*THE TABLECLOTH*

This is an old story but worth narrating again



-  A Beautiful story . . . makes you understand that things happen for a reason .

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. 

On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm - hit the area and lasted for two days. 

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,  and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?"

The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials 'EBG' were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria .

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten "The Tablecloth". The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again in all the 35 years between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

This is a true story submitted by Pastor Rob Reid who says, "God does work in mysterious ways. I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you. His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares we know He will see us through.

"So when the road you're traveling seems difficult at best, just remember I'm here praying and God will do the rest. 

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. 

*_"Can you sleep when the wind blows?"_*

_The following story is a superb metaphorical exposition of the level of preparedness._

_Years ago, a farmer owned some land along the Atlantic seacoast._
_He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic._

_They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals._

_Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him._

_'Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man._

_Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him._

_The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work._

_Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore._

_Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!_

_Tie things down before they blow away!' The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, 'No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.'_

_Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew._

_When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?_

_The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm._

*_The above story goes on to talk about trials and tribulations in life and if we do our best to understand, accept, and implement the principles learnt by us we will experience a deep sense of security, peace, and joy from within.  We will then be able to 'sleep when the wind blows.'_*

*_Love and Peace Be With You.._* 


🌺🌺🌸🌸🌼🌼🍀🍀

Being women

Every woman has a past. Some were physically abused. Some had violent parents. Some had pubertal issues. Some had sexual abuse as a child from their own family members. Some had messed up love stories. Some had been forced into sex in the name of love. Some had been drugged. Some were date raped. Some had been viciously photographed on bed. Some had been blackmailed by their ex-boyfriend. Some were in an abusive relationship. Some had menstrual problems. Some had a broken family. Some had a divorce. Some had an obesity issue. Some had financial droughts. Some had drug or alcohol addiction. Some had a few unsuccessful suicide attempts.

If you see a woman, who went through any of these but had already wiped her tears, tied her hair up, masked her sorrows with a divine smile, stood tall and strong, started walking towards her future because she still has some hope left inside her and has not given up on the concept of love that still exists in this world, do not stab her with her past. Do not confront her. Do not slap her with more abuse. Give way for her and walk beside her. May be hold her hands and walk for a while. You'll know how sweet that soul is and how strong her hopes are! You'll be amazed at how she carries herself after all her energy has been sucked out.

She need not always be only the woman next door or from a different home. She could be your own friend, your own sister, your own girlfriend, your own wife, even may be your own mother. 
Do not judge her by her past. Gift her the peaceful future that she deserves. Hold her hands against the world, which knows only to judge. Give her the love that she always yearned for...!!!

Goodness and mercy

Shirley & Marcy

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school.

He didn't want his mother to walk with him.

She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.

The neighbour said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour girl he knew.

She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy 's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally she said to Timmy,

'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'

Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest ,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy ...'

'Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?

'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.

And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest (surely goodness) and Marcy (mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'


The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always

I know you smiled!
I sure did, Pass this on
And brighten someone's day.

Encouraging message

 Every once and a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away.
Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken. These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does? He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keep it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock. But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first? That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately. It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it. It's not that it is loved more, it just believes it because it has experienced that love one on one. So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heart beat. We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd.  John10:14-16
-Author unknown

*60 BENEFITS FROM READING THE BIBLE DAILY*.

1. It teaches us forgiveness. 
2. It brings us joy. 
3. It provides clarity to/about many things. 
4. It opens our eyes to see. 
5. It directs our steps. 
6. It teaches and demonstrates love. 
7. It teaches mercy. 
8. It gives us strength. 
9. It blesses and teaches the way to be blessed. 
10. It counsels. 
11. It revives. 
12. It gives us courage. 
13. It sheds light in the dark. 
14. It breathes life into that which was dead. 
15. It heals our body from any form of diseases, either physical, health wise, spiritual etc. 
16. It delivers us from evil. 
17. It offers a better solution to every problems. 
18. It shows the better way to access God. 
19. It transform lives. 
20. It keeps us focused. 
21. It pushes us forward. 
22. It guards my thoughts. 
23. It fights temptation. 
24. It provides peace. 
25. It builds better relationships. 
26. It provides a greater perspective. 
27. It empowers. 
28. It changes our outlook. 
29. It fills our mind with affirmations. 
30. It gives us confidence. 
31. It reminds us of who we are. 
32. It feeds our soul. 
33. It sets us free from deceits. 
34. It satisfies our thirst. 
35. It organizes our priorities. 
36. It motivates us to help others. 
37. It relieves stress. 
38. It exchanges our guilt for His grace. 
39. It helps us conquer addictions. 
40. It helps us maintain a healthy lifestyle. 
41. It teaches us stewardship. 
42. It keeps us out of debt. 
43. It helps us discover our purpose in life. 
44. It equips us to live out our purpose. 
45. It settles our anxieties.
46. It arms us with truth. 
47. It strengthens our
 relationship with God and man.
48. It preserves. 
49. It protects. 
50. it help us know the will of God.
51. It sanctifies.
52. It makes us to know the mind of God.
53. It helps us walk in the light as he is in the light.
54. It help us walk in righteousness and holy.
55. It makes us have God Spirit and be like him.
56. It help us not to sin.
57. It makes us wise as we interact with others.
58. It help us to be patient and self control.
59. It makes us live long on earth
60. It makes us please God and enjoy eternity.

*Be a Bible reader*

The value of giving

From Katherine Hepburn

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. 

Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.

There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean.

The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. It would be a highlight of their lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armor." He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy.

The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, "I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus." The ticket lady stated the price.

The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?" The ticket lady again stated the price. 

The man didn't have enough money. How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."

The man understood what was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation. 

He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; "Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with. 

Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.

*That day I learnt the value to Give.*

*The Giver is bigger than the Receiver.* 

*If you want to be large, larger than life, learn to Give.*

*Only if you Give can you Receive more. The Givers heart becomes the Ocean, in tune with the Almighty - The Source*

*Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.*
Happy and blessed day💐🎊🎉🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍌🍉🍇🍓🍈🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥝🍅

GARDENING FOR LENT

First plant five rows of peas:

Preparedness
Promptness
Perseverance
Politeness
Prayer

Next to them plant three rows of squash:

Squash gossip
Squash criticism
Squash indifference

Then plant five rows of lettuce:

Let us be faithful
Let us be loyal
Let us be unselfish
Let us love one another
Let us be truthful

No garden is complete without turnips:

Turn up for Worships
Turn up with a smile
Turn up with a new idea
Turn up with real determination

Then see what a wonderful garden you can grow.

*Have a meaningful LENT*

I killed Jesus

"I killed Jesus by Christina Mead"
  
While I read the story of Christ’s passion and death in the gospel of Matthew, I was looking for myself in the story. Which character am I? What is God trying to teach me? Well….
I think that I am every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ. And I think that’s the whole point.

I am the apostle

I am an apostle, sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40). I’m prone and give in to laziness in the presence of holiness. I don’t put up a fight against the pull of distractions or sometimes even sleep.

I am Judas

I am Judas. Jesus has every right to call me both “friend” and “betrayer” barely 30 seconds apart (Matthew 26:46, 50). My heart is fickle and weak and sometimes my commitment to being Jesus’ friend is blown off on the whim of an emotion.

I am Caiaphas

I am Caiaphas, the high priest. I want Jesus to prove Himself to me (Matthew 26:63). I want signs and wonders to know that I really can trust Him. I want my prayers answered in my way. I want concrete proof over humble faith.

I am Peter

I am Peter. Sometimes I deny Jesus (Matthew 26:72). I deny Him in the face of the homeless when I chose to look away. I deny Him when I am afraid of being judged and condemned by those around me.

I am the Crowd

I am in the crowd yelling, “crucify Him” (Matthew 27:21-23). And I say it again and again every time I knowingly choose to sin.

I am Barabbas

I am Barabbas. I am chained in sin and holed up in the prison of my own pride. And instead of suffering the full punishment for my sins for which I am guilty… Christ takes my place (Matthew 27:26). And I often forget to thank Him.

I am Pilate

I am Pilate. I want to give up when life is too challenging (Matthew 27:24). I’m ready to wash my hands of Christianity when being a follower of Jesus means pursuing virtue over mediocrity, a life of prayer over a life of pleasure.

I am Simon of Cyrene

I am Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32). I suffer reluctantly. I will take the cross but I won’t seek it. I’ll only take it if it’s been placed on my shoulders… and I don’t love it.

I am passer-by

I am a passer-by. These passers-by mocked Jesus while He was hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:30). How quickly they had forgotten all the good works He had done among their cities and towns. When popular opinion about Jesus changed, they followed suite. How quickly I  forget the good He’s done for me. In a brief moment of pain all my gratitude is forgotten and replaced by resentment.

I am one of the Roman soldiers

I am one of the Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:35). I killed Jesus. My sins were the reason He was nailed to that cross. It was my fault and I know it.

But sometimes…

I am the centurion. My eyes are opened to who Jesus is in my life (Matthew 27:54). My heart swells with the truth that God became man and died for me. And this knowledge brings me peace and a resignation to amend my life.

I am one of the women standing by the cross (Matthew 27:55-56). When I’m open to God’s grace, I can be a faithful and constant Christian. In the midst of pain and suffering, I can stay close to the cross. Jesus, my beloved, is my strength and He’s all I need.

I am Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:59). Again, only by God’s grace, I can be selflessly compassionate, putting others’ needs before my own. Moved by God, I will use what He has given me in the service of others. My time, talent, and treasure are all for Him.

Sometimes I am every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ.We have to apply it to our lives today because the reality of it’s events matter today.

I killed Jesus. But I am also the reason He rose from the dead.

IT WAS THE GRACE, FAVOUR AND MERCY OF GOD - Amazing story

A lady who was a
deadly professional prostitute,
she did prostitution for a living
and had a lot of customers around.
She knew that no man
will never accept her as a wife,
so she went to a hospital and
told the doctor to remove her
womb so that she will no longer
be coming for abortions.
After some years, someone
introduced the word of God to her
and immediately, she gave her life
to Christ and started working in
the church and became
dedicated to God.
As time went by, one of the Pastors called
her
and said 'my sister, 'the Lord
spoke to me that you are my
wife, i want to marry you.' The
lady smiled and said 'Brother, the
Lord didn't tell u anything or maybe u
didn't hear him clearly, go back
cause am not even planning to
marry any man. The man came
back and said to her again 'the
Lord said that u are my wife'. The
lady smiled and narrated her story to him.
The man still insisted
to marry her and she told the Pastor,
'I don't have a womb, I removed it after
several abortions', but the pastor still
insisted, 'The Lord said u are my wife',
so they got married.
Not too long after some months
she became pregnant. The lady
and the man went to the hospital
were her womb was removed,
the doctor thought she was coming
for another business...but
the lady told the doctor that 'i am
pregnant and i have come to
your hospital to register'.
The doctor was shocked, with laughter he
said,
'u told me to remove your womb,
u can no longer have children'.
but the lady told him it is the GRACE,
FAVOUR and
MERCY of GOD that she's
pregnant. The doctor conducted a
pregnancy
test which showed that she was one month
pregnant. Out of disbelief and tears, the
doctor said, 'please, show me ur God,
I want to worship Him'.
Not too long the lady gave birth to a baby
boy..
IT WAS THE GRACE, FAVOUR AND MERCY OF
GOD
that the prostitute could have a child.
Therefore, I decree upon ur life that
whatsoever that has or might
have damaged in your life, in your body,
in your skills, your career, your academics,
your
business, MAY THE FAVOUR, MERCY,
GRACE AND MIRACLE OF GOD LOCATE YOU
AS YOU TYPE AMEN TO THIS PRAYER,
IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.
My brothers & sisters, God still does this
kind
of miracles.