SEARCHING FOR A VESSEL

SEARCHING FOR A VESSEL

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;

On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?

Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,

I'm of great value and I do things just right.

My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest

And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;

He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;

I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine

And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,

My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,

And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,

It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.

Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,

Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,

My transparency shows my contents so dear,

Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,

And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,

Polished and carved, it solidly stood.

You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,

But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then  the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.

Empty and broken it helplessly lay.

No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,

To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah!  This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,

I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of its self;

Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;

Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and loud;

Nor one who displays his contents so proud;

Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;

But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.

Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.

Spoke to it kindly.  There's work you must do,

Just pour out to others as I pour into you.

-- Author Unknown

NOT HOME YET

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and was returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong.

Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes  back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives  two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said. "I can't help it; it doesn't seem right." When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival.

No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the  next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly." His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home yet!"

Make A Difference

Great inspirational video about making a difference at
http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

The Harmonica Man

One person can make a difference.

In December 1983, 11 year old Trevor Ferrell saw a television news report on Philadelphia's inner-city homeless.  The young boy couldn't believe people actually lived on the streets.  When he questioned his parents, Frank and Janet reluctantly agreed to broaden their son's sheltered horizons - and their own.  They left their home in an exclusive suburb and drove downtown.  One block past city hall, they spotted an emaciated figure crumpled on a sidewalk grate.  While his parents watched a bit apprehensively, Trevor got out of the car and approached the man.

"Sir," he said, "here's a blanket for you."  The man stared up at Trevor at first.  Then, he softly said, "Thank you, God bless you."

That encounter altered the Ferrells' lives forever.  Night after night they drove downtown, trying in small ways to help the street people.  They emptied their home of extra blankets, clothing, and dozens of peanut-butter sandwiches.  When others learned what they were doing, someone donated a van and volunteers charted nightly food distribution routes.  To the Ferrells' surprise, "Trevor's Campaign" had begun.

Young Trevor found himself explaining what they were doing to local media, then to the nation.  Pat Robertson, Merv Griffin, Mother Teresa, Ronald Reagan - all wanted to meet the small boy with the big mission.  He told them simply, "It's Jesus inside of me that makes me want to do this."

Do It Anyway!

Do It Anyway!

The verses below reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her. 


Some sources say that the words below were written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room.  In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives. 


They seem to be based on a composition originally by Kent Keith, but much of the second half has been re-written in a more spiritual way.  Both versions are shown below.


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The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:


People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.


If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.


What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.


Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.


In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.


-this version is credited to Mother Teresa


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2. The Original Version:

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.


If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.


If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.


The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.


Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.


The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.


People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.


What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.


People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.


Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.


© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith


"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.