Listen and look.

Mark 4:9, NIV: "Then Jesus said, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'"

I hear the house creaking, as a strong wind blows against it. Outside, the sounds from swaying trees and hanging wind chimes fill the air. To go outside requires a firm grip on the door, and a readiness to be greeted by a potentially breathtaking gust. And all this is done by something that remains unseen. Most days, the air is so easily taken for granted. It is all around us. We need it to live. But we pay little attention to it unless it becomes too hot, or too cold, or too windy. Yet even on the calmest days, it's still there. Like the air around us, God is also. And so easily taken for granted. But to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, the effects of His movement are unmistakable. And being in His presence is truly breathtaking. And should we come to a place wherein we turn down our noisy lives, then we shall listen. And we shall hear. And we shall find the voice of God again.

© FaithWriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS CHRISTIAN WRITING JOBS MAKE A WEBSITE

written by Randy Chambers
http://reflections.daybyday.org

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God Knows Best

God Knows Best
by Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows what's best for us,
So why should we complain--
We always want the sunshine,
But He knows there must be rain--

We love the sound of laughter
And the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
If we never shed a tear...

Our Father tests us often
With suffering and with sorrow,
He tests us, not to punish us,
But to help us meet tomorrow...

For growing trees are strengthened
When they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of a chisel
Gives the marble grace and form...

God never hurts us needlessly,
And He never wastes our pain
For every loss He send to us
Is followed by rich gain...

And when we count the blessings
That God has so freely sent,
We will find no cause for murmuring
And no time to lament...

For our Father loves His children,
And to Him all things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure
When the soul's deep need is pain...

So whenever we are troubled,
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirit strong.

Church Bulletin Bloopers

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge--Up Yours."

Our Father who art in Heaven

Are you struggling at the moment. Trouble paying the bills, struggling with an illness or looking after the kids? Parents and inlaws doing the token effort and possibly living more for themselves?
Dont worry you have another parent. One who can do so much more than than your earthly parents. Let your real Father lend a helping hand.

Never forget

Knowledge is power

Remember tha man at the Pool of Bethesda. Sometimes I think I feel that way.
" I have no one to help me"

Let me encourage you with THE TRUTH today. You have Jesus Christ pleading for you at the right hand of the Father 24/7. God will not refuse his son.

Keep on keeping on.

Plant a thought, reap an act.
Plant an act reap a habit.
Plant a habit reap a character.
Plant a character reap a destiny.


God tells us to pray and to pray unceasingly. Ok, sometimes we just feel we need to take a break or feel we’re all prayed out. When this happens take this exhaustion to God. It won’ t be long until you feel his warm, loving embrace and reassuring words that he will help you and have his son Jesus intercede and pray on your behalf.
But when we are back to our old selves we need to press forward again in our prayer life. Prayer is the key to change. We may stumble and fall from time to time for we won’t be perfect until we our united with our Father who art in Heaven. So don’t be discouraged. Repent ask God for forgiveness and get going again. ASAP.
God tells us to keep praying for a reason. He made us. He knows what we need to do. It is the only way to bear fruit.