Quotables

You can't change the wind, But you can change the direction of your sails.

Obstacles are what you come across, when you take your eyes off the Cross.

Service ... is love in action, love “made flesh”; service is the body, the incarnation of love. Love is the impetus, service the act, and creativity the result with many by-products.
Sarah Batton Boyle

Pressed into service means pressed out of shape. Robert Frost

Remember I have done thee worthy service, Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings.
William Shakespeare

Let the good service of well-deservers be never rewarded with loss. Let their thanks be such as may encourage more strivers for the like.
Queen Elizabeth I

I can’t be servile. I give service. There is a difference.
Dolores Dantes

Finally, your lengthy service ended, Lay your weariness beneath my laurel tree.
Horace

A service of worship is primarily a service to God. When we realize this and act upon it, we make it a service to men.
Robert W. Sockman

Servants honor their master by their service. Franz Grillparzer

* To show her worthiness and their need for her, the widows showed Peter the tunics and garments she made for them.
* Apostle Peter prayed and she arose from the dead
* Because of this miracle, "many believed in the Lord."

Because of one woman's life of kindness, especially to widows, the Lord brought a miracle to Joppa. Because of the miracle of raising her up, many believed in the Lord.
Because Peter was called to Joppa to pray for Tabitha, he remained there and received a vision, followed by a word of the Holy Spirit
Because of Cornelius' prayers and alms, the Lord sent Peter to preach salvation to his household.
Because Peter obeyed and went to Cornelius' home, he came to realize that salvation had come for the Gentiles as well as the Jews! 

Acts 10:1 Now {there was} a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the {Jewish} people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had {just} come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 "Now dispatch {some} men to Joppa and send for a man {named} Simon, who is also called Peter;

Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand {now} that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we {did,} can he?" 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

Editor's Note: Have you ever sewn, stitched, quilted, needlepointed, or knitted a gift for someone? Don't you find yourself thinking/praying for that person? I imagine Tabitha did. Cornelius and Tabitha's lives and practices touched the heart of God. Both received miracles -- one of salvation and the other of life itself! What wonderful possibilities might there be because of some service we gave? ~ Mary Puplava

A Quarter?
Author Unknown
from Jackie S.
Poway, California

Several years ago, a preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.'

Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it. It's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?  Anyway the bus company already gets too much fare. They will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.' 

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door. Then he handed the quarter to the driver, and said, "Here. You gave me too much change." The driver replied, with a smile, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere.  I just wanted to see what you would do, if I gave you too much change." 

When my friend stepped off the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, and held on, and said, "O God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter." Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.

SUCCESS - COMES THROUGH SERVICE

John Killinger tells of the wise old minister who visited a great church, and asked an usher if he might meet the person responsible for the church. The usher took him to the pastor, but the old minister said, "No, this is not the man." Next the usher took him to meet the chairman of the church board, but again the minister said, "No, this is not the person." Perplexed, the usher then led the minister to the wealthiest man in the church, but again the answer was the same. Finally the old minister said to the usher, "Take me to the kitchen." The usher was puzzled, but led the man down to the kitchen. There they found a modestly dressed woman in an apron, arms plunged into soapy water up to her elbows, cleaning dirty coffee cups and saucers. The old minister turned to the usher and said, "Here, my friend, is the real secret of your success. I have seen it in church after church. Jesus said, `If any person will be great, let that person become the servant of all'." 

Ping-Pong or Prayer by Mary Puplava Would you rather play ping-pong or pray? Remember who your enemy is this day. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, But against the powers of creepy crud. Strife, division, and the funky blues - All are tools the enemy will use. Bind up that devil and his motley crew. Count it all joy and pray things through. When anger or anxiety start to surface, Recognize the source and pray with purpose. Rather than fighting him and them in the flesh, Let the Lord handle your miserable mess! Anxiety, anger, and accusations - Who needs those rotten situations? Hold fast to your crown and take a stand. Pick up The Sword in your empty hand. Instead of being tossed to and fro, Get a-hold of The Word like a pro. Choose to fight the enemy in the opposite spirit. Listen to that still, small voice - come on, hear it! "I've called you to take dominion Over the prince of the air and his minion. Rise up and fight. NEVER take flight." I'll faith it out With a mighty shout, "Jesus is Lord and I'm His servant! Hands off, devil, I don't deserve it. I've got the King of Kings on my side. So back off, Satan. I won't backslide. No more ping-pong with you today." Glory to God. He'll hear me pray.

Reality Check from Jody N. Scottsdale, Arizona A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. Called as Partners Called as partners in Christ’s service, Called to ministries of grace, We respond with deep commitment Fresh new lines of faith to trace. May we learn the art of sharing, Side by side and friend with friend, Equal partners in our caring To fulfill God’s chosen end. Jane Parker Huber (b. 1926), Presbyterian hymn–writer. Published in A Singing Faith (1987). “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service,” l. 1-4, The Westminster Press (1981). "The world is very different now.  For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and all forms of human life." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy Inaugural Address

Breakfast at McDonalds
Author Unknown
Email from Bev J.
Poway, California

 I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch ... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.) Then I really felt it -- the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

 I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.