A TRICK Author Unknown

A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.

As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.

The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."

"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."

The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by.

The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin.

Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.

The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

ARTIST'S TOUCH By Marion Smith

Genesis 1:26 And God said "Let us make humankind in our image

In April,1999, my daughters and I had the marvelous opportunity to fly to Paris for one week. We took a day trip to Montmarte, France where we visited the Basilica du Sacre Cour and then purchased some art work.

The artists were side by side in the town square, stroking their canvases with great intent and also selling their finished paintings. I was intrigued as I watched one artist working at his easel. He would take a dab of this color, then that color, and apply them to the canvas. He would blend moist paints on the canvas and then paint harsh looking lines here and there. Next he would stroke some soft, but long strokes, sweeping them across the picture with a great flair. He would stand back, viewing the canvas from his own perspective. He would see what was needed for his creation. If he saw something unappealing he would just paint right over it with another color-
obliterating it completely!

God is our master artist. We are the canvas. He brings light and beautiful color into our existence, with strokes of His love. He is the one creating a masterpiece of art in our lives. He is making us into the image of his beautiful and sinless son, and I am thankful. He touches us with dabs of color-allowing us to enjoy each one and then blending them into happy memories. We have joyful experiences, His abiding love, and His open invitation to a relationship with Him. He also draws straight lines for us to follow – His way - the way of truth and light. He blends our talents with those of other believers to work together as the “Body of Christ.”

Shadows may appear on our lives, just as they do on the artists’ canvas. They can vary from small sadness’ to times of overwhelming grief or fear. God’s master hand is upon us at these times also.

The most wonderful thing God does is to “paint over” or whitewash all our sins. They become completely obliterated. The wrongs we’ve done and other grievances we have committed against God - He is ready, willing and able to wash all of them out of His mighty sight when we ask Jesus to forgive our sins. Isn’t that the most wonderful news?

I am so thankful I am the canvas and God is the artist in my life. I know He will keep working on “this piece of art” until the day I am called home to be with Him eternally. Only then will my painting be perfected- better than a Monet or Van Gough - ready to be framed and presented to the king of kings!

MEMO FROM GOD Author Unknown

I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. It will be addressed in My time, not
yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold on to it or remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.

Be happy with what you have:

Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair: There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone badly, think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking, "What is my purpose?", be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember: things could be worse. You could be them!

LETTER IN THE NIGHT Author Unknown

One day a woman named Louise fell asleep in her bed and dreamed a very fitful dream. She dreamed that someone in Hell wrote a letter to her, and it was to be delivered to her by a messenger.

The messenger passed between the lakes of burning fire and brimstone that occupies Hell and found his way to the door that would lead him to the outside world.

Louise dreamed that the messenger walked to her house, came inside, and gently but firmly woke Louise. He gave her the message, saying only that a friend had written it to her from Hell.

Louise, in her dream with trembling hands, took the letter and read:

My Friend,
I stand in Judgment now,
And feel that you're to blame somehow.
Never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on the earth,
You never told me of the second birth,
And now I stand this day condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that's true.
I called you "friend" and trusted you,
But I learn now that it's too late,
You could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night,
And yet you showed me not the Light.
You let me live, and love, and die,
You knew I'd never live on high.
Yes, I called you "friend" in life,
And trusted you through joy and strife.
And yet on coming to the end,
I cannot, now, call you "My Friend."
Marsha

After reading the letter, Louise awoke. The dream was still so real in her mind and sweat dropped from her body in pools. She swore she could still smell the acrid smell of brimstone and smoke from her room.

As she contemplated the meaning of her dream, she realized that as a Christian, she had failed in her duty to "go out to all the world and preach the gospel." As she thought of that, she promised herself that the next day, she would call Marsha and invite her to church with her.

The next morning she called Marsha, and this was the conversation:

"Hello Bill, is Marsha there?"

"Louise, you don't know?"

"No, Bill, know what?"

"Marsha WAS KILLED LAST NIGHT IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I thought you knew."

Fellow Christian, is this your testimony? Are you witnessing to your friends that you are with everyday? Or will there be friends of yours in Hell, asking you why you did not tell them about JESUS?

As your friend. . .

If you don't know Jesus, here's how:

If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 - 10)

If you have not done so, just pray this prayer:

"Dear God, I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is your son and that He died on the cross for my sins. Jesus, forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and become my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus's name, Amen."

BUBBLE LIGHTS By Marion Smith

Have you ever seen bubble lights on a Christmas tree? This year we placed bubble lights on ours. How I enjoy watching the bubbles go up the glass tube, each color making its own joyful statement! The dictionary defines the word joy as "glad feeling or happiness", and that is how I respond when those lights work as they were intend to. Funny that those little tubes of colored fluid, with the bubbles surging through them, can bring out a feeling of happiness within me, but the truth is- they do. They just put a song in my heart and a smile on my face! Joy is an inner celebration that God loves us. Nothing on the outside can change that fact, and I believe true joy finds its source in Christ. The Bible speaks of joy in many places. Psalm 100 says to "shout for joy." And each place in Scripture which refers to dancing has to do with rejoicing- Ps. 30;11, Luke 15:25, 2 Samuel 2:14,16 and Psalm 149:3.

Next time you see bubble lights (it will probably be around Christmastime! ) watch them jump for joy ! Those little bubbles will bring a touch of joy to your life, and maybe remind you that Psalm 16:11 says, "In Your (God's) presence is fullness of joy".