John 3:16

[lilyjohn]

> In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was

setting in.

> > A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were

in and outof the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to

> sell many papers.

> > > >

> He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen

> to knowwhere a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would

you?

> > Yousee, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the

alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a

> > warm place to stay."

> > > >

> >The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down

> the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When

they comeout the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in."

> > > >

> >So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a

> lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16." The lady said, "Come

> on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom

rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off.

The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16...

I don't understand it,but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

> > > >

> Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?" He said,

"Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could

> stand a little bit of food,"

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him

> down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat

> any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16...Boy, I sure don't

understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

> > > >

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with

> warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he

> > thought to himself: John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure

makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole

> > life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old

> fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

> > > >

> > The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him

> into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him

> > goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked

out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to

> himself: John 3:16...I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy

> > rested.

> > > >

> > The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to

> that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that

same

> > big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a

> big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young

face.

> > > >

> > "Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently.

> He replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it

was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"

She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus.

Right there, in

front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat

there and thought: John 3:16....don't understand it, but it sure makes a

lost boy feel safe.

> > > >

> > You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God

> was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree

to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every

angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die.

I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't

> > understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

> > > >

> > John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting

> > life.

> >

> > If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions.

> Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."

> >

Pass this on only if you mean it. I do Love God. He is my source of

> > existence. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Phil 4:13

> > > >

If you love God and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things he

> has done for you, send this on.