In Case Of An Emergency!

                                        EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

          PRINT OUT AND KEEP IT WITH YOUR BIBLE…USE IN CASE OF

                                                   EMERGENCY!

         When in sorrow……………………………………………….call John 14

         When men fail you………………………………………….call Psalm 27

         When you have sinned…………………………………….call Psalm 51

         When you worry………………………………….call Matthew 6:19-34

         When you are in danger……………………………………call Psalm 91

         When God seems far away………………………………call Psalm 139

         When your faith needs stirring………………………call Hebrews 11

         When you are lonely and fearful………………………..call Psalm 23

         When you grow bitter and critical……………call 1 Corinthians 13

         When you feel down and out………………………..call Romans 8:31

         When you want peace and rest…………….call Matthew 11:25-30

         When the world seems bigger than God………………call Psalm 90

         When you want Christian assurance…………..call Romans 8:1-30

         When you leave home for labor or travel……………call Psalm 121

         When your prayers grow narrow or selfish…………..call Psalm 67

         When you want courage for a task………………………call Joshua 1

         When you think of investments and returns…………..call Mark 10

          If you are depressed…………………………………………call Psalm 27

          If your pocketbook is empty………………………………call Psalm 37

          If you are losing confidence in people………call 1 Corinthians 13

          If people seem unkind………………………………………..call John 15

          If discouraged about your work……………………….call Psalm 126

          If self pride/greatness takes hold………………………call Psalm 19

          If you want to be fruitful……………………………………..call John 15

          For understanding of Christianity……call 11 Corinthians 5:15-19

          For a great invention/opportunity………………………call Isaiah 55

          For how to get along with fellow men……………….call Romans 12

          For Paul’s secret to happiness………………call Colossians 3:12-17

                                     ALTERNATE NUMBERS:

                         For dealing with fear…………..call Psalm 347

                         For security…………………….call Psalm 121:3

                         For assurance……………………..call Mark 8:35

                         For reassurance…………….call Psalm 145:18

                                          PLEASE NOTE:

     Emergency numbers may be dialed direct, no operator assistance

                                           is necessary.     

                     All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day!

                 Feed your FAITH and DOUBT will starve to death!

                                       Pass it on and on…..                    

How the Virus Stole Easter

By Kristi Bothur
(With a nod to Dr. Seuss)

Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then?

Well....the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that -
Let it start a revival.

MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL

       You say you will never forget where you were when
       you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
       Neither will I.

        I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
        with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
        held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
        peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
        is Ok, I am ready to go.'

        I was with his wife when he called as she fed
        breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
        tried to understand his words and as she realized
        he wasn't coming home that night.

        I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
        woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
        knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
        'Of course I will show you the way home - only
        believe in Me now.'

        I was at the base of the building with the Priest
        ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
        I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
        heard my voice and answered.

        I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
        with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
        were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
        believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
        faith has saved them.

        I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan,  Afghanistan.
        I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
        Did you sense Me?

        I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
        every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me
        for the first time on the 86th floor.

        Some sought Me with their last breath.
        Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
        smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
        my hand. Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
        But, I was there.

        I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
        may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
        there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
        reached for Me?
       
        Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
        for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
        will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
        be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
        'ready to go.'

        I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.


Author Unknown

Always With You

We have a tendency to think we are all alone in this world. When things go wrong in our lives we become more convinced that it’s true. I had a recent experience that gave me a different feeling. 

It was one of those nights when we decided to get takeout pizza for dinner, something that happens more often these days now that the children are all young adults and some have moved out on their own. 

So after I called in the order, I decided to make a few quick stops on the way to pick it up. My first stop was to the local CVS drugstore where I had planned to run in, grab a couple of things, then on to the next stop. I was in there longer than I expected as I had trouble finding what I had come for. Finally I made my decision and headed to the self checkout to ring up my stuff. I completed my mission and as I was walking out I dug into my pockets for my keys, but as I got to the car I realized the ones I found were not the right ones. They were to our other car which I had decided not to take, but took my personal car, the Chevy Impala, because I like the stereo better. 

I’m starting to panic a little, go back inside thinking maybe they are on the floor beside the checkout I had used, walking back through the parking lot toward the store I look around on the ground, don’t see anything, get inside, look all around the checkout, nothing! Now I’m in full blown panic mode, dig through my purse and find nothing! Did someone find them and turn them in? Did I lock them in the car? I have a bad habit of locking the door from the inside instead of using the key from the outside. 

My mind was racing, I thought about asking the cashier if someone had turned them in, but decided to go look outside one more time. As I started back out through the first sliding glass door I noticed something on the floor right at the very bottom of the second glass door which looked familiar and reaching down began thanking God! Thanked Him on my way to my second stop where I picked up some milk and on the ride to finally get the pizza! All night and into the next day I kept thanking Him!

We always pray and hope for answers to the big things in life, like how to deal with death, illness, etc., but I’m so thankful for the little things He does! I’m forever thankful for His Grace and Mercy! Always by our side, always willing to help, all we have to do is be willing to trust in Him and let Him do His will!