An email forward

[thundley4]

I asked God to take away my habit.


God said, No.


It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.




I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

God said, No.Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No.

I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.


I asked God to spare me pain.

God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from
worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.





I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things
that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjo
y all things.


I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh,
finally you have the idea..


Too many forget what prayer is about.

[Chris_]

Very nice.

Sometimes God says no.

He knows what he is doing.

This is similar to the old story of the super religious guy whose house gets swept away in a flood. 

He makes it to the roof and then a guy in a row boat rows over and says "get in!"   The guy says "no need, God will provide."

Then a Police skiff comes by and the cop says "this is it!  Get in!"  The guy says "no need, God will provide."

A Coast Guard helicopter comes and the guard yells down "we are sending down a cable and harness!  Get in!" The guy says "no need, God will provide."

Then a wave swamps the house and the guy drowns.

In the afterlife, the guy looks up at God and says "I waited for You to save me!  Why am I dead?"

God says "What?  I sent you a Samaritan in a rowboat, a Policeman in a skiff and a Guardsman in a helicopter!"

[Zeus]

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this....

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the added napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

He is Coming Back!! Be Blessed