May 2008
May 25, 2008
25/05/08 17:35
Prayer Requests:
1. Josette Camara Barker – born premature
2. Kenny Williams – Job Situation
3. Cassandra Spiker – 4 yr old with cancer
4. Orval Woods
5. Revival in Coshocton
6. Steven Curtis Chapman Family
7. Jim – Kidney Trouble/In hospital
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6:00.
No Music Practice On Wednesday: Will contact you about the new day and time.
Mark Your Calendar: We will once again have our annual Lake Park Fellowship on Father’s Day. Will try to have more details later.
Graduation: Several of our families have a child graduating High School this year. Word Worship Center congratulates you and your child upon this blessed occasion!
There will be an all night prayer meeting on June 6. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Coshocton has plenty of people willing to stay up all night and walk for cancer, so there ought to be Christians willing to stay up praying for revival. Please sign up if you are planning to join this prayer meeting.
Thought for today: “Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Sounds to me like God wants to talk to you about the state of your heart. He is not an unreasonable God so perhaps you should take the time to hear him out
Be Fishers of Men.... You catch 'em, He'll clean 'em.
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
THE OLD FISHERMAN: Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the Clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. 'Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old,' I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw, yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus till morning.” He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success; no one seemed to have a room. “I guess it's my face. I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..” For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded, and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, ”Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won’t put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4 a.m., and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. “Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!” Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But, oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden Chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, 'If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!' My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained, “and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden.” She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. “There's an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. “He won't mind starting in this small body.” All this happened long ago -- and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand.
1. Josette Camara Barker – born premature
2. Kenny Williams – Job Situation
3. Cassandra Spiker – 4 yr old with cancer
4. Orval Woods
5. Revival in Coshocton
6. Steven Curtis Chapman Family
7. Jim – Kidney Trouble/In hospital
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6:00.
No Music Practice On Wednesday: Will contact you about the new day and time.
Mark Your Calendar: We will once again have our annual Lake Park Fellowship on Father’s Day. Will try to have more details later.
Graduation: Several of our families have a child graduating High School this year. Word Worship Center congratulates you and your child upon this blessed occasion!
There will be an all night prayer meeting on June 6. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Coshocton has plenty of people willing to stay up all night and walk for cancer, so there ought to be Christians willing to stay up praying for revival. Please sign up if you are planning to join this prayer meeting.
Thought for today: “Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Sounds to me like God wants to talk to you about the state of your heart. He is not an unreasonable God so perhaps you should take the time to hear him out
Be Fishers of Men.... You catch 'em, He'll clean 'em.
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
THE OLD FISHERMAN: Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the Clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. 'Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old,' I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw, yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus till morning.” He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success; no one seemed to have a room. “I guess it's my face. I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..” For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded, and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, ”Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won’t put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4 a.m., and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. “Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!” Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But, oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden Chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, 'If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!' My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained, “and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden.” She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. “There's an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. “He won't mind starting in this small body.” All this happened long ago -- and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand.
May 18, 2008
18/05/08 21:14
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:6
Prayer Requests:
1. Helen - health
2. Brooke - health
3. Brian – health
4. Pastors as they travel
5. Cassandra Spiker – 4 yr old with cancer
6. Orval Woods – eye surgery –Pat’s dad
7. Family of Harold Carpenter – He passed
8. Baby Kennedy – premature with problems
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6:00.
Music Practice: Next practice will be May 28.
FYI: Pastors are flying out to Colorado on Monday morning and will return on Friday. Please call on a Board Member if you have a need. Bill Treat, Bill Mourer or Don Ross. Sis. Becky Treat will teach the adult class on Wednesday night.
Mark Your Calendar: We will once again have our annual Lake Park Fellowship on Father’s Day. Will try to have more details later.
There will be an all night prayer meeting on June 6. Rom 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please sign up if you are planning to join this prayer meeting.
THE BIRTH OF THE SONG 'PRECIOUS LORD' Back in 1932, I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis.
I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.
However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a
phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was 'Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.' When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart. For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write
Gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone’s Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head they just seemed to fall into place:
'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand! I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'
The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also
healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our
deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this
is when He is closest, and when we are most open
to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home. -Tommy Dorsey-
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A teacher was finishing up a lesson on the joys of discovery and the importance of curiosity. "Where
would we be today." she asked, "if no one had ever
been curious?"
One child quietly spoke up from the back of the room.
"In the Garden of Eden!"
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
May 11, 2008
11/05/08 18:06
GOOD NEWS!!! Word Worship Center Youth Choir is now forming. Any boys and girls who want to make a joyful noise to the Lord are encouraged to join. Hope to see you there Questions about next practice can be directed to Renee Corbett at 623-0032 or 610-8444.
Music Practice: Next practice will be May 28.
Prayer Requests:
1. Helen - health
2. Brooke - health
3. Jenna Dawson – brain tumor
4. Tom & Jennifer Dawson – Jenna’s parents
5. Brian – health
6. Sis. Connie Williams
7. Amy
8. Cassandra Spiker – 4 yr old with cancer
9. Orval Woods – eye surgery –Pat’s dad
10. Harold Carpenter – stroke
11. Baby Kennedy – premature with problems
Women’s Bible Study: Cancelled for tonight.
Procter & Gamble wants to know if you approve of its support of the homosexual lifestyle
This was cancelled by Proctor & Gamble right after AFA started encouraging folks to call in Thanks for your willing heart on this. God saw your desire anyway.
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A big “thank you”! To Sandy Brown for working in the nursery this morning and to Cona Brown and Arminta Coakley for helping in the nursery. And to Andy and Brandy Mullins for cleaning our church this week. What would it be like if we didn’t have someone to do these services? I appreciate all of you who volunteer for these jobs. You are the unsung heroes of WWC!
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
A FUN THOUGHT
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is, " explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a ...?" "Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom." "We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in mid air and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" And great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates?" I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants."
Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean ole Mom told me: I loved you enough...to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home. I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep. I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes. I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect. I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart. But most of all, I loved you enough...to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them. Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too. Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less. We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do. She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough! Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16. Because of our mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other’s property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
May 4, 2008
04/05/08 11:35
If you [the Lord] are pleased with me, teach me your
ways so I may know you and continue to find favor
with you. Exodus 33:13
May he [the Lord] turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 1 Kings 8:58
Please pray for 1.Family of Tabitha Lousha 2. Denise – Unspoken 3.Chris Williams Unspoken
Music Practice: Wednesday at 6pm
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6pm
GOOD NEWS!!! Word Worship Center Youth Choir is now forming. Any boys and girls who want to make a joyful noise to the Lord are encouraged to join. The first practice will be held Thursday, May 8, at the Word Worship Center, starting at 6:30 p.m. and finishing around 8:00 p,m, Hope to see you there Questions can be directed to Renee Corbett at 623-0032 or 610-8444.
National Day of Prayer: It was a great event. If you didn’t bother to participate, you missed out on a blessing.
'''THREE TREES'''
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see the beauty.' Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.' Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and GOD, and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and they will always remember me.' - - - - - - - After a few years of praying their dreams would come true, a group of woodsman came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said,
'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter'....and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one, and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying Kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and a woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm rose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said, 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that is was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that GOD has a plan for you. If you place your trust GOD He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. You don't always know what God's plans are. Just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
-----------------------------------------------------
If God brings you to it
He will bring you through it.
May he [the Lord] turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 1 Kings 8:58
Please pray for 1.Family of Tabitha Lousha 2. Denise – Unspoken 3.Chris Williams Unspoken
Music Practice: Wednesday at 6pm
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6pm
GOOD NEWS!!! Word Worship Center Youth Choir is now forming. Any boys and girls who want to make a joyful noise to the Lord are encouraged to join. The first practice will be held Thursday, May 8, at the Word Worship Center, starting at 6:30 p.m. and finishing around 8:00 p,m, Hope to see you there Questions can be directed to Renee Corbett at 623-0032 or 610-8444.
National Day of Prayer: It was a great event. If you didn’t bother to participate, you missed out on a blessing.
'''THREE TREES'''
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see the beauty.' Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.' Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and GOD, and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and they will always remember me.' - - - - - - - After a few years of praying their dreams would come true, a group of woodsman came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said,
'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter'....and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one, and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying Kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and a woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm rose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said, 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that is was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that GOD has a plan for you. If you place your trust GOD He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. You don't always know what God's plans are. Just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
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If God brings you to it
He will bring you through it.