Anyway
=======
People are often unreasonable,
Illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
People may accuse
You of selfish motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
You will win some false friends
And some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His Resurrection?
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His Resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which wasplaced over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of span that stony coffin.
Is that important?
You'd better believe it! Is that significant! Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes, In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and everyone knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight,until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now, if the master was done eating he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, I'm done". But if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin, and placed it beside his plate the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant "I'm not finished yet."
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which wasplaced over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of span that stony coffin.
Is that important?
You'd better believe it! Is that significant! Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes, In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and everyone knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight,until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now, if the master was done eating he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, I'm done". But if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin, and placed it beside his plate the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant "I'm not finished yet."
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Fruit Comes Afterward
The Fruit Comes Afterward
"The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and storm" (Nahum 1:3).
I recollect, when a lad, and while attending a concert in the vicinity of Asheville ,N.C. sitting on an elevation of that mountain, and watching a storm as it came up the valley. The heavens were filled with blackness, and the earth was shaken by the voice of thunder. It seemed as though that fair landscape was utterly changed, and its beauty gone never to return.
But the storm swept on, and passed out of the valley; and if I had sat in the same place on the following day, and said, "Where is that terrible storm, with all its terrible blackness?" the grass would have said, "Part of it is in me," and the daisy would have said, "Part of it is in me," and the fruits and flowers and everything that grows out of the ground would have said, "Part of the storm is incandescent in me."
Have you asked to be made like your Lord? Have you longed for the fruit of the Spirit, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love? Then fear not the stormy tempest that is at this moment sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm, and there will be the rich fruitage in the "afterward."
***
The flowers live by the tears that fall
From the sad face of the skies;
And life would have no joys at all,
Were there no watery eyes.
Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring
Its own excuse in after years;
The rainbow!--see how fair a thing
God hath built up from tears.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Lord ,Please heal Elizabeth Henson , Judy Pangborn , Mary Carpenter and her sister
"The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and storm" (Nahum 1:3).
I recollect, when a lad, and while attending a concert in the vicinity of Asheville ,N.C. sitting on an elevation of that mountain, and watching a storm as it came up the valley. The heavens were filled with blackness, and the earth was shaken by the voice of thunder. It seemed as though that fair landscape was utterly changed, and its beauty gone never to return.
But the storm swept on, and passed out of the valley; and if I had sat in the same place on the following day, and said, "Where is that terrible storm, with all its terrible blackness?" the grass would have said, "Part of it is in me," and the daisy would have said, "Part of it is in me," and the fruits and flowers and everything that grows out of the ground would have said, "Part of the storm is incandescent in me."
Have you asked to be made like your Lord? Have you longed for the fruit of the Spirit, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love? Then fear not the stormy tempest that is at this moment sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm, and there will be the rich fruitage in the "afterward."
***
The flowers live by the tears that fall
From the sad face of the skies;
And life would have no joys at all,
Were there no watery eyes.
Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring
Its own excuse in after years;
The rainbow!--see how fair a thing
God hath built up from tears.
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Lord ,Please heal Elizabeth Henson , Judy Pangborn , Mary Carpenter and her sister
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Would you Listen ?
Would You Listen?
THE SITUATION: In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold
January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000
people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a
musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds,
and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A
woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to
walk.
At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him,
then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him
along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again,
but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning
his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other
children, but every parent - without exception - forced their
children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people
stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but
continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total
of $32.
After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one
noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No
one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the
greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million
dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston
where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play
the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C.
Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a
social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we
perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever
written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Remember ...
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called: The Present.
Enjoy life NOW .. it has an expiration date
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Is this reason so many people miss God Blessing ? They just don't take the time .
THE SITUATION: In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold
January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000
people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a
musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds,
and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A
woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to
walk.
At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him,
then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him
along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again,
but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning
his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other
children, but every parent - without exception - forced their
children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people
stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but
continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total
of $32.
After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one
noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No
one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the
greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million
dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston
where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play
the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C.
Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a
social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we
perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever
written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Remember ...
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called: The Present.
Enjoy life NOW .. it has an expiration date
Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
Is this reason so many people miss God Blessing ? They just don't take the time .
Monday, January 31, 2011
Better Than A Rolls
I spent four hours one night cleaning my wife's van. It was
spotless and fragranced with powdered honeysuckle. That's what
the car fragrance smelled like that I used.
As we were driving away the next day for a family outing, I
looked in the back seat. The four-year-old was strapped in.
The two-year-old was comfortably seated in his child seat.
My wife was driving.
It was a Godly Moment.
Godly Moments occur whenever life gives us the
opportunity to take an otherwise mundane or even negative
situation, and rise to the mountaintop.
I inhaled deeply the soft honeysuckle. It was mixed with the
scent of the hair conditioner of the two-year-old. The kids
were watching a video.
I was openly pleased with the cleaning job that I had done.
Every scrap, smudge, and drop of unidentifiable kid's stuff was
gone.
"This van is great," I said.
"It's not a Rolls," my wife replied.
"No," I answered, "It's better than a Rolls Royce."
"A Rolls doesn't ride this smooth."
I have learned to find and appreciate Godly Moments.
We have a four-year-old Plymouth Voyager Van.
I have ridden in a Rolls Royce,
it wasn't a new Rolls but I wasn't impressed for the money.
A Rolls doesn't have the headroom of the van.
A Rolls doesn't have a TV.
A Rolls doesn't have a VCR.
A Rolls can't seat seven people or let you listen to three sound
systems at one time.
In a Rolls you can't recline the seat into a bed.
I went down the list of all of the advantages of our van over a
Rolls.
"You have a point," my wife said.
So often, the thing that you have, is so much better than what
is on the other side of the fence.
You just don't realize it.
You have to get on the mountain to see it.
You need A Godly Moment.
A strange thing happened after that day.
Neatness of organization is not my wife's strength.
The van is usually piled with her papers, kid's toys, and all of
the accessories that go along with kids.
I got in the van a week later.
I was shocked. It was absolutely clean.
Two weeks later.
Still spotlessly clean.
I rode with my wife yesterday (a month later),
I had a fruit bar with me. I unwrapped it and laid the wrapper
on the spotless floor behind me.
"Don't leave that wrapper on the floor," she said as she eyed
the wrapper with an extreme look of disdain.
A month ago, you would not have been able to find the wrapper if
you laid it on the floor, and the van would have qualified as
Oscar's vehicle on The Odd Couple, (he was the junky one).
Today, it was like Felix's, (the neat one).
What in the world had happened?
I was both proud and amazed.
I asked, "What caused the change from junk mobile to showroom
condition?"
"If I wouldn't junk up a Rolls, then why should I junk up
something better than a Rolls?"
Same Van – Different Appreciation
How we treat something depends so much on how we view and
value it.
When you stop to think about it, you have a lot of things in
your world far more valuable than a Rolls Royce. The eyes you
use for reading this, are two of those many things.
Maybe there are some people and some things that you need to
put polish on, lavish sweet smelling things on, and remove the
junk from.
Maybe, just maybe, you're junking up something better than a
Rolls Royce.
Thank you ,
Wayne Wilson :
Jan Bagwell
God Bless
spotless and fragranced with powdered honeysuckle. That's what
the car fragrance smelled like that I used.
As we were driving away the next day for a family outing, I
looked in the back seat. The four-year-old was strapped in.
The two-year-old was comfortably seated in his child seat.
My wife was driving.
It was a Godly Moment.
Godly Moments occur whenever life gives us the
opportunity to take an otherwise mundane or even negative
situation, and rise to the mountaintop.
I inhaled deeply the soft honeysuckle. It was mixed with the
scent of the hair conditioner of the two-year-old. The kids
were watching a video.
I was openly pleased with the cleaning job that I had done.
Every scrap, smudge, and drop of unidentifiable kid's stuff was
gone.
"This van is great," I said.
"It's not a Rolls," my wife replied.
"No," I answered, "It's better than a Rolls Royce."
"A Rolls doesn't ride this smooth."
I have learned to find and appreciate Godly Moments.
We have a four-year-old Plymouth Voyager Van.
I have ridden in a Rolls Royce,
it wasn't a new Rolls but I wasn't impressed for the money.
A Rolls doesn't have the headroom of the van.
A Rolls doesn't have a TV.
A Rolls doesn't have a VCR.
A Rolls can't seat seven people or let you listen to three sound
systems at one time.
In a Rolls you can't recline the seat into a bed.
I went down the list of all of the advantages of our van over a
Rolls.
"You have a point," my wife said.
So often, the thing that you have, is so much better than what
is on the other side of the fence.
You just don't realize it.
You have to get on the mountain to see it.
You need A Godly Moment.
A strange thing happened after that day.
Neatness of organization is not my wife's strength.
The van is usually piled with her papers, kid's toys, and all of
the accessories that go along with kids.
I got in the van a week later.
I was shocked. It was absolutely clean.
Two weeks later.
Still spotlessly clean.
I rode with my wife yesterday (a month later),
I had a fruit bar with me. I unwrapped it and laid the wrapper
on the spotless floor behind me.
"Don't leave that wrapper on the floor," she said as she eyed
the wrapper with an extreme look of disdain.
A month ago, you would not have been able to find the wrapper if
you laid it on the floor, and the van would have qualified as
Oscar's vehicle on The Odd Couple, (he was the junky one).
Today, it was like Felix's, (the neat one).
What in the world had happened?
I was both proud and amazed.
I asked, "What caused the change from junk mobile to showroom
condition?"
"If I wouldn't junk up a Rolls, then why should I junk up
something better than a Rolls?"
Same Van – Different Appreciation
How we treat something depends so much on how we view and
value it.
When you stop to think about it, you have a lot of things in
your world far more valuable than a Rolls Royce. The eyes you
use for reading this, are two of those many things.
Maybe there are some people and some things that you need to
put polish on, lavish sweet smelling things on, and remove the
junk from.
Maybe, just maybe, you're junking up something better than a
Rolls Royce.
Thank you ,
Wayne Wilson :
Jan Bagwell
God Bless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
