The Lord will never leave our side and never give us more than we can handle. God remembers our frame and knows that we are mere dust (Psalm 103:14). He is our strength and healer and our perfect deliverer. Always remember that if God is for you, then who can be against you (Romans 8:31). His love for us is so amazing and unbelievable that He gave His one and only Son to die for our sins, that we might be justified and have Eternal life with Him forever (Romans 8:32) (John 3:16-17). I encourage you to shout unto the Lord and praise His Holy Name for His goodness and mercy that is from everlasting to everlasting. (Psalm 103:17) This is a good story. I hope this story blesses you as it did for me. KEEP YOUR FORK There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wished to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave, when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply. "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I remember that always when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part, because I knew something better was coming-like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork---the best is yet to come." The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of Heaven than he did. She Knew that something better was coming! At the funeral, people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing, and her favorite Bible, and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork, and he told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right! So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently that the best is yet to come! Author Unknown Whatever we do in life and no matter how good or bad life is on this Earth, it is incomparable to the great things God has prepared for us in Heaven. The Bible declares in 1 Corinthians 2:9 "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." God loves you and will be with you no matter where you are in life. Simply call on Him and ask for it. Be encouraged and know that whatever problems we may face here on Earth is only temporary. There will come a time where all who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will never cry or feel pain again as God promises in (Revelation 21:4-5). I know life sometimes seems long and full of troubles but these temporary problems are nothing compared to the joy and happiness we shall have in Eternity with God. Stay faithful and true to the Lord and you shall have reward in Heaven (Galatians 6:9-10). Read and meditate on these scriptures: John 14:1-3 Jesus says "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." James 4:14 "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Revelation 21:4-5 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new" ********************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. 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