The Buzzard, the Bat and the Bee

Thanks, J, for this gem ...

The Buzzard -- 

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.  The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.  Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The Bat --

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.  If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.  Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

The Bumblebee --

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.  It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.  It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

People --

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee.  We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!  That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem.  Just look up.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up!

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

Good is good all the time!

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil -- it has no point.

SHOCKWAVE: Global Prayer for Persecuted Christians Starts Today!

From Ethan Cole and the Christian Post --

Christian Youths 'Cry Out' for Persecuted Believers

Christian youths on Friday kicked off a time-zone crossing prayer chain for persecuted believers that began in New Zealand and will go around to about 50 countries.

The ninth annual SHOCKWAVE global prayer for the persecuted is scheduled to take place March 5-7. The prayer event is organized by the Underground, a youth and student ministry of Open Doors, an organization that supports persecuted believers worldwide.

“Shockwave is a movement of prayer that allows the passion of young people’s hearts to be heard by God as we cry out and join together across the world in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters,” said Scott Ahern, director of innovative strategies for Open Doors USA.

An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer different forms of persecution, including interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Jesus Christ. Millions more face discrimination and alienation.

Organizers point to Hebrews 13:3, “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering,” as the inspiration for SHOCKWAVE.

During the 72-hour event, prayers will take place in SHOCKWAVE chat rooms, prayer meetings, churches, homes and other places in dozens of countries. In some locations, participants are holding all-night events or prayer breakfasts.

This year’s participating countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, India, Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Canada and Brazil.

“This is truly a witness of the unity of the body of Christ when youth from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and regions of the world join to pray for one cause – to lift up and support through prayer God’s suffering children,” Ahern said.

Last year, thousands of young Christians joined in prayer for the persecuted.

The ten countries with the worst persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors’ 2010 World Watch List, are:

1. North Korea
2. Iran
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Somalia
5. Maldives
6. Afghanistan
7. Yemen
8. Mauritania
9. Laos
10. Uzbekistan

On the Web: http://www.odshockwave.org

Mary Stewart's Prayer

I attended a women's dinner at the local Knights of Columbus building.  The ladies started with the meal with this lovely prayer:

Mary Stewart's Prayer

Keep us, O God, from all pettiness.

Les us be large in thought, in word, in deed.

Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off of self-seeking.

May we put away all pretence and meet each other fact to face,

without self pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment, and always be generous.

Let us always take time for all things, and make us grow calm,

serene and gentle.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses, 

to be straight-forward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life

that create differences, that in the big things of life, we are one.

And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.

AMEN.