| http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; | | | | BLESS! |
| charset=utf-8"> | | | | May God keep you and bless you. If this doesn't give |
| Let me tell you, make sure you read all the way to | | | | you chills, nothing will...this message is very true. Hope |
| the bottom. I almost deleted this email but I was | | | | you are all as blessed as I was from this story. I |
| blessed when I got to the end. | | | | wonder how many people will delete this without |
| READ ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME FOR GOD | | | | reading it because of the title on it? |
| God, when I received this e-mail, I thought... | | | | There once was a man named George Thomas, |
| I don't have time for this... And, this is really | | | | pastor in a small New England town. One Easter |
| inappropriate during work. | | | | Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a |
| Then, I realized that this kind of thinking is... Exactly, | | | | rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. |
| what has caused lot of the problems in our world | | | | Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor |
| today. | | | | Thomas began to speak..."I was walking through |
| We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning... | | | | town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming |
| Maybe, Sunday night... | | | | toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of |
| And, the unlikely event of a midweek service. | | | | the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with |
| We do like to have Him around during sickness... | | | | cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What |
| And, of course, at funerals. | | | | you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the |
| However, we don't have time, or room, for Him | | | | reply. |
| during work or play... | | | | "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. |
| Because... That's the part of our lives we think... We | | | | "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he |
| can, and should, handle on our own. | | | | answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their |
| May God forgive me for ever thinking... | | | | feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real |
| That... there is a time or place where..... | | | | good time." "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner |
| HE is not to be FIRST in my life. | | | | or later. What will you do?" |
| We should always have time to remember all HE has | | | | "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. |
| done for us. | | | | "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." |
| If, You aren't ashamed to do this... | | | | The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do |
| Please follow the directions. | | | | you want for those birds, son?" |
| Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will | | | | "Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. |
| beashamed of you before my Father." | | | | They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They |
| Not ashamed? | | | | ain't even pretty!" |
| Pass this on ONLY IF YOU MEAN IT!! | | | | "How much?" the pastor asked again. |
| Yes, I do Love God. | | | | The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and |
| HE is my source of existence and Savior. | | | | said, "$10?" |
| He keeps me functioning each and every day. | | | | The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten |
| Without Him, I will be nothing. Without Him, I am | | | | dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the |
| nothing. But, with Christ, HE strengthens me. | | | | boy was gone. |
| (Phil 4:13) This is the simplest test... | | | | The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it |
| If You Love God... And, are not ashamed of all the | | | | to the end of the alley where there was a tree and |
| marvelous things HE has done for you... | | | | a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the |
| Send this to ten people and the person who sent it | | | | door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the |
| to you! | | | | birds out, setting them free. |
| I don't think I know 10 people who would admit they | | | | Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the |
| love Jesus. Do You love Him? | | | | pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story. |
| THE POEM | | | | One day Satan and Jesus were having a |
| I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to | | | | conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden |
| do. I had to hurry and get to work for bills would | | | | of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I |
| soon be due. | | | | just caught the world full of people down there. Set |
| So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, | | | | me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got |
| And jumped up off my knees. | | | | 'em all!" |
| My Christian duty was now done. | | | | "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. |
| My soul could rest at ease. | | | | Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna |
| All day long I had no time. | | | | teach them how to marry and divorce each other, |
| To spread a word of cheer. No time to speak of | | | | how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and |
| Christ to friends, they'd laugh at me I'd fear. | | | | smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to |
| No time, no time, too much to do, | | | | invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really |
| That was my constant cry, | | | | gonna have fun!" |
| No time to give to souls in need | | | | "And what will you do when you get done with |
| But at last the time, the time to die. | | | | them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared |
| I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with | | | | proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus |
| downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; It | | | | asked. |
| was the book of life. | | | | "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no |
| God looked into his book and said: | | | | good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. |
| "Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write | | | | They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't |
| it down... but never found the time." | | | | want those people!!" |
| Now do you have the time to pass it on? | | | | "How much?" He asked again. |
| Make sure that you scroll through to the end. | | | | Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, |
| Easy vs. Hard | | | | tears and your life." |
| Why is it so hard to tell the truth but yet so easy | | | | Jesus said, "DONE!" |
| totell a lie? | | | | Then He paid the price. |
| Why are we so sleepy in church but right when the | | | | The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door |
| sermon is over we suddenly wake up? | | | | and he walked from the pulpit. |
| Why is it so hard to talk about God but yet so easy | | | | Notes: Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to |
| to talk about nasty stuff? | | | | trash God and then wonder why the world's going to |
| Why is it so boring to look at a Christian magazine, | | | | hell. |
| but yet so easy to look at a nasty one? | | | | Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in |
| Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e- mail, but yet | | | | God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also |
| we forward all of the nasty ones? | | | | "believes" in God). |
| Why are the churches getting smaller but yet the | | | | Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes |
| bars and dance clubs are getting larger? | | | | through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when |
| Do you give up? Think about it . Are you going to | | | | you start sending messages regarding the Lord, |
| forward this, or delete it? | | | | people think twice about sharing? |
| Just remember-God is watching you. Prayer | | | | Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this |
| Wheel-Let's see the devil stop this one! | | | | message, you will not send it to many on your |
| Here's what the wheel is all about. When you receive | | | | address list because you're not sure what they |
| this, say a prayer for the person that sent it to you.... | | | | believe, or what they will think of you for sending it |
| That's all you have to do.... | | | | to them. |
| There is nothing attached.... | | | | Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what |
| This is so powerful.... | | | | other people think of me than what God thinks of |
| Do not stop the wheel, please.... | | | | me. |
| Of all the free gifts we may receive, prayer is the | | | | I pray, for everyone who sends this to their entire |
| very best one.... | | | | address book, they will be blessed by God in a way |
| There are no costs, but wonderful rewards... GOD | | | | special for them. |