Once upon a time

God saw His people running around like ants, busy.

His Garden of Paradise was a madhouse of rushing people.

He saw one of His servants talking on her cell phone.

She was saying bad things about one of His servants.

"Shut up," God said,

Once upon a time God asked one of his servants to do His biding.

"I can't, Lord. I'm not qualified. Ask John."

"I can't either, Lord. I have commitments."

"Sorry, Lord. I would, but I'm so busy."

God replied, "Excuses, excuses."

He looked down and saw His servant sleeping.

"Arise," He said. "It's Sunday morning."

"I know, Lord. But I'm tired. I didn't sleep all night."

God said, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together."

"Just this once, Lord. I promise I'll do better."

"Get up," God said.

God's people were in an uproar.

Some wanted red carpet for the sanctuary.

Some demanded brown.

It was all over town.

"What are you doing," God asked.

"We are choosing carpet, Lord."

Then God said, "Feed my sheep."

Once upon a time His people were wringing their hands,

in much consternation.

"What's the problem?" God asked.

"We don't know what to do, Lord."

"What's the problem," God asked again.

"Well, we are dwindling. Our membership is shrinking."

"Follow me," He said. "We will fish for men."

A child of God is crying.

"Why does she weep?" God asks, although He knows..

"She has sinned, my Lord,"

"But why does she weep?".

"Because no one will sup with her."

"I will sup with her," the Lord said.

Then He wept.

There was screaming, snatching, grabbing, yelling.

Mom rushed here; dad rushed there.

Billy rushed to ball practice. Suzie couldn't find her backpack.

Hurry, hurry.

No time, no time.

God spoke." Be still."

''Be still and know that I am God."

A man sits in a dark room, his head bowed low.

"How may I help?," God asks softly.

"I am weary, Lord..I can't go on. I have no one."

"Nonsense," God says. "You have me."

'Come to me and. I will give you rest."

Once upon a time there was love and hope, and joy,

and beauty, and peace.

And everybody lived happily ever after.

Long, long ago.

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