Nails in the Fence

The story below was forwarded to an entire school district by the district superintendent. I think this story is a beautiful example of the effects our words and actions have on people. God has blessed us with an opportunity to show people what it means to love and be loved by Him every time we encounter another person. I think there are times when we all forget about this whether we're frustrated at a check out counter, waiting in a drive through or out with a friend, our actions are an example of how we let the Father shine through and in us.

Nails In The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.”

When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out but it won't matter how many times you say “I'm sorry”, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Grace

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

God's grace is such a beautiful gift. If you have had any difficulties in receiving and accepting His grace, I pray that away. Let yourself fall into His arms and let His grace and mercy cover you. Let Him wrap you in a Heavenly embrace today and let Him guide your heart toward His. Accept it and praise Him for it. Amen.

Philippians 1:6

...There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears... Philippians 1:6

As I move through my new life with Christ, I am amazed at how I continue to grow. The changes His mercy has guided me through has been nothing short of extraordinary.

He has granted me the privilege of serving Him, and I have seen the blessings that come from complete surrender. This however comes with a cost. We must pay the price to experience life as He has intended it. At first, the price seems high, all He asks of us is everything we are. That's right, He asks that we surrender everything we think we are in order to become the people He intended us to be. I can honestly say, once you begin the journey, there is no end. You continue to grow and you are renewed every moment of your life. Following Him is not easy, I can honestly say it's been one of the most difficult things I've ever done, but the end result is well worth it. The journey I am on is more beautiful than I can describe, and all it cost me was everything. I received more from my Heavenly Father than I had to offer Him.

He will  continue working in me. His transformation will never be complete, and until He returns, I will serve Him. Amen.

baggage

I have baggage... probably enough to travel around the world several times. Eventually there comes a point when you need to sit down with God and unpack your bags. I'm warning you though, as will all steps towards healing this isn't very easy. It is however a beautiful process. One of my favorite quotes is from Stephen King, he once described something as "poisonous inspiration" I loved that phrase immediately. Life is so full of wonder, that when something comes along and truly inspires me it feels poisonous. It engulfs my entire being and becomes a catalyst for change and moves me closer to God. I look for it, I seek it and as I move towards, I face God on new levels. Each day Jesus calls to each one of us, and some days it is easier than others to answer, I'll admit, there are times when I am terrified of picking up the phone! However, even though it feels easier to just ignore the call, it's always worth the risk of answering.

I was put to the test recently, and a part of me just wanted to give in. God found a way to break through even though I didn't want Him to, and the results of His divine intervention are more beautiful than if I had just allowed myself to turn away. God understands everything we go through. Jesus was fully human and fully God. Because the Son was human, He completely understands our hurt, our anger, our fear and our weakness. Through all this, He can bring us a better sense of hope, of love, He can completely restore our joy, and He can give us strength beyond our comprehension.

Hold tight my friend, and trust in God to carry you when He needs to, and to walk alongside you. I can't promise smooth sailing, but I can assure you that our Heavenly Father will be with you. If, after all I have been through in my life He is still with me, I know no matter where your journey is taking you, He will never leave you. He has promised this to us all, and He will NEVER break His promises to us!


Hebrews 13:5
...God has said,
   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”