Inspirational Stories and Poems

A Valuable Service

betty — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:37:10 +0000

Once there was a man who traveled all his life; and as he traveled, he served a valuable purpose in the world.

The man was very poor. He had no land; he had no money; he didn’t even have shoes. All he had was a pair of tattered trousers and the contents of their pockets,

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Without Fear

content — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:22 +0000

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived – everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of

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The Scary Storm

content — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:30 +0000

A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened

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Our Deepest Fear

content — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:00:45 +0000

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous ? Actually, who are you not to be ? You are a

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Nothing to Fear

content — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:44 +0000

There’s nothing to fear — you’re as good as the best, As strong as the mightiest, too. You can win in every battle or test; For there’s no one just like you. There’s only one you in the world today; So nobody else, you see, Can do your work in as fine a way:

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Genesis 33, vs. 8-20 with Betty

betty — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:01:30 +0000

8 Esau : asked, “What do you mean by all these flocks and herds I met?”

“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.

9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your

... Continue reading Genesis 33, vs. 8-20 with Betty

High School Reunion

betty — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:54:41 +0000

I don’t believe I’m the only one who ever felt this way about a high school reunion. Does this describe how you feel about that all-important occasion?

REUNION

Did I want to come to this reunion?

I’m really not quite sure;

At best, I guess I’d have to say,

My motives aren’t quite pure.

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Every time I have a nickel, I need a dime. Quote

mikaela — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:45:41 +0000

Today’s a Wonderful Day Quote

mikaela — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:27:27 +0000

Fear of Transformation

content — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:17 +0000

Sometimes I feel that my life is a series of trapeze swings. I’m either hanging on to a trapeze bar swinging along or, for a few moments in my life, I’m hurtling across space in between trapeze bars.

Most of the time, I spend my life hanging on for dear life to my trapeze-bar-of-the-moment.

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Ten Little Christians

content — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:07 +0000

Ten Little Christians came to church all the time; One fell out with the preacher, then there were nine.

Nine Little Christians stayed up late; One overslept on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight Little Christians on their way to Heaven; One took the low road, then there were seven.

Seven Little Christians, chirping

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The Obstacle

content — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:57 +0000

A mother was convinced that her wayward son would become a Christian.

She pleaded with him to come to the faith. She sent him little cards with Bible verses on, tapes with sermons, spiritual books, but all to no avail.

One day she fell to her knees and prayed fervently to God that he

... Continue reading The Obstacle

Genesis 33, vs. 1-7 with Betty

betty — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:01:59 +0000

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3

... Continue reading Genesis 33, vs. 1-7 with Betty

Free

content — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:59 +0000

On his way to church, a scholar was surprised to see a man in tattered clothes and barefoot. Nevertheless, as a good Christian, he greeted the poor man: “May God give you a good morning!”

The poor man replied cheerfully, “I have never yet had a bad morning.”

“Then may God give you good

... Continue reading Free

The Lonely Ember

content — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:51 +0000

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.

After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him,

... Continue reading The Lonely Ember

Dandelions

content — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:20 +0000

No matter how carefully I try to pull one up, I never get the whole thing. The root stays deep in the ground, threatening to grow up and blossom again.

But despite their bad reputation, dandelions are pretty little flowers with their yellow strands all tucked neatly into the center. And truly they are

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Chalk Story

content — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:48 +0000

This story is most likely an urban legend, but it is still encouraging.

There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn’t exist. His students were always afraid to argue with

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Genesis 32, vs. 22-32 with Betty

betty — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:01:36 +0000

Jacob Wrestles With God

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man

... Continue reading Genesis 32, vs. 22-32 with Betty

Stick it out

betty — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:25:44 +0000

Sometimes the job you do truly seems inspired

You go far away and over what simply is required;

Other times you have to push just to get it done

And hate your work and wish to do something that’s more fun.

That’s when your truest character rises to the top like cream—

Will you

... Continue reading Stick it out

Gnarled Old Hands

betty — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:04:02 +0000

His gnarled old hands are folded now,

Resting in his repose;

But those old hands worked very hard

In the dutiful life he chose.

As we grew older, us together,

Side by side in growing peace,

Aches, and pains and worry

Never caused those hands to cease.

Now they are still forever

And I’ll

... Continue reading Gnarled Old Hands

The Cave People

content — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Long ago, or maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe in a dark, cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were mournful, but the

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As Easy As Brushing Hair

content — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:54 +0000

The story starts out where she, Beth, is sitting at an airport terminal, waiting to board a plane. She was sitting there with several other people who were also waiting, whom she did not know.

As she waited, she pulled out her Bible and started reading. All of a sudden she felt as if

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Timelessness

content — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:06 +0000

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of

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So Little Time

content — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:30 +0000

So little time to say the things You’d really like to say - Before you even find the words, The time just slips away.

So little time to do the things You feel that you must do. So treasure, like the purest gold, The time God’s given you.

So little time to dream your

... Continue reading So Little Time

Genesis 32, verses 17-21 with Betty

betty — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:01:42 +0000

17 He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ 18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to

... Continue reading Genesis 32, verses 17-21 with Betty

Lord Bless this Precocious Child

betty — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:34:44 +0000

This is a poem written for my Granddaughter. I hope everyone that reads it will join me in praying for her and all other little children who today seem to be on a too quick track toward adulthood.

—-

She’s four-years old, going on fifteen

And I pray for her young soul;

May

... Continue reading Lord Bless this Precocious Child

Samurai Lesson

content — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:14 +0000

A huge, rough samurai once went to see a little monk, hoping to acquire the secrets of the universe.

“Monk,” he said, in a voice accustomed to instant obedience. “teach me about heaven and hell.”

The little monk looked up at the mighty warrior in silence. Then, after a moment, he said to the

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The Painful Minute

content — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:32 +0000

When the minute you are in is too painful Step back and look at the hour. When the hour has more hurts in than minutes, Take a minute to think of God’s power.

That the sun rose at all and the grass grows Are testament to His great love, And evening always will follow

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Pearly Gates

content — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:00:12 +0000

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item,

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Heaven and Hell

content — Sun, 13 May 2012 10:00:06 +0000

A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man “come, I will show you hell”. They entered a room where a group of famished people sat around a huge pot of cooking stew. Everyone in the room was starving and desperate. Each person held a spoon that

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Genesis 32, verses 9-16 with Betty

betty — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:01:57 +0000

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my

... Continue reading Genesis 32, verses 9-16 with Betty

Little Angel in Heaven

betty — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:43:28 +0000

Once upon a time, in heaven, there was a sweet little angel whom Jesus loved. Of course Jesus loves all angels as well as all children; but this angel was particularly dear to him because she sat at his feet every day, all day long.

This sweet little angel was always there to meet

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Eternal Link

content — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:00:18 +0000

I dreamed I was in heaven Where an angel kept God’s book. He was writing so intently I just had to take a look.

It was not, at first, his writing That made me stop and think But the fluid in the bottle That was marked ETERNAL INK.

This ink was most amazing, Dark

... Continue reading Eternal Link

Share Your Music

content — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:00:17 +0000

God gave us each our own music and the world to be our stage but most of us are living with our music still unplayed

This gift that we are given is ours to use if we dare it is our greatest tool to show how much we care

“Martin” shared his music gave

... Continue reading Share Your Music

I Wish

content — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:00:48 +0000

I wish you the courage to be warm when the world would prefer that you be cool. I wish you success sufficient to your needs; I wish you failure to temper that success. I wish you joy in all your days; I wish you sadness so that you may better measure joy. I wish

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Genesis 32 Verses 1- 8 with Betty

betty — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:01:17 +0000

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

1 [a]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.[b]

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir,

... Continue reading Genesis 32 Verses 1- 8 with Betty

What children know

betty — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:51:35 +0000

Have you noticed the children of today know a lot,

And a lot of what they know are things we did not?

In fact, I’m pretty sure in this modern day,

Kids learn things they shouldn’t know anyway.

In school they once taught us that old golden rule,

Now there are different things in

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How are you?

betty — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:37:19 +0000

Nobody wants to hear you complain;

Nobody’s interested in your aches and pains;

But if you are willing to stand still and listen

With a look of dismay as a slight tear glistens,

You will hear all about how someone else feels,

About where they hurt and about all their ills;

And your attention

... Continue reading How are you?

Stardust in your Crown

betty — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:24:36 +0000

Though I never met the woman

Who was called suddenly by our Lord,

I think from what I knew of her,

She journeyed heavenward.

A short while back, she phoned me

About something on her wall;

It was something I had written

And it prompted her to call

To tell me she enjoyed it

... Continue reading Stardust in your Crown

I Refuse

content — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:52 +0000

I refuse to be discouraged, To be sad, or to cry; I refuse to be downhearted, and here’s the reason why: I have a God who’s mighty, Who’s sovereign and supreme; I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team. He is all-wise and powerful. Jesus is His name; Though

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God’s Message To Women

content — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:08 +0000

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over

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Genesis 31 vs. 43-55 with Betty

betty — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:01:17 +0000

43 Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and

... Continue reading Genesis 31 vs. 43-55 with Betty

An Angel

content — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:51 +0000

I started out an angel The one you couldn’t hate Then the angel turned mortal And made a few mistakes I soon could not be trusted Or so my loved ones thought They do not understand The pain and suffering they’ve brought Little do they know Of the ones I’ve learned to love Who

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Requiem

content — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:56 +0000

Under the wide and starry sky Dig the grave and let me lie: Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse that you grave for me: Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And

... Continue reading Requiem

Please Take Me

content — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:57 +0000

I was driving to the grocery store just thinking of everything on my list to do today. Taking the kids to soccer practice, cleaning the house, getting groceries, getting the oil changed in the car, the list went on and on. I was feeling overwhelmed and was already tired before I had even gotten

... Continue reading Please Take Me

The Paperboy

content — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:52 +0000

He sat there all alone outside the cardboard box in which he stayed Reflections of the fire he’d built were on the alley walls displayed The flames danced from a tiny fire he built to try and keep him warm The papers weren’t all sold that day so burning them would do no harm

... Continue reading The Paperboy

Genesis 31 vs. 33-42 with Betty

betty — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:01:34 +0000

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on

... Continue reading Genesis 31 vs. 33-42 with Betty

Charity without Wisdom

betty — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:03:02 +0000

I’m going to tell you about my generous, Christian, do-gooder cousin because you may learn something from her example. She is in fact the most generous, selfless person I have ever known, but she is not always too discerning about who she should do good things for. Over the years she has opened her

... Continue reading Charity without Wisdom

I’m Only In The Other Room

content — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:38 +0000

My Father called, and, I’m sorry I had to leave. It’s o.k. I know you love me when you grieve. I’m now standing in glory with God, and that, you must believe. There will be times when you’ll wish I was back, but, just remember this: I’m only in the other room, The one

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Micah 6:7

content — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:53 +0000

“Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Micah 6:7

Our Savior lowers His head to weep For all His little dying sheep, The one who never had the chance to say no, How could our nation have fallen so low?

We kill

... Continue reading Micah 6:7