REBIRTH Author Unknown

"You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice. And no one will take your joy from you." - John 16:22

Fr. Nil Guillamete tells this wonderful story about this beautiful branch that enjoyed life on the tree.

One day a man passed by and admired its beauty. The next day, he cut it down and began its horrific transformation. First, the man stripped the leaves attached to the
branch. This caused slight pains to the branch. Then, he gutted out the core, which really hurt. And while the branch was quivering in pain, the man placed it in a dark dry place.

It stayed there for days, getting more and more despondent. Finally, the man released
it from the dark place and the branch rejoiced. Only to be wounded once more, holes were made which once again caused pain. And then the man took a special cloth and rubbed the branch all over. He rubbed on and on, harder and harder, it felt like its skin was peeling off.

Then he stopped, looked the branch over. The man beamed with pride and brought the branch to his lips. The branch thought he would kiss it but the man did more than
that. He blew on the branch and the branch trembled and music flowed forth from its core.

The man had transformed the branch into a beautiful flute, capable of so much more
than it could, hanging on the tree. Tisha L. Do we allow the Lord to fashion us to be capable of so much more?

Lord, fashion me in a way that you will be glorified.

ALIVE ON THE OUTSIDE Author Unknown

For in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

From a distance, it looked like a victim of last year's hurricane. My friend Susan, pointed. "Look at that!", she exclaimed. I followed her finger, and saw the huge tree where half of it had been ripped off. Literally. The jagged place showed just where the wind force lopped off a giant part of the tree.

We walked closer to it and noticed a dark area in the trunk. Upon closer examination, we found, what appeared to be, the heart of the tree all blackened and dead looking. How could the tree be alive if it were dead on the inside?

I thought of Robin. Radiation treatments had claimed her dark, curly hair. On the outside, her body was failing. On the inside, her spirit was more vibrant than ever. Her sunken eyes were closed, breathing shallow. But oh my, the peaceful _expression on her face said it all. Talk about shekinah; the glory of the Lord shone from within her. Her spirit was very much alive, even though, on the outside, her body was wracked by disease

Last week I was at the home of a neighbor. Tina looked great on the outside, acted fine too. She welcomed us, chatted animatedly, graciously offered a snack her husband had laid out on the kitchen table. We were there to pray with Terry, whose diagnosis was stage 4 , metastasized cancer. She was thin, and her body clearly showed signs of battling a disease. On this inside, though, her spirit was vigorous, as was clearly evident as we prayed together.

Looks are deceiving, and things are not always what they seem. Some people are alive on the outside, yet dead on the inside, in their spirit. Still others look sick on the outside, yet are very much alive in their soul, on the inside.

At Tina's home, I found this note taped to the bathroom mirror :
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot
Cripple love
Shatter hope
Corrode faith
Destroy peace
Kill friendship
Suppress memories
Silence courage
Invade the soul
Steal eternal life
It cannot
Conquer the Spirit.

The bible tells us we are "more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:37).

That is very good news.

LITTLE SPRINGS By Sally I. Kennedy

To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. 1 Corinthians 12:7,11-12


I almost missed it. The ground looked soggy, the trail puddly. And muddy. On closer look, a little spring was coming from under a rock to the right of the trail.

One little spring. Enough water to give drink to animals, birds. As it meandered across the road, and downhill on the massive mountain, it would join other little springs.

The little springs would merge and eventually flow together into one mighty river at the base of the mountain. Together they would make beautiful music as one, as they rolled through the floor of the mountain valley.

Little springs. Like different gifts and talents, I thought. Individually they are wonderful, and have a purpose. Sort of like musical instruments. So great individually. Together, though, they create bands, and songs; orchestras, and symphonies.

God gives the gifts as He sees fit. And every believer is guaranteed one or more. He alone knows what beautiful music they will make together - for us, as well as for others.

That is good news!

PLANNING by Melanie Schurr

My husband and I are still in the prime of our lives, yet we are beginning to seriously discuss our impending retirement. As a newly married couple, when my spouse tried to raise the issue of old age, financial security, and death, I was not as open to discussing such topics at length. They were often painful and I felt there was more than enough time to ponder such things. But as I now approach my 40's
and my husband his 50's, I know that, as painful as it is, we must face age for there is no way to avoid it. Thus, it is best to prepare, plan, and make the most of it by doing things now that will ensure our optimal health and well-being for later.

So many times we plan and prepare for our earthly future, yet give little regard to our spiritual welfare and future. And, just as there are some individuals who reserve thoughts of old age for when they are seniors, suddenly finding them self unprepared, so too, do some people put off thoughts of God and salvation until they
are facing serious trauma, illness, or death.

Why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? Call on Christ and ensure your spiritual future.

WHAT MATTERS MOST Author Unknown

In the mid 1970's, Ed Roberts created the world's first commercially successful personal computer (PC). He hired a 19 year old named Bill Gates to write software for him.

Roberts sold his computer business in 1977 and bought a farm. Seven years later, at age 41, he entered medical school. Today Bill gates is the head of the largest computer software company in the world. Ed Roberts is a physician in a small Georgia town.

Roberts says, "The implication is that the PC is the most important thing I've ever done, and I don't think that's true. Every day I deal with things that are equally if not more important here with my patients."

How can we evaluate the significance of our lives? Something deep inside tells us such a thing cannot be measured by wealth and fame.

As we look at the apostle Paul's turbulent life, it seems noteworthy that he approached the end with a peaceful sense of successful completion. He wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 timothy 4:7) Paul looked confidently not to the world but to "the Lord, the righteous Judge"
for approval and reward (vs 8).

Since sooner than later we'll face our creator,
Whose gaze pierces through to the heart,
Let's make sure our dreams, our goals and grand schemes
Have Christ in our plans from the start.

The measure of a life is determined by the Ruler of the Universe.