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SUBJECT: File Cards
How vast are your files, good and bad?
17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time
to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce.
"It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last. Brian's parents had forgotten
about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teary Valley High School.
Brian
had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them-notes from classmates and teachers,
his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing
every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had
described his view of heaven. It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you are there." Mr.
Moore said.
Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a fiend's house
when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but
stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.
The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among
the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and
make something out of it, " Mrs.Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life
after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.
The Room...
In that
place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one
wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical
order. But these
files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very
different
headings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have
liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the
names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its
small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a
detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly
opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense
that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to
one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have
Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some were
almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things
I Have Done in My anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised
by the contents.
Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed
by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands
or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth.
Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed
with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain
their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. shut
it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.
When I came
to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not
willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment
had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No
one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter
now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge
a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long,
self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it.. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With."
The handle
was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches
long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs
so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame,
from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know
of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not
Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear
to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He
seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across
the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face
with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He
didn't say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end
of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted
rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these
cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His
blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand
how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed
His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was
no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me."
---Phil. 4:13
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
If you feel the same way forward it to as many people as you can
so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also. My "People I shared the gospel with" file just got bigger, how
about yours?
IF THERE IS ONE EMAIL THAT I HAVE READ THAT NEEDS TO GO AROUND THE WORLD, IT
IS THIS ONE, PLEASE
PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, CHRISTIAN OR NOT!
"LET'S FILL OUR OWN FILE CARD" AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU
ALL!
It is Easter Weekend as I post this, 2002, but that doesn't matter. This
is a Good Message for any season, any Year.
Feel Free to copy this and share it.
May God
Bless You and Keep You.
Here is a Prayer a Friend sent me. When I received it, the number of people who had
read it and passed it on was over 5,000. I hope you find comfort through it.
Please take a moment to relax your mind
and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God, to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we
can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends that pray together,
stay together.
Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You
are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day
for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please
keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make
the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept
all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's
eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness
of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -to slip away and find a quiet place
to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue
to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help
the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find
their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray
for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that
I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For
each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation
greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every
eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Jesus in the Clouds
This Picture was taken in the Early 1970's. I received it through a friend on an Message Board I
Read. It has been in his family since that time. His sister recently scanned it after they found it going through
family photo's. This picture is on kodak paper, and was taken by a 7 or 8 year old daughter of some family friends while attending
a funeral. The girl asked her Mother to see the camera and she took the picture.
Some who have seen it have asked if it could have been a double exposure. I don't think so,
the little girl who took it saw the image herself and asked her Mother several times to Look at what she was seeing. But the
Mother was to focused on the the Grave Side Service to Look. That is when the little Girl asked for the Camera. Her Mother
gave it to Her and then the little girl took this Picture.
I post it here and will let you take from it what you will.
P.U.S.H
(Pray Until Something Happens)
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin, when suddenly his room filled with light and the Lord appeared. The Lord told
the man He had work for him to do, and showed his a large rock in front of the cabin. The Lord explained that the man was
to push against the rock with all of his strength. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years the man toiled, from
sun-up to sun-down, his shoulders set squarly against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of
his might. Each night, the man returned to his cabin, sore and worn-out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since he was showing signs of discouragment, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts in his weary
mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time now, and it still hasn't moved." Thus he gave the impression
that the task was impossible, and the man was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said,
"Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving the minimal effort, and that will be good enough." This is what
the man planned to do, but he decided to make it a matter of prayer first, and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all that I have into the task you have given
me.....yet in all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord answered compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your
task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, and that you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I
expected you to move it. Your task was to push, and now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.
But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused
from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities
now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock, but your calling was to be obedient, and to push,
and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That, you have done, and now, My friend, I will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what
God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know
that it is still God who moves the mountains.
I wrote this for You:
This is my Prayer for you...
Father in Heaven, All Blessings come from You.
And I Thank You for them.
I Pray that You Help me to Understand that everything
Good I have comes from You... That everything I Hope
to have will come from You.
I Pray that I might realize that I cannot do anything
without Your Help and Blessing. That without you, I
am
nothing, dust in the wind that is here today and gone tomorrow.
I Pray, knowing You know all my Needs, and I trust in
You to meet those needs, according to Your Will.
I Pray that I am given understanding of what You want of me,
knowing that this world will not last, but that
Your Love is Forever.
I Pray that I am not deceived by the things of this world, which
pass away and are seen no more. But that
I might work toward
the things that matter and that last. Love and Life Everlasting with
You.
I Pray and accept Your Grace poured out through the death
of Your Son Jesus on the Cross for the forgiveness
of All.
I Pray and understand that I cannot earn Your Grace. That
Help and Salvation comes only through my Belief
in Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who died for us and for me.
I Pray as I go about my daily life that I see the Many Blessings
You pour out on me, the Blessings of Family,
of Love, of Friendship, of
the Peace of the evening after a hard day, of a new Sunrise each
morning, of the Smile of
a Child and the Light in my Darkness that
is Your Word.
I Pray that I take time each day to see those Blessings large and
small, and Thank You for them.
I Pray that Your Will be done in my life, knowing that if it is Your
Will, it is for my Good.
I Pray...
- That all who seek shall find,
- That all who are lost shall be found,
- That all who are down shall be uplifted,
- That all who mourn shall be comforted,
- That all who are in pain shall be healed,
- That all who hate shall be given Love through You,
- That all who need shall be helped according to Your Will.
I Pray that All those who do not believe, will have their Eyes
and their Ears Opened to Your Truth. For...
I Know that You Father, are God, the Creator of All Things,
and that Your Son Jesus is the Way, The Truth
and The Life.
For You are the Power and the Glory forever and ever
Amen
The Eye of God
The Photo (composite) above was taken in 2003 by the Hubble Telescope and the Kitt Peak Observatory. The image depicts
the so-called Helix Nebula, described by astronomers as "a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gases." At its center is a dying,
Sun-like star which has ejected masses of dust and gas to form tentacle-like filaments stretching toward an outer rim composed
of the same material. Our Sun itself might look like this in several billion years, the astronomers say.
So is it the true Eye of God? No, probably not, but if it makes us Think of Him, and the wonderful Universe
He created, than that's a good thing.
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