Once there was this young married woman who had adopted three children, worked a part-time job, ran a business from her home, and was the wife of a young minister who also worked a full-time job. The couple had just started a new church in their community as well. They were very busy and didn't have any time to waste.
Since the wife enjoyed birds, she had several pair of cockatiels that she had been raising babies from and decided they were just too much work at the time. She chose to sell them. Shortly after making the decision, a young girl about 20 years old with a toddler came to purchase the birds. Being young in the Lord, the new pastor's wife full of zeal began to share about Jesus with the young mother. Although somewhat interested, the young girl was anxious to get her birds home, so the young pastor's wife told her if she ever wanted to talk about God to just give her a call. They said their goodbyes and that was that. Or was it?
The pastor's wife soon found out that this young mother was married to a good friend of her brother's and lived close by her own family about 30 miles away. What a coincidence!
Time went on. The pastor's wife was so busy with all of her jobs. One morning after getting the children off to school, the pastor's wife had ideas of getting so much done that day when the telephone rang. It was the young mother who had purchased the birds. After some chit-chat about the birds, the young mom finally said "Do you remember when you said if I ever wanted to talk about God to call you?" The pastor's wife's heart began beating hard and then she remembered all of her responsiblities for the day. She answered, "Oh, yes!" The mom said, "Well, could we possibly do that today?" The pastor's wife exclaimed that she would love to, but perhaps a different day--she had so much to do! The young mom sounding somewhat disappointed, said goodbye and that was that--or was it?
After running around all day, the pastor's wife was proud of all she had accomplished and felt good about the day's work. While fixing dinner, the telephone rang and it was her mother. They chatted about their day and how much they had done and what was new at home, etc. Then the mother said "By the way, do you remember that girl who bought the birds from you who was married to your brother's buddy?" "Yes," said the pastor's wife. The mother continued, "Well, you knew she was pregnant, didn't you?" The pastor's wife answered, "No!" "Yes, she was," the mother said. " She was coming home today and was almost to the driveway when a car came into her lane and hit her head-on--she's dead, and her two-year old is in critical condition in the hospital."
Nothing more was said--the pastor's wife dropped the phone and began sobbing, asking God for forgiveness. How could she have been so insensitve to this person's needs? She attended the girl's funeral--it was awful! Her husband was so distraught.
About 10 years later, the pastor's wife moved back to where her family lived. She had remarried and her new husband was from the area. Did she ever forget the young mom who wanted to know about God? No, she couldn't. Now each and every day, she sees the little boy who was in the car with his mother--he stays at his grandma's house across the street. The pastor's wife has become good friends with the grandmother and tries to get thru to the grandson who is now 17. He is a prisoner inside of himself--cute boy who has beautiful eyes but talks with his hands and grunts and makes motions! He has brain damage from the accident. When the pastor's wife looks at those soft blue eyes, she can't help but wonder if he knows! You see, she can never forget . .. although she knows that God forgives! Some lessons are very hard to learn!
So please, if you have an opportunity to tell someone you know about Jesus, do it! Please don't wait or put it off! This sounds like a story, but believe me, it's very true. I know, because I was the pastor's wife!
dcfournier
FEAR = False-Evidence-Appearing-Real!
Sometimes my world spins round so fast,
Can't tell if my feet are on the ground.
I seek for answers to questions but find, It
all seems so muddled up in my mind.
As I get older too, I realize
How different things look through a child's
eyes.
A world full of love, laughter, no pain,
Where sadness comes from no sunshine--just
rain.
When I was younger I thought I was so bright;
I could take on the whole world with all of
my might.
As I grew older, I saw through clear eyes,
That all this world's glitter is just a
disguise.
It covers the hatred, bitterness and pain; Oh
so much more than sunshine does rain.
The world seems at odds with itself these
days; Why it hasn't exploded, well I'm just
amazed!
To find help I must turn my thoughts to
above; To the author of the book, the creator
of love.
For if there was no light shining
down from HIM, I could not bear all these
feelings within.
When I'm overloaded with thoughts and fears,
And everything I do just brings me to
tears.
I go back to the quiet and rethink
my goal. I seek help and love from the
creator of my soul.
It's only through His eyes we can find any
worth. On this cold cruel planet that we call
Mother Earth.
Father of my spirit please
help me to see, The true way you wish my
spirit to be.
That I may give back the life you've given to
me!
Written By: dcfournier - age 25
Have you ever really looked around to see
what you could see?
Have you ever really wondered is this the way
things have to be?
I see a world turned upside down, so backward
and abused,
Even worse it sickens me that people seem
almost amused.
Some wander round, head in the clouds, not
seeming to have a care.
Others are violent, angry and mad, with no
smile--only a glare.
Then there's the hurt and the lonely ones,
they seem so set apart.
I look and can't help but wonder, Dear God,
what caused such pain in their heart?
I wonder what the Lord thinks about
when He looks upon us and sees,
All of His beloved creation destroyed to such
a degree?
Why is He patient, loving and kind,
To a world that just doesn't care?
Why would He prepare a place for us?
Why would He want us there?
The depth of His love is beyond compare, His
patience beyond my belief,
To see His compassion on just one face,
Would seem such a shock and relief!
To see Christ's love in another's eyes
To trust that love as yours.
To know a love unconditional
Would be an experience brand new.
Oh Jesus help us your people,
Help me and show me the way.
Let some sad, untrusting soul,
See your love shine thru me today.
Show me Lord what you want me to do,
Shine your light through me.
Take out anything unlike you Lord,
So that like you I might be!
Written By: dcfournier
Lord, yesterday I was but a babe,
Weeping and crying for food.
But you have fed and clothed me Lord,
And I cry no more, for I am assured.
Today I learned to take my first step,
I even stood on my own for awhile.
Knowing that your trusting arms were there,
And resting in your glorious smile.
While yet learning how to walk with you,
I knew there would be times I would fall.
For I am so young and so unlearned, Dear
Lord, and you seem so great and so
tall.
Your strides are long, Lord, and yet
patiently you wait,
That I may learn the paths you trod,
That through my trials day by day, I shall
see your glory Dear Lord.
And when brothers or sisters shall push me,
and I would stumble and fall,
Help me to learn to take it to you,
In time those things will seem small.
And let every man be a liar, for every friend
can be a foe.
And yet when I hunger and thirst for you,
to my prayer closet I shall go.
For there I find the glory of you;.
Your truth, your light, your love.
For the Spirit to me is made manifest there,
and I'm taken to heavenlies above.
Your love, Oh Lord, so infinite and true, So
unconditional, complete and sure.
Teaches all who come into contact with you
And gives me strength to endure.
Yes, Lord, yesterday I was but a babe,
weeping and crying for my food.
But, you have fed me and clothed me,
And I cry no more, for now I am
assured.
Written by: dcfournier - age 27
Before U were thought of or time had begun, God even stuck U in the name of His Son. And each time U pray, you'll see it's true. You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name. For U, He was born; that's why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified. Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand; He rose from the dead, with U in His plan. The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension; He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. "Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U. So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know; But it all starts with U. JesUs and U!!
Author Unknown
~Jesus Loves You And So Do I~
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
Come, Holy Ghost, fill my heart with Thy holy gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with Thy strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just. Let my charity be such as to offend no one and hurt no one's feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Ghost, in all the trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my weakness, help me in all need and embarrassment, protect me in temptations and console me in afflictions. Graciously hear me, O Holy Ghost, and pour Thy light into my heart, my soul, and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and to grow in goodness and grace. Amen.
Come Holy Gost: with Thy light --with Thy
grace--with Thy strength--with Thy
consolation--with Thy charity, that I may be
made worthy to live a life of holy love.
Amen.
Author Unknown
This past year has been a rough one for me,
and though I feel I've grown spiritually, it
was not an easy road to travel. At one time
during the year, God spoke to me about me
being a lamb and Him carrying me - conforming
me to HIS image. I had to die to self so
that He could live through me totally.
Shortly thereafter, I got this poem in an
e-mail. I put it here to bless others and to
remind me of His ever-loving arms!
The Shepherd loved His little lamb,
author unknown
And gave it His tender care...
And followed it with His loving eyes
As it wandered here and there.
And as He sat by His grazing flock
Who so meekly His voice obeyed,
He pondered sadly His little lamb
As again and again it strayed.
The little lamb had a loving heart,
And adored His Shepherd, true,
But would turn aside and seek his own way
As lambs will so often do.
With His gentle voice the Shepherd
called,
Unless you are where I am."
But still the lamb would soon forget
And unthinkingly wander away,
And not really noticing what he did,
From the Shepherd's side would stray.
Until one day, the Shepherd kind
Took His rod in His gentle hand,
And what He then did seemed so cruel
That the lamb could not understand.
For with one sharp and well-aimed blow
Down the rod so swiftly came
That it broke the leg of the little lamb
And left it crippled, and lame.
Then the little lamb, with a cry of pain,
Fell down upon his knees...
And looked up at his Shepherd, as though to
say,
"Won't you explain this,
please?"
Then he saw the love in the Shepherd's
eyes
As the tears ran down His face,
As He tenderly set the broken bone,
And bound it back in it's place.
Now he was utterly helpless,
He could not even stand!
He must trust himself completely
To his Shepherd's loving hand.
Then day by day, 'till the lamb was
healed
From the flock he was kept
apart...
And carried about in the Shepherd's arms,
And cradled near to His heart.
And the Shepherd would whisper gentle
words
Into his now listening ear...
Thus he heard sweet words of love
That the other sheep could not hear.
He felt the warmth of the Shepherd's arms
And the beat of His faithful heart...
Until it came a blessing to seem,
By his weakness to be set apart.
Every need of the little lamb
By his Shepherd so fully was met
That through his brokenness he learned
What he never again would forget.
And as the broken bone was healed,
And once more became whole and strong...
Wherever the Shepherd's path would lead,
The lamb would follow along.
Thus at the Shepherd's side he walked
So closely, day by day,
For once a lamb has a broken leg
It will never again go astray.
For the cords of love had bound it so
In its hour of weakness and need...
That it had no desire to wander away,
When once again it was freed.
Could it be you are broken today,
Nor believe it came from His hand?
He only seeks, by this painful thing,
For a time to call you apart...
To cradle you close in His loving arms,
And draw you near to His heart.
So look up into your Shepherd's eyes,
And earnestly seek His face...
And prove in the hour of your weakness and
need
The sufficiency of His grace.
For as you are borne in His loving arms,
And carried there, day by day...
He will bind you so close with the cords of
His love
That never again will you
stray!
Other Pages:
Back to: CONNIE'S CORNER
FOR GOD'S GLORY -
P.2
FAMILY
FRIENDS - LINKS
TESTIMONY
TRIBUTE TO MY DAD
AWARDS & GIFTS
FRIENDS' PHOTO
GALLERY
FRIENDS' PHOTO GALLERY -
Page 2
FRIENDS' PHOTO GALLERY -
PAGE 3
STORIES & NUGGETS
GRAPHICS, MIDIS, & MISC.
THE SHEPHERD & THE LAMB
AWARDS - PAGE 2
A GIFT OF LOVE
CONNIE'S LAMB by Paula Wedding
