"PRAY FOR OUR PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY. PRAY FOR OUR ELECTED LEADERS HERE AND WORLDWIDE!"
Sincerely, PhiLip Preston & Brenda Sue THOMAS
Crisfield "Crabtown" Maryland, U.S.A.
"These are stories and real life experiences, taken from Guideposts®/LPE and other sources, as noted. It is our "intention" to help others, through the great medium of the printed word." You are important! =+= "LOVE & COMPASSION ARE GREAT GIFTS! Use Them To Help Others.
-----------------------------------------------------
Pacific Garden Mission reaches out to people...This winter, particularly on frigid days and nights, PGM is providing accommodations for as many as 700 homeless people. At least one Christian shelter has moved out of the area and another has limited facilities for overnight guests. Some street people by-pass city shelters, fearing mistreatment by other drifters, and come to PGM where they feel safer, even if it means sleeping on a pillow and blanket on the floor when all beds are filled. Thus, PGM is often overcrowded. But what an opportunity to share THE GOOD NEWS, as well as provide our guests with shelter, food, clothing, and even medical care!
This is a great organization. You can HELP their efforts by, Phone... 1 312 922 1462 {Chicago Illinois, USA}
Tell 'em PhiLip & Brenda THOMAS told you...THANKS!"On The WWW Internet"
-------------------------------------------------------
** THE LOVE APPLE **
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
....... The first snow of the season had dusted amber leaves that cold Wednesday morning in Bozeman Montana. Fall
seemed to be my busiest season. A widow with four children, I had gone to seminary in my late 40s and was in my first assignment, pastoring two small country churches. I loved my work, but as the days became shorter and the temperature plunged, I felt my energy flag and a quiet creep into my soul. I lifted my eyes from my cluttered desk to look out the window at snow covered Bridger Peak, longing for the warm sunshine of spring.
Just then my office door opened. Marion Brown, our church pianist, greeted me with a cherry hello. She shook the snow from her black boots and unbuttoned her heavy ankle-length coat. Smiling impishly, she put her hand in her pocket and took out a large apple. "This is for you," she said, thrusting it toward me. "To bring some color into your life."
"Thank you so much," I said. It was a perfect Red Delicious
and, so shiny I could see my reflection in its ruby surface. "Where did you find such a beauty?"
"A salesman going north gave it to me this morning. He wanted to thank me for playing his favorite songs last night." Marion and her invalid husband lived in the local hotel, and she often played the piano in the lobby.
"Stay for a minute and warm up," I said, gesturing to the chair next to my desk.
"No, I'm off to a Kiwanis Club meeting to wake them up with
some lively music." She laughed. "Then I'll be playing at the hospital later on." At one time or another every organization in town took advantage of Marion's musical gifts. "I've got to go."
"Thanks again," I called after her, then put the apple on my desk.
My first appointment of the day turned out to be a serious one. Steve, a college student and part-time logger, looked grave as he sat down, taking off his cowboy hat.
"It's Lucy," he said. Lucy, his sister, was in the hospital, expecting her first child.
"What happened?" I asked. "She's afraid she might lose the baby." He twisted his hat in his lap. "I'm scared. I know how much this means to her and her husband. To all of us......"
I assured him GOD was caring for his sister and her baby. Then we prayed. As he rose to go his eyes fixed on the apple. "Is that real?" He asked. "Yes," I said. Then I was struck by an urge to give it away. "Take it." "I couldn't," he protested. "You must," I insisted. "Take it to your sister. Give it to her as a reminder that GOD is looking out for her. Tell her you prayed for her." "Thanks," he said. He picked up the apple and hurried out.
The day continued with a flurry of activity. By sundown I was ready to head home. As I sat in my car waiting for it to warm up, I saw a familiar silhouette making her way through the snow.
I rolled down my window. "Marion! Marion!" I called. "Need a ride?" She crossed the street, shifting the bags she carried. "No thanks," she said. "I like the exercise. But I've got to tell you about my day." She swung open the car door and eased in beside me, brushing back her dark hair.
"You know how I play at the maternity ward of the hospital every Wednesday?" I nodded. "Well, when I'm done I visit each new or expectant mother for a few minutes. Today the nurses alerted me to one young girl who was having some problems.
"Her name was Lucy, and she confessed she had been feeling low. Then her brother made a surprise visit. He brought her a big red apple...just like the one I gave you this morning." I smiled. "He told her it was a special apple and it would remind her GOD was with her. She laughed out loud when he said that, and at the same time the baby inside her jumped. That was just what she'd been praying for. You'll never guess what happened next."
"What?" I asked. "She handed me the apple, saying, "I want you to have it."
"How wonderful!" I exclaimed, biting my tongue.
"It's even more perfect than the one I gave you this morning," she said. "My husband will be so pleased. He hasn't been feeling well lately and I know this will cheer him up."
The LOVE APPLE had completed its circle. As they say, gifts travel far in the hands of giving people.
------------------------------------------------------
By: Colleen Graham in GUIDEPOSTS®/LPE 12/1998 =+= ppt/s
======================================================
-EMail ME - The "BUG MAN"-
"OUR FAMILY""God Made Us A Family. We Need Each other. We Love One Another And Forgive One Another. We Work Together And Play Together. We Worship Together And Use God's Word Together. Together We Grow In Christ And Learn To Love All Men. Together We Serve Our God And Seek To Know His Will. These Are Our Hopes And Ideals.-LORD, WE ASK FOR GRACE TO ATTAIN THEM- Amen!
UPDATE 02-06-2012 PM © PPT/s
Send E-Mail to: ptbugman@webtv.net
This page created using the webpage creation facilities of Webspawner.
Copyright © 2012 PHILIP P. THOMAS. All Rights Reserved
WebSpawner Page Machine