Today while I was hiking, I approached this beautiful old tree. It was like the tree was reaching out toward the sky. As I looked closer I noticed that it wasn’t one tree but two. My guide Peter explained that the tree was a beautiful oak tree and the roots growing around it was called a strangler fig. He went on to explain that the only way a strangler fig survives is to attach itself to another tree. Over the course of years to fix slowly cuts off the nourishment of the Oak tree and as a result it ultimately kills the oak tree.
I sat and thought about how profound that Oaktree was and thought about how many strangler figs try to penetrate our lives.
People who attach themselves to us while we were growing and appear to be rising up with us, but in truth they are slowly draining the life out of us—people who are not able to make it on their own so they reach out to stronger people so they can live, without concern for others, just themselves.
By the time we realize what is happening, it is too late. We don’t have the strength to fight –
and just slowly die.
It is important for us to take a deep look into our souls and decide for ourselves which role we will allow the strangler fig to play in our lives—and how we must prevent the grasping strangler fig from draining the life out of us so that we may become the mighty oak that reaches for the stars knowing there are no limits’
This is not my original work, don’t know who it belongs to but it is so good!
Also Check Out Sermons on You Tube under Brother Dale Cantrell And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
1/18–Although you may have missed her, actress Kathy Bates played the vital roles of heiress Molly Brown in the recent movie TITANIC.
Bates, who is age 49, became known as the “mom” to the crew and became known as well as one who continually encouraged the crew and cast. Bates told a story in a recent interview to explain her perspective.
“There’s a great story I always remember when I think about crews and directors. There was a guest conductor who was rude to everyone in the symphony. Everyone hated him. Finally, at the packed dress rehearsal, he lifts his arms and nothing happens. Not a sound. He’s stunned. He draws himself up and gives the down beat again. No sound.
Finally, the first-chair violinist stands up and says, ‘That’s just to show you that no sound comes out of that baton of yours.’
I always think about that when I am making a movie.”
Everyone needs a bit of appreciation.
Are you dishing it out or just expecting it?
Scripture:
1 Peter 5:2-3
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Humor:
An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent in Denver for being smart and funny, and making he point, when confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. During the final days at Denver’s old Stapleton airport, a crowded United flight was cancelled.
A single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I have to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.” The agent replied, “I’m sorry sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help those folds first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “Do you have nay idea who I am?” Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone.
“May I have your attention please?” She began, her voice bellowing throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at the gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate.”
Good question! Who are we? In Christ we are new creations!
1/18– Start Your Day Off Right Series
Quote:
1/18–Be Thankful
Story:
1/18–Although you may have missed her, actress Kathy Bates played the vital roles of heiress Molly Brown in the recent movie TITANIC.
Bates, who is age 49, became known as the “mom” to the crew and became known as well as one who continually encouraged the crew and cast. Bates told a story in a recent interview to explain her perspective.
“There’s a great story I always remember when I think about crews and directors. There was a guest conductor who was rude to everyone in the symphony. Everyone hated him. Finally, at the packed dress rehearsal, he lifts his arms and nothing happens. Not a sound. He’s stunned. He draws himself up and gives the down beat again. No sound.
Finally, the first-chair violinist stands up and says, ‘That’s just to show you that no sound comes out of that baton of yours.’
I always think about that when I am making a movie.”
Everyone needs a bit of appreciation.
Are you dishing it out or just expecting it?
Scripture:
1 Peter 5:2-3
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Humor:
An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent in Denver for being smart and funny, and making he point, when confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. During the final days at Denver’s old Stapleton airport, a crowded United flight was cancelled.
A single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I have to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.” The agent replied, “I’m sorry sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help those folds first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “Do you have nay idea who I am?” Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone.
“May I have your attention please?” She began, her voice bellowing throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at the gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate.”
Good question! Who are we? In Christ we are new creations!
And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little one’s chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart.
Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four year old David’s comment
Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ear and placed the disk over his heart.
“Listen, she said… what do you suppose that is? He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap-tap-tapping deep in his chest.
Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked,
“Is that Jesus knocking?”
Also Check Out Sermons On You Tube Under Dale Cantrell And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
J D Canter E Books 