{"id":1605,"date":"2009-05-28T14:36:05","date_gmt":"2009-05-28T11:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lebanesesaints.com\/Home\/?p=1605"},"modified":"2009-05-28T14:36:05","modified_gmt":"2009-05-28T11:36:05","slug":"story-of-the-day-280509","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lebanesesaints.com\/Home\/story\/story-of-the-day-280509\/","title":{"rendered":"Story of The Day- 28\/05\/09"},"content":{"rendered":"

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
\nAh the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description.
\nAs I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
\nAs I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.
\nHe asked me,
\n“Do you love me?”
\nI answered, “Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!”
\nThen He asked, “If you were physically handicapped, would you
\nStill love me?”
\nI was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest
\nof my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t; be able to
\ndo, the things that I took for granted. And I answered,
\n“It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You.”
\nThen the Lord said,
\n“If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”
\nHow could I love something without being able to see it?
\nThen I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of
\nthem still loved God and His creation.
\nSo I answered, “It’s hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”
\nThe Lord then asked me,
\n“If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”
\nHow could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood.
\nListening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts.
\nI answered,
\n“It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.”
\nThe Lord then asked,
\n“If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”
\nHow could I praise without a voice?
\nThen it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and
\nsoul.
\nIt never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not
\nalways with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks.
\nSo I answered,
\n“Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.”
\nAnd the Lord asked,
\n“Do you really love Me?” With courage and a strong conviction,
\nI answered boldly,
\n“Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!”
\nI thought I had answered well, but…
\nGod asked,
\n“THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?”
\nI answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”
\n“THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?
\nWHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?”
\nNo answers. Only tears.
\nThe Lord continued:
\n“Why only sing at fellowships and retreats?
\nWhy seek Me only in times of worship?
\nWhy ask things so selfishly?
\nWhy ask things so unfaithfully?”
\nThe tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
\n“Why are you ashamed of Me?
\nWhy are you not spreading the good news?
\nWhy in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My
\nshoulder to cry on?
\nWhy make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”
\nI tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.
\n“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away.
\nI have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away.
\nI have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge.
\nI have spoken to you but your ears were closed.
\nI have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away.
\nI have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away.
\nI have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”
\n“DO YOU TRULY Love, ME ?”
\nI could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief.
\nI had no excuse. What could I say to this?
\nWhen my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said,
\n“Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”
\nThe Lord answered, “That is My Grace, My Child.” I asked,
\n“Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”
\nThe Lord answered,
\n“Because you are My Creation. You are My Child. I will never abandon you.
\nWhen you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
\nWhen you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
\nWhen you are down, I will encourage you.
\nWhen you fall, I will raise you up.
\nWhen you are tired, I will carry you.
\nI will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”
\nNever had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold?
\nHow could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, “How much do You love me?”
\nThe Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior.
\nAnd for the first time, I truly prayed.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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