Things Aren't Always What They Seem
Well, night has befallen Arizona and I have been here with my friends all day long, and I am happy. My time was well spent indeed. We talked about what love means to us; I watched with joy as others placed photos of their brides and grooms on their avatars as a tribute to their life; we explored our thoughts on our abilities to welcome a new love into our hearts; we reached out to comfort a few souls who were anguished; I made a couple more new friends; and, once again, I received so much more than I gave today that I am truly blessed and nourished. Things aren't always what they seem, to be sure..."Daily Strength" is populated by Angels, not by basket cases. The simple feelings we share, whether they be positive or negative, seem to always touch another in such a way as to assist them in coping with their own private hell. Basket cases cannot do this, but Angels most certainly can. I came upon this story about Angels, and once again, I offer it to you to ponder as you end your holiday week-end and begin another new week:
ANGELS
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthyfamily. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in themansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a space in the coldbasement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw ahole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, theolder angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem".The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but veryhospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had,the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a goodnight's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found thefarmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their soleincome, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and askedthe older angel "how could you have let this happen! The first man hadeverything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had littlebut was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." "Thingsaren't always what they seem," the older angel replied."When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was goldstored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greedand unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn'tfind it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of deathcame for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always whatthey seem."Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the waythey should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome isalways to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.Think about this: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 the last three months.Should you despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who hasnever 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, for $15.00 to feed her family.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 ofother people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember, things could be worse--you could be them!Should you decide to send this to a friend, you might brighten someone'sday!
I have not lived a very exemplary life, my friends, and there is much in my past that I take no pride in. That being said, I know that God has forgiven me because He said that He would if I asked Him to. So I did. While watching Glenn Beck several days ago, he recounted the story of one John Newton, who was a sea captain in the mid-eighteenth century. As the captain of a slave ship, he encountered a storm so frightening that he actually fell to his knees, and although he had no particular religious convictions, he begged the Almighty God for deliverance from the peril that his ship faced. The storm eased, and his ship was spared. That was the day his spiritual awakening began, and although he continued in the slave trade for a while, he ended up studying theology and became a minister. In 1779, he published the following song:
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing graceHow sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind, but now I see'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believedMy chains are goneI've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending love, Amazing graceThe Lord has promised good to meHis word my hope securesHe will my shield and portion beAs long as life enduresThe earth shall soon dissolve like snowThe sun forbear to shineBut God, Who called me here belowWill be forever mineWill be forever mineYou are forever mine
Our dear friend John Flynn in Australia turned me on to Chris Tomlin and his music the other day, and I found his rendition of this classic song of salvation. It is my hope you will listen to and enjoy as I did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-mNT0axB9U
I know that my journal entrees sometimes get a little long. It's only because I'm sort of like that sea captain John Newton. The death of my wife has brought me to my knees. Seeking out God was not really all that hard. He's been with me all along. I just never knew it until now. Things aren't always what they seem.................
ANGELS
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthyfamily. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in themansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a space in the coldbasement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw ahole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, theolder angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem".The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but veryhospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had,the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a goodnight's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found thefarmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their soleincome, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and askedthe older angel "how could you have let this happen! The first man hadeverything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had littlebut was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." "Thingsaren't always what they seem," the older angel replied."When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was goldstored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greedand unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn'tfind it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of deathcame for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always whatthey seem."Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the waythey should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome isalways to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.Think about this: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 the last three months.Should you despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who hasnever 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, for $15.00 to feed her family.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 ofother people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember, things could be worse--you could be them!Should you decide to send this to a friend, you might brighten someone'sday!
I have not lived a very exemplary life, my friends, and there is much in my past that I take no pride in. That being said, I know that God has forgiven me because He said that He would if I asked Him to. So I did. While watching Glenn Beck several days ago, he recounted the story of one John Newton, who was a sea captain in the mid-eighteenth century. As the captain of a slave ship, he encountered a storm so frightening that he actually fell to his knees, and although he had no particular religious convictions, he begged the Almighty God for deliverance from the peril that his ship faced. The storm eased, and his ship was spared. That was the day his spiritual awakening began, and although he continued in the slave trade for a while, he ended up studying theology and became a minister. In 1779, he published the following song:
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing graceHow sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind, but now I see'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believedMy chains are goneI've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending love, Amazing graceThe Lord has promised good to meHis word my hope securesHe will my shield and portion beAs long as life enduresThe earth shall soon dissolve like snowThe sun forbear to shineBut God, Who called me here belowWill be forever mineWill be forever mineYou are forever mine
Our dear friend John Flynn in Australia turned me on to Chris Tomlin and his music the other day, and I found his rendition of this classic song of salvation. It is my hope you will listen to and enjoy as I did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-mNT0axB9U
I know that my journal entrees sometimes get a little long. It's only because I'm sort of like that sea captain John Newton. The death of my wife has brought me to my knees. Seeking out God was not really all that hard. He's been with me all along. I just never knew it until now. Things aren't always what they seem.................
Replies
Another beautiful heart-touching entry...thank you for sharing...I knew the story behind \"Amazing Grace\"...it is my favorite hymn...And God was always there, because He always loved you, as He does each of us, even when we don\'t return that love...watching your relationship with Him unfold is a blessing to me...Thank You, from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to more posts... ~E~
Joe - you are blessed indeed brother - to have such an open heart to what the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is teaching you is a true and great blessing. Amazing Grace is such a moving hymn - I rarely sing sing it without being moved by God. We sang it at my late wife\'s funeral and a bagpiper from school whose mother worked with Kathy, piped the coffin from the church to the tune. John Newton was a great man. If you get to England visit Olney Parish church where he ministered for 16 years and collaborated with William Cowper. His tombstone is a disgrace though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Newton you will see that the inscription bearing testimony to God\'s mercy and grace faces a wall, as if later folks were ashamed of his ministry. Keep reading, writing and telling us of your journey in faith! Blessings, John
I also have long known the story of John Newton.....Amazing Grace is..in my admitadely humble opinion...the greatest of the hymns..because it tells the story of ALL of us. Wretches , saved by Grace. Some churches have taken the word \"wretch\" out of their hymnal\'s version of Amazing Grace because of the negative nature of the word as it applies to any human being. Those churches are wrong I thnk because in our own ways we ARE all wretches......but can be saved by grace. Best wishes, Joe, and to everyone here.......................................
Joe -- What a blessing you are. I am so blessed to call you my friend. Thank you for reminding me today how very blessed I am and to remember to be a blessing to those I come in contact with today.
In everything you do here on this site you honor your beloved Barbara. You are a wonderful man.
Hugs, Carla