Like birds in a cage

A boy was walking happily across the street. In his hand he tightly held a small, rusty bird cage which contained three, tiny, frightened little birds. As they huddled together in fear, the boy shook the cage more and more as he walked. Halfway through the street a man stopped him and asked "what are you doing with those birds?" The boy answered "I'm going to have fun with them!" The man asked "what are you going to do to them?" "First I'm going to pull all their feathers off, then make them fight each other, and have all sorts of fun with them", replied the child. "Then what?" "Oh, that's easy - I've got some cats that would love them for dinner!" Rather horrified, the man asked "how much would you want for me to take those birds from you? $10?" "Well, ok..." said the boy. "But you really don't want those birds. They're only ugly little things, and really no good to you." The lad took the money, not understanding why the man wanted the ugly little creatures. The man lovingly found a nearby park with plenty of trees and bush, and set the birds free. Joyfully they escaped the cage that had them terrified for their lives, ever so grateful to the kind stranger who bought them to set them free........


.....Gleefully, Satan looked over the earth. "It's all mine now", he thought. "And boy am I going to have fun with them!" Jesus looked down in pity for the sorrowful creatures, captured in Satans cage. Inquiring, He asked "what are you going to do with them?" "Why," responded Satan, "I'm going to teach them to fight, and kill, I'll teach them to fornicate, and do everything evil I can invent." "Then what?", asked Jesus. "Why, that's easy - I'm going to kill them." With a tear in His eye, Jesus asked "How much would you want for Me to have them?" "Those sorry little creatures?" asked Satan. "What on earth would You want them for? They'll only hate You, mock You, and eventually kill You." "How much?", He again asked. "Well, if You really want them, You'll have to pay Your blood, tears, and life." "Done!", said Jesus. Satan laughed as He watched Jesus pay the promised price, thinking He'd won it all. But lovingly, Jesus paid the price, took us home, and set us free.

Are we as thankful as the little birds?

A reason for it all

I've seen hard times and I've been told
There isn't any wonder that I fall
Why do we suffer, crossing off the years
There must be a reason for it all

I've trusted in You, Jesus, to save me from my sin
Heaven is the place I call my home
But I keep on getting caught up in this world I'm living in
And Your voice it sometimes fades before I know

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, crying with my need
Depending on Your love to carry me
The love that shed His blood for all the world to see
This must be the reason for it all

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, a fortress in the storm
When what I wrap my heart around is gone
I give my heart so easily to the ruler of this world
When the one who loves me most will give me all

In all the things that cause me pain You give me eyes to see
I do believe but help my unbelief
I've seen hard times and I've been told
There is a reason for it all

Taken from "My Princess" by Sheri Rose Shepherd (a daily devotional for women)

I am the Master potter, and you are the clay. I know your desire is to be shaped by me - to be used by Me. That is what I created you for - to be a vessel of honour. I want to fill you up with My love, My hope, My blessing, and pour you out to quench a thirsty world.

Even on those days when you feel broken and empty, I can still use you - as long as you are firmly held in My grasp.

I chose you because you have seen your own brokenness and have given every shattered piece to Me. No one can become a vessel of honour by sitting tall and pretty - filled to the brim with pride and self-confidence. Don't be afraid to empty yourself of what you think is valuable, and let Me fill you up with what is invaluable. Let Me hold you. Let Me fill you. Let Me pour out My blessings through you, and you will experience overflowing joy as My vessel of honour.
Love,
Your King and your Creator

The test

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:

A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive.

Updates

Ok, so, for those of you who might sticky-beak here now and then, I'm sorry I've been so lazy. I kinda have a few excuses. :P

A.) We've got a place, finally, and have been moving in... converting two places into one isn't easy, believe me.

B.) We went camping!! :) Update on that soon...

C.) My boss has offered me a traineeship doing Cert II Hospitality - Food prep and customer relations - a fancy name for "waitress" :P But, it's a 1 year TAFE course, and it'll start me off in the hospitality industry if I choose to go onto Cert IV and become a chef... something I see very likely to happen. :)


So, camp!

We were blessed with messages from Pastor Bill Hughes again .... He's so lovely, and such a Godly man. :)



I was in charge of the youth class... though, not a whole lot went right. Maybe I was too tired? Or maybe they just find me too boring now .. lol..



Of course, we could always rely on our cameraman no.2 for both great video footage, and never-failing papparazzi work. ;)



The Giggles always provided us a smile ;)



And we had 5 beautiful baptisms (two below)





Ben always provided me perfect hilarious photo opportunities .... I don't know why ... he's just so good at it :P I never let the moment slip either ^_^



The beautiful item Gary and Ebony presented - How Deep the Father's Love for Us





Ooopp... there he is again :P (yes, I AM a papperazzi... mwahahahhaha)



Ok, so, the rare one I'll put on of me... we were all gathering around to watch the slideshow Tim had made of our wedding photos.. :)



Sorry dude, had to use this one :D



Laugh, Emily. I know you can't help yourself :P





Yay! A nice photo of us to finish on :) ... sorta... took a few attempts lol.



Maybe more soon... if I get the inclination ;P