Short Stories
1. Whatever Happens, Happens for the Best - Romans 8:28
There was a King who had a friendly minister. The Minster had a favourite expression, "It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best". He would always repeat this and nobody took him seriously until one day when the king and the Minster went hunting together. So engrossed were they in the chase that they wandered deep into the forest. Suddenly, it was evening and the king realised that they were lost.The minister remarked, "It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best".
“I think we are lost. We were trackling the tiger, now the tiger will chase us!” king said.
The minister repeated, "It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best".
The king was irritated but kept quiet. Just then was heard the roar of the tiger. The frightened horses bucked, throwing off the king and his minister and ran away. The king got up with excruciating pain in his bleeding hand; his finger was badly injured.
Again the minister pointed out, "It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best". One can well imagine what the irate king's reaction would have been!
Hungry and parched in the humid heat of the forest, they came across a well. But when they looked inside, the realised that it was very deep with hardly any water and no vessel to draw it up. Angry and frustratd, the king exclaimed, "The water is so shallow!"
"It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best".
This was the last straw. The king lost his temper and pushed the minister into the well. Even as the minister was falling he uttered, "It is the Lord's wish. It is for the best".
By now the king was convinced that his minister was quite crazy. Soon after, a tribe of cannibals found the king and decided that he was the right person for their sacrifice. The king was tied up. Just as he was about to be killed, the priest declared, "We cannot sacrifice him. The gods will get angry. He has a blemish - his finger is wounded. You cannot make an imperfect offering." They released the king.
Suddenly the king remembered the words of his minister. He ran back, recalling the shallow well, hoping that his friend was still alive. He helped him out, told him the whole story, and asked, "You are a man of God. You stayed all night in the well not knowing whether you would be saved. What good happened to you?"
"Oh! King", replied the wise minister, "If I were not in the well and was with you, you would have been saved but I would have been sacrificed!".
Dear friends, learn to deal with your sorrows. Don't cover them; don't run away from them. Take them as a test and a challenge. You will discover a thrill and a sense of pride when you come out successful. Always remember that whatever happens in life happens for the best. If you can keep this attitude with you, sorrow is well managed and loses its power to overwhelm you.
2. THE FOUR WIVES
Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much, and he was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his second wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times. The King’s first wife was a very local partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the King fell ill, and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, ‘I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone’. Thus, he asked the fourth wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing, and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me accompany?” “Absolutely not!” replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad King then asked the third wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me accompany?” “No”, replied the third wife, “Life is too good! when you die, I’m going to remarry!”. His heart sank and turned cold, he then asked the second wife, “I have always turned to you for help, and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me accompany?” “I’m Sorry, I can’t help you out this time”, replied the second wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave”. Her answer came like a bolt of thunder, and the King was devastated. Then a voice called out, “I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go”. The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so sad and thin, she looked half-starved. Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”.
In truth, we all have four wives in our lives : Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die. Our third wife is our possessions, status, and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others. Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the farthest they can stay by us is upto the grave. And our first wife is our soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now! It is your greatest gift to offer the world.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Each moment of ur life is a picture
Each moment of ur life is a picture which u had never seen before. And which ull never see again so enjoy & live life & make each moment beautiful....
GODISNOWHERE this can be read as GOD
GODISNOWHERE this can be read as GOD IS NO WHERE or as GOD IS NOW HERE everything depends on how do u see anything. so think positive.
A negative thinker see a difficulty in every opportunity
A negative thinker see a difficulty in every opportunity,A positive thinker see an opportunity in every difficulty,wish u an optimistic life..
What the word IMPOSSIBLE says
What the word IMPOSSIBLE says I M Possible. So every thing which seems impossible is itself says that is possible.
Mistakes are painful when they happen
Mistakes are painful when they happen,But years later a collection of mistakes called Experience Which leads us to success...
What is trust ?? Trust is a feeling
What is trust ?? Trust is a feeling that a one year child has , when you throw him in air and catch again , and he enjoys it
Dont think how many moments in your life
Dont think how many moments in your life, just think how much life is there in a moment.
Treat everyone with politeness,
Treat everyone with politeness,Even those who are rude to U.....Not because they are not nice,But bcoz u are nice....!!!
GOD is always playing CHESS
GOD is always playing CHESS with each one of us. He makes Moves in our LIFE & then sits back to see how we react to the CHALLENGES ... So make the best move before CHECKMATE....
Life gives answer in 3 ways.
Life gives answer in 3 ways... It says Yes & gives u what u want, it says no and gives u something better, it says wait and gives u the Best!
When a baby born he/she will cry near
When a baby born he/she will cry near by all are happy, when anyone die he/she will be plesant but near by all are cry. See how this world is unfair
Life is a BOOK We all read it,
Life is a BOOK We all read it, Love is BLESSING we all need it, Always be HAPPY, Always have a SMILE, Remember in this World we are just for WHILE !!
INTERESTING QUESTIONS AND INTELLIGENT ANSWERS!
Questions and the Answers given by Candidates...... Oh sorry they are IAS Officers now.
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Q.How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
A. Concrete floors are very hard to crack! (UPSC Topper)
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Q.If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?
A. No time at all... It is already built. (UPSC 23 Rank Opted for IFS)
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Q.If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?
A. Very large hands.(Good one) (UPSC 11 Rank Opted for IPS)
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Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
A. It is not a problem, since you will never find! anelephant with one hand. (UPSC Rank 14 Opted for IES)
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Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?
A. No Probs , He sleeps at night. (UPSC IAS Rank 98)
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Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?
A. It will Wet or Sink as simple as that. (UPSC IAS Rank 2)
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Q. What looks like half apple ?
A : The other half. (UPSC - IAS Topper )
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Q. What can you never eat for breakfast ?
A : Dinner.
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Q. What happened when wheel was invented ?
A : It caused a revolution.
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Q. Bay of Bengal is in which state?
A : Liquid (UPSC 33Rank )
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Interviewer said "I shall either ask you ten easy questions or one
really difficult question. Think well before you make up your mind!" The boy thought for a while and said, "my choice is one really difficult question."
"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice! Now tell me
this. "What comes first, Day or Night?"
The boy was jolted in! to reality as his admission depends on the
correctness of his answer, but he thought for a while and said, "It's
the DAY sir!"
"How" the interviewer asked,
"Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult
question!"
He was selected for IIM!
God’s Promises
Man: It is impossible!
God: I can do things that are not possible for people to do (Lk 18:27).
Man: I’m so tired!
God: I will give you rest (Mt 11:27).
Man: Nobody loves me sincerely!
God: I love you with a love that will last forever (Jer 31:3)
Man: I can’t come out of this problem!
God: My grace is enough for you (2Cor 12:9).
Man: I do not know what to do!
God: I will guide you and watch over you (Ps 32:8).
Man: Why this happened?
God: For the good who loves God (Ro. 8:28).
Man: I am good for nothing!
God: You can do all things through the strength which I give you (Phil 4:13)
Man: May I get forgiveness?
God: I will forgive your sins and to cleanse from unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9)
Man: I can’t meet my need
God: I will supply all your need according my riches (Phil 4:19)
Man: I don’t have faith
God: I have given you the faith (Ro 12:3)
Man: I fear everything
God: I gave you the spirit of power, love and self control; not of fear(2Ti 1:7)
Man: I am fed up with sorrow
God: Cast all your care upon me (1 Pe 5:7)
Man: Everybody scoffing me as a fool
God: I give you wisdom and knowledge; also wealth and honour (2Chr 1:12)
Man: I live as an orphan
God: Your father and mother may forsake, but I will take you up (Ps 27:10)
Man: I won’t be healed from this disease
God: You are healed because of my wounds (Is 53;5)
Man: Death hunters me
God: I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)
Question: Where did the idea that Jesus is the Rose of Sharon come from?
Answer:
This may have developed from those who see the Song of Solomon as a picture of Christ and the church, though this is certainly not the primary purpose of this book and is really a strong typological use the book. Below are comments from a couple of commentaries that might help, though they approach this differently.
1. I am the rose of Sharon. The bride is still speaking. It is difficult to determine which flower the bride refers to. The only other occurrence of the word in the OT is in Isa 35:1. Crocus appears to be the best translation. Sharon is the Mediterranean coastal plain between Joppa and Caesarea. In the time of Solomon it was a place of great fertility. 2. As the lily among thistles. The bridegroom speaks. In her humility the bride may think of herself only as a beautiful but humble crocus; he regards her as a lily among thistles. So far as lilies surpass thistles, so far does she surpass other maidens. 3. As the apple tree. The bride responds in the same vein. As an apple tree which produces delicious fruit surpasses the other trees of the forest, so does her bridegroom surpass other young men. 4. The king has brought her, a humble country girl, to a banqueting hall. But she need not fear and be bashful in the presence of the young ladies of Jerusalem, for with his love he is protecting her and putting her at ease. (For the thought of protection, see EX 17:15.) 5. Overcome with love and admiration for her lover, the bride asks for raisin cakes (flagons) and apples to strengthen her physically. (Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Old Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press) 1962.)
1. Rose—if applied to Jesus Christ, it, with the white lily (lowly, 2Co 8:9), answers to “white and ruddy” (So 5:10). But it is rather the meadow-saffron: the Hebrew means radically a plant with a pungent bulb, inapplicable to the rose. So Syriac. It is of a white and violet color [Maurer, Gesenius, and Weiss]. The bride thus speaks of herself as lowly though lovely, in contrast with the lordly “apple” or citron tree, the bridegroom (So 2:3); so the “lily” is applied to her (So 2:2),
Sharon—(Is 35:1, 2). In North Palestine, between Mount Tabor and Lake Tiberias (1Ch 5:16). Septuagint and Vulgate translate it, “a plain”; though they err in this, the Hebrew Bible not elsewhere favoring it, yet the parallelism to valleys shows that, in the proper name Sharon, there is here a tacit reference to its meaning of lowliness. Beauty, delicacy, and lowliness, are to be in her, as they were in Him (Mt 11:29).
2. Jesus Christ to the Bride (Mt 10:16; Jn 15:19; 1Jn 5:19). Thorns, equivalent to the wicked (2Sa 23:6; Ps 57:4).
Daughters—of men. not of God; not “the virgins.” “If thou art the lily of Jesus Christ, take heed lest by impatience, rash judgments, and pride, thou thyself become a thorn” [Luther]. [Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A.R.; and Brown, David, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1998.]
2:1. Here the beloved spoke of herself as a rose of Sharon, the fertile coastal region of Israel from Caesarea to Joppa. The Hebrew word for rose is h£a†bas£s£elet. In Isaiah 35:1, its only other occurrence in the Old Testament, it is translated “crocus,” which may be the meaning here. It was a common meadow flower. The lily too was a common flower mentioned often in the Song of Songs (2:1-2, 16; 4:5; 5:13; 6:2-3; 7:2). Though in her humility she likened herself to common flowers of the field, her statement (2:1) reflects a significant contrast with her earlier self-consciousness (1:5-6). Her improvement probably was because of her lover’s praising her (1:9-10, 15).
2:2. The lover echoed his beloved’s newfound sense of worth by comparing her to a lily and all other women to thorns. He agreed that she was a lily (v. 1) but not just any lily! She was as unique among all others as a single lily would be among many thorns. [Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.]
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Song 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. THE BELOVED.
Song 2:2 Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. THE SHULAMITE
Rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys, beautiful flowers represent Jesus. He was so beautiful but became ugly for me, for you and for the whole world to make us beautiful. Bible says in Isaiah 53:2 -3 "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."
He became curse for us so that we may be no more in curse as the Bible says in Galatians 3:13, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")."
Yes, Jesus wants to remove all the curse from our lives so that we may be blessed. That’s why He came in this world, lived a victorious life and shed up to the last drop of His precious blood on the cruel cross, so that we may experience the genuine love, a true love.
Beautiful rose grows amidst thorns. Thorns surround it but you can see the beauty of the flower and it seems as if it is full of smiles. When Jesus comes in our lives, He does the same thing for us no matter how many problems may surround us, but He gives peace in the midst of those problems. You can smile when you are still going through problems. He gives the joy that this world can not give. Jesus came to give us that joy and that peace. Are you going through problems and worried thinking what would happen to you? Have you lost your smile and hope? Look to Jesus, He is ready to help you no matter what your problem may be. No matter what your sickness or sin may be. He is calling you lovingly. He will restore your life. He will fill your life with hope, peace and joy. Yes, my friend He wants to give your smile back on your face.