"God, forgive us for today...
For not being more understanding
when those problems came our way...
For not handling situations in the way
You wanted us to...for getting angry
and losing our temper,
Things we know You don't want us to do.
And, God, please give us more patience,
Help us make it through another day,
We'll do better tomorrow,
We promise.
In Jesus' name
We pray."
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Vain Jackdaw
The Vain Jackdaw
One day, the birds of a certain forest got together to select a king from among themselves. "Who shall we name King?" they cried.
Some of the birds suggested that they go to the Sun for help. "O mighty Sun, all living creatures in the air and on the ground pass under your fierce gaze. Surely you will be able to choose from among all the birds you see, one that is most beautiful, to be our King," said one of the birds.
"I can help you, little creatures. Return to me tomorrow with every single bird of the forest and I will select the most striking of all to be your king," said the Sun.
In the midst of the birds was a young Jackdaw. He was terribly eager to be chosen king. But he also knew that he was dull and unattractive, with nothing but black and grey feathers all over his body.
The Jackdaw looked around in despair after the birds had gone, searching for some means of changing the way he looked.
To his good fortune, he found a number of feathers strewn all over the place where all the birds had collected. "I can dress my drab feathers in these pretty colours!" he cawed, and set about sticking the many-hued plumes in between his own.
The next day all the birds got together once more before the Sun, as decided. And who should be chosen King, but the Jackdaw!
But that wasn't for long, for the other birds flared up in protest. They weren't fooled by the Jackdaw's disguise and called loudly to the Sun to see the hoax before him. They then went about plucking off all the false feathers of the Jackdaw.
They even picked out many of his real ones! The vain bird was finally left standing alone, sorry and ashamed, and uglier than he ever was!
Moral
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds
One day, the birds of a certain forest got together to select a king from among themselves. "Who shall we name King?" they cried.
Some of the birds suggested that they go to the Sun for help. "O mighty Sun, all living creatures in the air and on the ground pass under your fierce gaze. Surely you will be able to choose from among all the birds you see, one that is most beautiful, to be our King," said one of the birds.
"I can help you, little creatures. Return to me tomorrow with every single bird of the forest and I will select the most striking of all to be your king," said the Sun.
In the midst of the birds was a young Jackdaw. He was terribly eager to be chosen king. But he also knew that he was dull and unattractive, with nothing but black and grey feathers all over his body.
The Jackdaw looked around in despair after the birds had gone, searching for some means of changing the way he looked.
To his good fortune, he found a number of feathers strewn all over the place where all the birds had collected. "I can dress my drab feathers in these pretty colours!" he cawed, and set about sticking the many-hued plumes in between his own.
The next day all the birds got together once more before the Sun, as decided. And who should be chosen King, but the Jackdaw!
But that wasn't for long, for the other birds flared up in protest. They weren't fooled by the Jackdaw's disguise and called loudly to the Sun to see the hoax before him. They then went about plucking off all the false feathers of the Jackdaw.
They even picked out many of his real ones! The vain bird was finally left standing alone, sorry and ashamed, and uglier than he ever was!
Moral
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds
The Wild Ass and the Lion
The Wild Ass and the Lion
One day a Wild Ass and a Lion decided to go hunting together as partners. "I will use my mighty strength," said the Lion, while the Wild Ass offered to use his powerful speed to out run their prey.
Before long the two predators had caught more animals than they would need for weeks! However, when it was time to divide the spoils, the Lion said, "Let us divide the dead animals into three shares."
"Into three shares?" asked the Wild Ass.
"Yes," said the Lion, "I will take the first share because I am King. The second share because I am a partner with you. And the last one, well, the last one, if you do value your life, you'd better let me have that too!" roared the Lion.
The Wild Ass, fearing now for his own life, took to his heels and ran off as fast as he could!
Moral
In the world, might is often right.
One day a Wild Ass and a Lion decided to go hunting together as partners. "I will use my mighty strength," said the Lion, while the Wild Ass offered to use his powerful speed to out run their prey.
Before long the two predators had caught more animals than they would need for weeks! However, when it was time to divide the spoils, the Lion said, "Let us divide the dead animals into three shares."
"Into three shares?" asked the Wild Ass.
"Yes," said the Lion, "I will take the first share because I am King. The second share because I am a partner with you. And the last one, well, the last one, if you do value your life, you'd better let me have that too!" roared the Lion.
The Wild Ass, fearing now for his own life, took to his heels and ran off as fast as he could!
Moral
In the world, might is often right.
The Wolf and the Crane
The Wolf and the Crane
It was the Wolf's lucky day. He had found food! A young fawn lay in his path as he prowled through the bushes in the forest, and the hungry animal lost no time in tearing it to pieces.
Suddenly a bone got stuck in his throat and he found himself coughing and choking in distress! "Help!" he squeaked, frightened, and ran about helter-skelter looking for someone or something to relieve his pain.
"I would give anything to the creature that takes the bone out of my throat!" cried the Wolf to the animals that passed him by.
The Crane, famed for her long neck and beak, finally agreed to try. She told the Wolf to open his jaws as wide as he could. Then delicately placing her beak in his throat, she shook the bone loose with her beak and before long, got it right out of his mouth.
The Wolf gave a great sigh of relief, but when the Crane came forward for her reward, he bared his teeth in a wide, mean grin and said, "You put your head into the mouth of a Wolf, dear Crane, and are still alive; that should be reward enough for you!"
Moral
Be careful who you trust.
It was the Wolf's lucky day. He had found food! A young fawn lay in his path as he prowled through the bushes in the forest, and the hungry animal lost no time in tearing it to pieces.
Suddenly a bone got stuck in his throat and he found himself coughing and choking in distress! "Help!" he squeaked, frightened, and ran about helter-skelter looking for someone or something to relieve his pain.
"I would give anything to the creature that takes the bone out of my throat!" cried the Wolf to the animals that passed him by.
The Crane, famed for her long neck and beak, finally agreed to try. She told the Wolf to open his jaws as wide as he could. Then delicately placing her beak in his throat, she shook the bone loose with her beak and before long, got it right out of his mouth.
The Wolf gave a great sigh of relief, but when the Crane came forward for her reward, he bared his teeth in a wide, mean grin and said, "You put your head into the mouth of a Wolf, dear Crane, and are still alive; that should be reward enough for you!"
Moral
Be careful who you trust.
The Wolf and the Kid
The Wolf and the Kid
There was once a Kid (a baby goat) who climbed high onto the roof of a house. His mother had warned him not to wander too far away and told him of the scary Wolf who could catch and eat him if he wasn't careful.
But the little Kid often disobeyed his mother and made up his mind one day to try out the shaky stairs leading to the rooftop.
Before long the Wolf came sauntering along the road down below. But instead of being frightened the Kid knew that he was too high up for the Wolf to do him any harm. He decided then to taunt him with words. "You are a robber!" he shouted. "Why have you come here? Don't you know what a bad name you have in our village? Go away!"
The Wolf growled in anger, "I know, smart alec, that you have the courage to say what you have just said only because I cannot reach you!"
Moral
It is easy to be brave from a distance
There was once a Kid (a baby goat) who climbed high onto the roof of a house. His mother had warned him not to wander too far away and told him of the scary Wolf who could catch and eat him if he wasn't careful.
But the little Kid often disobeyed his mother and made up his mind one day to try out the shaky stairs leading to the rooftop.
Before long the Wolf came sauntering along the road down below. But instead of being frightened the Kid knew that he was too high up for the Wolf to do him any harm. He decided then to taunt him with words. "You are a robber!" he shouted. "Why have you come here? Don't you know what a bad name you have in our village? Go away!"
The Wolf growled in anger, "I know, smart alec, that you have the courage to say what you have just said only because I cannot reach you!"
Moral
It is easy to be brave from a distance
The Wolf and the Lamb
The Wolf and the Lamb
One sunny day, a Wolf sat quenching his thirst at a calm hillside spring. As he lapped up the cool water, he saw from the corner of his eye, a Lamb drinking from the same spring a little lower down the hill.
“There’s my supper,” he thought. “It looks like easy prey, but I must think of a way to open up a quarrel with him.” He then called out to the Lamb, “how dare you muddy the water from which I am drinking!”
“Oh no!” cried the Lamb, “it cannot be me making your water muddy. The water runs down from you to me and surely, I cannot be the cause of it.”
“Well then, exactly a year ago at this very spot you called me bad names. Why did you do that?“ tried the Wolf once more.
“I could not have called you names,” said the Lamb, “for I am only six months old.”
“I don’t care,” snarled the Wolf, “if it was not you, then it was your father!”
And with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and gobbled him up.
Moral
A bully will do anything to get what he wants.
One sunny day, a Wolf sat quenching his thirst at a calm hillside spring. As he lapped up the cool water, he saw from the corner of his eye, a Lamb drinking from the same spring a little lower down the hill.
“There’s my supper,” he thought. “It looks like easy prey, but I must think of a way to open up a quarrel with him.” He then called out to the Lamb, “how dare you muddy the water from which I am drinking!”
“Oh no!” cried the Lamb, “it cannot be me making your water muddy. The water runs down from you to me and surely, I cannot be the cause of it.”
“Well then, exactly a year ago at this very spot you called me bad names. Why did you do that?“ tried the Wolf once more.
“I could not have called you names,” said the Lamb, “for I am only six months old.”
“I don’t care,” snarled the Wolf, “if it was not you, then it was your father!”
And with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and gobbled him up.
Moral
A bully will do anything to get what he wants.
The Wolf and the Kid
The Wolf and the Kid
A kid was once happily skipping home from the pasture, long after the rest of the flock. He was all alone and the path did have some danger.
So before long a Wolf appeared from behind the bushes, crouched and ready to pounce. The Kid knew that he had no escape except to run and then be outrun, but instead of doing that, he decided to stay and talk to the Wolf: “I know, dear friend, that you are going to kill me. But before I die I would ask you one favour. Please play a tune for me to dance to.”
The Wolf thought it was a strange request but agreed anyway and started to play a tune. While he was piping and the kid dancing, some dogs heard the sounds of the pipe. Growling and grinding their teeth they followed the sounds and before the song ended, began chasing the Wolf. Running now for his life, the Wolf said to the Kid, “This is just what I deserve; how could I have tried to be a piper to please you when I am only a butcher!”
Moral
Dont do things that distract you from your original purpose.
A kid was once happily skipping home from the pasture, long after the rest of the flock. He was all alone and the path did have some danger.
So before long a Wolf appeared from behind the bushes, crouched and ready to pounce. The Kid knew that he had no escape except to run and then be outrun, but instead of doing that, he decided to stay and talk to the Wolf: “I know, dear friend, that you are going to kill me. But before I die I would ask you one favour. Please play a tune for me to dance to.”
The Wolf thought it was a strange request but agreed anyway and started to play a tune. While he was piping and the kid dancing, some dogs heard the sounds of the pipe. Growling and grinding their teeth they followed the sounds and before the song ended, began chasing the Wolf. Running now for his life, the Wolf said to the Kid, “This is just what I deserve; how could I have tried to be a piper to please you when I am only a butcher!”
Moral
Dont do things that distract you from your original purpose.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Once upon a time, a Wolf decided to disguise himself as a Sheep in order to catch his prey more easily. He was hungry and knew that the shepherds of the area guarded their sheep well.
Covering himself completely with an old sheepskin, he wandered into the pasture nearby. A flock of sheep was grazing there, blissful under the morning sun. "When the shepherd turns his back I will slide in with them," said the Wolf, making his sly move into the flock eventually.
Soon evening fell and the shepherd led his sheep away, back into the fold.
He locked the gate securely and left. "Aha! Now is my chance!" said the Wolf, and was about to take off his disguise when the shepherd returned.
He had come back to the fold to choose one of the animals for its meat, for the next day's meal. To the Wolf's bad luck, it was he, in sheep's disguise, who was chosen to be cut up!
The Wolf found himself instantly under the sharp knife of the shepherd, and soon very much dead: the hunter becoming the hunted!
Once upon a time, a Wolf decided to disguise himself as a Sheep in order to catch his prey more easily. He was hungry and knew that the shepherds of the area guarded their sheep well.
Covering himself completely with an old sheepskin, he wandered into the pasture nearby. A flock of sheep was grazing there, blissful under the morning sun. "When the shepherd turns his back I will slide in with them," said the Wolf, making his sly move into the flock eventually.
Soon evening fell and the shepherd led his sheep away, back into the fold.
He locked the gate securely and left. "Aha! Now is my chance!" said the Wolf, and was about to take off his disguise when the shepherd returned.
He had come back to the fold to choose one of the animals for its meat, for the next day's meal. To the Wolf's bad luck, it was he, in sheep's disguise, who was chosen to be cut up!
The Wolf found himself instantly under the sharp knife of the shepherd, and soon very much dead: the hunter becoming the hunted!
The Story of Zacchaeus up a Tree
The Story of Zacchaeus up a Tree
...you should know about Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a little man.
And Zacchaeus was a rich man.
And nobody liked him very much.
Okay, that’s three things.
Nobody liked Zacchaeus very much mostly because he got rich taking money from other people and giving it to the Romans.
Nobody liked the Romans much either. That was because they came in from another country like a bunch of big bullies. They came with all their soldiers and swords and spears and stuff and made people do things they didn’t want to do, like give them money.
That's what Zacchaeus did. He collected money for the Romans. They called it "collecting taxes." Some of the money he gave to the Romans - but lots of it he kept for himself. And that’s how he got rich.
Zacchaeus was a very rich man...
And Zacchaeus was a little man... without a lot of friends.
Zacchaeus lived in a town called Jericho a long time ago. You might remember Jericho, if you heard the story about the walls that came tumbling down when the trumpets blew. But that was way before Zacchaeus’s time.
One bright, sunny day, Zacchaeus looked down the dirt road that came into Jericho and he saw a crowd of people coming his way.
Back then, everybody was taking about a guy named Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went, people who were sick got better, people who couldn’t walk could walk again, people who were blind could see again. Jesus was a pretty amazing guy! And everybody wanted to see just who this Jesus guy was. Including Zacchaeus.
The only trouble was, everywhere Jesus went there were always crowds of people all around him - and remember, Zacchaeus was a little man. He knew that he’d never be able see over a great crowd of people.
Zacchaeus ran up to the edge of the crowd and stood on his tiptoes to see what the big deal was.
But all he could see were the backs of people’s heads.
He tried jumping up and down. He bounced from one side and then to the other. But still he couldn’t see.
But then, on one lucky bounce, he saw the man at the center of the crowd. It was Jesus!
Zacchaeus tried to push his way through the crowd, but everyone wanted to see Jesus, and they wouldn’t let him through.
What could he do? He wanted to see Jesus too!
Then Zacchaeus turned around and saw a sycamore tree growing right beside the road Jesus was walking along.
Zacchaeus had an idea!
He ran on ahead and climbed up the Sycamore tree. He didn’t care if he looked silly or not. He wanted to see Jesus!
Sure enough, Jesus stopped right under the sycamore tree. He looked up, and there was Zacchaeus peeking through the branches.
“Zacchaeus!” Jesus said to him, “Hurry down from there!
“I must stay at your house today!”
“How does he know my name??!” Zacchaeus thought to himself. “But he does! He knows my name! And he wants to come and stay at MY house!”
Zacchaeus flew down that tree quicker than you could say “Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus sitting in a tree.”
When his feet hit the ground, he was so happy he nearly did a little dance! But that’s just what Jesus does to people. Jesus laughed and slapped his arm around Zacchaeus’s shoulder, and together they started off towards Zacchaeus’s house.
But the people in the crowd were not so happy.
They had spent all day in the hot sun following Jesus, and now he was going to stay at the house of Zacchaeus, a rich, cheating tax collector. They began to grumble about Zacchaeus...
“This man is a sinner!” one woman said.
“He cheats and steals from his own people!” said an old man.
“He isn’t good enough for Jesus to come and stay at his house!”
Zacchaeus heard what the people were saying about him, and he must have known that they were right. So he said, “Listen! I will give half of everything I have to the poor! And if I cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times as much!”
Jesus was going to be a guest at his house. And what do you do when you are expecting company? You clean things up!
That’s just what Zacchaeus did. Only he cleaned himself up on the inside first. Zacchaeus wanted to make things right for Jesus. He was so happy that Jesus wanted to come to his house, he wanted to make Jesus happy too.
And Jesus WAS happy!
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house!
“Your life was all wrong, but now it is all right. You were lost, but now you have been saved!
“That why I am here. I came to find and save the lost!”
Zacchaeus was a little man, but now he felt ten feet tall!
And you know what?
Jesus knows you too! Jesus knows you by name, just like he knew Zacchaeus.
He wants to come and tell you how much he loves you.
He wants to tell you the good news of his home in heaven. He wants to laugh with you and cry with you, and be with you no matter what.
But Jesus can’t exactly walk up to your front door and ring the bell. It would take a LONG time for Jesus to walk up to every house in the world! You’d be all old and wrinkly by the time he finally got to yours... and he wouldn’t be able to stay very long. There are a LOT of houses in the world to get to!
Back when Jesus stayed at Zacchaeus’s house, all the other people grumbled because each one of them wanted Jesus to stay at THEIR house. But when Jesus was on earth, he just couldn’t stay at every house every night.
That’s why Jesus went to heaven. Jesus went to heaven so he could send his Spirit to live with each of us - all at the same time!
Of course, you can’t see his Spirit.
But you can’t see love either. You can’t hear it or smell it or touch it. But you know when love is there. That’s how it is with Jesus. When Jesus comes to you, you can’t see him, or hear him, or touch him. But you know that he is there.
Jesus wants to come to your house today!
All you have to do is ask him in!
Courtesy
http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net
...you should know about Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a little man.
And Zacchaeus was a rich man.
And nobody liked him very much.
Okay, that’s three things.
Nobody liked Zacchaeus very much mostly because he got rich taking money from other people and giving it to the Romans.
Nobody liked the Romans much either. That was because they came in from another country like a bunch of big bullies. They came with all their soldiers and swords and spears and stuff and made people do things they didn’t want to do, like give them money.
That's what Zacchaeus did. He collected money for the Romans. They called it "collecting taxes." Some of the money he gave to the Romans - but lots of it he kept for himself. And that’s how he got rich.
Zacchaeus was a very rich man...
And Zacchaeus was a little man... without a lot of friends.
Zacchaeus lived in a town called Jericho a long time ago. You might remember Jericho, if you heard the story about the walls that came tumbling down when the trumpets blew. But that was way before Zacchaeus’s time.
One bright, sunny day, Zacchaeus looked down the dirt road that came into Jericho and he saw a crowd of people coming his way.
Back then, everybody was taking about a guy named Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went, people who were sick got better, people who couldn’t walk could walk again, people who were blind could see again. Jesus was a pretty amazing guy! And everybody wanted to see just who this Jesus guy was. Including Zacchaeus.
The only trouble was, everywhere Jesus went there were always crowds of people all around him - and remember, Zacchaeus was a little man. He knew that he’d never be able see over a great crowd of people.
Zacchaeus ran up to the edge of the crowd and stood on his tiptoes to see what the big deal was.
But all he could see were the backs of people’s heads.
He tried jumping up and down. He bounced from one side and then to the other. But still he couldn’t see.
But then, on one lucky bounce, he saw the man at the center of the crowd. It was Jesus!
Zacchaeus tried to push his way through the crowd, but everyone wanted to see Jesus, and they wouldn’t let him through.
What could he do? He wanted to see Jesus too!
Then Zacchaeus turned around and saw a sycamore tree growing right beside the road Jesus was walking along.
Zacchaeus had an idea!
He ran on ahead and climbed up the Sycamore tree. He didn’t care if he looked silly or not. He wanted to see Jesus!
Sure enough, Jesus stopped right under the sycamore tree. He looked up, and there was Zacchaeus peeking through the branches.
“Zacchaeus!” Jesus said to him, “Hurry down from there!
“I must stay at your house today!”
“How does he know my name??!” Zacchaeus thought to himself. “But he does! He knows my name! And he wants to come and stay at MY house!”
Zacchaeus flew down that tree quicker than you could say “Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus sitting in a tree.”
When his feet hit the ground, he was so happy he nearly did a little dance! But that’s just what Jesus does to people. Jesus laughed and slapped his arm around Zacchaeus’s shoulder, and together they started off towards Zacchaeus’s house.
But the people in the crowd were not so happy.
They had spent all day in the hot sun following Jesus, and now he was going to stay at the house of Zacchaeus, a rich, cheating tax collector. They began to grumble about Zacchaeus...
“This man is a sinner!” one woman said.
“He cheats and steals from his own people!” said an old man.
“He isn’t good enough for Jesus to come and stay at his house!”
Zacchaeus heard what the people were saying about him, and he must have known that they were right. So he said, “Listen! I will give half of everything I have to the poor! And if I cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times as much!”
Jesus was going to be a guest at his house. And what do you do when you are expecting company? You clean things up!
That’s just what Zacchaeus did. Only he cleaned himself up on the inside first. Zacchaeus wanted to make things right for Jesus. He was so happy that Jesus wanted to come to his house, he wanted to make Jesus happy too.
And Jesus WAS happy!
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house!
“Your life was all wrong, but now it is all right. You were lost, but now you have been saved!
“That why I am here. I came to find and save the lost!”
Zacchaeus was a little man, but now he felt ten feet tall!
And you know what?
Jesus knows you too! Jesus knows you by name, just like he knew Zacchaeus.
He wants to come and tell you how much he loves you.
He wants to tell you the good news of his home in heaven. He wants to laugh with you and cry with you, and be with you no matter what.
But Jesus can’t exactly walk up to your front door and ring the bell. It would take a LONG time for Jesus to walk up to every house in the world! You’d be all old and wrinkly by the time he finally got to yours... and he wouldn’t be able to stay very long. There are a LOT of houses in the world to get to!
Back when Jesus stayed at Zacchaeus’s house, all the other people grumbled because each one of them wanted Jesus to stay at THEIR house. But when Jesus was on earth, he just couldn’t stay at every house every night.
That’s why Jesus went to heaven. Jesus went to heaven so he could send his Spirit to live with each of us - all at the same time!
Of course, you can’t see his Spirit.
But you can’t see love either. You can’t hear it or smell it or touch it. But you know when love is there. That’s how it is with Jesus. When Jesus comes to you, you can’t see him, or hear him, or touch him. But you know that he is there.
Jesus wants to come to your house today!
All you have to do is ask him in!
Courtesy
http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net
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