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Motivational
Message
Issue 24
Week of March 31-April 4, 2003
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Nothing
Except
The bible
illustrates a story about a poor widow who went
to the prophet Elisha to inform him that her
God-fearing husband had died, and that his
creditor was coming to take her two boys to be
his slaves. Elisha asked the widow what he could
do to help. He then asked, what she had in her
house. She replied that she had
"nothing...except a jar of oil." Elisha
advised her to go from neighbor to neighbor,
borrowing as many jars as possible, then to go
inside her house, close the door behind her and
her sons, and pour oil into all the jars. After
each jar was filled, she was to put it to one
side.
The widow
did as Elisha instructed her to do and when all
the jars were filled, she told her son to bring
another one. "There is not a jar left,"
he replied. The oil stopped flowing, and the
widow had enough money to pay off her debt and
for her and her sons to live on what was left.
The widow
had nothing, except a jar of oil in her house.
But unbeknownst to her, this jar, this thing that
she saw as nothing, was her means of increase.
She had in her midst, everything that she needed
to change her situation. She possessed,
everything that she needed to live a rich and
fulfilling life -- but just did not know it.
Just like
the widow, most of us never realize that our
increase, that true happiness is right within our
reach. We often focus on what we DO NOT have,
never realizing what we DO have. Instead of
making the effort to use what we have, we seek
other resources for enrichment, both internal and
external. What is the
"nothing...except" in your life? The
thing that appears to be nothing to you, could be
the very thing that can -- and will add increase
to your life.
Today,
take a moment to ask yourself the question,
"What do I have? What is the thing that I
possess that will provide me with inner and
external riches?" Seriously, think about it.
Then take about 10, 15, 20 minutes to figure out
what you will do with what you have, to create a
fulfilling life. For some, it may take minutes,
for others it may take weeks or months to find
that valued possession. But don't stop until you
find it -- and don't stop until you use it to
acquire and maximize your increase. Value what
you possess -- because it could be the very thing
that leads you to increase in your in life.
Copyright 2003 by Audrina Jones
Bunton. REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is
granted to reproduce or distribute this article
only in its entirety and provided copyright is
acknowledged. You can find other articles to
choose from at http://www.purposefully-living.com/mailing%20list.htm
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Think About It!!
"God's will for us is not
hidden like a buried treasure. We do not have to
control or force it. We do not have to walk on
eggshells in order to have it happen. It is right
there inside and around us. It is happening,
right now." -- Melody Beattie, The Language
of Letting Go
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Electronic mail address
ajbunton@purposefully-living.com
Web address
http://www.purposefully-living.com
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