[Footprints] [A Love Story] [There Was a Young Man] [Little Girl]

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it.

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you the most you would leave me."

The LORD replied, " My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

- Author is unknown.

A Love Story

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah, the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.

As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!"

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?" I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love you."

Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?" How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "It's hard to think of it, but I would still love you."

The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?" How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen toYour word."

The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?" How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.

And the Lord asked, "Do you really love me?" With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!" I thought I had answered well, but... God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?" I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect." "THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY IN EARNEST?"

No answers. Only tears. The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?" The tears continued to roll down my cheeks. "Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"

I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give. "You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown my blessing to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all."

"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME?"

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child." The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child." I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do you love me so?"

The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever." Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done?

I asked God, "How much do You love me?" The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

- Anonymous

There was a young man

There was a young man . . .

Born in an obscure village to a peasant woman, he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30.
Then for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.
He never married, He never raised a family, He never owned a home, He never went to college, He never wrote a book, He never held an office, He never travelled more than 200 miles from his home.
He never did anything usually associated with greatness;
He had no credentials,
. . but Himself.

While still a young man, public opinion turned against him;
When betrayed by a follower, his friends deserted him;
He was given a mockery of a trial, and nailed to a cross;
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothes,
And after he died, he was laid in a borrowed grave,

Over 19 centuries have come and gone,
Yet he remains the central figure of the human race,
And the leader in the column of progress; for
All the armies that have ever marched,
All the navies that have ever sailed,
All the parliaments that have ever sat,
All the kings that have ever reigned,
All the together have not affected our life on earth
As has that,
. . . one solitary Life.

- Author is unknown.

Little Girl

Little girl, little girl, come to me, for I am your guardian angel from the future.
I will take care of you.
I will hold you.
I will protect you from harm.
You can just hold my hand if you want to.
You can stand by me if you want to, or sit beside me.

But me, I want to hug you.
I won't hurt you.
Those bullies, they're telling you lies.
They're not going to kill you; they don't even have knives, even if they say they do.
Please come over to me, don't back up.
I LOVE YOU.

You can cry on my shoulder if you want.
Feel my heart beat. See? We have the same heart beat.
They're not going to kill your parents.
You see? My Dad, "your Dad," died on September 25, 1996.
He died of a heart attack; they didn't kill him.

And my mother, "your mother," is still with us.
You know what the year is? 2000. Dec. 08.
See? She's still here, and you know what?
We have lots of kids, they love me like I love you.
You would love them if you know them well.

Come to me, little girl.
Take a look at my face.
See? I'm not a stranger.
Look at me, I am you. I will take care of you.