The Nail and the Toothpick

 

This devotional is about having strength to withstand temptation and peer pressure. And also strength to keep going when we want to give up. Where can we get the strength we need from?

Mouths that Don't Speak

A behind the scenes of my video last week and how I am learning to overcome my fear of speaking! If you are not good at talking, you may find it helpful.

 

A Little Fire...

 Are little things unimportant? Is something insignificant because it's small?

Make My Life Valuable

(Notes from teen journal)

Not Ashamed

  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans1:16
Are you ashamed of the gospel? Do you ever speak up for what you believe? Do you ever share your faith in God? Or do you do your best to avoid the subject?
It's so easy to be ashamed or afraid to share! I'll admit I find it very difficult sometimes. But I have to remember this verse. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel has the power to completely change a person's life if they will believe it. It can change anyone no matter how bad they are. It can make a suicidal person find purpose, hope and joy. It can help a scarred person find healing. It can help an addict find freedom. It can give a sinner forgiveness and cleansing from their sin. It can stop someone from ruining their life.
You never know what a person is going through or what they think. Because they laugh a lot or look happy, doesn't mean everything is ok inside. For all you know they could really be struggling. They could be the next suicide statistic. They need the gospel. They may not know they need it; they may mock and laugh. But don't be afraid or ashamed to speak up. The gospel has the power to completely change that person's life.
People need the gospel. Forget yourself, put your pride in your pocket and let your light shine!

Learn From a Pharisee

I've been thinking about Matthew 23 this week where Jesus talks about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. These are four lessons I learned. To get the most benefit out of this post, read the whole chapter for yourself.

1) It's your walk, not your talk.
It's very easy to talk about the right thing to do, but it's another thing to do it yourself.
If someone listened to what you said and applied it to their life, would it be the same as if they copied what you do?
The same goes for witnessing to people. You may be great at talking to people about God, but if your life is not a good testimony, you'll do more damage than good.
Do your actions match your words? Do you say one thing and do another?

"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." verse 3

2)It's what God thinks that matters.
Why do you do what you do? Do you do good things to impress people? It's not enough to do the right thing. Our motives are important. We need to do the right thing because God is watching. Would you be involved in ministries and helping people if no one ever found out about it?
Forget about what others think and live to please God. Check out your motives!
"All their works they do for to be seen of men:" verse 5

3)It's the servant who is the greatest.
Are you a servant? Do you have a servant's heart? Are you focused on others and their needs or only on yourself and what you want?
"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." verse 11

4)It's what's on the inside that matters.
My husband has a greenhouse, and right now it looks really nice. He has just put a new netting on as the last plastic covering ripped. One week I kept getting comments about how good it looked. I told my husband and he replied, "Yeah, it looks good, but on the inside it's not doing well!"
The plants are not doing well as there are bugs that are eating them, but on the outside it looks great.
Is your life like this? Do you look like you're doing great, but really you are not walking with God? Are there sins only you and God know about that you're not dealing with? It is what's inside that really counts.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." 27-28
Is your heart right with God?

The Sceptic's Challenge

Over the heads of the crowd the confident cry rang out, “There is no answer to prayer; it's all imagination. Don't be carried away. Use your own common sense. There is no hereafter. When we are dead, we are done for.”

The speaker was standing at the foot of a monolith erected in an open space of a busy Yorkshire city. He had an excellent gift of speech and a winning manner. A large crowd of men and women stood round listening. In a wonderfully ingratiating way, and with a persuasive voice, he tried to prove the non-existence of God, and inefficacy of prayer, concluding with a professed readiness to debate the question with any person in the audience. At this juncture a man was seen making his way from the edge of the crowd towards the speaker, saying at the same time, “I accept the challenge.”

The people eagerly made way for this champion of prayer, and a very few moments he was standing on the step of the monolith facing the crowd. He was tall, thin, pale faced, and well dressed. But he was no orator; he had no set phrases to tickle the ear; he had not the winning, catchy demeanor of his opponent. For a moment or two he stood looking at the sea of faces before him—faces waiting with eager expectancy for him to open the debate. A flush of color came into his features, and sweat stood in beads on his brow. “Friends, I am not a public speaker,” he said. “I did not come to this meeting with the intention of disputing anything our friend might say, but when he denied that there was any efficacy in prayer, and challenged anyone to prove the contrary, I felt bound to come forward.”

The crowd cheered the frank yet modest statement. He went on again: “You see standing before you a man who was once as big a scoundrel as it was possible to find in the city. I was a drunkard, a gambler, a wife-beater---yes! Everything the word 'brute' implies. My wife and child dreaded the sound of my footsteps, and yet, bad as I was, unknown to me, my wife had for years been praying for me; and she taught my child to pray.”

He paused a moment, as it overcome with sadness at the memory, and then continued: “One night I went home unexpectedly, rather earlier than usual; and, by accident, sober. When I opened the door, my wife had just gone up the stairs to put the little one to bed. I stood listening at the foot of the stairs; my child was praying; she was praying for me. 'Dear Lord, save my dear daddy! Save my dear Daddy, Lord! Dear Lord Jesus, save my Daddy!' And as she prayed in her simple, childlike way, I heard my wife saying,with a throb in her throat, 'Lord Jesus, answer prayer.' They did not know I was listening. I crept softly out of the house into the street. Strange feelings were coming over me, and ringing in my ears was my child's prayer: 'Dear Lord Jesus, save my dear Daddy!' Was I indeed dear to that child? In what way? She had never known a father's love; I question whether she ever had known a father's kiss. And as I thought of it, a great lump came into my throat; tears filled my eyes, and I cried aloud, 'Lord, help me; Lord, answer my child's prayer.' And He did.

“Years have passed away since then. Today I am a respected member of society. The past is under the blood. I live in the present, a new creature in Christ Jesus, a living testimony to direct answer to prayer.” Again he paused, and then said earnestly: “Friends, don't you think I should have been a coward if I had kept silent today? Can I do other than believe there is a God, and that he not only hears, but answers prayer?”

The sceptic made no reply. For this man's story had moved the crowd to tears, and when he had finished speaking the people went silently and reverently away.

Does Your Word Mean Something?

(Lessons from The Little Maid)

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

2Kings 5:4-5

When you say something, do people take you seriously?

Does your word mean something?

The little maid's word meant something to Naaman and his wife. Why?
If she was a lazy, unreliable and dishonest worker, would her word have meant anything? If she had lived in a way that brought dishonor to God, would her words about God have meant something? If she had lived as though God wasn't real, would they have believed that her God could heal Naaman?
She must have had a good reputation. She must have lived a life that backed up her words.
Two people may say the same thing, and yet you believe only one of them. How they act or live may disagree with what they say.
My husband and I met someone who was always full of big ideas and promises of things that he would do. After awhile I realized that it was only words. What he said he would do, he never did. So then when he would come out with a new idea, I would just think, “Yeah, whatever!” His word meant nothing to me because I knew his word was only words.
What about you? If you had been the little maid, would they have listened to you? Or would they have thought, “Yeah, whatever.” “She can't really mean that.”
People have to choose whether or not to believe you, but you should live in a way that gives them no good reason not to.
If you tell people about God, do they have reason to take you seriously? Has He made a difference to your life? Has he made you a better person? Is there any reason they should want what you have?
When you make a promise, do people believe you? Do you keep your promises? Are you reliable?
When you say, "I love you", do people have reason to believe you? Do you show love by your actions?
Do your words mean something?

A Little Girl with Big Courage

(Lessons from the Little Maid)

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

2 Kings 5:3-4

When is the last time you did something that took courage?

This little maid had a lot of courage to speak up for the good of her Master and for the glory of her God.

She didn't let thoughts like, “What will they think of me? What will happen to me?” stop her.

She was more concerned about her Master than about herself.

Doing what's right often takes courage. To be different, to share the Gospel, to give out a tract, to invite someone to church, to witness, to speak up for God, to speak up for someone when they're being criticized or gossiped about, to be friendly to someone new or different all takes courage.

To apologize and admit you are wrong takes courage.

To own up and take the blame takes courage.

HOW can we have courage? To have courage we need to forget ourselves and instead think about the other person.

Or if it's a case of standing up for God and what is right we need forget ourselves and think of God.

I remember one time when I was a teenage girl that I did something that took me a lot of courage. I will tell you about it. (The names are changed)

In my teenage years I ran a Sunday School and a Girl's 4 God Club. There were 2 different girls from the community who came to both. Stacy had 2 friends who were sisters and the Chloe lived across from these same 2 girls. (These 2 girls were not Christians and didn't go to church or anything Christian.) So when I saw Stacy or picked up Chloe I saw or thought of these 2 girls. I knew I should invite them to my Girl's Club, but... I didn't want to. Why? Because I was afraid of their mum! I had seen her a few times and she was a loud person, always growling her girls. I was sure she would get angry at me too if I asked.

Finally, one day, I got an invite to my Girl's Club and knocked on their door in fear and trembling. I was in for a pleasant surprise. The mother answered the door and was very friendly to me. She told me it was up to the girls—they could go if they wanted to.

They started coming to my Girl's Club. Their friend Stacy told me, “They'd never be allowed to go to church!” But not long after, they started coming to church aswell! Some time later they went off to boarding school and when I got married I moved away. So I’ve lost contact with them now, but I am so glad that I invited them so they had a chance to learn about God and hear the Gospel. Maybe it's the only chance they ever got!

But I had to stop thinking of myself and what might happen to me and instead think of how much they needed to hear about God. I needed to think “What will they think of me on judgment day if I don't?”

To have courage you need to love God and others more than you love yourself.

Three things that will last forever

14 Lessons from Candles

 

1) A candle gives light.

It brightens up a dark place. It helps you to see and it drives away darkness.

This world is a dark sinful place and you are to give God's light to those around you.

2) A candle needs a wick.

Without a wick a candle doesn't have much purpose. It may look nice and make a pretty decoration, but it won't fulfill the purpose that it was made for. And so without God, your life is without real purpose. Without God, you won't be what God created you to be.
 

3) The wick must be in the center.

God needs to be the center of your life. Not an accessory that you wear on Sundays. Your life needs to revolve around Him instead of revolving around yourself.

4) A candle's life has a span.

Once the wick is burned, its time is up.
You don't know what length the candle of your life is. So you must make the most of your time, and most importantly always be prepared to meet your Maker.

5) Candles are all different, but they all have the same purpose—to give light.

Christians are all different—different talents, personalities, backgrounds, opportunities, cultures etc.but we all have the same purpose—to shine for God.

6) If a candle smells good, it is more attractive.

As a Christian you should give Christianity a good name by your actions and words. Many people are put off Christians because of bad experiences--Christians that are bad-smelling! Fruits of the Spirit are good smells—love, joy, peace, longsuffering etc.

7) Candles need trimming.
If you don't trim the wick of your candle, ugly burned pieces fall into the wax.
And so there are many ugly spots in our lives that need changing. God allows hard times in our lives to smooth off our rough edges.



8) You don't light candles to hide them.
Are you ashamed of your faith in Christ? Are you hiding your light instead of shining it?

9) The darker the night, the greater the light.
These days if you live by Biblical principles, you straight away stand out.  Many 'Christian' people today live far worse than a lot of nonChristians lived a while back.
This dark world needs Christians who shine their light brightly and are different from the world.

10) A candle gives the most light right where it is.

It all starts at home. Sometimes home is the hardest place to be a light, because that's where our patience is tested the most.

The light that shines the furtherest shines the brightest at home.

What you are at home is what you are.
Are you a bright light as a daughter and sister?

11) For a candle to burn it must cost the candle something.

It must sacrifice itself to fulfill it's purpose.
If you are a light to the world, you must give of yourself--your talents, time, money, love etc.
Serving God always means sacrifice.

12) A candle is silent

The Bible says, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
Actions speak louder than words. Words don't mean much unless your life backs them up.

13) A candle draws you in a direction.

If you are shining for God, you will give direction. You will point others toward God.

14) A candle attracts attention.
When you walk into a dark room, you will straight away notice the candle. It stands out. It's supposed to!
If you are a Christian, then you are supposed to be different! Not in a weird way but in a good way. If you want to make a difference, you have to be a little different.

It's the Little Things

Last week I stopped at the petrol station to get $20.00 petrol. As I was about to put my pin number in for my visa card I realized that I was about to pay $200.00! A little dot had been put in the wrong place.
I remarked to the man who had overcharged me, "A little dot makes a big difference!"
There are many little things in life that make a big difference. A little bullet, a little stone in your shoe, a little poisonous insect or spider, a little bee, a little cut in your finger etc.
There are also many little things we do or don't do that can make a big difference to our lives.
We'll start with the negative
A little lie
Gossip
A nasty or negative comment
An angry word
A little silence--the silent treatment
Talking back to someone in authority--backchatting
A little alcohol, drugs or a cigarette-- Drunkards, alcoholics, druggies and smokers all get started with a little bit.
A bad habit
A friend who is a bad influence
A bad attitude
A moment of uncontrolled anger

But then there's the positive...
A word of encouragement
A smile
A card
A gift
A phonecall
A tract--many people have gotten saved through reading a little tract.
A question--"Are you saved?" "Can I help you?" "How are you doing?"
A prayer
Lending a hand to an elderly person
A Bible verse--There are many single verses that make such a difference to my life
A little faith

Use Your Talents for God

by Ruth Lauridsen

This is something that I have/am learning.
A couple of months back, a girl said to me something like this. “ It had taken me a while to realize that if I enjoy doing something I should do my best and do it unto the LORD.” That has stuck with me. If I enjoy doing something I should do it to the best of my ability. For example I really like to sing. But instead of singing only just so people can hear my voice. I should be singing to the LORD. So now I don’t need to be afraid to sing my best in case people think I am showing off. But I can sing by best and sing it to my LORD. If you  have an ability to do something, use it. Find out ways to use the talent God has given you and do it the best of your ability, to the LORD.
But don’t get proud about it and make it become your idol. Just use the talent God has given you and for His glory.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee,………… give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
                                                                    1 Timothy 4:14a & 15b

“ As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of  God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it to the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”      
                                              1 Peter 4:10-11  
 

“ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
                                                Colossians 3:23-24

              Give of Your Best to the Master       

     Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Armed with the sword of salvation, Join in the battle for truth. Jesus has set the example; His life for others He gave; Give Him your loyal devotion, Give Him the best that you have.

    Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service, Fully surrender each part. Give, and to you it shall be given; God, His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.

    Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love; He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above: Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin’s ruins to save; Give Him your heart’s adoration, Give Him the best that you have.
                                         - Howard Grose -

 

Evolution vs. God

This is a great video about evolution versus God. Well worth watching.

Lessons from Ants

We have a problem with ants in our kitchen at the moment, so they've been on my mind a lot!
Here a few lessons I've learned from them.
*If one ant finds food in my kitchen there will soon be hundreds of ants eating the food.
You need to squash any ant you see, otherwise they'll bring many more. It's easy to think, 'Oh, a few ants don't matter!' But it doesn't stay that way for long.
It's the same way with sin. One sin leads to more sin. Little sins lead to big sins. If you think, 'Oh, one lie won't hurt!' before long you'll be telling lies out of habit. Every lie you tell will make the next one easier.
You need to deal with sin straight away or it will start to control you.
Learn to notice sins and confess them straight away to God. Memorize verses that help you in that issue. Depending on what the sin is, try and avoid being tempted.  For example if wasting money is a strong temptation to you, don't go shopping 'just for fun!' Or if gossiping is your weakness, don't call people 'just for a chat!'
*Ants somehow share with others where the food is they've found.
They don't just enjoy it all for themselves.
We all share something with others, but what? Gossip? Complaints?
What about blessings? Do we share what God has done for us? Do we share what we're learning? Do we share the Gospel?
Do we share food or rubbish?
*An ant trap is made to attract ants.
My husband brought home some ant traps. A sweet smelling liquid is poured into a small well in the center and there are lots of ways for ants to crawl in and drink the poison. We put one on the bench in the evening. The next morning the little trap was black with ants. I thought, "Man, if you guys only knew that liquid is poisonous you wouldn't all be flocking to drink it." Or would they??
It made me feel sad, NOT because the ants were being poisoned, but because it reminded me of sin.
Satan likes to make sin look attractive, just like the ant traps had sweet smelling liquid. People flock into his poisonous traps. Sin often looks fun or exciting. The forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden looked nice especially when the serpent kept talking about it.
Hebrews 11:25 talks about enjoying the pleasures of sin. But it actually says 'the pleasures of sin for a season.' It's only fun for a while before it poisons and destroys you.
Satan is out to destroy you, just like we were out to get rid of the ants. But God loves you and cares about you. Will you listen to God or Satan?

A Light For Thee

 

The Lord has said, "Go ye...", and how I gladly will;

Even to the end of the world, He'll be with me still.    (Mt. 28:19-20)
How great a harvest, O, how white; but labourers are few;
What an honour is mine, O Lord--a labourer for You.   (Lk. 10:2)
Send me forth with precious seed, even in tears to sow;
Sowing seeds of Jesus Christ, to reap one day in joy, I know.   (Ps. 126:5-6)
The life I live is Thine; a living sacrifice for You,
By all of Thy good mercies, my reasonable service which I must do.   (Rom. 12:1)
The world and all it's sinful offers, I push it all away,
Transform me to do Thy will, and very near Thee stay.    (Rom 12:2)
Thou camest to bear my sins in Thine own body on the tree,
I'm dead to sin; alive to righteousness, for Thou hast healed me.   (1 Pet. 2:24)
Help me lay aside the weight of sin; in this race with patience run,
Looking unto Jesus my Saviour, until my life is done.    (Heb. 12:1-2)
Lord, shine Thy glorious light brightly through me,
That men would glorify Thy name, when it is Christ in me that they they see.    (Mt. 5:16)

    ~by Lisa Colliehole
       (Waitara, NZ)

Behind the Scenes

 

So often we're concerned about

The world who's watching to see if we're real.

To see that we're not hypocrites - that we don't just do as we feel.

But what's the point of showing them.

Is it not all in vain?

If when we're at home with family.

We don't act the same.

Behind the scenes.. who are you?

Behind the scenes.. what do you do?

Does your family know a different you,

Than all the other people do?

Is your Christian life - just a public show?

Would you really want everyone to know

What goes on - behind the scenes?

There are many many people observing you.

Watching very closely. How you act and what you do.

But most importantly , there is a God, although we may not see.

He's watching your private life.... is He pleased?
How can you expect to win the lost.

And tell others they must live right,

When if we were to see inside your heart.

We'd be filled with shock and fright.

Let us then be on guard.

Let us then be pure and true.

Let us go on to please our Saviour.

By what we say and do.

May we love the LORD our God

With all our heart and mind

And love our neighbour [including family] as ourself.

With a love that's pure and kind.

~by Laura Lauridsen~

Follow Me

 

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-22

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

The Call

Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him. In order to obey and follow him, there were things that had to be left behind. Can you imagine the disciples following Jesus while still clutching onto their nets? Imagine them having to lug their nets around everywhere! Or what about their boats? No, they had to leave them all behind if they wanted to follow Jesus.

Jesus is calling us to follow Him. But in order to do that, there are things we have to leave behind. It's different for every person, but we all have to leave our dreams and the things we want, and we have to learn what God wants. Some people may have to leave their home, country, family or friends. Some may have to leave their career. Some may even lose their life. But we all have to leave our own way and follow after Christ and His way. It costs to follow Christ, but it costs far more not to. I'm sure the disciples had no regrets for what they left when it was time to die and meet God.

Since Jesus isn't literally on earth anymore, we can't follow Him around like the disciples did. But we have Jesus' Words (the Bible) that we are to follow.

The Promise

Jesus promised the disciples “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”. The call or command is to follow Him. The next half of the verse is a promise that he will make us fishers of men. He will teach us how to win other people for God. If we follow Christ, He will teach us how to be soul winners.

Are you following Christ or are you doing what you want to do?

Are you a follower of Christ or are you following everyone around you?

What Will It Take?

Living a life that's filled with woe.

Holding onto sin... you won't let go.

The Saviour pleads but you say "No!"

What will it take?

Jesus Christ for you has died.

On the cross was crucified.

But you won't make up your mind.

What will it take?

How many problems will arise.

Before you finally realize

God meant every word he said.

What will it take?

And while you lay there in your bed.

Sinner, When will you awake?

What big mistake do you have to make?

What will it take?

We sit at home with our feet propped up.

Sipping tea from a porcelain cup.

When there are people without hope.

What will it take?

There are people without light

Dying every single night.

When will we finally do what is right?

What will it take?

How many problems will arise.

Before you finally realize

God meant every word he said.

What will it take?

And while you lay there in your bed.

Christian, When will you awake?

What big mistake do you have to make?

What will it take?

Life on earth is very fast.

Opportunity will soon past.

Only what's done for Christ will last.

What will it take?

We must give Jesus Christ our all.

Whether we're big or whether we're small.

Then we must obey his call.

What will it take?

by Laura Lauridsen 

The Telephone Phenomenon

One afternoon in December, 1939, upon answering the telephone, I (Dr. Hall) was asked my number. The person at the other end of the wire said, “Sorry, I have the wrong number.” before he could hang up, I quickly answered: “No, you have the right number. I want to ask you something. Are you a Christian?”

“Oh, I suppose I am.”

“Do you suppose you are married, or do you know you are?”

“Oh, I know that,” was the ready reply.

“Do you suppose you love your wife, or do you know you love her?” I again questioned him.

“Yes, I do love her,” he answered, and then tried to end the conversation by saying “Good-bye.”

“Hold on,” I said,” I am not done with you. Do you read your Bible and pray.”

“Oh, mother had us do it.”

“Did she make you take a bath?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Did you stop when you got away from her?”

“Say, look here, who are you anyway?”

“I am a preacher. I am preaching to you right now.”

“Well, I must say you have done me good.”

This ended the first conversation. I wish I had taken his name, for he was the person responsible for what occurred later. In about ten minutes someone called my number: “ A friend of mine gave me this number and said you have a message for me.” I preached a little sermon to him which was graciously accepted. I received ten calls that day asking me the same thing. The marvel of it is that it has been going on ever since. Just the other day, 294 calls came in. It is estimated that since December, 1939, we have had 100,000 calls. The telephone company called me one day and said: “Do you know that you have the most important telephone in New York?” I believe the 'phone would ring all night if someone were there to answer it. About midnight or one o'clock in the morning, I simply hang up and leave the room.

One woman told me that over station W.E.A.F. She heard a fifteen-minute talk about this telephone phenomenon which urged everybody to call Circle 6-6483 and ask for a message.

The usual thing I say in answer to the question: “Do you have a message for me?” is: “Yes, I have, and from God Almighty. 'Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' This means, give Christ first place in your life, your home, your business, and every other relation. That in turn gives you everything for two worlds. But to do this you must pray, read your Bible, and surrender your life to Christ. Do you do this?” The answers vary. Then I follow them up by saying: “If you do not, how about doing it?” Many promise they will.
 

And so it goes on, some conversations more lengthy than others. In answer to my introductory talk, one man remarked, “I am not interested in that.” “Neither is Hitler or Mussolini,” I retorted. “You must be one of their followers. Or do you belong to the firth column, or both?” That brought him down to my level.

Another answered: “I am an atheist and do not believe that.” “Oh,” I said, “then the only difference between you and the pig is that you understand the multiplication table and the pig does not.”

“Say,” he stirringly replied, “do you mean to classify me with a pig?”

“NO, I do not, because the pig does what he was created to do, but you do not.”

This telephone phenomenon was begun directly by the hand of God. I had nothing to do with the matter, and we do nothing to keep it going. Neither does anyone receive remuneration. God alone opened a door where there was none, and He alone deserves all the glory and the praise.