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When Does God Sleep? This sounds like a
question my extremely inquisitive eight-year-old grandson, Trevor, might
ask. He loves to stump me with inquiries about God that I cannot answer
adequately. Simple faith, pure wisdom, and inquiring minds are gifts
from God to our babes.
Why does God shake us from solid sleep in
the middle of the night to roust us from bed? Is that the only way He
can get our complete, undivided attention? Ashamedly, in my case,
probably so. But am I complaining? No, because I love to be awakened by
Him. In those wee morning hours He reveals mysteries and wisdom and life
application that can't be learned from a study. Precious quietness and
darkness with no distractions of daylight are rich with His truth. Some
of His best gifts are given then. My friends who know Him testify to
this phenomena as well. The
questions follow though - what time zone does God live in, and does He
ever sleep? Is this awakening to God actually a redeeming in rest? My
experiences have only been positive. I've actually considered setting my
alarm clock for 2:30 a.m. to surprise Him. Then I wondered if
perhaps He has an organized planning schedule for our awakenings so as
to avoid electrical surges. I don't want to get ahead of Him in my zeal
to follow, neither do I want to be responsible for power shortages..
From conversations with believing friends who are hungry for more of
Him, I know that many experience there "night awakenings." So
my evening prayer now includes encouraging Him with special permission
to wake me anytime He chooses. I have learned that His light shines on
me in darkness, and I listen more intently in the silence of the night.
Can one's mind be filled with too much of Him? That sounds like a
question Trevor will one day ask of me. How
would you answer? (Feel free to share:
rjohnst7@tampabay.rr.com Cheryl
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but DON'T QUIT.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Success if failure turned inside out -
The silver tints of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things are the worst that you
MUST NOT QUIT.
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The same
sun hardens mud and softens wax.
Trials can
either break us or make us.
Too much
sunshine makes a desert; too much rain a jungle.
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When Does God Sleep?
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About Cheryl
Cheryl Johnston lives in Plant
City, Florida. Currently she is the president of the Women's Aglow
Lighthouse, a Christian women's organization whose thrust is
evangelism in her community and the world. Cheryl
is a graduate from the University of South Florida and has her
degree in English and Library Science. She is an avid reader and
especially enjoys the study materials of many Christian writers.
One can review her synopsis of several books on http://www.about-him.com
Communications
There are two kinds of people in the world
when it comes to communicating; those who love to hear
themselves talk and those who love to listen. Good
communication skills begin with learning the skill of
listening. Try this experiment the next time you are with a
group of friends. Listen intently. Look the person straight in
the eyes and ask questions rather than make statements.
Respond by saying, "I see" when someone makes a
point. By the end of the evening you will be considered the
most thoughtful, considerate and wise person in the bunch. It
really does make a difference.
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It is right to be contented with what you have but never
with what you are.
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Dare to Be Different
Dare to be different; life is so full
Of people who follow the same push-and-pull,
Poor plodding people who, other than name,
Try to pretend they're exactly the same.
God made men different; there never will be
A replica soul made of you or of me.
The charm - the glory of all creation
Rest on this very deviation.
Your charm - your own glory, too,
Lies in being uniquely you--
Lies in being true to your best,
That part of you different from all of the rest.
Helen Lowrie Marshall |
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