Story With a Moral...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
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Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'
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Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.
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The moral of the story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
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Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

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Many thanks to a dear friend for e-mailing me this story. Thanks, Bettye. I love you...

Discouragement

Seems like I've been there; done that!!


"Satan's Sale"

Some time ago I heard a story about Satan's garage sale. On display stood many large, shiny, complicated tools. Each was labeled with a tag such as: MURDER, ADULTERY, HATE, STRIFE, etc. Yet in one corner sat a tiny, dull, simple tool with a very high price attached. When asked why that worn out tool was so expensive, Satan replied smugly, "That one is called DISCOURAGEMENT. I can use that one on everybody."
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The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10,
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in dispair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;"
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In other words discouragement may creep in occasionally but it need not be permanent nor overpowering. So long as we keep our focus on our Source Jesus Christ and continue to get up each and every time we are knocked down.
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Have you ever been discouraged? Consider this account: There was a man who failed in business in '31. He was defeated for the legislature in '32. He failed again in business in '34. His sweetheart died in '35. He suffered a nervous breakdown in '36. He was defeated in election in '38. He was defeated for Congress in '43, '46, and '48. He was defeated for the Senate in '55. He was defeated for the Vice-presidency in '56. He was defeated again for the Senate in '58. Yet in 1860 Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States of America.
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Discouragement is Satan's most effective tool. Don't let it keep you from becoming all God intends for you to be to Jesus.
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