Jerry L. Woodall

Pay The Price

2009-04-17T00:54:20-05:00

The would be father-in-law approached the young man who desired
to marry his daughter.

“Son, I have some acreage I can sell you to help you get a good
start in life. It’s good land, good soil, that will produce a
good crop. A fine place to build a house. Though it’s worth
$30 an acre, because you will be my son-in-law, I’m willing to
sell it to you for $15 an acre. Would this be agreeable with you?”

The young man stood straight and tall and, after a whole minute
passed, answered, “No, sir.”

The father-in-law-to-be turned away and headed for his house for
he was highly offended.

“Ingrate,” he thought.

He complained to his wife about how the young man answered with a
firm “no, sir.”

A few days went by and the father of the bride refused to even
talk to his future son-in-law. But one evening the young man
came to call--not on his bride-to-be, but on her father.

“Mr. Billings, I have given much prayer and thought to your land
proposal.”

“And?” asked his father-in-law-to-be.

“And I want to purchase it!”

“Well, now,” the man replied. “You’re showing some good judge-
ment now. I was worried about you when we last talked. You know,
son, you could take up to three years to pay me.”

The young man was thoughtful and reflective before he answered.
Then he spoke. “I’ll give you $30 an acre and will pay you in
two years.”

At this, the older man was amazed but said nothing.

The young man continued. “You’re lovely daughter is worth the
full price. I ask for no special discounts or extended payments.
I intend to pay the full amount in every way for my most precious
bride. To do less would minimize my extreme love for her. Now,
is this agreeable to you, sir?”

The older man shook his head in wonderment and said, “Yes, son.
That is agreeable.”

Jesus more than paid the price for His bride, willing to save her
(purchase her) to the utmost.

In India, when a man wanted to marry a beautiful woman, he had
to pay her father for her hand in marriage with twenty cows. A
lesser beauty might demand a price of 10-15 cows.

One man offered his Father-in-law 30 coins for his daughter to wed--
an unheard of price--and yet she was not a beauty at all. But
because he exceeded all expectations to purchase her, she became
the most beautiful woman in all India. Her love for him for going
the extra mile for her brought forth a radiant beauty for all to
see.

Discounted things become common and ordinary. Things we pay the
full price for, we treasure the most. Pay $30 an acre or thirty
cows. Go the extra mile. Don’t settle for the cheap way out.
If you want a great wife, pastor, friend or employee--pay the
price!

Our world’s mantra is: Give me the best for the least but when we
pay right, we will receive right.

Jesus is not just fair, He is more than fair. He pays exceedingly
abundantly above that which we ask or think.

A baker’s dozen was 13. Always giving the customer a little extra--
alas, what happened to those days?

If we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly. If we pay generously, we
reap abundance.

Thirty dollars an acre and two years. The Father-in-law-to-be
never had to wonder about the character and integrity of his new
son-in-law. When a man pays more than is required, he is a
witness to God’s name--abundant in bountifulness. Fair business
is when the buyer and seller both win. Don’t expect a $1000
miracle for a 10 cent prayer.

The Dark Room

2009-03-26T00:42:57-05:00

For lack of any light the room work black velvet. No light was even hinted at or
suggested here. My groping eyes hoped they would adjust to find gray instead
of the black black. The room and its contents were hidden in multiple layers of
thick darkness. Darkness that impeded my progress. I inched forward as though
up to my neck in water. I compare this room to a tomb--no light, no life, no hope,
visability zero.

“Lord,” I said inside because the darkness had even overcome my voice, “Lord,
please shine into this helpless, hopeless, bleak, black situation. I’m a prisoner
of my ignorance. Please help!”

Then it came--not all at once--but it came. Light. Darkness fled away.

Looking back now, I am grateful for the Blackness. “The darker the night, the
brighter the light.” What a beautiful contrast the Ultimate Light made to my
ultimate darkness. Wading through the darkness of ignorance was worthwhile
just to behold the beautiful radiant beams of the wisdom of Jesus Christ, the
True Light!

Old Texas Sayin’s

2009-03-26T00:38:46-05:00

Ever’ shut eye ain’t sleep and ever’ goodbye ain’t gone.

In life, you have to wade through the hog waller to get to the melon patch.

It rainned my pickup bed full--and that’s with the tail gate down!

It’s so barren in west Texas that little boys have to take a number to climb a tree.

When someone says “I’m just a plain ole’ country boy” get a firm grip on your wallet.

Jots and Tittles 2

2009-03-26T00:22:54-05:00

God gives some of us everything to see if we will love Him more than everything and some of us nothing to see if we will love Him more than nothing.

God loves Atheists. He doesn’t have to overcome their doctrine, opinions and misconceptions of who and how He is.

God is not an ATM.

I believe in life BEFORE death.

When you sing a solo, you don’t have to worry about harmony.

The brave live short lives but the fearful never live at all.

Railin’ ain’t right.

Been times when I was robbed and beat up and there wasn’t a good Samaritan in sight.

The more I pursued success, the goner it got.

In my old age, prayer has become easier. I can do it with my eyes closed.

When there’s a fire behind you, jump in the water in front of you.

Thoughtfulness is a key ingredient in whatever you are cookin’ up.

Belaboring what’s wrong robs us of the precious time and energy to proclaim what’s right.

Don’t give your enemies much press. Save it for your friends.

Don’t get so smitten by the problem that you fail to court the solution.

When anger is coming to birth--get an abortion.

Happiness is not assured, nor deserved, but seize it if you can.

Keys for Public Speaking

2009-03-26T00:19:24-05:00

Folks who are not proper and precise often fail as public speakers.

They fail to connect with their audience. A colorful presentation

will be remembered long after a perfect English one is forgotten.

Jots and Tittles 1

2009-03-26T00:04:10-05:00

My attitude determines my Aptitude and my Altitiude.

Other music ain’t half bad, if I didn’t know Bluegrass.

Hang on to your “Amazing” and you won’t lose your “Grace.”

Giving is not an option, but a part of a Divine plan.

Faith: If you are prayin’ for a baby, start buyin’ diapers and bottles and a basinet.

Speaking:
* Be heard
* Be understood
* Be remembered
The highest quest

Repent like there’s no tomorrow.

Forgive others even when you know you’re right about what they’ve done wrong.

In these troubled times, don’t replace your hearing aid batteries.

If you agree with someone too much, one of you is unnecessary.

Ask God to fix your “forgetter.”

When I’m most blessed I’m least grateful.

Faith is not a license to gamble.

My prayer:
*For those who are hungry: Lord, give ‘em food.
*For those who have food: Lord, give ‘em hunger.

Two things that are too expensive:
* Ignorance
* Free labor

Having a need is not a bad thing. Allowing the need to have us, is.

The Heritage Factor

2009-03-06T02:09:36-05:00

The owner of the company had put together a great financial empire. He had wisely guided his enterprises to the highest peaks of success. He combined business savvy, hard work and patience to accomplish his dreams.
He was known by his employees as “Mr. B.” He was admired and respected by them all. Mr. B had two very trusted assistants. They were co-vice-presidents in their early 30’s.
Dalton Dyers, one of the V.P’s had recently made a major blunder in judgment that had cost the company some big bucks. Dalton feared for his job, dreading to face Mr. B. But Monday morning Mr. B walked briskly into Dalton’s office. “Dalton,” he said, “about that recent incident, let’s just let that be a lesson to us and move on. It’s not the end of the world, you know?” Mr. B reached out to shake Dalton’s hand. As he left, he said only, “Carry on!”
About four months later, the other V.P. made a costly mistake. What was going on? Both top aides, to the owner, had dropped the ball within a few months. Dyers had been forgiven and life went on as before.
Mr. B called his other V.P. into his office. “Shut the door,” he said after which he proceeded to give his V.P. Joel Biggs a royal dressing down. The room was full of intensity. Poor Joel hung his head. Mr. B raged on and on. “I guess you know, I will be docking your pay to cover this loss. And you will have one less week of vacation this year. Now get your act together and get back to work!”
Joel dejectedly headed out the door making his way down the long hall to his office. Then he turned back, humbly entering Mr. B’s office again.
“Just one question,” he said, “When Dalton’s mistake cost the company even more than mine did, you were patient and forgiving with him and you didn’t even dock his pay. Why?”
Mr. B leaned back in his huge leather executive chair, took his glasses off and answered, “Because he did not have me for a Dad for 31 years. I expected so much more from you because you are my son!”

Winning

2009-03-06T02:07:05-05:00

We’ve all heard “lose the battle but win the war,” but, in reality, one must win some crucial battles to win the war. But we can’t always win every battle. We must choose our battles (our hill to die on) wisely. This involves knowing what really matters or what are the “crucial battles.”
This is the idea of give and take. We can give (make concessions) in some areas but hold the line in others. Conceding tends to throw our opponents off (make them think they are winning). When in fact we are positioning ourselves to win the war. Negotiating is where everyone wins something. The key is to win what really matters. Concede what is of minimal importance.
Know who you are and what you want and where you are going. Those things that don’t pertain to that, allow the opposing party to win.
Let the enemy win now and then. It serves you well. Let them have the desk and the file cabinets. Make sure you get the office--you can always replace the furniture. Often the desk doesn’t fit with who you are anyway. The desk is unimportant to your plan.
Trying to win everything all the time is just stressful.
“Love your enemies.” Let something fall over on their side occasionally. Don’t get greedy. Pray for them that despise you and want to use you. It’s a “win the war” strategy. Some battles are worthless and useless and drain our strength. If we try to win them all, in one way, we lose.
Have a fine meal when you can, while in the battle, but leave some groceries for those who are your enemy. In the end, you win!!

Faults

2009-03-06T02:05:10-05:00

“He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.” I guess those inspired words from Dottie Rambo’s prolific pen sum up, in part, how merciful God is. Fully aware of “fault” but not being swayed by it, choosing to focus on our “need.”
A fault is an imperfection, a defect, a blemish or failure.
All humanity has a dark side, whether we choose to call it “flesh”, carnality or fallen sinful nature. Thus all mankind has “fault.” There are none faultless. “No not one.” The only faultless One was refused, reviled and rejected. His faultlessness made faulted man uncomfortable and so aware of his imperfection.
Unless we become too hardened and too blind, our faults embarrass and humiliate us. How we long to ignore them and will them away. But when things go awry our faults come out of hiding and take center stage.
When my needs are met and my cup is full my faults are invisible. But when my cup is empty, my world chaotic, my blemishes and defects manifest themselves.
That’s why our judgments are sometimes merciless and crude. The full are finding fault with the empty. The rich are finding fault with the poor. The intelligent are finding fault with the unlearned.
Lack, want and need magnify faults. An overflowing cup has no time and no interest in faulted behavior. “Here’s my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord.” Being full and overflowing is the antidote to all my faults.
Ӆ my cup runneth overŔ Psalms 23:5

The Journey

2009-03-06T02:02:23-05:00

It was the midnight of his life and he could not see what he was wrestling with. He struggled on, though his mind and body ached with fatigue. He must free himself from the clutches of what he realized to be the beast named Was.
Then, free at last, he mustered the energy to run. Where? To the Hope of Can Be. But now he was getting his second wind and refused to stop and with renewed vigor ran on to Must Be. Here, he took a little needed restful break. He studied awhile with Must Be then ran on.
He ran and ran, looking all the while for Will Be. His vision clear but his body exhausted, he fell in the waiting arms of Will Be.
Will Be held him safely and securely for awhile. He was too exhausted to speak but his thoughts were happy ones.
Will Be then introduced him to Is. “From Was to Is…What a journey!” he sighed.