I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5:00, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and sputter and die.  I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck.  It wouldn't even turn over.  Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the quickie mart building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.  When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard, with dark circles under her eyes.  She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her.  It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with three kids in the back (one in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying, "I don't want my kids to see me crying!"  So we stood on the other side of the pump from her car.  She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now.  So I asked, "And you were praying?"  That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person, and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."  I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and, while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought two big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee.  She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City.  Her boyfriend left two months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet.  She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent on January 1, and finally in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about five years.  They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car.  She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.  I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road.  As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"  This definitely made me cry.  I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle.  And of course, you guessed it, when I got back to my car it started right away and got me home with no problem.  I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

--Written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed on a small, uninhabited island.  He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.  Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.  But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.  The worst had happened; everything was lost.  He was stunned with grief and anger.  "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.  It had come to rescue him.  "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.  "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.  But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.  Remember, next time your "little hut" is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.  For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

You say, "It's impossible"
God says:  All things are possible
Luke 18:27

You say, "I'm too tired"
God says:  I will give you rest
Matthew 11:28-30

You say, "Nobody really loves me"
God says:  I love you
John 3:16 & John 3:34

You say, "I can't go on"
God says:  My grace is sufficient
II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15

You say, "I can't figure things out"
God says:  I will direct your steps
Proverbs 3:5-6

You say, "I can't do it"
God says:  You can do all things
Philippians 4:13

You say, "I'm not able"
God says:  I am able
II Corinthians 9:8

You say, "It's not worth it"
God says:  It will be worth it
Romans 8:28

You say, "I can't forgive myself"
God says:  I forgive you
I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

You say, "I can't manage"
God says:  I will supply all your needs
Philippians 4:19

You say, "I'm afraid"
God says:  I have not given you a spirit of fear
II Timothy 1:7

You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says:  Cast all your cares on ME
I Peter 5:7

You say, "I don't have enough faith"
God says:  I've given everyone a measure of faith
Romans 12:3

You say, "I'm not smart enough"
God says:  I give you wisdom
I Corinthians 1:30

You say, "I feel all alone"
God says:  I will never leave you or forsake you
Hebrews 13:5

FATHER, for such a long time I have pleaded before You this, the deep desire of my heart:  __________.  Yet the more I've clamored for Your help with this, the more remote You have seemed.  I confess my demanding spirit in this matter.  I've tried suggesting to You ways my prayer could be answered.  To my shame I've even bargained with You.  Yet I know that trying to manipulate the Lord of the Universe is utter foolishness.  No wonder my spirit is so sore and weary!  My spirit knows that these verities are forever trustworthy even when I feel nothing…..

That You are there.
You said, "Lo, I am with you always."

That You love me.
You said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love."

That You alone know what is best for me.
For in You, Lord, "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Perhaps all along, You have been waiting for me to give up self-effort.  At last I want You in my life even more than I want __________.  So now, by an act of my will I relinquish this to You.  I will accept Your will, whatever that may be.  Thank You for counting this act of my will as the decision of the real person even when my emotions protest.  I ask You to hold me true to this decision.  To You, Lord God who alone are worthy of worship, I bend the knee with thanksgiving that this too will "work together for good."  Amen.

--From Adventures in Prayer by Catherine Marshall

One day, a man prayed to God.  He asked the Lord why he couldn't bring his riches with him, for they were very important to him.  After much persistence, God relented; He would allow the man to bring ONE thing with him into Heaven.

The man spent his remaining days gathering his wealth, liquidating his assets, and purchasing one gold brick.  It was a rather large brick, for the man was very wealthy.

After some time, the man died and entered Heaven.  The angel at the gate noticed the man, looked up his name in the Book, and found it.  "But you can't bring that in with you," the angel said.

"But I was told by God that I could," the man responded.  The angel checked on this story with another worker, and discovered that he was right.  The angel admitted the man with the gold brick, but his puzzled look remained.

After the man had gone in, the angel turned to the other angel and asked,  "Why would anyone want to bring in pavement?"

God grant me the senility

To forget the people I never liked anyway,

The good fortune to run into the ones I like,

And the eyesight to tell the difference.

       

Now that I'm older (but refuse to grow up), here's what I have discovered:

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and all-bran.

3. I finally got my head together, but now my body is falling apart.

4. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.

5. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.

6. It's not hard to meet expenses.  They're everywhere.

7. These days I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter.  I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm hereafter.