LIFE Stories

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9. +++ Bringing a giraffe into the world is a tall order. A baby giraffe falls 10 feet from its mother’s womb and usually lands on its back. Within seconds it rolls over and tucks its legs under its body. Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces the newborn giraffe to learn its first lesson. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that the baby is sent sprawling head over heels. When the baby doesn’t get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to get up is huge. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts. At last, the baby giraffe stands for the first time on its wobbly legs. Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thin...

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." – John 20:29. +++ We can sit among loving Christians in worship and say to ourselves, "I believe in God!" We can be enjoying a meal with the family and express our belief in God. We can be hoeing the garden, cleaning house and watching the sunset and confirm our strong belief in God.  We can be watching the children at play and a thousand other things and reaffirm our strong belief in God. What about when nothing is going right? What about when a family member has a terminal illness? What about when we have been robbed, or our house burned by an arsonist? What if one of our children was molested? What if suddenly we found we have no money and no income? Can we heartily say, "I believe in God"? The point is, when all's well, we can see God by the eye of faith; but when nothing seems right, we lose sight of God. After World War II, in a cellar in Cologne, Germany these words were found on a wall: ...

"But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord." - 1 Peter 3:14-15a. +++   At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic-stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed on another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself, and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of ...

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." - James 5:16. +++ There was a snack joint near our college campus and there was always a lot of rush. Many times, I had noticed that a person came and took advantage of the crowd, after eating and secretly left without paying. One day while he was eating, I secretly informed the owner that this person would eat and leave without paying the bill. Listening to me, the owner smiled and said, "Let him go, and we will talk about it later." As usual, this person, after having his snacks, looked around at the crowd and quietly slipped away. After he left, I asked the owner, “Tell me why did you let the man go. Why did you ignore this man's action? The answer given by the owner lit up my senses and, to this day, I have not forgotten the grand lesson. He told me, “Many told me about this man but I always ignored it and neve...

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." – Isaiah 55:11. A teacher would always emphasize the importance of keeping our word and our promises. She said, "It is a mark of character." Unfortunately, the following story illustrates far too many people in today's "hang-loose" society. +++ There was a rich young man who became critically ill and was taken to the hospital. His condition worsened, and his doctor told him that he wasn't sure if he'd recover, but that they would do all they could for him. The man was terrified and said to the doctor, 'Please, doctor, do everything you can, I don't want to die, I have so much to do yet in life, and if you can help me get better, I'll even donate $10,000 to the fund for the new hospital.' The young man happily began to improve and recovered, and a few weeks later was released a...

“Today when you hear his voice, harden not your hearts..." - Hebrews 3:15. +++ A successful man known for his generosity was driving his new car through a poor part of town. A boy tried to flag him down. The man didn't want to get involved, so pretended he didn't see the child. As he slowed for a red traffic light, he heard a loud crash. Someone had thrown a brick at his car, denting the trunk. The man stopped, jumped out of his car and grabbed the boy that threw the brick. "You young offender!" he yelled. "You'll pay for this or go to jail!" "I'm sorry, mister," the boy cried. "My mom's lying on the floor in our apartment. I think she's dying. Our phone's been cut off and I've been trying for ten minutes to get someone to stop. I didn't know what else to do! Take me to jail, but please, call a doctor for my mom first." The man was filled with shame. "I'm a doctor," he said and asked, "w...

“Your attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 2:5. Similarly, in your relationships with one another, have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. +++ We all know the story of David and Goliath. Let’s put it on a lighter note. There was a giant who was bullying and harassing the children in the village. One day, a 17-year-old shepherd boy came to visit his brothers and asked, "Why don't you stand up and fight the giant?" The brothers were terrified, and they replied, "Hey dude, don't you see, he is too big to hit?" But David said, "No dudes. He is not too big to hit, he is too big to miss." The rest is history. We all know what happened. David killed the giant with a sling. Same giant but different perception. +++ Our attitude determines how we look at a setback. Don’t let that setback hinder your setup. To a positive thinker, it can be a stepping stone to success. To a negative thinker, it can be a stumbling block. When an optimist...

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I hope you all are doing well and in the best of health. I am blessed and doing very well and thankful for another day that God has given me to share His wonderful message to you good people. Many times we are quick to forget the good things that God has given us and tend to think more about the trouble and heartache that life sometimes brings and ignore His many blessings. +++ “There was an elderly man who maintained his subscription to the daily newspaper even though he had virtually stopped reading. His neighbour asked him, “Why do you maintain the subscription to this newspaper although you do not read.” This man replied, “Every morning, before doing any other thing, I look up the obituary section of the newspaper to see if my name is there. If I don't find my name there, I kneel down and thank God for the gift of another day. That i...

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 3:13-14. Resolve any hurts from the past that are affecting our lives in a negative way. +++ If flies are placed in a jar with air holes in the lid, they will fly frantically, banging into the lid, desperately trying to escape from their prison. If left there long enough, eventually they will stop hitting the lid. Later, if the lid is removed, they won't even try to escape. +++ Some of us are like the flies. Because of a traumatic or painful experience in our past,  we have been "conditioned" to believe that we are trapped in a prison of helplessness without escape, so we are afraid to try again for fear of failure or of being hurt again. As Peter said, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred." (1 Peter 2:1). The same principle applies to all negative feeling...

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." – Romans 5:7-8. +++ Once a young man who was called to serve in Napoleon Bonaparte's army but didn't want to go. A friend volunteered to go in his place and was accepted as his substitution. Unfortunately, the friend was later killed in battle. However, because of a clerical error the same young man was called up to serve again. "You can't take me. I'm dead. I died on the battlefield," he told the astonished officers. After checking the records, the officers found documentation of his name and alongside it the name of the friend who died in his place. The case was presented to Napoleon who, after examining the evidence, said, "Through a surrogate, this man has not only fought, but has died in his country's service. No man can die more th...

"No one lights a lamp and hides it! Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand to give light to all who enter the room." – Luke 11:33. +++ Lieutenant John Eisenhower, son of the late General Dwight Eisenhower, was a member of his father's staff during World War II. On one occasion General Eisenhower gave his son a message to deliver to a colonel on the front line. The young lieutenant said to the colonel, "My dad says to watch your right flank." The puzzled officer replied, "Really? And what does your mommy say?" Obviously the colonel didn't know who young Eisenhower was. Eisenhower didn't make himself known. He hid his light under a bushel as it were. +++ While we don't want to drop names or ride on somebody else's coattails, nor make any kind of an impact in our circle of influence, it is important that we are known for who we are – not by rank or title – but by our fruit. – Do people know that I'm a Christian? – Do they "see" ...

"The badgers are a people without power, yet they make their homes in the rocks.” – Proverbs 30:26. God's goal for each of us is that we mature and grow up, not be dependent or overdependent, but interdependent. If we do not take care of ourselves and protect ourselves from the many temptations and potential pitfalls that come our way, nobody else is going to do it for us. +++ While tiny ants teach us many lessons, including the importance of being prepared as much as possible for whatever might come our way, the badgers or rock badgers show us the need for precaution and being responsible for taking care of ourselves. These small animals hide behind the rocky cliffs jutting up in the mountains where eagles cannot get to them. They also hide close to the rocks where they remain unseen by prowling lions. Away from the safety of the rocks they would be dead meat. +++ Some of us are too overdependent, depending on somebody else or the government to take care of us. As Peter put i...

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2. +++ In Ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north so they built the great Chinese Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was so high they knew no one could climb over it and so thick that nothing could break it down. They settled back to enjoy their security. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three times. Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over the top. Each time they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates. The Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children. In other words, they were defeated from within. Ancient Israel trusted in its military might but turned from God and obedience to...

“Do not conform  to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2. +++ In Ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north so they built the great Chinese Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was so high they knew no one could climb over it and so thick that nothing could break it down. They settled back to enjoy their security. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three times. Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over the top. Each time they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates. The Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children. In other words, they were defeated from within. Ancient Israel trusted in its military might but turned from God ...

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:15. +++ A priest traveling on a train in Europe was the sole occupant of a compartment, except for a young man reading a newspaper. The youth was also a Christian, but so weak was his faith, and so many were his temptations, that he told the priest he did not think he would be able to stand life a week longer. The priest took from his pocket a Bible and a penknife and said, "See, I will make this penknife stand up on the cover of this Bible, despite the rocking of the train." The young man, thinking that this was some conjuring trick, watched the proceeding with interest, saying, "I am afraid that it will not be very easy to do that, sir." "But," said the priest, "I am doing it." "Oh, but you are holding it," retorted his fellow passenger. "Why of course. Have you ever heard of a p...

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." – Luke 12:15. What is Materialism? “It’s a desire for making wealth, material possessions and physical comfort more important than spiritual matters.” +++ One day the US President, Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street in Springfield holding the hands of his two sons, both of whom were crying lustily. They would not stop crying even though he tried pacifying them. A neighbour, who was watching this scene, asked Lincoln, "What's the matter with the boys, Abe?" Lincoln replied, "The matter with them is the matter with the world. ‘One has a nut, and the other one wants it.’" +++ Need I say more? Our Scripture for today says it all. Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life -- you've got everything! But ...

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." – Psalm 121:1-2. +++ A 30-second film shows six people playing basketball, three in white shirts and three in black. Volunteers are asked to count how many times the white shirt team passes the ball. At the end of the film, they are asked if they saw anything unusual. Most of them answered in negative. The unusual thing is, halfway through the film, a man wearing a gorilla suit walks through the players, beats his chest to the camera, and then walks off. "When shown the film again, people are utterly surprised to see him, to the extent that they often believe a different film has been substituted for the original one. Their focus on one task has blinded them to a truth. +++ "This film trick illustrates a simple fact – that if we are only looking for one thing, we do not usually see anything different. The point at which people finally see the un...

  "Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes."   – Song of Solomon 2:15. How we live today will determine what our outcome will be. Let’s have a good sense to know that our lives here are a journey and preparation for eternity. +++ Some years ago, a headline told of three hundred whales that suddenly died. The whales were pursuing sardines and found themselves marooned in a bay. Rev. Fr. Frederick Broan Harris commented, "The small fish lured the sea giants to their death. They came to their violent demise by chasing small ends, by prostituting vast powers for insignificant goals." +++ How often in life "little things" can seem so insignificant. For instance, the kid who smokes his first cigarette probably reasons with himself, "One smoke will not hurt," never dreaming he would get addicted to nicotine. The same is true of the alcoholic and the drug addict. One drink will never hurt, or one drug w...

"Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." – Luke 22:26. St. Augustine said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” +++ Many years ago, a rider on horseback came across a squad of soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log. A Corporal stood by giving lordly orders to "heave." But the log was too heavy for the squad to move. So, the stranger on horseback asked the Corporal to give them a hand. "Me? Why, I'm a Corporal, Sir!" Dismounting, the stranger carefully took his place with the soldiers. "Now, all together, boys—heave!" the stranger said. And the heavy log slid right into place. The horseman?? He was none other than George Washington! (President of the United States who was called “Father of his country). +++ It has been said that you can tell a truly great person by the way he or she treats ordinary people. Jesus, our L...

"There are friends who 'pretend' to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." – Proverbs 18:24. +++ Many definitions have been given to describe friendship. Some time ago an English publication offered a prize for the best one, and, "A friend is one who understands our silence" was one of the thousands of entries. But the one that took first prize was this: "A friend – the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." A true friend is one who knows all about you and loves you still, who gives you his or her presence, who listens with his or her heart and actually hears what you are saying – who accepts you for who you are and not for what you have or haven't done. A good friend is one who doesn't judge you, try to fix you, or tell you what you should do. He or she will appreciate your friendship and tell you so, will rejoice with you in your successes and weep with you in your sorrows. And, at times, a good...

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." – Matthew 17:20. We must always be real, to examine our motives and discern the difference between faith and presumption and be delivered from the sin of self-centered presumption. +++ A company glued a mustard seed to a brochure that was advertising the product they were manufacturing. Beneath the mustard seed they had words to the effect that: "If you have faith as much as a grain of mustard seed in our product, it will produce profound results for you." Some months later a customer wrote back to the company saying, "You will be interested to know that I planted your mustard seed and it has already grown into a very robust plant bearing healthy tomatoes!" +++ There's a fine line between faith and presumption. We all have "mountains" in our lives that can only be removed by strong fa...

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." – John 3:16. +++ Years ago, a school had a hard time keeping a teacher. It seemed there was a group of big, rough boys who took pride in running the teacher off. The biggest and roughest of them all was James. A new young teacher won over the boys by allowing them to write the rules for the school – which were strictly enforced with a rod. For example, cheating would be punished with five strokes of the rod, and stealing with ten strokes, etc. and both to be given with the offender's coat off. Everything went well until one day James's lunch was stolen. A frail little boy in hand-me-down clothes that were too big for him admitted his guilt. The school rules demanded that he be whipped. When the teacher called the little fellow up front, he came whimpering and begging to leave his coat on. The pupils insisted he obey the rules and take off his...

“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer." – Proverbs 30:25. "If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting what we always got, and we'll keep feeling what we've always felt." This applies in positive and negative circumstances as well. +++ Sometimes the simple things in life can teach us some of the most important lessons. Take ants, for example. Even though their "brain" (central ganglion or nerve) is less than one-tenth the size of a pinhead, ants live in highly organized social colonies. Some collect food, others build the nest and keep it clean, and some look after the queen ants. No wonder the Bible says, "Go to the ant … consider her ways and be wise." – Proverbs 6:6. Among other lessons, the ants "who store up their food in the summer" teach us the importance of being prepared ahead of time for whatever might come our way. A Chinese proverb tell us, "Dig you...