Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Quilt Holes
Received with thanks from Ron, a long time friend I got to know via InspiringThots and InspiringWord.
“The Quilt Holes"
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light..
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light..
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE NO LONGER FISHERS OF MEN, BUT KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM
Got this from someone I got to years ago via InspiringThots. It came as an email and my response shortly afterward.
Hi S????a,
Hi S????a,
This wasn't in my blog, but yes I have read this before and good to read it again.
What do you think? I think Jesus is lost because of us. We who carry the banner of Christianity are confusing and even turning away those who aren't believers. Rare for a blind girl to ask a question like in the story. I supposed she only did so because prior events, which could go back a long way have prepared her for this.
Therefore we shouldn't expect people to ask if we are Jesus as that would be rare. What we must do is to participate in the many steps leading to that moment and we accept that we may not be there to witness it. After all, we live by faith. Events will eventually catch up with faith. What a pity if we never have sown seeds of faith!
Blessings,
Sing Cher
- Hide quoted text -
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 1:44 PM, <> wrote:
Hello Sing Cher,
I think I may have read something similar to this on your blog but just in case I'm sending it to you. Enjoy.
God Bless,
S????a.
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE NO LONGER FISHERS OF MEN,
BUT KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM.
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had
assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their
rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which
held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all
managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding... ALL BUT ONE !!!
He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose
apple stand had been overturned.. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye,
told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking
a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks
in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd
swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table
and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become
battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40
for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with,
'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister.......'
He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.She continued, 'Are you Jesus?'
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight
with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul:
'Are you Jesus?'
Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that
people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life
and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him
is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life
unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by
a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and
paid in full for our damaged fruit.
Please share this...
Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really
need to be sharing what we know.....Thanks.
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