Trees That Wood by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

OUR DAILY BREAD - (August 24, 2008)

The Spiritual Search

“What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9).

The illustration of prayer that our Lord used here is one of a good child who is asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God hears us regardless of what our relationship is to Him (see Matthew 5:45). Never say that it is not God’s will to give you what you ask. Don’t faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a “good child” in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, “I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings”? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a “good child.”
We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends? (see Matthew 7:12).

I am a child of God only by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). For most of us, prayer simply becomes some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong—a friendship, an unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, “Everyone who asks receives ” (Matthew 7:8).

TEN RULES FOR LIFE - Thomas Jefferson

1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another person for what you can do.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it's cheap.
5. Beware of pride. It will cost you far more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. Remember that we seldom repent of having eaten to little.
7. Remember that nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. Remember that worry will cause much pain over things that will never happen.
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry count ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.
    

DO YOU HAVE ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD?

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

“Put ye on the whole armour of God,”

That you may be strong in His might,

For we fight spiritual darkness, the world, self, and the devil,

And must be always ready and able to fight!

“Put ye on the whole armour of God…”

--It’s a commandment, not a suggestion.

If you leave any part off, you won’t stand every test,

And you won’t have complete protection.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--And live each day to do battle, and fight?

We are called to be soldiers, to fight the good fight of faith,

And fight for the Truth and the right!

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

God has given each part for a reason—

To be all you should be, and ne’er know defeat,

And be “instant in season, out of season.”

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--Both the offensive and the defensive?

God wants us to do more than just protect ourselves;

He also wants us to go on the offensive.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Are your loins with the Truth girt about?

The Truth sets us free, gives us power in the fight,

And helps us false doctrine to rout.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Are you walking in all of the light?

If we try to get by, we deceive ourselves,

And soon lose our spiritual eyesight.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--Have the breastplate of righteousness on?

Do you have a conscience void of offense,

Are you living holy before God and before men?

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--Have a victorious, Spirit-filled life?

Or is the Spirit shut out, and self in control,

And your life filled with defeat and strife?

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--Are your feet with the Gospel of peace shod?

Are you standing firmly for God, and spreading the

Good News

Of salvation through the slain Lamb of God?

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

The shield of faith do you hold near?

To know our sins are forgiven brings great confidence

That Satan’s fiery darts we need not fear

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

God inspires our faith to believe.

Through faith, we appropriate His promises,

And all that we need, we receive.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--The helmet of hope of salvation?

--The expectation of conquering through the blood of the

Lamb,

And preserving your hope of Heaven?

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--The sword of the Spirit have in your hand?

The Word of God, through the Spirit fulfilled,

To use at a moment’s command?

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--Have the Word of God hid in your heart?

In temptations and trials, to quote and to claim,

It will repel Satan’s vilest dart.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

--And use the weapons of prayer and fasting?

What a difference they can make, Satan’s power to break,

And glorious victory to bring!

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Are you listening and watching diligently?

Don’t be distracted, or fall asleep at your post,

And be caught off guard by the Enemy!

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Don’t take off even one of the parts.

Satan knows where you’re weak, and that’s just where

he’ll strike

And wound you with one of his darts.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Don’t take it off for a minute!

For the battle may come, and Satan may strike

Just when you may least expect it!

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

There’s no armour given for your back,

So don’t turn around, or ever retreat,

Though things may seem hopeless and black.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Jesus is the Captain of our salvation,

We must go where He leads, and obey His commands,

Until our life here on earth is done.

Do you have on the whole armour of God?

Don’t take it off and lay it down,

The battles will all be over some day,

And only the faithful receive a crown.

-- Dolores K. Morehouse

God's Church - Thomas H. Low

God's Church

Thomas H. Low

I want to call the attention of the readers of the [Gospel] Trumpet to a few thoughts that God has shown me while reading 1 Corinthians 12. "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." I have been asked, "How will you proceed without a church?" etc. Now I want to show that I have not come out of the church, God's church, at all.

God has a visible, organized church in the world, and only one, and it is independent of all human organizations, of the present day, which men call churches,--"our church,"—does not imply leaving God's church at all. God's church, we see from the above scripture, is always organized by the Holy Spirit: but no two human churches are organized alike, here is there confusion, because men have undertaken to do God's work.

They undertook to build a tower to heaven 4,000 years ago, and God confounded them, just as He has all of the "high places" of this great sect Babel.

But why has God reserved to Himself the prerogative of organizing His church? "He hath se the members, (not some of them only, but) everyone of them, in the body as it hath pleased Him, that there should be no schisms in the body." Here you have the reason, plainly stated. God so intensely desired the unity of His church, that He would not allow men to attempt its organization, lest they create schisms in the body. But in utter disregard to God's holy word, men have gone organizing churches, as they call them; but the result is only the creation of partition walls; bringing in "damnable heresies," sects, or "divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine we have received."

Oh God, can men be so blind as to still build up and hold up these accursed walls.

Now read verse 27. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Some think that their sect is right and none other is; while many tell us that all of them are right, all branches of the body of Christ.

Now beloved, in all good conscience before God, and with charity for all men, let us test these things by the word of God. If you are right give us "thus saith the Lord," but if we, who you call, "come outers" really belong to, and represent the only church that God recognizes in heaven or earth, […?...] reject the truth.

We are members of the body into which the Holy Spirit set us; which the Bible calls "the church of God." Now I ask, what branch, or human organization, can you say God set you into by His Spirit? None, not one; none of you dare make that claim.

Again, read verses 25, 26. "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." Where is the sect whose members "have the same care one for another." It is only the real body of Christ, the true and holy Church of God, that has such a vital union, that, if "one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." No human organization contains this measure of pure love and sympathy.

But how does God set the members in the body? Christ says, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."—John 10:9 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." The moment a person is converted to God, he is in the church of God, and though he were a thousand miles away from every human sect, he is recognized before the courts of heaven, as a full member of God's church. This is God's way of taking in members; and any so-called church, that has a different door than Christ; a different way of taking in members than by regeneration, and adoption of the Spirit, is fraud, and a cheat, yea, a rival of Christ's body.

Men are put out of the church by the same power that takes them in. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away."—John 15:2 The instant a soul commits sin in his heart, he is out of the church; his "sin hath separated between him and his God." No need of church trials, with all their partiality, to throw men out of the church. The Lord attends to that business Himself; and He will not screen a man in his sin, because he has plenty of money to give the preacher and the church. O, I do praise God for the simplicity and beauty of the gospel of Christ.

Let our prayers be, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Amen.

WOMEN PREACHERS

Question: In your December (1962) [The Way of Truth] paper, pg. 20, you say that women have the right to preach, and you refer to Joel 2:28, 29 where it is said women would prophesy. Is there any proof that women ever prophesied in the public assembly of the church? If so, how would you explain first Corinthians 14:34, 35 and first Timothy 2: 11, 12?

Answer:

We must either accept the Word of God as being true or else say it is false! Joel 2:28, 29 plainly states that women would prophesy. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Now either they did, or the Word of God is false.

Webster gives as one definition for “prophesy,” “to expound the Scriptures”: to preach.” Now to whom would they “expound the Scripture” or to whom would women preach? Whether it be to one (as Jesus did at the well), or whether it be to a thousand; if it is preaching, it is preaching! There would be no purpose in God’s giving women the gift of prophesy unless they was permitted to use it. You do not need the gift of prophesy to “testify” to individuals about the goodness of the Lord. Any child of God should be able to do that.

In regard to 1 Timothy 2:11, 12, this has no reference to women preaching. It is speaking of the husband-wife relationship in the home. “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man (singular). Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.—vs. 15

Adam and Eve are referred to in this Scripture as an example, which further proves Paul was speaking of the family relations and not women’s official position in the church as set forth in other Scriptures.

In reference to 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35, let us notice this point. Paul said the women should keep silent. “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” Why do people apply this only to preaching? Silence means just that! [Silence—forbearance from speech or noise: MUTENESS] To take this just as it is stated, women should not pray, sing or testify, or even greet another person in the church. Does Paul mean that? No! For we read in this same book, chapter 11, verse 5, “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head,” which clearly shows women could pray or prophesy in church if they met the requirements. Now is Paul going to teach in chapter 11 that they can speak, and say in chapter 14 that they cannot?

Adam Clarke says, “It is evident from the context that the apostle refers here to asking questions, and what we call dictating, in the assemblies. It was permitted to any man to ask questions to object, attempt to refute, etc., in the synagogue: but this liberty was not allowed to any woman. … If they wished to learn anything, let them inquire of her husband at home. …All that the apostle opposes here is this questioning, finding fault, disputing, etc. …together with the attempt to usurp any authority over the men, by setting up their judgment in opposition to them; for the apostle has in view especially acts of disobedience, arrogance, etc., of which no woman would be guilty who was under the influence of the Spirit of God.”

Mr. Clarke says in reference to Joel’s words, “The Spirit of God was to be poured out on women as well as men, that they might prophesy, and that they did prophesy or teach is evident from what the apostle says in chapter 11, verse 5 (of 1 Corinthians, as I pointed out above) where he lays down rules to regulate their conduct while ministering in the church.”

We should always keep in mind that one part of God’s Word when rightly divided does not contradict another part. Also, in arriving at the truth concerning any Bible subject it is always good to get all Scriptures that bear on the subject together and rightly divide them. Many false doctrines have been built around one or two verses of Scripture that have been taken out of context and wrongly interpreted.

The gifts of the Spirit (preaching being one of those gifts) are given for the profit of all the church (1 Cor. 12:7). Therefore, when God in His great wisdom sees fit to give one of His handmaidens the gift of preaching it is for the benefit of the entire body.

SMILE!

Smile!

Smiling is infectious, you can catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin,

When he smiled then I realized I’d passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile then realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine could travel around the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.

Let’s start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected.

A Smile Cost Nothing

A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive it without impoverishing those who give it. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes last forever. None are so rich and none so poor that they can get along without it, but both are richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that’s no earthly good to anybody until it is given away.

Nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give. Remember that the longest word in the English language is “smiles”, there’s a mile between the S’s.