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The Big Rocks

One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either.

As this man 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 a 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 smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was onto him.

“Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all 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 up 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 into 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.”

The title of this letter is The “Big Rocks” of Life. What are the big rocks in your life? A project that YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

Meditation: Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. – 1 Corinthians 9:26

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/lucky/
https://daily-dew.com/locked-inside/
https://daily-dew.com/christian-ways-to-reduce-stress/

The Spider Web

During World War II, a young soldier became separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. In the smoke and the crossfire, he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock and quickly crawled inside.

Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will, though, I love you and trust you. In Jesus name, Amen.”

When he looked up from his despairing plea for help, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance of the cave. As he watched the delicate threads being slowly drawn across the mouth of the cave, the young soldier pondered its irony. He thought to himself, “God really does have a sense of humor. I asked God for protection and deliverance and He sent me a spider instead. I needed a stone wall and God sent a spider. How can a spider save me?”

Soon he heard the sound of his enemies, who were now scouring the area looking for those in hiding. One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave’s entrance. As the young man crouched in the darkness, hoping to surprise the enemy in a last-minute, desperate attempt to save his own life, he felt his heart pounding wildly out of control. As the enemy moved cautiously forward to enter the cave, he came upon the spider’s web, which by now was completely strung across the opening. He backed away and called out to a comrade, “There can’t be anyone in here. They would have had to break this spider’s web to enter the cave. Let’s move on.”

The young man fell on his face and cried out to God, “Lord, forgive me, I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.”

Years later, this young man, who became a preacher and evangelist, wrote about that ordeal. What he observed has stood by me in times of trouble, especially during those times when everything seemed impossible. He wrote: “Where God is, a spider’s web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider’s web.”


Meditation: The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. – Psalm 18:5-6

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/abc-of-inspiration/
https://daily-dew.com/purpose-sent-to-deliver-from-evil/
https://daily-dew.com/how-not-to-provoke-god-to-anger-3/

The Beggar’s Rags

A beggar lived near the king’s palace. One day he saw a proclamation posted outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party.

The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought. Slowly an idea crept into his mind. The audacity of it made him tremble. Would he dare? He made his way back to the palace. He approached the guard at the gate. “Please, sire, I would like to speak to the king.”

“Wait here,” the guard replied. In a few minutes, he was back. “His Majesty will see you,” he said and led the beggar in.

“You wish to see me?” asked the king.

“Yes, your majesty. I want so much to attend the banquet, but I have no royal robes to wear. Please, sir, if I may be so bold, may I have one of your old garments so that I, too, may come to the banquet?” The beggar shook so hard that he could not see the faint smile that was on the king’s face.

“You have been wise in coming to me,” the king said. He called to his son, the young prince. “Take this man to your room and array him in some of your clothes.”

The prince did as he was told and soon the beggar was standing before a mirror, clothed in garments that he had never dared hope for. “You are now eligible to attend the king’s banquet tomorrow night,” said the prince. “But even more important, you will never need any other clothes. These garments will last forever.”

The beggar dropped to his knees. “Oh, thank you,” he cried. But as he started to leave, he looked back at his pile of dirty rags on the floor. He hesitated. What if the prince was wrong? What if he would need his old clothes again? Quickly he gathered them up.

The banquet was far greater than he had ever imagined, but he could not enjoy himself as he should. He had made a small bundle of his old rags and it kept falling off his lap. The food was passed quickly and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies.

Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes lasted forever. Still, the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags. As time passed people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. They even spoke of him as the old man with the rags.

One day as he lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the king’s face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly the beggar remembered the prince’s words and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a lifetime of true royalty. He wept bitterly at his folly. And the king wept with him.

We have been invited into a royal family – the family of God. To feast at God’s dinner table, all we have to do is shed our old rags and put on the “new clothes” of faith which is provided by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. But we cannot hold onto our old rags. When we put our faith in Christ, we must let go of the sin in our life, and our old ways of living. Those things must be discarded if we are to experience true royalty and abundant life in Christ.

Meditation: and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:23-24

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/a-salvation-story/
https://daily-dew.com/the-old-time-religion/
https://daily-dew.com/wisdom-for-salvation/

A Cinderella Story

My friend Kenny and his family had just returned from Disney World. “I saw a sight I’ll never forget,” he said. “I want you to know about it.”

He and his family were inside Cinderella’s castle. It was packed with kids and parents. Suddenly all the children rushed to one side. Had it been a boat, the castle would have tipped over. Cinderella had entered.

Cinderella. The pristine princess. Kenny said she was perfectly typecast. A gorgeous young girl with each hair in place, flawless skin, and a beaming smile. She stood waist-deep in a garden of kids, each wanting to touch and be touched.

For some reason, Kenny turned and looked toward the other side of the castle. It was now vacant except for a boy maybe seven or eight years old. His age was hard to determine because of the disfigurement of his body. Dwarfed in height, face deformed, he stood watching quietly and wistfully, holding the hand of an older brother.

Don’t you know what he wanted? He wanted to be with the children. He longed to be in the middle of the kids reaching for Cinderella, calling her name. But can’t you feel his fear, fear of yet another rejection? Fear of being taunted again, mocked again?

Don’t you wish Cinderella would go to him? Guess what? She did!

She noticed the little boy. She immediately began walking in his direction. Politely but firmly inching through the crowd of children, she finally broke free. She walked quickly across the floor, knelt at eye level with the stunned little boy, and placed a kiss on his face.

“I thought you would appreciate the story,” Kenny told me. I did. It reminded me of the one you and I have been studying. The names are different, but isn’t the story almost the same? Rather than a princess of Disney, we’ve been considering the Prince of Peace. Rather than a boy in a castle, we’ve looked at a thief on a cross. In both cases, a gift was given. In both cases, love was shared. In both cases, the lovely one performed a gesture beyond words.

But Jesus did more than Cinderella. Oh, so much more.

Cinderella gave only a kiss. When she stood to leave, she took her beauty with her. The boy was still deformed. What if Cinderella could have done what Jesus did? What if she had assumed his state? What if she had somehow given him her beauty and taken on his disfigurement?

That’s what Jesus did.

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Meditation: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/missing-jesus/
https://daily-dew.com/jesus-in-the-house/
https://daily-dew.com/i-found-jesus-there/

Secret Santa

The man had just filled his car with gas; he was cold, wet, and ready to head for home. He opened his car door and bent down to climb inside.

“Sir, sir.”

He glanced in the direction of the frail voice to find a well-dressed, elderly
lady attempting to get his attention.

He closed the car door and walked towards her. “Can I help you, ma’am?”

The older woman explained that the gas pump was not working properly, and asked if he knew what she was doing wrong.

“These are new pumps and very touchy-even for me. I’ve found the easiest thing to do is forget locking them while I fill; they keep shutting off for some reason.”

“Oh my! I can’t keep pressure on that handle until my tank is full. My hands don’t have much strength in them anymore.” She cast her blue eyes to the ground in frustration.

“I’d be honored to fill your tank for you!” The man’s Texas accent was gentle and he gave her a little wink. “By the way, I love your British accent.”

“Yes, a British accent in Texas. People always notice!” She smiled. “We just came to the States a few years ago. That’s my husband in the car.” She paused for a moment, “He has Alzheimer’s now.”

“I’m so very sorry for both of you.” After a slight lull the gentleman continued. “Why don’t you get back in the car while I do this; the snow is picking up and you’re going to get wet.”

She was a lovely woman with snowy-white hair; her attire was prim and proper as one would expect from a Brit. “I’d rather visit if you don’t mind. Our son is out of town for Christmas; he’s with his wife’s family this year and I’m feeling a bit blue.”

A knot formed in the Texan’s throat and he hoped to change the subject. “Just what are the two of you doing out in this weather? I hope your drive home is a short one. You know these Texas drivers aren’t the best when it comes to snow and sleet,” he teased.

“We’re on our way home from a Christmas party. The medical center has one each year for the Alzheimer patients. They are rather like children’s parties and they have Santa visit. Oftentimes patients will have moments they recall things from their past. Some sing along to Christmas carols when they haven’t carried on an actual conversation in quite a long while.”

“Did anyone recognize Santa today?”

“Oh, yes, my husband recognized Santa and tried to steal his hat! He even said, ‘Ho, ho, ho-Merry Christmas.’ His recollection was rather brief but it was the highlight of my day.” She grinned.

The gas pump clicked off, the woman swiped her credit card to make payment, and turned to thank the man who had been willing to help her. The two were saying their farewells when the squeal of brakes, a thud, and breaking glass at the intersection caught their attention.

“Oh, my!” The lady whimpered with a distressed expression. “It’s getting so slick. I’ve got to hurry and get home.”

“Ma’am, I’d be honored to follow you in case you have problems.”

She hesitated momentarily and then appeared relieved, “Oh, I’d be so grateful. I can’t thank you enough. And by the way, my name is Margaret.” She reached out to shake hands with her new friend.

“Margaret, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Ray.” He patted her hand gently before they released their grasp. “You just drive slowly; I’ll be right behind you.”

When Margaret pulled into her garage Ray stopped curbside. “I just want to be sure you get inside safely,” he shouted.

Margaret waved and asked him to wait for a moment then nodded and spoke to her neighbor who was hanging Christmas lights. She guided John into the house, quickly reappeared in the garage, and motioned for Ray to pull into the driveway.

She thanked Ray again and soon mentioned this being the first Christmas she and her husband had ever spent alone. Ray, always a soft touch for older folks, was happy to listen. She spoke fondly of traditions her family adhered to when she was a child in England and revealed an interesting glimpse into her past plus a taste of her cherished memories from across the pond.

“You know mistletoe is very traditional in England. My first “real” kiss was under the mistletoe when I was a teenager. Oh, what memories I have.” For a split second, Margaret looked like a young girl again.

Several minutes passed before Margaret began to shiver and they were forced to say farewell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas morn found Margaret peeking out her front door just as the sun crested the horizon. She stepped outside, instantly clasped her hands like a small child, and peered up and down the street. With not a soul in sight she began to examine the items discovered on her porch each one dredged up memories of years gone by in Merry Old England.

Just above her head hung an arrangement of mistletoe adorned with elegant lace; she touched it gently. Bedecked with Victorian ornaments, a small, lighted Christmas tree sat in the corner-beneath it was a homemade mincemeat pie wrapped securely and tied with golden ribbon. The card attached said only, “From: Santa.” Hanging from the doorknob a brilliant red Santa Claus hat with tag, “To: John.”

Margaret called to John; he slowly made his way and stepped outside. Nothing on the porch sparked his interest until Margaret placed the Santa hat in his hands. After staring at it and stroking the velvety softness, he plopped it onto his head. It sat askew but John’s face beamed as his voice rang out across the neighborhood, “Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parked several houses away, a Secret Texas Santa sniffed and wiped at a lone tear, a happy tear. “Merry Christmas and God Bless.” He smiled and turned towards home.

©2007 Kathleene S. Baker

Mediation: I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives – Ecclesiastes 3:12

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1868&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tL3NhbnRhLWNhbi15b3UtdmlzaXQtbXktZ3JhbmRkYXVnaHRlci8&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1868&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tL3NhbnRhLWNhbi15b3UtdmlzaXQtbXktZ3JhbmRkYXVnaHRlci0yLw&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1868&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tL3doeS1qZXN1cy1pcy1iZXR0ZXItdGhhbi1zYW50YS1jbGF1cy8&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions

My husband and I had been happily (most of the time) married five years but hadn’t been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with the word as my guide. God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.

The next year God blessed us with another son.

The following year, he blessed us with yet another son.

The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we’d been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned not to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, “If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella.”

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had blessed me with four children and I didn’t want to disappoint him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three.

When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humour rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn’t keep my promise to be a perfect mother – I didn’t even come close – I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to “wash up” Jesus, too.

Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his “last wife.”

My proudest moment came during the children’s Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, “We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.” But he was nervous and said “The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes.”

My four-year-old “Mary” said, “That’s not ‘wrinkled clothes,’ silly. That’s dirty, rotten clothes.”

A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, “Mama-mama.” Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, “We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur.”

The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. “I’ve never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,” the pastor laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. “For the rest of my life, I’ll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur.”

“My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing,” I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

By Linda C. Stafford

Meditation: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1869&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tL2dpZnRzLWZyb20tY2hpbGRyZW4v&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1869&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tLzE5LXNvbWV0aGluZ3MtdG8tc2F5LXRvLWNoaWxkcmVuLw&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions
https://daily-dew.com/?email_id=1869&user_id=3481&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYWlseS1kZXcuY29tL3BhcmVudGluZy1ob3ctdG8tbWFrZS1saWZlLWVhc3ktZm9yLXlvdXItY2hpbGRyZW4v&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions

Two Babes in A Manger

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words:

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No coloured paper was available in the city.

Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.

For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately, until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?”

And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.”

“So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him…for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him…FOR ALWAYS.

I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

Meditation: When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. – Psalm 27:10

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/the-perfect-mistake/
https://daily-dew.com/a-little-girls-prayer/
https://daily-dew.com/a-greater-power-watching/

Are You Mature?

I used to think that being mature was about age and physical development, how wrong I was. I have since found out that age is only but a number, below are 19 definitions of maturity.

1. Maturity is when you accept other people the way they are and their level of maturity.
2. Maturity is when you understand that your ideas are not always the best.
3. Maturity is when you learn to let go even if it pains.
4. Maturity is when you are able to drop expectations from a relationship and give for giving sake.
5. Maturity is when you understand that whatever positive things you do, you do for your own peace.
6. Maturity is when you stop proving to the world how RIGHT OR SUPERIOR you are.
7. Maturity is when you stop comparing yourself to others because life is not a competition.
8. Maturity is when you understand that you can’t and shouldn’t always get what you want every time.
9. Maturity is when you are contented and satisfied with your life and yet aspiring to be better every day.
10. Maturity is when someone hurts you and you understand their attitude and stay clear, rather than trying to hurt them back.
11. Maturity is when you start thinking about other people and not just yourself.
12. Maturity is when you know you cannot please everyone.
13. Maturity is when you see things from different perspectives – far beyond the way they seem.
14. Maturity is when you love more and judge less.
15. Maturity is responsibility
16. Maturity is Love
17. Maturity is the application of wisdom and knowledge in humility..
18. Maturity is when you accept that your accomplishment, failures, destiny, reputations and virtually everything about your life depends on God’s will and the choices you make and not pointing fingers at others.
19. Maturity is when someone hates you and you still pray for them to succeed.

Meditation: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/truths-of-life/
https://daily-dew.com/juggling-your-life/
https://daily-dew.com/benefits-of-wisdom-17-maturity/

What Some Dignitaries Have Said About Prayer

“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.” – Charles Spurgeon

“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” – Andrew Murray

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” – Oswald Chambers

“There is no other activity in life so important as that of prayer. Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency.” – M.E. Andross

“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.” – John Bunyan

“Prayer is not learned in a classroom, but in the closet.” – E. M. Bounds

“We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.” – Andrew Murray

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His’ voice in the depth of our hearts.” – Mother Teresa

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” – C.S. Lewis

“The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You’ll feel more patient and less pressured.” – Rick Warren

I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” – Martin Luther

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” – Oswald Chambers

“He who kneels the most, stands the best.” – D.L. Moody

Prayer is the master key.

Meditation: O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. – Psalm 65:2

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/your-hand-in-prayer/
https://daily-dew.com/six-year-olds-prayer/
https://daily-dew.com/does-prayer-change-things/

An engineer in a car manufacturing company designed a world class car. The owner was impressed with the outcome and showered him with praises.

While trying to take the car from the manufacturing area to the front office, they realised that the car is a few inches taller than the entrance.

The engineer felt bad that he didn’t put that into consideration before creating the car.

The owner was at a loss on how to take the car out of the manufacturing area.

The painter suggested they force out the car and then repaint the few scratches this will cause to the top of the car.

The engineer suggested that they break the entrance and after taking the car out, they can renovate it.

The owner was not convinced with any of the ideas. He felt that it is not good enough to break or scratch.

The watchman, who has watched all the drama, slowly approached the owner. He wanted to give an idea if they have no problem taking it. They thought what is it that this guy has to say that the experts have not said. They allowed him, nonetheless.

The watchman said that the car is only a few inches taller than the entrance, so if they let out some air from the tyre, the height of the car will reduce and can be easily taken out.

Everyone there was surprised and clapped in appreciation of his ingenuity.

Don’t approach problems only from the expert point of view. There is always a layman point that may provide the needed solution.

Everyone around your life has a key role in your life accomplishment. Don’t look down on anyone in your life.

Take note, everybody is important.

Meditation: And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” – Jeremiah 1:13

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/the-burden/
https://daily-dew.com/perspectives/
https://daily-dew.com/a-perspective-on-disappointments/

Don’t Judge A Situation You’ve Never Been In

One day he saw me opening the garbage bags outside the villa in search of some leftover food. But, as usual, he never even looked at me, it was like as if he never saw anything!

The very next day I saw a paper bag at the same place, but it was clean and the food inside was covered well.

It was fresh and good food like someone had just bought it from the supermarket.

I didn’t bother as to where it came from, I just took the paper bag and I was so happy about it.

Every day I found this paper bag at the same place with fresh vegetables and all that we needed for home.

This became my daily routine. I was eating and sharing this food with my wife and kids.

I was wondering who this mysterious, generous one could be? To supply me a paper bag full of fresh food every day.

One day there was a big problem in the villa and I was told that my boss has died.

There were too many guests coming to the villa that day and I didn’t get any food that day, so I thought that one of the guests must have taken it. But the same thing happened the second day, the third day and the fourth day.

It went on like this for a few weeks and I found it difficult to provide food for my family, so I decided to ask the wife of my boss for a raise in my salary, otherwise I would quit my job as a watchman.

After I told her, she was shocked, and asked me, how come I never complained about my salary for the last two years? And why is the salary not enough for me now?

I gave her so many excuses but she was not convinced.

Finally, in the end, I decided to tell her the truth, I told her the entire story of the bag of groceries, and as to how it was my daily provision.

She then asked me as to when this stopped? I told her after the death of her husband.

And then I realized that I stopped seeing the paper bag immediately after the death of my boss.

Why didn’t I ever think of this before?

That it was my boss who was providing this for me?

I guess it was because I never thought that a person who never replied to my greetings could ever be this generous!

His wife started to cry and I told her to please stop crying and that I’m really sorry that I asked for a raise,

“I didn’t know that it was your husband who was providing me with the meals. I’ll remain as a watchman and be happy to provide my service.”

His wife told me, “I’m crying because I’ve finally found the seventh person my husband was giving this bag of food.”

“I knew my husband was giving seven people food every day, I had already found the six people, and all these days I was searching for the seventh person. And today I found out.”

From that day onwards, I started to receive the bag full of food again, but this time his son was bringing it to my house and giving it to my hand.

But whenever I thanked him, he never replied. Just like his dad!

One day, I told him THANK YOU in a very loud voice! He replied back to me to please not be offended when he doesn’t reply, because he has a hearing problem, just like his dad!”

Oh! We have been wrong so many times, judging others without knowing the true story behind their actions.

Be kind and courteous in dealing with others, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. Be careful, not everything is about you. Before you assume, there is this thing called ASKING.

Don’t just jump to conclusion, because that is truly not an exercise, it may cause you more harm at the end of the day.

Many of our problems are caused by how we process what happens around us.

Don’t judge a situation you have never been in. Be humble enough to learn. You do not know it all. Let’s change the way we feel about ourselves and others.

There are two sides to a story. Don’t believe everything you hear. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Meditation: For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” – Luke 6:38

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/judge-gently-2/
https://daily-dew.com/delay-judgement/
https://daily-dew.com/be-gentle-in-judgement/

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he’d told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis, she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity.

Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her.

“How could this have happened to me?” she would plead, her heart knotted with anger.

But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth-her sight was never going to return.

A cloud of depression hung over Susan’s once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer, and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark’s military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark’s need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn’t working – it was hectic and costly.

Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again.

“I’m blind!” she responded bitterly. “How am I supposed to know where I’m going? I feel like you’re abandoning me.”

Mark’s heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.

For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.

Each morning, they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office.

Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she’d lost her sight, who wasn’t afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.

Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I sure envy you.”

Susan wasn’t sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year?

Curious, she asked the driver, “Why do you say that you envy me?”

The driver responded, “It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are.”

Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, “What do you mean?”

The driver answered, “You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely, and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady.”

Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. For although she couldn’t physically see him, she had always felt Mark’s presence. She was blessed, so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn’t need to see to believe – the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless!

My Wish For You Today! Is To Be blessed in this thought: “God Loves You – even when you are not looking.”

Never ever doubt God’s love for you. Remember GOD is LOVE.

By LindieAnn

Meditation: And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. – 1 John 4:16

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/lovely-rose/
https://daily-dew.com/how-to-love/
https://daily-dew.com/chain-of-love/

What Spills Out of You?

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?

“Well because someone bumped into me, of course!”
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup, is what will spill out.

Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you, which will surely happen many times in your lifetime, whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves, “What’s in my cup?”

When life gets tough, what spills over? Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility? Or anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?
You choose!

Today let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation for ourselves; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.
Wishing you more positivity in your cup.

Meditation: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – Luke 6:45

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/anger-and-love/
https://daily-dew.com/the-danger-of-traditional-mindset/
https://daily-dew.com/a-bowl-of-noodles-from-a-stranger/

Mistakes Are Opportunities To Learn Something New

There was a famous research scientist who had made several very important medical breakthroughs. He was interviewed by a newspaper reporter who asked him why he thought he was able to be so much more creative than the average person. What set him so far apart from others?

He responded that, in his opinion, it all came from an experience with his mother that occurred when he was about two years old. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip on the slippery bottle and it fell, spilling its contents all over the kitchen floor – a veritable sea of milk!

When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of yelling at him, giving him a lecture, or punishing him, she said, “Robert, what a great and wonderful mess you have made! I have rarely seen such a huge puddle of milk. Well, the damage has already been done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk for a few minutes before we clean it up?”

Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said, “You know, Robert, whenever you make a mess like this, eventually you have to clean it up and restore everything to its proper order. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a sponge, a towel, or a mop. Which do you prefer?”

He chose the sponge and together they cleaned up the spilled milk.

His mother then said, “You know, what we have here is a failed experiment in how to effectively carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Let’s go out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it.”

The little boy learned that if he grasped the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it. This renowned scientist then remarked that it was at that moment that he knew he didn’t need to be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about. Even if the experiment “doesn’t work,” we usually learn something valuable from it.

Wouldn’t it be great if all parents would respond the way Robert’s mother responded to him? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all respond to people we manage in a similar manner too by helping someone learn from his/her mistakes?

Meditation: For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. – Proverbs 24:16

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also Read:
https://daily-dew.com/more-tips-for-living/
https://daily-dew.com/the-marriage-vow-a-true-story/

Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves, he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.

Then it struck him. He had been on the beach for a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls, with their hidden treasure, into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands but he had just thrown it away!

It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

Meditation: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/where-the-treasure-is/
https://daily-dew.com/the-treasures-within/
https://daily-dew.com/how-i-found-a-real-treasure/

Rotten Tomatoes

A teacher asked her students to bring some tomatoes in a plastic bag to school. Each tomato was to be given the name of a person whom that child hates. So, the number of tomatoes would be equal to the number of persons they hate.

On a pre-determined day, All the children brought their tomatoes well addressed. Some had two, some had three and some had five, some even had 20 tomatoes in accordance with the number of people they hated.

The teacher then told them they had to carry the tomatoes with them everywhere they go for two weeks.

As the days passed the children started to complain about the decay and smell of the tomatoes. The students who had many tomatoes complained it was very heavy to carry and the smell was too much.

After a week, the teacher asked the students “How did you feel this week?” The children complained of the awful smell and heavy weight of the tomatoes, especially those who carried several tomatoes.

The teacher said, “This is very similar to what you carry in your heart when you don’t like some people. Hatred makes the heart unhealthy and you carry that hatred everywhere. If you can’t bear the smell of spoilt tomatoes for a week, imagine the impact of bitterness on your heart as you carry it daily.”

The heart is a beautiful garden that needs regular cleaning of unwanted weeds.

Forgive those who have angered you. This makes room for storing good things.

Get better, not bitter.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Meditation: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:14-15

Read also:
https://daily-dew.com/forgiveness/
https://daily-dew.com/20-questions/
https://daily-dew.com/the-journey-is-so-short/

How Do You See?

A young couple moved into a new neighbourhood. The next morning whilst eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

“That laundry is not clean,” she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap”.
Her husband looked on but remained silent.

Every time the neighbour would hang laundry to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learnt how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this!”

The husband said: “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!”

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look!
Easy to discuss other people, their lives and things that don’t really concern us. Yet we tend to forget – our window isn’t that clean after all!
You will Succeed in Jesus Name!

Meditation: To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. – Titus 1:15

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/waiting-for-the-wind/
https://daily-dew.com/two-patients-by-the-window/
https://daily-dew.com/glimpses-through-lifes-windows/

Has God Let You Down?

One day a local evangelist bragged during a crusade that his God was more powerful than all the other gods in the town and the powers that the villagers worshiped put together. Just then, rainstorm started sounding overhead, threatening the progress of the crusade.

The evangelist lifted up his voice and declared with confidence that if the rains fell, then he wasn’t a man of God; he would stop preaching. Before he finished speaking, the rains began to hit the crusade grounds so vehemently, without regard to his declarations. The whole town left the crusade ground for their houses, shaking their heads in dismay.

The evangelist, so distraught and angry, packed his belongings and left the town the next day. On his way through the next town, he checked into a local bar and drank himself to stupor. As he laid on the ground cursing God, an old seedy looking man tapped him gently on the shoulder.

“Man of God”, the old man began. But the evangelist quickly cut in, “Don’t mention the name of God to me. He is fake. He is unreliable. I am no longer a believer in this God. A God who chooses to disgrace his servants. Leave me alone!”

But the old man would not let him be. He continued, ”I am the fetish priest in the village you preached yesterday. During your one week stay in my village, you destroyed all the charms I had made on the people for 45 years. Your prayers and your words always came with some fearful fire and power. I tried so many times to eliminate you but I couldn’t. My last chance came yesterday. I had loaded my gun with gunpowder lying in wait on the mountaintop where I had a very clear view of you.

My plan was to shoot you from a distance since I couldn’t get close enough to you due to the fire around you. But just when I lifted the gun, the rains came from nowhere, wetting my gunpowder and covering you in a cloud so that I couldn’t even see you. All I saw was a bright man holding a sword in front of you.

I was so terrified. I concluded that your God was indeed all-powerful and Almighty. That is why I’ve been looking for you since then. I want to follow this your God!”

The ex-evangelist bowed his head in shame.

Sometimes, it is just wise for us to believe that our Father knows the way He is taking us. We should just trust His leading. Let our boast be in the Lord, not in ourselves. If we decree a thing and it doesn’t happen, let us not see it as disappointment or dishonour from the Father. Let us just believe that the Father wants His perfect will to be done in all things.

Meditation: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/gods-embroidery-2/
https://daily-dew.com/do-you-reject-gods-blessings/
https://daily-dew.com/is-your-good-idea-gods-idea/

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?



You better slow down

Don’t dance so fast

Time is short

The music won’t last



Do you run through each day on the fly

When you ask “How are you?” do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores running through your head?



You’d better slow down

Don’t dance so fast

Time is short

The music won’t last



Ever told your child, We’ll do it tomorrow

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die

‘Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi”?



You’d better slow down

Don’t dance so fast

Time is short

The music won’t last



When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift thrown away.



Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

Meditation: And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:41-42

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/waiting-for-the-wind/
https://daily-dew.com/gods-under-the-bed/
https://daily-dew.com/the-boy-and-the-tree/

One More Day To Live
If I had only one more day to live,

All love, praise, and glory to you I’d give.

I’d try my best to put a smile on someone’s face

To share with them your saving grace.

I’d remember things about my life

The times you were there through fun and strife,

And thank you then for all you’ve done.

Without you no victories would have been won.



If I have one more day before I die

I would apologize to the kid I made cry.

I would take back the harsh words said to everyone,

And fill their hearts with laughter and fun.



If I only had one more day

I wouldn’t push anyone away.

I wouldn’t try to hurt a friend

Because I should love them to the very end.



Why not live each day as if it were our last

Looking towards our future and forgetting the past

To be a Christian each day we live

And most importantly to always give.

– Carol Ann

Meditation: So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/10-little-christians/
https://daily-dew.com/5-reasons-you-should-help-a-fallen-christian/
https://daily-dew.com/top-10-reasons-to-believe-in-the-christian-faith/

Waiting for the Wind

My nephew’s 10-year-old son came for a visit one hot, July weekend. I was enticing him to stay inside by joining him in a Wii game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player, I suggested that we relax awhile. I collapsed into my favourite recliner to let my neck muscles relax and my ego recover from such a beating. He had slipped out of the room and I was catching a few relished moments of peace and quiet.

“Look, Alice,” he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering. “I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it?”

Glancing out a nearby window, I noticed there was not a breeze stirring. “I’m sorry, Tripper,” I said, sad to see his disappointed eyes, but thankful for the respite from more activity. “The wind is not blowing today. The kite won’t fly.”

The determined 10-year-old replied. “I think it’s windy enough. I can get it to fly,” he answered, as he hurried out the back door.

I peeked through the slats in the Venetian blinds to watch determination in action. Up and down the yard he ran, pulling the kite attached to a small length of string. The plastic kite, proudly displaying a picture of Batman, remained about shoulder level. He ran back and forth, as hard as his ten-year-old legs would carry him, looking back hopefully at the kite trailing behind. After about ten minutes of unsuccessful determination, he came back in. I asked, “How did it go?”

“Fine,” he said, not wanting to admit defeat. “I got it to fly some.” As he walked past me to return the kite to the closet shelf, I heard him say under his breath, “I guess I’ll have to wait for the wind.”

At that moment I heard another Voice speak to my heart. “Sometimes you are just like that. You want to do it your way instead of waiting for the Wind.” And the voice was right. How easy it is to use our own efforts to accomplish what we want to do.

We wait for the Wind only after we have done all we can and have exhausted our own strength. We must learn how to rely on Him in the first place!

Meditation: Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! – Psalm 27:14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/lemon-squeeze/
https://daily-dew.com/plant-four-rows/
https://daily-dew.com/how-to-stay-alive-and-active-author-unknown/

The Pearl

David Morse, American missionary to India, became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau’s cabin reading to him from the Bible and explaining to him God’s way of salvation.

Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior, he would shake his head and reply, “Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner. I would feel like a pauper there… like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud, but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven… and so I am going to work for it.”

Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau’s decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on opening it he found Rambhau there. “Come in, dear friend,” said Morse.

“No,” said the pearl-diver. “I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib. I have something to show you. Please do not say ‘No’.”

“Of course I’ll come,” replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: “In a week’s time, I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi… and I am going there on my knees.”

“Man, you are crazy! It’s nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay.”

“No, I must get to Delhi,” affirmed Rambhau, “and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet, for it will purchase heaven for me!”

“Rambhau, my friend, you can’t. How can I bear you to do it when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you?!”

But the old man could not be moved. “You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want… you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss. I must go to Delhi!”

Inside the hut, Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him, where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.

Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. “I have had this box for years,” said he, “and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son…”

“A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!”

“No, Sahib, I couldn’t.” Even as he spoke the diver’s eyes were moistened. “Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.

What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the ‘perfect’ pearl… one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it he had been underwater too long. That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after.”

The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. “All these years,” he continued, “I have kept this pearl, but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend I am giving my pearl.”

The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.

It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India and glowed with a lustre and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market. For a moment, the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. “Rambhau! What a pearl!”

“That pearl, Sahib, is perfect,” replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for… to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ’s sacrifice? So he said, resignedly, “Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it.”

“Sahib! What do you mean?”

“Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more, I will work for it.”

“Sahib,” said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, “this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.”

“No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it…”

The old pearl-diver was stunned. “You don’t understand at all, Sahib. Don’t you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn’t sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this, but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you.”

The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. “Rambhau,” he said in a low voice, “Don’t you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time.”

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. “God is offering you salvation as a free gift,” said the missionary. “It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God’s love for you… a sinner.

“Rambhau, of course, I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying to God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won’t you accept God’s great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?”

Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. “Sahib, I see it now. I have believed so many things about Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!”

Meditation: By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/a-salvation-story/
https://daily-dew.com/unconditional-acceptance/
https://daily-dew.com/wisdom-for-salvation/

God’s Embroidery

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was. As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.

She would smile at me, look down and gently say, “My son, you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side.”

I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear mother’s voice say, “Son, come and sit on my knee.”

This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. Then, mother would say to me, “My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing.”

Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, “Father, what are You doing?” He has answered, “I am embroidering your life. I say, “But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?”

The Father seems to tell me, “‘My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side.”

Meditation: ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity;’ – Job 10:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/plant-four-rows/
https://daily-dew.com/planting-potatoes/
https://daily-dew.com/snakes-on-the-plane/

New Beginnings

The creator created people, gave them words for communication and thinking, settled them in the fertile valley at the foot of the mountains, gave them longevity and started to observe how they would aspire to the development.

The time has passed, but people did not develop. Their feet did not go beyond their village and did not climb up the mountains. Their eyes did not look at the sky and did not look in the Heart. So they became old.

The Creator decided to find out, what was the matter. He became a man and came to them as a traveler. Before sunset people gathered at the square to talk with the traveler. He described them a life beyond the horizon and suggested:

“Do you want me to lead you there, and you will see how people live in these places?”

“Oh,” they answered sadly, “It is late, we became old…”

“Then come with me to the mountains to look at the world from the top!”

“Oh,” they suspired, “It is too late, we have no energy…”

“Look at the sky.” The traveler said them, “And I will tell you about the life in the Kingdom of Heaven!”

They answered again: “It is late; our mind will not understand your story…”

The traveler became sad. He decided to cheer people.

“Let‘s sing a song!” he said and was going to sing first, but people noticed that the Sun went down.

“It is late,” they said, “It is time to sleep…” and went to their huts.

The traveler shouted at them:

“People, when life is continuous and infinite, it is not late for any achievements!”

But they did not turn back. Then the Creator told himself: “I will take away all words of limitation from people: ‘late’, ‘not’, ‘impossible’, ‘far’, ‘high’, ‘hard’, ‘will not understand’, and will place in their hearts the joy of infinity. Maybe they will perceive my Law: nothing is late, because there is no end, there is only the beginning!”

He did so and waited for the morning: will people change and will they go with him to the mountains?

Meditation: Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/how-to-love/
https://daily-dew.com/be-thankful/
https://daily-dew.com/god-can-use-you/

The Pains of Intimacy

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people. But when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and admire the other person’s good qualities, we get the best of one another. Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.

Meditation: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:22

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also Read;
https://daily-dew.com/symptoms-of-inner-peace/
https://daily-dew.com/thanksfulness-makes-for-peace/

Secret to Success

A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning.

They met.

Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue.

Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air.

Socrates asked, ‘What did you want the most when you were there?”

The boy replied, “Air.”

Socrates said, “That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret.”

A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.

Meditation: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. – Proverbs 13:12

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/legacy-of-success/
https://daily-dew.com/how-to-sustain-success/
https://daily-dew.com/where-to-look-for-business-and-career-success/

The Triple-Filter Test

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“Well, no,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now, let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“Umm, no, on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though because there’s one filter left—the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really.”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

Meditation: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. – Ephesians 4:29

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/the-true-test/
https://daily-dew.com/the-lords-test/
https://daily-dew.com/the-most-the-easiest-the-greatest/

Frogs

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all of their might.

The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?”

The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

There is a power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill him or her.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words, it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

Meditation: Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/too-blessed-to-be-stressed/
https://daily-dew.com/if-a-child-lives-with-criticism/
https://daily-dew.com/blessings-we-may-not-recognise/

Reaction vs. Response

Suddenly, a cockroach flew from somewhere and sat on her. I wondered if this was the cockroach’s response to all the glory that was spoken about it! She started screaming out of fear. With panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.

Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group got cranky to what was happening. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach to another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behaviour of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed and threw it out with his fingers.

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behaviour? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

I realized even in my case then, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss that disturbs me, but it’s my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.

It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me. More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that hurts me.

Lessons learned from the story: I understood I should not react in life. I should always respond.

The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded. Reactions are always instinctive, whereas responses are always intellectual.


Meditation: For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/butterfly-kisses/
https://daily-dew.com/where-is-your-focus/
https://daily-dew.com/unconditional-acceptance/

Don’t Hope, Decide

I was waiting to pick up a friend at the airport. That day I had one of those experiences that change people‘s lives. It happened just two feet away from me. I noticed a man, carrying two bags, coming toward me. He stopped next to me to greet his family.

First of all, he laid down his bag and came closer to his younger son (about six years old), they gave each other a warm, loving hug. Then the father looked in his son’s eyes and said: “I missed you so much, it’s so good to see you, son!”

The boy smiled and said: “Me too, dad.”

Then the man turned to his older son (nine or ten years old), “Oh, you are quite the young man, I love you very much!” and cupped his face. Then they had the tenderest hug too.

Afterward, the father said “Hi, baby girl” to his daughter. She was squirming excitedly in her mother’s arm and watching her returning father all the time. The man gently took his little daughter, kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest. The little girl laid her head on his shoulder in pure contentment.

After several moments, the man looked at his wife and said “I‘ve saved the best for last!” and shared with her the most passionate kiss. They stared at each other, beaming big smiles. They reminded me of newlyweds.

Suddenly, I heard myself asking “Wow, how old have you been married?”

“We’ve been together 14 years, and have been married 12 of those.”

“Well then, how long have you been away?”

He replied with a smile on his face: “Two whole days!”

I was stunned, as I imagined that he had been gone for several weeks. I could only say: “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after 12 years!”

The man looked straight into my eyes and told me something that changed my life: “Don‘t hope, friend, decide!”

Meditate: Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. – Genesis 26:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/more-tips-for-living/
https://daily-dew.com/the-marriage-beatitudes/
https://daily-dew.com/the-marriage-vow-a-true-story/

Dealing with Oppressors

The Snake was crawling on the ground. The Eagle flew to her and said: “How unfortunate you are, doomed to crawl all your life. Not like me – I am destined to fly.”

The Snake looked at the Eagle and said: “You are right Eagle. I can’t fly. But only I know what it means to fly. How can you know that?”

The Eagle smiled, “You don’t have wings!”

“Thoughts are my wings,” said the Snake proudly. “Dreams are my heaven. While crawling on the ground I close my eyes and I see heaven. I image that I’m crawling in heaven, not on the ground.

“Yes, it’s impossible to crawl in heaven, you can only fly. It means that in those moments I am flying. In my free thoughts, I am learning to fly, Eagle. With my soul, I rise to the high heaven, so when my time comes and my life as a snake comes to an end, I could ascend into the blue heaven, into the endless heaven and fly, to fly and not think about anything, enjoying my freedom. And I won’t be afraid to fly, because it won’t be a new thing for me.

“For you Eagle, the wings were given as you were born, but not for me. But heaven will make us equal. We will be flying together one day, Eagle, under the clouds. Only I will be stronger and freer than you, because I have learned how to fly without having wings, simply crawling on the ground. Both things are available for me. I am not afraid to lose my wings because I know how to crawl, and I am not afraid to gain wings because I know how to fly.

“And what will you do, Eagle, if you lose your wings?”

Meditation: Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. – Micah 7:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/purpose-sent-to-declare-god/
https://daily-dew.com/purpose-sent-to-the-captives/
https://daily-dew.com/purpose-sent-to-the-oppressed/

Forgive Me When I Whine

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair;

I envied her – she seemed so gay, and how, I wished I were so fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle;

She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two feet-the world is mine.



And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm;

he seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm;

I said, “It’s nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find”;

he turned and said, “Oh, thank you sir.” And then I saw that he was blind.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two eyes, the world is mine.



Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue;

he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do;

I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?”

He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,

I have two ears, the world is mine.



With feet to take me where I’d go;

with eyes to see the sunsets glow,

with ears to hear what I would know.

I am blessed indeed. The world is mine;

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.



Meditation: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:6

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/choices/
https://daily-dew.com/my-decisions/
https://daily-dew.com/abc-of-inspiration/