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reverbbb
04-25-2005, 02:22 PM
This email came across my desk today. I get so many of these and move on. But this one made me think enough to share it with everyone:

~~~~~~~~~

The Carpenter.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely! - Author unknown

stephen
06-18-2005, 07:37 PM
Excelent analogy! It really brings home what my dad would always tell me: If your gonna do something for someone, do it like you are doing it for yourself. I never quite understood in my youth what he meant, but as I began to see things through more mature eye's, I understood.

Thanks Roger!

thunderbyrd
01-06-2006, 05:33 PM
i'm glad this post is here, even tho it was posted back in the summer. pretty much what is in this anology is what the Lord has been pointing out to me over these past 2-3 months - and my own need to get hammerin'.

mlcgcf
03-09-2007, 02:36 AM
i'm glad this post is here, even tho it was posted back in the summer. pretty much what is in this anology is what the Lord has been pointing out to me over these past 2-3 months - and my own need to get hammerin'.

To hammer or not to hammer - that is really good question. I've found that it sometimes is as important not to swing the hammer as it is to swing it. I guess the trick is in what you're building. I've worn myself out before trying to build "my kingdom" rather than God's. It's very hard thing sometimes for men (I think) to draw a clear line between the material things God requires of every husband/father in order to provide for themselves and their families, and the "other things" that would cleverly lead us beyond these basic requirements into areas that prove to be nothing short of bondage. I think that maybe when we're securely in God's will, we will find ourselves continually rested - even though the work He's called us to do be long and hard. If we find ourselves being slowly drained on the other hand, then maybe it's a good time step back and take an account of what we're working so hard on. I don't know for sure - I'm still working on it - LOL! May God bless all men who seek Him that they may find the right things to build for His Glory!

hotraman
03-09-2007, 05:29 AM
Nice post,
thanks for sharing!
steve