There's a phrase I've heard that rings very true to
me: God has all the help we need.
Which is to say that all the insight, all the power,
all the strength, all the patience, all the anything that we really need
is available to us. Indeed, God does have all the help that we need.
And to illustrate and amplify this, I'm going to
tell a story that is my trademark story.
On several occasions I have met
people that don't recognize me,
and then all of a sudden-- "Oh, oh, oh!" and
they'll mention they'd heard that story.
It was a turning point for me. It happened on the
17th of July in the year 1983. I was on vacation
on a little island in Maine. That was the first
summer my younger son had a boat. He had allowed me
to use his boat that day if I would pick him up
from work that night. He was working a late shift at
the Portland Yacht Club as a launch operator. If you
know how yacht clubs work,
people keep their boats on moorings and there
is a boat service back and forth,
usually piloted by teenagers like my son.
At eight-thirty I stepped out the back door of the
cottage and stopped dead in my tracks. I was in the midst of the most
unbelievably beautiful sunset I had ever seen or have seen since. It was
extraordinary. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
The sun had gone over the White Mountains, eighty miles away,
and we had the reflected glory of the color, and
that night was gold. As we know, the water always
reflects the color of the sky, and the sea of the bay
that night was pure gold.
Monday, August 30, 2004
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
A young man learns what's most important in life from the old man next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls,
career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across
the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy
life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to
spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr.. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you.
It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his
hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by
to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....
Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said. "What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.
I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.
All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most, '" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.
It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser.
"The thing he valued most...was...my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's100% true.
1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for
you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in someway.
3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't
like you.
4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
5. You mean the world to someone.
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
7. You are special and unique.
8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want,
you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best,
and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something
better.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still
come from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look:
you most likely turned your back on the world.
11. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about
the rude remarks.
13. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much
better when they know and you'll both be happy.
14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that
they are great.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls,
career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across
the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy
life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to
spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr.. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you.
It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his
hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by
to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....
Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said. "What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.
I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.
All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most, '" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.
It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser.
"The thing he valued most...was...my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's100% true.
1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for
you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in someway.
3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't
like you.
4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
5. You mean the world to someone.
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
7. You are special and unique.
8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want,
you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best,
and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something
better.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still
come from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look:
you most likely turned your back on the world.
11. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about
the rude remarks.
13. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much
better when they know and you'll both be happy.
14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that
they are great.
FORGIVENESS
The most creative power given to the human spirit is the power to heal
the wounds of a past it cannot change.
We do our forgiving alone inside our hearts and minds;
what happens to the people we forgive depends on them.
The first person to benefit from forgiving is the one who does it.
Forgiving happens in three stages:
we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us;
we surrender our right to get even; and
we wish that person well.
Forgiving is a journey; the deeper the wound, the longer the journey.
Waiting for someone to repent before we forgive
is to surrender our future to the person who wronged us.
Forgiving is not a way to avoid pain but to heal the pain.
Forgiving someone who breaks a trust does not mean that
we give him his job back.
Forgiving is the only way to be fair to ourselves.
Forgivers are not doormats; to forgive a person is not a signal
that we are willing to put up with what he does.
Forgiving is essential; talking about it is optional.
When we forgive, we set a prisoner free and discover
that the prisoner we set free is us.
When we forgive we walk in stride with the forgiving God.
the wounds of a past it cannot change.
We do our forgiving alone inside our hearts and minds;
what happens to the people we forgive depends on them.
The first person to benefit from forgiving is the one who does it.
Forgiving happens in three stages:
we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us;
we surrender our right to get even; and
we wish that person well.
Forgiving is a journey; the deeper the wound, the longer the journey.
Waiting for someone to repent before we forgive
is to surrender our future to the person who wronged us.
Forgiving is not a way to avoid pain but to heal the pain.
Forgiving someone who breaks a trust does not mean that
we give him his job back.
Forgiving is the only way to be fair to ourselves.
Forgivers are not doormats; to forgive a person is not a signal
that we are willing to put up with what he does.
Forgiving is essential; talking about it is optional.
When we forgive, we set a prisoner free and discover
that the prisoner we set free is us.
When we forgive we walk in stride with the forgiving God.
FIVE WAYS GOD USES PROBLEMS
The problems you face either defeat you or develop you – depending on how you respond to them.
Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.
Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:
1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags . . . if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.
3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It’s likely that as a child, your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something . . .health, money, a relationship... by losing it. It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.
4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was hired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem – but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management’s actions were eventually discovered. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.
5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you’re going to take with you into eternity. We can rejoice when we run into problems… they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust more each time we use it, until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.
Here’s the point: God is at work in your life – even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it’s much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him. Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way.
Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.
Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:
1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags . . . if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.
3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It’s likely that as a child, your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something . . .health, money, a relationship... by losing it. It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.
4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was hired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem – but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management’s actions were eventually discovered. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.
5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you’re going to take with you into eternity. We can rejoice when we run into problems… they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust more each time we use it, until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.
Here’s the point: God is at work in your life – even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it’s much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him. Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
GOD'S BOXES
I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, " Put all your sorrows in the black box,
and all your joys in the gold box."
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold box became heavier each day,
The black box was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black box,
I wanted to find out why,
and I saw, in the base of the box, a hole.
which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with Me."
I asked God why He gave me the boxes,
why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, " Put all your sorrows in the black box,
and all your joys in the gold box."
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold box became heavier each day,
The black box was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black box,
I wanted to find out why,
and I saw, in the base of the box, a hole.
which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with Me."
I asked God why He gave me the boxes,
why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)