Jealousy

1. Mr. Moody once told a story which illustrated the only sure plan of getting rid of jealousy.

"There were two businessmen--merchants--and there was great rivalry between them, a great deal of bitter feeling. One of them became a Christian. He went to his minister and said:

"'I am still jealous of that man, and I do not know how to overcome it.'

"'Well,' he said, 'if a man comes into your store to buy goods, and you cannot supply him, just send him over to your neighbor.'

"He said he wouldn't like to do that.

"'Well,' the minister said, 'you do it, and you will kill jealousy.'

"He said he would, and when a customer came into his store for goods which he did not have he would tell him to go across the street to his neighbor's. By-and-by the other began to send his customers over to this man's store, and the breach was healed."


2. In South America there is a strange vine known as the matador. Beginning at the foot of a tree, it slowly makes its way to the top. As it grows, it kills the tree, and when at last the top is reached, it sends forth a flower to crown itself. Matador, means KILLER ... jealousy. ... It appears harmless when it is small, but if it is allowed to grow, its tendrils of malice and hatred soon clasp themselves around the heart and eventually kill the soul.


3. I remember reading somewhere in a Grecian story of a man who killed himself through envy. His fellow citizens had reared a statue to one of their number who was a celebrated victor in the public games. So strong was the feeling of envy which this incited in the breast of one of the hero's rivals that he went forth every night in order, if possible, to destroy that monument. After repeated efforts he moved it from its pedestal, and it fell, but in its fall it crushed him.


4. Jealousy is the raw material of murder.


5. Many lovely things pass out of life when jealousy comes in.


6. One can be covetous when he has little, much, or anything between, for covetousness comes from the heart, not from the circumstances of life.


7. Jealousy is a rebellion against God Himself, & the liberty & pleasure of His dispensations.


8. Covetousness is a spiritual idolatry; it is the giving of that love & regard to worldly wealth which are due to God only.


9. Americans sink millions of Dollars in unsound financial schemes, one of which is trying to keep up with the neighbours.


10. If it were as easy to arouse enthusiasm as it is suspicion, just think what could be accomplished!

Building a Life

We build our lives year by year, day by day, moment by moment. The start of a new year is a good time to ask ourselves how the construction is progressing.

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Building a Life


An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and he told his boss of his plans to leave and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see such a good worker go, and he asked the carpenter to build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said. “It is my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built.

If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
You are the carpenter of your life. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build your “house” for tomorrow. Build wisely!

-Author unknown
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Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-Jesus (The Bible, Matthew 6:19-21 NKJ)

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What Matters

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out-not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others in their race, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

50 cents and love

Peace on earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day.
-Helen Steiner Rice

By Richard Mathison

Because Nicolosa Donlucas had 50 cents, hands for work, and a heart for love, 103 poor Mexicans celebrated Christmas back in 1959 when this story took place.
Nicolosa, a tiny, work-worn cleaning lady at the Plaza Community Center in Los Angeles, earned $90 a month. She spoke no English, but one summer day the Rev. Nicolas Davila, minister at the Center, told her, in Spanish, the parable of the talents-how from a little, much good could come. And the minister dropped a half dollar into the woman's hand.

"This is a talent," he said. "Use it wisely, and it will increase."
Nicolosa looked at the coin in her work-worn hand and considered the parable. Surely it was more than a story. …

Some days later, Nicolosa timidly approached the minister and handed him $17.50.
"This is for the Center," she said. And she explained how she'd taken the 50 cents and bought cheese and tortillas. She had then made enchiladas and sold them to the neighbors, and continued the operation until she had $35. Half was for the Center and the other half she could use for making more enchiladas after work.

"This is what the story meant, is it not so?" she asked and returned to her work.
One day later, Nicolosa showed the minister a bankbook-she had earned $100 making enchiladas.

The money she earned was not for herself. She knew only too well how many poor there are in Mexico and so she had written to her brother there for the names of 33 orphans in the town of Nochistalin and 33 in the town of San Luis. She also wrote another brother in Mexico for the names of 33 elderly people who were alone or hungry.

And so when Christmas morning arrived, 66 orphans and 33 old people received a gift from the tiny janitress. There was even a little money left to help brighten the day for four prisoners in Mexican jails.

When Nicolosa told the minister of her plans he had asked, "But why 33 orphans in each of two towns and 33 old people?"

"Because that is the number of years Jesus lived," Nicolosa explained. "I want to say ‘Happy Birthday' to Baby Jesus."

In the Spirit of Love

You will find,
As you look back upon your life
That the moments that stand out,
The moments when you have really lived,
Are the moments when you have done things
In the spirit of love.
-Henry Drummond
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Lunch with God


There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cookies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey.

When he had gone a few blocks from home, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park near the water, just staring at some birds.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer, when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a cookie.

The old man gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so incredible that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Once again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave. But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, and ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. The old man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked her son: “What did you do today that made you so happy?”

The child replied: “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? He’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and asked, “Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied: “I ate cookies in the park with God.” But before his son responded, he added, “You know, He’s much younger than I expected.”

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring-all of which have the potential to make someone’s day a very special one, or even turn someone’s life around.
-Author unknown
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Be a spendthrift in love! Love is the one treasure that multiplies by division: It is the one gift that grows bigger the more you take from it. It is the one business in which it pays to be an absolute spendthrift; give it away, throw it away, splash it over, empty your pockets, shake the basket, turn the glass upside down, and tomorrow you will have more than ever.
-Author unknown
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Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It is loyalty through good times and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.

Love is content with the present, it hopes for the future, and it doesn’t brood over the past. It’s the day-in-and-day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and common goals.

If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough.
-Ann Landers