PARABLE OF AN OLD MULE

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.

The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -or- whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical.

But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back He should shake it off and step up.

This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up," He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up.

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well. What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

That's life. If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.

The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us.

Remember that forgiveness, faith, prayer, praise and hope all are excellent ways to shake it off and step up out of the wells in which we find ourselves.

May this be a blessing to you!

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."


Mary Stevenson

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' (Note from Yanny: if you don't like coffee, make yourself an excuse for tea, yogurt, ice cream, or dessert time!!!)

BE LIKE NAHING'S GRANDPA

The picture on the left is of Nahing and her grandpa. He's, I believe, over 90 years old now.

Last Wednesday when I was having a Small Group with my precious-daughters-after-God's-own-heart ladies (Nahing, Nana, and Ella), Nahing shared that her grandpa just fell and was in a hospital at the time. He came all the way from Indonesia to Seattle for Nahing's cousin's graduation. So it's really sad to hear that bad news.

I believe the doctor did some procedures on him to make sure that no cracked bones etc. That's why he was in the hospital. Because of his old age, the doctor told the family that they need to prepare just in case grandpa couldn't make it.

This past Sunday, Nahing and her family went to visit grandpa at the hospital. To their surprise, grandpa was still full of joy regardless of what happened. He even sang 2-3 songs of praises to the family. I am in awe and blessed by the joy he has in these pictures.

I wish I will get a chance to meet him in person before he leaves for Indonesia. I think it will be wonderful to just meet him even though he's not my own grandpa because I grew up with no grandpa .. a faithful grandpa. :-)

The top left picture is the picture of grandpa and Nahing. He's showing off his gun. Look at that gun!!

The bottom right picture is the picture of grandpa teasing Nahing's cousin with his fake teeth. Hahaha.

You know what? Fake teeth or no teeth at all, I am sure grandpa will continue to sing praises to Jesus Christ. What an inspiration!!!

Get well soon, Grandpa!

HOPE FOR TODAY

I just want to share what God has spoken to me during my devotion today. And I hope it blesses you as much as it has filled my life with hope today.

Yesterday's finally the first day that I got to spend quite good long hours to research for jobs after it's been on-hold for awhile because of the in-laws' visit, Iron Chef, and Vicky and Evan's wedding preparation. The day kicked off pretty well with some application invitations from 2 companies, one being my dream company and the other being a really great company to work for. But then when I tried to address the questions in the pre-screen document for the dream company and create the cover letter for the second company, I struggled so much because I just felt that I don't have enough years of experience and/or specific "strong" examples that I can use to address my skills set. At the end of the day, I was left unsure on how to move forward with the application.

In the morning when I woke up, I prayed to God so that today will be better than yesterday. I pray so that today I can find hope in the midst of this uncertainty and the slow economic situation. As I walked to the car to take Marcel to the shuttle station, my mind was playing David Crowder Band's song "Never Let Go" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hx5Y9DhoLJQ). And when I turned on the radio, K-Love was playing that song and on the chorus too!!!! So I was struck in awe not knowing that God was sending me comforts through that song.

After I came home from dropping Marcel off, my devotion today is about the battle of Jericho (Joshua 5-6). To give me a better background, I flashed back to and read the story of when Moses sent 12 spies to the promised land. The spies returned and said that the land's beautiful and filled with plenty of food. BUT, the people are big and strong. Joshua and Caleb believed that God has promised the land for them, thus they should not worry about the big and strong people for God will give the land to the Israelites no matter what. The Israelites decided not to listen to Joshua and Caleb. God was sad because they didn't have faith in Him and allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert for the next 40 years.

After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. God led them into the promised land, Jericho. But the city was protected by high walls and strong armies. If I were Joshua, I would think, "There you go, another the impossible!!!" But Joshua decided to obey God instead of giving up. God then ordered Joshua to march around the city once a day for 6 days with the priests blowing their horns. And on the 7th day, march 7 times with priests blowing the horns and soldiers shouting as loud as they could. THEN, the great walls of Jericho came tumbling down and the Israelites took over the city.

So how did this battle of Jericho story and "Never Let Go" song become my inspiration today? God is faithful and God is true. He promised the Israelites a plentiful land; and He fulfilled it even though it cost their unfaithfulness another 40 years in the desert. Same goes for me. When my hope in this job hunting takes flight, His love for me has filled my life with hope. He will never let me go. I may be feeling really tired, frustrated and run into the impossibles. But God has something in store for me that is yet to be revealed at His own timing. This wait and obstacles are just parts of the process to show that the hand of the LORD is so powerful so that I may fear Him (Joshua 4:24). Until the "obstacle wall" is tumbled down for me, I know He is molding "Chist-likeness wall" within my heart.

AMEN.