Satan's Evil Plan..

Satan's Evil Plan

Satan called a worldwide convention.

In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from conservative values. However, we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience with Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. Hence, let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles but steal their time so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do. Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" Shouted his evil angels.

"Keep them busy with the non-essentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds." He answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend then borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work six or seven days a week, ten to twelve hours a day so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work."

"Overstimulate their minds so that they cannot hear Christ’s still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or music player whenever they drive and keep their music players, computers and televisions constantly on in their homes. See to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

“Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with news twenty-four hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mails, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, free products, services and every kind of newsletter and promotional offerings and false hopes."

"Let them be excessive even in their recreational time. Have them return from their recreational activities exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. When they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions."

"Let them be involved in soul-winning. However, crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon, they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family unity for the good of the cause."

It was quite a convention in the end. The evil angels went on eagerly with their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush for time constantly.

Has the devil been successful at his schemes? You be the judge.

My Happy Ending ..

Bible Stories
My Happy Ending Part 1

Today is my first day at school in Burbank, Illinois. I miss my friends back in Carolina, but the people at this school seem nice. Then again, a lot of people seem nice before you meet them. I met this boy today and his name is Jake. He’s really cute and kind. He walked me to all my classes, even the ones on the opposite end of the school from where he was supposed to be.

After that day, he missed a week of school.

When he got back, he walked me to my classes again. I told him how much I really appreciated it. He was the only one who even tried to befriend me. After a week of walking me to my classes, Jake finally asked me out. I am a Christian and only hang around fellow Christians who are people that will be saved by God. Hence, I asked him if he’s Christian and luckily, he said yes.
“How long have you been a Christian?”
“A few years…” He replied slowly.
That was when he changed the subject.

The date was amazing and everything went right.

He continued to walk me to my classes everyday for months. We went out together more than twice every week. We held hands but there was nothing more. He knew that, for me, even kissing a guy is a big step and I need to be really serious with a guy before we can take that step.

We were together for two years when he came up to me with his hands behind his back.
“Hey! Guess what I made it to the tennis team.” I told him.
“That’s great!” He gave me a huge hug.
“Let’s go celebrate!” He pulled out two tickets from behind him.
“For real? Oh my goodness! The basement! Are you serious?!”
The basement was a big Christian group that tours and performs at different places. They preach, dance and do all kind of cool stuff. Jake knew how much I love them and how much I had wanted to go to their concert together ever since we first met.

After the concert, Jake grabbed my hand and led me somewhere I’d never been before.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
He had a weird look on his face and I got worried.
“I love you, Grace.”
“I-I… love you too, but why…”
“You mean it?”
There was a long pause while I tried to figure out what was he trying to ask. What was going on with him?
“Of course I mean it.” I replied.
“Then kiss me.”
I was hoping he would say that but I was still really confused. I kissed him anyway. It was my first kiss.
“I love you, Grace.” He said again
“You said that already.”
“I know, because I really… I love you, Grace.” He whispered slowly as if he didn’t know what else to say.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?”
I wanted to have some clue on what was happening. My head was still spinning from the kiss. He shook his head. I didn’t understand it at all. All I knew was that at that moment right there, I realized how much Jake truly loved me… Or so I thought.

Three weeks later, Jake and I were closer than ever and probably the most in love teenagers you would ever meet. I went to meet him during his last class. He was chatting with some friends so I decided to stand outside the door and wait for him.

“Tell us the truth dude.” I heard his friend say.
“Okay, I lied to Grace. Obviously, I’m not a Christian but…”
I couldn’t wait for him to finish his words when I heard what he said. I ran as hard as I could down the hallway and out the doors. I needed to get away. My heart cracked and I didn’t even remember where I left the pieces. How could he do this to me? He said he loves me and I believed him. He said he wanted to be with me forever and I believed that too.

I didn’t know where I was or how long I was there but I knew that I never want to go back to the classroom. I didn’t think I could stand it. How does someone deal with that? I began to question my faith. Why, God? Why? I knew God wasn’t to blame but that was the only way I could vent my frustrations. There was no one left anymore. I felt left alone out in the cold. Jake didn’t leave me here but he made it such a way that I could go anywhere but back home. It’s said that the will of God will never take you where the grace of God won’t protect you. Why would God bring him to me if he knew this would happen? I started to think about what I had heard again. I broke down into tears once more.

Bible Stories Online
My Happy Ending Part 2

“Grace! What in the world are you doing? It’s freezing cold and…”
Jake paused when he saw that I was crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“You can cut the act, I know now.”
I could tell he was about to ask another question again but I interrupted.
“You didn’t have to lie to me Jake. If you didn't like me, all you had to do was say so, but no! You had to put on this big act!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I love you. I’ve told you that. You know that. You know I love you, Grace.”
How could he lie straight in my face!?
“Yeah you also mentioned something about being a Christian but I guess we can’t all tell the truth.”
“What do you mean by that?”
He knew exactly what I meant. I wasn’t the kind of person to be mean or rude about this even if he did lie to me. I just wanted him to leave.
“You know, you’re a good guy Jake, and I’m sure there is a pretty girl out there just waiting for you. Why don’t you go find her?”
That was the nicest way I could put it.
“I don’t have to because you’re right here.”
“Please go now.”
I was crying again.
“Don’t do this to me.” He begged.
He was crying too.
“I’m only doing this to protect what I believe in. Jake, I love you and I always will. Please don’t forget what we talked about, don’t lose what faith you gained while we were together. You betrayed me and I can’t deal with that. Please leave.”
I pleaded once again. I didn’t care what Jake did for the rest of his life. I just didn't want our breakup to affect the trust in God he had gained while we were together.

He was speechless and tears streamed down our faces. I had never seen him cry previously. He usually wasn’t an emotional guy. I stood up and walked away. I couldn’t stand to see him like that. He didn’t come after me. I guess it was a good thing but it hurt too much to look back so I stared straight ahead and walked into a whole new beginning; a world of loneliness.

- Two Years Later -

I saw him today, I didn't really know what to say but I knew the mature thing to do.
“Hey.” I said to him, smiling.
“Hi.” He replied blandly.
“How are you? It’s been so long.”
I realized how dumb that sounded after I said it. Of course it’s been so long. We wanted it to be this way.
“I’m uh…”
Someone called his name. I guess that was a relief for him.
“I got to go.”
“Okay, bye.”
That was it and then he was gone.

I couldn't believe this. I couldn't believe that we could just walk right past each other and not even acknowledge each other, or that we couldn't even look each other in the eye because we are scared that the memories of heartaches and lonesomeness will come flooding back. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know about him but for me, those memories never left. It has been two years and I’m still hurting. I’ve been on one date in the past two years and even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Sometimes I think it’s the stupidest thing I ever did; breaking up with him. Back then everything inside me was telling me he had to go but right now it’s as if I couldn’t tell how much longer I could go on without him. This went on for months.

“Excuse me Miss, I know that you don’t work here but do you happen to know where I can find some band-aids?” A man said with a smile.
I hardly knew where anything is in the grocery store but I knew where the band-aids are due to my clumsiness. The guy was extremely handsome and polite. He reminded me so much of him...
“Yeah, sure. Right down that aisle.” I said as I pointed out the band-aid aisle.
He gave me another one of those familiar smiles and went on his way. I smiled back. As soon as he grabbed the band-aids, he came back up to me.
“I just wanted to say thank you. So um… Would you like to go out sometime you know, like on a date? Dinner and a movie?”
“A date? I don’t know uh…”
“Alex.”

Free Bible Stories
My Happy Ending Part 3

“Yeah, I don’t think a date is a good idea, Alex. Don’t get me wrong! You seem like a really nice guy but I just got out of a long relationship and I just don’t know.”
“Oh, when?”
“Oh, um… Around two years ago.”
He raised his eyebrow.
“I know that’s a long time but…”
“Don’t stress, I get it. He must have been pretty special. I know how that is but if you spend your life wallowing about the past, you’ll miss out on some great things in your future.
“Like Philippians 3:13 says ‘…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.’”
He began to make his way to the cashier.
“Wait!” I yelled to him.
“That verse?”
“What about it?”
“It’s from the bible.”
“Nothing gets by you.”
Wow, so he’s a Christian. As soon as I heard that, I got a feeling inside me just like the feeling I got when I was on my first date with Jake, except this time it was stronger.
“That’s really cool. Now about that date…”
This could be good and the best part was, I wasn’t even thinking about the loser who broke my heart.

- Five Years Later -

“Please don’t do this to me, Alex. Please don’t go.”
The tears stung my eyes but I couldn’t even feel them. There was a darker, scarier feeling inside me that conquered every pain I had ever been through. As Alex was lying on the bed dying from the horrid disease, I couldn’t help thinking that God should take me too if he’s going to take Alex. I didn’t want to be in this world without him. We’ve been through so much together. We got married two years ago and we dated for three years before that. How could this happen? He is the greatest man I have ever met and he is so good to me and faithful to the Lord. The tears continued to roll down my eyes.
“I love you, Grace. You know how much I love you, right?”
I nodded my head. I moved my lips but the words just wouldn’t come out.

I never left that emergency room. The nurses brought my food with Alex’s even though he was unconscious most the time. I never took my eyes off him except when I slept. People came and went. They include family members, friends, friends of friends and friends of family. It seemed to hit them all pretty hard as they didn’t usually deal with this kind of pain. However, it’s different for me as I had lost many loved ones in my lifetime though it was not all necessarily to death. Sometimes I don’t understand why it happens but I know God has a purpose. He always has and he always will. Nevertheless, this is something you can never get used to and the pain never lessens. It’s always hard to let go especially when you don’t expect it. It’s been three months since we got the news about Alex. He will go anytime soon to a better place but I can’t bear to watch him go. I cried more than I have ever cried in my life. I knew it is all going to end in a matter of days, hours or maybe seconds. I held on to Alex with all I had left, refusing to let him go. I couldn’t let go even if he did. I planned on staying that way for as long as I could. I would have held on to him forever if I could.

Alex died the next day. There were more tears, more pain and more sleepless nights. I tried to tell myself not to worry and to be happy for him but it was never convincing. I used to think it was only hard when I was young and it would be easier when I grew older but here I am still stuck in the same painful endless cycle at aged twenty-five. I grieved for months and people thought I was in such a deep depression that I would never be the old me again. They were right. I was never the same after that but the weird thing was instead of losing hope like most people do, I gained more faith than ever before. I don’t know why but I realized that God is the only way out of this suffering. I thought about the verse Alex had said when we first met five years ago in the grocery store. I looked it up and read the whole thing.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

That verse was very special to me and it was actually the main reason why Alex and I started dating. I missed him so much. Tears streamed down my face. I didn't think I would have any left but I did. I was running out of food even though I barely ate anymore so I went to the grocery store. I decided I would go to a different grocery store from the one where it all began. I would go to the one close to home, the one where it all ended.

Famous Bible Stories
My Happy Ending Part 4

“Grace! Hey, thank God I ran into you. I heard about what happened, are you okay?”
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I ran into Jake. I mean it was nice of him to care but really, why him?
“Hey Jake.”
“I know I’m not the person you really want to see right now but please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“No, Jake, I-I’m fine, really.” I lied.
I wasn’t fine, especially after seeing him. He smiled and leaned in to hug me. I just went along with it.
“I know you probably hate me but I don’t care. I’m here for you Grace, always. You never left my mind since that day we broke up and I was out in the rain all alone. That was the worst day of my entire life.”
“You did that to yourself.”
I turned around and started to make my way towards the grocery store.
“I know I did but I’ve changed.”
I turned back around.
“I love you. I told you I will always love you. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
How did our conversation turn into this? Not this, not now. I just lost my husband for heaven’s sake. Why did he have to come along? As if he was any consolation.
“Jake what are you doing?” I asked as if I didn't already know.
“I want another chance.”
At this moment I knew what any sensible person would do; laugh in his face. However, despite what he did to me or how silly he sounded right now, he deserved my attention and so I gave it to him.
“Do you think you could do that? Do you think you could find it in you to forgive me? I know what you’re thinking but as soon as you left me I went to church. I got saved and I never wanted to leave. I don’t know why I didn't do it sooner; so much weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”
I smiled.
“That’s great and I'm happy for you. Nevertheless, I just lost someone very special to me and I'm not ready to get back out there yet. Not any time soon.”
Once again, I started walking towards the store.
“Please! Please Grace, please!” He yelled.
When I turned around I could have sworn I saw tears welling up in his eye but he didn’t let it fall.
“Just one more chance, I swear if I screw up this time I'll be out of your life forever. Please.”
“I can’t bear to be hurt again.”
“I won’t hurt you! I promise I'll never leave you or lie to you ever again if you just give it a try.”
The tear fell. He quickly wiped it away. It didn't matter because I had plenty of tears to match him; he had me crying by now.
“Come on, the man is begging. Just give him a chance or you might miss out on something great.” A passing-by customer said to me.
“Okay.” I told him and his face lit up.
He picked me up and swung me around holding me so close that I could barely breathe.
“I love you!”
He set me down and kissed me and it was then that I realized I never really stopped loving my first love.

- Ten Years Later -

“Jamie, Sarah, its time for dinner! Come sit down.”
I love dinner time. It’s so old fashioned but who doesn’t love the chance to talk to your family. I love my family, I love Jake and I love my baby girls. The girls are now three and a half years old and are extremely smart. They get that from Jake. He has always been a smart guy.
“Ok, who wants broccoli!” He said.
They all said, “Eww…”
They hated it but which kid doesn't.

That night Jake and I lay in bed talking. We talked about everything from our past. You would think after all the time we had been together we would have talked about everything already. However, it would take longer than a lifetime to explain all the feelings and emotions we had ever felt. Then we got onto a painful subject I was praying with all my might that we would stay away from; death. I hated the subject but I loved the fact that if it was ever on my mind I could talk to Jake about it. However, we never talked about Alex. Jake knew better than to bring him up. I missed Alex a lot. I still can't believe he's gone but I'm happy with Jake and I think Alex would be happy for me too. I thought my life was over when Alex died but that’s what I thought when I first left Jake too. It seems that every time something good in my life falls apart, it’s because something better can fall together. God really does work in mysterious ways.

By brittany

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing… God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

Bible Story
The Pearl Necklace Part 1

Jenny was a bright eyed, pretty five years old girl.

One day when she and her mother were checking out the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at two dollars fifty cents.
She wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace and when we get home, we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. Don't forget that for your birthday, Grandma might just give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?"

Jenny agreed and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon, Jenny had paid off the pearls.

How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere; to the kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower as her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green. Now, Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story.

One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you." The little girl said.
"Well then, give me your pearls." Her father asked mischievously.
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said.
"But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay."
Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss.
"Good night, little one."

Short Bible Stories
The Pearl Necklace Part 2

Tweet

The Pearl Necklace Part 1 | 2

A week later, her father asked Jenny again after her story.
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft and you can play with it and braid it. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy." The little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay." Her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss.
"God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."

Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lips were trembling.
"Here, Daddy." She said, and held out her hand.
She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.

Inside the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls.

He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. It is the same with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't God good?

Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of?

Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing…

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

“Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing; but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” - Phil 4:13

God Story
Your Friend, God

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. However, I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.

When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello but you were too busy again. At one point, you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except to sit in a chair. Then, I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities, I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.

I noticed that you looked around before lunch. Maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me and that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced at three or four tables around you and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left and I hope that you will talk to me yet.

You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the television. I don't know if you like television or not. Just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything and just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the television program and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.

I guess you felt too tired at bedtime. After you said goodnight to your family, you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know... I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.

I love you so much that I wait every day for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. Once again, I will wait with nothing but love for you. I hope that you will give me some time today. Have a nice day!

Your friend,
God

P.S. - Do you have enough time to send this to another person? If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions.

Pass this story on to your friends and family. Please only do it if you mean it.

Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."

“Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing; but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”
- Phil 4:13

Do You Love Me? Part 1

One day, I woke up early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for his beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.

He asked me, “Do you love me?”

I answered, “Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!”

Then he asked, “If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do. I thought hard about the things that I took for granted.

I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still love you.”

Then the Lord said, “If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”

How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and his creation.

So I answered, “It’s hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”

The Lord then asked me, “If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God’s word is not merely using our ears but our hearts.

I answered, “It would be tough, but I would still listen to your word.”

The Lord then asked, “If you were mute, would you still praise my name?”

How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me. God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. We do not always praise God with a song but when we are persecuted, we praise God with our words of thanks.
So I answered, “Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise your name.”

The Lord asked, “Do you really love me?”

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, “Yes Lord! I love you because you are the one and true God!”

I thought I had answered well, but God asked, “Then Why Do You Sin?”

I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”

“Then Why In Times Of Peace Do You Stray The Furthest? Why Do You Pray The Earnest Only In Times Of Trouble?”

Funny Christian Stories
Do You Love Me? Part 2

There were no answers. Only tears.

The Lord continued, “Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?”

The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

“Why are you ashamed of me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer my shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in my name?”

I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed my word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown my blessings to you but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”

“Do You Truly Love Me?”

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this?

My heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, “Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be your child.”

The Lord answered, “That is my grace, my child.”

I asked, “Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do you love me so?”

The Lord answered, “Because you are my creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days and I will love you forever.”

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done?

I asked God, “How much do you love me?”

The Lord stretched out his arms, and I saw his nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour and for the first time, I truly prayed.