Ecclesiates
3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven:
3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up;
3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from
embracing;
3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and
a time to cast away;
3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep
silence, and a time to speak;
3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and
a time of peace.
3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he
laboureth?
3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the
sons of men to be exercised in it.
3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also
he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out
the work that God maketh from the beginning to the
end.
Don't give up…..
One day I decided to quit…
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to
quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
'God', I asked, 'Can you give me one good reason not to
quit?'
His answer surprised me…
'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the
bamboo?'
'Yes', I replied.
'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very
good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on
the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and
plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not
quit on
the bamboo. He said.
'In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo
seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.
I would
not quit.' He said.
'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and
insignificant…But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made
it strong
and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not
handle.'
He asked me. 'Did you know, my child, that all this time you
have
been struggling, you have actually been growing roots'.
'I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you.'
'Don't compare yourself to others.'
He said.
'The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful.'
'Your time will come', God said to me.
'You will rise high'
'How high should I rise?'
I asked.
'How high will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return.
'As high as it can?' I questioned.
'Yes.' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as high as you
can.'
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give
up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an
opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!