My Search for Peace* by Eva Reinhart

Having scant knowledge of God in my formative years, I began a religious search in my mid twenties.

After exploring a variety of churches, I decided on a well-known religion and after six months of instruction I received all of the rites.

At last I belonged!

Now I could settle back and receive the internal peace that was sure to follow.
Searching for Inner PeaceFor many years I faithfully practiced my religion, rarely missed a Sunday mass, joined various church groups and activities, made sure my children were baptized, etc.

Although my faith afforded me a degree of comfort as the years rolled by, the inner peace I so desired never happened. Nevertheless, I continued to look for what was becoming a seemingly impossible goal.

Then, when least expected, events began to take place in my life that would lead me to a whole new and exciting experience. My sister recently found Jesus through the friendship of a neighbour friend and his son who were both ministers. Through her I met and became friends with the ministers and their lovely families. Each time we met I would ask questions which were always answered with kindness and genuine love. My old preconceived ideas of “born-again Christians” began slipping away as I learned more and more about a Jesus who truly loved me and who had died for my sins so that I could be with Him in heaven! The revelation that I didn’t have to, or indeed couldn’t work my way into heaven was enthralling.

The many pleasant conversations with my sister and newly found friends began to have a profound effect on me. Their honest answers to my many probing questions and the warm genuine friendliness expressed each time I attended their respective religious services made me realize that trying to lead a good life wasn’t enough and that a new life was only possible by accepting Jesus into my heart.

A Very Special DayOn a very special day in my life I made my decision for Christ. Since then I have attended a local church where I became a member and received the gift of baptism. Presently, I am attending a Bible Group at my church and am involved in various church activities.

But the most important change in my life has been the discovery of an inner peace that eluded me for so many years. Knowing that my heavenly Father is always there for me, is pleased when I come into His presence, and welcomes me with His overwhelming love has given me the inner peace for which I had been searching. And, I owe it all to Jesus.

What about you? Are you searching for inner peace but having a difficult time finding true peace? If you would like to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you can say this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make the kind of person You want me to be.

*Used with permission: www.thoughtsaboutgod.com

Mr. Roth

An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few cautious inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us good morning and offered his priduce for sale. We were uneasy enough to make a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear.

To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize that it wasn't alcohol, but cataracts, that marbleized his eyes.

On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he'd puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion.

On one visit he exclaimed, "The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch."

"That's wonderful, Mr. Roth," we said. "We are happy for you."

"You know what's even more wonderful?" he asked, "Just yesterday I met some people that could use them."

He needed a son

The nurse escorted a tired, anxious young man to the bedside of an elderly man. "Your son is here," she whispered to the patient. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack and he dimly saw the young man standing outside the oxygen tent.

He reached out his hand and the young man tightly wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing a message of encouragement. The nurse brought a chair next to the bedside. All through the night the young man sat holding the old man's hand and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing as he held tightly to his son.

As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding, and then he went to notify the nurse. While the nurse did what was necessary, the young man waited. When she had finished her task, the nurse began to offer words of sympathy to the young man. But he interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father."

"No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.

He replied, "I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me."

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Author Unknown

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.
Two different lives shaped to make your one.
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you aim.
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.
One sought for you a home that she could not provide,
The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.
And now you ask me through your tears
The age-old question through the years,
Heredity or Environment--
Which are you product of?
Neither, my darling--neither;
Just two different kinds of LOVE.



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