On Monday morning, I saw part of a sermon by that man (Nick Vujicic) with no

arms or legs. Did you know he had prayed for arms or legs when he was 8 years
old? He even had a pair of shoes and a long sleeve shirt with cuff links in case.
But God did not heal him and he is thankful. He said that if He had been healed,
he would have probably lived a very selfish life and would not spiritually reached
all of the people he has because of his testimony. Average of 5000 decisions for
God each week for 10 straight weeks. He spoke in 14 countries last year. He has
even been able to witness to many world leaders. Most of his message was
challenging the young people to trust in God and change by leaving their bad
habits. He said “don’t call yourself a Christian on Sunday and then Monday you
go to school and tease others”; “don’t call yourself a Christian on Sunday and then
go to your wrong sex relationship”. He said that they needed to really commit their
whole lives to Jesus Christ. “Pray to God, thank Him, and trust Him” were his
parting words.

Life Without Limbs :: Nick Vujicic

From Life Without Limbs to Life Without Limits! Nick Vujicic was born without arms
or legs but the love he holds overcomes any physical limitation. Nick now uses his ...
www.lifewithoutlimbs.org - Cached
Nick Vujicic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
o Early life|
o Career|
o References|
o See also
Nick Vujicic is a preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of Life Without
Limbs, an organization for the physically disabled. He regularly gives speeches across the
world on...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vujicic - Cached

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Through Christ our Lord,

Bill Gothard and Staff

BECOME "PALM TREE" CHRISTIANS

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree …." (Psalm 92:12)

Birthdays are times to evaluate growth,

and since the palm tree flourishes when everything around it is
unfruitful,
let's discover its secrets and become “Palm Tree” Christians.

PALM TREES CAN SURVIVE DROUGHT

Each palm root is the same size at its stem and its base;
therefore, it cannot be pulled up easily.
 Ordinary roots taper and branch.

Because palm trees send their roots deep into the ground,
they are able to tap resources of nourishment that are not available on the surface.
Each palm root is thick and strong.

“…. Take root downward, and bear fruit upward" (Isaiah 37:31)

THE OLDER A PALM TREE GROWS

THE SWEETER ITS FRUIT BECOMES

Ordinary fruit trees diminish their yield as they grow older.

Sleek trunk gives ordinary fruit
Palm trees do not bear fruit until they mature,
a process sometimes requiring up to fifty years.
As palm trees age, their fruit grows sweeter.
Scarred trunk gives sweeter fruit.

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

they shall be fat [healthy] and flourishing (Psalm 92:14).

PALM TREES CAN WITHSTAND ABUSE

While the hearts of ordinary trees are dead,

the heart of the palm tree is alive.
Because the life of the palm tree is on the inside,
outward abuse does not affect its life or quality of fruit.

“… though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
PALM TREES CAN ENDURE STORMS

Strong winds will break ordinary trees.

Ordinary leaves collect wind.
The palm tree will bow to the ground and spring back when the winds have passed.
Wind cannot "grab hold" of palm leaves.
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God
that He may exalt you in due time." (1 Peter 5:6).

Conclusion: I now believe that born again Christians will have to go through at least half
of the World-wide Tribulation. Are you ready if we do? Do you know enough of God's
promises and wisdom so that you can help others. Remember the parable of the Ten
Virgins in Matthew 25? The oil represents the Holy Spirit and improvement of Christian
character. Or what if God tells you to go to a Third World country or in the poor areas of
one of the USA cities to minister others? Are you ready to be a good ambassador for God?

***********************************
 The Holy Spirit blessed me with the following two weeks
ago Saturday:

For Times of Trouble

Psalm 37
“Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when others succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret-- it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
“Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
But the wicked will perish:
the LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish-- vanish like smoke.
The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those He curses will be cut off.
If the LORD delights in a person's way,
He makes his [or her] steps firm;
though he [or she] stumble, he [or she] will not fall,
 for the LORD upholds him [or her] with His hand.
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
The mouth of the righteous person utters wisdom,
and his [or her] tongue speaks what is just.
The Law of his [or her] God is in his [or her] heart;
his [or her] feet do not slip.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;
but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
Wait for the LORD and keep His way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing
like a green tree in its native soil,
but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man [or the woman] of peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in Him.”

Philippians 4:4-8 (from the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)

Rejoice in the Lord always.
again I say, Rejoice!
Let your reasonableness be known to all people.
The Lord is near.
Be anxious about nothing,
but in everything by prayer and by petition with thanksgivings,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God
which surpasses all understanding
will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
For the rest, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever honorable,
whatever is right,
whatever pure,
whatever lovely,
whatever of good report,
if of any virtue,
 and if of any praise,
think on these things.
Luke 6:45 (from the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)
The good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart.
And the evil man brings forth evil out of the evil treasure of his heart,
for his mouth speaks out of the abundance of his heart.

1 Peter 4:7-19 from the Modern King James Version Bible

But the end of all things has drawn near.
Therefore be of sound mind, and be sensible to prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another,
for love will cover a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another, without grudging;
each one as he [or she] received a gift,
ministering it one another as good stewards
of the varied grace of God.
If anyone speaks, let it be as the words of God.
If anyone ministers, let him [or her] do it as of the ability which God gives,
so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ,
to Whom is the glory, and the might forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though a strange thing happened to you,
to the degree that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ,
be rejoicing,
so that when His glory shall be revealed,
you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you.
Truly according to them, He is blasphemed,
but according to you He is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or a meddler in the affairs of others.
But if one suffers as a Christian, let him [or her] not be ashamed,
but let him [or her] glorify God because of this.
For the time has come for the judgment to begin from the house of God.
And if it first begins from us,
what will be the end of those disobeying the Gospel of God?
And if the righteous one is scarcely saved,
where shall the unGodly and the sinner appear?
Therefore let those who suffer
according to the will of God
commit their souls in well-doing
as to a faithful Creator.

Ephesians 6:10-18 from the Modern King James Version Bible

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God
so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness
and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Above all, take the shield of faith,
with which you shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of Salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Holy Spirit,
and watching to this very thing
with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints.