Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

Monday 30 May 2016

The Geese Taught Him

There was once a man who did not believe in either the birth of Christ nor the spiritual meaning behind it, and was skeptical even of God. He and his family lived in a farming community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in faith. He sometimes gave her a hard time about her belief and mocked her religious observances.

"It's all nonsense--why would God lower himself and become a human like us? Its such a ridiculous story," he   said.

One snowy day, she and the children left for church while he stayed home. After they departed, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening.

Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window...and still another thump. He looked outside but could not see anything. So he ventured outside for a better view. In the field beside his house, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese. They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but they had been caught in the snowstorm. The storm had become to blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in aimless circles. He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, the barn would be a great place for them to stay. It is warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he opened the barn doors for them.

He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. Nevertheless, they did not not notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they  just moved away from him out of fear.

He went into the house and came back with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on.

Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the barn. They panicked and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter. Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "why don't they follow me? Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them into the one place that can save them?"

He thought for a moment and realized that they just would not follow a human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I can become like one of them. They would follow me and I would lead them to safety."

At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said. The words reverberated in his mind: if only I could become like one of them, then I could save them. Then, at last he understood God's heart towards mankind...and he fell on his knees.

There is a verse that goes with this story. John 3:16-17

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Author unknown 

Saturday 22 February 2014

More in the Glass Castle Series


Part of the Glass Castle series
 (The church is a warm shelter)


          “They don’t even look cold.”

          “Isn’Isn't that a marvel? And in this blizzard!” Makio pulled her cloak around her a little more snuggly. ‘Pleasure’ is supposed to be such a cool name brand, but I sure feel chilly. She stepped behind a tree so she wouldn’t be seen by the pilgrims passing by.  Shondelle did the same.

          “They aren’t even all bundled up like we are!” Shondelle whispered.

          “Shh! I don’t want them to know that we are observing them!”

          There was longing in their eyes as they watched a happy pair make their way up the steep incline to the Glass Castle with seeming ease.

          “As far as I could tell all they had on was those flimsy looking white robes, but they seemed warm enough. Even comfortable!” For some reason Makio’s eyes felt misty.

          Shondelle swallowed a lump in her throat before speaking. “I think the warmth comes from within them somehow. “

          Makio nodded; “And that’s why they radiate so. Look! They are coming from all directions! Look how they scale the steep cliff with such incredible ease. How do they do it? And why?“

          “Today is what they call ‘The Lord’s Day’. I think that means that their King will be in their midst and they all want to be there. They go out among us to labour, but on the first day of the week they all flock back--” she laughed, but it sounded sad, “To be recharged.” 

          “And they all look so beautiful in spite of the terrible weather conditions in the world around them.”

          “I wish I could go with them.” Makio’s voice throbbed with yearning.  (to be continued)      

Books by this author can be found @ prairieviewpress.com    and many other places

Thursday 20 February 2014

Which Time Is Easier, theirs or Ours?



Mariakin hovered in the back of the crowd.  For many weeks now she had been smuggling food to her father while he was in the dungeon and now she was compelled to watch him be burned at the stake with many others. Her spirit was weary, discouraged. Every day they suffered from the threat of persecution. She didn’t know how she could bear it much longer; this fleeing, this worrying, this fellowshipping in secret in the dead of night, in the storm and the cold, lest someone would reveal their whereabouts and tell the authorities.  One by one the fires were kindled in the rushes at the bottom of each stake. When the smoke began to curl up around her father’s stake, Mariakin fainted.