April 17, 2001

Center of the Bible
Submitted by Darlyn Johnson

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms 117)

What is the longest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms 119)

Which chapter is in the center of the Bible (Answer - Psalms 118)

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118

Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

What is the center verse in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms 118:8)

Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!

Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Now isn't that odd how this worked out - or was God in the center of it?!

23rd Psalm
Submitted by Stephanie Schafer

IThe Lord is my Shepherd... THAT'S RELATIONSHIP!
I shall not want... THAT'S SUPPLY!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures... THAT'S REST!

He leadeth me beside still waters... THAT'S REFRESHMENT!
He restoreth my soul... THAT'S HEALING!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness... THAT'S GUIDANCE!
For His name sake... THAT'S PURPOSE!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... THAT'S CHALLENGE!

I will fear no evil... THAT'S ASSURANCE!
For thou art with me... THAT'S FAITHFULNESS!
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me... THAT'S SHELTER!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... THAT'S HOPE!

Thou anointest my head with oil... THAT'S CONSECRATION!
My cup runneth over... THAT'S ABUNDANCE!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... THAT'S BLESSING!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord... THAT'S SECURITY!
Forever... THAT'S ETERNITY!

When The Answer Is NO
Submitted by Staff Writer Dianne Miller

An unknown author penned these words:

I asked God to take away my pride. 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. Her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary."

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, "No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isnt granted, it is earned."

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

I asked God to help me love others, as much as God loves me. God said... "Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!"

Someone accurately said that maturity in prayer occurs when we are able to move from the plea, "Give me..." to the deeper prayer, "Use me."

Tangled Hair
Submitted by Phyllis Coats

Beth was sitting at an airport terminal, waiting to board a plane. She was sitting there with several other people who were also waiting, whom she did not know. As she waited, she pulled out her Bible and started reading.

All of a sudden she felt as if the people sitting there around her were looking at her. She looked up, but realized that they were looking just over her head, in the direction right behind her. She turned around to see what everyone was looking at, and when she did, she saw a stewardess pushing a wheelchair, with the ugliest old man sitting in it, that she had ever seen before. He had this long white hair that was all tangled and such a mess. His face was really, really wrinkled and he didn't look friendly at all.

She said she didn't know why, but she felt drawn to the man, and thought at first that God wanted her to witness to him. In her mind she said she was thinking, "Oh, God, please, not now, not here." No matter what she did, she couldn't get the man off of her mind, and all of a sudden she knew what God wanted her to do. She was supposed to brush this old man's hair. She went and knelt down in front of the old man, and said "Sir may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

He said "What?"

She thought, "Oh great, he's hard of hearing." Again, a little louder, she said, "Sir may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

He answered "If you are talking to me, you are going to have to speak up, I am practically deaf."

So this time, she was almost yelling, "Sir may I please have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

Everyone was watching to see what his response would be. The old man just looked at her confused and said, "I guess if you really want
to."

She thought, "I don't even have a brush, but I thought I would ask anyway."

He said "Look in the bag hanging on the back of my chair, there is a brush in there."

So she got the brush out and started brushing his hair. (She has a little girl with long hair, so she has had lots of practice getting tangles out, and knew how to be gentle with him.) She worked for a long time, until every last tangle was out. Just as she was finishing up, she heard the old man crying, and she went and put her hands on his knees, kneeling in front of him again looking directly into his eyes, and said "Sir, do you know Jesus?"

He answered, "Yes, of course I know Jesus. You see, my bride told me she couldn't marry me unless I knew Jesus, so I learned all about Jesus and asked Him to come into my heart many years ago, before I married my bride." He continued, "You know, I am on my way home to go and see my wife. I have been in the hospital for a long time and had to have a special surgery in this town far from my home. My wife couldn't come with me because she is so frail herself." He said, "I was so worried about how terrible my hair looked and I didn't want her to see me looking so awful, but I couldn't brush my hair, all by myself." Tears were rolling down his cheeks, as he thanked Beth for brushing his hair. He thanked her over and over again.

She was crying, people all around witnessing this were crying, and as they were all boarding the plane, the stewardess, who was also crying stopped her and asked, "Why did you do that?"

And right there was the opportunity, the door that had been opened to share with someone else, the love of God. We don't always understand God's ways, but be ready. He may use us to meet the need of someone else, like He met the need of this old man, and in that moment, also calling out to a lost soul who needed to know about His love.

Graphics, Design & Hosting by Web4Christ Ministries

Home | Webzine | Archives | Resources
Free Graphics | Our Mission | Membership
  Submission Guidelines | E-Mail Fellowship

Author: Iona Hoeppner
Copyright © 2001 Handmaidens4Christ. All rights reserved.
Revised: April 20, 2006.