P.U.S.H.

P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all, your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push, and now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

P.U.S.H!

When everything seems to go wrong,...just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down,...just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should,...just P.U.S.H.!

When your money looks funny and the bills are due,...just P.U.S.H.!

When you want to tell them off for whatever the reason,...just P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you,...just P.U.S.H.!

P.U.S.H -- Pray Until Something Happens!!!!!

THE SILVERSMITH

THE SILVERSMITH

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse:

"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Malachi 3:3)"

One lady proposed to visit a silversmith, and report to them on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver.

After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?"

"Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."

IN GOD WE TRUST

IN GOD WE TRUST

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spendthe weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervousabout the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on thewater-way, and cars costing more than her house. The first day and eveningwent well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how thevery wealthy live.The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to thefinest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity toindulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herselfimmensely. As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurantthat evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on theground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a fewcigarette butts.Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it upand smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would heeven take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entirescene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causallymentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if thepenny he had found had been of some value.A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for thepenny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! Whatwas the point of this? "Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She readthe words "United States of America." "No, not that; read further." "Onecent?""No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?" "And if I trust in God,the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see thatinscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we neverseem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me totrust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to seeif my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response toGod; that I do trഉസ്റ്റ് in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as ifit were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me.Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stoppedand picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in mymind about things I can not change. I read the words, "In God We Trഉസ്റ്റ് ," andhad to smile. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been findingan inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, penniesare plentiful!And God is patient...