It’s good and godly to smile and spread joy. Maybe these few stories will help you do that as you serve our Lord today. Even if they don’t, the great Good News of the resurrection will certainly bring a smile: “Christ is risen!” God’s blessings be with you as you journey to Jesus’ saving cross and his empty tomb!
A Taxing Time of Year
Randolph had mailed his taxes in just before the deadline—at midnight on April 15! On Sunday, he arrived at church feeling upbeat. But he left church feeling convicted by the Scripture readings and sermon. The pastor had preached on David’s confession of sin from Psalms 32 and 51. He couldn’t shake the words from his mind. They kept him up day and night.
By Wednesday, he knew what he had to do. He sat at his computer and wrote the following letter to the IRS:
To whom it may concern: I have been unable to sleep for several nights. I want to acknowledge my sin. I cheated on my income tax. I understated my taxable income and have enclosed $150 in cash. He paused, leaned back in his chair for a moment, and then continued. If I still can’t sleep, I will send the rest.
Playing Church
Steven’s mom looked out the window and saw her son “playing church” with their cat. He preached to the cat. Then he pressed the cat’s paws together in prayer. His order of service even included a hymn, sung on one note and with one word: meow.
Mom went back to her work. Suddenly, she heard a commotion, the cat screeching and hissing. She ran to the window and saw Steven trying to baptize the cat in a tub of water. “Steven! Stop that! Cats don’t like water!” As the cat ran off, Steven looked up at his mom and said, “He should have thought about that before he joined my church!”
Saved by Grace?
His mother was exasperated. Tony was constantly getting into trouble. He wouldn’t listen to her. He seemed to run the house. Finally, she sat him down and asked, “Tony, how do you expect to get into heaven?” He thought for a moment and replied, “Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until Jesus says, ‘For heaven’s sake, Tony, come in or stay out!’”
