I don’t know who the author of today’s story is, but it was sent to me by a Daily Encounter subscriber. It was so beautiful I want to share it with you.

When Stephen was five, he wanted a flowerbed of his own. So I helped him lay out the bed and get the ground ready. I asked him what kind of flowers he wanted to plant. His answer was simple, “Beautiful ones.”

The next day after work I picked up several different kinds of bulbs. Stephen was so excited about finally planting his flowers. As he opened the packages the disappointment was all over his face. Stephen looked up and said, “Mama, you got the wrong thing, these are not flowers, they are too ugly to be beautiful.”

I assured him that if he would plant the bulbs, and take care of them, they would grow and be the beautiful flowers he wanted them to be. Stephen wasn’t at all convinced, but he trusted me and was willing to give it a shot. He planted the bulbs and everyday he watered them and watched to see if they would grow. It seems like yesterday, he was standing there in overalls, hands on his hips, staring at his flowerbed waiting to see something beautiful appear out of the dirt.

Finally, he could see the stems, then the little buds, the day two buds opened up was an amazing day. Stephen came running into the house yelling, “Hurry mama you have got to see my beautiful flowers.”

As we stood by the flowerbed Stephen said, “I didn’t think they would ever grow, but they did. I growed it beautiful right out of the dirt.” Then he slipped his little hand into mine and asked, “Mama, how can something so beautiful come from something so ugly”?

I think of our Heavenly Father watching and waiting for us to come to Jesus, then He can take something ugly and stained with sin, clean us up, guard and love us, as we grow. Then I can see Him standing and proudly looking at us and saying look at My beautiful children, I grew them right out of the dirt.²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are not only a God of love, justice and mercy, but also a God of infinite beauty. As best I know how, I surrender my heart and life to you and ask that you will make something beautiful out of my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: If you have never come to Jesus and asked him to be your Savior—and to make something beautiful out of your life—Click on: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian or https://learning.actsweb.org/christian

1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV).

2. Submitted by Betty, a Daily Encounter subscriber. If anyone can let me know the name of the author, I will appreciate it and add it to the archived copy.

Michael Josephson in Character Counts tells the story about Todd, “a sadly quiet 11-year-old struggling to adjust to the death of his mother. His father left long ago and he was living with an aunt who made it known that she resented the responsibility of caring for him. On several occasions Sheryl, the boy’s teacher, heard the aunt tell Todd, ‘If it weren’t for my generosity you would be a homeless orphan.’

“Sheryl took extra pains to make Todd feel valued and she encouraged his interest in making things. Just before the Christmas break, Todd shyly presented her with a small decorated box he’d made.

“‘It’s beautiful,’ Sheryl gushed.

“Todd replied, ‘There’s something very special inside that my mom gave to me before she died. She said it’s the one thing I can give and still have plenty left. It helps you feel better when you’re sad, and safe when you’re scared.’

“As Sheryl started to open the box, Todd warned her, ‘Oh, you can’t see it.’

“‘Well, what is it?’ Sheryl asked kindly.

“‘It’s love. And you’re the first person since my mom that I love.’

“Sheryl hugged Todd tightly and said, ‘I’ll treasure this forever. It’s the best gift I ever got.’

“She kept it on her desk until she retired and touched it whenever she was sad or scared. It never failed to make her heart smile.

“Years later, Todd sent her the tassel he wore during his graduation from medical school. It’s been in the box ever since.

“In truth, it’s love, not diamonds, that’s the gift that keeps on giving. What’s more, love generates itself. The more you give away, the more you have left.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a more thoughtful, gracious, understanding and loving person. Help me in some way to communicate your love to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV).

2. Michael Josephson, “The Box Full of Love” (337:4), Character Counts. You can subscribe to Michael’s weekly ezine at: www.charactercounts.org.

Several years ago a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, “How did the terrible storm last night affect you?” The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” The sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below are never stirred.²

Being a Christian doesn’t deliver us from the trials and troubles of life because we live in a broken world where it rains on the just as well as the unjust.³ However, our faith in Christ gives us an anchor in the storm and a hiding place in the shadow of his wings. As David the Psalmist prayed, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past”.⁴

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the words of the hymn writer, ‘When the storms of life are raging, Stand by me; When the world is tossing me Like a ship upon the sea Thou Who rulest wind and water, Stand by me.’⁵ And when the storms of life are raging, help me to put my trust in you so I will find a sense of calm and inner peace regardless of the circumstances that are threatening to drown me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV).

2. Rev. Adrian Dieleman, Sermon: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

3. See Matthew 5:45.

4. Psalm 57:1-2 (NLT).

5. “When the Storms of Life Are Raging,” Charles A. Tindley.

I’m sure you’ve seen the TV ad where a fellow is walking merrily along the sidewalk (footpath) minding his own business when he looks up and sees an attractive woman coming towards him. As he fixes his gaze on her, he is suddenly and rudely awakened as he walks directly into a lamppost. If this were true, one could just imagine the woman in question being highly amused.

I know I’ve certainly walked into things when I was looking in the wrong direction . . . or even worse, when I was looking in the right direction but my mind was on something else.

One is reminded of the words of Hannah More who said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” Even more important is to be constantly aware of the trouble we can get into if or when we take our eyes off the Lord and decide to go our own way.

It’s hard to imagine Peter being afraid of sinking in the lake when he took his eyes off the Lord. Being a fisherman, Peter surely was a powerful swimmer. I couldn’t imagine him not being one. For whatever reason Peter was afraid and, fortunately for him, as soon as he realized he was in trouble, he looked back to Jesus and cried out, “Lord, save me.”

That’s a good lesson for us to do likewise when we take our eyes off the Lord and acknowledge the fact that we are either in trouble or heading towards it.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to always keep my eyes on you and follow your leading in all areas of my life. But if and when I do take my eyes off you and begin to ‘sink,’ help me to quickly see the error of my way, turn back to you, and cry out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 14:30 (NIV).

Not so long ago a local leader in our area who was on the board of a Christian retirement home resigned his position. Why? Because he was the only one out of 13 board members who took a stand on a moral issue the home was facing. This reminds me of what an English bishop once said, “Everywhere the Apostle Paul went there was either a revival or a revolution. Everywhere I go they serve tea!”

True leaders are not afraid to swim against the tide. Their goal is not prestige, power, or popularity … or to be served tea. They stand for justice and righteousness. And whether it is in the United States or the United Nations, in local churches or on school boards, on judiciary benches or in the local council, what the world desperately needs today are statesmen and stateswomen (not merely politicians)—leaders who lead; judges who love justice; and Christian leaders who love, practice, and make a stand for righteousness.

Sad to say far too many politicians and so-called leaders have no moral compass. They raise their finger to the wind to see which way it is blowing and follow the in-crowd in order, not to promote justice or righteousness, but to gain votes, votes, and more votes. This makes them followers—not leaders. They allow themselves to be controlled by vocal minorities without regard to moral guidelines and, in so doing, often disregard the will of the people.

So for all citizens who have the privilege of voting and choosing their leaders we are to choose men and women who stand for justice and have a strong moral compass to clearly show the way they are to lead their people.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help us as a people and as individuals to make a stand for justice and righteousness, and vote for and choose leaders who have a strong moral compass. Help us always to put our trust in you and earnestly seek to follow your leading. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Deuteronomy 16:20 (NASB).

I have read how, “During his reign King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly and in trying to rebuild the nation, he was seriously short of finances. He couldn’t disappoint his people, and to surrender to the enemy was not an option.

“After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. For each ornament received, he determined to exchange a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. Each decoration would be inscribed, ‘I GAVE GOLD FOR IRON, 1813.’”

Apparently, “The response was overwhelming. The women prized their gifts from the king more than their former jewelry. The reason why is clear, the decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. It even became unfashionable to wear any other jewelry. And thus was established the ORDER OF THE IRON CROSS.”²

I wonder how much we who name the name of Christ and call ourselves Christ-ones (Christians) are willing to sacrifice for and give of our best to our king, King Jesus—and receive from him the ORDER OF THE WOODEN CROSS?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in light of all that you have done for me—in giving me the gift of life, pardon for all my sins, and the gift of eternal life—please give me a truly grateful and willing heart so that I will always give of my best for you in all that I am and do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: To receive God’s gift of forgiveness and his promise of eternal life read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. Galatians 6:14 (NIV).

2. The Pastor’s Story File, April 2004, 3.

Kim Sherer writes: “One night while my young son, Ryan, was sleeping, a storm began brewing outside. After a loud clap of thunder, I heard him wake up so I headed toward his room to comfort him. He asked me to stay with him until he fell asleep. As I lay there I realized he hadn’t asked me to make the storm go away, but to stay with him. How many times, I wondered, have I asked God to take away the storms of life, when instead I need to ask him to stay with me and help me weather them more peacefully?”²

Good point Kim makes. As the hymn writer, Charles A. Tindley, put it so aptly:

When the storms of life are raging,

Stand by me (stand by me);

When the storms of life are raging,

Stand by me (stand by me);

When the world is tossing me

Like a ship upon the sea

Thou Who rulest wind and water,

Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of tribulation,

Stand by me (stand by me);

In the midst of tribulation,

Stand by me (stand by me);

When the hosts of hell assail,

And my strength begins to fail,

Thou Who never lost a battle,

Stand by me (stand by me).³

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your promise that no matter how dark the valley I have to walk through, you will always stand by me and never leave me or forsake me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 23:4 (NIV).

2. Kim Sherer. Cited on www.TFTD-online.com

3. Words and music at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/standbym.htm

On this Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.), Joy and I wish all subscribers a most gratifying and memorable day. There is so much we have to be thankful for, not only for God’s unending blessings, but also for the affirmation and encouragement we have received from so many of you.

Thank you for reading and for thinking about my writings. We also want to thank those of you who have taken the time to send in your comments and suggestions and finally, at this very challenging time of the year a very special word of thanks to all who have supported our work with donations and purchasing our books. You are the ones who make Daily Encounter available to more than 367,000 subscribers worldwide—every weekday of the year.

* * * * * * *

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night.”¹

“Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair; I envied her—she seemed so happy, and how, I wished I were so fair; When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; she had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two feet—the world is mine.

“And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm; he seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm; I said, ‘It’s nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find’; he turned and said, ‘Oh, thank you sir.’ And then I saw that he was blind. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes, and the world is mine.

“Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue; he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do; I stopped a moment, then I said, ‘Why don’t you join the others, dear?’ He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears, the world is mine.

“With feet to take me where I’d go / with eyes to see the sunsets glow / with ears to hear what I would know / I am blessed indeed / The world is mine / oh, God, forgive me when I whine.”²

As most readers will realize, today in the USA is Thanksgiving Day…a day when friends and family all across this land will join together in a great day of feasting, but I cannot help but wonder how many of us will be truly thankful—I mean truly thankful to God for the abundant blessings he has given to those of us who live in free countries.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give to me a thankful heart—a heart to remember your loving kindness every morning and your faithfulness every night—and that your blessings are new every morning and your faithfulness is unto all generations. Grant that I will always lend a helping hand to others less fortunate than I. And above all else beside, I thank you with all my heart and soul that your gift of eternal life and salvation is available to ‘whosoever will may come.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 92:1-2 (NKJV).

2. Source Unknown.

Billy Graham commented how, “When a ship’s carpenter needed timber to make a mast for a sailing vessel, he did not cut it in the valley, but up on the mountainside where the trees have been buffeted by the winds. These trees, he knew, were the strongest of all. Hardship is not our choice; but if we face it bravely, it can toughen the fiber of our souls.”

And that’s exactly why God disciplines us and allows us to go through trials. They are designed to strengthen us and help us to grow healthy and strong. And while “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful,” what we always need to remember is that “the Lord disciplines those he loves.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you love me as I am, but love me too much to leave me as I am. Thank you, too, that you allow trials to come into my life to help me grow, mature and become strong. Help me to accept your discipline and use it to fulfill your purpose for my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV).

2. Hebrews 12:11,6 (NIV).

Epictetus, who lived from A.D. 55 to about A.D. 135, said, “Only the educated are ‘liberated’.”

Admittedly, there is truth in what Epictetus said. For one thing, dictators don’t want the people under them to be educated. Dictators control people through ignorance and fear. If the people were educated, and especially if they were enlightened, there would be greatly increased rebellion. This is one reason why it is important that people everywhere are educated—or at least enlightened.

Why enlightened? Because there are millions of educated fools and highly educated criminals, but one would hardly call these people enlightened. These people are “en-darkened.” As Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Education, as important as it is, in and of itself does not give one wisdom, understanding, moral character, or make one enlightened.

In God’s Word darkness is symbolic of evil while light is symbolic of truth. To be enlightened, we need to “walk in the light;” that is walk in truth, openness and honesty. For only the truth liberates people. As Jesus also said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you at liberty.”²

So the question is, are you/we enlightened?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you again for your Word that teaches me how to become enlightened. Help me always to walk in the light and become not only enlightened, but also find true freedom. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 3:19-20 (NIV).

2. John 8:31-32 (NIV).