Saturday, March 27, 2010

Thelma Wells

"Every day we must renew our minds. I don't think God means do not plan, do not look forward to days to come. I believe He means that right now is the only opportunity we have to live for Him. Treat this moment, right now, as if it's your last moment because it might be."

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

100 points to get into Heaven

A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates.

St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay" the man says, "I attended church every Sunday"
"That's good, says St. Peter, " that's worth two points"

"Two points?" he says. "Well, I gave 10% of all my earnings to the church"
"Well, let's see," answers Peter, "that's worth another 2 points. Did you do anything else?"

"Two points? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's certainly worth a point, " he says.

"hmmm...," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"

"THREE POINTS!!" the man cries, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!"

"Come on in!"

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Cracked Pot

Hello Everyone....We are gearing up for our next women's retreat. It will be held the last weekend in April. The theme is, "Bloom where you are Planted" with Deena and Teresa speaking. I couldn't help but think about the pots that we end up planted in on a daily basis. I found this short story on-line a few years ago and just wanted to share it with all of you.

God Bless!!!




The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he
carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

We all have our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace The Master's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as God calls us and we seek ways to minister together, let us not be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow God to take advantage of them, and you, too,can be the cause of beauty on life's pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness there is strength, and in our imperfections there is purpose.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Dessert by Vicki...

Sour Cream Chocolate chip Cake

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees

Ingrediants:
1/4 pound butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 bag chocolate chips

Cinnamon Mix:

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon


Cream the butter & sugar, add eggs and beat well. Add sour cream and vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder and soda. Add and mix well.

Grease 9 X13 inch pan.Pour 1/2 batter into pan, sprinkle cinnamon mix and 1/2 bag of chocolate chips. repeat...

Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

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