Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Just the Facts

Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Yesterday was so warm that I got a little sunburn from being outside with our friend Terry, who came over to put long chains around the staghorn, which had broken one and was tipped. He also worked on priming our pump, but that didn't take after an hour of trying. All this time I was mostly in the sun with him and it was Hot! Today is supposed to get up to 80! Good for the Superbowl fans and players, some of whom came from freezing temps in Pittsburgh.

The park was full again by the time I got over there yesterday, but we saw Mrs. Peahen sitting on a window sill of a house on our way in.Lots of ibis and anhingas, but ever since the fence was taken down, no gator on the bank. Maybe he will come back. God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor. But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Proverbs 11:12 KJV

There was once a man that John Wesley thought of an miserly; therefore, he had little respect for him. He felt so strongly about this man that, on an occasion when the man gave only a small gift to a worthy charity, Wesley openly criticized him.

Not long after, the gentleman paid a visit to Wesley. He was surprised to hear that this man--someone whom he assumed was simply greedy--had actually been living on parsnips and water for several weeks. The man told him that, in his past, he had amassed a great deal of debt. But since his conversion, he had made a choice to pay off all of his creditors and, therefore, was buying nothing for himself and spending as little as possible elsewhere in order to do so.

"Christ has made me an honest man," he said, "and so with all these debts to pay, I can give only a few offerings above my tithe. I must settle up with my worldly neighbors and show them what the grace of God can do in the heart of a man who was once dishonest."
Wesley than apologized to the man and asked his forgiveness.

It's easy to find fault with others when we don't know their circumstances or the reasons for their actions. It's also amazing how a few facts can forever alter our perception of a situation. When we feel compelled to judge, it's a good time to ask God for wisdom and patience to understand the facts..

Every man should have a fair
sized cemetery in which to bury
the faults of his friends.
Henry Ward Beecher


I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis