Marvelous
==========
A rich man went to his pastor and said, "I want you and your
wife to take a three-month trip to the Holy Land at my expense.
When you come back, I'll have a surprise for you."
The pastor accepted the offer, and he and his wife went off to
the Middle East.
Three months later they returned home and were met by the
wealthy member, who told them that while they were gone, he had
had a new church built. "It's the finest building money can buy,
pastor," said the man. "No expense was spared."
And he was right. It was a magnificent edifice both inside and
out. But there was one striking difference. There was only one
pew, and it was at the very back.
"A church with only one pew?" asked the pastor.
"You just wait until Sunday," the rich man said.
When the time came for the Sunday service, the early arrivals
entered the church, filed onto the one pew and sat down.
When the pew was full, a switch clicked silently, a circuit
closed, the gears meshed, a belt moved and, automatically, the
rear pew began to move forward. When it reached the front of
the church, it came to a stop. At the same time, another empty
pew came up from below at the back and more people sat down.
And so it continued, pews filling and moving forwards until
finally the church was full, from front to back.
"Wonderful!" said the pastor, "Marvelous!"
The service began, and the pastor started to preach his sermon.
He launched into his text, and when 12 o'clock came, he was
still going strong, with no end in sight.
Suddenly a bell rang, and a trap door in the floor behind the
pulpit dropped open.
"Wonderful!" said the congregation, "Marvelous!"
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Silver Cord
The Silver Cord
Some day the silver cord will break
And I no more as now shall sing ;
But , O, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King
Some day my earthly house will fall ,
I cannot tell how soon ‘twill be ,
But this I know ,my all in all
Has now a place in Heav’n for me .
Some day when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy-tinted west
My blessed Lord will say , Well done !”
And I shall enter into rest .
Some day till then I’ll watch and wait ,,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright ,
That when my Savior opens the gate ,
My soul to Him may take its flight .
Jan Bagwell 6/25/08
Some day the silver cord will break
And I no more as now shall sing ;
But , O, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King
Some day my earthly house will fall ,
I cannot tell how soon ‘twill be ,
But this I know ,my all in all
Has now a place in Heav’n for me .
Some day when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy-tinted west
My blessed Lord will say , Well done !”
And I shall enter into rest .
Some day till then I’ll watch and wait ,,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright ,
That when my Savior opens the gate ,
My soul to Him may take its flight .
Jan Bagwell 6/25/08
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Because I'm Human
Because I’m Human
Because I am not perfect ,
My best intentions seen
To sometimes miss fillment ,
Like the texture of a dream ,
And I wage a daily battle ,
That I very often lose ,
Between the things that matter,
And the ones I seen to choose .
Because I am no angel ,
I am easy to mislead ,
In spite of what I know is right ,
I’m swayed by pride and greed .
Sometimes I think I love the world
Too much to want to leave ,
Though Eternity awaits me ,
And all that I believe ,
My free will is a problem ,
How easy it would be ,
If God made the decisions ,
And took the job from me
But in this there is no merit ,
I am very well aware ,
So I have to work for Heaven ,
Every moment I am here.
And just because I’m human ,
It might take a little long ,
To be come what I was meant to be ,
Since I’m really not that strong .
So I’ll just keep on a trying ,
and I’ll live from day to day ,
For my spirit is immortal ,
…Though my body’s made of clay ,
Jan Bagwell
8/12/04
Because I am not perfect ,
My best intentions seen
To sometimes miss fillment ,
Like the texture of a dream ,
And I wage a daily battle ,
That I very often lose ,
Between the things that matter,
And the ones I seen to choose .
Because I am no angel ,
I am easy to mislead ,
In spite of what I know is right ,
I’m swayed by pride and greed .
Sometimes I think I love the world
Too much to want to leave ,
Though Eternity awaits me ,
And all that I believe ,
My free will is a problem ,
How easy it would be ,
If God made the decisions ,
And took the job from me
But in this there is no merit ,
I am very well aware ,
So I have to work for Heaven ,
Every moment I am here.
And just because I’m human ,
It might take a little long ,
To be come what I was meant to be ,
Since I’m really not that strong .
So I’ll just keep on a trying ,
and I’ll live from day to day ,
For my spirit is immortal ,
…Though my body’s made of clay ,
Jan Bagwell
8/12/04
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In The Valleys I Grow
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountaintop
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day,
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know,
The mountaintops are glorious,
But it's in the valleys I grow!
Jan Bagwell
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountaintop
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day,
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know,
The mountaintops are glorious,
But it's in the valleys I grow!
Jan Bagwell
Monday, June 23, 2008
If Tomorrow Starts Without Me...
If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
The thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things
You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
Jan Bagwell
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
The thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things
You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
Jan Bagwell
God's Wings
An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an
interesting picture of God's wings.
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers
began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched
statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat
sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a
stick.
When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under
their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of
impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the
tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively
knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown
to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.
When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small
body, the mother had remained steadfast.
Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of
her wings would live.
Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.
Remember the One who loves you,
...and then be different because of it.
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you
will find refuge." (
Jan Bagwell
interesting picture of God's wings.
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers
began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched
statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat
sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a
stick.
When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under
their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of
impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the
tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively
knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown
to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.
When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small
body, the mother had remained steadfast.
Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of
her wings would live.
Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.
Remember the One who loves you,
...and then be different because of it.
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you
will find refuge." (
Jan Bagwell
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Paneled Houses
Haggai 1:4
"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
There is a crisis of grand proportions in the spiritual house of God today. The moral fiber of our world has eroded. Greed, idolatry, and pleasure are the gods of our day. And it is no different in the Body of Christ.
The prophet Haggai wrote about a people who had lost concern for the need to build God's house because they were so focused on their own worldly needs. It is a dangerous place to get with God. When our world begins to focus around increasing our pleasure, building bigger and better homes, and failing to make what is important to God important in our own lives, this should be a warning to us.
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," He said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers' " (Matthew. 21:12-13).
Jesus came into Jerusalem and found the businesspeople buying and selling in the temple. As far as they knew, this was an acceptable practice in their day. Their fathers did it, and now they were doing it. It was business as usual. Jesus got angry, turned over the tables, and said that His house was a house of prayer. He found the businesspeople of the day seeing His house as a place for profit, not prayer. They had stepped into a place of complacency that was not acceptable to the Lord. When we begin to blend in with the moral condition of an ungodly world, we begin losing God's perspective on life.
It is easy to begin blending in with our culture and to accept what is being modeled by the ungodly. God called us to be salt in a world that needs much salt. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Mt. 5:13). Each of us must ask ourselves if we have lost our salt. Are we having an impact on our world? Or is our world having an impact on us? Ask God to give you a vision for how you can be salt to your world today.
"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
There is a crisis of grand proportions in the spiritual house of God today. The moral fiber of our world has eroded. Greed, idolatry, and pleasure are the gods of our day. And it is no different in the Body of Christ.
The prophet Haggai wrote about a people who had lost concern for the need to build God's house because they were so focused on their own worldly needs. It is a dangerous place to get with God. When our world begins to focus around increasing our pleasure, building bigger and better homes, and failing to make what is important to God important in our own lives, this should be a warning to us.
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," He said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers' " (Matthew. 21:12-13).
Jesus came into Jerusalem and found the businesspeople buying and selling in the temple. As far as they knew, this was an acceptable practice in their day. Their fathers did it, and now they were doing it. It was business as usual. Jesus got angry, turned over the tables, and said that His house was a house of prayer. He found the businesspeople of the day seeing His house as a place for profit, not prayer. They had stepped into a place of complacency that was not acceptable to the Lord. When we begin to blend in with the moral condition of an ungodly world, we begin losing God's perspective on life.
It is easy to begin blending in with our culture and to accept what is being modeled by the ungodly. God called us to be salt in a world that needs much salt. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Mt. 5:13). Each of us must ask ourselves if we have lost our salt. Are we having an impact on our world? Or is our world having an impact on us? Ask God to give you a vision for how you can be salt to your world today.
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