The Seed

Just thought I would share this story with everyone. I did not write it I received it today in an email the author is unknown.


A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today--one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man named Jim was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues; however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed; a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today, one of you will be appointed the next CEO!" All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure. Maybe he will have me fired." When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim."

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. "How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. "But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead--it was not possible for them to grow. "All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. "Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. "Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
So, be careful what you plant now. It will determine what you will reap later.
--author unknown


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Faith Life

How do we live a faith life?

Every year my Pastor sets aside an entire weekend and teaches on living a faith life. I have never been to one that I did not leave blessed and encouraged, and I have never failed to learn something new from his teachings. This year, faith life weekend is scheduled for February 18, 19, & 20th. There will be one teaching at 7p.m the 18th, two on the 19th at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and two on the 20th at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. all Central Standard Time. Anyone, who would like to check them out, can do so via live web cast at http://wolc.com (there is a link on the side bar of this page), please do so you will not be disappointed.

As I was preparing to pass on this information, I came across my notes from this teaching back in 2003, and something I wrote based upon those notes, so I will share it with you below. Hope you enjoy it and are blessed by it. Do drop by and listen to the web cast I promise you will learn how to apply the faith life to your life. Blessings <><



Faith

Jesus will meet you at your point of Faith
As you believe so shall it be

The word of GOD will produce fruit if you hold onto it
Hang onto the word in times of temptation
Deal with problems by speaking words of faith to them
Speak the promises of GOD
Do not doubt, but believe in your heart
And you shall have what you say

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes
Faith operates within the realm of the will
Choose to Believe
Be unto you, as you believe

The living GOD is a faith GOD
Who has established a faith covenant with his people
He is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be tomorrow
Take GOD at his word

The just shall live by faith
Faith is a lifestyle
Faith people are blessed people
Faith is holding onto the promises of GOD

Whatever is born of GOD overcomes the world
When you are born, again you are born to overcome

Be unto you, as you believe
Jesus will meet you at your point of faith
He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow
See the invisible and believe to do the impossible

FAITH IS THE VICTORY OVER LIFE!