without before I take dishonest gain. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose Faithfulness.... Today, I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose Gentleness.... Nothing is won by force, I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.
I choose Self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His Grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and be able to rest.
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