Stories Of Hope & Inspiration

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FineLinen

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A Glass of Water

A professor entered his classroom with a glass of water. He raised the glass of water; everyone in the room expected the: "half entry or half full” question.

Instead, to everyone’s surprise, the professor smiled and inquired: “ How heavy is this glass of water?”

The answers called out for the range from 8 Oz to 15 Oz.

“ I need to weigh it to know how much exactly it weighs. But the question, I really want you to answer is – what if I held the glass up for a minute?”, asked the professor.

“ Nothing” the students answered unanimously.

“ Your arms will start aching “ , answered one of the students.

“ But what if I hold it for an hour?” asked the professor.

“ You are right!, But what if I held it up for a whole day?”, queried the professor.

“ Your arms will feel numb, your muscles get stressed and it may even get paralyzed” ventured an another student .

“ You are right!”, exclaimed the professor. “

So what should I do to avoid the pain “ asked the professor.

“ Keep the glass down”, answered a student.

“ Exactly!” said the professor. He continued “In all the case the weight of the glass remains the same. But, longer I held it up, heavier it becomes.

The stress and worries in life are like the glass of water. If you think about them for a while, nothing happens.

Think about them for longer, they will start hurting. Think about them for even longer, you will feel stress and be paralyzed”

It is important to think about the problems in the life. But, you should not carry the stress long enough that it begins to ache and paralyze your life.

It is important to let go of your stresses. Don’t carry your stress all day and always remember to put the glass down before you go to bed!
 
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FineLinen

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It's a mad, mad world!

A missionary tells of his experience about being assigned a car that would not start without a push.

After pondering this problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running.

He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

When a new missionary came to take over his station, he proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started. As he was talking, the young missionary picked up the hood only to find that the only trouble was a loose cable. He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and the engine roared to life.

For two years, needless trouble had become routine -- but the power was there all along -- and the only thing that was needed was a better connection!
 
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FineLinen

Well-known member
The African Impala (an African antelope) are amazing creatures that can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance greater than 30 feet. Yet Impalas can be kept in a zoo inside an enclosure with a simple 3-foot wall.

Why?

Impalas will not jump if they can't see where their feet will land.

"Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." ~George Mueller
 
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FineLinen

Well-known member
During the gold rush, a man who had been mining in Colorado for several months quit his job, as he hadn’t struck gold yet and the work was becoming tiresome. He sold his equipment to another man who resumed mining where it had been left off. The new miner was advised by his engineer that there was gold only three feet away from where the first miner stopped digging.

The engineer was right, which means the first miner was a mere three feet away from striking gold before he quit.

The Moral:

When things start to get hard, try to persevere through the adversity. Many people give up on following their dreams because the work becomes too difficult, tedious, or tiresome–but often, you’re closer to the finish line than you may think, and if you push just a little harder, you will succeed.
 
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FineLinen

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Quality of character

An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field.

He told the young man to be at his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o'clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten.

Then he finally came in and said abruptly, " Young man, can you write your name?"

A little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused.

Before he could get a word out, the examiner blurted, "What, you don't know what it is?"

The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature and then went to report to the mission board.

"Okay," he said, "he will do." I tried his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then I insulted him and he did not lose his temper....

This candidate answered with patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his character. He will make a good missionary."
 
Lon

Lon

Well-known member
FineLinen said:
Quality of character

An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field.

He told the young man to be at his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o'clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten.

Then he finally came in and said abruptly, " Young man, can you write your name?"

A little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused.

Before he could get a word out, the examiner blurted, "What, you don't know what it is?"

The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature and then went to report to the mission board.

"Okay," he said, "he will do." I tried his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then I insulted him and he did not lose his temper....

This candidate answered with patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his character. He will make a good missionary."
Click to expand...
Well, a little rough of the inquisitor though. I'm not sure 'abuse' is the best way to find character. References, I believe, are the better avenue. I could never get to a point where I'd abuse someone, just to see how they'd take it. God certainly tests our mettle, but He is more capable and certainly more trusted and caring for such delicate tasks.
 
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FineLinen

Well-known member
Fear

There is an old Indian fable that tells of a mouse who was in constant distress because of its fear of cats.

So a magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat so it would have no more fear.

Now as a cat, it was in fear of dogs.

So the magician turned it into a dog.

Now, as a dog, it was stressed out in fear of tigers.

Then the magician turned the dog into a tiger.

Now, as a tiger, it was shaking in fear of hunters

The magician finally said to the tiger,

"Be a mouse again. You only have the heart of a mouse, and I cannot help you."
 
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FineLinen

Well-known member
Hope for the hopeless

https://www.philhenrypowergospel.org/video/five-min-power-message-82-she-hurts-cancer-3-10-19/

"You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom." -MSG
 
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FineLinen

Well-known member
Story of the bamboo

Once upon a time lay a beautiful garden. And there in the cool of the day was the Master of the garden, who went for a walk. Of all the dwellers of the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was a gracious Bamboo. Year after year Bamboo grew yet more beautiful and he was conscious of his Master’s love and watchful delight. Yet he was modest and gentle. Often when Wind came to revel in the garden, Bamboo would throw aside his dignity and dance merrily, tossing and swaying and leaping and bowing in joyous abandon. He would lead the great dance of the garden which most delighted his Master’s heart.

https://renatoamato.com/en/soul-care/the-story-of-bamboo/
 
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FineLinen

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A street preacher and the birth of a man of God.

In a tiny farming community in western Pa. a remarkable man of God was born.

In the progression of his life he worked for a tire company. While on his way home from work one day, he overheard a street preacher say "If you don't know how to be saved just call on God saying Lord, be merciful to me a sinner."

Upon returning home he climbed into the attic and heeded the preacher's advice. On that fateful day God called a modern day prophet to Himself.

His name: Aiden W. Tozer (A.W. Tozer)

A.W. Tozer
 
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FineLinen

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Mickey Rooney

Rooney’s private life was turbulent, and his eight marriages became the fodder for late-night comedians’ jokes. But the challenges he survived.

After the deaths of his mother and fifth wife in 1966, he battled substance abuse and financial problems. In the depths of the valley Rooney had an unusual encounter that he said changed his life.

Over breakfast at a Lake Tahoe casino coffee shop, Rooney was greeted by a busboy with “blond curls, a white-rose complexion, and shining teeth,” he recounted.

When the young man called his name, Rooney started to stand, thinking he had a telephone call. But the busboy leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Rooney, Jesus Christ loves you very much.”

Then the mysterious busboy vanished.

When Rooney looked for the young man and gave his description to the manager of the establishment, he was told that no such person worked there. Rooney believed he was visited by an angel.

By the 1990s Mickey boldly proclaimed a very orthodox faith centered on Jesus Christ as his Savior and being an “unabashed Christian.”

“I’ve given my life to God and I try and do the right thing, but inevitably, and unfortunately, I do the wrong thing. I suffer from being human.”
 
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FineLinen

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More money or more time?

A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of California Los Angeles wanted to find out, "if you had to choose between more time and more money, what would it be?" While they found most respondents answered, "more money", they also found that those who preferred "more time" were generally happier!

A wealthy businessman was shocked to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.

The businessman asked, "Why aren't you out fishing?" The fisherman replied, "Because I've caught enough fish for one day."

"Why don't you catch some more?" the businessman further inquired.

"What would I do with them?" asked the fisherman.

"You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money, you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually, you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me."

"Then what would I do?" replied the fisherman.

"Then you could really enjoy life," answered the businessman. The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I'm doing now?"
 
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