Penny

Several years ago, a friend of mine was invited to spend the weekend at her husbands employer's home. As they were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Ann wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America ' 'No, not that; read further.''One cent?' 'No, keep reading.' 'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And?' 'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me , God is patient and pennies are plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized t hat I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given That's the whole gospel message simply stated.

Positive answers

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 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
( Phil ippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive my self'
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 ippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 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'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

In the eye of the storm

Our light house- lights to look for and signals to heed:
Love God more than you fear hell
once a week let a child take you for a walk
make a major decision in a cemetery
when no one is watching, live as if someone is
succeed at home first
dont spend tomorrows money today
pray twice as much as you fret
listen twice as much as you speak
only harbor a grudge when God does
never outgrow your love for sunsets
treat people like angels, you will meet some and help make some
err on the side of generosity
God has forgiven you, you would be wise to do the same
when you cant trace Gods hand, trust in his heart
dont feel guilty for God's goodness
the book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number
never let the important be the victim of the trivial
live your liturgy

God is never irritated by the candle of an honest seeker
Job-- "I had heard about you before , but now I have seen you"
Faith is not born at the negotiating table, it is not an award given for the most learned, it is not a prize given to the most diciplined, it is not bequeathed to the most religious. Faith is a desperate dive out of a sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will be there to pull us out of the water. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourself it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."
Worship is a voluntary act of graditude offered by the saved to the Savior, a thank you that refuses to be silenced.

point to ponder 6

true character shows in what you do when you think no one is looking

when God whispers our name

every one knows self denial leads to holiness

Live by following the spirit, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives

ask God to do what is right

nails didnt hold Christ to the cross Love did

revenge belongs to God, he did not ask us to settle the score or get even

to forgive someone is to display reverence

you cant control how others respond to God, but you can control the way you respond to God

point to ponder 5

Success only has currency for the person who possesses it while that person is alive-there is more to live for

Who do we seek counsel from

Do you seek the counsel of others?
My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.
Proverbs 2:1-7 NLT
Accepting advice
The degree to which people will listen is determined by the degree to which we have wise counsel for them. If you want people to listen to you, you yourself must listen to the right adviser. Like Samuel, listen to the Lord's counsel—read his Word and hear what he says. There is no wiser counselor than he who knows every moment of every tomorrow and knows how you will fit into those moments. If you think you know it all, you probably know less than you think. If, in humility, you recognize how much help and counsel you need, you will likely seek it and get it. No one wants to waste time counseling a fool, because the fool doesn't want counsel. We all enjoy sharing wisdom with the wise, and when we do, we discover new wisdom for our own needs. Proverbs 14:7 tells us that we should stay away from fools if we are looking for wise counsel.