The Carpenter's Chapel (8)

Charles, I received your email and thank you for letting me know. Please stay in touch. You and Barbara are in our thoughts and prayers.

Blessings

Sheila

 

I have been invited to write a few stories here whilst Charles is temporarily indisposed. I am not a replacement, just a helpmate for the moment.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I am so pleased you are going to be contributing here Jim. Welcome! I look forward to reading your posts.

Blessings

following-Him

 

I too am pleased that you are "holding the fort", thanks brother Jim.:applause:

 

Monday, January 12, 2009

On preparing to put one's shoes on we go through routine steps called habits. So, Ned was watching his grandpa put on his shoes.

"Why do you always turn your shoes over and shake them before you put them on?"

"Do I?", Asked grandpa.

"Why yes, you shook them just now, but I didn't see anything come out. I have to shake my shoes sometimes to get sand out."

Grandpa laughed. "I didn't know that I shake my shoes, Ned. I must have gotten into the habit of shaking my shoes everytime before I put them on when I was in India."

"Why did you do it there?"

"Oh, to shake out any scorpions or centipedes or any other vermin that might be hiding in them."

"But you don't have to do that here!"

"I know," said grandpa, "But I formed the habit and now I do it without thinking."

A habit can be a very strong thing. We form habits at a very young age and they often last a lifetime. Some habits are worth forming. Some habits can keep us from developing in life. A bad habit can grow as strongly as a good habit. Hence, we should always be aware of habits we form in life.

If you want to have good habits as you grow older, it is best that we form these habits when we are young.

We should, however, not be entrapped by a habit, but rather by a choice. I do not pray and read scripture by habit as good as it is to pray and read scripture. I pray and read scripture to grow in my faith in God.

Let's be sure of the reason for our habits whether they be good or bad.

Lord, TEACH us to pray and understand Your word because our hearts are overflowing with desire, and not out of mere habit.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Amen

thanks Jim :wavey:

 

Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009

Wed Jan 14, 2009

A little dog with a rather lame leg was trying to climb up a curbside onto the pavement. He would get one leg and then try as he may to pull the lame leg up, but ended up on his backside in the gutter. He would try taking a run at the curb, but the same affect.

Passersby just made fun of the little critter. They had their laughs and passed him by as they went about their business. Not one offered to help him.

After some time, a workman came by. He saw the little dog, almost exhausted from trying, and he pitied the poor little dog. He went over and lifted him up to the pavement. The workman petted the dog and then went on his way.

That is what the Lord Jesus did for us. He left heaven and came down to earth to lift us from sin and its ruin. He even gave His life for us upon the cross. Then He returned to heaven and His place there upon a throne at the right hand of God, His Father. How we thank Him for this kindess!

"Go you into all the world..............and live for Him.....be a lifting hand to all who may cross our path.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Thanks Brother Jim.:wavey:

 

Amen. Jim, that is a valuable lesson to us all.

Blessings

Sheila

 

These are just some more of my children's stories. I use to tell them at church in morning services before the children left for the nursery and church school.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Hello brother Jim,
Please could I have your permission to share these gems with my pastor, I feel they will benefit both young and old in his ministry.
Cofion `orau,
Gwyneth:wavey:

 

Jim, I am so pleased that you are finding the time to share them with us.

Many thanks.

Blessings

Sheila

 

Thursday, Jan 15, 2009

Psalm 116: 12ff

What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.........

In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem, Praise ye the LORD.

A young man was summoned to the bedside of his aged mother. She was more than eighty years old, and had been stricke with what was feared wold prove her fatal illness. Her children had all gathered in her room, when in walked the pastor.

He turned to the aged saint and asked her, "What shall I read from the Bible?"

She replied, "Make your own selection, but let it be of praise."

She was weak and old and sick unto death, but there was no gloom or sadness in her heart. In her heart was praise.

IN the Alps, the majestic tall mountains of Europe, the shepherds have a beautiful custom. At the end of he day, they gathered the sheep together to go home. When they begin to lead the flock down the mountain side, they begin to sing. What do they sing? They sing songs of praise to God. Imagine, as they sing, the echo comes back to them like a yodel in the calm of night, repeating that praise over and over.

It must be wonderful to hear the mountains echo the praise of God. Also to hear people that appreciate God for more than what He can give, but because He is God.

"In the courts of he LORD's house, in the midst of the people, O Jerusalem. Praise you the LORD."

Cheers,

Jim

 

What lovely devotionals. Thank you Jim.

God Bless You.

Sheila

 

Yes, lovely; easy to read and a strong message within.
Thanks Brother Jim.

 

Monday, Jan 19, 2009

2 Tim 2:4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier."

There is a rather interesting fact about the shores of South America. Vegetation grows very rapidly in the ocean front. There was a ship that lay in anchor along those shores and it became lily-bound. The vegetation growth was so rapid the ship quickly became an island of lilies. They grew so fast that the chains became entangled in the lily growth. Soon, the flowery mass caused the vessel to drag her anchor and drift in the wrong direction. Then, the crew had a long and most difficult task. With cutlasses and hatchets, they released their ship from the binding flowers.

How easy it is for Christians to become entangled with the golden flowers of riches and pleasures and worldly pleasures. Soon our lives begin to drift in the wrong direction. We must keep ourselves free from the entanglements of this world. It is here we re-read Paul's words. If a soldier were to entangle himself in the mess of the situation he would lose all perspective of what he was there for. He would risk his own life. We do that as believers. We get taken aback by the worldy attractions and soon we are enamoured in the wrong directions. Read the word, study the word and pray, always looking to the Source of that word, the Word Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Help us Lord, each one, to be ever aware of Your presence and ready help to keep our spiritual ship afloat and free of the glamours of this old world.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Thank you Jim for a most timely message.

Blessings

Sheila

 

Diolch yn fawr Brodyr Jim .
Gwyneth

 

Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009

A beautiful story is told about a king going into his garden. To his surprise, he found his trees dying, his shrubs and flowers wilted. He asked the oak why it was dying, and the oak replied, "Because I cannot be tall like the pine." So, he asked the pine why it was drooping, and it replied. "
Because I can't bear grapes like the vine." He then asked the vine why it was wilting. The vine replied, "Because I cannot blossom like the rose."

Then, the king came upon the heartsease (pansy to Americans), blooming as fresh as ever. Then the king enquired of the heartsease. Why is it you are not like the other plants in this garden? They are all wilting and dying.

"I took it for granted that when you planted me here you wanted a pansy, and so I did my best to be what I am for your pleasure and my delight.

Many people in the Lord's garden want to be something else than what the Lord intended them to be. They are not satisfied to do what the Lord intended them to do, and are unhappy and drooping, when they should be happy and serving.

Let us gladly obey every command and wish of the Lord for our lives.

Amazing what lessons are found in children's stories.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, that is such a lovely story. Many thanks.
We have been away for a couple of days but it is good to be home again. Home = rest :laugh:

Blessings

Sheila