The Golden Rule.

Jane loved to listen to stories about her co-workers and she so loved talking about people and every thing around her, nothing gave her greater pleasure than gossip. She talked about people's issues, private affairs, people's marriages and families, and everything that sounded sweet to her ears as long as it wasn't about her.
She would hear a story and broadcast it, may be add a little fake detail to spice it up, thus increasing the sweetness of the gist.

What baffled me was the fact that she never bothered to authenticate her stories, i.e if those things she said about people were actually true. She had her clique of friends, girls who loved to listen to lies. As long as they kept each other entertained with the latest gist, everything was fine with then. In their minds, they were the most current and informed people in their office.

The infuriating thing was that they never had great gist about people, all their stories were negative and often ridiculous. If they attended a colleague or friend's wedding, on returning, they'll begin to scrutinize the newlyweds or their in-laws. For instance, you'll hear stuff like '' I didn't even know his wife was so ugly''  ''It seems her husband is poor and from a wretched home'' or '' did you see the way her mother in-law looked at her, it seems she never approved of the marriage''.

If they visited a colleague to welcome a new baby, the gist went like this, '' did you see how skinny and hungry the baby looked? seems her husband isn't bringing home enough money, '' or  '' seems the baby mama isn't happy in her marriage, by the way, I never knew her husband was that old!''

If they visited an unmarried female friend, the gossip would go like this; '' I know this house was furnished by Tony, it seems she and John are no longer together, in fact she has finished using him!, By the way, I saw her at Mathew's place yesterday''
Back in the office, the stories were always about Mr A, having an affair with miss/Mrs B an so on. I wondered if it never occurred to them how often they ruined friendships and relationships,because most of the things you say about people often gets back to them somehow.

One faithful day, Jane walked up to me in tears, I was so concerned and curious to know what had befallen  her. She said to me,
''Chi, you can't imagine what my closest friend (her gossip mate) did to me''
I was all ears! ''yes?'' I queried for a response.

''She went around telling people about me, saying all sort of stuff that I never said or did, I never even had an affair with....bla, bla, bla''
Wheeew!

I didn't know whether to laugh or not. Did I just see Jane shed tears over mere gossip? The chief gossip herself, being stabbed with gossip! Inside me I wondered, had she never for once thought about what it felt like to be talked about, how it feels when people spread wrong stories about you. Trust me, I'v been a victim so much that I already have immunity to gossip... Lol.
I didn't know what to say to Jane, so I just consoled her and pleaded with her not to pick a fight... well,  she did!
As I thought about it all, I pondered about how the world be a better place if we all lived by the golden rule;  ''Do unto others as you'll have them do to you''  (Luke 6:31)
It's not nice to say stuff about people, stuff you wouldn't like people to say about you, even if they were true. Also, remember that the things you say about people almost always gets back to them.

by Chioma.

Short Cuts, they aren't always the best.

Have you ever tried  to take a short cut that turned out to be a wrong turn? or in real life, may be you have tried achieving a goal through a shorter abnormal means only to find yourself in a complicated situation, a terrible one that kept you wishing  you had gone about that thing the normal way. I'm sure it has happened to almost everyone at one point or the other in their lives.
Some people are so strong minded that they can take chances with almost anything. Even when things fall apart in their lives due to their wrong moves they can be like ''well,  so what? Life is all about risks!''

It's true that one can never be too careful in life, but I personally hate some repercussions and regrets, so I try to follow the necessary protocols or due process in achieving my goals. I only use short cuts when I must, but it also has to be a good means.

There are numerous short cuts we take in our daily lives that ends up as bad decisions.  For instance, when you tell a big lie to your partner/Lover, hoping it would promote the relationship/marriage, only to lose that person when the truth finally explodes in your face. Or telling your boss that you are sick and on admission so you can have a few days off only for your boss to sight you somewhere in town doing something else. I bet he/she would never trust you again.
Fraud is now the order of the day, illegal "runs", €€and akward businesses that fetch you loads of money in a blink of an eye at any cost. This is what my people call "ego mbute" (heavy money! not peanut change)

All forms of  malpractices can be seen  among the youth, even adults in our society. Students are no longer willing to study hard. They do all sort of things before and during an  exam. But, is it really worth it struggling to achieve things by ''all means''?

Do we still remember that our heavenly Father is equally putting us through rigorous exams here on earth to know those that are worthy of heaven?

An old friend of mine who was eager to get a wife said to me '' Chi, I really want to get married asap but you see, I don't have time and patience to court a girl at all. What I do now is, every weekend, I invite a different girl over because that's the easiest way to find out which girl I'm physically and sexually compatible with''
Wow!
What a way to chose a wife! I just wonder what happened to the days when a young man would woo the one girl he wants, study her, rub minds/heads together and prayerfully hope on God...some say I still Live in the 19th century, what ever!
Jesus took the longer route of THORNS to the THRONE. On the way to calvary, he could have bursted those soldiers, "kicked some butts" and freed himself, but he knew that climbing that cross was the right thing to do for your sake and mine.

The point is; Taking the elevator instead of the stair case doesn't always help, it helps doing things the right way.

by Chioma

My Love Poem To Jesus

I love you Jesus, always have

You are my first love

The first one that ever held my heart

The first one I ever leaned on

They say the first cut is the deepest

I love you Jesus, I still do

You came into my life when I was down

You filled that deep hole within me

You were with me even in my deepest valley

You held my hand and walked me through

I love you Jesus, always will

How can I forget those lonely nights

The nights I constantly wet my pillow with tears

The times I felt I had come to the end of the road

And life Just wasn't worth Living anymore

The pain and tears were all I knew

Loneliness and misery engulfed me day and night

What lay deep within, despite outward smiles, only I knew

I used to wonder if i'lld make it through

The long nights that never seem to end

I couldn't fathom why you let me go through all that

I knew you never forgot about me

Though the pain made you seem so far away

It was hard for me but I made that decision

Never to let go off you

A part of me knew you were working it out

Oh how I love You So much, Jesus

Nothing can take your place in my heart.

by Chioma Morah

When I got to heaven

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door
Not by the beauty of it all
By the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp
The thieves, the liars, the sinners
The alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Uncle Bill, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must have made a mistake."

"And why is everyone so quiet
So somber? Please give me a clue."
"Hush, child," said He. "They're all in shock
No one thought they'd see you


heaven will be full of suprises!

Noah in the 21st Century.

And we thought we had problems!  If Noah had lived in the United States in the last ten years, the story may have gone something like this:

     And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed.  But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth.  Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark."  In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark.  "Remember," said the Lord, "you must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."

     Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult.  The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping.  "Noah!" He shouted.  "Where is the Ark?"  "Lord, please forgive me," cried Noah.  "I did my best, but there were big problems."

     "First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the building codes.  I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans.  Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a sprinkler system and approved floatation devices.  Then, my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission."

"Then, I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl.  I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I really needed the wood to save the owls.  However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me take the 2 owls.  The carpenters formed a union and went on strike.  I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer.  Now, I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls."

     "When I started rounding up the other animals, an animal rights group sued me.  They objected to me taking only two of each kind aboard.  This suit is pending.  Meanwhile, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood.  They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe.  Then, the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed flood plain.  I sent them a globe."

     "Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking atheists aboard.  The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes.  I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft.'  And finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it's a religious event and therefore  unconstitutional.  I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years."

     Noah waited.

     The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine, and the seas began to calm.  A rainbow arched across the sky.  Noah looked up hopefully, "You mean you're not going to destroy the earth, Lord?"

     "No," He said sadly.  "I don't have to.  The government already has."


- AUTHOR UNKNOWN -











GOD'S LITTLE ACRE
Copyright (c) Rusti 2002, 2003
All Rights Reserved

It's The Thought That Counts

Choosing a gift for an elderly mother…

Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.

The first said, “I built a big house for our mother.” The second said, “I sent her a Mercedes with a driver.” The third smiled and said, “I've got you both beat.

You remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know she can't see very well. So I sent her a
remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the Church 12 years to teach him. He's one of a kind. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it.”

Soon thereafter, mom sent out her letters of thanks:

“David,” she wrote one son, “The house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house.”

“John,” she wrote to another, “I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home, so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!”

“Dearest Jeffrey,” she wrote to her third son, “You have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious.”

by annonymous

.

The Church Lady.

There was a little old lady who was very spiritual who would  step  out on her porch every day, raise her arms to the sky and  yell, "Praise the Lord"

One day, an atheist bought the house next door to her, and he
 became very irritated with the spiritual lady. So after a month
 or so of her yelling, "Praise the Lord" from her porch, he would go
  outside on his porch and yelled back, "There is no Lord."

 Yet,  the  little  old lady continued. One cold, wintry day,
 when  the  little  old lady couldn't get to the store, she went
 out  on  her  porch,  raised  her hands up to the sky and said,
"Help  me  Lord, I have no more money, it's cold, and I have no
more food."

 The next morning, she went outside, and there were bags of  food  on  the porch, enough to last her a week. "Praise the Lord," she yelled.

  The  Atheist stepped out from the bushes and said, "There is
no Lord, ha ha ha, I bought those groceries!"

:)    (Hold on . . the ending is VERY good!).

  The  little  old  lady  raised her arms to the sky and said,
  "Praise  the Lord, You sent me groceries and you made the Devil
   pay for them!"

from clearvisionbiblestudies.

Trust the Signposts.

Most people would agree that it is unwise to ignore signposts. Sadly, though, that is what some do on the road through life when the direction given does not fit their personal preference. Consider the case of certain Israelite in the time of Jeremiah. The nation was at a crossroads, and God advised them: "Ask for the roadways of long ago, where, now, the good way is; and walk in it." But the people stubbornly responded that they were "not going to walk" that way. (Jeremiah 6:16) What was the "end afterward" of their rebellious course? In 607 B.C., the Babylonians came and completely destroyed the city of Jerusalem and took its inhabitants to Babylon as captives.

Ignoring signposts that God has set up will never work for our good. The Scriptures urge us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight." —Proverbs 3:5, 6.

Some of God'
s warnings are like "Do Not Enter" signs. For instance, the Bible says: "Into the path of the wicked ones do not enter, and do not walk straight on into the way of the bad ones." (Proverbs 4:14) Among such harmful paths is the one described at Proverbs 5:3, 4: "As a honeycomb the lips of a strange woman keep dripping, and her palate is smoother than oil. But the aftereffect from her is as bitter as wormwood; it is as sharp as a two-edged sword." To some, an immoral relationship—may appear exciting. But ignoring "Do Not Enter" signs that should regulate moral conduct can lead only to disaster.

Before taking the first step down such a road, ask yourself, 'Where is this leading me?; Just pausing to contemplate the potential "end afterward" may suffice to prevent you from taking a course that can have serious consequences. AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, ruined relationships, and guilty consciences litter the path of those who have chosen to ignore such signposts. Sometimes it is difficult to see where a path is taking us. How thankful we are, therefore, for God's loving concern and clear direction!

"This is the Way"

God has said, "walk in it, you people." (Isaiah 30:21) What is at the end of the path that God is showing us? Though the path is narrow and difficult, Jesus said that it leads to life everlasting.—Matthew 7:14. Take a moment to think about the path along which you are traveling. Is it the right one? Where is it headed? Seek God's guidance in prayer. Consult the 'road map/ the Bible.

You may even feel the need to consult an experienced traveler, one who has been endeavoring to walk in God;s way. If you see the need to change direction, do so quickly. A traveler is often encouraged when they see a signpost that reassures them that they are on the right road. If an examination of your course in life reveals that you are walking the right path, be encouraged to continue. The most rewarding part of the journey lies just ahead.—2 Peter 3:13.
Every path leads somewhere. When you reach the end of the course that you have chosen, where will you be? Little will be gained by standing there wishing, 'Oh, if only I had chosen
another way!' So before taking your next step down the path of life, ask yourself, 'What is going to be the "end afterward