Building for Eternity

Unknown Author

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could 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 his career.When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter."This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.So it is with us.

We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized it, we would have done it differently.Think of yourself as the carpenter.

Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It's the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Some Things Happen For A Reason

Here is a short spiritual article that I like to read when things sometimes take a turn for the worse.

The Castaway and the Fire
-- Author Unknown

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small,
uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,
and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed
forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little
hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to
store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to
find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with
grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a
ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his
rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

"GOD works mysteriously." He knows exactly what we need. And
because God loves us so much, He said, "Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

Trust in God. Trust also in Jesus Christ.