FRIENDS ARE FOREVER

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books.

I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?

He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'

They really should get lives.

' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before..

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football

with my friends

He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!

' He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..

When we were seniors we began to think about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never

be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship..

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

' Thanks,' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story.'

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the

first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions..

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'

There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

Dear God,

Thank you for all the people whom You bring into my life and have  shared this beautiful friendship with them. Than you for baring our souls and our whole being with each other. Thank you for allowing us to be part of each other lives. Though we may face trials and difficulties yet You are the one who will sustain us. And now we know that no matter where life will take us, no matter how long or how far will be our separation. And no matter what will happen in our future we still believe that time will bring us back again and pick up the pieces were we left off…

The Wooden Bowl

It really bleeds my heart every time I'll read this story. Let us remember the golden rule, Do to others what you want others do unto you. Friends will leave us, jobs will not care for us. Material things will all be vanished but family most specially our parents will be there for us, will love us unconditionally and will still accept us no matter our faults and shortcomings will be. I guarantee, you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now,

a year from now

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.

The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.

When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

'We must do something about father,' said the son.

'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.

Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.

He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,

'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.

' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work..

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,

neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Thank you Lord for giving us godly parents, thank you for their love and sacrifices. Thank you for passing to us the good values and attitudes that we should have. May you mold us to be like them in the future. In Jesus mighty name. AMEN.

"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Deut. 5:16

A PRAYER IN HUMILITY

May this be our daily prayer:

Father, too often I have failed in my love to my brothers and sisters in Christ. At times I have acted and responded with less than the humility of Christ. Words have been spoken quickly–sharp words, unkind words. On occasions I've asserted myself, presented my views dogmatically. I've failed to show the tenderness of Christ, his gentleness, his patience. Forgive me of every prideful way. Be pleased, O Lord, to cleanse me afresh and infill me with your Holy Spirit. By the power of your indwelling Spirit, continue to change me into the likeness of your blessed Son. Amen.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.  Philippians 2:3 (KJV)

-forwarded

GOD'S CHAMPIONS

VBS 2009

Just few days from now we are going to start our Vacation Bible School (VBS), for 2 days we will spent our time to be part in molding our future God's champions. We are all excited…teachers and children alike. We have so much great things stored for every kids that will be part of this event. From the great shirt, to the great program up to the great lessons and activities for sure all of us will having a great time.

I remember the exhortation we had before with fellow teachers that God's champion are not born, they are created and they have a future. Though they are born physically by their parents still there life is based on God's plan. We are only God's instrument in molding these children to be what they will be someday.

As teachers, God is using us as overseer of His valuable possessions (the children). Each child is precious to Him; every student is a unique individual; valuable potential is tucked inside; and God rejoices over each child with joy (Zephaniah 3:17). We are jewelers assigned to shape precious diamonds, diamonds that are rough, hard and unshaped but will be of great worth and value someday. From these little children will arise the would be great pastors, evangelists, musicians, missionaries and even great teachers someday.

Let us unite altogether to lead this little flock closer to becoming the diamonds they were designed to be. By giving them unconditional love and making them feel special to the eyes of the Lord we can polish rough edges quickly and we will begin to see glimpses of light sparkling through the “diamond in the making."

Dear Lord open our eyes and let us see your gifts to our students. Let them feel they are loved and special. Give us wisdom and understanding in leading these precious diamonds in the path they should go. May we be good example to them and may they see your glory through us. Cover them with your most precious blood and may they grow in beauty and knowledge of you. In Jesus might name AMEN.

ONLY IN UAE…MADE IN THE UAE……

My intention in posting this blog is not to make fun of anyone but just to take a little time from our busy and stressful day to laugh and create a little smily curve in our frowned and serious face….

Proverbs 17:22 – A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones

FORGOTTEN PRAYER!

Not once nor twice I often  heard testimonies on how their written prayers or what we called prayer journal works.  You may  forget them  for a period of time but when you look back again you will be amazed on how God answers your prayers.

As the year 2010 starts  I had  been challenged to do the same. I  write down most of my personal prayers, prayers that I didn’t share to anyone, it's just between me and God and as   time goes  by I was not able to track down  my petitions but I always bring with me my journal. Maybe in some way it’s my way of uttering my petitions to God again and again. And God really listens because  no matter how long it will takes  still His answers are always right on time.

I received today a text message from my mother telling that my sister already got a job in Manila. That’s my prayer written in my prayer journal 5 months ago. To give Krisma a better job. Truly God answers our prayer though it may take time, it may be delayed  but  God's answer  is not a denial.

Just like the story of  Abraham when God promised him that he will be the father of all nations . Despite the fact that they are already old and Sarah was barren but yet they still cling on God’s promise. Though it took  them more than 20 yrs to wait for God’s promised . Still God is faithful to His promise.

So let us not lose hope. No matter how long our prayers be unanswered . Whether it takes months, years or decades before we received a sweet yes from God let us not be weary but instead we continue to utter our petitions to our Lord for He cares for us.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7

 

THE BRICK

A young and very successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.


As his car passed and no children appeared, instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes, spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?"

Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's a new car and that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you do it?"



"Please, mister, please, I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop."



Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.



It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curband fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair.



He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He helped the boy back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.



"Thank you, sir! God bless you!"



He then watched the boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar, and he never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone would have to throw a brick at him to get his attention.



Life whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes, when we don't have the time to listen...life throws a brick

at your head.

It's our choice: We can listen to the whispers of our soul or wait for the brick.

GOD'S CHAIR

A blessed day to all…for the forth coming days I will share with you some of the most inspiring and encouraging forwarded messages that I received and almost forgottenly stored in my inbox. Maybe most of us already read this thousand times but from reading it again and again, new wisdom will be revealed . I prayed that may every word of this articles uplift our spirit once again and remind us that life is beautiful..but Life with Jesus is even more beautiful...

God's Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me," he said.
"No, who are you?"
"I'm the new associate at your local church," the
pastor replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up."
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

Puzzled, the pastor shut the door. "I've never told
anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went
right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me,

'Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here's what I suggest: Sit down on a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I'll be with you always.' Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now.'

So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me to off to the funny farm."

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon.

"Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked.
"Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange--really weird. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."


--author unknown

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7