God judges both our motives and actions.

Experience is not necessary to pray.

LISTEN OR WAIT

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids running out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag’s side door! He slammed on the brakes and reversed back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid who threw the brick and pushed him against a parked car shouting. What was that all about? Just what the heck are you doing?

Building a head of steam he went on. That’s a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money!

Please, mister, please. I’m sorry, I didn’t know what else to do! pleaded the youngster. I threw the brick because no one else would stop, tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. It’s my brother, he said. He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up. Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me. Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.

Thank you and May God bless you, the grateful child said to him.

The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to his Jaguar, a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

God whispers in our soul and speaks to our heart. sometimes when we don’t have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It’s our choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick.

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. ‘Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.’ ‘Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?’ his mother asked. ‘Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!’