Sack of Potatoes

 

On his way to the market, a man spotted his neighbor carrying a sack of potatoes. He pulled his wagon to a stop and offered him a ride. The man accepted and climbed onto the back of the wagon. After some distance, the neighbor noticed the man was still shouldering the heavy load and said, “John, why don’t you put that sack down and take a rest.” John replied, “Oh no, I couldn’t impose on you like that. You were kind enough to offer me a ride. I don’t need to burden you with my problem.”

How many of us walk around carrying heavy burdens? The gunnysack of guilt. The bag of bereavement. Totes of tattered lives. Flagons of failure. With so much weighing us down, how could we possibly ask Jesus to carry our burdens. I mean, He gave so much for us on the cross? A battered body. Betrayed friends. Lied about. Clothes ripped from him. A father who forsook him. And to add insult to injury, they buried him in a borrowed tomb.

We don’t have to bear the weight of our problems alone. We have someone who is willing not only to give us a ride along life’s road, but offered to shoulder the load for us. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mat. 11:28. Peter offers, “Casting all your care upon him; for he, (Jesus) careth for you.” 1Pet. 5:7. The choice is ours. Do we carry our sack, or do we allow Jesus to lighten the load?

Louis Edwards

The Emmaus Walk

Computers

A Spanish Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. House, for instance, is feminine: “la casa.” Pencil,  however, is masculine: “el lapiz.” A student asked, “What gender is computer?” Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves and give four reasons why computer should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

   The men’s group decided that computer should definitely be of the feminine gender (“la computadora”) because of the following reasons:

1.     No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

2.  The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

     3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval.

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

   The women’s group, however, concluded that computer should be masculind (“el computador”) because of the following reasons:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.

3. The are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won the debate.

Anonymous

Christian Womanhood July 2021

 

Love

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A young man attempted to rescue his parents from their burning home but was unsuccessful. The injuries he sustained from the fire left his face marred and forced him into isolation from others and the one who loved him most. His wife. In a desperate attempt, his wife sought the help of a well-known plastic surgeon, hoping to restore their relationship. The doctor after hearing her story and understanding her husband rejecting help refused her case. In desperation, the wife asks to have her face scarred like her husband. The doctor informed her it would be unethical, and the wife returned home broken-hearted.

The next day, while on her knees at prayer, there was a knock at the door. To her surprise, the doctor was standing on the other side. She invited him in and he ask to speak to her husband. She led him to a closed door and he knocked. The voice on the other side told him to leave he wanted to see no one. The doctor told him he was a plastic surgeon and could help him. There was no reply. After a moment of silence, the doctor informed him his wife had visited him and she wanted her face to be like his. A moment later the door opened and a tear-stained face appeared. With a trembling voice he said, “She will do that for me?”

Humanity’s scar of sin has separated us from God. Because of his longing for love and companionship with man, He became flesh and took the scars of sin. His battered body hung on a cross to pay for the scar of sin. His death and resurrection set us free from it.

*From Dr. David Jeramiah. Rewritten to shorten story line.

Louis Edwards

How Much Are You Worth?

 

Text:

1 Timothy 5:18

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

 

A pastor went to see a doctor friend of his for a check-up. During the exam, the pastor shared with him how some of his congregation complained about his salary. The doctor knew the man of God worked a full-time job, spent many hours in the word, cared for his flock, and helped countless people in the community.

The doctor finished the exam and ask his friend. “If a man could fix your heart and give you another twenty-five years, how much would that be worth?” The preacher replied, “I don’t know.” The doctor responded, “three-hundred-thousand dollars.” The doctor continued. “If a man could remove a brain tumor and give you twenty more years with your family, how much would that be worth?” The pastor shook his head and said, “I don’t know.” His friend followed, “It would be worth two-hundred-fifty thousand dollars.” After a brief pause the doctor asks, “Pastor, what is a man worth that can keep a person out of hell?”

The answer to that last question is one that you can not put a price on. Any man, woman, pastor, or child, who can share the gospel and bring a person to Jesus Christ is worth more than the wealth of the world. Whenever Satan tries to make you believe you are worthless, just remember, you can’t put a price on those who rescue others from hell.

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Louis Edwards

The Battleground “State” of Mind

2 Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

2 Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

2 Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

During an election year politicians inundate us with political adds that hammer us from every side. Television, radio, newspapers and other media are constantly vying for our attention. While all candidates are promising to make our world a better place, they also condemn one another for their shortcomings. But the area where each candidate pushes the hardest are the battleground states. The winner of these locations usually become the victor of the election.

Just as politicians take aim with their campaign adds to win us over to their way of thinking, we face a battle, our state of mind. On one side you have a foe who wants to defeat you and fill you with lies, while Jesus is trying to encourage you and show you there is hope. In order for us to discern the difference, we need to separate truth from fiction. As individuals, we have a source that can help us isolate the two. The word of God.

When wading through the clutter, we need to stay focused on the subject at hand. If we lend our thoughts to the enemy and learn his ways, we will be like him. If we open our mind to the things of God, we will transform our ways to His. Isaiah said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa. 26:3. Paul went on further to say in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Remember, our state of mind will determine who wins the battle.

Quote

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”

William James

By Louis Edwards

Unfolding the Rose

Text:

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush, handed the young preacher a rosebud, and told to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher as he was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.

But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose while keeping every petal intact. It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this task was.

Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem:

It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God’s design; But I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.

God opens this flower so sweetly, Then, in my hands, they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God’s design, then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for leading each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for his guidance each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows.

I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose.

Author Unknown

Article from: Christian Womanhood

VOL. 44 NO. 10 PG 33

In the Bathroom

Mat 14:23

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

In 1933, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a company was formed known for its water softener. Later, the business became popular for its dishwasher detergent. But the campaign that made it a household name was an advertisement introducing a woman wearing a fluffy pink robe, in a chaotic home with rising tension. She soon cries, “Calgon take me away!” The scene switches to her soaking in a tub escaping the turmoil.

Jesus, after feeding the five-thousand, healing people, raising the dead, and being thronged by the multitudes needed time alone. His escape, a mountain. A place of solitude where he could get alone with the father. His Sonship did not exempt him from the pressures of life. Through this life experience, He understood man’s difficulties. His time alone allowed Him to refresh Himself and face new challenges.

As a child of God, we are forced to face life and its encounters. Our body, soul, and spirit become weary in “Well doing.” And when it does, our cry should not be, “Calgon take me away,” but instead, we should call out to the one who understands, Jesus.

Quote

“There is only one way left to escape the alienation of present-day society: to retreat ahead of it.”

Roland Barthes

By Louis Edwards