Category: Devotional - Grace Drops

Pray First

10/6/2014

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild "Tom" turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining. A voice spoke to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused."

However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'Pray, Aim high and Stay focused." So, the man decided to listen to God's voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey.

The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked the man into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to feed his family. The snake was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Moral of the story:
Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God. Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, "the past." Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 7 (2009).

Lunch with God

3/29/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. 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 Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. 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, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He 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 him, "What did you do today that made you so happy? "He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God'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 he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, 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 turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

The Piano

1/16/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and the spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the piano, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing" Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right hand reached around the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transferred a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was mesmerized.

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. With the hand of God, our life's work truly can be beautiful.

So the next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully and you can hear the voice of God whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

A Piece of Cake

1/1/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me." Here is a wonderful explanation:

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.

"Yuck" says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually they will make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Happy New Year! I hope it’s a "Piece of Cake."

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

Under His Wings

12/30/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

An article in National Geographic several years ago painted an incredible picture of God’s wings:

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked the bird over with a stick. Upon doing so, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

The Bike Ride

12/27/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there somewhere sort of like the President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him.

But later on when I recognized my Higher Power, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride; but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was the He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. . .life with my Higher Power, that is. God makes life exciting.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

When He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “pedal.”

I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure; and when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey; our journey, God’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away. They’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knew bike secrets, knew how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high places filled with rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my Higher Power.

And when I’m sure I can’t do any more, He just smiles and says, “Pedal!”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

The Not So Ordinary Lightning Bug

12/9/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

What is the deal with Lightning Bugs? I mean, here is this rather ordinary looking flying insect, but wait . . . it has a glow-in-the-dark rear end! What was God thinking?

I’m sure science has all kinds of explanations about how this fluorescent fanny is useful for mating and other stuff, but why did God choose to make the lightning bug glow? I wonder if when God was creating all the animals and everything around us, He came up with the idea of the lightning bug and said, “The kids are gonna love this.”

We know that God loves us enough to create all the things we need to survive, but does God love us so much He created some things just to make us smile?

Just seeing Lightning Bugs takes me back to those warm summer nights of my youth. I’d be running around the back yard with my empty Mason jar, racing toward the flashing lights all around me. I can still feel the joy and hear the laughter echoing through my memories. Lightning Bugs were as much a part of summer as fireworks, fresh tomatoes, and big ice-cold slabs of juicy watermelon. (I also have a theory of why God created watermelon seeds the perfect size to spit, but that is another story.)

God created so much diversity in this world, much more than is needed for mere survival. He made all of this for us, and He wants us to enjoy it. We can get so busy surrounding ourselves with man-made goods that we don’t notice the living tapestry God has laid out all around us.

I guess Lightning Bugs do have a purpose after all. They are a reminder of a creative God who loves us so much, He’d even paint the rear end of a bug . . . just to see us smile.

And believe me . . . we need to smile!

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

A Matter of Worth

11/24/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a twenty dollar bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this twenty dollar bill?" Hands starting going up. He said, "I am going to give this twenty dollar bill to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands went up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” and he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty.

“Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth twenty dollars. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God’s eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him. YOU ARE SPECIAL!

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

How to Use Grace Drops

10/20/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

"Grace Drops" are seeds of encouragement sewn in the hearts of everyone who reads them. They are simple stories that reveal the deep feelings in the human heart. I have here a few suggestions as to how they may be used.

1.      Personal encouragement – Time and again people have stopped to tell me how much a particular Grace Drop has meant to them. They are stories that can be enjoyed, applied, and shared with others. Some help us to appreciate simple pleasures of life and others teach valuable lessons. All are meant to be encouraging.

2.      Small group devotional reflections – I have worked in settings where I needed to have a brief time of reflection to inspire and encourage my fellow team members. These stories are just the right length and are non-specific so that all may get pleasure from them.

3.      Motivational – One of the recipients of Grace Drops was a sales manager and used them to motivate his team. Many of the Grace Drops are ideal to enhance and build better interpersonal relationships.

4.      Family – Use Grace Drops with children to teach moral and life lessons.

5.      A Personal Example – I was invited to speak to a group of lay men and women at a local church about "spiritual care of the sick and shut-in." There were about 15 to 20 men and women gathered in the classroom. As a part of the lesson, I used one of the Grace Drops, "A Piece of Cake," to emphasize the participants’ own uniqueness and their special ministry. To emphasize the point, I placed a small slice of pound cake in front of each person without telling them why. At the end of the lesson I read the Grace Drop and told them that they could now eat their piece of cake. The combination of the encouraging story and the tasty object lesson drove the point home. It was a great way to end the session.

6.      Contact us with stories of how you have used Grace Drops.

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).