Judged Not Worthy
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two
survivors were able to make it to the shore of a small deserted
island. With no idea what else to do they agreed they had no
recourse but to pray to God. However, they were divided as to
whose prayer would be more effectual. They agreed finally to
divide the island between them and stay each to his own side of
the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the
first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island,
and thus he ate. The other man's parcel of the island remained
barren, and thus he remained hungry.
After a couple of days the first man became lonely so he prayed
for a wife. The next day another ship wrecked and the lone
survivor, a woman swam to his side of the island. The other man
remained without a companion.
Next, the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food.
The next day all of these miraculously appeared. However the
other man still had nothing.
Finally the first man prayed for rescue for he and his wife.
In the morning there was a ship docked on his side of the
island. He and his wife boarded the ship and left the other man
behind. As the ship was pulling away from the island a voice
from heaven boomed out,
"Why are you leaving that other man on the island?"
The man replied, "Well, Lord, I figured the blessings I prayed
for were mine, and since apparently none of his prayers were
answered he mustn't be worthy."
The Lord rebuked him saying, "Oh my son you are so mistaken, for
you see he only had one prayer, which I answered fully. If not
for that you would not have received the richness of blessings
that you have, you owe him everything."
"Tell me", the man asked, "what did he pray for that I should
give him anything?"
The Lord replied,
"He prayed that all of your prayers would be answered."
God Bless and have a safe weekend
Jan Bagwell
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
What is a Friend ?
One day, when I was a freshman in high school,
I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his
books.
I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a
Friday?
He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends
tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him
so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet
from him
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled
around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. "
They really should get lives.
" He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen
him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends
He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked
him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books
again.
I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
muscles with this pile of books everyday!
" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends
When we were seniors, we began to think
about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown , and I
was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a
problem.
He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football
scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak
Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
!
Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and
smiled.
" Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began
"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those
tough years.
Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly
your friends...
I am here to tell all of you that being a
friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the
first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to
do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
"Thankfully, I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told
us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
Jan Bagwell
_____
I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his
books.
I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a
Friday?
He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends
tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him
so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet
from him
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled
around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. "
They really should get lives.
" He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen
him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends
He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked
him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books
again.
I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
muscles with this pile of books everyday!
" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends
When we were seniors, we began to think
about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown , and I
was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a
problem.
He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football
scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak
Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
!
Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and
smiled.
" Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began
"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those
tough years.
Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly
your friends...
I am here to tell all of you that being a
friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the
first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to
do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
"Thankfully, I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told
us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
Jan Bagwell
_____
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Eternal Now
The Eternal Now
We can never reach tomorrow ,
Yesterday is dead and gone :
Yet the now of happy living
Marches on and on and on .
So I do not see tomorrow
And its worries when I pray ;
But instead I pray that Jesus
Will stay close to me , today ,
It will keep me very busy ;
It will keep me happy too
If I work along with Jesus
At the task He helps me do.
So I do not see tomorrow
For its needs I do not pray
Each tomorrow always brings me
Just another glad today!
God bless and keep you !
Jan Bagwell
We can never reach tomorrow ,
Yesterday is dead and gone :
Yet the now of happy living
Marches on and on and on .
So I do not see tomorrow
And its worries when I pray ;
But instead I pray that Jesus
Will stay close to me , today ,
It will keep me very busy ;
It will keep me happy too
If I work along with Jesus
At the task He helps me do.
So I do not see tomorrow
For its needs I do not pray
Each tomorrow always brings me
Just another glad today!
God bless and keep you !
Jan Bagwell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Poem
THE POEM
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
Thank you and God Bless
Jan Bagwell
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
Thank you and God Bless
Jan Bagwell
Monday, April 26, 2010
IF THE BIBLE HAS NO ANSWER
If The Bible Has No Answer
If the Bible has no answer
We are doomed to dark despair ,
Our lives are weak and worthless ,
If we can find no help there
Have we come this toilsome way
With sore and bleeding feet ,
To discover the Old Book wanting
And there is no mercy seat ?
Have we heard a mother’s prayer
In the still and silent night ,
To learn for the burden on her heart
There is no ray of light ?
Have we looked on the faces of dear ones
Who will greet us here no more,
Only to know we shall never meet them
Over there on the Golden shore ?
If God’s hand has ever led you
Through surges wild and deep ,
You KNOW the Bible has the answer ,
And every promise He will keep
God Bless and keep you till we meet once again : Jan Bagwell
If the Bible has no answer
We are doomed to dark despair ,
Our lives are weak and worthless ,
If we can find no help there
Have we come this toilsome way
With sore and bleeding feet ,
To discover the Old Book wanting
And there is no mercy seat ?
Have we heard a mother’s prayer
In the still and silent night ,
To learn for the burden on her heart
There is no ray of light ?
Have we looked on the faces of dear ones
Who will greet us here no more,
Only to know we shall never meet them
Over there on the Golden shore ?
If God’s hand has ever led you
Through surges wild and deep ,
You KNOW the Bible has the answer ,
And every promise He will keep
God Bless and keep you till we meet once again : Jan Bagwell
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