About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive

named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood

street.

He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder

Jaguar XKE, which was only two months > old.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! –

it smashed into the Jag’s shiny black side door!

SCREECH...!!!!

Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires

madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick

had been thrown. > Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the

kid and pushed him up against a > parked car. He shouted at

the kid, “What was that all about and who are you? Just

what the heck are you doing?” Building up a head of

steam, he went on. “That’s my new Jag, that brick you

threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw

it?”

“Please, mister, please...I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to

do!” pleaded the youngster.  “I threw the brick because no

one else would stop!” Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin

as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother,

mister,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.”  Sobbing,

the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get

him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for

me.”

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to

swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he

lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his

handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see

that everything was going to be O.K. He then watched the

younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their

home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12

cylinder Jaguar XKE - a long and slow walk.  Josh never did

fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind

him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw

a brick at him to get his attention. . . .

Some bricks are softer than others.  Feel for the bricks of

life coming at you. For all the negative things we have to say

to ourselves, God has positive answers:

>

You say: “It’s impossible”

God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired.”

God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me.”

God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: “I can’t go on.”

God says: My grace is sufficient.

 (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out.”

God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it.”

God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able.”

God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it.”

God says: It will be worth it. (Roman 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself.”

God says: I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage.”

God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid.”

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear.

 (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.”

God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith.”

God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith.

(Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough.”

God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone.”

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you.

(Hebrews 13:5)