This has always been on of my favorite stories, and a great picture of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."
"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.
As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.
He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
He is Worthy!
This passage of scripture has really been challenging me this week.
Revelation 5:6-14
John spends a good deal of time describing the scene in the throne room of God which is amazing to think about. But then you get all the way down to verse 11 and he writes "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand... 12 in a loud voice they sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'"
Now here's what has challenged me... if this is what it is like around the throne of God, angels declaring He is worthy, what should my life be like right now?
John goes on in verse 13 and writes, "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!'"
Wow! Every breath I take should declare that He is worthy. Everything I think, say and do should bring glory to God. Simply because He is worthy.
I don't think we have to wait until we are in the throne room of the heavenlies to worship and declare that He is worthy. I'm thinking we should be doing this now. The fact that Jesus is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise should change the way I live right now!
No matter where I am or what I'm going through. No matter what I have accomplished or failed to complete.
He alone is worthy. And I must make sure that each day I am giving Him praise.
I guess a better title for this post would have been, "Joe's wandering mind". But I just had to put into words as best as I could what I've been thinking about lately.
Today is done. Did I give Him praise? Tomorrow will begin soon, will I acknowledge He is worthy of all praise, and will I praise Him all day long? Whether I do or not... He is Worthy!
Revelation 5:6-14
John spends a good deal of time describing the scene in the throne room of God which is amazing to think about. But then you get all the way down to verse 11 and he writes "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand... 12 in a loud voice they sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'"
Now here's what has challenged me... if this is what it is like around the throne of God, angels declaring He is worthy, what should my life be like right now?
John goes on in verse 13 and writes, "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!'"
Wow! Every breath I take should declare that He is worthy. Everything I think, say and do should bring glory to God. Simply because He is worthy.
I don't think we have to wait until we are in the throne room of the heavenlies to worship and declare that He is worthy. I'm thinking we should be doing this now. The fact that Jesus is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise should change the way I live right now!
No matter where I am or what I'm going through. No matter what I have accomplished or failed to complete.
He alone is worthy. And I must make sure that each day I am giving Him praise.
I guess a better title for this post would have been, "Joe's wandering mind". But I just had to put into words as best as I could what I've been thinking about lately.
Today is done. Did I give Him praise? Tomorrow will begin soon, will I acknowledge He is worthy of all praise, and will I praise Him all day long? Whether I do or not... He is Worthy!
Friday, April 2, 2010
7 Keys to Unlocking Growth Potential
A few days ago I attended a minister's meeting where Kendall Bridges, pastor of Freedom Life Church in Carrollton was the guest speaker.
His topic was 7 Keys to Unlocking Growth Potential.
Kendall started out by mentioning that growth is not equally comparable to someone elses growth. The same principles, ideas or systems someone else is using may not work in my world. Therefore we should always remember never to compare ourselves, our ministries, or our churches with anyone else!
Here are the 7 keys:
1. Passion - Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do must have compassion.
Passion is contagious.
2. Preparation - 2 Timothy 4:2
There is no excuse for not being prepared.
This applies both in the business world and in the church!
3. People - Acts 20:20
People matter.
4. Purpose - Colossians 2:2
Know your purpose. Show your purpose. Don't blow your purpose.
5. Prioritize - Luke 14:28
What is most important?
6. Pray - Jeremiah 33:3; Psalms 46:10
S - silent
T - time
I - inquire (make your need know)
L - listen
L - learn
7. Preach - 2 Timothy 4:2
Know your message.
Rehearse it. Rehearse it. Rehearse it.
Know your audience. (This is huge!)
Know your strengths and weaknesses.
Know how to give an altar call.
His topic was 7 Keys to Unlocking Growth Potential.
Kendall started out by mentioning that growth is not equally comparable to someone elses growth. The same principles, ideas or systems someone else is using may not work in my world. Therefore we should always remember never to compare ourselves, our ministries, or our churches with anyone else!
Here are the 7 keys:
1. Passion - Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do must have compassion.
Passion is contagious.
2. Preparation - 2 Timothy 4:2
There is no excuse for not being prepared.
This applies both in the business world and in the church!
3. People - Acts 20:20
People matter.
4. Purpose - Colossians 2:2
Know your purpose. Show your purpose. Don't blow your purpose.
5. Prioritize - Luke 14:28
What is most important?
6. Pray - Jeremiah 33:3; Psalms 46:10
S - silent
T - time
I - inquire (make your need know)
L - listen
L - learn
7. Preach - 2 Timothy 4:2
Know your message.
Rehearse it. Rehearse it. Rehearse it.
Know your audience. (This is huge!)
Know your strengths and weaknesses.
Know how to give an altar call.
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