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Newsletter
I MARCH 2007
THE LAW OF SMALL POTATOES
Many years ago, some farmers theorized that they could eat their big potatoes and keep the small potatoes for seed. Consequently, they ate the big potatoes and planted small potatoes. As a result of this practice for many years, the farmers made the startling discovery: nature had reduced all their potatoes to the size of marbles.
A new understanding of the law of life came to these farmers. They learned through bitter experience that they could not have the best things of life for themselves and use the leftovers for seed. The law of life decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting.
In another sense, planting small potatoes is still common practice. We take the big things of life for ourselves and plant the leftovers. We expect that by some crazy twist of spiritual laws, our selfishness will be rewarded with unselfishness. But we cannot eat the big potatoes and have them, too!
What size potatoes have you been planting spiritually? “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever man sows that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7).
Farmers in southern Alabama were accustomed to planting one crop every year—Cotton. They would plow as much ground as they could and plant their crop. Year after year they lived by cotton.
Then one year the dreaded boll weevil devastated the whole area. So the next year the farmers mortgaged their homes and planted cotton again, hoping for a good harvest. But as the cotton began to grow, the insect came back and destroyed the crop, wiping out most of the farms.
The few who survived those two years of the boll weevil decided to experiment the third year, so they planted something they'd never planted before - peanuts. And peanuts proved so hardy and the market proved so ravenous for that product that the farmers who survived the first two years reaped profits that third year that enabled them to pay off all their debts. They planted peanuts from then on and prospered greatly.
Then you know what those farmers did? They spent some of their new wealth to erect in the town square a monument – to the boll weevil. If it hadn't been for the boll weevil, they never would have planted peanuts. They learned that even out of disaster there can be great delight.
GOD'S HELP
God helps those who help themselves, but there are times when we are quite incapable of helping ourselves. That's when God stoops down and gathers us in His arms like a mother lifts a sick child, and does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
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Ruth Bell Graham
Words of Wisdom
• A person going nowhere can be sure of his destination.
• True happiness may be sought, thought, or caught – but never bought.
• The reason that history repeats itself is that most people weren't listening the first time.
• The most dangerous lies are the ones that resemble the truth.
• If we all profited by our mistakes, millionaires would be commonplace.
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LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANTS
Dear International Friend,
Our warm greetings to those of you who are close by in Pittsburgh and to those around the world. We are not sure what your weather has been like these past several months but we can honestly say that we never expected to have such cold weather in the month of February. The only consolation is that the groundhog did not see his shadow on Ground Hog Day on February 2, so if all goes as predicted we should have an early spring. Let's hope so! During the February gathering our speakers, Bill and Beth Blair had a wonderful presentation on marriage and the home. It was an interesting time and it really made many people think about their marriage relationship. We admit that this is not an easy day to have a successful marriage. My wife and I have been married for thirty-five years. We have had many challenges just like any other married couple does. We have had to humbly realize that without God's help we could not have had a lasting relationship. It has not been easy but God's grace has made the difference for us. God is always willing to help those who come to Him in times of difficulty.
--Terry & Pam Tiberio, ISF Assistants
March 16th ISF Gathering
We would like to invite you to our February ISF Gathering. This gathering will be on Friday, March 16th at 7:30 PM in the Ballroom of the William Pitt Union . The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and Fifth Avenue . To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on Fifth Avenue and go to your right. We hope you will come and please especially invite new friends to hear an interesting lecture on love, marriage and the family by William & Beth Blair. And of course there will be special music, a full course meal, and wonderful fellowship. Also there will be special children's activities in the Kurtzman room. Hope to see you and remember that it's all free!
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ISF FEBRUARY GATHERING (February 9th, 2007)
75 present, 6 countries:
China, Liberia, Italy, Japan, Morocco, USA.
Hope to see you at the March ISF Gathering on March 16th in the Assembly Room of William Pitt Union!
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