TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS PRICELESS

TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS PRICELESS

There is an inspirational quote by famed naturalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, which I have always loved: “It may well be reckoned that friendship is the true masterpiece of nature.”  For the past few days, I struggled with personal illness.  What an awesome blessing for me that friends (near and far) came to my rescue with prayers, words of kindness, concern, comfort and love.  I am truly touched, and I am deeply grateful.

The following story makes the point of how vitally important it is to have friends, and more than that, TO BE A FRIEND to others in their time of need.

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.  He called his parents from San Francisco.

“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask.  I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.” 

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting.  He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg.  He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son.  Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking.  Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us.  We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives.  I think you should just come home and forget about this guy.  He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone.  The parents heard nothing more from him.

A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police.  Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told.  The police believed it was suicide.  The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son.  They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like so many of us.  We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable.  We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way, someone who loves us with an unconditional love and welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we have become.

Tonight, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us, or needier than us.

There’s a miracle called Friendship that dwells in the heart.  You don’t know how it happens or when it gets started.  But you know the special lift it always brings, and you gradually realize that Friendship is one of God’s most precious gifts.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.  They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.  They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HOW TO GATHER HONEY INSTEAD OF BEE STINGS (Part II)

HOW TO GATHER HONEY INSTEAD OF BEE STINGS (Part II)

Moises P. Reconalla blesses us with a tremendous article that speaks so eloquently about the power of our words.  I reprinted half of it yesterday.  Following is the second half; please read and prayerfully ponder.

When we understand the importance and power of our words, we can use them for good.  The Word of God clearly declares, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

James, the disciple of Jesus Christ, adds this: “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a word of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6, NIV)

The foregoing scripture texts mean that life is controlled by words.

I repeat, life is controlled by words.
Words release authority.
Words determine the course of events.
Words matter.

So what should you do about this?

In her book entitled “Ministry of Healing,” Ellen G. White offers a practical answer to this question.  “Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others.  Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings.”

She further encourages us, “When tempted to complain of what someone has said or done, praise something in that person’s life or character.  Cultivate thankfulness.  Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us.”

And for those who actually enjoy criticism, she warns, “Evil speaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer.  He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits.  The very act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look.  By dwelling upon the faults of others, we are changed into the self-same image.”

She continues, “Instead of criticizing and condemning others, say, ‘I must work out my own salvation.’  If I co-operate with Him who desires to save my soul, I must watch myself diligently.  I must become a new creature in Christ.  Then, instead of weakening those who are struggling and striving against evil, I am enabled to strengthen with encouraging words.”

She adds, “We are too indifferent in regard to one another.  Too often we forget that our fellow laborers are in need of strength and sympathy.  Help them by your prayers, and let them know that you are ready and willing to do it.”

James concludes in his writings that, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV)

We must remember that no one knows when life is over.  Our life is like a vapor that appears for a moment and then disappears!  So I encourage you, don't let your life die like an insect's without doing something good for yourself by doing right by your fellowmen.

Rebecca Barlow Jordan agrees: “It’s not how much you accomplish in life that really counts, but how much you give to others.  It’s not how many goals you reach, but how many lives you touch.  Believe in the impossible, hold tight to the incredible, and live each day to its fullest potential.  You can make a difference in your world if you are generous with your affirmations and love.”

Before I conclude with my article, I would like to share with you a short story from the “Song of the Bird.”

Sufi Bayazi says this about himself: “I was a revolutionary when I was young, and all my prayer to God was “Lord, give me the energy to change the world.”

As I approached middle age and realized that half my life was gone without changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to “Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me.  If it is just my family and friends, I shall be content.”

Now that I am an old man and my days are numbered, my one prayer is “Lord, give me the grace to change MYSELF.  Had I prayed for this right from the start, I should not have wasted my life.”

In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...if anything is excellent or praiseworthy...think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

Thank you, Moises P. Reconalla, for sharing such simple yet profound wisdom with us.  If we can discipline ourselves to live in this manner, we will always manage to gather honey, instead of gathering bee stings.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HOW TO GATHER HONEY INSTEAD OF BEE STINGS (Part I)

HOW TO GATHER HONEY INSTEAD OF BEE STINGS (Part I)

Recently, I was blessed to read a thought-provoking article by Moises P. Reconalla.  It speaks very eloquently and cogently about the power of words.  It’s rather long, so I’ll reprint half of it today and half tomorrow.  Please read and prayerfully consider.

Few people realize the importance of the words they speak.  There is almost no way to overemphasize the importance of what we say, yet most people give it almost no thought, usually speaking without thinking.

The inspirational and classical author, Og Mandino, once asked, “Why is it then that so many of us go out of our own way to offend others with criticism and offensive judgments that so often come back to haunt us?  Why do we allow our big mouths to dig ruts in our path so deep that our forward progress is finally nil?”

He continued and commented, “If your tongue has been busy accumulating enemies for you, enemies you do not need who can harm you, now is as good a time as any to cease and desist.  How sad it would be for such a petty habit to destroy your great potential.”

Another very well-known author described the worst effects of criticism to the receivers.  In Dale Carnegie’s book entitled “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” he declares “Criticism is futile because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him strive to justify himself.  Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentment.”

Dale Carnegie reminds us, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic.  We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”  He warns that “criticism is a dangerous spark – a spark that is liable to cause an explosion in the powder magazine of pride – an explosion that sometimes hastens death.”

Carnegie gave very good examples to clarify his statements.  “General Leonard Wood was criticized and not allowed to go with the army to France.  That blow to his pride probably shortened his life.  Bitter criticism drove Thomas Chatterton, the English poet, to suicide.”

The famed Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras, once said, “A wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword for the latter affects only the body, the former affects the spirit.”

In the Bible, James the brother and disciple of Jesus Christ, issues a warning about the evil poison that can emerge from the tongue.  He described some who try to use their tongue praising and blessing God, then turn around to use their tongue to speak evil of one another.  “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10)

We cannot use our tongues to curse and bad-mouth our brethren, then continue ‘business as usual’ with our relationships with God.

The Bible clearly says that such tongue behavior is characteristic of hypocrites.  “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor.” (Proverbs 11:9)

The greatest teacher of all times, The Lord Jesus Christ, reveals to us that our words are extremely important.  In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus exclaimed, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

MISSION POSSIBLE: CARING, SHARING, INSPIRING

MISSION POSSIBLE: CARING, SHARING, INSPIRING

A major tendency of our times is for many of us to become completely self-absorbed.  One noted sociologist terms our time in human history as “The ME Generation.”  Too often it seems that life is all-about-US, instead of being all-about-OTHERS, as Our Creator originally designed it to be.  Please read the following story of selfless sharing by an unknown author – and who knows?  You just might decide to commit a random act of kindness in the course of your day!

I was sitting in a local restaurant having lunch and taking a break from the daily grind, sitting there thinking about how tough I had it lately and how I was sick of what I was doing.  I own a landscape company and have never felt that I made a difference in people’s lives.

As I sat there feeling sorry for myself, a young lady who looked about 25 walked in and sat down in a booth waiting for her friend.  It didn’t take long before I saw she was trying to stay hidden from other people’s gazes.  When I realized what was wrong, my heart sank. You could see her hair was falling out and, at such a young age, she was must have been receiving chemotherapy.

I sat there watching her trying to remain composed and she was having a tough time of it.  I ached for her, imagining what it must be like to go through this; and yet I know some of her pain.

You see I buried my wife, the love of my life, just a few short years ago and watched while she slowly faded away.  I needed to get a message of hope to this girl, but how?  What should I do?  What could I do? 

Then it hit me!  I called over her waitress and explained that I wanted to buy the girl and her friend’s lunch, but I also told her you can’t tell her it was me.  It had to remain anonymous.  In doing so, I handed her a note to give to the girl when she told her that her tab was paid. 

The note read as follows:
“Someone today thought you were beautiful.  Someone today thought your smile glowed with excitement.  Someone today thought your eyes lit up the world.  Someone today cared and wanted you to know.  Enjoy the rest of your day, pretty young lady.”

About 15 minutes later the young girl asked for her check and I watched as she was told it was already paid.  She asked why?  Who?  What for?  The waitress simply handed her the note and informed her that the gentleman who did it had already left, in order to keep me anonymous.

I watched as she slowly read the note.  Her eyes teared up, for only a moment, and then came the smile!  A huge, beautiful, hopeful smile!  She lit up the room and then sat up straight, not caring who saw her.  Her friend also beamed, not for what was done but because her friend was feeling beautiful again.

It’s not how we look or what we have, it’s not our houses or how many cars we have, nor is it how much money we can earn.  No, it isn’t.  That’s not life at all.  You see, it’s all about how much we CARE and what we DO for others, even if it’s only making someone feel beautiful for one moment.

Yes, lunch cost me a few dollars, but the wonderful part was this: The JOY that I carried with me throughout that day was absolutely free!

Think about it.  Why not make TODAY the first step of your compassionate trek into MISSION POSSIBLE: CARING, SHARING AND INSPIRING OTHERS?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

PERSONAL RECIPE FOR A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE DAY

PERSONAL RECIPE FOR A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE DAY

…Have FAITH in GOD!

According to The Word, “Whatever is born of GOD overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world—OUR FAITH.” (I John 5:4, NKJV)

As a WINNER-BELIEVER, whenever you place all of your trust in HIM, victory is inevitable.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

DON'T LET ANYTHING STAND IN YOUR WAY

DON’T LET ANYTHING STAND IN YOUR WAY

Yaniv Aviran is a young author and inspirational speaker who lives in Haifa, Israel.  By the way, he struggles with a progressive and debilitating disease, muscular dystrophy.  Nevertheless, here’s how he sees life.

During my early childhood, I made the most important decision of my life.  I decided there was no reason that my disability, as difficult as it may have been, would prevent me from fulfilling all my dreams or stop me from being truly happy and successful.

Although I was placed in a special school, along with children who suffer from profound emotional and physical disabilities, I fought to break away from what others saw as my inevitable destiny, to excel in anything I chose to do, to enjoy my life like any other kid my age.

It wasn’t easy, yet I became victorious over time, proving to others (and myself) that there is no goal that I cannot achieve.  Over and over again, I overcame enormous obstacles and prejudices, with the understanding that there is no limit to the power of the human spirit.

Today, I am an owner of a successful business and I have a lot of true friends.  I live my life with optimism and joy; I travel around the world; and I coach people to fulfill their own wishes, under the motto that anything and everything is possible - if you truly believe in God and in yourself.

My advice to everyone who is struggling with situations beyond your control is simply this: Don’t let anything stand in your way.  Dare to dream.  Start with small and consistent steps.  All things are possible.

Thank you, Yaniv Aviran, for having the courage to SEE and to BE your divine purpose and destiny.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

ARE WE DOING OUR BEST?

ARE WE DOING OUR BEST?

I read an interesting article the other day.  It challenged me to rethink and recalibrate my personal commitment and service to the Creator of life and all things.  This is a brief essay by an unknown author.  Please read it, and prayerfully ponder your present productivity and connectivity to the Kingdom of God.

What If?

What if…GOD wouldn't take the time to bless us today because we wouldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?

What if…GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?

What if…we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when GOD sent the rain?

What if…GOD didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if…GOD took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?

What if…GOD took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?

What if…GOD didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to pay the price for sin?

What if…the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

What if…GOD stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

What if…GOD would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?

What if…GOD answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?

What if…GOD met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

What If?

This brief essay calls to mind a scriptural challenge penned by the Apostle Paul.  “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” (II Corinthians 13:5, NKJV)

We must always be emotionally present, spiritually discerning and keenly aware of ourselVES, i.e. our PERSONAL commitment and connection to CHRIST.  Amen?  Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THE MOST TANGIBLE AND SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE

THE MOST TANGIBLE AND SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE

Sisters and brothers, may I ask you a very personal question: “How is your love life?”  That is to say, is there substantial and consistent evidence that you are indeed a disciple of Jesus Christ, i.e. that you truly love Him AND all those fellow human beings whom He has created?

Listen prayerfully and attentively to the Word.  The hallmarks of true Christianity are unmistakable.

John 13:35 (NKJV)

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I John 4:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 14:15

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (NKJV)

John 14:21 (NKJV)

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7 (The Message Bible)

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

In the words of Jesus Christ, the personification and embodiment of love: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34, NKJV)

Let’s frame this issue another way, in a judicial way.  Hypothetically speaking, IF LOVE WAS A CRIME, is there sufficient evidence in your life to produce a conviction, or would you be exonerated because it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you have proactively committed Godly acts of love everywhere you go?  Think.  If Christianity were a crime…

The key question for today (and every day): HOW IS YOUR LOVE LIFE?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

REDEEMING OUR TIME

REDEEMING OUR TIME

You and I have a relatively short span of time to actualize our purpose on the planet.  It goes by so quickly.  Ask any of the senior members of the tribe.  They will tell you that it feels like ‘just yesterday’ when they were children, or adolescents, or young adults.  Time flies…literally!

The psalmist-king, David, admonishes us to be conscientiously cognizant of the brevity of life.  His prayer was “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

No one knows the exact number of days he or she will occupy this mortal plain.  Our cemeteries are filled with occupants of all ages.  Nevertheless, there is a biblical indicator, a generic promise that (excluding premature deaths caused by accidents or illnesses), our days on this earth are “three score and ten,” or a mere 70 years.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten [70 years] ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [80 years], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

Only 70 years…only 70 summers…only 25,550 sunrises…to achieve our divine destiny!

So the Apostle Paul penned a poignant and powerful reminder. Each of us should always be found “redeeming the time” or “making the most of every opportunity” in light of our short sojourn through life. (Ephesians 5:16, NIV and NKJV).

In other words, we are to be constantly conscious of the fact that every God-given moment, every hour, every day, represents a PRICELESS EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITY.  How we utilize it (ho we invest it) is entirely up to us.  However, once any particular day is gone, our most precious commodity, our time opportunity, may never be recovered.

So…what are you going to do about TODAY?

Don't squander one precious moment complaining or challenging the actions or attitudes of others.  YOU are fully in charge of your choices for your day and your destiny! 

At the end of our journey, each of us longs to hear The Master saying “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)  Therefore, at the end of every day each of us must look into the mirror and honestly evaluate the foregoing 24 hours (1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds) and ask “Have I invested wisely and well?”  “Have I redeemed my time in a manner that causes my Creator to smile?”

Think about it.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THIS IS THE DAY

THIS IS THE DAY

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:34)

No fears.  No worries.  No focus on (or obsession with) any negativity or problematic situations.  It is well.  GOD IS WITH US! 

The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)

This is THE DAY.  This is GOD'S DAY.  This is YOUR DAY.  Rise and shine…AMEN!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

START OVER!

START OVER!

TODAY is the first day of the rest of your life.  So do not despair and do not get paralyzed in your past, your pains, your pressures, or your problems.  Prayerfully consider this inspirational poem by an unknown author:

When you’ve trusted Jesus and walked his way
When you’ve felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way…
START OVER.

When you’ve made your plans and they’ve gone awry
When you’ve tried your best and there’s no more try
When you’ve failed yourself and you don’t know why…
START OVER.

When you’ve told your friends what you plan to do
When you’ve trusted them and they didn’t come through
And now you’re all alone and it’s up to you…
START OVER.

When you’ve failed your kids and they’re grown and gone
When you’ve done your best but it’s turned out wrong
And now your grandchildren have come along…
START OVER.

When you’ve prayed to God so you’ll know his will
When you’ve prayed and prayed and you don’t know still
When you want to stop cause you’ve had your fill…
START OVER.

When you think you’re finished and want to quit
When you’ve bottomed out in life’s deepest pit
When you’ve tried and tried to get out of it…
START OVER.

When the year has been long and successes few
When December comes and you’re feeling blue
God gives a January just for you…
START OVER.

Starting over means “Victories Won”
Starting over means “A Race Well Run”
Starting over means “The Lords’ Will Done”
We need not just sit there…START OVER.

It’s a brand new year and we are trusting THE LORD to actualize a brand new YOU!  My sister, my brother, YOU CAN MAKE IT!  YOU WILL MAKE IT…by the grace, goodness. love and mercy of ALMIGHTY GOD!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

RAISE PEOPLE UP!

RAISE PEOPLE UP!

I love the inspirational story that is the life of Mike Marino.  It speaks of the need to forge human connections.  It is an indisputable fact that together, we are significantly greater than the sum of our individual parts.  Let’s tune in on a conversation between Mike and Marlene, a person who was offering to help him.  Read and listen with your heart.

I know that I was not sent to help you, Marlene.  You were sent to help me.  However you cannot help me, Marlene, unless I lift you up first, higher and higher.

Did I ever tell you about Emma, a little four-year-old girl that I met while doing volunteer work at the Crippled Children's Hospital in 1970?

Many women had taken a morning sickness drug called Thalidomide before it was officially approved by the Food and Drug administration.  As a result, numerous babies were came into the world with birth defects.  Little Emma was born without arms and legs. 

Many of these babies were brought to Crippled Children's hospitals from all across America.  Since she had no other means of mobility, a caring therapist made a leather bucket for Emma to sit in.  The bucket was attached to an eighteen by eighteen inch board with casters on all corners.  So Emma would wiggle her torso back and forth to propel herself forward down the halls of the hospital.

Emma was a cute kid who wore pink burettes in her pigtail hair.  She had a diaper on and wore a white T-shirt with a bunny rabbit on it.

I was doing volunteer work and they put me in a room with all boys.  All of those boys had serious birth disabilities.

Emma rolled right into the boys’ room.  One of the boys told me not to let Emma in because she was a girl.  I let her in the room any way and Emma made her way over to my ankle.

Then Emma said, “Mr. Mike, pick me up, I want to see what they are doing on the table.”

I told Emma, without looking down at her, “I cannot pick you up because I am not allowed to touch any of the children.”

The nurse that was observing the scene said, “You can pick her up, Mr. Mike.”

One of the boys shouted out, “No.  Don't pick her up, Mr. Mike, don't pick her up!”

I had no idea how I was going to get her out of the bucket.  I put my knee on the board and worked her out of the bucket.  Emma had a diaper on and I was afraid the diaper would come off.  I held Emma up for two seconds so she could see the model cars and coloring books on the table.

When I went to put her back into the bucket, Emma looked at me with big brown eyes and said, “Don't put me down, Mr. Mike.  I want you to hold me.”

I said, “I am holding you.”

Emma said, “I want you to hold me close, Mr. Mike!”

I said, “I am holding you close.”

Emma said, “No, Mr. Mike, you have to hold me real close.”

I pulled Emma close to me and Emma put her head on my shoulder.  She had one tiny finger growing directly out of the side of her shoulder, and underneath her T-shirt sleeve she pressed her little finger against my shoulder and said, “I love you Mr. Mike!”

I broke down and cried like a baby.  I could not stop crying.  The boy who said “Don’t pick her up” shouted out loudly, “I told him not to pick her up, and this guy just doesn’t not listen!”

The nurse came over, brought me a box of Kleenex and took Emma away from me.  She smiled brightly and said, “You're going to bed young lady.  You’ve had enough fun for today.”

Little Emma was grinning and laughing out loud!

I told the nurse, “That little girl has a finger under her T-shirt sleeve and she pressed it against me.”

The nurse replied, “Mr. Mike, you are not the first person Emma has touched with that little finger and you will not be the last.”

In that moment, Emma had touched me and somehow transformed me into a person!

After that, God's grace was increasingly manifested in my life.  I become stronger and accomplished many things by the grace and power of God.  The reason I tell you this story, Marlene, is because Emma knew that I needed help really badly, but she could not possibly help me until I raised her up!

That is what I do now, Marlene.  My purpose in life is to raise people up!  So now, nobody can begin to help me until I raise them up first.  

Thanks Mr. Marino…I love your story.  And I love the positive theme that you now live by:

“It's going to be a good day, because I am going to make it a good day!  If I cannot look at the bright side, I polish the other side.  Nobody is going to rain on my parade.”
-Mike Marino, Jr.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

A PRESCRIPTION FOR MANHOOD

A PRESCRIPTION FOR MANHOOD

The British Nobel Prize laureate, Rudyard Kipling, penned a now famous poem in 1895.  Simply entitled “IF” – this poem has volumes to say about what it means to me a “MAN.”  It goes without saying that manhood is not defined in one-dimensional terms such as one’s gender, age, or status in family or society.  Rather, manhood is the product of Godliness, integrity, maturity, wisdom, humility, sacrifice and love.  In the words of Rudyard Kipling…

If you can keep your head when all about you
  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
  But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
  Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
  And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
  If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
  And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
  Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
  And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
  And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
  And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
  To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
  Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
  Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
  If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
  With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
  And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son.

Brothers, let us be MEN.  Sisters, endeavor to embrace continual prayer, support and LOVE for the MEN that GOD has deposited in and around your lives.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

GOD STILL WORKS MIRACLES

GOD STILL WORKS MIRACLES

This morning, I feel strongly impressed to declare to someone out there: GOD STILL WORKS MIRACLES.  ONLY BELIEVE.

This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. (I John 9:4b)

Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trust in THE LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2a)

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)

WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine hear: wait, I say, on THE LORD.

Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might he increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon HIM, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of JESUS our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us by glory and virtue. (II Peter 1:2-3)

Therefore do not cast away your CONFIDENCE, which has great reward. (Hebrews 10:35)

Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

GOD STILL WORKS MIRACLES.  ONLY BELIEVE.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!