Inspiration

(top) Kourtney and Cedrika (bottom) Raleisha and Cierra

If you have ever seen these ladies perform, they are truly an INSPIRATION to us all!

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter.
She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at
the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and
address.

She read the letter:
Dear Ruth:
I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to
stop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.
'Why would the Lord want to visit me?
I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer.'
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.
'Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run
down to the store and buy something for dinner.'
She reached for her purse and counted out its contents.
Five dollars and forty cents.
Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.' She threw on her
coat and hurried out the door.
A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of
milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until
Monday.
Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings
tucked under her arm.
'Hey lady, can you help us,lady?'
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed
two figures huddled in the alleyway.
A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags.
'Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been
living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're
getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really
appreciate it.'
Ruth looked at them both.
They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they
could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.
'Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a
few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for
dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.'
'Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway.' The man put his
arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. As
she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.
'Sir, wait!'
The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.
'Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to
serve my guest.' She handed the man her grocery bag.
'Thank you lady. Thank you very much!'
'Yes, thank you!' It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she
was shivering
'You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this
one.'
Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders.
Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her
coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
'Thank you lady! Thank you very much!'
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried
too.
The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him.
She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she
noticed another envelope in her mailbox.
'That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day.

Dear Ruth:
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And
thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always,
Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.

MOUSE TRAP STORY: (Shared by Sis. Madeline Tucker)

AN ANIMATED STORY WITH A MORAL AT THE END .

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain? The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning : There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. "Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my
nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Court Order (Shared by Sis. Madeline Tucker)

You have been accused of accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and bombarding God with prayers!

You are hereby sentenced to Everlasting Life

No bail, No Appeal.

You have been labeled
Blessed and hereby detained in

God's custody forever,
Amen.

You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but FA IT H looks up.

Lord, grant me patience to endure my blessing...... When the devil comes knocking at your door, simply say...

"Jesus, could you get that for me please"?

The Duck & the Devil (Shared by Rev. Iona Beasley)

A little boy was visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back home for dinner. As he was walking back when he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to helping in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day hereafter: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face . . . (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) Whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a friend, and always remember: God is at the window! When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!

I Changed My Address (Shared by Rev. Iona Beasley)

I wanted to let everyone know that I have moved, and to give you my new address.

I have moved from Beggars' Alley located on Poverty Lane at the corner of Bleak and Busted Circle . As of today, I have a brand new home.

My new address is:
Living Well Drive in the Abundance Subdivision, located at the corner of Blessings Street and thankful Peak . You get there by taking the Praising Him Interstate, which runs North, South, East and West.

No Longer will I allow myself to travel on Begging Peter to pay off Paul Route , because it's located at a dead-end intersection called: I Don't Have, that crosses Borrowers' Junction.

I no longer hang out at Failures' Place near Excuses Avenue , next to Procrastination Mall. I've moved on to an upscale community called Higher Heights with unlimited potential and opportunities for me to Succeed--look at me!!

Please know that each day that HE awakens me, I am thankful to be a product of my new environment. All of my clothes are MASTER TAILOR-MADE. I am dressed in life's finest.

Let me introduce you to all of my new neighbors:
CONCEIVE IT,
BELIEVE IT,
ACT ON IT,
HAVE FAITH,
BE PERSISTENT,
AND ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO ACHIEVE.

Life is good because: GOD IS GOOD!!!!!

HAVE YOU MOVED TOO????

If not I pray that you will be moving soon!!!!!!!!

Today's Word from Joel & Victoria (Shared by Sis. Yolanda T. Chavis)

As a believer in Jesus and a child of His,
God is on your side today!
If you haven’t thought about it yet today,
remember, you are created for greatness.
You have the seed of Almighty God inside of you.
There is no obstacle that can stop you.
There is no disadvantage that can hold you back.
You’re in the palm of God’s hand,
and He has equipped and empowered you for everything.
When God is on your side, He sets the right people in your path.
In fact, He’s already released favor into your future.
He’s planning for you to come in to new seasons of increase.
Have you given up on a dream?
God is on your side, and He wants to resurrect it.
Have you given up on a family member?
God is on your side, and He wants to restore that relationship.
God is on your side,
and He has a plan for victory in every area of your life.
Let that sink down into your heart today.
Begin to expect His favor.
Expect Him to work in your life.
Focus on the fact that God has equipped you.
He has anointed you.
Your best days are still out in front of you!
If God is for you, no one can rise against you!
As you meditate on this promise, it will become real to you.
You will walk in the favor and victory God has in store for you!

(Shared by Sis. Yolanda T. Chavis)

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria (Shared by Sis. Yolanda T. Chavis)

Your time is coming!
The dreams and desires, the things you want to accomplish, the situations you want to see changed will happen.
Just because it has taken a long time, or because you’ve tried and failed, don’t give up on those dreams.
Don’t be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart.
I encourage you today — get your fire back!
It may be taking a long time, but God is a faithful God.
No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible it looks, if you’ll stay in faith, your time is coming.
Every dream that’s in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God not only put it there, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass.
Start declaring today, “My time is coming… God is working behind the scenes on my behalf… I will fulfill my destiny… I will fulfill the plan God has for my life!”
As you declare and expect and wait for the appointed time, your faith will grow.
Your hope will grow.
And you’ll step into the destiny God has in store for you!

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).

(Shared by Sis. LaShawnda Beasley)

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy Man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You Have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don't understand."

It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you!

Our Greatest Fear (Shared by Sis. LaShawnda Beasley)

Our Greatest Fear
By Marianne Williamson from her book A Return to Love

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine,
we consciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.