By Ken Gaub (
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are
and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing
experience I had several years ago. At the time I was driving on 1-75 near
I loved the Lord and my ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My
cup was empty. Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred me
out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on
the corner.
"Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone?"
Noise from the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must
have drowned out the sound because the service station attendant continued
looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing. "Why
doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I muttered. I began reasoning. "It may be important. What if it's an
emergency?" Curiosity overcame my indifference.
I stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone.
"Hello," I said casually and took a big sip of my drink.
The operator said: "Long distance call for Ken Gaub." My eyes widened, and I almost choked It took a
moment to gain control of my babbling, but I finally replied, "Yes, he is
here." Searching for a possible explanation, I wondered if I could
possibly be on Candid Camera!
on a chunk of ice.
Swallowing hard, I said, "You're crazy!"
Then realizing I shouldn't speak to an operator like that, I added,
"This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the
phone was ringing . . . " "Is Ken Gaub
there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a long distance call for
him."
Still shaken, perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you
reach me here? I was just walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing,
and I just answered it on chance. You can't mean me!"
"Well," the operator asked, "Is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?"
"Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said,
finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the call was real.
Then I heard another voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator.
That's Ken Gaub." I listened dumbfounded to a
strange voice identifying herself. "I'm Millie
from
"What can I do for you?" She began weeping. Finally she
regained control and continued. "I was about to commit suicide, had just
finished writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want
to do this. Then I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if
I could just talk to you, you could help me. I knew that was impossible because
I didn't know how to reach you, I didn't know anyone who could help me find
you. Then some numbers came to my mind, and I scribbled the numbers down."
At this point she began weeping again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help
her.
She continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought, wouldn't
it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me Ken's phone
number? I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you . . .
Are you in your office in
A little surprised, she asked, "Oh, really, then where are you?"
"Don't you know?" I responded. "You made the
call."
She explained, "But I don't even know what area I'm calling. I
just dialed the number that I had on this paper."
"Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in
Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I
began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her despair and frustration, the
presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth giving me words of wisdom
beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and
met the One Who would lead her out of her situation
into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense
of our Heavenly Father's concern for each of His children. What were the
astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and
innumerable combinations of numbers, only an All-knowing God could have caused
that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed
back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. "Maybe I'd
better not tell this," I thought, but I couldn't contain it. "Barb,
you won't believe this! God knows where I am!"
God also knows where you are. Place yourself in His hands,
concentrate on knowing His will for your life, and He will never forsake or
forget you.
No matter how
hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
When your Mom is
mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
If your sister
hits you, don't hit her back.
They always catch
the second person.
You can't trust a
dog to watch your food.
Puppies still
have bad breath, even after eating a Tic-Tac.
Never hold a
Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
You can't hide a
piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
GREAT TRUTHS
ABOUT LIFE THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
Families are like
fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Growing old is
mandatory; growing up is optional.
Raising teenagers
is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
If you can remain
calm, you don't have all the facts.
Today's mighty
oak is just yesterday's acorn that held its ground.
My mind not only
wanders; sometimes it leaves completely.
p.. One reason to smile is that every seven minutes of
every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.
q.. God put me on
earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I
will live forever.
THE FOUR STAGES
OF LIFE;
1) You believe in
Santa Claus
2) You don't
believe in Santa Claus.
3) You become
Santa Claus.
4) You start to
look like Santa Claus.
DO Y0U BELIEVE IN GOD?
IF SOMEONE HAD A GUN HELD IN FRONT OF YOUR
FACE AND ASKED YOU IF YOU BELIEVED IN GOD WHAT WOULD YOU DO? SAY NO AND FEEL
ASHAMED THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? OR SAY YES, I DO AND DIE STANDING UP FOR GOD?
(The following is a true article that was printed in a southern
newspaper (Author unknown)
There was an atheist couple who had a child. The couple never
told their daughter anything about the Lord. One night when the little girl was
5 years old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the Mom, right
in front of the child. Then, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it
all. She then was sent to a foster home. The foster mother was a Christian and
took the child to church. On the first day of Sunday School,
the foster mother told the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and
to have patience with her. The teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said,
"Does anyone know who this is?" The little girl said, "I do,
that's the man who was holding me the night my parents died."
I've learned....
That the best
classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned....
that just one person saying to me, "You've made my
day!" makes my day.
I've learned....
That being kind is
more important than being right.
I've learned....
That you should
never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned....
That I can always
pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned....
That no matter how
serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy
with.
I've learned....
That sometimes all a
person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned....
That life is like a
roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned...
That under
everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned....
That the Lord didn't
do it all in one day. What makes me think
I can?
I've learned....
That when you plan
to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt
you.
I've learned....
That love, not time,
heals all wounds.
I've learned....
That the easiest way
for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned....
That everyone you
meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned....
That no one is
perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned....
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned....
That when you harbor
bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned....
That one should keep
his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned....
That a smile is an
inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned....
That I can't choose
how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
I've learned....
That everyone wants
to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while
you're climbing it.
I've learned....
That we should be
glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
The Maker of all human
beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to
the serious defect in the primary and central component, or heart. This is due
to a malfunction in the original prototype units, resulting in the reproduction
of the same defect in subsequent units.
This defect has been
technically termed "Subsequential Internal
Non-morality", or more commonly known as "S-I-N", as it is
primarily symptomized by loss of moral judgement.
Some other symptoms
are:
A: Loss of direction
B: Foul vocal emissions
C: Amnesia of origin
E: Selfish, or
violent behavior
F: Depression or confusion in the mental
component
The Manufacturer, Who
is neither liable or at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized
repair and service, free of charge, to correct this SIN defect, at numerous
locations throughout the world. The number to call for the recall station in your
area is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Warning: Continuing to
operate the human unit without correction voids Manufacturers warranty,
exposing the owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will
result in the human unit being permanently impounded!
For free emergency
service, kneel and call on the name of "YESHUA" for prompt assistance
at any location worldwide.
IS YOUR JAR FULL?
An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business
students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will
never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered overachievers
he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."
Then he pulled out a one gallon, wide mouthed Mason jar and set it
on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist sized rocks
and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled
to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar
full?"
Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and
pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar
causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the
big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one
of them answered.
"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and
brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it
went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted.
Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of
water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.
Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of
this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no
matter how full your schedule is, if you try really
hard you can always fit some more things in it!" "
"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.
The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in
first, you'll never get them in at all. "What are the 'big rocks' in your
life?"
God; Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A
worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time
for yourself; Your health; Your significant other. Remember to put these BIG
ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little
stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you
worry about that don't really matter, add you'll never have the real quality
time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks). So,
tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask
yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in
your jar first.
I stood
in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out."
The lady
came in and got him, and took him to a room and tucked him into a big old
feather bed and pulled
the covers up around his neck and kissed him goodnight and turned
out the lights. As he laid in the darkness and looked out the window at the
snow coming down on that cold night he thought to himself, "John
The next
morning she came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of
food. After he ate she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker
in front of the fireplace and she took a big old Bible and sat down in front of
him and she looked up at and she asked, "Do you understand John
3:16?"
He said,
"No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time
I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it."
She
opened the Bible to John 3:16 , and she began to
explain to him about Jesus. Right there
in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought, "John
You
know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God would be willing
to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a
thing. I don't understand it either, but
it sure does make life worth living.
-
Author Unknown
John 3:16-18:
16. For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved.
18. He that believeth on
him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he
has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus said, "if you are ashamed of
me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
Phil 4:13
After
living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end. The first
thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to
be a court house.
The
doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense
table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous
looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil
person I have ever seen.
I sat
down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking
man whose appearance seemed familiar to me. The corner door flew open and there
appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as
he moved across the room.
I
couldn't take my eyes off of him. As he took his seat behind the bench, he
said, "Let us begin." The
prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why
this man belongs in hell."
He
proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past
when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once
in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so
embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil
told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As
upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally
upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of
defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some
good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I've done?
Satan
finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of
all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.
When
it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The
judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned him to come
forward. As he got up and started walking, I was able to see him in his full
splendor and majesty. I realized why he seemed so familiar. This was Jesus
representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said
to the judge, "Hi Dad,"
and then he turned to address the court.
"Satan
was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these
allegations. And yes the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be
punished." Jesus took a deep breath
and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However,
I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has
accepted me as his Savior, so he is mine."
My
Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life and no one
can snatch him from me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is
not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As
Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied,
"There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all."
The
judge lifted his mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words
bellowed from his lips... "This man is free. The penalty for him has
already been paid in full. Case dismissed." As my Lord led me away, I
could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I'll
win the next one."
I
asked Jesus as he gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever
lost a case?"
Christ
lovingly smiled and said,
Everyone
that has come to me and asked me to represent them has received the same
verdict as you, PAID
IN FULL.”
(Source: Melanie Jaquysh,
Admin. Assoc., The