Love and Give

"Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better"

(Act III, Scene I)
William Shakespeare-Twelfth night

天堂的杂货店/Heaven’s Grocery Store

很久以前，当我走在生命的道路上，我看到一个牌子，上写：“天堂的杂货店
当我走上前去，门自动打开了，我反应过来后，发现自己已经站在店里了。
我看到一群天使，店里随处都有他们的身影，一位交给我一个篮子，便说，“孩子，小心采购。”
在杂货店里有每一个人需要的东西，你拿不动时以后还可以再回来拿。
我先取了些“忍耐”，“仁爱”也在同一排货架上，在往下走就看到“理解”，这是你去哪儿都非常需要的。
　　我又拿了一两盒“智慧”和一两袋“信心”，当然我还需要一些“善良”，我也没忘记“圣灵”，他到处都在。
　　为了跑这生命的竞赛，我拿了些“力量”和“勇气”。
　　我的篮子快满了，可我想起还需要“恩典”，我又选了“救恩”，因为那是免费的，我心想多拿一点足够你和我用。
　　然后，走向柜台准备付钱，心想我拿到了遵行主的旨意所需要的一切货物。
　　在另一个货架上，我看见“祷告”，所以就拿了点儿，因为我知道一走到外面就会碰到“罪恶”。
　　“平安”和“喜乐”供货充足，摆在架子最后面，“诗歌”和“赞美”就在旁边，所以我也顺手拿了些。
　　然后，我就对天使说：“我要付多少？”
　　他笑著说：“只要你无论去哪里都带著就行了。”
　　我又问：“说实话，我欠你多少？”
　　他说：“孩子，耶稣在很久以前就为你付了账。”

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　　As I was walking down life’s highway many years ago,I came upon a sign that read: “Heaven’s Grocery Store”.
　　When I got a little closer，the doors swung open wide.
　　And when I came to myself，I was standing inside.
　　I saw a host of angels; they were standing everywhere.
　　One handed me a basket and said，“My child，shop with care.”
　　Everything a human needed was in that grocery store.
　　And what you could not carry you could come back for more.
　　First I got some Patience; Love was in that same row.
　　Further down was Understanding，you need that everywhere you go.
　　I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two.
　　And Charity，of course，I would need some of that too.
　　I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost; it was all over the place.
　　And then some Strength and Courage to help me run the race.
　　My basket was getting full，but I remembered I needed Grace,
　　And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free,I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
　　Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,For I thought I had everything to do the Master’s will.
　　As I went up the aisle，I saw Prayer and put that in,For I knew when I stepped outside，I would run into sin.
　　Peace and Joy were plentiful，the last things on the shelf.
　　Song and Praise were hanging near，so I just helped myself.
　　Then I said to the angel，“ Now，how much to I owe?”
　　He smiled and said，“Just take them everywhere you go.”
　　Again I asked，“Really now，how much do I owe?”
　　“My child,” he said，“Jesus paid your bill a long time ago.”

Heaven’s Grocery Store
　　Author: Unknown
Chinese Translation: Lynn

Blessings that I can count each day~

I can help
I can speak
I can believe
I can give love
I can be caring
I can keep silent
I can give support
I can talk with God
I can read His word
I can want courage
I can ask questions
I can seek answers
I can grow each day
I can search for hope
I can live in conviction
I can care about others
I can confess before God
I can live one day at a time
I can put my energy to use
I can share the Bread of Life
I can be devout in my beliefs
I can seek spiritual abundance
I can comfort those in distress
I can look into life as everlasting
I can see the love of God at work
I can turn to the Light in darkness
I can accept Christ into my heart and life
I can give compassion when someone is hurting
I can use failure instead of letting failure use me
I can embrace faith as the secret ingredient of life
I can obey the Love of God that propels me upward
I can weep in sadness and rejoice in times of celebration.
I can enlighten others about the goodness and grace of life
I can see into the eternal hope for eternal fun through Christ
I can turn a time of depression into a time of counting my blessings

Stive for it!

Are we slaves? To ourselves?
For we do not notice anything, which is almost everything.
Our life, that we always strive.
For better or worst,
Living with God comes first.

Endures...

Rejoice!
His greatness endures;
His love lasts forever;
His faithfulness alives, in our lives.
Shine for God, you musn't forgot.
Live a life of light, bear your burdens light.
His greatness proves, we should always improve.
Be as smooth as butter, as we progress better.