Who's Your Daddy???

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg , TN. 
One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. 
While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. 
The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.'
But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.
' Oklahoma ,' they answered.
'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said.  
'What do you do for a living?'
'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.'
And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great Just what I need ...another preacher story!'
The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window).  
Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. 
He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'
He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad.
'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. 
He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 
'Who's your daddy?'
But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.
Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'
The whole church got deathly quiet. 
He could feel every eye in the church looking at him Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?' 
'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'
With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. 
Go and claim it.'
'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. 
Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who 's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them , 'I'm a Child of God.''
The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?'The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'
The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him That's Ben Hooper. 
He's governor of Tennessee !'
Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever.' ~~Isaiah

YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!!!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

Take time to READ

Read this story to the end...

As I was walking down life's highway
many years ago,
I came upon a sign that read:
Heavens Grocery Store.
When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels.

They were standing everywhere One handed me a basket
and said 'My child shop with care.'Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more"

First I got some Patience.

Love was in that same row.

Further down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two.

And Charity of course I would need some of that too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost. It was all over the place.

And then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race.

My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill, For I thought I had everything to do the Masters will. As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer and put that in,

For I knew when I stepped outside I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf.

Song and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel 'Now how much do I owe?'
He smiled and said 'Just take them everywhere you go.'

Again I asked 'Really now, How much do I owe?'
'My child' he said, 'God paid your bill

a long long time ago.'
This poem has been sent to you with love and for good luck.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

Heavenly Father

Please remove from my mind the tendency to judge.
Please remove from my mind the tendency to hate.
Please remove from my mind the tendency to blame.
Please reveal to me, a way to stand in my power, through love instead of fear, and through peace instead of violence.
May I hear not the voice for anger, but only the voice for love.
And teach me how not to hate those who hate me.
Transform all darkness into light, and use my mind as an instrument of Your harmlessness.
I surrender to You my thoughts of violence.
Take these thoughts and wash them clean .
Amen

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

A Thief In The House

A horrible thing happened to me today..... a thief broke into my house.

It happened shortly after I awoke this morning.
 I got up and began rushing about.
 I had a thousand things on my list and was already running behind.
Quickly, I gulped down breakfast, took a shower and
got ready for work.
In my rush, I forgot to turn the security system on at my house.
 It was just about a half an hour later that the thief broke in.
 Of course, he didn't make a sound.
Just kind of snuck inside, not drawing any attention to himself.
In fact, none of the neighbors ever saw him.
But, I did.
You see, I WAS HOME when the thief broke in.

 He naturally startled me, as I was unprepared for his visit.
He, of course, didn't announce that he was coming
and I certainly had not invited him over.
And yet, I found myself face to face with danger and I felt so powerless.
 I also felt so very stupid, because this whole incident could have been avoided if I had just taken the time to turn the security system on.
You better believe I'll be turning it on tomorrow morning!
I thought I'd warn you about this guy, because he's still on the loose.
Chances are, he's in your area.
 Possibly even headed for your house.

His name? His name is Satan. You see, this morning when I jumped up in my
haste to get started on my busy day, I skipped my prayer time - opting to "pray later today."
 In other words, I DIDN'T TURN ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM.
My defense wasn't on, my guard was dropped... ..and when the thief came into my home to attack me, I was unprepared to do battle. 
He tempted me and I felt powerless.
 Like I said, I also felt so very stupid, because I could have avoided the incident if I had just taken the time to pray.
My friend, the thief has come to "steal, kill and destroy." 
 And, as a Child of God, you are on his "hit list." 

 He'll probably pop over to your house today. He may be lurking outside your door right now, just waiting to catch you off guard.
Take time to pray this morning.
 Bind Satan from your very presence, to protect you and empower you to do battle. In short... ...don't forget to turn your security system on.
Author Unknown.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778