Here are all the articles featured in November's issue:
The Importance of Prayer
by Elisabeth B.
We need to be fighting for America. Although some of us aren’t able to fight physically, we can still pray. Even at a young age, we should be prayer warriors and spiritual defenders of our nation. Sadly, in this fast-paced world, not many people pray on a daily basis. If we all started praying daily, can you imagine how powerful that could be, not to mention how much it could do?
Now, I know you probably struggle with finding time to pray. I know I do. Here are some suggestions that may work:
- While you’re in bed, waiting to fall asleep
- While you’re doing your chores
- While you’re getting ready (either in the morning or at night)
- A spare moment in between subjects at school
Actually, it doesn’t matter where you pray. God can hear you anywhere, so why worry about it? Also, it doesn’t have to be long and complicated. Just a few, simple words are fine.
You might also struggle with what to pray for. Here are some things you can pray for:
- President Bush & the other leaders of our country. Pray that they would have wisdom in making the right decisions.
- The soldiers that are fighting in Iraq. Pray for protection, strength, and courage for these brave young men and women and their families.
- The 9/11 victims’ families. Pray that they would have comfort, and, if they don’t know Jesus, that God would send the right people into their lives to share Him with them.
- For the continued safety, protection, and future of our nation.
Here are some Bible verses that can encourage you to pray:
Psalm 4:3
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.
1 Kings 8:45
then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause
Psalm 6:9
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
Psalm 121:1-2
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Bella
By
Once upon a time, there was a girl. Her name was Bella. You wouldn’t call her gorgeous, but she was pretty – in her own kind of way. She had a mostly loving family. She had a little brother and sister. Her Ma was a Christian. Her Pa wasn’t. She figured this was because they were poor. They were very poor. It was not unusual for there to be nothing but a small helping of watery soup for supper. They all worked very hard, all day. Pa slaved in the mill from dawn till dusk. But he was an alcoholic. He would spend all the hard earned money, save a few shillings, in five hours of worthless pleasure. Bella liked Pa though, but for only one reason. Both of them hated God. Pa had his reasons, but Bella’s was another all together. Bella was blind. She hadn’t been born blind, but over the first few years of her life, her eyesight had gradually decreased. Oh how she wished that she could see green grass, yellow flowers, and blue sky again! But she knew that was impossible in this life. That’s why she wanted to die. She had decided that a long time ago, after she had been mercilessly teased by the village children one day. She figured that at least in hell she could see the colors of the flames. Oh she knew that in Heaven there would be a lot more colors to see, but she couldn’t imagine living eternity with the person who had made her blind! Her mind was set.
“James, come here!” Bella groped around her world of darkness, “if you don’t get here this instant, I’ll tell Ma on you!” Her eyes widened when she heard him gasp, then run outside. Fury bubbled inside her. Following the noise, she muttered “I’ll get you, you little...” She paused. Heat…I must be near the
stove. But something was wrong. Feeling around, her brow furrowed. But this is the table. The stove is miles away! Then she realized. Fire! Panicking, she fumbled for the door. She could smell the smoke now. It engulfed her. Tripping over a chair, she fell hard on the ground. She knew no more.
She came awake with a start. What was it that woke her? Then she smelt the smoke, and felt the terrific heat. And she heard the piercing screams. Hannah! She tried to push herself up, but fell down again with a yelp. Hannah’s screaming broke her heart. She would have been sleeping in the kitchen, right in the midst of the flames. Then Bella knew just what she needed to do to save her. Tears streaming down her face, she prayed. “God, I know I’ve tried my hardest to hate you. It wasn’t fair of me to hate you for something I don’t even know if you did. Please forgive me,” Coughing and wheezing, she continued. “And God, save Hannah. You can forget about me if you want, but please help her. She’s so small...”
As soon as Bella heard Pa calling her, her tears spilled over once more. “Thank you God!” she whispered, and then called out, “I’m here Pa!” She heard Pa run up to her. “Pa, my ankle. It hurts.”
“I know love. I’ll get you out of here,” he said, scooping her up.
“But what about Hannah? Leave me and get her!”
“Don’t worry, Bell, she’s safe.” Bella sighed with relief. “God saved us.”
“I know,” Pa walked out the scorched door, and lay her on the grass. “And you know what? God told me to come check on you, or else He would never get a chance to heal you.”
“Really, Pa? I would like that.” Smiling, she lay her head on his lap and fell asleep.
When Bella woke, it was the sweetest sight she ever saw. “Mama,” she said softly. Bella saw Ma’s eyes expand. Looking the other way, she smiled weakly at Pa. “You were right, Pa. God really did want to heal me.”
The End
Jokes
#1. Knock Knock
Who's there?
Nobody
Nobody who?
(no answer)
#2. Knock Knock
Who's there?
Shelby
Shelby who?
Shelby comin' round the mountain when she comes
#3. Once there was this man drowning in the ocean. A boat came by and the captain said, "Sir, do you need any help?" "No thank you, God will save me." Then another boat came by and the captain of that boat asked, "Sir do you need any help?" "No thank you, God will save me." Then the man drowned and went to heaven and asked God, "God, why didn't you save me? I sent you two boats, didn't I?"
Riddles just for fun:
You're stuck in a room with no doors and no windows. All you have is a table and a mirror. There's one way to get out, but how????
You take the mirror, and you see what you saw. You saw the table in half, and two halves make a whole, so you go through that!
You're in a room with no doors and no windows. All you have is your baseball team, a baseball and a bat. There's one way to get out--how?
Three strikes and you're out!
Riddle of the month
Submitted by Angel Black
A man walks into a restaurant and asks for a glass of water. The waiter takes out a gun and shoots it. The man says "Thank you," and wakks out. Why did the man say thank you?
(Post a comment with your guess. The answer will be included in the next issue.)
Did you know...
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller.
"Here 'tis.. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.
"Not zackley but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble" . Mr. Miller told the boy.
"Sure will.. Thanks Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved toColorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt."
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Here is a bit of advice from one of my friends.
"If you struggle with something in your life, trust in the Lord always. I am in tenth grade and have been struggling with eye surgeries ever since sixth grade. You might say, "Wow. I could never do that." I tell you that the Lord helped me through this situations. I could have never done it without him. My advice to you is if you are struggling with something then go to God."Exactly. God will help you through whatever your going through--no problem is too big or too small for Him. Trust Him--he'll be there for you.
