 Romans 2:11 For GOD does not show favoritism So, this past Sunday I was coming from BICM in NJ, standing on the crowded subway platform, eating my freshly popped popcorn. All of a sudden, invading my space, there is a woman asking me for my popcorn. I moved back and say, no! She shows me her bag of pretzels and offers me one. I say, no, thank you. She moves on. Immediately, I am no longer enjoying my popcorn. I start to reason within myself. She couldn’t have been hungry, she had a bag of pretzels. But that doesn’t help me. Then comes to my mind the picture of the little girl months back who wanted my popcorn, and who I readily responded to. To the cute little girl, here, have my popcorn. But, to the roughly dressed, maybe homeless woman, I gave a quick, no. GOD shows no favoritism, and expects us not to. Could it be any clearer in this case? M. Buehler Member of Breakthrough in Christ Ministries Professional Tennis Instructor at MPRC, Manhattan, NYC Founder and Executive Director, Abundant Waters Inc., non-profit after-school program, Manhattan
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 The Lord delighted me so on Sunday morning in a most surprising way. I was taking a walk in Riverside Park circling the promenade, as I like to call it. It’s a lovely tree-lined circular walk around a grassy area with a beautiful community garden at the upper end.
Nearing the end of my walk, I stopped to do some tricep dips on a park bench facing the Hudson River. With my back to the promenade, from behind the bench I am suddenly greeted by a very happy dog with a bright turquoise frisbee in his mouth. He carefully lays the frisbee at my feet and looks right up at me. Let’s play! Delighted from the core of my being, the joy of childhood rose up within me. No cares. Pure joy. Pure surprise play! And play I did. I picked up that frisbee, and immediately the dog dashed to the grassy area and lay down - poised - ready for the catch. I threw that frisbee, he caught it outright, and raced back to me for another round. We did this three glorious times. I then spotted his owner across the promenade, waved goodbye, and with bubbling joy in my heart, went on my way. Thank You, Lord, for this gift. You surprised me, and that was part of the delight. You know I’ve been weighed down with burdens for so long, and I’d forgotten what it felt like to be carefree and joyous like a child, Your child. Thank You for surprising me with pure, simple, fun, joyous, light, unfettered play and showing me that that is who You are, and that is Your love. “...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 By: Carol Docher  Psalms 8:2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength. . . Matthew 21:16 . . .Thou has perfected praise As I was walking a little 4 yr old to meet her mother and older sister, and we were crossing the street, she asked if we could go to the deli while we were waiting for them to come. I said, ok. Her response was, “ Hallelujah!!” I said, “you know that word means ‘Thank the Lord’ ”. She looked at me earnestly and said, “ you mean Jesus”. Out of the mouth of babes. “Yes”, I said. Yes. M. Buehler Member of Breakthrough in Christ Ministries Professional Tennis Instructor at MPRC, Manhattan, NYC Founder and Executive Director, Abundant Waters Inc., non-profit after-school program, Manhattan, NYC mmb  Mark 10:15 “whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of GOD as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Yesterday I was returning from BICM and bought a bag of fresh popped corn in the train station tunnel just before surfacing above ground. As I got to the top of the stairs I found myself in the middle of travelers going the opposite way, into the train station. I instantly noticed a tiny little girl holding her hands out for my popcorn, maybe she was 3, a tiny 3. I asked her mother, “is it ok for her to have popcorn?” She replied “yes”. I held the bag out to the little one, she took one popped kernel. In the background were an older brother and sister, very politely standing by. I asked if they wanted some. They nodded. I extended the bag. They each took a small handful. I looked back to the little one, again her hand was out, eyes so clear, so open. I held out the bag, she took one popped kernel. I started to go on my way, turned and told the mother, “better them than me” and put the bag in the little one’s still outstretched hands, and saw the big smiles on the faces of her sister and brother. I walked away, crossed the street, but I was still enthralled with the eyes and the outstretched hands of the little one. And the above verse came to me. She was that picture of something this verse speaks to, hands outstretched, eyes wide open,expecting, asking, seeking, wanting, not holding back, unafraid. Clear and pure washer intent, no guise, no hidden agenda, no preconceived notions, but clean and open, her eyes said it all. And she ended up getting it all. M. Buehler Member of Breakthrough in Christ Ministries Professional Tennis Instructor at MPRC, Manhattan, NYC Founder and Executive Director, Abundant Waters Inc., non-profit after-school program, Manhattan, NYC  This is a very interesting story about elephants. It can be quite confusing when you think of a massive huge creature like an elephant can be held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It is obvious that the an elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they are tied to at any time, but they do not. When an elephant is young and much smaller and weighs approximately 200 pounds, its securely tied with a heavy-duty rope. The elephant tries to break through its limitation. It whines, tugs and tries to chew through the rope, but it is unable to break free. Finally, the elephant gives up its will, and accepts it's circumstances. It's spirit is broken. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." The elephant believes there is absolutely no chance to free itself and overcome it's "limitation." This is recognized as a "defining moment." A defining moment is the exact moment a "Mindset," a belief that alters their life. They accept this "Mindset" as "truth," regardless if it is true or not. Because the brain accepts repetition of thought and deduction as "the truth," the rope reigns sovereign in its mind . With this "mindset" the elephant's is permanently dis-empower. This animal could at any time break free from it's bonds but because it believed it couldn't, it is stuck right where it is. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a "Mindset," that dictates what you can and cannot do, simply because of fear and what was told to you at a young age? We must not act like an elephant. We must BREAKTHROUGH the confining ropes in the mind. When you're faced with change, change your perspective. When you're overwhelmed with something new; change your view. Use affirmations, to eradicate limitations and nothing will be impossible for you! Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.   Valentine’s Day has been recognize as a day to focus on love. To remember those that are special to us with cards, flowers, and other expressions of affection. Yet, at times we may wonder or question if its inspired by love, guilt or obligations?
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October 2019
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