It was only a quarter

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A PREACHER FROM OUT-OF-STATE ACCEPTED A CALL TO A CHURCH IN HOUSTON , TEXAS . SOME WEEKS AFTER HE ARRIVED, HE HAD AN OCCASION TO RIDE THE BUS FROM HIS HOME TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WHEN HE SAT DOWN, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER HAD ACCIDENTALLY GIVEN HIM A QUARTER TOO MUCH CHANGE.

AS HE CONSIDERED WHAT TO DO, HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, "YOU'D BETTER GIVE THE QUARTER BACK. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO KEEP IT." THEN HE THOUGHT, "OH, FORGET IT, IT'S ONLY A QUARTER. WHO WOULD WORRY ABOUT THIS LITTLE AMOUNT?

ANYWAY, THE BUS COMPANY GETS TOO MUCH FARE; THEY WILL NEVER MISS IT.

ACCEPT IT AS A 'GIFT FROM GOD' AND KEEP QUIET."

WHEN HIS STOP CAME, HE PAUSED MOMENTARILY AT THE DOOR, AND THEN HE HANDED THE QUARTER TO THE DRIVER AND SAID, "HERE, YOU GAVE ME TOO MUCH CHANGE."

THE DRIVER, WITH A SMILE, REPLIED, "AREN'T YOU THE NEW PREACHER IN TOWN? I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT LATELY ABOUT GOING SOMEWHERE TO WORSHIP. I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF I GAVE YOU TOO MUCH CHANGE. I'LL SEE YOU AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY."

WHEN THE PREACHER STEPPED OFF OF THE BUS, HE LITERALLY GRABBED THE NEAREST LIGHT POLE, HELD ON, AND SAID, "OH GOD, I ALMOST SOLD YOUR SON FOR A QUARTER." OUR LIVES ARE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE WILL EVER READ.

An e-mail from Bobbie Sutton

Rejoice

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

As it has been pointed out when our biblical writers were penning the scriptures they didn’t have the use of highlighters. So in trying to show importance they would use repetitive language. Here we see Paul using the word Rejoice twice to show that we are to rejoice in the Lord always. As I read this verse again I notice that we are to rejoice in the Lord and the word used to show when we are to rejoice is always. Not just when we want to or when it is easy but always. I am becoming more and more convinced that many who profess to follow Christ don’t praise Him because they don’t know Him. A Christians (Christ Followers) we are to praise Him in everything, and at all times, but many just see Christ as an over-sized police office trying to find mistakes in our lives so that He can make us feel bad.

In his book the “One Minute Manager” Ken Blanchard writes that step two of his three step process is to look for what your employee is doing right. Praise the employee for what they are doing right and move on. Step three is if you have to reprimand them make it a one minute reprimand and make sure that you are talking about the action and not the person.

This doesn’t simply relate to the business world, there are scriptural principles behind these statements. One is that God loves you and gave His Son for you so yes He is looking for what you are doing right. He loves you more than you will ever know. Two, is that when we do get a reprimand from Him it is most assuredly about our actions and not about us. God loves the person and yet hates the sin inside. Romans 5:8-9 points this out. So understand that God wants what is best for you and we need to praise Him for that. We should spend every waking moment worshiping God.

So today let’s make a new point to praise God more and complain less. God is honored most when we live our lives rejoicing because we know Him!!!